Monthly Archives: July 2015

QUILTBAGS Episode 4: Dating Advice

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 scroll down and watch Episode 1, “Little Pitchers”, which will properly introduce the series and give you our wonderful theme song. Episode 1  is the setup for this episode (episodes 2 and 3 take us on a detour with Walter and Jake). Please don’t forget to register so that you are notified of new episodes.

I suppose most viewers of this series will find it hard to believe that anybody still doesn’t know how to find a gay dating site on the Internet.  Well, think about it.  You probably know somebody like that.  If not, I can assure you that they exist.  Technophobia is rampant in Vivian’s generation.  Which is a pity because they could all find gay dating sites if they just put out a bit of effort and overcame their fears.

This episode was a collaborative writing effort between Tim Johnson, Zale Dalen, and Ruth Anderson.  We wanted it to come off like a TV ad for the Internet.  Directed and edited by Zale Dalen. Camera and lighting by Tim Johnson. Sound and technical direction by Dana Fehr.

Dating Advice stars Nicole Busby as Sarah Becker and Ruth Anderson as Vivian Becker.  The dog was voiced by GouGou.  The kettle is very old school, pure cinematic symbolism that harkens back to Hitchcock.

Nicole did the heavy lifting in this episode, having to deal with all those moves and handle the tea service props.  Her performance was so consistent that she made this very easy to edit. My feeling is we are tightening up our production and technical chops.  Each episode gets easier to shoot and better.

Please leave a comment. Please. We live for your comments.

 

QUILTBAGS Episode 3: Busted

“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 scroll down and watch Episode 1, “Little Pitchers”, which will properly introduce the series and give you our wonderful theme song, then Episode 2, “Meddling” which  is the setup for this one.  And please don’t forget to register so that you are notified of new episodes.

This episode is short, but you do get to meet the amazing Nicole Busby, who plays Sarah, wife of Jonathan, mother of Jake, daughter in law to Walter and Vivian.  I love what she did with this scene.  What a punim the woman has.  So expressive.

We’ve been shooting episodes out of order, as actors and circumstances become available.  I wish I could show you what we have waiting for release, but you’ll just have to wait.

Every time we get our act together sufficiently to film an episode, we get a bit tighter and learn a bit more.  With this one we had Dana doing his magic with the sound directly into a laptop, so our sound problems have been solved.  I learned not to say a line until I’m settled in position, so as to not lock in the cutting point.

And here’s a perfect example of how a very small thing can ruin a wide shot.  I’ve known actors do do this kind of thing intentionally, to force the editor to use the close up.  But that’s not the kind of actor I want to work with again, and not what I was doing.  I was simply unconscious.

Note to self: Don’t twiddle thumbs in a wide shot, especially when holding hands above genitalia.

This Sunday we’ll be marching in the Victoria Pride Parade, waving a banner for the series and handing out cards with the URL.  If you are going to be there, say hi.

Please stay tuned.  Register so you are notified of new episodes, and please please please leave a comment.  We live for your comments. -Zale