The point (part 2)

Why I love making movies... Everyday that I make movies is a day that I don't have to be a security guard in downtown Seattle, finding junkies overdosed in the bathroom. Everyday that I make movies is a day that I don't have to clean up chlorine in an unventalated room and change dirty sheets in a motel that streams porno in all the rooms and charges by the hour. Everyday that I make movies is a day that I don't have to lift boxes of useless stuff, wait on rich people that want me to please them, sell tools for minimum wage, or put up with a bunch of bullshit paperwork that covers the collective asses of the obsenley rich people I work for. Everyday that I make a movie is a day that I start with zero... Just an idea in my head, and some friends to help, and I end up with something that can hopefully make someone think, or make someone happy, or make someone relate, or something that is beautiful. If I start a day with nothing and I end that day with one more small thing, then it was a great day...

Morgan writer/director

PS here is a quote from Alfonso Cuaron "The only reason you make a movie is not to make or set out to do a good or a bad movie, it's just to see what you learn for the next one." Thank god someone else thinks that...

The point

When is a movie about specific people, people in general, or types of people? Is my movie about the characters? Or is it about types of people? When a character makes a decision, am I saying that this person made this decision, or am I saying that all people make these types of decisions? Where is that line drawn?

Morgan

What we did today...

As Brad and Jed were chasing after Venu, who posed in front of rubble and Nordstrom's storefronts, I felt that I had realized what we were doing and how beautiful it was. I saw my friends and my collaborators doing their work, making the movie happen. I saw them trying their hardest, expanding, doing uncharacteristic things, learning to work together, changing to work better within the group. I saw the unbelievable level of permission we were giving each other, and how amazing it was that we were letting each other work, and try to create something beautiful together. I think this is a rare thing. Today wasn't about the movie. Today was about us being ourselves, finding a place in ourselves and in the group were we could truly let our insides show to the world. We found room to create today. We found a place where we were OK with who we were and what we were doing, no matter how ridiculous it seems. And this incredible thing made me happy.

Morgan

Unicorn shooting February 11, 2007

For the scene I was in, we shot at someone's house -- which in itself is/was a great thing. We shot on Feb 11, and as I was driving the trek from Renton to Olympia for the shoot that evening, it started pouring down rain. Since we were going to be shooting outside, I figured I better call Brad to see if we truly were going to shoot -- no answer. Uh oh. So I had no choice but to continue on down the road.....I finally got to the shoot location, and everyone was there getting set up. The first people I see were Morgan and Brad. So far so good......Morgan's adorable personality and NOT so adorable cold were there to greet me. Sicker than a dog -- or should I say Mongoose?, Morgan was determined to get this scene in the can.

For the next couple of hours, the makeup goddesses Ashley and Geerah made me and Sumner up to look like amazing mongeese. Who woulda thunk? Once our furry ears were in place, we were ready to shoot. The clouds parted like they knew better, and allowed us to shoot for the next 2 hours or so. We did many takes to get it just right. The crew, Brad, Jed and the other guys that I can't remember their names.....were so amazing. I was so impressed at the level of dedication that you all have toward this project. Even though it was fricking cold outside! Also, I have to say, that I love, love, love, Morgan's ability to work and communicate with each of us individually. He would take me or Sumner or another crew member aside when he wanted us to try a certain "thing" for a take. Morgan - you have a wonderful way with people. You ARE in the right business. Keep it up. And I still believe you have an "old" soul. Meaning that you seem to have so much wisdom already for not being on earth all that many years. Believe me, you will find the ways to communicate what's in your heart -- just keep working on it. You have left a very lasting impression with me and I thank you for that!!

Last but CERTAINLY not least, thanks so much to Ashley and Geerah for serving us some awesome potsticker soup. YUM YUM! After being outside in a bathrobe and slippers for a couple of hours (thanks again to Ashley for those props!) it was awesome to have some nice hot soup to warm the soul and the body :-).

Hats off to you all -- you are a tremendous team, and I wish you much success. I'll look forward to seeing the finished product sometime in the future!

Thanks again for a very great and memorable experience -- oh of course I can't forget -- Sumner -- it was fun being married to you even if I yelled at you the whole time. Thanks for being such a great scene partner.

I hope we cross paths again on another shoot. Victoria aka Ann

On set in Morgan's Room

Last weekend, we shot the majority of scenes that take place in Morgan's room. Morgan's room is somewhat of a stylistic oddity among the sets that are located in "Factoryland", because it is reminiscent of his old home, Happyland. Thus it is filled with bright colors and stuffed animals and happy things. The room presented challenges in setup of lighting and other equipment because it was so very small. Here is a video documenting the technical setup.