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Etsy Documentary Filming In My Home ~ Day 2

It is 3:30 a.m. and I am experiencing one of those compelling urges to write.  I should be back in bed trying to sleep because Etsy is sending Shane Brown out sometime tomorrow...or I suppose I mean today....to take my picture with a piece of transferware to distribute to some of the other publications they plan to pitch my story to! =)  I have been meaning to tell you all more about the experience of filming in my home for the Etsy documentary short and I apologize for not doing so already.  I seldom 'take off' work so last week, with all of the excitement going on, I got way behind and am still trying to get caught back up.  Shawn has spent more than an entire day helping me pack orders and take inventory of a large transferware shipment that just came in.

But enough of that, I'm ready to tell you all how the filming went down and I've got lots of pictures to share, so as far as the photos go, this might be a long post....maybe word wise to...we'll just see how it progresses.

Tara and Shane Brown, a local photgrapher/cinematographer were here as scheduled, at 8:00 a.m.  I told you all some about Tara HERE.  She is also one of the few in her line of work that does it all from shooting the film to editing the piece for final production. Pretty impressive! Shane Brown, Tara's local assistant, is an award winning photographer who shot the portfolio for “The Brothers of Clear Creek” which won a Wilbur award.  He has worked on several major films and he is also the photographer I mentioned that would be coming by to take my 'portrait', as they refer to it as.  Click Shane's name above and you'll be redirected to his site where you can see some of his stunning photography.

So, here is Tara going straight to work, getting out some of her gear.




Tara and Shane discussing the set up.

Here I am, with Tara, being miked for the interview....just like you see in movies or on tv... they clipped on a microphone, run the wire down my blouse and clip the battery pack to the back of my pants.

Tara pulled out one of the big, red checked chairs out of the way and pulled forward a small, wooden one for me to sit in.  I     
was becoming really nervous at this point, anticipating the interview.  Honestly, I was not at all looking forward to having a camera shoved in my face and I was even less looking forward to having to talk to it.  I am really shy and my comfort zone is not being the center of attention.  Incognito is more attuned to my forte'.  But...I can suck it up if need be and there is no way I would ever turn down such an amazing opportunity...so here I sit...beginning to sweat...and no big lights on me...yet.

As my stomach is turning and churning and I'm ready to get this over with, Tara decided this isn't the spot she wants to shoot the interview in.  She decides to move the interview into the den. 
So we all do a little rearranging of this room and then they tell me to have a seat on the chair in the corner, which we brought from the living room.  Now, out came the big umbrella and the very bright, hot, making me sweat even more than I already was, light.
(If you look closely, you can scarcely make me out behind the fireball, um I mean light) 

Tara begins the interview and then says she doesn't like the lighting.  She adjusts the curtains in the background and ultimately makes the decision to shoot the interview without the light at all.

Although I was becoming more nervous about being interviewed with every lingering second, I probably thanked God out loud when Tara opted not to use the light.   I was so glad to be out from under the heat of that light.  I had been thinking I'm going to be sopping wet, wiping sweat off my brow and looking as if I came in from a monsoon before she even asks a single question!  As soon as they turned off the light, it felt like the temperature dropped by 15 degrees.  Oh, I welcomed that!  Btw, for you all who want every little detail...the interview will be only my voice speaking, so you aren't going to hear what she asks...just my answers.
Shane put up some sort of reflector and Tara sat down in the chair across from me.



Finally, the interview began.  What I looked most forward to about the interview was actually getting it over with.  As I've made pretty clear, I don't like being the center of attention.   I felt like I fumbled words and/or lost track of what I was saying several times.  Shawn was listening in the next room and later said that I sounded somewhat monotone to start out but that he could tell I warmed up after a few minutes and eventually sounded like myself.  Shane and Tara both assured me that I did fine and then told me that it is rare to get someone on film that's not nervous to begin with.  They even told us a couple of stories about some of the subjects they've filmed that could not seem to get anything out.  Shane said after 2 hours with one guy, they asked him if he could just complete even one sentence.  So, I felt better after that, you know...like...compared to some others I wasn't so bad and at least they've had worse to deal with!   I admit it.  It felt awesome to hear how really terrible someone else did.  I'm sorry.  I guess I'll find out just how good or bad I was when they release the video, which btw, will be November 8th.  It will be titled, "There's No Place Like Here : English Transferware".



What seemed like a very, very long time, was only minutes, and the interview was finally over.  Or so I thought.  Tara said that she'd review the film when she got back to her hotel that night and that she might want to re-do some of it the next day.  She'd just have to see if it was good enough.  Oh joy.  I can't tell you how stressed I was thinking that I might have to do this again.    That thought remained at the forefront of my mind until the next day.  Oh, and I'm thinking to myself, "Am I supposed to wear the same clothes or what?  The ones I just sweated profusely in?  Gross".  I cried a little after they left that night.


So, next Tara wants to shoot me going into the garage and then of me opening the garage door from inside...so here you can see her and Shane out in the street in front of our house.  I'm in the garage pulling it open but it's too dark to see anything yet.

Next, I'm shown walking in to the garage with Tara following behind.

Tara asks me questions about some of the random pieces I pick up along the way.  I think she will probably use a little of this in the video.  

Next we went back inside where Tara and Shane began setting up for what they call Dolly shots. (The link gives a great explanation of what a dolly shot is)

I had rearranged my sheep painting vignette (again) with all Spode Byron.  Byron is one of the patterns Tara specifically asked me to create a wall-scape with and one which she wanted me to talk about.   I completely went into OCD mode when I did this.  One morning Trev and Ash left for school and I was standing in front of the demilune table hanging the Byron up over it and planning out the arrangement.  Guess where I was still standing when they got home?  Yes---truly, madly, deeply--- my OCD came into full bloom.  When Trevor opened the door that afternoon we glanced at each other, him knowing without my saying, exactly where I'd been all day long and he exclaimed to me, "Oh my gosh!!!Mom!!!You are in OCD overdrive!!!".   It is what it is.  I've come to like, even appreciate, this quirky thing about myself.   
 Arranging things, creating vignettes and putting together wallscapes almost always comes so naturally to me, but not this day.  By bedtime, I had resolved to like what I'd come up with.  I also decided I would like a green kitchen.


Ok, so before you all start saying I've got ADD in addition to OCD I'm getting right back to the subject of the filming.  I loved watching Tara and Shane at work.  I love the look of contemplation on Tara's face in this photo below...deciding which way(s) she wanted to do this shot.  I would never have believed it had I not seen it but most of these shots took well over an hour or more of filming (read the dolly shot link above), lighting,  lowering and raising the dolly, etc.



I enjoyed seeing how they use reflectors and such to alter the lighting. 






Meanwhile, Shawn aka Red Foreman was getting bored, grumpish (but too polite to let it show)  and  vewy, vewy, sweeepy. 

Next Tara and Shane set up in the breakfast room.  The table and chairs were all moved out and they shot my hutch of red transferware. There was lots of furniture rearranging going on just to make room for them to get the footage they wanted.  Little things that, from my standpoint, I would not have thought about beforehand.






Tara took some macro shots on several pieces of transferware and got some amazing images of detail.

By now, it was past dinner time so we decided to leave off until tomorrow morning...same time, same place.  Tara and Shane packed up some of their gear and headed out.
And that, my friends, was the sum of day 2.


I will be posting about Day 3 sometime in the next few days but am first going to get a tablescape in tomorrow or Friday. 

And, one last thing...I have received way more emails and messages about my post regarding the truth about my selling transferware than I ever fathomed.  Honestly, I kinda thought a bunch of people would bail but it has been quite the contrary and I have not been able to keep up with the messages.  I just want every person that sent me a heartfelt note to know that I have read every single one, most of them more than once, some of them over and over, and all of them to Shawn.  I can hardly even write this without tearing up because I am so moved by YOUR words.  I have replied to some of you and mean to respond to all of you as I am able to,  but I must again sincerely thank you for taking any time at all to read what I write.  I am really struggling with wrapping my brain around the notion that someone out there... whom I have never met...actually likes reading my blog.  




Joining:


Country French Cottage
Funky Junk Interiors
Romantic Home

Common Ground
Savvy Southern Style
No Minimalist Here
House of Hepworths
Mod Vintage Life
Between Naps On The Porch

Comments

  1. Wow Nancy, what a fabulous opportunity!! And that is your garage?!?!?! Wow again, lol. Congratulations:-)

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  2. Thanks for sharing this fabulous experience with all of us! It's a great opportunity to see the inside of a photo shoot. ~ Maureen

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  3. Jwhat an opportunity to share your loce for your transferware and God....blessings...suek

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  4. Nancy, that was a great read and I am drooling over your house and treasures!! Tara and Shane seemed very cool and fun. I am probably going to dream about your hutch filled to the brim with red and white transferware, if not it will be of the wall display in the hallway above the beautiful console. Ahhhh. Congratulations! So exciting!

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  5. You know what I love as much as your story and your transferware? We get to see more of your magnificent home! WoW!!! This is still your house that you found in that horrid condition? I hope they include that in your story. Part 2?? ha!! I LOVE your story. I LOVE your transferware. Dreams really do come true. Good for you! Your (Guthrie) Oklahoma friend...Lori Lucas

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  6. This is so cool and exciting! You'll have to learn how to demand a bigger dressing trailer and M&Ms with all the yellow ones picked out! :-) Congratulations once again, and just have fun with it all!!! (P.S. - You look great, and Red Foreman??? Funny!!!!!!!!)

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  7. Oh Nancy I have really missed a lot. You have a ton of things going on in your life right now. What an amazing experience. Your home and your transferware are beautiful. I am going back to see what I have missed. Joni

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  8. I am a novice transferware collector. I stumbled upon your blog and love your creativity with different types of transferware. I am humbled by your history and I believe that true creative endevours come to recognition. Love your blog and look forward to each installment. Can't wait for the documentary.
    J.D.

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  9. This is so exciting for you! I am very happy for you too. It is very interesting to see what all goes into a photo shoot! XO, Pinky

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  10. What a lovely post you shared with us. Your home is beautiful, and I am always excited to see what you are up to next. I love transferware also and will never own a collection like you have. I can hardly wait to see the treasures in your large shipment, you will show us won't you? Blessings to you and your family.
    Stella Boatman

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  11. Thank you for this update, you are constantly on my mind this week!!! And I love getting an extra peek at your beautiful home and wow, is that your garage??? best wishes...cleo

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  12. What a busy, exciting day! Thanks for sharing this experience with us. Looking forward to your tablescape.......Sarah

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  13. Whew! What a whirlwind this must have been Nancy! Can't wait to read about Day 3. I guess a lot of time is taken up just with the setting up. Your house is looking great. I like that we are getting a little tour during this post, too. : )

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  14. What a fun and tiring experience but worth every moment! Congrats!

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  15. What an exciting thing and great opportunity. I just love looking at your collection of transferware.

    Cynthia

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  16. While all of this is interesting to me, I must say my favorite line was...and I think I want a green kitchen! Funny...that is just the kind of thing I would come up. I bet you cleaned every square inch of your home! I hope it encourages you to know that you will be an example to many struggling women trying to get a business/blog up and running. God is using your hardships for good...and you are very sweet.

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  17. How exiting and terrifying at the same time Nancy. I'd have been stressed at moving the furniture about to get better shots for sure.
    It's certainly a fabulous opportunity though, and good for you taking full advantage.
    Wishing you well as always.
    Rose H
    x

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  18. That was a nice little tour of your house! Oh my gosh, how I DO love your red and white transferware. . .Can't wait to see this video. I work in the industry, so I know what goes into these shoots. It's fun, but more involved that most people know. After reading your post about why you started your business, all I can think is that you are so deserving of success. May good things continue to come your way!

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  19. Nancy, I am so excited for you and can't wait to see the film. Thanks for linking to the Open House Party.
    Hugs, Sherry

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  20. It's fascinating to get the details! I admire your stamina. I can really relate. I would have cried too. One thing I think is hard for some people to imagine is how many of us that blog are introverts or shy. It's more comfortable behind the computer screen! Anyway, I'm glad you got some detox time to surf a little. Thanks for coming by!

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  21. Thank you so much for sharing this experience, Nancy! It's truly mind-boggling how much work goes into even the smallest details of a film like this. (And it's a lot less stressful for us to experience it vicariously by reading about it than I'm sure it's been for you!) I hope that despite the trepidation and jitters you have been able to enjoy it. I'm sure it's going to be wonderful!

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  22. I was getting hot along with you under that light! What an interesting post / glad you shared !!

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  23. First of all, congratulations again for all the good things that are coming your way! You have such a lovely home and I will be visiting this particular post many times to get inspiration to decorate our new home.

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  24. Wow, this was a great experience...one that I went though as well when photographers came to my home from NY to little ol' Quincy, IL to shoot for two days for a magazine spread! It's crazy and long and can get boring as well. Congrats to you.

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  25. I am a dishes junky and could live in that garage!! Amazing post, what an awesome experience. Diane

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  26. I do not have a blog but am a lover of beauty and one of those loves is dishes. Recently I found some red/pink transferware that I broke my budget to purchase as these dishes carried me back more than 50 years; yes, my dear one and I celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary last month.

    A smile grows on my face everytime I use these dishes and I use them often but sadly I do not have any cups or saucers...there were none in the group I purchased but still I am so very grateful for them and the memories they invoke of my first (Catholic) Silent Retreat in a lovely old home with the Sisters of the Cenacle. Our meals were served in the very gracious dining room, with linens, and the 'whole nine yards' and there each day was this 'heartwarming' transferware dishes.

    I could never imagine having so many pieces as I see in your cupboard on filming day at your home.

    From time to time I peruse your site and truly enjoy it and your gracious table settings. I am a believer that food tastes better when the table invites the eye to dine there.

    JOyfully,
    ~Sylvia Faye

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  27. I am so thrilled for you, Nancy. I have always enjoyed your blog and know that you are indeed a transferware expert. You are most deserving. Congratulations.

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