The job interview took place at a conference room that I rented at Kinko's. This took up a major part of the budget. Here Marcella plays her third role but this time she plays a job developer. Here she reveals here that telemarketing is "not as exciting as reporting". Another clue that this is reporter Clark Kent.
Here Eric Chmielecki plays another role. A wig, mustache and glasses and he is suddenly, The Boss. Clark hits the streets of downtown Glendale, California.
Clark is at his lowest and lets out a super-scream, a nod to Superman the Movie after Lois Lane dies. For the buildings rattling during the Earthquake I slightly shook the camera. To make it more interesting I wanted to use cool recognizable buildings. I got a shot of Nakatomi Plaza from Die Hard at 20th Century Fox. I was getting my shot and security said I couldn't even film it from far. I drove a few feet, jumped out, got my shot, jumped back my car and drove off. Classic gorilla filming. I drove a long way to get that shot. For the train shot the Driver Blew the horn at just the right moment. I was so close to the train, it blew my shirt up but I kept that camera steady. I had to get that shot in one take. I also included a shot of L.A City Hall which was The Daily Planet in the original Adventures Superman TV series.
We got lucky when we found a giant heap of garbage for a troubled Bruce Wayne to chill in. There was even a flipped over toilet in the giant pile of trash.
The second half of the budget went to renting the Spiderman suit. I had the Batman and Robin suits. Dave Comfort helped to improve the Robin suit. I made the Superman suit. I had to return the Spidey suit and Jason Chmielecki was not available for the leaping out the bedroom window shot. I set up the camera in my back yard, put on the Spiderman suit and jumped out the window.
David Comfort was recovering from a car accident from months before but he still did multiple takes, running out of Ralph's market revealing he was Robin. Thanks Dave!
I created these headlines in Word. I printed them out, then put them on an old fashioned record player to make them spin. Old style effects, still effective.
Eric Chmielecki kept delivering his line like Jack Nickolson. No matter how many takes I told him to stop, he didn't. I ended up liking it eventually.
The Bat-signal is a Batman animated flashlight shining on a white cardboard box. I drew the windows in with a Sharpie.
I originally wanted to end on a freeze-frame of all the characters laughing but the shot was too dark so I had to compromise and ended it on Batman and Robin instead.
I hope that this insight will inspire future Superhero Fanfilms. I didn't win the contest but I will never forget the fun making Power Meeting. Super Thanks to David Comfort, Eric Chmielecki, Jason Chmielecki, Marcella Cranford and Jeff Cranford.