Since this was filmed in Autumn for the purpose of capturing the beauty of the leaves in color, I spent 3 weeks thinking of nothing but filming sites as I would drive and go about my daily life. The weather had been cold, so I wasn't sure if we were even going to get a good crop of color this year at all. For some of our scenes, I actually just went up to the 3 different houses, knocked on the door and told the people there that we would like to use their yard due to it's beauty to film a segment of our cable TV program. I was never turned down.
The morning of October 19th, Michelle, Max and I went to 'Red Bush House' #1, (as we dubbed it) and filmed a few scenes there. Then we rushed over to Carpenter Nature Center in Hastings, MN to meet our other co-hosts and their owners for a full day of filming numerous scenes there. Thankfully I had scoped the area out a few days before, and knew exactly where we would be going, in what order, etc. I also have the ability to be flexible which came in quite handy.
By now, the show had mushroomed into 5 owners and 5 dogs, and that was just that days filming. We ended up with a couple more that I will write about in a separate blog. You cannot imagine how difficult a time I had in coordinating 5 adult working people's schedules with the weather, the peak color of the leaves, and getting us all together on a weekday. God Love 'em! They actually took time off of work to bring their dogs out to be in this show. This was the biggest group we have had so far all at one time. They were a real good bunch and made acquaintance quickly with one another.
What I love about filming these programs is that every one just pitches in to do what is needed. Some people handed me another dog for a scene, some checked the camera to be sure it was centered, some contributed an idea, some handled the dogs off camera and some held cue cards. Speaking of cue cards, one of the highlights of the day was the Brittish couple that we met at the River Outlook. It was their first day of a vacation in America. Since all of us and the dogs were in the outro scene, we asked them if they would mind holding the cue cards. The husband of the couple, Mike, was happy to oblidge us for as long as it took. They were staying at the Arbor Inn in Prescott. This was a very special memory for me.
For the first time in any of our programs, I had the owners and dogs in the outro with Michelle and I which we filmed at CNC's River Overlook. Gorgeous!!! When she and I looked at the footage a few days later in the eding room, we were amazed at the beauty in this show due the color. In that outro, the St. Croix River was behind us and it actually looks like we might be in a blue screen room with a back drop behind us. It was so perfect that day. Breathtaking!
By mid afternoon all the owners were done and had gone. Michelle and I kept Max and Kelly, a shepher-lab mix with us. We must have walked 25+ miles all together before we were finished at 5p, 8 hours after we had started at the Red Bush House #1. Some of the terrain was very uneven to boot and we were not in the best walking shoes. CNC is a big spread of many acres of land. It was too far to go back to the van to get our comfy shoes, so we just stayed in our nice ones all day. I seem to remember a blister or two that night.
Unlike earlier in the day, the scenes we filmed with just the 4 of us took alot of takes, so it was all we could do to keep it together by the end. We had the pressure of the rapidly setting sun, on top of being exhausted and starving. We finally did call it a wrap, though, and wearily made our way back to the refuge of our precious van only to find that it had been vandalized. Our right front window was smashed in and our purses gone. Not exactly the perfect finish to the perfect day.
(I am not blogging to elaborate on that incident, but after several days of personal anguish, two+ weeks of changing bank accounts, having keys, drivers liscences replaced, approximately 350.00 in costs to replace thes things, etc. , we are fully recovered from the incident and very grateful that we were not hurt and the van and it's contents was not stolen.)
A few days later, we went to the home of Gary & Kay to film Jazz (the golden lab-above photos) as he modeled every collar, leash and harness we have. This was to give a visual to the 'collar and leash training' segment, so the viewers could see what we were describing. He is such a gentle dog that he was incredibly easy to work with. He posed regally in each item.
I was so proud of these dogs. They did whatever we asked of them and cooperated beautifully. Max was particularly patient. He konked out for the rest of the night when he got back to his owners house. Marty, his owner, said he didn't move a muscle until morning.
I want to thank my dear daughter and best girl friend, Michelle, the people who let us film in their yards on a moments notice, Barry Waters who oversees this project, Dallas Eggers who is such an encouragement to us and lends us equipment from time to time, as well as all the owners and their dogs in this blog:
Marty Waters - Max
Gary Ericson & Kay Buchanan - Jazz
Liz Lachner (of Prescott Pet Inn) - Kelly
Kris Sampson (of Croix Insurance) - Princess
Tristina Timm (of Stella Dance Studio) - Lola
To save the best for last, I want to thank my incredible husband, Ruben, for his love, strength, patience and being so proud of us for doing Walks & Wags and making these films. I love you, Honey.
This was a huge undertaking and not without it's stresses for both Michelle and I, but we both agree that it was more than worth it, and we will enjoy the process of editing this one.
~Candiss DelCastillo
Walks & Wags Pet Service
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