Roof Shot at 10th Ave. Theatre

2/15/11 Update

L-R: Victor Contreras, Dale Morris, Toscha, Lisa.

Last Saturday we shot a very tough scene.  It's the harshest, meanest, acting moment I've ever had to endure.  But we got through it.

Victor was able to join us at the last moment to take over John Padilla's role as Vernon Bacha - a really, really, really mean guy.

We have about 60% of the The Lonely Detective pilot filmed now.  We'll have to take a break and then we'll finish up.

Federico Moramarco publishes collection of poems

Federico Moramarco (Sampson) and Dale Morris (Ned Morgret) cackle at a quip by the character of Sampson during the Feb 11th shooting of The Lonely Detective.

Federico has a book signing of his most recent publication of poems at The City of Eden at D.G. Wills' legendary bookstore in La Jolla.   The reading is at 7PM and booksigning follows. Check his remarkable website for details: http://www.dgwillsbooks.com/

Bag Lady Post from Charlene Baldridge

Speaking of bag ladies 
by Charlene Baldridge

Marianne McDonald and I answered the call to play a pair of them in Dale Morris’ film titled The Lonely Detective. She and I engaged in joust by shopping cart, during which she drove me into a wall in an alley next to Les Girls Ten on El Cajon Blvd.

Between takes, I met a stranger in the alley. He was smiling at me, so I said, “Do you like my outfit?” He smiled again, and I asked, “Would you like to have dinner?” It was so thoroughly what my daughter, Laura Morefield, would call “A Mommy Moment.”

I was so tired from my big film debut that I didn’t change the major costume item, a wild print dress festooned with beads and sequins that I found at the old Broadway Department Store many years ago. I just collapsed for an hour and then headed for Steel Magnoliasat Lamb’s Players Theatre. In Café 1134 prior to the play a woman came over to compliment me on the dress. I didn’t tell her I got it off a bag lady in the alley earlier that day. My “look” for the film was definitely inspired by Herbruck’s get up in Superior Donuts.Thank you, Kate Stallons.

As for my future as an actor, I definitely do Green Room better than acting, even when typecast. Hats off to all true practitioners of the art.

Marianne McDonald - the Vampire Lady

What a hoot to have Marianne McDonald playing a bag lady with fangs in our last day of shooting (prior to hiatus) on The Lonely Detective.  She and Charlene Baldridge duked it out with two shopping carts and it was great fun.  Sadly, there are real bag ladies out there.  Would that it were not so.

About 70% of the pilot is "in the can" as they call it.  I have to grow a beard for a play, and our Dir. of Photog. has work in LA to attend to.  So we'll be off for a while and return to shoot the final scenes.  In the mean time we'll put together a promo and get it out to potential investors and see what happens.  It has been such hard work by a dedicated team.  Quite amazing really.

Walter Ritter Joins The Lonely Detective Cast

We are so happy Walter Ritter was able to do one night's shooting with us.  And it was a looooooog night!  An actor notified us in the afternoon that he would not be available to shoot Friday evening and Federico Moramarco suggested we call Walter.  Luckily he had a night off from his present production and joined us that night.  We started rehearsals about 5:45pm and didn't shoot until almost 8:30 because of lighting issues.  Then shooting went on at the 10th Avenue Theatre until almost 1:00pm.  The results of the shooting were wonderful.

Sunday February 6, 2011. Our First Day of Shooting.

Our first day of shooting on Feb 6th.  L to R: Director Wolfgang Hastert, Sound Designer Matt Dewey, Actors Dale Morris and Haig Koskarian, Dir. of Photography Bill McClleland, Production Manager Bart Cameron.  On the steps is Jamie Lloyd.

This is "the detective scene".  It went very well.

Director Wolfgang Hastert and actors Lesha Montoya and Robert Borzcyh are all smiles after hours of filming a scene for The Lonely Detective at The Lafayette Hotel on El Cajon Blvd.  What a gem of a place! Nobody seems to know about it.  The food in the Red Fox lounge is very good.

John Padilla has to leave production

Sadly, John's brother in Mexico City has been badly injured, and John has to leave again Friday for MC to try to have him moved to San Diego.  It's an impossible situation for John.  Along with his brother he is also dealing with a new business.  John has had no choice but to drop out of the production.  Good luck, John!  Our best to your family.

David McBean Gives Amazing Performance as "Baby".

On Sunday night David McBean just amazed us with his talent.  He played the role of "Baby" a transvestite prostitute.  The shoot took place in a parking lot on El Cajon Blvd. and admirers applauded the performance each time Wolfgang Hastert called "Cut!"

This afternoon we shoot Lesha Montoya and Robert Borzych.

John Padilla's brother hurt in Mexico City

John Padilla's brother was injured in a car accident in Mexico City.  Very bad news.  John had to rush there to be with him.  Just in case we're going to recast his role, but hopefully his brother will be okay and John can finish the shoot.