Sewn Together: The Movie!

When my family friend said he was building a portfolio for his new videography business, and wanted to use us Saks as guinea pigs - you better believe we were excited!

Ross was super professional, and one of the quickest, most attentive responders of all our vendors and friendors. He asked us repeatedly for our input, things we liked, didn't like, songs, etc. - but I tried to stay vague! After all, it was his portfolio - I wouldn't want to weird-it-up with some wacky request for synchronized lightsaber fights.

But you know what? Even without any direction from me - I think he captured our spirit perfectly. Check out our highlights video:

First reaction I had - "Awesome song, what is it?" Answer: White Dress by Ben Rector.

First reaction Sak had - "Is that a giggle I hear after our "salute"? BWAHAHAHA"

Oh man.

Anyway, the full-length vido is just as awesome, and I'm so thankful for all the time Ross and his sister (who was second-shooting) put into our lifetime keepsake! If you're in need of a videographer and are within the Central Coast - San Diego areas, you should definitely check him out at http://www.rossweddingfilms.com/.

And with that, I think I've covered just about everything from our crazy Hawaiian wedding. It was a fast-paced whirlwind of laughter and fun, and to ask for a better day would not only be incredibly selfish, but pretty much impossible! Thanks so much for helping us make it what it was, and for allowing me to share the results with you!

Up next - a quick look at another crazy party - our second reception!

Our wedding week in review:

• We took care of some last minute DIY details, and officialized everything.
• We vacationed with our out-of-towners, and threw a yummy welcome beach brunch.
• Sak saluted an angry dragon during our wedding rehearsal, and we sniffed at our dinner.
• Wal-Mart crashed my bachelorette.
• The women magically transformed, and Sak tied me into our dress.
• There was a windy photoshoot on the beach, and then we hung out at the chapel in flat shoes.
• We marched to the altar and got married.
• Everyone was camera-happy.
• Reception time! A bustle for our first dance, and then it was time to eat.
• I wore a kimono, and then fed some lions.
• We tried a bouquet pull, which didn't go as planned. Coincidentally, neither did our cake feeding.
• Everyone yelled banzai before Rick-rolling on the dance floor.
• Details: ceremony and reception

Lights, Camera, Fail!

Suffice to say, I have a new-found respect for film directors.

Anxious to test out my newly-minted 7 scene script, I wrote out a list of "audience questions" to interview my family with at Thanksgiving dinner.

My brother and Sak's brother (who flew in from LA for a few days) helped set up the stage, just a blank wall with a chair on one side and a random painting on the other (off-center composition). We set up the camcorder on a tripod, and went to grab our first interview.

The first surprise of the night - not everyone has seen/heard of "The Office".

(source)

Seeing as the video is supposed to be a silly sort-of ice breaker, I was planning on going the mockumentary route, with people answering our questions a bit randomly. We needed funny, but still improvised - nothing scripted.

However, this didn't happen. The first group of interviewees, my father's side of the family, were just too literal.

Here's the questions we asked, and the typical responses:

What should every husband/wife (depending on who we were asking) be able to do?
Typical response: Cook, help with kids, provide emotional and physical support.
Best response: "Whatever she wants to do, whenever she wants to do it." (Courtesy of my uncle, bless him)

What is true love?
Typical response: Unconditional love. (Really, that's the best we can do?)
Best response: "What is love?" *bobs head to invisible soundtrack* (Courtesy of my brother, although it was staged..)

If you were stranded on an island, and could only have 3 things, what would you bring?
Typical response: water, food, companionship (see what I said about being too literal?)
No good answers for this one, sadly.

What are three words to describe Penga
This one didn't work at all, because silly me was in the room at the time. Of course there wasn't going to be any honesty. :P Brother-Peng realized this and started asking "what are 3 words to describe your mom" instead. It got a few better answers, such as "evil" and "crazy". I can use that.

Needless to say, I can't use a lot of the footage from that day. The question list needed revamping.

The next day (black Friday) we spent time with my mother's side of the family. We had more questions, and I had high expectations. Several of the family members dabble in acting, and my uncle (who's a designer) has been on many TV interviews himself.

But I guess when people don't know what's coming, and a camera is suddenly pointed in their face, things change. They froze up and started answering literally and seriously, even though we told them not to be silly say whatever came to mind first.
Surprising.

In addition to the questions we asked before, we also tried these out:

If you were a hallmark card, what would you say?

Describe the perfect date

What's the most embarrassing thing that could happen on said date?

Now, because of the problems we were having the day before, I wasn't allowed to be in the room during this round of filming. Only my brother and Sak were present, but they assured me that the answers weren't any better.

So now I'm at a bit of a loss. Where do we go from here? I have until Christmas to re-think this and try again. And only one shot at Sak's family during our scouting trip. I'm thinking of emailing everyone a clip of "The Office" and a list of the questions. Maybe spontaneity just doesn't work. I mean, even the TV shows are scripted, right?

How would you answer these questions? Are cameras really that scary?

Reception Intro

For a myriad of reasons, there won't be a whole lot of dancing at our reception. But neither do I want guests to just eat and leave. We'll have to provide some alternative entertainment.

And just for the record - there are endless things you can do at weddings besides dancing. Endless.

For starters, we'll be showing a skit. (I think, if all goes well..)

A skit, you ask? Like at summer camp? Yeah, something like that. I want to open up the night with a little shock-therapy for those that don't know us that well. Sort of a statement saying, "This is who we really are. Yes, we are that weird".

Okay, so it's kind of hard to explain with just words. Here's some visual examples I found on Youtube instead:



I think something like this would be a hilarious way to start the reception off on the right foot. I should also give credit to my amazing and newly married friend whom I shamelessly stole the idea from once again. She did a skit "Dancing with the Stars" style, with her parents and inlaws and sisters. It was super cute and very entertaining.

Though I think mine is leaning less on the cute side and more on the funny (or at least ridiculous) side.

Like any good would-be director, I started writing a script.

Now I've never made a movie before, so I think this will be quite interesting. I'll want to have the script finalized by Thanksgiving so I can start filming my family members in between bites of Honey Baked Ham and pumpkin pie.

Want to see a teaser? Here's the rough draft for scene 1:


Sak is sleeping in bed. He wakes up to the sound of ominous music. Obi-wan appears; Sak is startled.

Obi-wan: Luke…Luke… You are to go to the Dagobah system…
Sak: That’s not my name. My name is Sak.

Obi-wan blinks, confused for a minute.

Obi-wan: Oh, I knew that.
Sak: How’d you get in my room?
Obi-wan: (waves his hand around) Nevermind that! I’m here to give you a mission.

Sak waits expectantly.

Obi-wan: You are to find the Holy Matrimony! It is your destiny!

Sak jumps out of bed and stands in a battle-ready stance.

Sak: You’re still kind of creepy, but I feel compelled to say OKAY!

Sak looks down at himself.

Sak: But um, I think I should change out of my pajamas first.

Obi-wan taps Sak with a lightsaber, and in the next frame Sak is wearing “adventurer clothes”. Sak looks down at himself again.

Sak: Wow, awesome!
Obi-wan: May the force be with you!

Obi-wan disappears magically.


(I think at the end of the film, Sak and I can do our first dance to the ending credits..maybe.)

Anyone else incorporating pre-recorded video into their wedding?