King of the Lovely Bones - Director Peter Jackson

As a young girl, my sister, her friend and I would walk in the moonlight down our long driveway and along Sugartown Road miles and miles to the friends' house.  It was dark and brooding and warm, and as we pass a particular lane with a large open field, the friend would point and say "That's the field, where they found the dead girl".  I was ll years old, never got the details, but the imagery of the marble shadows and ominous site stayed with me all these years.  Watching the filming on a nearby street for the Lovey Bones, I wondered about that girl.  At one point, as an extra for one day, I watched Peter Jackson directing.  He is meticulous in the look of the film, and he took more takes of complex scenes than any other director I have worked under so far in My Year As A Movie Extra.  I loved watching him work.  My scene is the adorable teenage boy sitting in the gazebo with the old shopping mall activity behind him as he talks with a girl.  I am directly behind them talking with another woman on a bench, and most likely I will be in the film.  I didn't dare take pictures on the set for fear of being thrown off.  I loved every minute of it.  Can't help but think about Susie and the field where they found the dead girl here in my home town. 

Making little movies

Been awhile since I posted here. You'll see me in the film The Happening in June (just an extra), yeah that's me with a faux husband walking behind Mark Wahlberg at 30th St Station. Seems I keep ending up in movies with Mark Walhberg (was looking forward to Ryan Gosling in The Lovely Bones, but he was replaced by, guess who...). Have been shooting little movies myself, and finished 2nd draft of my first feature screenplay. I submitted to Sandance for the screenwriter lab, so I have been busy. I also have work in upcoming The Artful Nude exhibition at The Center for Fine Art Photography in Colorado, opens this summer. I'll be traveling out for the opening and some time to wander in the mountains.

I'm teaching myself Final Cut on my new mac laptop. I miss the days I could hold the celluloid and cut it, join it and add the soundtrack. Digital editing may be easier once you figure it out, but so far it is daunting. I am putting together a piece I'd like to submit to Ira Glass, whose This American Life I look forward to each week. I've shot the footage; this still image of a corn crib is part of the footage which will tell the story...