Serena B. Miller's Blog, page 10

Day five: movie set of Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio pt 1

So Friday we moved the production office, base camp and set to the Garaway Athletic Fields (Baseball field) (Google Maps Link) to shoot the incredible scene from the book where Joe gives away his identity during the ball game. The day started off early with people coming in from all over the place. We had extras coming from Columbus, Cleveland, the local surrounding areas and even from Scioto county down south! We had a nice size crowd to fill the stands (to give the illusion that we were there to cheer for the teams) The weather was just amazing, and perfect for an outdoors shoot. About 90% of the day consisted of a high-in-the sky thick fog. Some people would think “How in the world could a foggy day be perfect conditions for a bright and sunny game day scene?” When the lighting crew sets up for a shot, they have to put up diffusers, to diffuse or scatter the light so that we don’t have spot/harsh/concentrated lights being cast on the actors/actresses or scenes which can create unwanted shadows. So instead of having to constantly setup diffusers and reflects to get the light where we wanted it, we were blessed with a natural full sky diffuser. Next thing on the check list, crowd placement. Once you’re placed, its imperative for you to stay locked to that spot till told otherwise. If you start moving around to different seats during the different takes/camera angles, you’ll look like those tires tracks you spot in the background when watching an old western…something just isn’t right and can sometimes distract the audience from the story and feel of the intended emotion of the scene. Now comes the waiting part… you sit when you’re told, you stand when you’re told, you cheer and shout when you’re told, and you pantomime when you’re told…which is a lot harder than you think. Trying to clap and cheer without actually making any noise is quite the challenge. So the main characters of the story come onto set and are placed directly in front of, none other than our very own Kerri D., Annie D., Simon D., Eli C., Adam C., and Kara Jo M. So when you watch the movie for the 4th, 5th, or 6th time make sure to look behind Elise, Rachel and Bobby and you’ll see our very own budding superstars! We had more friends in the stands and I’ll let you play where’s waldo when the movie comes out On a side note I’m still not sure what my character was doing, I was wearing a Garaway Pirates shirt, but I was cheering for the Fire Fighters. Not by choice, but I think my character may have been suffering from identity issues. I think all our voices were shot and hoarse by the end of the day. I’ll post more later.

Best wishes,-Jacob

(Broad view of what the extras saw most of the day)

(Annie demanded hair and makeup, what a diva… just joking, everyone had a great time and everyone was a great sport about everything!)

Day four: movie set of Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio

Today was catch-up day… for Mom and I. She had edits due on her next Amish Book Fearless Hope, and I needed to take care of some much needed computer work. But the film crew waits for no man! Well, except for maybe the main character, they’re kind of crucial to the whole story thing, who knew? I can however fill everyone in on the events that did take place today. So a lot of today’s scenes revolved around Joe and Bobby driving in their truck, before it breaks down, while it breaks down, and after it breaks down. We also introduced another character to the story, Eli (Ken) As most of you already know, Eli was the Amish man who helped Joe and Bobby in their many predicaments. Today we got to film Eli picking Joe and Bobby up, a lot of dialogue between Eli and Joe, and just some general Eli driving around in a buggy. Our Eli was an actor and although I did not get to witness it first hand, many of the film crew said he played a very convincing Amish man, and was stopped by a few tourists asking if he was Amish. (I’m sure the real Old Order Amish would have been able to spot him a mile away as an imposter, but for all intents and purposes, he did his part well) So after all the filming was finished, edits were wrapped up and computer work was accomplished, we got to help fulfill a veteran-wardrobe-expert’s dream. Christine, our resident wardrobe expert and master seamstress, had never seen a treadle sewing machine in action and had been wanting to for years. Since we’re in Amish country, and since Mom has an uncanny ability to befriend anyone with ears, we just so happened to have some Amish friends near by who happen to have a couple treadle machines (if you don’t know what one is, its basically a sewing machine powered by your feet, instead of a motor) We met up with Christine after the filming was done today and took her over to our Amish friend’s house. We ended up outside on lawn chairs in the pitch black for about 45 minutes waiting for our Amish friends to return from a wedding. Now I could go into detail about why we had to wait so long and why Thursday’s are reserved for weddings, instead of the traditional English Saturdays, and why the wedding starts at 8 in the morning and why the celebration doesn’t end till… well whenever people start leaving… but that would be too interesting and you would learn too much. So instead download Mom’s first hand account of a real Amish wedding and learn it that way: An Amish Wedding Invitation; An eShort Account of a Real Amish Wedding

Anyways, our Amish friends made it home, welcomed us in, and showed Christine how a non-electric treadle sewing machine works. You would’ve thought Christine had just opened the best Christmas present she’d ever seen, and was squealing over the experience. Our Amish friends were grinning from ear to ear from seeing someone so excited over something they took for granted. All and all, a good day, and its time to get my beauty rest for tomorrow’s big baseball game scene!

Best wishes,

-Jacob

(This is a traditional treadle sewing machine if anyone was wondering, not the one Christine used)

(Christine enjoying the treadle sewing machine immensely!)

Day three: movie set of Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio

Day three started off with Amish boys chasing after a runaway horse and buggy barreling down Main street at 8:30 in the morning. The locals didn’t think much of it till they noticed no one was driving the buggy… for whatever reason the camera crew tracking along in the camera van wasn’t a dead give away… A majority of the scenes were shot on Main street today, utilizing the local Police dept. who helped block off and detour traffic. Watching Rachel (Sarah) driving the police cruiser around town with a massive camera rig attached to it was very interesting to witness. We also shot Joe (Tom) and Bobby (Thomas) at the mechanic’s garage when their truck breaks down. That shot was going great until the Worlds Largest Cuckoo Clock (click for more details) (which is right next to the garage) decided it was 12:30 and time to do what it does best… Play Polka music! (needless to say, the microphones were picking up the music a little too well) After that we moved to the local family medical center where Joe takes Bobby to be checked out. Then came the moment we all had been waiting for, Serena’s big role as the Cashier at the convenient mart! Let’s just say she needs to stick to writing… No, but seriously, she did just fine, minus the cash register not cooperating, noisy grocery bagging, and watching the thief blatantly steal Joe’s wallet… through the magic of editing… Voila! A perfectly executed scene! She was a nervous wreck, but she didn’t forget her line, not even once! Normally the crew doesn’t applaud after the final take, but this time they did, not sure if they were just happy to be done… or just so proud of her that she made it through Tom did an awesome job today playing Joe and is a pleasure to work with. He helped Mom get through her part and was cracking jokes all the time to help her feel at ease. He also made it a point to came over and inform me that I got a little too much sun yesterday. Thanks Tom!

Best wishes,

-Jacob

(This is starting to happen a lot around here, people from the crew and locals are seeking out the Author and getting her signature)

(Connie was back today to play an Amish woman in the background, shh, don’t tell her that her dress is on backwards… cause she already knows!)

(The crew setting up lighting and props to make being the cashier easier for Mom)

(Back behind the cameras and director’s monitors, we got to see on the sound booth’s monitors what was being captured)

Day two: movie set of Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio

So day two was amazing as well. We shot the indoor/outdoor church scenes, the buggy ride to the picnic, and the picnic by the pond today. Weather was awesome and the talent was even better. Sarah and Tom are doing a great job bringing the characters to life and at one point during the picnic scene, Mom started to cry from happiness over Sarah’s ability to capture Rachel’s emotional telling of her father’s murder. (quote from Mom: “I never dreamed my words would ever be spoken as if they were real!”) Here are a couple photo’s that can’t even begin to explain what Mom is getting to experience here and a picture of Connie Troyer who edited the book and was thrilled she got to be an extra in the movie. (Go Connie!)  As for me, I’m on informational overload and loving every minute of it, and best thing of all, I’m not responsible for any of the technical stuff!

Kind regards

-Jacob

(Outside the church doing close-ups of the excitement over getting to go on a picnic)

(After capturing the footage of the buggy connected to the horse, and being driven by Tom (Joe), we needed footage of their faces while ridding in the buggy, this is part of the movie magic, by hitching the buggy to the van!)

(Connie Troyer and Serena)

 

First day on the movie set of Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio

First off, all I can say is Wow! We arrived around noon, Monday, at “Base Camp” and were immediately whisked away to the filming location for that day. The sound manager (who has a Doctorate in sound!) handed us some headphones and we started to watch this chaotic organism come to life. The whole crew was just buzzing around us, knowing exactly what equipment to get, exactly where to set up, and rarely questioning the managers in charge of the different areas. They were all working extremely fast, efficient, and safely, trying to take the vision of the director and make it a reality. Everyone we’ve met has been very friendly and very excited to see Serena. Mom is a little overwhelmed and just received another assignment of edits for Fearless Hope, so I’ll be trying to keep everyone in the loop and will try to post pictures when I can.

Kind Regards

-Jacob

Free eBook! One day only!

The Measure of Katie Calloway is FREE all day Sunday (9/15) on Kindle (Amazon’s eBook service)

If you haven’t gotten a chance to experience the first book in this Michigan Lumber Camp Historical series or just want a digital copy of this award winning novel to call your own, come check it out and spread the word!

Here’s the link to the Amazon Kindle page: http://amzn.com/B005HF2V3W

Kind regards! -Jacob

P.S. You don’t need a “Kindle” to read Amazon’s digital eBooks, there is a Kindle App for Android devices and iPhones / iPads / iPods! (or you can even read it on your computer by downloading the Kindle App)

Attention Bargain Shoppers!!

A Promise To Love is normally listed at $14.99.

For August only, A Promise To Love has been chosen to be part of Kindle’s 100 promotion, which is 100 e-books they choose each month to sell for $3.99 (or less.) .

Other retailers, like Apple, Barnes & Noble, and CBD, (see links below)  have also chosen to put it on sale. This promotion ends 8/31/2013.

So–if anyone has been hesitating to download A Promise To Love–this is the month to get it!

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / CBD / iTunes

Honorary Rase

The six extraordinary children of Carl and Madelyn Rase….and me. I got to be an honorary Rase for an evening at the annual “Rase Roundup!” Steve and I grew up with this family and it was great to see all if them again. By the way, the scene from The Measure Of Katie Calloway where Katie gets a job offer based on her ability to make an apple pie was based on my memories of their mama’s apple pie. That pie was so good it has lingered forever in my memory, right alongside the feeling of welcome and peace i felt in their home.

American Christian Fiction Writers Association (ACFW)

I’ve been a member of ACFW for more years than I can remember. I’ve watched it grow from a fledgling organization to the huge and active proponent of Christian literature that it is now. I’ve also sat at the awards banquet at their yearly national conference year after year cheering my writer friends on as they vied for position for the coveted Carol Awards. I hoped, but never really expected, to final in the Carol, myself.

Last week, I cooked at a primitive church camp on an island in Canada. No electricity, no cell phone, no indoor plumbing. Bathing was accomplished by plunging into a body of water named Ice Lake. I was driving home, feeling grungy and sleep deprived, with my oldest son. We stopped for lunch, and I received a phone call I’ll never forget. The caller, who was from ACFW, informed me that my book, An Uncommon Grace, was a finalist in the Carol Award. I started to squeal but she stopped me. “AND,” she said dramatically, “Your historical, A Promise To Love, is ALSO a finalist!”

That’s when my son had to give me a stern look to keep me from jumping on the table and dancing. All I could do the rest of the way home was repeat over and over, “I double finalled in the Carols, Derek!”And he would patiently reply, “I know, Mom.”

A writer fights against self-doubt every day of our lives. Something like this makes me think that maybe, just maybe, by the grace of God, I’m doing a good job after all.

The ACFW conference is in September. I’ll be there, hopefully wearing something fancy if I can find anything that fits. If I win–God be praised. If I lose–God will still be praised. Either way, I am one happy camper!

Click here for the list of finalists for the 2013 Carol Awards

National Day Of Prayer

[image error]Every year on May 1st, in Portsmouth, Ohio, you will find a small table set up in the rotunda of our beautiful courthouse with local volunteers doing something many people would consider quite unremarkable…reading the Bible out loud.

Why do we do it? One reason only. Because we still CAN!!

It isn’t at all impressive. It isn’t even particularly evangelistic. It’s just one person, reading the Bible into a microphone for one-half hour while people with court business walk past, then that person hands the Bible off to the next person and the next. This goes on all day. Quietly. Seamlessly. No fanfare.

My reading started at Mark, chapter 13. I read through the betrayal by Judas, the scourging of Christ, the horrific crucifixion, the doubt of the believers, and then the amazing resurrection. I stumbled over some of the King James words–a translation I rarely read–but I read aloud the Word of God for a half-hour and then handed off to my friend, Steve Williams, who then handed off to our friend, JoAnn Miller, who handed it off to my husband.

Funny thing. Even written in the archaic words of King James English, in an echoing rotunda, in an age where we are practically entertained to death—the Word of God still has the power to move me to tears.

It is a very big deal to have the freedom to read the Bible out loud in a public building. People have died for that right. In a quiet way, that half-hour felt downright victorious.