Item: Small Puppets Set to Charm American Audiences

Life is good again. Flowers are blooming, birds singing, children laughing. I'm sailing down a caramel canal in a gumdrop gondola. The puppet bit is shot, over, done with. At last.

Six months I've spent shaving styrofoam and molding clay, twisting wire armatures and fretting about temperatures. Six months of my life where I've lived as a virtual shut-in, a stranger to family and friends. Wearing the same clothes for weeks at a time. Plucking energy bar crumbs from my thickening beard. At one point my schedule reduced me to an all-time low with the addition of a new favorite meal to my diet. I call it "sandwich-over-the-garbage-can". The recipe is very simple; you take a slice of cheese, a slice of ham, put 'em between two stale pieces of bread, then enjoy over the garbage can. Makes for easy cleanup.

It's been a long road indeed, and now it's over. This morning I woke at 6 a.m. to apply the "8-Toe'd Joe" makeup. As recounted in the Production Report, the whole process is a nightmare through and through. I started with a light base, darkened my eye sockets and jumped directly into the old-age liquid latex stipple. And that's the most tortuous part right there; having to contort your face into a wide-mouthed sneer for minutes at a time so as to stretch the skin. After stippling, drying and powdering a latex layer, you then let go, relieving a groundswell of agonizing tension. The end result always looks neat, and done in a less gory context it could pass for real. The trade-off is a day and a half of involuntary grimacing.

The day's first and only disaster came during my second application of latex. Hairdryers set on cool are often used to speed drying times. Well, I don't have any hair, hence I don't have a hair dryer and had to go buy one at the Goodwill three days back. I tested the thing in-store and it worked fine, but suddenly there it was sparking and wheezing smoke five minutes into my stipple session. Seriously, the thing nearly caught on fire and exploded.

After unplugging it, etc., I took a long look at it and determined it was a shredded wire at the base of the handle. I sat there considering my options. Should I let it air-dry, likely extending my agony for as long as it takes the face-curdling goo to do its work? Or, should I try to mend this hairdryer and risk burning down my apartment and all my precious belongings, possibly inviting third degree burns and a score of bacterial infections associated with recovery?

I grabbed the fire extinguisher and went to work rewiring the hairdryer, stripping the insulation, twisting the wires, using pliers. I found some electrician's tape in my bottomless cache of supplies, wrapped her up, and eagerly plugged it in. I took a breath, turned it on, and (to my surprise) it worked. It worked! I fixed the hairdryer! For a moment, I stood there feeling very manly, posing a bit, hoping, perhaps a little, that the NSA might be spying on me after all because wouldn't they be impressed. How handy of me... I'm like Thomas Edison... Today I am a man... These thoughts galloped through my head. For the first time in my life I could be proud of something I'd done in private.

Then I went back to putting my face on.

Stippling ate up the next two-plus hours, then another hour devoted to coloring it in. I was just getting to final touches when the first of the crew arrived.

Helping out today were several of my old friends from college, Alabama folks who've migrated west at wide-ranging intervals. On camera/sound/grip: Ben Morehead and Brack Bradley. On puppets: Brian Allen, Kate Turnipseed, Joe Borden and George Ritter. And on saxophone: jazz legend Charlie Parker.

When the moon is new and Jupiter is aligned with itself and the equinox falls on a Sunday, their powers unite to become Yellowhammer Films. I feel awkward it being brought up like this, but I've been stepping out on KW2 from time to time, moonlighting with Yellowhammer to act in comedy shorts. Usually just a weekend fling every couple of months. Baby, you know how it is.

But that's why I feel comfortable with this crowd; we've worked together many times before. Hell, most of us first met on a tiny movie set. These are my people and I trust them. Because Scott suddenly headed back to Alabama (to finish the movie with Chris, among other things), I needed a tried bunch of can-do e'er-do-wells, and that's Yellowhammer in sum.

All-call at my apartment was 11 in the morning. We spent an hour or two just trying to get our bearings, lighting and bouncing light as needed, positioning 8-Toe'd Joe relative the puppets and vice-versa, repositioning and positioning again. I consider myself very lucky to have had Yellowhammer on my side because I know kack-all about cameras, real cameras, cameras with more than six buttons.

We burned off a few takes, and the puppeteers were getting more and more in-step with the motions. We blew through several masters and ample coverage in no time flat.

And best of all, the puppets didn't fall apart! I was so afraid that they would chip or splinter or otherwise disintegrate before go-time. But my little buddies held up; they're tough, like their dad.

MEANWHILE, AT THE HALL OF JUSTICE...
...Scott Draper returns to Alabama, meeting with Chris Merritt in order to make final pinches on KW2!!! Details next issue!!!

Matt

I'm Your Puppet

Tomorrow marks the culmination of many months' work.

On January 8th 2005, Chris, myself and the other principles set out to accomplish the last ensemble shot (that is, one final scene with all four stars). For all intents, it should've been "8-Toe'd Joe's" last hurrah. I was returning to L.A. the next day and would be unavailable for any retakes.

On the night of January 8th 2005, Chris and I set out to review the footage, and to our horror, the tape came out corrupted. Audio was fine, but video-wise all was lost due to narrow horizontal strips running top to bottom. As Scott later explained, the problem arose from playing back the tape once too often; the time code had become too overworked. So, apprentices and humble journeymen, don't say I didn't warn you. No matter how bad you want to see playback in the field, avoid the temptation much as you'd decline a hummer from a sore-ridden hooker. Unless you have a clamshell or at least blacken the tape first, you're just setting yourself up for heartbreak.

Anyways, we were sunk. We couldn't reshoot the footage. Luckily, the scene had no bearing on the story whatsoever; it was a place-holder, an insignificant but funny beat that could easily be replaced. As the months drew on and principal photography wrapped, we still hadn't hit upon the right gag. Chris and I chewed over several ideas, but it wasn't until September that a sudden if insane flash of inspiration overtook me.

The voices in my head spoke, and all they said was, "...Puppets...".

Many moons later, I've constructed two fully functional dummies with working mouths and articulated arms, as well as highly potent reproductive organs. Yesterday, I dressed the set. Tomorrow, we film.

Without saying too much too soon, it's noteworthy that "8-Toe'd Joe" will be featured. Alas, this means I'll be rising at 6 a.m. to begin applying my 8TJ makeup, something I haven't done in nearly a year and a half. Stuff it all, this was supposed to be a simple pickup.

Sleep,
Matt

Open Letter From KW2 Star Jillian Fratkin!

Jillian Fratkin plays the heroine in “Killer Weed 2: Sequel Ate My Baby”. She recently drafted this open letter recounting her involvement. -- Matt

I remember KW2 being an awesome experience. A bit exhausting, sometimes, when calls ran late or tensions were high from travel, location, or outside obligations. All and all it was a great trip though. Everyone involved wanted to be there and make the best movie possible. Although I was not involved with the filming of “Killer Weed,” the first film, the DVD showed some good friends getting together and having a great time. You can tell it was fun shooting and mostly a learning experience. KW2, by contrast, was the real deal and Matt, Scott, and Chris didn’t let the cast and crew forget it for a minute. I always had this feeling that not only were the producers and director trying to have a blast, they were trying to make a good movie that people would respond to in an eager way. They were taking the first film to the next level and going all the way with it. I think they did a pretty good job, too. Right from the start – even in casting the film – everything just flowed. Daniel, Drew and myself worked very well together and were able to play off each other with growing zest as our on-screen (and off-screen) relationships grew from the many rehearsals and different takes. I’m sure editing was hard as hell with all the (expletive omitted – ed.) that got filmed! Matt was seeking perfection and Chris was going crazy with different directions and then Scott would chime in with this or that. Everyone’s creative energy was surging. Even on the rough days you couldn’t help but feel like something good was being accomplished.

This film was a huge project that took soooooo long to make. I can’t knock it, though. No one can, 'cause everyone who was doing this was doing it for free – out of sheer pleasure, out of wanting to give something to the cult audience Matt had been spooning since the first film. It’s been said that KW (the greater idea, not any single film) is Chris and Matt’s baby. Indeed. But for me, I remember seeing a poster from the first film on a window at Badass Coffee on the Tuscaloosa Strip. It was green with red silhouettes of the three heroes, topped by a huge spooky font with the movie’s title. I was so jealous. I wanted to know why I hadn’t heard about the project and lustfully told myself that I wanted to be involved in a movie like Killer Weed. I happened to be at the screening of the film weeks later (after a play rehearsal with the Rude Mechanicals, a Shakespeare troupe I belonged to at the time) which fed my hunger and curiosity even more. It wasn’t the film that I found surprising, but the community that had gathered to view the film, the people in it having such a good time, and most importantly, the creative heart and humor that was behind it all. It really struck a chord. The name Chris Merritt crawled into my brain and didn’t leave – ever.

Fast-forward a year or so later and my good friend Chris Johnson (of the band Chinese Dentist) plays matchmaker. On walking into The Wall skate park just outside Tuscaloosa, I meet the man who’s ego precedes him. As hanging out commences, Chris Merrit gets a phone call from Matt Stewart, the producer and genius godfather of Killer Weed. Stewart's called to tell Merrit that he’s decided upon a working story and the script is ready to be developed. As an overjoyed Merrit gets off the phone and announces his news I promptly give him my business card with headshot and contact info (After all, an actress never knows.) I ask Chris to consider me for the female lead and tell him to contact me for an audition. None needed. The serendipitous moment proved the only try-out I needed. You see, Matt had previously known me from his days as a University of Alabama Theater and Dance player and the two men instantly cast me as Zoey. They say that luck is a huge part of casting…

Let me tell you – I was thrilled. Zoey was a great part to play and being the straight man opposite the two funny men was so much…well, FUN. Daniel and I happened to be very good friends outside the film and have always gotten along quite nicely so to be able to spend my free time – which wasn’t really free because the film took so (expletive omitted – ed.) long to shoot (I’m not complaining mind you. Just stating fact.) – but to be able to spend time with Daniel was like combining my love of acting with paling around with an awesome guy. KW2 is actually the second time Daniel and I played opposite one another. Our friendship blossomed when we were both members of the aforementioned Rude Mechanicals group. Daniel and I were in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night playing Andrew Aguecheek and Toby Belch respectively (at least in KW2 I was able to be a girl).

Throwing Drew in the mix not only tied in the first movie, but also fueled something in all of us that resulted in HILARIOUS performances! I had so much fun with these guys. There’s a lot to be said for playing the simple straight man off two comedic hams. I hope in the final cut I can see these reactions and laugh at myself. Despite the stern edge to my character I hope her honest reactions to Drew and Daniel show.Another actor to mention is Kyle Everett, who played Zoey’s best friend Dane. Working with Kyle was wonderful because a) he’s also a great guy and a good friend, and b) his is my favorite character. Kyle and I had an early scene together that we ended up shooting at Scott’s house in Birmingham. It's one of my favorite shoots of all – and that’s including the dozen films or so that I have shot over these past two years – because everything was so chill. Mid-morning, Kyle and I drove up from T-town together, working on character development in the car and again as the guys set up at the house. The scene actually has some great improv stuff because Kyle and I were so at ease with each other, the script, and our acting techniques. Kyle was fantastic to play against. Chekhov has been noted as saying that the only actors are those that act for other actors, and I think this KW2 scene embodies that statement. It was just a pure joy to shoot. This is one scene that I’m looking forward to in the final cut just so I can see how Scott’s creative eye (as editor) mixes with the acting. I also remember this as being a day where Chris and Scott had a lot of fun.

Ok. I have to stop now because I am feeling a little too sentimental and have other “real life” things to accomplish. KW2 was a great experience and I wouldn’t change a minute of it. In fact, having thought about it, I also look forward to the film simply to see that cross-section of the Tuscaloosa community featured on-screen during the yearlong shooting schedule. ‘Cause that is what Killer Weed is: a community Chris and Matt have built. The people who appear on screen and helped make it behind the scenes got involved because this circle of friends, acquaintances and people whose faces were familiar in the little town of Tuscaloosa, Alabama had a common thread: love for the culture and the people. Why else would we all do this for free?

I can’t wait to see all that heart represented in the final cut and screening. HOOTY HOO! See you on May 4!

Jillian Fratkin
"Zoey"

A Day Without a Zombie

Filmed another pickup shot yesterday, one of those brief-but-important bits we'd all but brushed under the rug. A very simple task: collect a shot of a zombie doing yardwork.

I know, sounds ridiculous, right? Traditionally zombies have been of limited skillset, able only to lope, moan, feed, and in the case of Thriller, dance. Somehow gardening never quite made the short list.

Sunday I sat in my sculpture nook whereupon Scott knocked on the door, asking me if I wanted to shoot the thing. The lawn care zombie occupied the bottom of our short list of missing crud, and we'd long decided that I would play the part. With Scott filming and me running makeup (on myself) that paired it down to a two-man band. It therefore came as little surprise when Scott sprung this on me; it was merely a matter of having time and daylight.

Being a little rusty in the makeup department, and seeing as I was responsible for coating parts of my face I could neither see nor heretofore knew existed, makeup took a little over two hours. In my hey-day I could lick out three or four extras in that span. Old age, you know. Years from now, during the filming of "Killer Weed 41: Revenge of Step-Daughter of Half-Sister of Bastard Son of 8-Toe'd Joe's Accountant" arthritis will have so stricken my hands that I'll have to hold all the makeup sponges, brushes and powders between my tongue and lower jaw.

One thing I took for granted while dressing KW2 ghouls was the amount of discomfort the many layers of tissue and latex creates. Not to say I didn't slather my own face with old age stipple in playing elderly 8-Toe'd Joe; I've felt the putrid stench of drying latex wafting up my hooter. But having tissue and blood added into the mix is worse yet, not to mention the face appliances our guys were forced to wear. To have one's face constricted and skin yanked is perhaps the worse kind of torture, particularly if one gets the giggles.

Shooting commenced about three hours after we got the notion, and I took up my position in the garden below my balcony. Scott went high angle and never even had to leave the balcony. Outside, I was fairly conspicuous, hooking up a borrowed hose and drenching a bunch of flowers over which I had no domain. Scott could barely keep it together as he filmed the whole bit; some of the footage came out shaky.

Our Armenian neighbor-lady (who enjoys lurking on the stoop with other old ladies like this is 227 or something) witnessed the entire thing and even jerked a little when I passed her on the stairs in full costume. We think she called the super, because right when we finished Scott filmed them chattering full-gallop right near our watery blood stains. She seemed quite distressed. The super seemed to be laughing, and I think he liked what I did with the flowers.

Matt