Night Job

First, Night Job is a short(ish) film that I wrote and directed. The goal was to actually get a film under my belt as well as to not only show I am capable of making a quality film and tell a good story but to have something to show around to people who might be willing to partner in making a feature film version of Night Job. The short was adapted from the first portion of an early script for the feature film.

It was also a chance to work with a talented crew and cast especially my life-long friend, Jason Baumgardner. Jason and I go back to before we were born, our parents having been friends since their high school and college days. I did my part but he is the reason this film is as good as it is. He functioned as a producer, actor (Nolan), director of photography and editor. He's my brother and I love him dearly. I say that without reserve. He's the best of men.

I expect I'll dedicate a blog to him on a later date. Honestly, there is no Night Job without him and, if we go deeper than just the film, there might not be the Aaron that I am today without his friendship, especially his level of friendship over the last couple of years. He and his wife Catherine are both heroes.

They wear capes around the house sometimes and make you refer to them by their secret super hero names around the house. It's a little weird but

you get used to it.

Back to Night Job. Where did the idea come from?

Simply, I decided I wanted to be a filmmaker and all around writer sort of guy and in the early months of 2002 I did a lot or brainstorming. Now, I have this friend from high school named James. James is easily one of the most talented and creative musicians I know and because of that I asked him to write and perform the Night Job theme you hear during the beginning and ending of the film. Sometime in early '02 we were talking about how much he was working out and how little I had been working out and after awhile he mentioned he was considering taking up other skills. As in learning a martial art or fencing. I joked he should start fighting crime. James agreed. I think. He never did.

At least I'm not aware that he has but he lives very far away and I couldn't tell you if he regularly has to make excuses for mysterious bumps and bruises. I don't know if he's been telling people he's taken up polo or working in a daycare center.

Anyway, I started thinking. What if there was a everyday guy fighting crime out there. And what if all he had to offer was that he'd taken martial arts classes for a few years, knew how to fence, and had little to no regard for his physical well-being? It started out as an idea for a graphic novel (despite the fact I can not draw) and yes there was few drafts where the guy did attempt to bring his fencing skills into his new crime fighting mission. The idea was that he found it was rarely practical and he grew tired of the jokes he suffered from his confidants.

I also found it impractical and also grew tired of the jokes from my confidants. No fencing.

I've written several versions over the years. Comic book scripts. Short stories. A few different feature film scripts. And for one day, I thought it should be a novel. Eventually, when Jason and I felt we were ready to get down to making a movie, he recommended I adapt a portion of the last feature film draft as a short film introducing the story and the characters. And that's what we did. In May of 2008 we shot for 4 and a half days in Georgetown, Tx. A long year or so followed where Jason edited in the Dallas area where he lives and I worked with him from near Austin, where I live. I made some trips up that way and slept on their couch more than once. In August of 2009, Night Job saw the light of day. It has since been altered slightly and is now available for viewing on the web.

Keep an eye out for more blogs that will address the story, the cast and crew, the shooting itself, and maybe even news about what's going on with Night Job or CultureSalt Productions.

Adios,

Aaron