It's a wrap!

Movie Camp is OVER!!!

The kids did a great job! I think everyone involved is exhausted -- kids AND adults!

Here are some photos and short film clips I took of our activities today. Stay tuned for more information about the WORLD PREMIERE in October!!

New museum hours

Just to let you know...

Effective September 2, 2008, the museum will begin closing at 4:00 PM.

So our new hours are:

Monday - Saturday
9:00 to 4:00

Sunday
Noon to 4:00

OK, that didn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped

And I have bloody scratches on my arms to prove it!

Brandy is apparently NOT a "people cat." She was not thrilled to be in a big room with so many people and bolted behind the 24 foot long blue screen, which is leaning up against the wall with less than one foot of space for me to slide into. I had to squeeze back there to get her, getting little wood slivers stuck in my shirt. And needless to say, I was COVERED in cat hair.

So, in essence, she blew her first big movie roll!

I'm not sure if Jim got the footage he wanted, or if he will have to seek out other cat talent sometime after the camp is over.

But we tried!

I brought her home immediately following her shoot, and she wouldn't speak to me the entire way home. Then, they were doing paving work on our street, so I sat in traffic extra time before I was able to get her home.

Once she was there, she told her sister all about where she had been, got some treats, and dove into her food bowl. When I left to come back to work, she was laying on her side in the middle of the living room rug, sort of glaring at me.

I hope she is over it by the time we get home tonight!!

Bring your cat to work day

Brandy is getting her "big break" in the movie industry today!!

Jim's script calls for a few live animals this year. Chris turned Steve into a bunny, which we have in Discover World. We also have a frog for a later scene.

What we don't have here is a dog and a cat.

Enter Brandy Kenney!

We brought her in this morning because she has landed her first film roll. And she is such a prima donna, she has requested that she be brought home IMMEDIATELY after her shoot.

So, hopefully all will go well, and the kids and the FOG MACHINE (she is afraid of smoke!) won't freak her out. And I'm hoping Jim's dog will NEVER be in the same room as her!

I'll keep you posted.

Doll preview

Movie Camp is still consuming most of my life, but I had to get some photos of the dolls to go with my newsletter article for the next issue.

So I thought I might as well post a couple here, since I already took them!

Movie Camp begins!

Filming has begun for The McKinley Monument and the Orb of Power!

That's right! Jim Gerren and his team from Nightwine Productions are at it again -- this time, with a Harry Potter theme!!

These guys are great. They actually take a week's vacation so they can come here to the Museum to do Lights! Camera! Action! Movie Camp with the kids who sign up for it. Every year it is sold out, because it is so much fun!

I have a bigger part in this year's film than I expected. And I will warn you in advance -- I am NOT an actor! But it has been fun so far.

Jim writes the script, brings all the materials for sets and props, and edits the final copy for a "World Premier" at Great Escapes Theater in Massillon in October. The kids get to walk the red carpet, and view their movie on the big screen! What could be cooler?

Here are some photos from the work we did today.


Unloading the "blue screen" for superimposed shots.


The kids helping to bring in the blue screen -- they will be "flying" in front of it!


The kids wait to film the first classroom scene at "wizard school."


Jeff Heimel, special effects guy, and Jim Gerren go over the script.


Chris prepares to instruct the kids in magic!


Steve waiting to be magically turned into a rabbit!


Filming in the Historical Hall. (The wheelchair serves as Jim's "Poor Man's Dolly")


Maria prepares for her big role as the evil Zion.


Here I am teaching the students about a great battle between good and evil. But this is just a representation of Zion, conjured up through magic -- not the real thing...yet!

Three days left of filming! Hope we get it all done...

I'm back!!

Chris and I were on vacation last week. Without the internet! So that's why I haven't posted in awhile.

Back to work today.

AND Movie Camp is this week, so I am writing quick on our lunch break. There won't be much time to write, I think, because this week is busy with that! But I will try to take a few photos of the filming and get those posted sometime soon.