When watching a movie, a viewer sees a perfect scene with the telltale professional gloss painted across the picture.
However, behind the camera, a mess of wire snakes across the floor, lights surround the area and dozens of people dare not breathe for fear of the sound being picked up on microphones.
Just another day of shooting for Ferenc Gutai’s Digital Filmmaking class.
Gutai and his students are currently shooting their second movie, “The Room” on locations at the Camarillo Ranch.
“I am extremely proud of the professionalism and the teamwork that I see,” said Gutai. “I hear nothing but good things when people talk about us. This has been an outstanding experience for everybody.”
“The Room” is about a family that wishes to appear perfect and when the children begin to act out, the parents make them disappear and steal new children. When the son Jonathan realizes he’s been kidnapped and raised by his parents, he faces their wrath and tries to escape their evil grasp.
The film stars Andrew Wolf and Samantha Mason as Mr. and Mrs. Emerson with Zack Emerson, 12, and Rachel Hostetler, 19, Communications major, as Jonathan and Rachel Emerson.
Preproduction phases such as casting took place long before the semester even began. Candy Emerson, Zack Emerson’s mother, remembers her son auditioning for the part in October.
“Our last name is the same, so it was meant to be,” said Emerson.
However, Gutai has been preparing his students for this movie long before it was even a concept
“I took these guys and in a year and a half, I’ve trained them,” said Gutai. “It’s been a year and a half and these guys are working like a charm. I’m proud of them.”
One of the most difficult jobs on the crew belongs to Chuck Costabile, 26, Film and Television major. As the camera operator, Costabile must be smooth in his movements to not jar the camera while filming.
“You can teach anyone the skills to use the camera, but not the concentration,” said Constabile. “The concentration drains you.”
Executive Director Kyle Ford, 22, Film and Television major, is overcoming creative obstacles working with three co-directors, rather than technical difficulties.
“This is more difficult for me. I’m not the writer,” explained Ford. “I’ve got a vision one way, everyone’s got a vision another way. I need to make sure that everyone’s vision is aligned. It’s like the game telephone.”
A newcomer to the film world is P.J. Riley, 28, Film and Television Directing major. As a grip, Riley helps set up and strike any rigging on the set, the perfect job to introduce someone to a film set.
“It’s pretty cool,” said Riley. This is my first movie and I hope it’s going to open up a window of opportunity later.”
Like any movie set, the vibe at the Camarillo Ranch is chaotic, however many on the cast and crew feel that because “The Room” is a student film, the atmosphere is comfortable.
“Everyone is here to learn and everyone has fun with it,” explained Hostetler. “It’s a cleaner environment and everyone respects that it’s school oriented.”
While the most recent day of filming was just like any other day, something strange was in the air; it was Friday the 13. The 13-hour day of shooting was a blatant reminder to the crew that the Camarillo Ranch is haunted.
The Camarillo Ranch house was built by Adolfo Camarillo in 1892 and through the years that the Camarillo family lived there, several deaths occurred in the house.
Oxnard College student Carlos Solas, 21, undecided major, has been employed at the Camarillo Ranch for 5 years. He was closing the ranch house with Gloria Toraya, 21, undecided major, of Ventura College while reminiscing about all the supernatural occurrences in the house.
“I get freaked out by the house because I know the stories about it,” said Toraya.
“I have to help her close at night because she’s too scared to do it by herself,” added Solas.
One particular story Solas shared was of a psychic that was looking at the ranch as a possible wedding location. When she reached the room that one of the Camarillo girls lived in, the psychic burst into tears because she felt anger and sadness in the room. It turned out that one of the girls died in that room.
The film crew has also had their fair share of abnormal activity; twice the door to the attic has slammed shut and the lights go out by themselves.
The ominously entitled room itself is a secret room in the attic that has been untouched for over 100 years. The room has a stuffy and musty feeling that squeezes in on someone when they enter and the peeling wallpaper surrounds them on all sides. More than one crewmember had a feeling in the room.
“Everywhere upstairs is creepy, especially the room,” said Zack. “I walk carefully around there.”
“The Room” will premier at the High Street Arts Center in Moorpark on Wednesday, May 6.
