We’ve been working on preproduction for Hendstrom a lot lately – I’ve drawn out some costume alterations, put together a list of costume thingies I need – and, as you can see in the last post, started trying crazy stuff with eyeliner. I’ve decided to invest in tattoo pens instead, because 10 minutes in the sink isn’t as fun as it sounds. Tonight, we braved the cold and quelled our stir craziness and stopped by Target so I could pick up some more makeup to experiment with.

I ended up with 2 kinds of mascara (well 4, but 2 tubes), eyeliner pen, face primer, foundation that is (hopefully) lighter than my skin tone, and makeup remover cloths – all for $22 because E.L.F. is the best ever and I don’t feel bad buying loads of makeup – because it’s good makeup and way less expensive; perfect for low/no-budget filming and preproduction!

Our notebooks are filling up with pictures and plot lines and rough set designs. Earlier this month, we started a vlog tumblr (vlogblr?) of our preproduction process and what we’ve been working on – we’ll be releasing another one later this week, so if you’re keen, follow hendstrom.tumblr.com because documenting is fun!

Work is ending soon which will give me time to expel some of this creative energy into doing ALL THE SEWING. I’m looking forward to it, honestly. And playing with face makeup. I have a book I’d like to order along with the tattoo pens that should hopefully help with the makeup-artistry.

Interesting thing about being a very very indie filmmaker, is that you have to balance everything that goes into a film yourselves. You have to build the world, write the world, fill the world, film the world, light the world, and dress the world all by yourself with whatever resources you have or can hack together. It makes you realize why exactly there are so many departments on movies: art teams, painting teams, makeup, costume, lighting, DP’s, AD’s, sound, noms, everything. Because it’s hard enough balancing all that for a handful of people, let alone hundreds.

Thing is though, this is an all encompassing art form, and I love it; that’s why I vlog, and draw, and pour everything into preproduction, and act, and watch Alex edit it all together.