Art by Cheryl Gross.

Hello IndyMogulers,

As some of you know I’m making a short film called “TUB”. It’s my last short film for Columbia University’s graduate film program. And may just be my last short film before moving into features. I’ve been trying to make the thing for several years now, but every time I got close to doing it, something happened. You can learn more at: TubMovie.com. You can also join our facebook group here

What's TUB about, exactly?
It's just your typical film about a guy who can't commit to his girlfriend...
Who then jerks off in the shower.
And accidentally impregnates his tub.
It shoots April 17-20

Read Bobby's "TUB" Production Journal # 1(3/20/09) here

3/20/09

This afternoon, our awesome Art Director Daisy did some reasearch on what the bathroom set might look like and compiled it all into one neato document. In the evening, I met up with Matt Sanchez, the Director of Photography on TUB. We looked over Daisy's photos and decided on a look and color scheme for the bathroom. We also talked about how we want to light this thing and we both want to shoot it with very naturalistic lightning. Score!

Ended the night watching Cronenberg's "The Fly". Matt never saw it. I wasn't sure if he was into it and asked him what he thought when the credits rolled. He said he really liked it and felt like he might cry at the end. I'm really glad he had that reaction. I think that movie accomplishes so many different tones: Romance, Horror, Comedy, Drama. Definitely a touchstone for "TUB".

3/21/09
Auditions all day. Kim Jackson, our producer and Meghan Mahoney, our UPM set it all up with help from Amy Gossels Casting. Eric Levy, our lead actor, showed up like 30 minutes late...Poor girls had to wait in the hallway. First auditioner didn't read the full script. I handed it to her as we waited for Eric and said, "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into."

3/22/09
Finally started storyboards for TUB. All this time was spent getting crew people in place, etc.. Realized that storyboarding 15 odd pages is too much to do in one sitting. Will have to continue tomorrow...

We saw a lot of talented actresses yesterday. Narrowed it down to 4 gals. This is going to be tough.

3/23/09

Decided on our actress! Megan Raye Manzi will play Emily.

There was a moment in Megan's performance that really broke my heart. I remember telling the crew that after she left. I videotaped all of the auditions and usually when you play something back on video, it's not the same. But, there it was. Totally breaking my heart again.

She also has great big expressive eyes, which is great for the role of Emily. She doesn't have a lot of screen time, so it's essential that the audience is endeared and sympathetic toward her character instantly. Nice big sympathetic eyes = a nice way of doing this.

Megan was very nice on the phone when I told her she got the part. We're going to try and meet up this weekend.

There are a few things that need to happen in my book in regards to our two leads:

* Meet up with Megan and talk about her character in full
* Meet up with Eric and talk about his character in full (BEAT BY BEAT BREAKDOWN)
* Have Megan and Eric meet up and get to know each other. Take photos of them as if they were in a real relationship. Might use these photos in the film as set dressing.
* REHEARSALS.

3/24/09

Me & Daisy went up to Columbia's campus to check out the studio space that we're building the bathroom set in. Had to measure it for our set builder and all that. We also did some location scouting, but ultimately were a bit bummed because we couldn't find much of anything.

We're still looking for:
A NYC Apartment
NYC Office / Break Room / Restroom

Started back up on the ol' storyboards. Always a fun and interesting time because it's the first time I really "see" the film. And as always, I find, that I have to rewrite some stuff and add things. Rewrites to come...

ABOVE: These storyboards/notes are pretty much unreadable to anyone other than myself.

3/25/09
Me and my producer, Kim Jackson, met up with Maureen Ryan. She's the head of the producing program at Columbia University's graduate film program. She's in charge of going through your script & budget and making sure you do everything by the book.

That includes filling out lots of forms, insurance stuf, and blah blah blah stuff I don't like typing about.

Maureen was really really keen on the script. I didn't expect that at all. I mean, she just co-produced that classy picture "Man On A Wire!. But, she said TUB was "f*cking funny" and "one of her favorite projects". Regardless, it was very nice to hear. And for now on I'll just reread what she said whenever I need an ego boost.

3/26/09
Traveled to Philadelphia to meet our DP, Matt Sanchez. Felt it was EXTREMELY important to go through this film shot by shot. So, I showed him my scribbled storyboards and we talked and talked. Drew more pictures, wrote stuff down. Definitely have to do another rewrite.

Really excited by the shooting style. Lots of hand held, mixed with some more stylized stuff, mixed with a sense of minimalism. Fun times. Did I just sound too art school just then? Ewwww, sorry.

PARTING SHOTS
Locations. Locations. Locations. We need to lock them down soon. Also need to get this bathroom set in full gear and figure out a few more art dept things. We're also going to probably need some extras.

I need to rewrite parts of the script and then do a shot list and cleaned up shot by shot storyboard of the whole damn movie. My storyboards are way too crude to show to a crew. Tons of work to do still. Shoot date is looming.

Did I mention I still have to make The Best Short Films In The World show every week?
And I have a feature length script due as my thesis on April 15th in order to graduate?

Oh, Hi.