The Cowper House

By Tony Vallone story, screenplay, associate producer

The past three nights we filmed at the "Cowper House". The Cowper house is a house we rented in Palo Alto to be used primarily as housing for our actors and as a set for a few scenes. We shot 4 days at the Cowper house - one way back with Autumn and Johnny and three this past weekend. When we shot this weekend we had to re-dress the house to look as it did when we shot at the house earlier. This was a big task for production design. But it paid off.

Since the location was fixed for three days it meant we did not have to break down the set each night. Set up and break down usually takes 4 hours every shooting day and is really stressful for everyone involved. It also contributes to our need to rush production throughout the night. The last three days we were able to leave and return each night like civilized filmmakers. Most people received over 6 hours of sleep!

Shooting at a house also provided glorious luxaries like clean and working bathrooms, warm seating areas, power, and a kitchen. One morning I stayed an extra hour on set after everyone left because I was comforable, lazy, and had no need be anywhere. Maybe for our next project we'll shoot in a sound stage and film-make like kings!