I visualize my life as this pie – a slice for taking care of my boys, a slice for my family and friends, a slice that’s my career, a slice for my social life, and a slice that I have for God, which I’d like to make bigger.
Not only was I a bill collector, I was a rather nasty bill collector, who promised my imaginary guy on the phone a visit from some big guys who were not going to mess up his knees but couldn’t guarantee that his other body parts would be OK.
Rusty comes every day he is needed, acts with grace and patience, and is completely volunteering his time. He looks pretty scraggly and if you saw him on the street, you might want to walk away from him, but on the set, he’s all grace. A real pro.
“I was moved and inspired by Cris Krusen’s movie FINAL SOLUTION, and believe his heart is one that is following the Lord. His ability as a writer and director is rare. When a filmmaker can engage the viewers the way Cris does, lives will be changed.”
Today, Saturday, October 25th, is a rare working day. We are at a hospital and throughout the shoot, the location has been hush, hush. The hospital has given us permission to shoot, but they don’t want any publicity or recognition for their participation in this production.
Today, executive producer Doug Maddox, production assistant Mary Alice Williams and myself went over to Old Dominion University and met with Ateba Crocker and her PR/Marketing Class. They have decided to take on our film as a class project!
Once on set, the director wanted bigger fish and so we brought Tim in, a fish wrangler and experienced aquarium hobbyist. Tim went to his favorite pet store and returned with sizable goldfish making the director and everyone happy.
Eleven days into shooting, the menu has begun to cycle. Nobody has complained yet, and they shouldn’t because of the generosity of “A Taste of Home”; however, we are beginning to feel a little like the Israelites who continually ate Manna in the desert.
Everyone is really professional – I love being around people that love what they’re doing… and you know, I love what I do. So, to be around this many people that love what they’re doing it’s really a joy… I’ve worked with bigger crews, but I haven’t worked with better crews.
Today, Danny’s character Frankie Guittierez is fired upon in a drive by shooting. We had fake AK-47s out there, the permission and accompaniment of the Norfolk Police, and we also had a paint ball gun to provide hits that stirred up the dust.
On Tuesday, we shot in the basement of Colonial Ave. United Methodist Church. This dirty, dusty basement has lots of junk in it and with some creative lighting, makes a perfect gambling den. The scene? Lorenzo, the bill collector, goes to gamble to pay his debt to Frankie…
Danny told me that he had just gotten back from Europe. When I asked him if we could shoot him for a behind the scenes video, he said with a wiley smile, “Can I be facing the camera? Hehehehehehe.” I smiled too and thought, this guy’s alright!
“I hope this film will talk to young people, through the character of Omar, and also through his involvement with people. I hope that young people will be able to see a young man like Omar who has so much talent, but who is going in the wrong direction.”
With tons of tattooed, pierced, unshaven down and outers, several social workers, a choir led by Dr. Ron Kenoly and lots of great praise and worship music, The Bill Collector continued to roll through production.
Internationally acclaimed worship leader Dr. Ron Kenoly came onto set along with Elisabeth Omilami (RAY, THE LIST). Dr. Ron was warm, gregarious and just like you might imagine him to be. Likewise, Elisabeth was friendly and inviting. Dr. Ron and Elisabeth met that noon over lunch and the very next shooting scene, they were in […]
Day one said we’d have four scenes to shoot and over 85 extras to place. What were we thinking? But our director Cris Krusen dedicated the day to pray and people knuckled down and got to work. Twelve hours later, we finished our four scenes with 85 extras and the shots looked beautiful.
Rather than retype in all what this is about (because I’m really busy wrangling extras) I’m going to post our press release that will tell you all about it. In the coming days, when I can steal a moment, I’ll be blogging here to tell you some secrets from the set.
