Linen Finney Military Hospital

I spent today on set at the former Linen Finney Military Hospital, now Southwestern State Hospital, in Thomasville, Ga. 

On my way to the hospital, I saw a historical marker sign and made a note to check it on my way back home. Aaron told me I needed to drive back to the barracks, which is where they were shooting. Naturally, I was confused, because I don't know of many hospitals with barracks. What I didn't know then was how old the hospital was and what it was originally built for. 

According to the Georgia Historical Society:

"Finney General Hospital , named in honor of Brigadier General John M.T. Finney, was authorized September 30, 1942, and dedicated June 16, 1943, on this site. Finney was one of sixty Army hospitals across the country built to care for sick and wounded World War II soldiers. Under Colonel Samuel M. Browne, Finney grew to two hundred buildings including hospital wards, a theater, gymnasium, chapel, bowling alley and barracks for German prisoners of war. Numerous celebrities visited to entertain patients and staff. Citizens of Thomas County provided support through the Grey Ladies Corps, plantation picnics, use of the YMCA, and lodging for soldiers’ families in private homes. Finney General closed December 15, 1945, having treated 23,055 WWII veterans."

It was really cool to be in the very barracks Nazi POWs were held as a movie about that era was filmed. Serendipitously, the show needed barracks, and the cast got a location that actually was used for that purpose. 

I'm not sure if the buildings we were in were the actual barracks used for the Nazi POWs, but I think it is so cool. You can't do much better as a production designer or producer to find a location that is actually built for the movie you're shooting. The location is a working hospital, and it was a lovely campus, though the building the crew shot in is now used for storage. 

Aaron adjusting his ear piece and his walkie at lunch. 

Long hallway in the barrack.

Mottled sunlight on the set.

1AD taking a nap on set at lunch time.

On the set: Crew Drills

When Aaron's on set, I'm going to highlight something about film school and all that it entails. Today is all about crew drills.

What are crew drills? In Aaron's MFA program, there are two classes of 20 production students and ten-or-so writers; one first year class and one second year class. It is the responsibility of the second year class to train and mentor the first year students in each position on a film set crew after the first year class is trained by its professors. This week, Aaron will be working from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. training first years in specialized roles. The second years (MFA 2Ys) each have two positions that they are responsible for training one-on-one; Aaron will be training 1Ys in sound mixer/boom operator and first assistant camera.

It is important for the 2Ys to put in these hours as mentors and do a good job training the 1Ys because the 1Ys will be responsible for some of these crew positions on the 2Ys thesis films. It's critical that a good rapport is maintained between the classes, because when you're on the set, you are responsible for a very important part of the film no matter what you're crewed to do. If you slack, people notice, and it could show up in the final product on the screen. Similarly, it's important for ATL (above the line) positions to take care of their BTL (below the line) because they are the leaders on the set, who will set the tone for the attitude that each person has throughout the long, often hard days. 

This is another reason crew drills are so important. For a week, 1Ys, who haven't yet worked on their D1 (directing 1) films, will get to taste what D1s, D2s and thesis film shoots are like – the 12 + hour days and quick transitions. This is the 1Ys immersion into the set, and this is also a refresher for 2Ys who haven't been on a set since the end of July. 

We will find out in the next two weeks when Aaron will be shooting his thesis film, and we're both eager and anxious to put that date on our calendar. And that's life in film school right now!

That's a wrap!

Throwdown is picture locked, sound locked and ready for the big screen! I can't tell you how proud I am of my husband, and I'm so excited to see it and all of the D2s this Thursday and celebrate with our film school family. That's two of the three films for graduate school completed... one more left!

I think I am in love with Gabriel Kross.

Who is Gabriel Kross?
You'll have to wait until my birthday to find out... but he's sort of a big deal. Spandex pants and all.

PS- I think we should refer to Aaron as Turd Ferguson from now on. Don't you? He certainly ACTS like someone named Turd Ferguson might act.

A couple hours on set

They shot today out at the Reservation on the lake. Awesome setting.

The machine that makes lightning strikes! Don't look into it or you'll be blinded- seriously.

The Genny (generator) trucks- AC's favorite to drive - and other trucks to move the sets.

Graveyard set on the lake.

Cast and crew candids.

Next time I'll wear more appropriate clothing, but I went straight to set after work because it was so close by.