From my new motivational poster line...

“The three Cs of modern creativity: Community, Crowd-sourcing and Collaboration”

Quoted from John Wilkins and Stu Wells...smart marketing guys, apparently.

Early Consensus

Comments are starting to come in about the film. They are positive, constructive, very useful.

The early consensus (from trusted film-friends and colleagues) is that TAKEN IN is beautifully shot, acted, and edited. Several comments about the films deliberate pace and the first twenty minutes which "unfold like a Buster Keaton film," according to one source.

TAKEN IN is not a film for everybody. And there have been comments like this from people who've seen it. It will be interesting to hear from teenage girls and dads.

Considerable praise for Traysie Amick's work as Dawn. And for Ronnie Gunter's tender vulnerability as Dillon. Both of these supporting characters give the film an added texture that is useful. And both actors deliver compelling performances.

Five private preview screenings are scheduled for next week with small audiences.

Q&A with "Dillon," RONNIE GUNTER

CHRIS WHITE: Ronnie Gunter…"Dillon" in TAKEN IN…how did you and I first meet?

RONNIE GUNTER: We met over the phone several months, or maybe a year, ago. You'd seen a film I made and we talked about regional filmmaking for a while. I didn't meet you face to face until I arrived on the TAKEN IN set. I remember thinking that you sounded taller on the phone.

CW: What did you think after our first Skype meeting?

RG: I'd never Skyped before and haven't since and probably never will again because the marvels of technology are endless and I like things that are finite. The Skype meeting was a unique introduction to the cast and crew and added to the mystique of the project. I was glad we were able to do it.

CW: What’s the best part of making a movie at South of the Border?

RG: Not much travel time between locations. Everything's centralized.

CW: What was the funniest thing that happened during the shoot?

RG: My ten-minute Shake Weight work out with Robert [facility manager, ex-cop] at Reptile Lagoon. Those things are as absurd in real-life as they are on TV, but much harder to operate than they look. There's a skill involved...Robert had it, I didn't.

CW: What was the sweetest/sappiest thing that happened?

RG: Well, pretty much everything Jennifer Baxley did was sweet, especially the surprise Push-Up pops. That was sweet and they were sweet so...double sweet.

CW: Talk about the character of Dillon. Was he based on someone you know?

RG: I know a few people like Dillon. I think there have been times in my life when I was Dillon. There's something about feeling stuck in a situation, or a place, or a job, even if there are things about them that you like, that makes you desperate. Then, when something or someone different comes along, it's easy to cling to it, hoping it will pull you out. It's not that Dillon is unhappy with his job or even his geography, but he's smart enough to know that he's stuck.

CW: What do we do next?!

RG: Something...I don't know what...but something.

REVISED ON LOCATION

Scene 12, as originally conceived, was to be an exterior. Instead, it was shot inside of an arcade due to wet weather. As well, sound man Brian Fellers's Camaro was way cooler than the pick-up truck I'd originally conceived for Dillon.

Brooklyn leans on a weatherworn bust of a sombrero-wearing man the size of a compact car. She smokes a cigarette, thinks. She is sad.

Soon, a rusty Chevy pick-up truck pulls up alongside. It is Dillon. But he’s not wearing a ball cap anymore. He’s had a shower.

“Hey.”

“Hey.”

“You still wanna go out?”

“I guess.”

“We don’t have to.”

“No, I…I want to.”

“I mean…it’s looking like the pending nuptials have been put on permanent hold. I’d understand if you felt the need to bow out gracefully.”

Brooklyn smiles kindly.

“You have such a romantic streak, Dillon. I can’t believe you’ve never been married.”

“I’ve never met anyone like you before.”

Touched, she looks back toward the motel…shimmering in the cold night’s air. She skips around to the passenger side of Dillon’s truck, gets in. They drive away.

SHOOTING UNDER A ROLLER COASTER

Photos by Adam Robitaille.

EDIT LAIR

Jeter Rhodes editing the film. In my basement. (That's Ronnie Gunter, aka "Dillon," on screen.)

30 SECONDS \\ 7

30 SECONDS \\ 6

30 SECONDS \\ 3

ON LOCATION \ DAY 4 [b]

This morning we shot at South of the Border's newest attractions: Reptile Lagoon.

Once again, Madelaine Hoptry shined as "Brooklyn." It was only her fourth full day of film acting, but she "brings the goods," as they say. Besides being a talented actress and hard worker, Maddi is very smart...easy going...and can perform minor dentistry.

Ronnie Gunter shined this morning, too. He's already headed back to the West Coast, but we hope to see him again soon. (The rumor I heard was that he's planning to shoot a feature in the Upstate of South Carolina...)

And fresh from last night's performance at the Cafe and Then Some, Traysie Amick joined our company this morning as "Dawn." We are so glad to have her here.

ON LOCATION \ DAY 4 [a]

So what do you do when you only have five days to shoot a movie and...it rains?

You thank God for the art direction, embrace the storm, and keep making your movie.

We'd planned to shoot Scene 12 outside tonight. It's one of the last scenes of the film where Brooklyn meets up with Dillon after a crushing meeting with her father, and the two zoom off into the night together. But rain was falling at 7:00 PM, and we couldn't shoot in the location we'd hoped for—next to the "Bickering Chickens.

Instead, we shot inside the flourescent-lit arcade...at the base of SOTB's iconic sombrero tower. We shot the scene by the skee ball game in the arcade...where Maddi and Ronnie gave utterly gorgeous performances.

So what happens when it rains on your set? It rains in your movie, too. And you look for an arcade.

ON LOCATION \ DAY 3 [b]

Perfect weather turned blustery on our third day of shooting. But no one here is complaining.

The cold, wet weather matches the feel of Scene 8...which we shot today at the "Wild Mouse" roller coaster in Pedroland.

Lifting our rainy-day spirits is LA-based filmmaker Ronnie Gunter, who is playing "Dillon" in the film. So great to finally meet him...been a fan since seeing his film, SOLID COUNTRY GOLD a year ago.