Hi, Everyone:

We haven’t done the editing yet, but I wanted to tell you that our Love & Taxes shoot last month — supported by your generous donations — went really, really well. Producer Raub Shapiro again assembled a world-class crew — including, of course, our beloved cinematographer, Hiro Narita — and presided over a warm yet professional atmosphere during our four days of shooting.

We shot at the Sheppard Mullin law firm in San Francisco — whose office manager, the mysterious and glamorous Aline Pearl, has always felt a bit guilty about firing my sorry secretarial ass over 20 years ago. (Actually, she isn’t guilty about that at all: In fact, she reminded me of my lame excuse on my last day there, when I came in an hour late — I told her that I was staying with some people who, unbeknownst to me, refused to observe Daylight Savings Time.) Aline (whom we name-checked in Haiku Tunnel) ended up being one of the extras in a scene we shot there — and seemed a bit nervous that this time I might fire her! But she (and all the other extras, most of them playing clients of our fictional attorney, Bob Shelby) did a great job (and never came in even a minute late!).

Even the one aspect of the shoot that was (unavoidably) uncomfortable — the fact that on Sundays the building isn’t air conditioned — ended up serving our story, as my character is supposed to be increasingly sweaty over the course of the sequence. With temperatures approaching Saharan levels, I never had to resort to fake sweat or drawing on my fabled method-acting technique; I was naturally drenched.

Several of you had a “perk” coming to you that was your name on a fake tax-law book — you should know that we made extra-sure to get close-ups of all those books, and you will (as promised) be receiving your lovely fake book-covers as mementos. All the other “perks” will, of course, be going out to everyone as well (as some already have).

Brother Jake — who was his typically inspiring self as he directed these scenes (as opposed, I guess, to my typically perspiring self) — and I have always treasured the sense of community that builds up around our projects. It was a special joy, on this shoot, to feel — beyond the wonderful community of our cast and crew — the support of all of you who have chosen to support a really, really independent film project! Thank you!!!

Take care,
Josh

Hi, Everyone!

Just a quick update to say that we’ve “pushed” our shoot to Jan. 3, 4 and 5. We were going to shoot this weekend, but then we found an amazing location — it happens to be one of the many San Francisco law firms that fired me for being a lousy secretary, back in the day — and to make the best use of it, we changed our filming dates.

Everyone’s really jazzed about this location, as it will help us sell our fictional law firm as a very fancy, high-end place. (They have awesome views out their office windows of the Bay Bridge, Coit Tower, etc.) And with so many terrific places to shoot within the law firm, we’ll be able to get maximum “coverage” — which is especially helpful when shooting an action sequence (even one involving tax law!).

I also wanted to note that “Love & Taxes” got a nice mention in Huffington Post this week, in a cool article about ways to support independent films.

Again, thank you so much for your support — and Happy Holidays!!

Warmly,
Josh

All the best for the shoot guys!