Thursday June 28, 2012
Cast
I had submitted for the New York Film Academy student film project Still Life; the project's writer/director Yiğit Kalyoncu contacted me the evening of the 27th and, having checked out my website and having found it "pretty impressive," felt I would be a very good fit as the clerk (for which I'd submitted), conveying that the shoot date for the scenes with the clerk would be Sunday July 8th (always good for a student film to fall on a Sunday, allowing me not to have to miss my co-hosting duties for my weekly live online radio show late Saturday afternoons). I replied, confirming my acceptance.
On the 28th, Yiğit emailed the fantasy script, the story of which contained some science fiction overtones.

Sunday July 08, 2012
Shoot
I arrived at the location for my 9am calltime at 8:40am, early enough to visit the nearby Carl's Jr. for their restroom. The crew began showing up just before 9am; I met writer/director Yiğit Kalyoncu and 1st A.D. Angela Liu. Once inside they started setting up, which, as often the case in regular films (particularly a location, in this case a working store), the talent calltime was way early; it took them quite a while to get set up. We didn't even get into make-up until after 10am. Always nice to see a family face: also cast, as a store customer, was Thomas Callahan with whom I worked on the two CSUN projects a few months earlier.
While I was there until I was wrapped (around 4pm), there was really only two bits for which I was needed. The last shot was my checking on some piping in the back (with a few lens changes, so that shot should have some variety), and the first shot of the day, when Kristen Bell look-alike (certainly when she smiled), Becca Cousineau and I went back to set, apart from some lens changes (understandably focusing on her), I may be seen briefly in profile and the back of my head, as the store clerk; while it was clear I'd be in the dolly shot, there didn't seem to have much coverage shots.
Used at some point was a prop head, comically resembling a young Walter Koenig during his Star Trek TOS days.
During lunch I spoke with Christopher Cruz who I was pleased to learn is someone quite Awake (as well as a fellow Doctor Who viewer and MST3K fan, et al).
We were told the screening would be September 14th; it should be a fascinating finished product.

Monday August 03, 2012
Screening info
Angela sent out invitation for her thesis film War Bride, noting to me I should be on Yiğit's guest list. Angela had also invited me to participate in a feature film of hers the title of which she has not revealed.

Thursday September 13, 2012
Screening confirmation and a "last-minute" change
Yiğit emailed the information again, and the 4pm time reminder (e.g., that 3:30pm might be safer to be there before it starts).
As a near parenthetical aside, he added at the end, "By the way, I've changed the title of the film, it is called 'Drink the Gloom' now."

Friday September 14, 2012
Screening
I arrived at Warner Bros. in time to get to the auditorium in plenty of time... due to the bus schedule, I was early enough to be first.
Yiğit's film was fascinating; I had not anticipated it would be in black and white.
The shot of me was much clearer than I expected; I had been under the impression I'd be way off to the side. The pipe-striking was edited so one doesn't notice I was specifically hitting it four times.
Yiğit clarified the music was a scratch-track; the complete version would be with original music. Once that aspect is complete we'll get our DVD copies, and it will start to make the rounds of the film festival circuit.

Saturday May 04, 2013
Official completion
Yiğit notified us all that Drink the Gloom was completed, and that DVDs were ready, requesting to where to send them, and thanking us all so much for being a part of the film, and that he hoped it was an enjoyable experience for us, as it was for he.
He did neglect to indicate that the short has its own Facebook page, which I found shortly after replying with my mailing location.