Wednesday at Yamhill Pub

Bryan Withawhy outside talking to another comedian while the entrance to Yamhill Pub and the activity within spills into the scene.

I let Colin know about a week and half in advance I planned to visit Yamhill Pub and record him at the mic. It was primarily to film him and let the rest happen naturally, go with the flow. I didn't follow up with him prior to coming out as planned but I did let the IG world know I would be there that day, and Shanahan's in Vancouver (WA) beforehand. I got some good footage there as well. I started filming almost immediately out of the car at Yamhill Pub. Will Ness was walking up as I exited the car and started getting my camera and tripod out of the back. I wanted to begin capturing the scene from a distance with noone knowing I was out there with a camera yet. I loved soaking in the scene from afar, and the other night activities happening on the margins, while slowly getting closer and closer with each move slowly entering the orbit of the mic until I was in the event horizon. The point of no return.

I have filmed a lot of stage time and BTS at Montavilla Station.

I approached this differently.

I planned to get these shots after I stopped by a few weeks prior and saw how well-positioned the bar, the exterior "patio", and the sitelines looked. I also asked Milo, who I know has been there before pretty often, what he thought I must get in terms of visual perspective.

We talked about the door.

It was still mostly warm and dry on this Wednesday but it will often be cold and rainy so the door will be closed instead of propped open. So anyone leaving will expose the chaos inside between the irregular heartbeats as the door open and slams shut. I've never seen it but I can visualize it based on what I saw. A few degrees cooler and a persistent PNW drizzle and before you know it the door is closed and the street deserted. Another day perhaps.

I started filming about three years ago, roughly the same time I started doing comedy. I know most of these people, the comedians, I am filming. I am not "unbiased" as a filmmaker, not completely.

If not them personally, I know who they are at the mic and on stage. I know what it takes to do the practical part of trying to stay sharp in any room that has a mic and few minutes to burn. I know what it feels like to show up at a mic, be pensive, and not necessarily feeling funny.

But, you sign up, you go up, you turn it on, and you hope people get it.

It is hit or miss but it is preparation and maybe there was a producer in the room who liked it and knows that just because you didn't kill at Yamhill, doesn't mean you won't kill at Helium, Al's Den, or perhaps Revolution Hall.

I love the scene. I love the grit. I love the work. I love knowing will work for a roomful of strangers at a comedy show.

Some people think it is easy and to them I say, "Okay, prove it."

The video below is a rough cut. It is to demonstrate the scene and all of the chaos of producing, hosting, trying new material, trying old material on a new audience, or just letting it rip--because you need to do it.

It's dope, as Lucas would say.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/100757_5ce2428f995a4b1887f7f18aa0ed7062/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

2:57 trailer for the open mic at Yamhill Pub and Portland Comedy. Practice for cinematographic editing.

I hope you like the video. I know it's good. I also know it needs work to get to the next level.

So I am going to keep working on it.

See you around.

Sean, XXOO.