Film Production

Films produced by Good Friend Stove, LLC, a San Francisco Bay Area based Independent Film Production Company founded by Steve James.

"Waiting for Jo"

A story about a guy in a bar waiting for the woman he desperately hopes will finally show up.

"Waiting for Jo" is a co-op film production intended as an exploration in digital live-action filmmaking and to take to film festivals.

This is the final composited and graded movie next to the original filmed elements.The green-screen pick-up shots were filmed 1-year after the shots filmed on location in the bar.It would have been better to film the pick-up shots back in the bar, b… — **This is the final composited and graded movie next to the original filmed elements.**
**The green-screen pick-up shots were filmed 1-year after the shots filmed on location in the bar.**
It would have been better to film the pick-up shots back in the bar, but it was going to be too costly and too difficult to coordinate.
So I opted for shooting on green-screen, which did not turn out as well as the shots filmed on location, but it was a great learning experience.

This is a early rough assembly using still images while trying to work out the story and camera angles for the shoot.

'Waiting for Jo' was originally intended to be a 1-minute voice over monologue; a vehicle for exploring digital live-action filmmaking with an emphasis on beautiful and interesting cinematography. During the process I was encourage to make the final film longer with more story, but sadly the original feeling and intention was lost.

Here is the original 'Waiting for Jo' short story I wrote:

WAITING FOR JO FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2006 by Steve James

I wonder, staring into this empty glass... how many pints, how many hours have passed? Perhaps just one more.

The bartender has long since gotten used to my coming in. Gone are the days of his friendly greetings, his idle chit chat. He knows I'm not here for him. Not even here for his drinks. He knows I'm here to wait. To wait, yet again, for Jo.

Jo said she would meet me at this bar Thursday night at 10 pm. Thursday night. I'm sure that is what she said. That was, what... six months ago? Why I return here week after week I cannot say. You would have to know Jo.

Men will go to the ends of the earth, to the edge of sanity for the right woman. I would do it all, and more, for Jo. So I wait. Wait, staring into this empty pint glass which has become my world. Wait... at least on Thurday nights. Pray you never cross my path on another day.