This year I held the Ritterbin Holiday Card contest. Ideas were had, votes were cast, and Cher-Marie came out on top with her idea to stage the flag pole scene from A Christmas Story with her son.
We met at Milton City Hall just a decent rain started to fall. Cher-Marie had most the props ready. I brought along the bomber hat for her Flick and the glasses for her son's Ralph. The town flag pole was wood and kind of gross so we looked around for other locations. I'm not a fan of lots of post work but sometimes it actually frees you up rather than trying to find all your elements in the correct positions. Now we could just get all the pieces and blend them later.
The red brick town fire hall served well as a school building. I set up the tripod for consistent framing and because it was pretty dark. It was unseasonably warm but the winter clothes made it look cold. First I had Cher-Marie's son stand in and act like he was looking at her stuck to the flagpole. He did a pretty good job since nothing was really in front of him. I enjoy talking people up into somewhat exaggerated poses or expressions. Next I had Cher-Marie stand in on the left side of the frame, stick out her tongue, and give her best anguished bet-regretting face.
I had read that the flagpole in the movie actually had a small hole with suction to grab Flick's tongue. I figured maybe I could recreate that with a straw on one end of Cher-Marie's tongue and a thumb on the other but it didn't work so well. I would later pull her tongue with Photoshop's Liquify tool.
Our shoot done, we hustled out of the rain to the cars. The next day I found a bike rack in the shade that would serve as a good, clean flagpole. With all my elements I went back to the computer to get what you see above. I hope it brings lots of laughs for Cher-Marie's family and friends.
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