OFF TO ADDIS ABABA - NOV 2013

OFF TO ADDIS...or...COTW is BACK ON THE ROAD!

well, after an amazing week on the Peponi Hotel shoot (video to be posted soon so stay tuned) i'm off to ethiopia tonight on another adventure...acting in a feature film called Melt. all the actors speak Amharic except me, so acting in scenes with Amharic spoken could be a problem. "oh yeah, well what did you mean by that?"!!! I believe i'm the only mzungu in the cast.

they also want me to ghost direct and sort of mentor the crew, it being their first feature and all. i don't want to step on any toes and only to encourage and empower, so i'm not sure how useful i'll be, but maybe i can solve a dead battery issue! 

the peponi shoot was fantastic. it looks like $100,000 budget. airplanes, boats, sail boats, fishing boats, slow boats, fast boats, insane locations, a cast of hundreds, extras at my beckon call, props galore ("let's get a champagne bucket  on that table with two flutes. got any Dom?") and the client and her family was a dream. 4 days from dawn til dusk but so beautiful. really the best gig ever! cannot wait to post the final cut! current 8 minute version works for me!

so today is sunday, and i one happy hombre. jumping from one project to another, both sides of the camera, love addis ababa, staying at the chic yet affordable Monarch Hotel, and it should be very interesting on set. hope at least one other person speaks english! 

here are a few pics. i'm back to NBO dec 8th then off to lamu dec 9-16th. then back to Sling HQ to finish cutting Odo doco. wow, they say to say in Hollywood "i have numerous projects in various stages of development" and i guess i do! and i'm certainly having a ball. 

well, all for now. will try to update with BTS pics from the set of Melt. haya!!!!

meet Babu British. for real. always a person of interest. the man to know in lamu/shela. 

showing Peponi's carol some playback, roland pilot/talent for the day looks on

kayla helps with props and was my dolly grip. "can we spritz those flutes a skosh, please?"

"and you go on 'champagne action'!"

you shoot the exotic drink, you get to drink the exotic drink. this was a 'dawa'. it means medicine. yum!

framing up over kayla's shoulder...the ole 'thru the bathroom window' dolly shot.

we laughed all week. the hotel staff were a blast! we all had such fun! team building!

Hello Wheelchair Dolly! best gag ever! thank God we had smooth floors everywhere! these dollys work...once we added air to the back tyres!

client's side producer/coordinator/talent/daughter, elke, was incredible on both sides of lens. so helpful! a godsend!

"okay, on this shot, just put your feet up while he opens the bubbly! and action!"

another day at work...sun is up its time to start shooting! my bedroom is under the dome on the right.

here's our chill lounge for a day of R&R.

yes.

bliss.

some ocean floor artifacts i picked up...er... bought.

some views never get old.

reverse angle into work / chill lounge.

we had a nice client dinner on the upper deck on the last night.

new cafe in shela village. Atmil's guest house.

the service is slow but what's the rush?

a future doctor???

old dhow sails as shading...cool.

old friends griet, sabrina, and lorella

not bad for a work space.

the clouds are always changing so the light is always changing. beautiful.

swahili wicker. a good style.

Odo goes on the back burner for a while i'm afraid.

my pad.

dickson is the best!

i will miss him and his friendship next year.

pre dawn.

love the clouds this time of year!

i'm going to miss this place.

cool plane. that's a wrap!

kilimanjaro was off to the left.

"kazungu, you go on 'background action', not 'action'!'"

Lojay pitches in with some set dressing. "can we get some fresh fruit juice in a glass pitcher? it's here!"

wheelchair dolly shot. great set, talent, crew, props, location, dolly grip, wardrobe, it all worked!

until next time!
xxoxo
ddm
COTW back on the road