Monthly Archives: June 2015

QUILTBAGS Episode 2: Meddling

“QUILTBAGS” is a web series which explores sexuality through dramatized scenes with a variety of fascinating characters. You never know who might show up, or what they might want.

If you are new to QUILTBAGS, please go back and watch Episode 1, “Little Pitchers”, which is the setup for this one and which will give you the theme song. And please don’t forget to register so that you are notified of new episodes.

This shoot was fraught with production difficulties.  We shot with two cameras, which turned out to have different settings.  Sound was also a huge problem.  As a result, the post production took far longer than it should have taken.

As we get back into the swing o’ things, and iron out the bugs in our use of the technology, this is getting easier.  The most recent episode we shot, which you won’t see until we shoot at least three more that must proceed it, was pretty much a cake walk with only a few technical problems that will show up when it posts.

We’d like to express a warm welcome to the latest member of our production team, Dana Fehr.  Dana seems to be taking over responsibility for our sound recording, which will be a huge relief to me.

Feedback from viewers has so far been overwhelmingly positive. Ruth and I have been asked to give a talk at the First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo on July 19.  Our subject will be the changing public attitudes towards what used to be called sexual deviance, as indicated by the recent vote in Ireland in favour of marriage equality, and how we hope our web series will help accelerate the change.

Now please don’t go away without leaving a comment.  We live for your feedback.
-Zale

Quiltbags Episode 1: Little Pitchers

“Quiltbags” is a web series which explores sexuality through dramatized scenes with a variety of fascinating characters. You never know who might show up, or what they might want.

This is epic, historic, hopefully not anti-climactic.  Here’s “Little Pitchers”, the first episode of Quiltbags the Web Series:  

This episode stars Ruth Anderson as Vivian Becker and Dave Peniuk as Johnathan Becker, her son.

Written and directed by Tim Johnson
Camera:  Tim Johnson
Second Camera:  Zale Dalen
Set dec:  Nicole Busby
Editor:  Tim Johnson

When I was a child, “Little pitchers have big ears.” was parental code for “Don’t talk about that.  The kids are listening.”  The phrase is in a John Prine song (“Sam Stone”), but I’m not sure it’s common usage anymore.  Haven’t heard it for years.

There’s been a huge amount of inertia to overcome to get to this point.  I suppose the difference between working inside the film and television industry and the way we work is that the industry worker is being paid to spend eight or ten hours a day on the job.  We work for the love of it, for the fun of it, for the fame and glory to come.  There’s no money to motivate people to show up.  We all have lives.  Hence the inertia.

Of course, an “industry” production has its own source of inertia.  Usually this results from trying to find the money, which can take months or years.  We don’t have to deal with that, so maybe it all balances out.  We certainly enjoy being free of the micromanagement that industrial production entails. And if there’s one thing I hate it’s a pitch session.
– Zale

We live for your comments. Please share your thoughts.  (Your comments will not appear until your first one has been approved.)