Part of me really wishes I had thought to film a “sunrise on the prairie” episode for aCross Creation back in January. You know, when the sun was rising around 7:45am. Of course in January I didn’t even know that our new worship service at Woodland would be called “Daybreak,” so anticipating the need for a sunrise episode was impossible.
After the Woodland church council approved the new service a month ago Janet Sullivan was the one smart enough to point out the first Sunday of Daybreak should feature an aCross Creation episode about the sunrise. I quickly wrote the script but filming was delayed by weather until Friday.
The beautiful and green flint hills were an obvious location to capture a sunrise and the Film Crew decided that staying over night at the Tallgrass Retreat Center (near Matfield Green and run by a United Methodist Elder) would be better than trying to leave Wichita early enough to catch the sunrise.
Because of last week’s heavy rains, Billie Blair, director of the retreat center, warned us things would be very muddy and was worried about our ability to film. Knowing she could easily underestimate Greg Sullivan's persistence (and his desire to drive in sketchy circumstances) we decided to take a chance and see the mud for ourselves.
Luckily on the dirt roads around the pastures the cows were a much bigger hindrance to driving than the mud. Arriving on Thursday evening allowed us to pick a perfect spot before sunset, a spot which we marked with a clear plastic bag weighed down by a pile of rocks. Not the best flag, I realize, but it was all Anita Martz could find in the car.
After dinner that night, Billie told us that nautical twilight, “where it is still so dark you can’t see anything” was at 5:15 the next morning and sunrise at 6:16. It was indeed very dark at 4:00 a.m. when I woke up to get ready for filming. So far that’s the earliest wake up call I’ve had (and I hope it is a record that stands.) By 5:00 a.m. the crew was loaded in the car and rolling toward our predetermined spot.
Greg managed to avoid all the sleeping cows and the deer on the way out to the filming location (though the fate of one jackrabbit is still unknown). It turns out a clear plastic bag is a little hard to see in the dark. We missed it the first time but quickly realized we had gone too far and turned around. Also, nautical twilight is not completely dark. By 5:20 we could see a distinct red glow on the eastern horizon. I can safely say I have never stopped to watch all of twilight, from complete darkness to sunrise. It was beautiful. The morning was great, there was almost no wind and the only sound was birdsong.
Filming was incredibly smooth, except for the eight matches it took me to light the gas lantern Steve Martz (our boy scout) had provided for a prop. And the Film Crew was so nice they didn’t even laugh. Though I am sure Greg will keep the failed attempts for his growing outtake (re:blackmail) reel.
After writing the episode two weeks ago I had used my new iphone to record myself reading the script. Listening to that recording turned out to be an excellent way to prepare for filming. Each time we film, I think the whole crew gets better. I am more fluid in delivery, Greg knows more about the camera, and everyone else’s work with lights, cue cards, reflector, microphone, etc is easier and faster. A four person crew is the definite minimum for a shoot, everyone had their hands full the entire time. We also tried something new, a 180 degree pan with me walking and talking at the same time, hopefully that will turn out nicely.
The sun cooperated, though it quickly rose behind a cloud bank. The cows stayed away and stayed quiet. The birdsong was lovely and the pasture a brilliant green. We wrapped up filming by 7:30, one of our fastest shoots yet. It was wonderful to record God’s gift of a new day. I can’t wait to see “Daybreak on the Flint Hills” play in Woodland’s Sanctuary on September 12th!
Thanks for your continued support and prayers,
rev amy
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