Chapel Hill

In January 2019, Ubi the Clown was contacted by Jason Meaux and invited to star in a movie Jason was shooting for the Straight8 competition. Straight8 movies are shot on one cannister of Super8 movie film, with no editing; soundtracks are added blind, before the film is developed.

We met at the UNC Med School library. Karen made a reverse-breadcrumb picture story so she could find her way back to the parking garage.

The first breadcrumb shot.

Laid a bread crumb trail of backwards pictures to make sure we could find the parking garage.

John & Jason talked about making movies and clowning on a Saturday afternoon.

Jason Meaux and John Hogan talk the day before the shoot.

The next day, John turned into Ubi the Clown, with full clown makeup and outfit. John and his wife Karen Tiede met Jason and his partner Katharine Henry on Rosemary Street, where the movie began. The movie opens with Ubi getting out of a car.

Ubi, Katharine, and Jason set up the arrival shot.

The movie opens with Ubi getting out of a car.

Next, Ubi walks uphill to get to town. The director got lucky when one last car in the parking lot at the turtle mural left just before shooting began.

Making notes about the amount of film already shot.

Shooting the movie title card.

Walking to Chapel Hill.

Ubi checks out the mural.

Jason shoots the movie while Katharine notes the timing.

Ubi waited for everyone to catch up.

The movie crew walked from the Turtle Mural to Franklin Street, where Ubi walked down to the post office and then back the other side. Even though the theme of the movie was, “is a clown a clown if no-one sees him,” we proved it is impossible to walk around in full clown and have no-one see you!

Are you really a clown?

Walking along Rosemary Street toward Franklin.

People can’t help but smile when they encounter a clown.

Just waiting for the bus.

For the record, the dogs paid no attention to Ubi.

Ubi shuffles on down Franklin Street.

Bopping down the street.

Lots of families were out in Chapel Hill on a chilly Sunday afternoon. The kids wanted to interact and as much as he could within the confines of the movie script, Ubi did engage.

I hear something… can I see it?

There… I see some children!

And who do we have here?

Ubi dances down Franklin Street.

The crew joked around a bit at the Post Office, then crossed the street and walked back up the other side, passing University Methodist Church along the way. They turned south on Rosemary Street, toward campus.

Clowning around at the Chapel Hill post office.

Hanging out at the Chapel Hill post office.

Leaving University Methodist Church.

At University Methodist Church.

Just past Top of the Hill, Ubi stopped dead in his tracks. What is this?!?

THIS is a Patrick Dougherty Reed sculpture installation at the Ackland Art Museum.

Patrick Dougherty installation at the Ackland Art Museum.

Patrick Dougherty installation.

The sculptures in Step Right Up were created by Patrick Dougherty.

Patrick Dougherty teapots at the Ackland Art Museum in Chapel Hill.

The team blocked out the scene where Ubi receives flowers in a teapot.

Exploring the reed teapots at the Ackland.

Checking the light at the teapots.

Now you don’t!

Now you see him…

John and Katharine block the scene in the teapot.

Setting up the camera angles.

Rehearsing the scene in the teapot.

Flowers appear like magic!

Flowers? For me?

Of course, people wanted to meet Ubi.

Even in Chapel Hill, you don’t see a clown every day!

Ubi is a baby magnet.

In Chapel Hill, even the golden retrievers are well-read!

The final scene of the movie was shot in Forest Theater at Battle Park.

Planning the final scene of the movie.

Ubi juggles.

Ubi confers with Jason and Katharine about plans for the stage.

Ubi practices a dance on the stage.

The movie ends with Ubi the Clown walking up the steps of the auditorium.

The movie ends with Ubi leaving the stage.

Ubi the Clown walks away at the end of the day.

Stay tuned–nobody knows how their movie does until the winners are announced in London in May!

John supports the American Cancer Society events. He was invited to participate in the student-run Breasticle Festival at UNC-CH (Chapel Hill).

Due to weather and space constraints, Karen the Hoop Lady couldn’t bring her hula hoops to the party.

Bye bye till next year!

Thank you note from the organizers of the UNC-CH Bresticle Festival.

Making hats at the Breasticle Festival, UNC-CH (Chapel Hill).

One of the organizers of the event was very happy with her hat.

Thank you note from the organizers of the UNC-CH Bresticle Festival, outside.

A more demure flower hat for a more demure festival participant.

Great breasts are worth fighting for! The ACS slogan for event.

Dragonhigh flat, an original Ubi the Clown creation.

John shopped for weeks to find the right hat and matching shirt for the Breasticle Festival.

Event organizers showing off their new hats.

Pink for breast cancer awareness; purple for testicular cancer awareness. John had a special order of balloons for the event.

Balloon hat with bunny ears and a teddy bear.

John worked the lobby of the event, making hats for the participants, while bands and dance troops entertained in the main ballroom.

John received a lovely thank you note from the organizing committee.

Starring in a Straight 8 Movie

Balloon Hats at the Breasticle Festival, UNC-CH