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DIRECTOR'S
JOURNAL
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5
THE
Font for the film...
 January
17, 2000 -- We chose a font for the title sequence.
Oddly similar to one I designed for my band 15 years
ago. Which was a sketchy mimicking of the Blues Brothers
film logo... a film I studied before we shot the movie!
The font looks very cool... compliments the film nicely.
January
16, 2000 -- The Bourbon Jones music is working out
great. I love those guys. Adam Hirsh is also writing
some terrific stuff. We weren't connecting to the movie
on a music level at first, but we are now. Jimmy Z,
one of the most talented harmonica players in the country
recorded harmonica for us -- 2 hours in the studio --
everything perfect on the first take. Harmonica throughout
-- it's just what the movie needed. Incredible.
THE
FILM Changed back to the original script title of POOR
WHITE TRASH...
 January
03, 2000 -- Had an epiphany. Will fill the movie
with Delta Blues. Bourbon Jones to start, and I'll have
Joel search for more. We need to look for music by Wet
Willie, Robert Johnson. Or what about newer bands, like
the The Delta Rockets? (not a lot of entries during
the making of the rough cut) (Note that the film changed
back to the original script title of Poor White Trash
after these journal entries were written.)
LAST
DAY of FILM SHOOTING
 August
2, 1999 -- Last night, we wrapped Goodbye Sunrise.
Our last day was a tough one. Nothing unusual. We did
a scene with a dog -- in which the boys rob a neigh-
bors home and are nearly eaten by their attack dog.
They throw an M-80 at it and it takes the explosive
in it's mouth. The mom walks in and gives the dog a
cookie -- it drops the M-80 and she throws it in the
dog dish. We did a buttload of takes -- the dog took
awhile to get into vicious mode. In the end, he gave
an excellent performance. Earlier in the day, I played
a cameo -- I played a cop. I screeched around some corners
after Sean Young and the boys. It was fun -- stayed
in character. Sean and I glared at each other. I had
to laugh -- she was terrific -- for an actress who's
experienced so much comfort, fame and money to deal
with our 105 degree heat and breakneck speed -- she
was a trooper. Night fell on the Licklighter Trailer
Park and we got our last few shots. Kingsize Entertainment
has a tradition where one of the cast/crew directs the
last shot. Jacob Tierney, who played Lennie, directed
the shot -- originally designed as a quick pan from
one trailer to another. He built it into a long dolly
shot -- very elaborate. It was fun to watch the movie
being made from the sidelines -- however, it didn't
take me long to get off the sidelines; we had a body
double, Jennifer Abbot (a local girl who works at the
Sun Tan Shack) for Sean -- it was Sean's silhouette
and it seemed silly to force her to stay around. So
Sean wrapped and Jennifer pretended to have sex on top
of Jason London. I jumped in and doubled for Jason --
all fully clothed, but I couldn't resist trying to make
Jenn laugh. I slapped her butt and yelled -- all to
help her get into character. The poor girl was wriggling
around to avoid being tickled and slapped, but it worked
great. Our guest director was delighted with the outcome
and he got a great shot. Jacob was a pleasure to work
with -- the guy has quite a future ahead of him. Tony
Denmen, who played his buddy (and the lead) was also
amazing. At wrap, I was attacked by every crew member
-- holding Near Beers. I was doused and blinded by the
fake beer and rolled on the ground waiting for deluge
to stop. It was the best feeling in the world. I had
finished my first feature film. Next. we finish the
cut. Oh, my God!
(Directing takes its toll on Mike, so he falls
into a dead sleep immediately upon reaching his bunk
every night, meaning that the journal doesn't get a
lot of insights during the last few weeks. Sorry, folks!)
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