We have spent the last five days working on the director’s notebook, we have written up all the acting notes we have for the entire script, these range from ideas of what the characters are feeling to their individual thoughts. We don’t expect this to be a Black and White rulebook, but it will be handy and used as a starting point for the actors, unless they nail it right off the bat. This is more about the inner thoughts and story of each character. More what you see behind the eyes, the subtle expressions and movements that go into bringing a character to life.

We have also been working on the ARG we have set up a number of foundation blogs, each will have a number of stories that lead into the ARG. They will give readers more of an insight in to the world and the events before and after the film. It will be a chance for people to ask questions and interact with the characters. We are still looking for writers for the main ARG characters.

We have read-through’s on Monday and Tuesday so we can solidify everything in the script and tweak it to take it to final draft. It will feel so good to type Final Draft on the front of the script. Then it’s on to the massive task of pre-production, first on the table is Locations and Actors for me, the art department will start to wind up to.

I’m two layouts off finishing the Pre-Production software I should have that finished by the end of tomorrow as I need it for Saturday. And providing it works I’ll start the Scheduling section next month. I guess when you can’t afford the thousands for scheduling software it’s best to just make your own. At least this way it can be Dynamic and I can adapt it to suit the needs of the production.

Casimir Effect is still talking up most of my life, as early casting has started and hopefully we will have contracts signed and big announcements soon. Read-through’s will take place the second week of September, to iron out the last bits of the script.

I am so, so happy with the work on the theme song so far by the lovely Nina Barnfather! Been humming the song for several weeks now, can’t wait to get the final recording done. We have another band doing a song for us, but not much can be said about that yet! But I am very happy with how things are moving along.

Render tests and art department stuff is looking good, colour palettes and a few props are being worked on. I think the footage from the 4D camera we will be using is more convincing than the AVATAR preview, plus no one has to wear silly glasses!

We have several options for multi award winning Cinematographers and a sound studio with engineers for the final mix arranged.

For the next few weeks I will be organising and writing for what I am provisionally calling ‘Iolanthus Online’, which will be a multiplatform interactive blog/social networking ARG (Artificial Reality Game). We are currently recruiting actors/writers; the story will be the lead up to Casimir Effect.

Full on pre-production is now on the event horizon and down the wormhole we go!