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!

It’s been a week or so longer to get here than planned, but then we did have four days in Prague, chilling and relaxing. It was much needed.

Anyway now were getting back on track fast the script is down to 38 page (our goal). We have gotten the script to third draft, it’s been tough and intense the last week, working solidly on each scene working on the themes motives and actions of each character in detail. Were there now and every scene is needed and important, every action has a reason, and every bit of dialogue is needed. It’s quite slick now. Also the structure has come together; all our plot points happen at the right time in the right order and the pacing is good. The only thing left to do is read-through with actors to see how it sounds and works in actuality.

We have also started to compile the directors notebook, this will be a weighty tome, were already at 59 pages. I’m expecting a ream or so to carry on set. This is the intense part, as this is what everything means, motivations ideas themes, background, stuff that is vital to getting the best performance out of the actors. I would say starting it this early has helped a lot on getting the third draft as tight as it is. It’s also unlocked hidden themes helped clarify character stories, and bring the main themes out. There is still a long way to go on the notebook, but it is the most vital thing we will write for the film after the script.

I have been in takes with a chap for our lead male role Dr. Robert Cameron, I cannot say who it is yet, but I know some of you girls out there will be happy, and some of you men. I hope to have everything in place in a few weeks for him and then I can drop a press release out and spill the beans. Some of you who are working on this project already know who I’m talking about but I hope you keep it as a surprise for everyone else.

Anyway time to chill for a bit, Lydia is going through the script one last time, then she is going to give the directors notebook a grilling.

The first draft script is done; it’s a little long, by about 40 pages. So I can say I have more than enough material to condense to about 20 pages. However I’m thinking I will cut and rewrite as much as possible and leave it as long as it needs to be, I’m not fix on a 20 min film, so 30-35 min is a possibility, as the story needs room to breathe.

I’m very happy with many of the scenes, the conflict between the characters is spot on, other will need a bit of work, but the core of them is set up. I cannot wait to get to read-through’s as I want to hear it read properly by actors. As you can guess I’m chuffed.

Tomorrow is another long day, as I’ll be chopping chunks of script out, and sacrificing parts of the baby. But in the end product should be a lean and concise beast, with the pep and zing of a ripping yarn.

I also need to start thinking about the directors note book, though Lydia will probably start that, then we will chew the fat over each scene taking it to pieces and rebuilding it from the ground up.

I have had lots of good feedback from the crew, that have helped me tighten the story, and there is still a long way to go so I hope they keep good solid feedback all the way through. So thanks, Vaia Ikonomou, Chantal Lee-Gan, Mark Berge, Dale Jordan Johnson and William Charles.