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	Making of THE LONG DARK WAY by Susan L. Sybenga (or How to Make a Film with NO Budget and Many Friends)	“How can I afford to make a film? How can I do it without experience? I don’t know the first thing about writing a script or directing or anything else for that matter.” So what, neither did I when I started. Here is what you do. Talk to your friends. Tell them what you want to do. You may be surprised to find that they have always wanted to try their hand at filmmaking. One of them may even have a digital camera. Find a group or make a group online, for instance at http://groups.yahoo.com/start advertise at your school or college talk to everyone about it make yourself a t-shirt that says you are making a film. People will crawl out of the woodwork to be involved. There is a celebrity wannabe in almost every one of us. I promise, you will have more than enough people to work with in no time at all. -Susan Sybenga, blog entry 15th April 2008
Start of the Nightmare

I just want to talk!

In September we found out that it had been nominated, along with two others, as finalists in the Shoot-N-OK competition. We were invited to do a live reading at the festival in October which was two weeks away! I sent out a frantic query seeking actors to read the parts.

The first person on board was Zane Berlin, our villian. He came with such enthusiasm for the part that I knew immediately that the role was his. The rest of the cast for the reading was assembled (none of these appear in the film) and read-throughs and rehearsals were held.

Finally, the day arrived. October 7th. Of course, I was early (a bad habit sometimes) and bouncing off the walls until all the cast arrived.

As a group, we had decided that rather than sit in chairs and just read the script, we would perform as much as possible. The room for the reading was oblong, with doors at both ends of the room. The audience sat between the two doors. We had rehearsed the evening before in the room, so that we could time “Danny” running through the audience and disappearing out one door and appearing, suddenly, at the other.

When he was outside the room, the audience could hear him yelling “Rachel, come back! I just want to talk.” so when he appeared at the glass door, acting as if it is locked, banging and shaking the door and shouting, the audience jumps with surprise. It was well received.

We Won! On October 8, 2006 was the award ceremony for the festival. Not expecting the screenplay or the reading to win, I did not dress up. But attended to cheer for the wins of my friends. Much to my surprise, The Nightmare won Runner-up in the Shoot-N-OK category (had it won first prize it would have been filmed and produced by Darkwood Film Company) and first prize in the Live Screenplay category by popular vote!

I was shocked! As I walked to the dais to accept, I stopped in the middle of the stage and called my mother on my cell, much to the delight of the audience. I told her “We won!” then held the phone out to the audience and they enthusiastically cheered so she could hear it. As I left the stage, ShIronbutterfly Ray told me “Don't let runner-up stop you from making that film.” and I took her words to heart. However, it would be some time before I would start.

In August of 2007, we got the word that The Nightmare had cleared the first hurdle at American Gem. Out of over 1200 entries we made the first cut. In September, 2007 we cheered as it made it past the second round eliminations. We were now in the top 50! This was, sadly, as far as it went. But we are honored to have made it that far in such a huge competition.

Now it is 2008 People were starting to harass me about when we will make the film. I started making lists of locations needed and possible acquaintances who might let us invade their space. Around this time after various script changes we settled on the new title, The Long Dark Way. I begin recruiting crew from Oklahoma Movie Makers. This group is a good place to start. They come together with varying talents and equipment for the express purpose of aiding in the creation of each member's film without recompense. Talent and enthusiasm abound in this group of disparate people from all over Oklahoma, the U.S. and even the world. It was founded in 2004 as a Yahoo Group created by three guys with a dream to make films and became what it is today, with over 1200 members. From this group came Gregory Raw, lighting and editing; Brian C. Jackson, sound; Sonja Jones, actress and Assistant Director; Jake Richardson, cover/poster art; Erick Wolfe, stunt coordinator; Eddie “Monster” Evans, music; and others stepped up to the plate as needed.

Casting Call Friday, May 16, 2008 5:00PM to 7PM Agora Coffeehouse, 51st & Memorial, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Fontana Shopping Center (inside courtyard – east side) FILM: The Long, Dark Way Written by Sondra Hauf and Susan Sybenga Award winning script at Script-2-Screen Film Festival 2006 Genre: Thriller Length: 25+ minutes Very short SYNOPSIS: A woman is stalked by her daughter's "boyfriend". Director: Susan L. Sybenga Tall Chick Productions (ASOTI Films) Parts to be Cast: Rachel (Leading Role) – Late 30's, fit and attractive. This part requires running and some physical fighting. Two to Three Friends of Abby (speaking roles) – 18 years Security Guard –(non-speaking role, but important) Male, any age – stunts will be involved. Parts Already Cast: Danny, the stalker – Zane Berlin Abby, the daughter – Kelli Kickham Gloria, the shopkeeper – Patricia Robinson Shop Customer – Sonja Jones Many Extras will be required for the dance club scene and street scene.

I then announced a casting call for the part of “Rachel”, our heroine, and arranged a place to have it. Agora Coffeehouse, owned by Jeff Taylor, was more than happy to let us use the space for nothing. The day came and only two actresses showed for the part! I was devastated. Until Renee Michaels walked in the door. Before she opened her mouth I knew. She is my Rachel. The rest of the cast came together bit by bit and we were ready to begin.

Finding the locations was probably the most difficult part of the whole adventure. I am not very good and taking no for an answer. It tends to depress me. But with the help of many of my friends, but especially Greg Hisaw, we were able to find suitable places to shoot. Many of these businesses were happy to stay late and with us while we filmed. My former employer, my chiropractor, Greg Hisaw's housing association, and an art gallery in Sand Springs, OK for the interior shots and others for the outdoor scenes. In one case, Sonja, Renee and myself went to the local mall at the crack of dawn to film the mall scenes. We did not get permission. We went in commando style, quickly shot the scene and left before any of the stores were even open. The second night of shooting, we are filming the scenes outside the bar. When Zane grabs Renee to get her out of the path of a speeding car, she drops her purse. Unexpectedly, when the driver guns his engine and speeds off he annihilates the purse lying in front of his car. This was not intended, but worked out very well. Sometime later, we are at the far end of the alley shooting, when a couple walk past on the sidewalk. The man suddenly shouts “Hey, you got a smoke? I just got out of jail.” at the top of his lungs. Although it disrupted filming, it gave us the idea for the drunk who approaches our actors and Erick W. gamely stepped up to play the part.

One day, in particular, stands out in my mind. The 12-hour day shooting the parking garage and stairwell at the Liberty Tower condominiums! Most of our shoot days took no more than half that time and I am still humbled by the fact that none of the cast or crew grumbled about the long hours that day. I did the SFX makeup for Zane and Richard (the security guard). Zane was to be shoved down a 5-story stairwell and Richard to be clubbed and then shot by Zane. What fun! This was my first time doing makeup and apparently it turned out well. Zane and Greg H. were in the elevator, returning from a break. A woman got in and couldn't stop staring at Zane, all bloodied and bruised from head to hip. She kept squinting at his “injuries” until Greg explained that we were making a film in the building. She exclaimed, “Really? I was going to say, are you okay? It's so real looking! And I'm a nurse!” Couldn't ask for a better critique.

At a later date, Greg R., Brian J., and myself returned to get the sound FX and other shots of Zane falling. I came up with the idea of taking my child's extra large teddy bear, tying jeans to his arms and legs and dropping him over the railing, down five stories to the bottom, repeatedly to get the sound of Zane falling. This teddy bear sacrificed his nose to the cause. Greg R. used an action figure tied to fine fishing line to get Zane's shadow on the wall, falling.

Hiatus It took every weekend and some weekdays of June, 2008 to get 80% of the film “in the can” and then we took a hiatus to regroup. We did not finish principle shooting until June of 2009 – going back to get pickups, doing voice-overs, etc. Then began the grueling process of editing, which was bravely and quickly done by Greg R. After four rough edits, we finally could send out for the soundtrack. We had the mall music and had the bar scene music (Imperious Rex). Eddie “Monster” Evans stepped up and the music was quickly done. Finished at last! Of course, this was all timed so we could enter it in the Script-2-Screen Film Festival 2009 in Tulsa. I wanted to premiere it where it started, with ShIronbutterfly and Oscar Ray. They have encouraged me and bolstered my self-esteem for five years (ever since my first short-short film, Papa's Gone Missing) and I wanted to share it with them before anyone else. The film was shown on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 (along with several others) to a packed hall. I announced a prize to anyone who could tell me where the purse, doll and bear (sitting in the lobby) were used in the film. Everyone could get the purse and the doll, but not one person was able to figure out the bear. After the films were over, in the lobby, we were very pleased by the audience reaction. One person, a filmmaker himself, said:

“I really was impressed with your short and I wasn't expecting that! YOU ENGAGED THE AUDIENCE!!! That's always the "key", ALWAYS!! "Your film, regardless of production value, still "grabbed". Money, fancy filters, explosions, expensive actors etc.. ANYBODY, can eventually get if they know the right people.... it's the story/script, ENGAGEMENT that money can't buy. Plus your work ethic was strong which helps with overcompensating for lack of budget.” “If you have a good script and direct well like you did; get good actors; have camera movement instead of lock downs etc. I think you'll emerge (easily) as a front runner in the amateur stage and on to being marketable. I think if your next short is just as engaging and you beef up the value, you are DONE with this level and should turn and wave goodbye!”

High praise, in my book.

I'm already writing the next “nightmare” called The Dead Run, a comedy and will again star Renee Michaels.
The same crew is also signed on to the project and raring to go.

- Susan L. Sybenga
"I am also a Producer, Director, Editor and all around jane-of-all-trades. I also act when the opportunity arises."

In addition to  her NAMMA Ten-Best Prize and several other awards for script and film making, Susan is specially honored by one other. At the Script-2-Screen Film Festival 2009, The Long, Dark Way won the P.A.I.N. Award for Domestic Violence Prevention Awareness. This was the first award given in this category.

The pictures on this page originated, with Susan's kind permission, from her "Tall Chick Productions" FaceBook page.
Most of the  sidebars come from her blogs about the production.
Visit her website: www.tallchickproductions.com and under the "Film" tab find links to other sites she writes on.
And don't miss her blog which gives almost daily commentary on the shoot and other projects: http://tallchickproductions.blogspot.com