0°

PRODUCTION DIARY #8

Buckets of blood, buckets of sweat!

I will go on the record to first say that this was the hottest set I've ever worked on in my 13 years of acting.

With temperatures reaching over 100 degrees and minimal cloud cover it was just a usual Texas summer day, but with our shooting schedule, it was tough. An absolute blast, but tough nonetheless.

Actors often have to be on location for film shoots and it's important to remember the basics when such a shoot takes place, especially in the heat. Remembering to cover any allergy problems you might have is a must so keep the day enjoyable. Shooting in the country can wreak havoc on your sinuses and just two Benedryl can ensure a tough shoot day won't devolved into an agonizing one.

Also, water, water, water. With the level of professional and experienced talent we had, no one suffered from the heat. Maintaining hydration was the key to this and the production staff was certain to have plenty of fluids on hand for the cast and crew. And always remember, that working indoors during such a day can actually be worse than working outdoors as your internal temperatures rise but your exteriors don't because of the lack of sun. Also, when in costume and immersed in character, you must remember to watch for any warning signs of heat prostration, heat exhaustion or (god forbid) heat stroke. It's hard to deal with so many other things on top of the responsibilities to the film itself, but it's simply another variable that is accepted in this line of work.

The shoot itself was truly an amazing experience. Working on location in Wolf City, TX (about 30 minutes north of Greenville, TX (about 1 hour east of Dallas) was a blast and my great thanks and gratitude go to the property owners, Mike and Andrea, for allowing us to run about their farm for the entire day.

Also of note was getting the opportunity to work with the young actress Sara Songer. For only 12, Ms. Songer has shown a remarkable range, an intuitive ability to emote, and a deep understanding of both character and situation. Her turn as Clara was amazing and made every moment working together an experience I'll treasure.

Also, working to avoid the heat and turn in amazing performances were my fellow castmates Angela Owen as Angell, Kristen Hall as The Entity, David Ayers as Dr. Duncan, Joshua Moreno as Castro, and Ten Million as Cutter. Everyone turned in expert work, each doing their part to ensure a productive and focused day on set.

As I promised before, I have pics from the shoot to share. I hope you enjoy them as much as we had making them.

Cthulhu Key: Legacy Production Photos!

Stay tuned!

-Jarod