“Earl & Opal” FILMS
DIRECTING DIALOGUE:
Translating the 'Pickles' Comic onto Screen
This project started when cinematographer John Anderson Beavers shared a Brian Crane 'Pickles' comic strip from the newspaper. this sparked a collaborative vision between us to bring the charming and witty humor of the comic to life on the big screen.
This is the comic John presented that inspired the short films. NOV. ‘19
oddly enough, One of the bigger challenges was selecting the comics to film. the 'Pickles' archive goes back 30 years – there was a ton to go through. So, our plan was to focus on stories with just earl & opal, and were succinct, clever and entertaining. this was in effort to maximize our shoot day by filming as many stories as possible without having to move too much.
Scout Photo of me.
Earl, played by Bernardo Licata
Creatively we wanted to pay homage to the original comic series, leaning in on the couple’s chemistry. which was sweet and snarky – humor that resonated with john and i.
A few pages from the treatment. It was useful to help get people onboard with the project.
We didn’t veer too much from what was written.
Undeterred by the challenge of filming shorts on our own, John and I collaborated seamlessly in producing the films. Through persistent outreach, we successfully gathered a dedicated team of actors and crew members. while also getting john’s in-laws colorful home for our location. it was filled with all kinds of goodies.
A thumbnail drawing of Earl & Opal on the couch.
Another thumbnail at the dining table.
during the process, john and i spoke ad nauseum about what we wanted from these films – nuanced performances with impeccable timing. The result was a series of films that not only paid homage to the beloved comic strip but also stood as a testament to our ability to elicit authentic, humor-laden performances.
I did all the wardrobe myself, between the thrift stores and Amazon I think we nailed it.
“What the hell is that?” said Jane Burkey, Opal, when she first saw our clock prop.
From the inception of the idea, ignited by a simple cutout, to the successful production of the films, i feel like i have demonstrated the capability to translate dialogue-rich content from print to screen. i think we captured the essence of the comic’s wit, humor, and snarkiness – a true reflection of our collaborative vision and dedication to bringing the stories to life.
Jane and Bernardo resting while we setup.
That’s John’s daughter Mae on the left, and our AC, Miles Butterfield. Thanks Mae and Miles!