Oh, goodness. Provenz and I are filmmakers. We got this idea for a movie, a documentary, and we decided to start making it. People told us that with a mini-DV camera, we could just do it. You know, really do it. Provenz borrowed one camera and then I told him to buy another. So, we had these super Sony cameras. I figured we needed a wireless lav, so I bought a set up over the phone. The only one they had was a floor demo with no manual (Straz, can you help us on this?). So, there we were in the parking lot of the Improv with a few thousands dollars worth of new recording equipment and a battery charging in the cigarette lighter of Provenz's Beemer. What a way to make a movie. Without manuals or time to read them, we just monkeyed around. Pete and Farley showed up, and they did their best to help out. Then we had Overton, Slayton, Ladman, Emo, and a few other comics around. We had the releases that Krasher had drawn up and NO idea how to use the equipment. I got the wireless working (after Farley discovered dead batteries), and Provenz got the cameras working (After Pete told him a thing or two). Peter had his own camera with a light on it, so it was time to make a movie in the parking lot of the Improv.

It's a really strong idea, but very avant-garde. It's a nutty idea. I'm not going to write about it here, I don't really know why, but I'm not going to. I love the idea. So, there we were with equipment that we didn't know anything about, blank tapes, and Bobby Slayton yelling at us about how incompetent we were. He was really giving voice to what was obvious to everyone. But, people understood the idea. Provenz was director, DP, cameraman and everything else. Pete held the light, and I was on second camera. I kind of kept a wide shot. I kind of kept a wide shot that was too bright to match what Provenz was shooting. Pete also shot from under the light. That was it. We did 5 comics, and they were all great. Man, it's a nutty idea.

My buddy, Susan, really gets this idea. Glenn digs it, and a buddy of Provenz's loves it, but it sure is a nutty idea. Man, I was so tired from running that camera. The tension when someone else is working in front of the camera is amazing. I just shut up, and ran the camera. I'm sure I will have messed it up enough that I'll never be asked to run it again, and that's good. I think it's time for me to duck out.

But, we had a blast. I think we have proof on concept. If any of this footage is usable, we got a great idea. Now, we have to buy all the editing stuff and stumble through that.

Steven Banks is funny Penn - 6/22/01

So, we're making this movie. Or documentary. Or home movie. Or whatever it is. But, we're doing it. It's a LOT of comics and two bozos with some DV equipment. Today was Steven Banks as Billy, the mime, and Jake Johansson. It was even more proof of concept. Rich Nathanson was second camera and that was good because I wasn't. We had to learn to do the wind filter thing. But, who cares? Steven Banks. He was out of Venice beach doing mime. Provenz and Rich could not run the cameras. We were crying. If there's a funnier man out there, I'm afraid to meet him. Wow. We died laughing. It was ruining takes. Man, he's funny.

Jake did a perfect version of the idea that was perfect Jake. Our hero filmmakers could not figure out how to play what they shot back on a TV. But, these are minor problems when you're a couple of genius filmmakers.