AniaR
05-10-2019, 09:37 AM
I Just wrapped on a movie, so I thought I would share some of the behind the scenes. I will have more to add to this thread, and by the end of the year the film will be streaming online so I'll have links there too. :)
So here's an article that came out about the film in March: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/lgbtq-film-fantasy-romance-film-5-atlantic-filmmakers-cooperative-1.5064071
The filmmakers got a grant to make this film. The story is about a Syrian refugee who comes to Canada and tries to adjust to life, recover from trauma, and adapt to Canadian lifestyle (and cold). She meets and befriends a mermaid.
I was hired to be an actress for this film, to train the other cast in underwater stunts, and to provide consulting on the underwater aspects and filming. Of particular challenge to me what that the film would be in Arabic - which I do not speak. We cast an awesome lead who is multi-lingual.
So we had many many meetings where I answered the filmmakers questions, and referred them to rescue divers, various pools for filming in, and consulted on safety.
To start, we had to train my co-actress to perform underwater. This meant we went to a pool, figured out how much weight she needed, and practiced jumping in while I swam up to her. This took a few sessions for her to get comfortable. It reminded me just how hard what we do can be for others!
Here's a few screen shots from practicing these stunts: (note that Sean was on hand as safety for each jump)
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/58755143_2337005509911152_8361708190328422400_o.jp g?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=6c08c4ec206b0cb1b74a4fbb7d4a2cc6&oe=5D6E1913
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/57618385_2337005486577821_7097105596016492544_o.jp g?_nc_cat=101&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=904234f7952de97b3574f3ed9ceff702&oe=5D756150
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/58379223_2337005456577824_6834990545169809408_o.jp g?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=1752e8d280ebea4e36e883426a0a318c&oe=5D61CB44
The director decided to try one of my mermaid tails to get a feel for things too. She was so great (she's on mernetwork too BTW)
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/58419814_2336987253246311_4856201860958126080_n.jp g?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=3a8504cbc35575a94c160fbb5522a2ab&oe=5D6ED3B9
We had some dry-land rehearsals and then we got to the filming! I won't give too much away because the folks making the film are actually making a BTS videos too (which I'll share here if it becomes available publicly).
I spent a lot of time repairing and fixing up my she creature tail so it would look great in the film
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/58745081_2340277812917255_7834886423764271104_n.jp g?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=393e207bd1453ddbd768457b357f32b7&oe=5D599E3E
It was pretty cold the day we filmed and hovered between 11-13C and the water was much colder. I DID end up getting in for a few shots with a wetsuit from the waist down but eventually switched to the tail. Here's a pic of me being cold haha
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59371915_2344684062476630_2858160058129186816_n.jp g?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=9e254daf11d1283208da3587a53a2a5e&oe=5D73911B
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59491862_2344073322537704_8533845914001866752_n.jp g?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=9d9bc5e85202692800613cb5a254eba4&oe=5D625890
I got some really cool make up done, and they had to keep covering up my tattoos. I tried every tattoo cover up available and the only one that worked in the slightest was Tarte
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59785080_2344683825809987_93725905909710848_n.jpg? _nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=8e0e2f33dc70b097127521119d0b5b93&oe=5D6EE549 https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59852634_2344683699143333_1920023266630565888_n.jp g?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=3d80981b6ccf5108ed3f665166544c05&oe=5D7496A7 https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59385457_2344683595810010_1281122777994100736_n.jp g?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=931fe079bacdefd6d89ced0d35c2300b&oe=5D6D61A2 https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59631234_2344684392476597_7448014633236955136_n.jp g?_nc_cat=101&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=3b437098e50bdff9aec622a899a58c3f&oe=5D77A048 [/img]https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59717714_2344684269143276_5568231950289731584_n.jp g?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=3cc8074469082903a36ab36d5459ef6d&oe=5D69C28B[/img]
We shot near a lake that was next to the ocean so the lake in shots looked like the ocean. Less windier and warmer. I took breaks inside an ice fishing tent to keep warm.
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59866148_2344684142476622_5240909683752960000_n.jp g?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=5645f89d2f7f1ce1516dd8baf81ded65&oe=5D2D7AF9 https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59538329_2344683769143326_2600950641618583552_n.jp g?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=11961191fd6ba264ed19fee895d38675&oe=5D72E91A https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59469436_2344684215809948_6255563654092029952_n.jp g?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=1f3834fe54ac416d3733c2d36b74e1ef&oe=5D5A59EE https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/60116163_2344684632476573_5136551135330435072_n.jp g?_nc_cat=102&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=7c29216d1888e943aff0b918207a1fa5&oe=5D2BC735
After those scenes were done we headed to an industrial pool to film the underwater shots.
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59334976_2344107762534260_3635232225953316864_n.jp g?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=90b6638f1acc20de5d62a6f9193f0135&oe=5D5CAB8B https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59808796_2344683309143372_907701390518779904_n.jpg ?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=933f5e28f9b1b1e1329a8a4d6702e3e0&oe=5D727C6A
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59516859_2344683162476720_1333712359021084672_n.jp g?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=dea96a50a5ce098d00853a9c296571c4&oe=5D2C0A19
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59579660_2344682875810082_2031268168047001600_o.jp g?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=f9a699c2aafc41e542a0236942d2ccc8&oe=5D66D821
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59805865_2344682925810077_674411003361886208_o.jpg ?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=35688d00e6fd605e9ce81f0a753e8c56&oe=5D60BBD5
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59784148_2344683012476735_4693627118192427008_o.jp g?_nc_cat=100&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=98c4f0d72a2c1b2ca62179c03452d352&oe=5D2C3112
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59480289_2344683065810063_9146446720157089792_o.jp g?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=a844e8caa34ec0bf1046f91219956b79&oe=5D6B8620
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59698569_2344683452476691_901512952530599936_n.jpg ?_nc_cat=104&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=87f67e4af355b53cd86af067f48dc4cf&oe=5D5A531F
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59820429_2344929892452047_3778372288949256192_n.jp g?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=f06457e73c92931dab261df5b1c8274c&oe=5D694911
More to come!
So here's an article that came out about the film in March: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/lgbtq-film-fantasy-romance-film-5-atlantic-filmmakers-cooperative-1.5064071
The filmmakers got a grant to make this film. The story is about a Syrian refugee who comes to Canada and tries to adjust to life, recover from trauma, and adapt to Canadian lifestyle (and cold). She meets and befriends a mermaid.
I was hired to be an actress for this film, to train the other cast in underwater stunts, and to provide consulting on the underwater aspects and filming. Of particular challenge to me what that the film would be in Arabic - which I do not speak. We cast an awesome lead who is multi-lingual.
So we had many many meetings where I answered the filmmakers questions, and referred them to rescue divers, various pools for filming in, and consulted on safety.
To start, we had to train my co-actress to perform underwater. This meant we went to a pool, figured out how much weight she needed, and practiced jumping in while I swam up to her. This took a few sessions for her to get comfortable. It reminded me just how hard what we do can be for others!
Here's a few screen shots from practicing these stunts: (note that Sean was on hand as safety for each jump)
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/58755143_2337005509911152_8361708190328422400_o.jp g?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=6c08c4ec206b0cb1b74a4fbb7d4a2cc6&oe=5D6E1913
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/57618385_2337005486577821_7097105596016492544_o.jp g?_nc_cat=101&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=904234f7952de97b3574f3ed9ceff702&oe=5D756150
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/58379223_2337005456577824_6834990545169809408_o.jp g?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=1752e8d280ebea4e36e883426a0a318c&oe=5D61CB44
The director decided to try one of my mermaid tails to get a feel for things too. She was so great (she's on mernetwork too BTW)
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/58419814_2336987253246311_4856201860958126080_n.jp g?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=3a8504cbc35575a94c160fbb5522a2ab&oe=5D6ED3B9
We had some dry-land rehearsals and then we got to the filming! I won't give too much away because the folks making the film are actually making a BTS videos too (which I'll share here if it becomes available publicly).
I spent a lot of time repairing and fixing up my she creature tail so it would look great in the film
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/58745081_2340277812917255_7834886423764271104_n.jp g?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=393e207bd1453ddbd768457b357f32b7&oe=5D599E3E
It was pretty cold the day we filmed and hovered between 11-13C and the water was much colder. I DID end up getting in for a few shots with a wetsuit from the waist down but eventually switched to the tail. Here's a pic of me being cold haha
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59371915_2344684062476630_2858160058129186816_n.jp g?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=9e254daf11d1283208da3587a53a2a5e&oe=5D73911B
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59491862_2344073322537704_8533845914001866752_n.jp g?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=9d9bc5e85202692800613cb5a254eba4&oe=5D625890
I got some really cool make up done, and they had to keep covering up my tattoos. I tried every tattoo cover up available and the only one that worked in the slightest was Tarte
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59785080_2344683825809987_93725905909710848_n.jpg? _nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=8e0e2f33dc70b097127521119d0b5b93&oe=5D6EE549 https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59852634_2344683699143333_1920023266630565888_n.jp g?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=3d80981b6ccf5108ed3f665166544c05&oe=5D7496A7 https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59385457_2344683595810010_1281122777994100736_n.jp g?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=931fe079bacdefd6d89ced0d35c2300b&oe=5D6D61A2 https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59631234_2344684392476597_7448014633236955136_n.jp g?_nc_cat=101&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=3b437098e50bdff9aec622a899a58c3f&oe=5D77A048 [/img]https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59717714_2344684269143276_5568231950289731584_n.jp g?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=3cc8074469082903a36ab36d5459ef6d&oe=5D69C28B[/img]
We shot near a lake that was next to the ocean so the lake in shots looked like the ocean. Less windier and warmer. I took breaks inside an ice fishing tent to keep warm.
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59866148_2344684142476622_5240909683752960000_n.jp g?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=5645f89d2f7f1ce1516dd8baf81ded65&oe=5D2D7AF9 https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59538329_2344683769143326_2600950641618583552_n.jp g?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=11961191fd6ba264ed19fee895d38675&oe=5D72E91A https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59469436_2344684215809948_6255563654092029952_n.jp g?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=1f3834fe54ac416d3733c2d36b74e1ef&oe=5D5A59EE https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/60116163_2344684632476573_5136551135330435072_n.jp g?_nc_cat=102&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=7c29216d1888e943aff0b918207a1fa5&oe=5D2BC735
After those scenes were done we headed to an industrial pool to film the underwater shots.
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59334976_2344107762534260_3635232225953316864_n.jp g?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=90b6638f1acc20de5d62a6f9193f0135&oe=5D5CAB8B https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59808796_2344683309143372_907701390518779904_n.jpg ?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=933f5e28f9b1b1e1329a8a4d6702e3e0&oe=5D727C6A
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59516859_2344683162476720_1333712359021084672_n.jp g?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=dea96a50a5ce098d00853a9c296571c4&oe=5D2C0A19
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59579660_2344682875810082_2031268168047001600_o.jp g?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=f9a699c2aafc41e542a0236942d2ccc8&oe=5D66D821
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59805865_2344682925810077_674411003361886208_o.jpg ?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=35688d00e6fd605e9ce81f0a753e8c56&oe=5D60BBD5
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59784148_2344683012476735_4693627118192427008_o.jp g?_nc_cat=100&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=98c4f0d72a2c1b2ca62179c03452d352&oe=5D2C3112
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59480289_2344683065810063_9146446720157089792_o.jp g?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=a844e8caa34ec0bf1046f91219956b79&oe=5D6B8620
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59698569_2344683452476691_901512952530599936_n.jpg ?_nc_cat=104&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=87f67e4af355b53cd86af067f48dc4cf&oe=5D5A531F
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59820429_2344929892452047_3778372288949256192_n.jp g?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=f06457e73c92931dab261df5b1c8274c&oe=5D694911
More to come!