Some Thought About Cinema

Here is a link to a post, which I meant to put here.

The Gnomes of New Hope; Zach and Zebby's Grand Adventure

It addresses the larger game plan for assorted productions.  AG

Required Work

As a means of providing an update to this page, I am wanting to discuss the work that is required in order to bring the floor space under control in the Studio and also some of the other work that is calling for my attention.

When I began setting up at my present location, it was more a matter of storage than full intent. The buildings I am in were built by my grandfather, some sixty-two years ago. There are four building in the complex. I am occupying the two rear buildings, while RCK, Inc., originally a Swiss Automatic machine shop, now a CNC shop, resides in the front two buildings.

Here was an early set of floor plans for the way I intended to layout the studio, in the back buildings.  Of course, it didn't really end up that way. Because I included a gallery and a sound stage.

Before I took over the rear buildings, they were rental spaces and for many years, I was in charge of maintenance on the property. Another person did maintenance for many years before me, and some of his methods were, questionable. Leaving me with other issues that need to be resolved. 

The experiences of renting the 20k sq ft of space in the rear buildings was less than stellar. Numerous tenants came and went over the years, leaving behind them unpaid bills, rent, and a litinany of assorted damage to the buildings. In fact, I ended up in the buildings, for the most part, because they were no longer rentable, due to the outlay for the cost of repairs, when weighed against the rental income.

 

We are in the process of reaching a conclusion on these matters, so I can not say definitively what the scenario will be, but it is moving in the direction of keeping the operation intact and developing a new modus operandi. I will discuss that when the resolution is concluded in that regard.

June 19th is fast approaching. I am beginning to effect repairs on the Dragon puppet and will be clear-coating it this year to make it water repellent in the event we get caught in the rain during the pagent. I noticed that a good coating of glossy clear really makes the colors pop. It will be great. Come see it at the Bryn Athyn Cathedral on June 19th at around 7:00 pm. The cathedral is also illuminated when it gets dark and classical music is played to enhance the experience.

This isn't mine, but I'd love to have one of these 1909 Buick Speedsters to drive around. That would be fun, assuming it worked well.

In the meanwhile, as I have most likely said before, I am returning to focus on my machinery and vehicles that have been neglected, in lieu of working on The Gnomes of New Hope. You can check that blog for discussions on how that project is advancing. For the sake of  clarity on the rebuilding of the vehicles, I am going to begin another blog. 

A portion of my service bay, with a chassis and body from a 1931 Ford Model A Roadster being restored.

Years ago, I had a business called "Just Vairs" rebuilt Corvairs, did repairs and restorations. I used to imagine buying an "art deco" service station and setting up Just Vairs. Who knows, someday that may happen. In any event, I am returning to my work with Corvairs for very practical reasons. My main work truck, when I ran around doing Theatre Tech work, was a 1961 Corvair Rampside truck.

 Of course, I have spent the better part of, at the least, ten years, working on publishing the Gnomes books, and not engaging in hands on tech or acting. In fact, I used to engage in, or at least pursue producing film and video projects and that has gone into status as well.

But to return to the subject at hand, my vehicles. My 1961 Corvair Rampside sits in the shop and is taking up space in my service bay. It is up on blocks and awaits my installing a new engine. My other Corvair, a highly modified 1966 Monza Convertible, is taking up space in the other bay, which I intend on turning into a spray booth, for both automotive and set/drop paint work. 

A few of my custom design modifications. Flared fenders and air-scoops provide forced air for the air-cooled Corvair engine. This car is my lifelong project car. I consider it my metal canvas. I bought it in 1970, when I was fifteen, from my newspaper money. That too, needs an engine that has yet to have been rebuilt. It sits on jackstands with the suspension removed.

So, on just those two vehicles alone, I have a great deal of work to be done. And still, I have other vehicles, including an International Loadstar CO1600, that needs a new motor, which sits in my shop awaiting a rebuild. That is the big work truck which is under construction as a mobile workshop, but it also has a dumping stakebed, a crane arm, and a snow plow. I intend for that to also have the capacity to carry a water supply. 

Then there a Dodge/Fargo RV that I use as a mobile office. The RV is currently being restored, after sitting unused for a number of years. 

That will also be a pull vehicle for at least two trailers, one of which is a 1944 Star House Trailer, which I have owned for about twenty-five years and at one time lived in for three and a half years. That too, now needs restoration.

On top of this, I just bought another 1961 Corvair Van, which needs some restoration and which, is stored in a remote location an which, I intend on turning into a delivery van for the studio.

As you can see, I have much to do.

 I will be building a blog for Just Vairs, so that I can post the progress on the Corvair work. I may just pursue the Deco Garage concept and transfer all the Corvair activity there, if it becomes possible.

All of this remains secondary to the work on The Gnomes of New Hope, but clearly, how I manage these other items will affect my work on The Gnomes.