Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

Would you (or your robot) like to take part in a movie shoot this summer?

An independent filmmaker will be shooting scenes for a family drama this summer in Ambler, PA at Wissahickon HS! The movie uses a robotics competition as part of the plot line and Team 341 has been asked to act as a technical advisor for the film.

On Saturday July 7th and Sunday July 8th, the production company will shoot competition and pit crew scenes in our Circle Gym.

The main characters will be played by professional actors, but we are looking for experienced FIRST members to play secondary roles or simply be in the crowd.
We also need teams to supply operational or non-operational robots for background scenes. There are also a variety of other needs that will be listed on the pages that follow.
If you are interested in participating, please send a PM through the Delphi forum.

Please read the threads that follow for more details.

Thank you for your support of this project.

Al Ostrow
Team 341

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

About the Film

The story line follows a young teen that falls in with the wrong crowd and quickly goes astray. The plot centers on the effort to bring him back and his relationships with friends, family and coaches. A major focus of the film is his experience on a robotics team and his relationship with the girl that draws him into joining the robotics team.
This production is the first venture by a local independent filmmaker to create a feature length film. He has tremendous support, professional actors, and an experienced technical crew. The film is registered with the PA Film Commission and has a very positive message.
Although this film is not sanctioned by FIRST, it certainly is in the spirit of the competition and has the FIRST mission at heart. Please help us support the director’s vision for this film. We welcome your participation in this project.

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

Current Needs
1) Extras are needed to play close-up team members in competition and pit scenes or just be a part of the cheering crowd.
2) Robots that are operational or non-operational are needed for competition and pit scenes.
3) Technical & Logistical Positions: Final Cut Software Editor, Set Operator, and Runners. (Some work is paid, some work is for movie credentials only)
4) Understudies to several professionals for the following roles: 40 year old mother (main character), 18 year old girl (main character), 16 year old girl (lead character)

Important: Students under 18 must have a parent or guardian present during filming. (Pennsylvania Law) If you are 18 or over you must sign a release form to be in the film.

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

Al:

This sounds like a terrific and unique event. We are checking to see if any MOEboteers are available. I would encourage local teams to check into this.

What an opportunity!

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

Are there any requirements other than a willingness to participate? I and my team (375) would be interested but we need to see about technical details such as travel. How soon would we need to respond by?

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

If you just want to be in the crowd scenes or background pit scenes , there will be release forms available at the door on the day of the shoot.

All participants will need to sign an industry standard release. Students under 18 that are in major scenes (speaking parts etc.) will need a release and a parent or guardian present during filming.

If your robot is used in the background pit crew scenes. You will either need a release from any organization listed on your machine or the production company may produce fictitious panels to place over the existing artwork. (not sure which)
Those robots that are in the filming of onfield action will have fictitious team designations , panels, and uniforms.

Please let me know if you have other questions.

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

Also just a general note that I will respond to everyone's emails and PMs tonight (6/14/07) after about 11PM.

Thanks!

Al

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

Your team members are definitely welcome.

I will place you on the general email list.

Thanks!

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

Thanks to everyone that responded here and via PM or email!

I responded to everyone's PMs this morning. I have to get a few questions answered from the production company before I put out exact details.

Anyone that responded will be put on the general email list for information.

You can still respond here or by PM if you are interested.

Talk to you soon. :)

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

One major clarification that will help everyone participate.

If you are in a team scene and don't have a principal speaking part you will only need to have a designated adult. One adult with the permission of the parent can act as the guardian for the filming.


I made a spreadsheet with available activites and the associated time obligations & permissions, but the producer needs to approve this sheet before I can post it.
I am starting an email list to update everyone at the same time. If you are planning to participate, please send an email to aostrow1@comcast.net

Hopefully I can post the spreadsheet today.

Thanks for your interest.

Al Ostrow

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

Just a question... who covers the cost of shipping/transporting the robots and any repairs of said robot on the set (if needed) ?

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

The production company has not budgeted for transport or repair of robots. This is an independent film on a limited budget. Of course if repairs are needed Team 341 will do its best to assist you.
We are counting mostly on local teams bringing machines. If a team wants to bring their machines from farther away they are welcome. We will help with whatever we can. All the production company can offer is a fun time and a credit in the movie for you or your team.

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

Attached is a general table showing the type of movie positions by level of involvement. Please read the attachment and consider the types of positions that you would like to fill. Please contact me quickly if you would like to be added to the list. I am assembling a contact list this weekend.

A clarification to the movie participation requirements for those under 18. You will need a signed parent permission and a responsible adult (i.e. a coach) to be with you during shooting. You do not have to have your parent physically present.

Please let me know if you have any questions after reviewing the document.

Thanks!

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

I just wanted to highlight a casting need that is unfilled. We need an experienced FIRST MC for the competition floor and an experienced FIRST play-by-play announcer. (regular or off-season)

We are also looking for regular or off-season referees.

The producer did not hire professionals for these roles because we thought it should be someone with FIRST experience.

Please let me know if you are interested. :)

Participation as an Individual
 

Participation as an Individual in the Movie:

Before reading these instructions, please note that if you just want to be in the crowd you can show up that day and sign a release at the door. The info below is for people that would like to be in close up team shots, etc.

For individuals that are interested in the movie filming that will begin in Ambler starting Saturday July 7th. There is a set of instructions below. If you would like to take part please do the following.

1) Reply to aostrow1@comcast.net by Tuesday 6/26/07 confirming what level of participation you would like. (Level A, B, C, or D, see previously posted attachment)

Please use this subject heading “Movie Participation (Individual)” so that we can organize the responses.

2) Please review, sign, and return the attached Individual Release Form by Friday 6/29/07. Please mail, hand deliver, or fax to:
Alan Ostrow, Wissahickon HS, 521 Houston Road, Ambler, PA 19002 Fax # 215-619-8113
Please note that you must submit a signed release to participate.

We will shortly send instructions about exact meeting times and shooting locations.
Generally most scenes will be shot in the WHS Circle Gym in Ambler on Saturday 7/7 and Sunday 7/8. You may also be asked to attend a brief training session prior to filming if you are given a larger role, such as a speaking part.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at aostrow1@comcast.net

Thank you so much for your participation! We look forward to seeing you all in July!

Alan Ostrow
Team 341

Participation as a Team
 

Participation as a Team in the Movie:

For teams that are interested in the movie filming that will begin in Ambler starting Saturday July 7th. There is a set of instructions below. If your team would like to take part please do the following.

1) Reply to aostrow1@comcast.net by Tuesday 6/26/07 confirming:
a) The number of Students and Mentors that would participate in the film.
b) The number of operational and non-operational robots that you can provide. (any year is OK)

Please use this subject heading “Movie Participation (Teams)” so that we can organize the responses.

2) Please review, sign, and return the attached Team Release Form by Friday 6/29/07. You will only need one form for your team.
Please mail, hand deliver, or fax to:
Alan Ostrow, Wissahickon HS, 521 Houston Road, Ambler, PA 19002 Fax # 215-619-8113
Please note that you must submit a signed release to participate.

We will shortly send instructions about exact meeting times and shooting locations.
Generally most scenes will be shot in the WHS Circle Gym in Ambler on Saturday 7/7 and Sunday 7/8. You may also be asked to attend a brief training session prior to filming if you are given a larger role, such as a speaking part.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at aostrow1@comcast.net

Thank you so much for your participation! We look forward to seeing you all in July!

Alan Ostrow
Team 341

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

Are we allowed to nominate people? If so, I say Andy Grady should be out there.

This sounds like a seriously cool project. I'd love to be a part of it, but California's a little too far.

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

We are still in need. We have one MC and one play-by-play but there are two fictitious seasons in the movie. We have to make things look like two different years. The director can get professional actors, but I think an experienced FIRST person would be best for these roles. We're open to anyone that is interested.

Just a Few FAQs about the movie
 

I just wanted to answer some frequently asked questions about the movie.

What if my whole team can't participate?
You can be placed in the team scenes or crowd scenes without a full team. All 7 fictitious teams will be filled with players from multiple teams. So if you only have a few people, thats OK.

Can I participate as an individual?
Yes. We just need notice and the release forms and you can be placed in a team or classroom scene.

I will not know if I can go until the last minute. Can I still show up on July 7th?
Yes, there will be release forms at the door. You would be able to participate in the crowd scenes and have the fun of watching the film being made. There will also be a nice community carnival going on in the parking lot after we are done.

I want to bring my robot but its not a 2006 model?
Thats OK the game is fictitious and any year's robot will work.

What if my robot does not work at all?
Also OK! We can place it on a pit table for the background scenes.

Can my robot be in the film even if I can't stay?
Yes. We will take delivery starting on July 6th at 7AM and will take good care of your machine.

Will my team be paid or have its expenses covered?
Unfortunately not. But any team that contributes significant numbers of team players or robots will receive a credit line in the movie.

Has FIRST approved or sponsored this movie?
This is an independent project about a fictitious robotics competition. However the filmmaker has a son on a FIRST team and the script is well within the spirit of FIRST principles. He plans to communicate a very similar and very positive message.

I hope this answers a few questions that seem to be repeating and clears up some areas of misunderstanding.
We hope everyone can make it and we think it will be, at the very least, great fun.

Hope to see you there.

Preparation Meetings
 

The director has scheduled two meetings to prepare for the upcoming movie shoot.

1) Principal Actors and Secondary Actors (non-competition scenes)Tuesday July 3rd at Wissahickon High School from 11 AM until 1 PM (room TBD)

2) Team Players, Referees, and other Competition Scene Players
Friday July 6th at Wissahickon High School at approx. 4PM (after the completion of the playing field)
in the Circle Gym

The purpose of thses meetings is to review the scenes being shot and the role that each person will play in the scenes.

On Thursday evening I will send out a document stating whether you are in category 1,2, or both.

We are still waiting for final numbers from teams and confirmations from role players. So your quick response will help us to get the list out on time.

Thank you for your participation.

If you have any further questions please contact me.

Al Ostrow

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

Although we will be fine with the numbers we currently have, we could still use some team players and robots to make the scenes easier to shoot. (The director will be using CG techniques to increase the team and crowd size anyway.) The larger the actual pit and crowd scenes are, the easier it will be to film.
So my message is that there is still time to sign up as an individual or team actor. Just read all of the instructions in this thread.
You can still also be in the crowd on the 7th and 8th and don't need to give notice for that role.

Thanks!

Al

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

Here is an approximate schedule for the initial filming.
Team members will also have the opportunity to be in several classroom and team scenes that are not on the competition floor.

Approx. Schedule:
7/6 Field and Movie Set Construction at 7AM
7/6 Friday at ~ 8AM at WHS ( Filming of Classroom scene #1 and several interior building scenes)
7/6 Friday at 4 PM Meeting for background Competition Actors (Team Members, Referees, Announcers, Control Crew, etc.)
7/7 & 7/8 Saturday and Sunday at 7 AM (Competition Actors)

The director is working on a new shooting schedule, which should be out within a day or so. Dates and times of other classroom scenes will be announced soon. You do not have to be there for every classroom scene. However you should plan to be there on Saturday and Sunday for competition scenes.

This is last call if you want to be a team member in a competition scene. After Monday we are closing it out. You can still show up for crowd scenes without notice.

Looking forward to seeing everyone next week.

Al

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

To All:

For Friday:
If you are arriving at 8 AM for the classroom scene, we will meet on the upper level of the gym by the entrance at about 8:30 AM for instructions and check-in. There will be lots of construction on the gym floor so it is best to observe from above.

If you are arriving at 4 PM for the Team actors meeting, we will meet on the gym floor. Construction should be complete by then.

For Saturday:
If you aren't arriving until Saturday morning then you should arrive as early as possible to check in, receive your pass, and get oriented. We will open on Saturday at 7AM for production.

See everyone this weekend!

Al Ostrow

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

You are still invited to be in the movie shoot on Sunday at Wissahickon High School Circle Gym between the hours of 10 AM and 3 PM. (All info is in this thread)

Even if you could not make it on Friday or Saturday, you are welcome on Sunday.
Also feel free to bring friends to be in the scenes. Just fill out the individual release form in this thread and show up on Sunday.
We need as many people as possible to be in the team, pit, and crowd scenes.

You'll have a fun time and its really awesome to watch the whole process.

Thank you to all of the individuals and teams in FIRST that have worked with us the last two days!

With special thanks to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Teams 103, 272, 433, 357, 423 and 1218. You guys are awesome!

We hope to see you there on Sunday.

Al Ostrow

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

Just an update:

We have had an incrediible weekend of competition scene shooting. We worked 12 hour days on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and there is still more to come. We have two more days of field shooting to go. On monday we will be filming close up robot shots, overhead shots, special shots, and hallway scenes.

After that we will be filming all over town for the whole month of July in coffee shops, parks, streets, and other schools. Palisades Robotics Workshop will be used for a build season montage at the end of the month.

The still pictures that were taken during filming this weekend are just unbelievable. We can't release any pictures just yet, but when we do........WOW!

Hopefully the payoff will be more kids interested in FIRST!

Thanks to everyone that came out this weekend.

I just wanted to also say a personal thank you to Rob Taminelli (NASA GSFC) and Ron Karpinski (FIRST FTA & Mentor), we could not have done this without your help!

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

To All:

We are still looking for students to be in classroom scenes this week. We are filming on Tuesday starting at 8 AM. Even if you have not participated yet, You are welcome!

I will try to get a schedule from the director for the remainder of the week. But for now, please come to the Circle Gym by 8:00 AM on Tuesday.

Thanks for participating.


Al Ostrow

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

To All:

We are still looking for classroom scene extras, all this week. If you want to be in the movie, please report any day this week to the Circle Gym Lobby of Wissahickon High School at 9 AM. (with a signed release form if its your first day) Shooting takes place all day, just stay as long as you can.

Even if you have only been here one day or even no days, we could use your help.

Attached are a few still photos from the movie set this past weekend. Enjoy the pics!


Mr. O.

Two more opportunities to take part in the movie
 

There are two more opportunities to take part in the movie this month before filming ends on August 1st.

#1 Saturday 7/28, 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Wissahickon High School, Circle Gym
We will be filming crowd scenes in the gym stands. We need everyone that you can bring. The hours are 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM, but if you can only stay for part of that time its OK. Please feel free to bring your friends or relatives on Saturday. We want to fill as many seats as possible!
We would love to see as many FIRST people as possible take part in this experience. Food will be provided during the filming for all extras.


#2 Thursday 7/26, 11 AM to 4 PM, Palisades High School
We will be filming scenes in the construction shop of Team 103 at Palisades High School. Actors are needed to play students working in the machine shop, building a robot. Hours are approximately 11 AM to 4 PM. Food will be provided. The number of roles is limited for the Thursday filming, since it is in a machine shop. For this shoot you must contact me before attending.

Please feel free to invite any interested people to the Saturday filming. We hope to see you at these events.

Please review this thread for further info.
Thanks for considering this request.

Al Ostrow

What to Wear
 

Just a note that for either shooting date, you should wear clothing that does not have obvious brand names or logos. (Coke, Nike, etc.)

Thanks for supporting this effort.
Hopefully this film and your help will inspire a whole new generation of young people.


Al

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

We are heading up to the workshop of Team 103 on Thursday to film "build season" scenes.

Our team and the movie crew is very appreciative of the help provided by Team 103, Palisades HS and especially Dave & Cathy Beck. They have been so supportive, providing robots, students, technical assistance and now filming locations.

The Cybersonics are AWESOME!!

P.S.
The crew was filming in a local diner on Wednesday. On the break I was shown some of the "Dailies" (rough cut film). If the film comes out half as nice as the Dailies, we are in good shape.

Re: Movie Shoot in Ambler PA
 

To the Movie Extras:

Thank you again for helping with the production of the film. We could not have done this without you.

Here is a request and update concerning your recent participation in the film.

1) Movie Credits
Please send an email spelling out what roles you played in the film and exactly how you would like your name and/ or team name to appear at the end of the film in the credits. The assistant director will check your request with his records.

2) What's next?
Filming was wrapped on July 29th with a helicopter fly over of the Delaware Valley and a wonderful wrap party. The film is currently being edited. A rough cut will be submitted for the Sundance Film Festival this September. If all goes well the film will show at Sundance in January and be released in February. ( The unedited "dailies" from the film look fantastic.)

If there are any movie events that you can attend (screenings, etc.) we will let you know.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Thanks again for helping!

Talk to you soon.

Al Ostrow