On the way to Bega last weekend to shoot the movie Elindil’s Secret, I made the whole convoy stop at Newmerella (3 k this side of Orbost) . It was kind of sad but also brought back some good memories of life in the middle of nowhere all those years ago. I left home to work in Melbourne, when I was 17,  so it is a long time since I lived there. Our house has been pulled down and so has the general store where I learned some terrific work ethics from my boss (Dad) and ate lots of lollies and icecreams.

In the pic (left), I am standing in the same place as in the pic above (with my friends) but facing the other way. Anyone know why my nicname was ‘Big bird’, ‘Long lolly liquorice legs’, ‘Stretch’ and ‘Jenny giraffe’?

Memories…….. back when I was a giant.

Don’t answer that! According to Grant (crew member) they needed a wide angle lens to take these pics!

Last weekend the Elindil’s secret crew drove to Bega for a special shoot at a waterfall/rock pool. Some of the cast very bravely jumped from an 8 metre high rock into freezing cold water.

I did my own stunt and slipped and landed on my bum right at the top of a natural water slide. Everytime I tried to get up I slid dangerously close to going down the slide and into a deep pool of water. Most people were very helpful and offered to take my photo!!

Jennie, the makeup person, and I were branded ‘Thelma and Louise’ for the weekend and since Louise ALSO slid down a rock bank, we played our part well!!

We looked for Brad Pitt all weekend but we still haven’t found him.

After driving with ‘Louise’ for a 7 hour trip in our ‘party car’ on Saturday and back again yesterday for an 8 hour trip, we certainly got to know each other a lot better. Our convoy of 4 silver cars got up to lots of antics, especially with the 2 way radios. Thelma and Louise gave a wonderful rendition of ‘We will rock you’ over the radio for the rest of the crew to enjoy.

Whew, it was tiring  (esp since I had to start my new job today) but a fantastic weekend……………….. wet backside and all!

For the course I am doing at Swinburne, my student mates (who are also my collegues) and I decided to do a little movie for one of our assessment tasks today.

Now forgive me for bragging, but we did each scene in one shot and wrapped it all up in 3 hours. What is wrong with Luke??? (Director of Elindil’s Secret). It didn’t seem too hard to me. Maybe I could give Luke some tips.

Talk about multi task………….I was playing the part of a heavily pregnant student, filming and editing (not to mention costumes and makeup too!!). I am going to put this photo into the credits of the movie. The baby faces are of 2 of my collegues/study buddies. I am sorry guys, but you make very ugly babies!!! Well it was pretty hilarious and I don’t know how we kept our composure sometimes. I hope the teachers appreciate it!

Dad came over for his birthday last night and Col, Shan, Hanna, Sophie and I celebrated with a roast pork and crackling (his fav). Blake is uncontactable at the moment (his phone is lost in his bedroom!!!).

After eating tea we suddenly remembered the eclipse and raced outside, just in time to see the total eclipse in a clear sky (with stars shining). What a fluke!

There was much hilarity and the usual flow of stories.  Sophie took the pics so unfortunately missed out on the photo collage. I am sure she is devastated (not!).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

Yesterday the filming crew started at Portsea (having left in time to get there before sunrise) and then went to Mt Evelyn to film at a house. Then we went to Macclesfield. Due to various mishaps (including an ‘accident’ with 2 of our cars which are part of the movie) we didn’t get much filming done. Its kinda frustrating some days doing this filming, especially when you are standing around all day with little to show for it, but I am sure it will be worth it in the end. It is a great lesson in patience and resilience.

 Days like that one often give us stories to talk about in the future. One day when we are ‘rich and famous’ we will look back at it and laugh, or cry!

I went for a ride with my lovely hubby today and did 40k, which is a pretty short trip for us, but I DID do my ‘PB’ for that track (26kph) for the first 10 ks. On the Eastern Freeway bike track there are no loos for my gender. There are plenty for the men…… they are called ‘trees’. The trouble is, 99% of the time I ride with men and if they need to go, they just bolt ahead of me (which isnt too difficult) and the only evidence is the relief on their faces.

During our filming for Elindil’s Secret, we go to locations which are out in the middle of no-where and because the guys out number the women (5 to 1), it isn’t a problem for most of us is it? At the start, some female will say to me “Is there a toilet here?”. Well NO, there isn’t a toilet on top of Mount Zero. Since we are often on location for 10 hours, that can be an issue! We don’t have changing facilities for the cast to put their costumes on either, but thats another story!!!

So my suggestion to the Govt is: either skinny trees should be banned, or perhaps toilets should be planted conveniently in outback locations, on top of mountains and out in the forest………….. Maybe not…… but could they put them on bike tracks?

Today I got an email from my Dad, who had just read my blog. ‘Dear Dishwasherhead– or whatever your name is’. He began his email! Good grief, can’t he get my name right after all these years????

Seriously though, he is so cool! He lost his wife (my Mum 54yo) 12 years ago and I know he misses her lots but he does such AMAZING things with his time.

We gave him our old 286 computer (on DOS) ages ago and he has progressed and upgraded from there. Now he downloads podcasts and puts them on his MP3 player to listen to on the train. I could fill this blog with all his talents, but maybe some other time. NOW I have to get him to do his own blog!!

It is both exciting and exhausting to be involved in the filming of a movie. Getting up before the sun on the weekend can be a challenge.

Yesterday we filmed at Warburton and then at Kilsyth, today it was Warburton and Gembrook. I went out to dinner with friends last night and got home late. Then I had to get up at 5am for filming so am a pooped right now! You can read more about the shoot day on Heptas blog . or the Elindil’s Secret site. As you can see from the pic, a lot of filming was from the water and lots of people got cold toes!

It was a great day though and the Woods had starring roles (not!). Colin, yesterday, played a butler and Blake was in it both days. Today Blake got to go in a fight scene so he was pretty happy about that. He flew in the air and landed on his back over and over again……. as you do!

They both found the makeup a bit of a challenge. The pics are taken on my mobile phone so not too good as far as quality goes. G’night!! Zzzzzzz………….. oh, its only 7.30pm??

Marley arrived home from his ‘holiday at Blakes’ earlier this week. As you can see, he is back to being ‘mothered’ by Sophie!!

Blake took him for a ride on the tram in Brunswick. The tram driver stopped the tram and lectured Blake (in front of all the passengers) about the ‘rules of animals on trams’. He was told that next time he had to be in a box!!! Blake thought that was hilarious.  We are trying to figure out how to put Marley in his box. Not going to happen!

We had fun taking these pics tonight when we were supposed to be making tea. I think we take the prize for the silliest photos. BELIEVE me, the worst ones have been deleted!

A tooth is better out than in, in my case! I am glad to be rid of it. I must admit though, today I had to think long and hard about eating a piece of Toblerone. I am not sure that my remaining teeth can take the stress!! I think I need to move onto blended food and yoghurt from now on. So sad!