Purgatory, USA – Episode 3 is Complete

We finished up the editing for Episode 3 of Purgatory, USA.  This episode deals with the issue of trust, not only between people, but trusting in Jesus to provide when we offer things up to Him.

Tiffany, Carolyn and Dorothea in Episode 3.

Two down, two to go.  Episode 2 is 90% completed.  We had to shoot a pickup scene and a few other shots.  Other than that, it’s completely edited.  The rough cut of Episode 4 is complete… only things outstanding are color correction, audio tweaking, soundtrack, sfx, etc.

Can’t wait until these are all done!  I enjoy watching them quite a bit.  Been thinking of new episodes… just waiting for the Holy Spirit to give me the go ahead to start writing.

Discernment

Our will.  God’s will.  Free will.

These things always seem to collide, don’t they?

I really like the characters in Purgatory, USA.  And I love the actors.  And I enjoy writing the stories.  And I find watching the finished products very rewarding.  And I think the Lord could use 100 of them.

But I don’t know if that’s what he wants.  I can’t get my own will out of the way to figure out his.

Personally, I don’t know why the Lord would NOT want more Purgatory, USA episodes, but then again, he’s always been full of surprises.  The important thing for me is that I want to keep the momentum going with Sonlight Pictures.  I want to keep writing, keep shooting, keep moving.  Whether that be Purgatory, USA or something else, I want to keep shooting.

Is it exhausting?  Yes.  Would I like to take three months off?  Yes.

But I know from past experience that the momentum you gain during the production phase of a project is much harder to recreate than it is to maintain.

So… discernment.  I have to pray and listen for guidance.

Most importantly, I need to listen.

Purgatory, USA – Editing Continues

Editing on our web series Purgatory, USA continues. We’re 90% done with Episode 2 (still need a few minor shots to be filmed) and 90% done with Episode 3.

Dorothea and Tiffany on set for Episode 2

Both Episodes 2 and 3 have locations where the sound was difficult. The bulk of Episode 2, which deals with idol worship, was shot in a small dressing room. The sound reverberates quite a bit in there. We did our best to dampen it, but it is still noticeable. Frustrating, but we can’t do much about it.

In the Men’s Restroom

In Episode 3, which deals with the subject of trust, has an important scene in a men’s restroom (don’t ask) and the same issues arose there. Tile and hard surfaces don’t help. I’ll know better not to write scenes that take place in such locations in the future. Now, everything will take place in a heavily carpeted room with large, over stuffed fluffy chairs everywhere.

We hope to shoot the remaining shots for Episode 2 in the next two weeks. Editing for Episode 3 should be completed by this weekend.

Purgatory, USA – The Lord Provides…

When Jesus tasked us to start making Christian films, I knew the amount of work for each project would be daunting. Through prayer, I also came to a realization… God already has the answers to our problems… we just have to get out of the way so he can solve them.

Mike Sweeney, of the Oakland A’s, is a very devout Catholic and I saw him on an interview on EWTN. On his bible he has a picture of a tandem, two-seater bike. The front seat is empty, the back seat has someone pedaling furiously. For him, this symbolizes his faith. His job is to work as hard as he can… he lets Jesus steer and decide where that work will lead him.

And that has been my approach. It’s worked like a charm.

I work hard and let God figure out the rest. There have been plenty of times where I was really scratching my head, wondering how in the world would we pull any of our projects off. But, I would say “Lord, we need this location, so find it, let me know what you come up with.” And he does, every time. The Lord always provides.

Here’s a simple example… I found, online, some royalty-free music over at Digital Juice that would have been PERFECT for the opening credits of PUSA. I mean, perfect. Unfortunately, their online store said it was sold out and no longer available. Being royalty-free music, the devil on my shoulder suggested I just record the sample tracks available on their website and don’t tell anyone. The angel on my shoulder, however, reminded me I was a Christian filmmaker and to have faith.

So, I email the company and tell them my predicament. I even offer to pay the price of the CD just to get the rights to use the low quality samples available on their web site. The next day I receive an email from them telling me the angel on my shoulder was right… they searched their warehouse and found two copies. I called and ordered one. The Lord provided.

As certain as I am the Jesus has called me to do this, I am just as certain that he has called others as well. My job is to keep pedaling the bike and he’ll make sure we cross paths with those called to help out.

Another example… I’m dying trying to figure out a way to find three locations (stage, theater lobby, men’s restroom).  While over helping my brother Charles with his kitchen rebuild, my nephew Chris mentioned that at his job (at St. Pats) they had put up a stage.  The next day we have lunch and I check out the location… it not only has a stage, but a place for the theater lobby and a men’s restroom we can use.  Awesome.

Here’s one other way the Almighty and I have developed a short-hand of faith… in pre-production for Purgatory, USA, there were numerous times where I was certain I’d have to cancel the project. Scheduling issues, moving targets, casting concerns… it all seemed impossible. But I kept plugging along. In prayer I wondered if the challenges in front of me were put their to test my faith, put their by evil forces to disuade me, or if they were God telling me I was on the wrong track.

So, we came up with a plan… I’ll work as hard as I can… if the Lord wants me to do PUSA, then, on shoot days, things will go smoothly. If he doesn’t want me to, then shoot days will be nothing but problems. So, I ignored whatever obstacles stood between me and the shoot days. I just worked hard and asked the Lord to figure out the stuff I couldn’t control. I just focused on getting to shoot days. And though shoot days were long and exhausting, they were also went very smoothly.

As PUSA evolves I think I can see where the Lord may take this project. It may be much bigger than I ever conceived. And not in a Hollywood sort of way, but big in a large impact sort of way. If I am accurate in seeing where he’s steering us, there is a LOT more work to be done… I can’t even comprehend how it would all get done… but that’s not my problem.

My job is to pedal. Pedal hard and fast and everyday.

I’ll let Jesus steer and remember that the Lord provides… always.

Purgatory, USA – Episode 1 is Complete

Reaching any milestone in the editing frenzy that is post-production is a good thing. We completed the edit, sfx, soundtrack and color correction for Episode 1.

Tiffany and Dorothea in Episode 1.

After work last night on Episode 2, it looks like we’ll have to re-scrub our audio to get it as clean as we need it to be. Duplication of work is never preferred, but we have to provide the highest quality content that we can achieve.

Some of the locations in Episodes 2 and 3 provided sound challenges as they included small areas with hard surfaces. We tried to dampen the sound as much as we could, but the end result still has some echo to it. We’ll see what we can muster in post. No magic, to be sure, but a little massaging of the audio may help quite a bit.

We’ll have more later…

Purgatory, USA – Editing in Progress

We’ve been feverishly editing our Sonlight Pictures web series, Purgatory, USA.  We’ve completed the rough edit of all four of the initial episodes.  There is still music, sound effects and color correction that has to be completed on all of them.  Click on pics below for larger image.

Screen shot of Editing Episode 3

Writer/Director Pete Bauer mid-edit.

An example of color correction.

Overall we’re about 60% done.  We hope to have them all finished very soon.  We’ll keep you up-to-date!

Purgatory, USA – Behind the Scenes Pics

Here are some behind the scenes pictures taken during the shooting of Episodes 2-4.

Pete on set.

Dorothea hanging out with Svenge, our mannequin.

Putting Svenge together.

Painting Svenge.

Dea adding eyes and eye brows.

Dea with the finished Svenge.

Dorothea and Tiffany on set.

Pete directing Dorothea.

The girls showing off the Mary medals that Tiffany picked up in Rome.

Dorothea and Tiffany trying to think.

Pete on set with the girls.

Tiffany and Dorothea hanging with Svenge.

Dorothea practicing her tae-kwon-do.

Pete preparing Tiffany and Svenge for the shot.

Tiffany helping out with a crane shot.

Pete in tiara and flower.

Tiffany and Svenge.

Pete directing the girls on set.

St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Largo let us use their stage.

Svenge… ladies man.

The cast and crew dig into lunch.

Dorothea warms up, Svenge coaches.

Tiff, Svenge, Pete and Dorothea.

Pete, Dorothea and Tiffany on the set of Episode 3.

Pete checks the script.

Dorothea and Tiffany on set at Ruth Eckerd Hall for Episode 2.

Purgatory, USA – Primary Shooting Ends

This past week, after four straight days of shooting, we were able to complete the primary shooting schedule for the first four episodes of the web series Purgatory, USA.

The process of filming has been tough, but very rewarding. The young actors, Dorothea and Tiffany, are so enthused about the project and have been professional throughout. There were some struggles with lighting and sound in certain locations, but none of that is new for anyone who’s ever tried to put together a film.

I hope, in future episodes and Sonlight Pictures projects, that more professionals will be called to assist us in our efforts.

Beyond the large task of editing, sound mixing and soundtrack, there are some minor steps still outstanding. There are some minor shots that we need to pick-up in the next week or so. Plus, there are some interviews that I want to have with cast and crew for distribution before the release of the episodes.

On top of that we’re developing ways to make these as part of a themed discussion at local youth groups… for example, Episode One: Judgment Day, deals with being judgmental. We could use that episode as a starting point with youth groups to talk about being judgmental and how it impacts our lives and our faith.

One more thing… if you want to help us through prayer, please sign-up to be one of our Sonlight Pictures Angels. We pray for our Angels everyday and will let them know inside info on this and future projects.

Purgatory, USA – Episode 3 Screen Shots

Today we finished up shooting Episode 3, which deals with trust.

Karen and Brian join the cast.

Babs and Tiffany have a plan.

Nikki questions Babs’ idea.

Babs is confident.

And odd location for redemption.

If all goes well we’ll be able to finish shooting Episode 2 tomorrow.