DAY 16: July 20, 2010

Fitting that our first day of shooting the week of Capitol Hill Block Party includes a musical performance at the Re-Bar – a pantomimed concert from Seattle’s Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band.

Lead singer Benjamin Verdoes has to be reminded to pretend to pluck his guitar strings instead of actually playing to avoid disrupting dialogue recording in the scene.  Percussionist, keyboardist and backup vocalist Traci Eggleston mouths swear words when she accidentally pounds her tambourine sticks on the ground instead of faking it.  For passionate musicians like these, just going through the motions is harder than going all out.

Extras heard snippets of the song on a boom box to get an idea of the rhythm to which they were supposed to be swaying.  Though muted, this band’s talent was evident.

Benjamin will play with Mad Rad during Capitol Hill Block Party.  The lineup is impressive: http://www.capitolhillblockparty.com/lineup.html

Just as impressive is how funny and simultaneously terrifying Noah Harpster can be playing a death metal rocker.  He inspired hilarious riffs from Emily Bergl and Jason Biggs, which I hope will at least be included in outtakes.

Also on set was Seattle band Feral Children. They volunteered as extras and offered moral support for Mt. St. Helens Vietnam, also Seattle locals.  This film has just begun sinking its teeth into Seattle’s rich music scene.