"Dashboard" Trailer in Production Now!

Hello friends, Joe here, director of the upcoming feature film "By the Dashboard Light" and subsequently director of the Dashboard Light "Promotional Featurette" as well.

For three weeks now we've been hard at work shooting a trailer that will launch on our Kickstarter/Indiegogo pages in mid-August / early-September. We have one day of shooting left and things are looking great. 

Cinematographer Sergio Herrera has been shooting on Canon 7D's with a 14mm wide angle lens for our car interior two-shots. We've been using a mint 1976 Toyota Corolla, generously loaned from the Jeremias family. 

The car, as cool as it looks, has been quite a challenge to shoot with. Our interior shots require the car to be off and the windows rolled up for the best sound. The weather has been in the mid 90's and this car turns into an oven. The camera is overheating (along with the talent) and we have to take frequent breaks for cool-downs. In addition, sound-man Dave Willis-Lorenz is crammed into the back seat... leaving the only one for me to direct... the hatch-back trunk. Lol. 

The actors have been troopers. Keith Chandler who plays the part of main-character Roger, the driving instructor, has been spot on - take after take after take. Pair him up with acting veteran Joe Rose and the up-and-coming Blake Williams (who play two of Roger's students) and you have a powerhouse team of talent. 

This past weekend feature the uber-talented Aly Miller as the young angsty teen Shannon and newcomer Stevenn Beck as the creepy, straight-laced instructor Verne. The acting duo was spot-on and the scene was HILARIOUS. Verne currently has my favorite line in the whole movie and he nailed it. (Keep an eye out... It's the last line in the trailer.)

Finally we had a shoot that didn't take place in a car. (which was like a vacation from the ordinary) Brian Kerrigan plays the part of Mr. Engle, Roger's boss. He slurped up Chinese Lo-Mein noodles inbetween his lines and was absolutely hilarious. 

Next week, on our final day of shooting, we will be joined by Nora Hunmel (Orange is the New Black) and James Lyden (Boardwalk Empire & The Leftovers) as the bullied kid's parents

In all, things are moving along nicely. Were all looking forward to wrapping production next week and I personally am looking forward to watching all the footage as the trailer is cut. 

Thanks to everyone for their help and support. The trailer will premiere on our Facebook page (and possibly even as a trailer in a local movie theater...shhh) 

Stay tuned true believers! 

Cheers!