Movie Making With Kids

I've mentioned the fact before (I think?) that my Dad, Sis#2, and the kids are making a movie this summer.  It started out with just a couple scenes and wound up a short film.   Hoss, Woody, and Buzz are the main characters.  Little Joe, Rowdy, Snort, and Jessie Jane have small parts.  Dad and Sis#2 are the director/cinematographer/wardrobe/location scouts/crafts services/transpo/kid wranglers/horse wranglers/etc. 

Just to give you a little insight to working with kids I'll tell you what happened last night. 

I got home about 6 from my job watching Ruby.  Soon as I walked into my folks house I could tell things were happening.  The camera was set up in the dining room which is being used as Buzz's office.  Everything had to be set up just like a scene they shot a few weeks ago.  It was decided to add Jessie Jane to the cast. 

Let me tell you about Jessie Jane.  She will be 3 on August 27th.  She doesn't like to have barrettes or bows in her hair.  However, she loves to wear dresses!  And the fluffier the better.  I think she might want to wear those square dancing dresses when she grows up!!  But trying to get a big pink bow in her hair for the scene wasn't exactly a picnic!  Sis#2 had been trying to make the bow when I got home.  Somehow this got turned over to me.  Probably because she needed to get 4 boys wardrobed and ready to go.  Anyway, I worked on it for about 10 minutes and thought I had it perfect.  I then went to show the director(my Dad).  His response was, "Not exactly what I had in mind."

Needless to say I was a little frustrated.  I might not have been except a comment was made that it was wardrobes job to handle such a thing.  Well, I can tell you that didn't sit well with this frustrated hairdresser!!!!!!
Finally, Sis #2 showed back up and the two of us finally got it right. 

Time to shoot.  First take was a dud.  However, second take was pretty good.  We were hoping to get one more just to have a back up in case there was something wrong.  One problem.......Jessie Jane sulled up!  I promised ice cream.  We gave her Smarties.  I talked nice to her.  I talked mean to her.  None of it worked.  In the middle of all this Snort, who is 19 months, had a meltdown in the old timey high chair and had to get out for a minute.  This didn't help the situation with Jessie Jane. 

Dad took the camera to the computer, plugged it in, and took a look.  They got what they needed to make the scene work.  I was very relieved!

So........if one is contemplating making any type of movie with kids here's my advice:

DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!