Serena B. Miller's Blog, page 9

Attention Bargain Shoppers! eBook Sale!

I LOVE IT! MY PUBLISHER IS GIVING READERS A BREAK!

Some of you might remember that my book, An Uncommon Grace, was one of three finalists (out of several hundred entries by published authors) in the Carol Awards last month.

The good news is–my publisher informs me they are only charging $1.99 for the ebook from now until October 25th. (Instead of the $10-$15 they usually charge.)

These chilly fall days could be a perfect time for cozying up with a cup of cocoa, a quilt, and a bargain copy of An Uncommon Grace.

ENJOY!

-Serena

Locations to grab a copy!

Amazon Kindle / B&N Nook / CBD / Google Play / Kobo

FINALLY! THE BABY ARRIVES!!

So…little Miss Clara Grace Miller finally decided to make her appearance at 12:52 p.m. yesterday afternoon, more than a week past her expected due date. She weighed eight pounds five ounces, was twenty-one inches long, has curly black hair and is a healthy baby!

She’s also gorgeous. We are, of course, not a bit prejudiced–but it is our contention that she is quite possibly the prettiest baby girl in the universe!

Our daughter-in-law, Meaghan, had been hoping for a completely natural childbirth, and managed to have one in spite of being overdue more than a week. Eleven hours labor. She is tired but so happy. This is her and Caleb’s first baby. He is nearly as relieved as Meaghan–not only about the safe arrival of his newborn daughter, but of the fact that he did NOT pass out (as he greatly feared) and the staff did NOT have to drag him out of the birthing room feet first.

Thanks to having a Canadian mother and American father, Clara Grace will have dual citizenship, which is very cool, as is having plenty of grandparents and uncles and cousins and aunts who totally adore her. It has been ten years since we had a newborn in the family, so I doubt she’ll be laid down for awhile. We’re just kinda spending all our time passing her around right now, taking turns rocking and admiring her.

Here’s what has been running through my mind every time I look at that sweet little face: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8 NIV)

-Serena

Serena becoming a grandma again! And thoroughly enjoying it!

Caleb is completely mesmerized by the new addition to their family!

 

Day eighteen: (10-5) movie set of LFY Sugarcreek Ohio (Final Day)

Our grandbaby chose to ignore her delivery date after all, and so our family continues to wait with bated breath for this precious little girl to arrive. My son and daughter-in-law have wisely chosen not to share her name with anyone until she gets here (we are an opinionated bunch, and they are worried there will never be a consensus) and so we continue to call her “Twinkle-Toes” the nickname my husband gave her after seeing an ultra-sound where she was wiggling her little feet.

In Sugarcreek, the bank robbery scene is being filmed. One of the local banks has been kind enough to allow the crew to film there. It is interesting to me that the last scene filmed will be the first one movie-goers will see. As a writer, I have the luxury of describing in as many words as I need, a characters’ back story and thoughts. But the director and actors must “show” everything. An emotion I can describe in depth, must be shown, in milliseconds, on an actor’s face. My heroine Rachel’s back story–the day her daddy gets shot and she stops being a little girl–has to be shown, not told.

It is to be a relatively short day because it is the last. I’m assuming things will go smoothly. When I left yesterday, they were actually ahead of schedule–which is pretty unheard of in the movie industry.

Today, although it is good to be home, I’m missing the new friends I made on the set, and also thinking back on the things I have learned.

Prejudice often lurks in the strangest cracks and crannies of our minds. I’m beginning to think that it can take a lifetime to root it all out. If you had asked me a month ago if I was a prejudiced person, I would have laughed at the thought. I have no problem with different cultures or skin colors. This world is one of fascinating diversity to me. I did not think I had any prejudice about professions, either. In my opinion, the sweet woman who cleaned my hotel room is as worthy of respect as the attorney I met on set. Both work hard at their jobs. .

I did, however, have one prejudice of which I was unaware–it was about the people who make our movies. When I decided to spend time on the set, I assumed I would be spending time with at least a few spoiled, overpaid Hollywood-types. I expected to see enlarged egos and watch at least a couple hissy fits.

What I saw was not what I expected.

Instead of seeing an actor with an over-sized ego, I saw Tom Evert Scott jump up to help a local waitress who was overloaded to the point of dropping a tray. I experienced Tom taking the time to kindly encourage me as I struggled through my small cameo role. Sweet Sarah Lancaster, took the time to comfort and hug me when I broke down in tears at the beauty of her scene at the lake. I will forever carry the image of Kelly McGillis patiently sitting on a box in the hot sun, repeatedly getting up to say her lines over and over whenever they needed her. Such humble professionalism in spite of being a movie icon. I’ll always remember the skilled wardrobe ladies doing laundry and alterations late into the night after everyone else had gone to bed. I’ll always remember watching a very young, but extremely competent and focused crew working twelve and fourteen-hour shifts day after day.

In between scenes I had time to talk with many of the people involved in the making of this movie and I heard life stories that made me practically gasp with the pain of what some of them had endured. It didn’t take long to realize that we were one bruised and battered group of people who were coming together to create a cinematic gift for other people to enjoy.

The director, Terry Cunningham, told me yesterday that one of his favorite moments of being in this business is sitting in a crowded theater, watching and listening to people enjoy a movie he directed. “That’s the best feeling, Serena,” he said, wistfully. “That is the absolute best feeling!”

A few minutes later, I was talking to Stephen Campanello, production manager, as he congratulated me on having written a good book for them to work with. In response, I quoted another romance writer. “I’m not trying to change the world,” I said. “I’m just trying to brighten someone’s weekend.”

“But maybe…” Stephen said. “Maybe it is possible to change the world by brightening enough people’s weekends.”

Mission Pictures International, which is producing this movie, is a relatively new production company trying to make a difference by creating family-friendly movies with strong moral values.They are not alone. There are others.

The Uplift cable channel, on which this movie will first air, has over 65 million viewers, and is adding more every day. I had the pleasure of spending a few hours with one of the Uplift executives from L.A. who came to visit our set. She spoke passionately with me about her vision for creating a television station that will continually “uplift” our culture instead of tearing it down.

We Christians are awfully quick to criticize Hollywood. Sometimes that criticism is justified. But after what I’ve seen these past couple of weeks, I can’t help but wonder if it might not be wise to remember to throw a little praise their way when they get it right.

As for me….from this point on, I will be offering some heartfelt prayer for those brave souls who are trying to change the world by brightening someone’s weekend….one good movie at a time.

-Serena

Front Page of the Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio Movie Flyer

Back Page of the Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio Movie Flyer

Day seventeen: (10-4) movie set of LFY Sugarcreek Ohio

Tomorrow, Saturday October 5th, is the last day of filming. Everyone looks forward to this day, but there’s some bitter sweetness to it as well. For weeks everyone has worked together, eaten together, and shared our lives with one another. A movie set becomes a mini-family. Now, with things drawing to a close, we know there are those on this particular set we’ll probably never see again.

The director is hopeful that he’ll have some rough footage put together by tomorrow evening to show us. I’m dying to see it–but have decided to go home a day early. Some things are simply more important than movies……

Today is our baby granddaughter’s “due” date, which is a worry to me. When I came up here for the movie, I planned on simply jumping in the car the minute I got the call to come home, no matter what was going on in Sugarcreek. The crew knew I might disappear at any moment and they understood why. Unfortunately, there was one major flaw with this plan. It is nearly impossible to get AT&T phone service in Ohio Amish country. This has made things difficult for the crew and it made getting a phone call from home very dicey. I’m getting nervous that I won’t even get word that our Meaghan is in labor.

I stop by the filming to let them know I’m leaving, and to greet little ten-year-old Madison Blake who is on the set for the first time. Today they are filming police-station scenes. The one I watch is where, after young Rachel’s father is killed, her Amish aunts come to take her home with them. This is the last scene in which the three aunts will appear. I’ve discovered that it is tradition for the crew to applaud an actor when their very last scene is finished. We all give the three aunts a round of applause–then there is a round of picture-taking in which I am asked to take part. I had not planned on this–and am dressed for a day of driving. Seems I spend my life being a day late, a dollar short, and only about half-ready….but oh well.

My editor for this book, Connie Troyer, actually lives in Sugarcreek about five minutes away and has kindly offered to store “my” Sugar Haus Inn sign for me until I can make other arrangements. I give Connie’s address to Teresa, the girl who helps create all the props, who tells me she’ll have the crew drop it off at Connie’s home. They also explain that they need to have all props accessible in Sugarcreek for about a month, just in case a scene needs to be shot again. I’m coming back up for a book signing in Berlin in November, and will make arrangements to take it back then. (Hey–THANKS SO MUCH for everyone who offered to help me with this!!)

My leaving creates a flurry of last-minute book signings for the crew–some of whom are doing their Christmas shopping for relatives early. Also, I sign a book for the chief of police, Kevin, who–like so many Sugarcreek residents–have gone out of his way to facilitate this movie–and I am able to thank him for all he and his officers have done. (They even unearthed OLD uniforms, no longer in use, to make the “young Rachel” scene accurate.)

I have learned a lot and made memories I will always cherish–but it is time to get back home. Not only do I have a newborn to look forward to cuddling soon, I have another book to finish before January 15th. No more lolly-gagging around a movie set for me!

I do have some general observations I want to make before this blog ends. But this is getting long, and I’ll save the wrap-up for tomorrow.

-Serena

 

Serena B. Miller (Author) – Kelly McGillis (Bertha Troyer) – Madison Blake (Young Rachel Troyer) – Annie Kitral (Lydia Troyer) – Marianna Alacchi (Anna Troyer) – After the final filming of the 3 aunts on the movie set of Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio

Day sixteen: (10-3) movie set LFY Sugarcreek Ohio

One of the many things I was surprised by during the filming is how scenes are not done in chronological order at all. The reason is that this makes it possible to cluster scenes together that take place in the same location. The reason this is necessary is because there are massive trailers that accompany the crew. The trailers have rooms for wardrobe, makeup, and places for the actors to rest and to dress, plus a couple of restrooms. Moving the trailers and setting them up is a major undertaking.

Today was devoted entirely to the action that happens inside of Rachel’s “house.” Some of this involves a big knock-down fight scene using a stunt double for Sarah Lancaster. This worked out well because we had rain today and the timing was perfect for indoor scenes. I now know how cramped it can get when interior scenes are filmed and decided that this would be a good day to get some research done on this non-fiction book I’m writing on Amish Parenting.

This was a pleasant task because it involved visiting the homes of a couple excellent Old Order Amish mothers with whom I’ve been friends for several years. I accidentally interrupted home schooling at one mother’s house, but she welcomed me in spite of it. The children–just like most non-Amish children–were happy to postpone their work for a short while, as their mother and I chatted.

I found the other Old Order Amish mother cleaning out the top story of her family’s massive barn. She was just about finished, so we pulled up a couple of bales of hay for seats and settled in for a nice long visit. A rainstorm beating against the high roof, made the barn an especially cozy place to chat. She is very interested in the making of this movie–and asked if she’ll ever get to see it. We have come up with a plan. It involves tacking a large, white bed sheet on the barn wall, firing up a generator, using an extension cord and projector…..and then inviting the entire extended Amish family over for our very own homemade premier of Love Finds You In Sugarcreek, Ohio! I can’t imagine a more appropriate way to view it.

-Serena

PS This is what I’m thinking of doing for my Amish friends, and maybe for other premiere screenings! Has anyone tried this? Or does anyone have any suggestions on how to make this better? I think Jacob can rig something up, but I’m always open to ideas!

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Outdoor Movie Fun! I know this is kind of on the small side, but I liked the picture.
Source: flickr – plural: Jason Gessner

Day fifteen: (10-2) movie set of LFY Sugarcreek Ohio

WOW!!!  The most exciting scenes of all were filmed today!!  So here’s what happened:

Our Props masters helped make the house look like it had gone through a fire.

When I arrived, the props people had “burned” Effie and Vernon’s real farmhouse we’re renting. This was done with blackened paper stuck on white clapboards. It really did look like they had experienced a fire. Sugarcreek’s intrepid fire department were there with the fire truck and hoses strung all over the yard. These volunteer fire fighters were wearing heavy fire suits and helmets in 80+ degree weather.

Special effects artists were brought in to create controlled smoke and fire

Then tonight, they filmed the fire scene with the mock up of a portion of Effie and Vernon’s house that they’ve been building in a field all week long. A special effects crew was hired to come in and handle the fire. Of course, several members of the fire department were there with fire extinguishers just in case anything went wrong. I watched as the special effects people set up pipes with propane flames shooting up behind the windows, as well as setting a wall behind the window afire by applying some sort of rubber cement-like stuff and setting it ablaze. While all this fire was going on, Aunt Anna, is trapped and afraid and screaming for help and Joe has to break in a window to get to her. It was pretty impressive in real-life, but when I saw it on the monitor with all the camera angles and lighting—it looked so real I could hardly believe it.

All this was taking place in a field after dark, and I glanced up and saw a whole bunch of Amish people sitting up at the top of a small nearby hill watching. One of the crew members went up to invite them down to watch it more closely. Once they were reassured that they would not be filmed, they were happy to do so and asked a lot of questions.

Only three more days of shooting, and the filming of this movie will be finished. It has gone astonishingly well, and we are on schedule. Now–I have a quandary. Teresa, who does an amazing job on creating props, asked me if I would like to have the “old” Sugar Haus Inn sign to take home with me. This is a six-by-three sign that she made look beat up and derelict, and I fell in love with it the minute I saw it. It would make a great keepsake to hang on my porch, but I’m not sure how on earth to get it home in my car. I don’t think Steve will be amused if I duct tape it to the roof, but I’m tempted.

-Serena

Sugarcreek volunteer Firefighters helped create a real atmosphere for the set.
Thank you guys!

The point before the controlled burn, making sure everything was framed up correctly for the cameras

 

Day fourteen: (10-1) movie set of LFY Sugarcreek Ohio

Yesterday was cold and overcast, and I had not taken a sweater, so I was chilly all day. Today, I dressed warmly–as did most of the crew–and, of course, it was broiling and sunny all day and many of us spent the day slightly miserable. The yellow jackets happily joined us and added their buzzing, nosy, presence to our party. I was chatting with the chief of police and not paying attention as I started to take a sip of coffee. Someone standing nearby stopped me and pointed out that I was about to inhale the yellow jacket that was exploring the inside of my cup.

Marianna Alacchi playing Anna in Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio

My favorite scene today was when Chloe (Joe’s uppity agent from L.A.) verbally lashes out at Aunt Anna (who has the mental capacity of a child) and hurts Anna’s feelings. Marianna Alacchi (“Homicide: Life on the Street”) who is the actress portraying Anna, does a wonderful job portraying a mentally-challenged adult. Joe defends Anna and tells Chloe to never talk to her like that again. One of the reasons I love this scenes is because the script-writer includes a great pay-back on the part of Anna later on in the movie.

Other members of the cast include:

Annie Kitral (Jack Reacher, “Judging Amy”)

Nicole Badaan (Born to Race: Fast Track, Bigfoot)

Ken Strunk (Promised Land, Secretariat)

Greg Violand (“Miracle Dogs”)

Jeffrey Grover (Made in Cleveland, Compliance)

and newcomers Katherine Deboer and Madison Blake. A really nice ensemble.

Yesterday, I met Madison Blake, who will play ten-year-old “young Rachel” in a scene later this week (the one at the bank where Rachel’s father gets shot trying to stop a bank robbery.)  Madison is absolutely adorable and looks like she could easily grow up to look just like Sarah Lancaster. Yet once again, great casting. This is her first movie and she’s all excited. Her mom is warm and outgoing and thrilled for her daughter. It was a special moment in the book store when I met her. I was busy signing books, glanced up, and there was this sweet little girl holding her book out for me to sign.

Oh, and I was chatting with the news anchor extra who rudely interrogates Joe in the movie and I discovered that he really IS a news anchor in real life whose station is allowing him to take the time to have a part in this movie. He’s a good-looking guy with a nice sense of humor about the part he’s playing.

Sarah and Tom had a scene in a corn field that involved several takes and camera angles. I was struck once again at just how much sheer physical and emotional endurance their work takes.They stood, in the hot sun, for take after take, patiently repeating their lines. Putting emotion behind each line, time-after-time.

Sarah and I were talking later about costumes, and how much she starts to dislike each one, no matter how much she loved it at first, after wearing it day-after-day for filming. I told her that in a way, I understood how she felt. After working and reworking a manuscript there comes a moment when I’m so sick of it, I just want to burn it.

It strikes me how easy it is to underestimate other people’s work. The only thing I’ve ever seen from actors is the final product. Now, I have a very small inkling of what it takes. It’s amazing how many hours of excruciating and repetitive filming it takes for just a few seconds of cinema.

Tomorrow we set the Sugarhaus Inn on “fire.” I can’t wait.

-Serena

Building of the mock portion of the house is almost finished for the fire scene tomorrow!

 

 

 

Day thirteen: (9-30) movie set LFY Sugarcreek Ohio

Today is the day in the script where the “media” discovers who Joe Matthews really is and descends on his cabin. This involved borrowing local news vans and engaging plenty of extras who dressed up as news reporters and repeatedly ran up the hill while pretending to snap pictures and shout questions at Joe. They did a great job–but I think some of them got a whole lot more exercise than they were expecting!

Today we got to see the “clean-cut” Joe where he shaves off his beard and faces the media as himself. I had gone to visit some Amish friends in the neighborhood, but one of the extras said that the look he gave Rachel as she sees him clearly for the first time, pretty much melted every female heart there.

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Thomas Kapanowski playing “Bobby” in Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio

In real life, the Old Order Amish mother of the man who owns the farm where the movie is being filmed came to watch. She had read the book long ago, and was excited that much of the movie was being filmed on her son’s farm. She also asked me who the little Amish boy was she saw running around. The little “Amish” boy happened to be our young actor playing Bobby (Thomas Kapanowski) who was dressed up at that moment in Amish clothing for one scene. The costume department had done such a good job dressing him, I don’t think anyone could tell the difference.

I got interviewed again by a different film crew and with different questions. Yet again I was humbled by how very hard it is to think clearly with a camera filming every second. Stick a camera and a mic in my face and what do you get? Brain freeze.

Tomorrow we film the house-burning-down scene. The crew have been working diligently on building the set. Everyone is excited to see it.

-Serena

Paparazzis crowding around Joe’s doorstep on the set of Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio

Another angle of Paparazzis crowding around Joe’s doorstep on the set of Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio

 

Day twelve: (9-28) movie set of LFY Sugarcreek Ohio

We filmed out at the farmhouse today. The main scene they worked on was the one I opened with in the book–where Rachel (Sarah Lancaster) is trying to talk her three elderly aunts into closing the Sugarhaus Inn. They are reluctant to do so, and try to deflect her request. Finally Bertha (Kelly McGillis) agrees to close down the Inn–under one condition–that if God brings a stranger to their door that needs their help, they will not turn that stranger away. In the background is a wooden plaque with the scripture about entertaining angels unaware hanging on the wall. Rachel (Sarah) is not happy with this and starts to protest, but Bertha (Kelly) stands up and in that perfect Amish accent says “This is scripture, Rachel, and we will not compromise on doing God’s will.”

With that, yet once again, I was clawing in my purse for a tissue,so amazed to hear words I had written come to life.  One of the crew members, a man of faith, came over, gave me a hung and whispered in my ear “We will not compromise on doing God’s will.”  Of course that made me tear up even more. Honestly–in my normal life I seldom cry–but watching these amazing actors is keeping me right on the edge.

Terry Cunningham doing an awesome job directing and is definitely in his element

I spent several hours with head phones on this morning, in a crowded, back basement room, enjoying watching the movie unfold on the monitors–while Terry Cunningham, our director, orchestrated the actors’ movements, camera angles, lighting, and the nuances of the actor’s expressions and voices. I notice that he watches every little thing even down to the placement of a drinking glass. For some reason, I had gotten the impression that movie directors wore silk scarfs and French beret’s while stomping around yelling at actors. Instead, our Terry seems to always be in a great mood, wears a baseball cap, quietly instructs and encourages his actors and crew–and then good things start to happen when the cameras roll.

Unfortunately, today was another day with me in front of the camera, too. This was not part of the movie, and it is definitely not something I am good at, but George, the producer, wanted to film me doing an interview. He and the camera man set me up outside the farmhouse so that we would have a beautiful view in the background. Unfortunately, this quiet country farm turned into Grand Central Station the minute we started. We had planes flying overhead, horses neighing, cicadas buzzing, and trucks and cars rattling by on this normally quiet, dirt, road. Oh-and there were the yellow jackets that we had to keep waving out of our faces. I have no earthly idea what I said, but George was kind enough to assure me that they could edit it…..

Did one last book signing in Sugarcreek, then went to hunt up some of my new friends who were filming bits and pieces of the Swiss Festival. As soon as the filming was over,  we scouted out the best carney food together. This is not as easy as it sounds. It required much thought and discussion. Healthy alternatives were considered and quickly dismissed. In the end, a great deal of Reeses Cup funnel cake and Fried Swiss Cheese on a stick was consumed at our table. Four intelligent women, all of us watching our weight, threw caution to the wind and managed to eat enough calories to fuel a truck. I think it was the Polka music playing in the background and the dancing in the streets (not me)  that made us do it.

Tomorrow is Sunday, and the crew all get the day off to rest up. I’m hoping to use the quiet of my hotel room to work on my next book after church.

-Serena

(Some pictures of the Polka Music Masters at the Swiss Festival!)

(Columbus Swiss Singers Alphorn Player Group – 2012 Ohio Swiss Festival)

(Our amazing Sarah Lancaster *Rachel* (Follow on Twitter) posing with the Sugarcreek Police force. Thank you Kevin, for all the hard work and willingness you and your team have put into making this movie possible!)

Day eleven: (9-27) movie set of LFY Sugarcreek Ohio

So today, I got to see the farm where the Sugar Haus Inn scenes are being filmed. Lots of gorgeous back roads to get there. Cloudless sky. A perfect day to film outdoor scenes. Breakfast was set out beneath a canopy and the yellow jackets were real happy about that.

I got to see Kelly McGillis in action for the first time. It has felt from the beginning like the casting director had direct access to how I pictured my characters in my mind, but Kelly as Bertha is an inspired choice. She is in person a beautiful, regal, woman–but with the addition of a cane, a limp, a bonnet, and expert makeup she became my forceful, opinionated, blunt, courageous, Bertha…..one of my very favorite characters of all time.

This scene also involved “Rachel” having to wear an over-sized fuzzy bathrobe and slippers all morning–not a particularly sexy outfit even on someone as pretty as Sarah. She laughed at herself to me and the others saying, “Glamour, glamour.”
I think that is the thing that has surprised me most about being on the set–it is watching the discipline and sheer doggedness that it takes from the actors to get each scene right. It isn’t that they are doing the scenes wrong–it is all the different camera angles that have to be adjusted, and the occasional problem of a tractor or truck rumbling past and ruining the sound.
I watched as Kelly patiently did her line over and over–each time spot perfect–but supporting all the other things that had to be done around her. I watched as the director (Terry) and Tom worked at getting just the right nuance out of his performance. I am fascinated watching these actors try out this gesture, and that tone, and that expression…..until the director is satisfied.

An Ohio actress by the name of Marianna is playing the part of Anna, and doing a wonderful job. Today she and “Bobby” got to play with the kitten and cat that the movie crew borrowed from a barn down the road. The barn cat, by the way, fell in love with Kelly and wanted to stay in her lap the rest of the morning. I’m pretty sure the cat wants to go home with the crew member who spent the morning cutting burrs out of its fur, brushing it, and feeding it fancy cat food out of a spoon.

-Serena

(So the crew needed to build a portion of the house, for a scene later in the week)

(Generators for power, they are filming at an Amish house after all! And the tent for lunch and breakfast)