Having a very late day. Got to work with the loveliest family. We spent an hour going over his treatment plan. The daughter was so devoted and he was adorable. I enjoy helping especially when everyone was so overwhelmed. We established a wonderful rapport, and I even got them laughing. When something funny happens during my day, I catch myself thinking that I need to remember that for Michael's character!!
It is possible we found someone to play Cooper's Dad and his son Jessie to day. Keep your fingers crossed. Now I am waiting to hear from persons that wanted to try out for Nicole, Danny, April's Mom, Jeff, and Paul. Let's get those videos in so we can lock this casting up! I am getting nurses from City of Hope to sign up for one or more Saturdays in August to be walk ons, say single line, or just st help out. Their plan is to all go out afterwards. Sounds like fun!
I am using this project to keep some of my patients busy helping me and to just get them out of the house. I'm glad to offer them the opportunity. I hope they all feel up to it.
Allen is close to getting the first film short done. It will be so great to see it posted. Timmy D makes a perfect Michael, and I think the film short will make people want to learn more about what we are up to. I came up with an idea to further promote the unique care provided by a Palliative Care team. I think we should promote that there is a new kind of nurse in town!! Wait until you see what Allen does with that idea!
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Happy Anniversary
Going to try to blog while on the shuttle to the train station. Haven't tried doing this on my iPhone before, so here goes. We have been so busy viewing video auditions we've been sent. Lots of talent out there! We still have a few parts to fill, but I am hopeful. I have acquired a new appreciation for casting directors. Who knew you shouldn't cast children in roles that are genetically impossible given their supposed parents? Hasn't anyone ever heard of adoption or premarital affairs? I have a hard time because I think in this day and age anything is possible. We are also looking at lots of production issues, there is so much to this. I just wanted to make a little movie!
Yesterday was my wedding anniversary, so I took the day off from the blog. Sorry to disappoint. Allen surprised me with a necklace. He is getting very sneaky in his old age. I am so grateful for all the time and hard work he is putting into this project. Just got some bad news about a photo site we wanted to use, need to keep going and just believe!
Yesterday was my wedding anniversary, so I took the day off from the blog. Sorry to disappoint. Allen surprised me with a necklace. He is getting very sneaky in his old age. I am so grateful for all the time and hard work he is putting into this project. Just got some bad news about a photo site we wanted to use, need to keep going and just believe!
Monday, June 26, 2017
Busy Day
Exciting day. Able to cast several needed roles. I am so impressed at all the talent out there and how supportive everyone is with this movie project. We just acquired the most perfect Anna! and I was able to get a few more people I work with to agree to take some minor parts. It's exciting to see it all coming together and to see the persons in my script come to life and hear them say my dialogue. This is all so amazing!
I just wish we were in a position to reimburse the actors at least for gas. If the Go-Fund-Me sites work out maybe we will be able to do that in the future. In the meantime, we keep working to come up with what money we need. Our biggest expense is going to be costume rentals I think. I need three white Navy/sailor uniforms, aghhh!
We are getting deep into organizing the shoot. Things are pretty complicated. I made what I hope will be the final revisions for the script. Some names were too ethnic and limited casting possibilities, some roles were just to difficult to fill and had to be consolidated.We also made all auditions electronic. Now anyone can audition for the open parts on-line. Most people are using YouTube and sending us a private link. I hope we get all the roles filled soon. We have a tentative plan for a full review /read-thru of the script the last Saturday in July in LA.
Be sure to check out the information on the rest of our website, lots happening.
I just wish we were in a position to reimburse the actors at least for gas. If the Go-Fund-Me sites work out maybe we will be able to do that in the future. In the meantime, we keep working to come up with what money we need. Our biggest expense is going to be costume rentals I think. I need three white Navy/sailor uniforms, aghhh!
We are getting deep into organizing the shoot. Things are pretty complicated. I made what I hope will be the final revisions for the script. Some names were too ethnic and limited casting possibilities, some roles were just to difficult to fill and had to be consolidated.We also made all auditions electronic. Now anyone can audition for the open parts on-line. Most people are using YouTube and sending us a private link. I hope we get all the roles filled soon. We have a tentative plan for a full review /read-thru of the script the last Saturday in July in LA.
Be sure to check out the information on the rest of our website, lots happening.
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Auditions
Was able to stay cool and had a great area for actors to come to audition. A special thanks again to Jamie for letting us use her studio. The turn-out was low, but we attributed it to the heat and the distance people had to drive. We are already planning a second audition the end of July closer to LA. Even with the low turn out we had some amazing talent to consider. I think we found Dr. Olson, Kelly, and April!! We are going to make a decision soon.
The cast and crew are quickly becoming good friends. Big Jon who plays Cooper, will also be taking on the role of Assistant Director! Dean LaCrone is a fabulous Thomas Brownrigg, but we knew he would be. We are also asking Dean to take on the extra work of acting adviser and executive PA (hehe, a crew position Allen just created).
There was an amazing moment today when Megan, who was playing Kelly, Cooper's wife; Jon, who plays Cooper; and Timmy D, who plays Michael, really got into the scene they were doing together. They really captured the emotion! It was perfect! When the scene ended, there was such an energy in the room that the actors had to defuse and immediately dropped into silly comic bits that caused everyone to roar with laughter. It is surprising how similar the emotional energy is for laughing and crying.
This movie is going to be a challenge on many levels. I am so grateful for the people involved. Everyone is so committed to this project, and we are evolving into a close family.
A big hug to all!!
The cast and crew are quickly becoming good friends. Big Jon who plays Cooper, will also be taking on the role of Assistant Director! Dean LaCrone is a fabulous Thomas Brownrigg, but we knew he would be. We are also asking Dean to take on the extra work of acting adviser and executive PA (hehe, a crew position Allen just created).
There was an amazing moment today when Megan, who was playing Kelly, Cooper's wife; Jon, who plays Cooper; and Timmy D, who plays Michael, really got into the scene they were doing together. They really captured the emotion! It was perfect! When the scene ended, there was such an energy in the room that the actors had to defuse and immediately dropped into silly comic bits that caused everyone to roar with laughter. It is surprising how similar the emotional energy is for laughing and crying.
This movie is going to be a challenge on many levels. I am so grateful for the people involved. Everyone is so committed to this project, and we are evolving into a close family.
A big hug to all!!
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Laughter and Friendship
The photo shoot for trailers and to provide short teasers took over 5 hours. I have a new respect for actors and film crew! The need to repeat scenes so different angles can be obtained, the equipment checks and failures that cause the scene to be repeated over and over both amazed and annoyed me. I don't know how everyone can stay so calm and the actors so willing to say the same lines over and over again. That ability is lost on me. When I am working with a dying patient there are no do-overs, no second chances to make things perfect. Maybe secretly I envy having that do-over option.
Timmy and Jon did a great job with their characters and I appreciate how important it is to them to portray their characters correctly. Even in this situation humor was helpful to diffuse the tension, help everyone relax, and helped to find the energy to keep going. It is really the same for any of us as we travel through life, and especially for the dying. Nothing forced or over the top, just a light comment that makes someone smile.
I laughed at Timmy as he had to deal with some light makeup application to cut down any glare. He told me to make him look like a princess. The comment made me laugh because Timmy's baseline is the macho dedicated rock-and-roller. His princess request was completely out of character and may have provided a new nickname for him!
Jon was great as Cooper. He has these great facial expressions he can take on almost instantly and a great laugh. I was amazed how much he reminded me of the real person I based his character on. I recalled how blessed I was to be a part of that patient's life. I really wanted someone to do Cooper's part justice, and I think Jon is just the man. His already established friendship with Timmy, and both of their dedication to this project will make this movie very special.
Erik worked his butt off. He was so in to doing a good job and shares lots of great ideas. I was glad he was starting to mesh well with Allen and they began to really work as a team.
My proudest moment was about Allen. I decided I wanted to write the movie script based on my book Resilient Hearts because I wanted to give Allen an opportunity to direct. Allen was so into all aspects of filming the shorts yesterday that he just seemed to glow. He was so focused and was so busy running around with all the technical things that go into filming when. I could tell he was in his glory and I know the finished product will be amazing.
Now I need to help more with obtaining funding, and finish painting the statue of Mary . This movie making stuff is not easy. Tomorrow is the auditions!!
Timmy and Jon did a great job with their characters and I appreciate how important it is to them to portray their characters correctly. Even in this situation humor was helpful to diffuse the tension, help everyone relax, and helped to find the energy to keep going. It is really the same for any of us as we travel through life, and especially for the dying. Nothing forced or over the top, just a light comment that makes someone smile.
I laughed at Timmy as he had to deal with some light makeup application to cut down any glare. He told me to make him look like a princess. The comment made me laugh because Timmy's baseline is the macho dedicated rock-and-roller. His princess request was completely out of character and may have provided a new nickname for him!
Jon was great as Cooper. He has these great facial expressions he can take on almost instantly and a great laugh. I was amazed how much he reminded me of the real person I based his character on. I recalled how blessed I was to be a part of that patient's life. I really wanted someone to do Cooper's part justice, and I think Jon is just the man. His already established friendship with Timmy, and both of their dedication to this project will make this movie very special.
Erik worked his butt off. He was so in to doing a good job and shares lots of great ideas. I was glad he was starting to mesh well with Allen and they began to really work as a team.
My proudest moment was about Allen. I decided I wanted to write the movie script based on my book Resilient Hearts because I wanted to give Allen an opportunity to direct. Allen was so into all aspects of filming the shorts yesterday that he just seemed to glow. He was so focused and was so busy running around with all the technical things that go into filming when. I could tell he was in his glory and I know the finished product will be amazing.
Now I need to help more with obtaining funding, and finish painting the statue of Mary . This movie making stuff is not easy. Tomorrow is the auditions!!
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Shooting the Trailers
First filming efforts for Resilient Hearts has begun. Hope to have trailers to post on Go-Fund-Me type sites in an effort to raise money. Timmy D and Jon are having way too much fun. I will try to post some videos of the controlled chaos. I appreciate all the hard work in this heat. Allen and Erik are focused on making this all happen. There is an amazing amount of equipment lining the halls, and I get the job of keeping an eye on everything! So far no problems.
The casting call is Sunday. I can't wait to see my characters come to life. I just hope we are as lucky as we were with Timmy and Jon.
It all seems to be coming together. This will be amazing!
The casting call is Sunday. I can't wait to see my characters come to life. I just hope we are as lucky as we were with Timmy and Jon.
It all seems to be coming together. This will be amazing!
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
lecture in Austin
Just wanted to provide a direct link to the lecture I gave to oncology nurse navigators last week in Austin, TX:
http://www.oncologynurseadvisor.com/navigation-summit-2017/supportive-care-a-key-part-of-a-nurse-navigators-function/article/669362/
Seems they were very receptive to my encouragement to incorporate the protocols and philosophies adopted by palliative care providers into their newly (1996) established role. Oncology nurse navigators help patients and families get through all the appointments, tests and medications. They are there to answer questions and to act as their advocate. This role of a supportive resource mirrors closely what I do. I challenged them to stay involved when no further treatment is available. I tried to enforce how important their presence was especially to patients that continue to progress in their disease. They were very interested in the difference they could make during the final days of a patient's life. We discussed use of the CARES Tool, the need not to view death as a failure, and the importance of self-care. It would have been so helpful to have our movie Resilient Hearts to show. I look forward to the discussions it will generate and the examples of really celebrating life. The film will be a great resource.
http://www.oncologynurseadvisor.com/navigation-summit-2017/supportive-care-a-key-part-of-a-nurse-navigators-function/article/669362/
Seems they were very receptive to my encouragement to incorporate the protocols and philosophies adopted by palliative care providers into their newly (1996) established role. Oncology nurse navigators help patients and families get through all the appointments, tests and medications. They are there to answer questions and to act as their advocate. This role of a supportive resource mirrors closely what I do. I challenged them to stay involved when no further treatment is available. I tried to enforce how important their presence was especially to patients that continue to progress in their disease. They were very interested in the difference they could make during the final days of a patient's life. We discussed use of the CARES Tool, the need not to view death as a failure, and the importance of self-care. It would have been so helpful to have our movie Resilient Hearts to show. I look forward to the discussions it will generate and the examples of really celebrating life. The film will be a great resource.
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