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Posted March 27, 2006

Photos: Sarah Harris

Women in Film.Dallas shot the first of two public service announcements Saturday, March 24, 2006. The :30 PSA benefits the Dallas Women's Foundation, an organization that supports programs ranging from math and science education for girls, prevention of family violence, as well as educational and business training. The 35mm shoot took place at MPS Studios in Dallas and was produced by Chris Unger and directed by Carolyn Macartney. UPM was Kirby Stuart.

Women in Film. Dallas thanks everyone who donated their time to this awesome PSA!

Also, a special thanks goes to Chip Richie, whose generous contribution allowed us to shoot at MPS. 

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The following is a summary of Carolyn Macartney's experience as the Director of the Dallas Women's Foundation PSA

THANKS TO ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN!

Dallas Women's Foundation PSA shoot at MPS studios, March 25 2006

We had a fantastic shoot this past Saturday for the Dallas Women's Foundation PSA. We just transferred the footage this afternoon at Video Post and Transfer and it looks amazing! We had a cast of 22 wonderful women and girls, plus a crew of over 25, most of whom are Women in Film members. Current or former SMU students also featured prominently in the crew and provided the bulk of the sound, lighting and camera departments. One of these was the Director of Photography, Letty Gallegos, who graduated from SMU last year. This was her first shoot on 35mm and she did a fantastic job, she has a sensitive and acute eye for lighting and composition.

The masterful pre-production organizational work was shared by Kim Fishman and Kirby Stuart, the two of them tag-teaming as they each left or came back to town. Kirby was the absolutely tireless on-set UPM, staying on top of everything as well as assisting art and lighting, being talent, and providing grapes and other sustenance when necessary. Kim brought James Russell on board as AD whose presence and organization we were all so thankful for. A roiling sea of talent, wardrobe, hair and make-up, PA's, visitors, muffins etc. existed outside of the set door that James somehow kept under control. Working with Karen Golden as his second, and the absolutely top notch Head PA Caprice, those of us on set were calmly supplied with talent ready to go and spared the chaos that I could only imagine existed outside that door. I taught James a couple of handy East Coast grip expressions, explaining to him the 'beaver board' and the 'Gary Coleman'. Walkie talkies were indispensable to the execution of James' organization, thanks to Paige Gauwain from Media 2-Way Radio for donating eight of them.

Chris Unger was our Producer and provided the initial contact with MPS. She was also instrumental in finding our voice-over recordist Gordon Nicol and was a big help with the voice -over sessions that we recorded back in December. Chip Richie provided us with insurance so that MPS could graciously supply us with as much lighting and grip as we needed, with the assistance of our ever-accommodating contact Meredith Seawright. Their fabulous camera Technician Dan Bower was our first AC. Dan was a pro at his job and an absolute sweetheart on set. Wendi Bates was the 2nd AC, handy with the slate and at the ready with her friend Beatrice Camarillo to help with lighting and anything else.

On set photography and videography was initiated by Gary Potts, and then assumed by Sarah Harris and Will McMahon (when he wasn't gripping). Will worked on the pre-light and rigging the night before the shoot with Brad Conlin and Heather Queyrouze as well as Dan, Jace and Jamie of MPS. On the day of the shoot, fellow tall person Jessica Ortiz joined Will in G&E. Jessica is also interning at 12 Forward where we will be doing our post-production. Dennis Palacios ran sound for us, providing the soothing calm that he is known for and which we all appreciated. Except for Gary Potts and the three helpers from MPS, all of the former are current or former SMU students and did their school proud with their crewing skills.

Our cast included Women in Film members as well as many other women and girls from the greater Dallas area. The majority of the women are not trained actors and yet everyone did a fantastic job with their 'performances', simple as they were. The energy, diversity and originality that come through the varied faces, smiles and expressions is truly precious. Everyone's individuality shines through and the intrinsic value of that communication is so much stronger than any words can express.

The aforementioned Karen Golden and Kirby Stuart organized the casting sessions and talent, and Kirby's mother Tommye Stuart traveled all the way from Little Rock Arkansas to be a member of the cast. Tommye is really wonderful and we thank her for coming so far to appear in our PSA. Another woman to have traveled hours to help with the shoot was my friend Caroline Karlen who drove up from Austin to do wardrobe for us. As well as doing a fantastic job with wardrobe, Caroline is so warm and convivial that I know her kindliness helped to put the talent at ease, making my job as director that much easier.

Dan Sellers stopped by the shoot, the Photographer upon whose work we are basing our aesthetic and whose pictures we will include in the PSA. He was pleased and impressed with what he saw and especially with what he felt. He was duly impressed with the talent we had chosen and told me that the positive and amicable atmosphere on set was what impressed him most. The set and our work had the right vibe according to him, and I take this as a great compliment indeed! Women in Film President Cynthia Salzman Mondel also visited the set and was likewise happy about the proceedings and thought the lighting was beautiful.

We shot 2000 feet of 35mm film that was generously donated by Kodak through our new Rep. Michael P. Brown. Glenn Shank and Peggy Clark-Holden at Video Post and Transfer are very kindly donating the processing and transfer. Peggy who is our colorist was also so motivated as to volunteer her assistance to the shoot in the form of helping with craft services! Post Asylum has been kind enough to donate the tape stock to us for the transfer and finished edit.

Celeste Gale generously provided craft services and Tangi Spencer served up a wonderful lunch for us all. Becky Schlabach was the willing art department, ready to adjust that wonderful great big back drop "Big Brown Bertha" donated by Lynn Moon, who also donated the Chaise Lounge. The ever-entertaining Donatelle Mascari provided hair and Make-up, assisted by Janine Trottier. Additional PA services were provided by Gay Venalbe, Nichole Christodoulopoulos and Jared Christopher.

It was a really fantastic shoot and wonderful experience for all involved. Thanks to James we came in ahead of schedule and had enough film to get the all important crew shot!! We are looking forward to seeing the finished project and I think it's going to be really great. I would personally like to extend a huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated in this project, for their energy, their time, their talent, their generosity and their spirit.

Carolyn Macartney
Director