Life of Kyle Prohaska

David, Howie, and John discuss the Hospital Exterior

I woke up earlier than usual today, to make sure I got out of the house around 9:30am or so.  I was meeting David and John at David’s eye-care office to go location scouting most of the day.  The first stop was the St. Francis Hospital just across the street.  It’s a pretty big place, a lot bigger than I thought.  We met with who I understood to be one of the administrators of the facility and another man who I can’t recall the name of.  We spoke about the film and what we were looking for and the rest of our time spent there was with the man we met with showing us the different places within the hospital we needed to film in.  The support we’ve been able to get from this hospital is very remarkable.  Pretty much nothing was turned down, and we got everything we needed.  We spend quite a bit of time in this place so it’s very crucial we have their full support, and I’m glad to report we do.  Towards the tail end we met Howie Klausner who revised the script from David’s original.  He’s a cool guy, I was glad to meet him.

We all went off to lunch at some chinese place and I got some Sesame Chicken with fried rice.  I love flavored chicken and rice, I don’t even care what flavor, it’s all good stuff.  The conversation went well, it was light and Howie and John shared some stories from past movies and such.  I guess they laughed at the fact both of them had played George Clooney (who John has worked with on many occasions) in basketball sometime in the past.  I must say its still a bit odd to be sitting in the company of guys like John or Howie.  I mean John just got off George’s last film The Men Who Stare At Goats with Kevin Spacey, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, J.K. Simmons, Robert Patrick, etc.  I’m still a nobody, lol.  I’ve had two people congratulate me on getting this job having “nothing to show for myself.”  While it’s a compliment it’s also a bit daunting to hear.  I really don’t have anything to show for myself.  I think to some degree I do, but in my own mind I’m not anything at all until I can sell at least one film and get it on a shelf somewhere.  Then I’ll feel I’ve accomplished something.  Thousands have had a film 99% complete and never sold it.  I’m in the same boat.  That makes me no different than anyone else.  Until I sell one and have something distributed, I’m no further along than I was last year (career wise).  I’m really Blessed to have gotten this opportunity, and I get to work with some really awesome and experienced people.  It’s an honor really, nothing short of that.

Bedroom of the home we looked at today...(love this room)

I went home for a little over an hour before I had to meet with David again for another scout.  There was a lot of thinking to do during that time.  Making a film isn’t easy.  It’s fun, but to me that fun is balanced with headache.  It’s rewarding and backstabbing at the same time.  Directing/Producing a film is one million decisions, all made under pressure most of the time, with limited budgets and big ideas, with lots of people standing around waiting for A or B, 1 or 2.  It’s not all fun, that’s for sure.  I’m really glad that this time around I get to just Direct and help Produce.  On Standing Firm it was such a nightmare on many levels.  When your unpacking all your gear in the beginning of the day, setting up your sticks, trying to find your blocking and framing, direct your actors, operate your camera, keep and eye on sound, keep track of wardrobe and continuity, etc. it becomes utter insanity.  No way did Standing Firm get shot with anything less than God’s hand on the project.  It was his direction and mercy on the project that helped it roll forward.  When I fell over, He picked me up, and when I didn’t think I could handle another day…He gave me the strength to go on.

Briarcrest Christian School (School Location)

This time around on The Grace Card I have many new things to deal with.  We have police involvement from cars, to the station, to guns, we have the ER and hospital rooms, we have more locations, more characters, stunts involving cars, etc…way more than Standing Firm could shake a stick at, lol.  The scope of the film is pretty ambitious compared to a simple family drama, and with the budget we have it’s even more ambitious.  I think with proper planning and knowhow we can pull it off, but we need to get cracking…

The second scout landed us at a hopeful home for one of the leads families.  It works really well and I’m hoping it works out.  The design of the house was very cohesive and proper for the characters.  I loved how it photographed just in natural light let along if we had lit it up on a shooting day.

Overall today was a successful day of scouting and we made some great progress.  I’m looking forward tomorrow not because I have a meeting or some work to do, but because I get to see my parents.  They’re coming in from Georgia where my mom has been visiting my dad for the summer.  My dad works down there and she went down with the dog just after I left for California this past May.  I can’t wait to see them and give’em a hug.  Seeing my dog won’t hurt either.

G’night folks…