Chute!

Posted on October 14, 2008

Over the past two years, I’ve written three short scripts that were actually produced as films: Live People, Clip This!, and now Chute. It’s odd, but of the three, Live People actually turned out closest to the way I envisioned it, and it is by far my least favorite

I grew quite frustrated at times during the production of Clip This!. No one seemed to fully understand the story I was trying to tell. I even got a little upset when I finally saw the finished product because it included a scene I hadn’t written and would never have approved if my opinion had been asked. After I got over that, however, I saw that the film that made it to the screen was actually much more than what I had envisioned. There were so many nice touches and nuances that were added by the cast and crew—especially the editors—that the experience of watching it was like seeing it with fresh eyes. I watched it probably ten times in the first week it was posted, and each time I noticed something new about it.

Chute is a video I wrote for my church to be used as a sermon illustration. Justin Girdler (who also directed Clip This!) came up with the concept, then directed and edited the final product. If you’re interested, you can compare the video (above) with the script. There were definitely some frustrations with this production, but they were mostly out of anyone’s control. We didn’t have time to shoot at two separate locations, so the prayer at the beginning happened in the office instead of a bedroom. Some miscommunications between the producers and the cast meant that I ended up playing the lead, and some other parts were shifted around. The conversation in the kitchen was nothing at all like I had envisioned simply because of the location’s space constraints. I brought a bunch of wardrobe options with me to the shoot, but forgot nice shoes, so I’m wearing white tennis shoes with my slacks. Some acting mistakes (mine) and some camera weirdness resulted in a couple of continuity issues. In the end, none of that seems to have mattered much.

When I wrote the script, I meant for it to be funny. On paper, it was only theoretically funny. A guy getting messages from God via a teller tube is kind of a funny concept. Anyone getting hit in the head with something is also inherently funny. But it just didn’t seem funny to me when I read it. Even when I saw the rough cut, I thought it was only so-so funny. The final cut, though, with the music and sound effects was almost magical. With every production I work on, I realize anew what a collaborative art form film is.

Chute played in church this morning, and got a great response. It also made a great illustration for the sermon, which was the whole point. All-in-all, a successful production.