Cameras began rolling today on Gorilla’s latest local Grand Rapids venture: The “Lost and Found Shop” film production. The crew is in pretty good spirits and things are busy so this blog post needs to be short. Big props to Caleb Slain for his hard work, and also to Aaron Smith for his tireless producing hours. And let’s not forget Derek Street and Eric Machiela, who are putting the Master Prime Lenses to work!

The first Gorilla production of the year begins this weekend! The Lost and Found Shop, a short film written and (to be) directed by Caleb Alexander Slain, will be filming over the weekend in Spring Lake, Michigan on the RED Cameras and ARRI Master Primes. The production is ambitious (71 shots kind of ambitious), and with 45 people (crew, company, and cast) on set Sunday, we can promise one of two things: A.) Joy, elation and high fives when we get off 40 shots and finish an hour early or B.) Caleb’s body is dumped in Spring Lake and found in the spring thaw along the shore. Let’s hope it’s option A! Because The Lost and Found Shop is slated to be entered in the Doorpost Film Festival and if all goes right in the world of film production, we’ll need Caleb well into the spring. The turnaround on the edit will be quick so check back soon for more information.

And, lastly, for your entertainment: Peter Pan Play

The link has nothing to do with Gorilla’s production company or The Lost and Found Shop. It’s just funny to laugh at high school plays that go horribly wrong. And watch the whole thing. It only gets more delightfully cruel. (My favorite parts — at 0:23 a guy in the audience makes the most underrated statement of the year and 1:17 is just … great.)

Many of our faithful followers know that we have recently acquired six ARRI Master Prime lenses (scroll down to our December 7 posting to read all about the delight that is German engineered glass, neatly perfected). But what you may not know is that Gorilla Pictures has made the ARRI Master Primes available to rent! Click on the RED link to the left and be introduced to the rental rates, both for our RED cameras, our Master Primes, ARRI MB-20 Matte Box, and ARRI FF4 follow focus. If you have any questions you can e-mail Scott Brookens at scottb@gorilla-pictures.com to learn more about daily rates, weekly rates, and maybe (if he’s eaten well that day) some wheelin’ and dealin’.

I believe at this point we are the only Michigan-based production company to have ARRI Master Primes and two (2) RED cameras. What a blessing! This equipment makes us think we know what we’re doing!

Madness at Gorilla. Between the carpenters, painters, AT&T goons, and EPS security personnel, it’s getting a little crowded. Under normal working conditions it might be wise to temper this growth (and thereby lower the risk of accidental fatalities by nail-gun), but you can’t stop this train. We have only two days left before the Gorilla party!

And in case you forgot, a party it shall be. We’ll be rocking a delicious Hefeweizen from the Hideout Brewing Company, a nice Malbec (Aaron Smith swears it’s soooo hot right now), and a classy assortment of homemade chili and wings from Buffalo Wild Wings. There will also be door prizes from Netflix and Celebration Cinemas, but to be completely honest we have yet to determine how you can win them. Post your suggestions!

So barring any trips to the emergency room resulting from the inhalation of toxic fumes, falling plasma televisions, or collapsing stepladders, this place should soon be all buttoned up for Thursday night. Hope to see you there.

Aaron Smith may have exceeded the "safe" limit of primer fume inhalation.

Peter Johnson swears he knows what he's doing. Probably should have had him sign a release.

Thanks to Taylor and Justin Stonehouse for the speedy kitchenette buildout. http://jstonehousebuilders.com

Ed’s Story is a series of five short films that tell pivotal points in Dr. Ed Dobson’s remarkable real-life journey with ALS. The series is based on Ed’s book, “Prayers & Promises”, published by Zondervan. The creative producer is Karl Koelling, who recently brought the project to Gorilla. This project has copious amounts of potential and we’ll be helping out by facilitating with RED cameras and Master Primes.

Film one, “It Ain’t Over”, is currently in pre-production and will be released in early 2010 for broadcast, DVD, and mobile device distribution.

Gorilla proudly welcomes 6 new children into its family: a set of ARRI MASTER PRIME lenses. That was not a typo, dear friend. If you don’t completely understand the beauty, perfection and gloriousness of the Master Prime lens, you’d do well to click this link – http://www.arri.de/camera/lenses/35_format_lenses/master_primes.html – and learn more. This is the kind of stuff that gets camera geeks “school child giddy.”

Eric Machiela braved the threat of swine flu and the germ-crammed conditions of a plane to fly out to Salt Lake City, where he met up with some good people at Ron Hill Imagery – who were looking to sell their set of Master Primes: an 18, 25, 35, 50, 75, and 100 mm. It was bittersweet for them (understandably) and we are thankful to them for their fine handling of the lenses. They’ve left them in mint condition. These lenses are a perfect addition to the RED Cameras, and it goes without saying that they will bring our visuals to a new level. We are fully aware of this responsibility and greatly humbled to be caretakers of such lovely German craftsmanship.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go back to staring at them.