Supertime and I left the house ahead of schedule, but when we went to pick up my friend's car to use as our teamsters transport option - the duped key she left for us - not only didn't work - it got stuck in the ignition. After trying for a half hour we finally got it out. We would have been so screwed if we had to deal with some car repair!

Then some friends called back - we had someone to pick up the make-up artist to and meet us in the Presidio as planned - then our goblin actress showed up with a friend for extra assistance! RIGHT ON!

We had hoped to start early when there was more light, but that didn't work out as planned. Nichole was applying gashes by flashlight.

Everything they say about duct tape is true. We used it to get the dress to stay on Astra and rig a camping flashlight to an adjustable shower curtain rod - to use as our light source. Key-grip, best boy, electrician? Someday, when I can afford it, but for today - we were lo-fi all the way.

I badly needed a ladder to climb up on to imitate the position of a surveillance camera. But I couldn't bring one since our abject-teamster-transport options weren't trucks but cars. Not 20 feet from where we were shooting was a working, 8-ft ladder, just left in the alley! Wow - the universe does provide! I got the shot I needed from being able to climb it.

While the make-up was being done, Supertime and I were at one of the big brick houses next door, setting up the shots. We were using walky-talkies since I didn't want to yell. Someone came out of the house and introduced himself. He said he was working late and could hear voices (the walky-talkies) and thought they were coming from inside the house. We joked about how spooky that was but he said he had always thought the place was haunted anyway. It turns out it was a film-production studio that were shooting outside of. The man said he worked on locations and wouldn't tell on us. (permit, me, ha!) I said it was a student film anyway, which is a lie, but anyway...

The ghost make-up was looking great. The gashes and Karo-syrup blood was a nice touch. I told Astra he could keep the awesome, thrift store, wedding gown and taking it to the cleaners with all that (fake) blood on it would be like a scene out of American Psycho.

My brother showed up after the first shot was done and provided some car headlights which looked surprisingly ambient. He had some other lights too and lots of good (not just) older brother advice.

Astra made a fabulous zombie, and the make-up looked great. Everyone was so nice, I didn't hear anyone complain at all about what I was putting them through (it was cold outside!) It was one of those experiences that re-affirms that no matter how crazy your ideas sound - you are doing the right thing by pursuing them!