FROZEN STUPID - The Journal, Part One

In addition to writing for HollywoodJesus.com, I also work in film production. Recently, I had the pleasure of working as Script Supervisor on an indie comedy called FROZEN STUPID, shot on Houghton Lake, Michigan. The movie is directed by Rich Brauer, DP for Jeff Daniel's movie ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT. About ice fishing, FROZEN STUPID stars Ernest Borgnine. Here are a few journal entries that I thought you all might enjoy. (By the way, I'm wearing the hat with the cross on it in the crew shot.)

Sunday, January 22, 2006

I arrive at the Comfort Inn Suites at about 4:00pm. I’ll be sharing a room with friend, gaffer and Brauer Productions veteran Jim Wrocklage. I’m OK with that because Jim doesn’t snore. On the way inside, I meet Rich out in the parking lot and he tells me they batted 1,000 yesterday doing the parade scene. After checking out the shanty interior set on the 4th floor of the hotel, we all load up in the Limberlost shuttle bus (Limberlost is a Houghton Lake legendary restaurant) and head over to Springbrook Inn for a private dinner with crew, Ernest Borgnine, and actress Kimberly Guerrero. I eat a very tasty Mahi Mahi dish. Our table is all crew and only one female, the 1st AD Holli Bremer. We mostly discuss cars and websites that have grisly crime photos. Hope I can sleep tonight. The first night in a strange hotel is usually rough.

Monday, January 23, 2006

In the morning we shot at the Killkare Inn, a local watering hole in Houghton Lake. Purpose Rose Theater veteran Randy Godwin who plays Wendell (Purple Rose Theater was started in Chelsea, Michigan by actor Jeff Daniels) did some great improvisational storytelling with his “bull� stories. Funny guy. First days of shoots are always sloppy for me. I got to get my rhythm, my continuity mojo back. I quickly abdicated giving up the slate to Holli. Seems I wasn’t alone in my awkwardness. Somebody forgot to bring extra blank tapes to the set and someone had to drive back to the hotel to get some. Oh well. The end result wasn’t compromised and we all pledged to do better the next day. The great thing about Brauer shoots is that we all have fun and give each other lots of grace. If you can’t have fun in what you do, give it up and do something else. In afternoon, we went out on the ice. They drove Rich’s truck out there too and the ice creaked and groaned, making us all a little nervous.