AQT - PRODUCTION DIARY #1

OK, so as promised, I began a production diary for the new project which is tentatively titled "A QUESTION OF TIME". Things are moving along pretty well, but I will let all of you be the judge:

Friday July 8,
So, I met with my script supervisor this morning at Bubby’s my old stomping ground. It was nice. Saw some old friends, got to catch up with her and best of all she is going to Script Super the second half of the shoot. I have scheduled it accordingly. Loading up all the dialogue heavy scenes into the last two weeks. More work for her but I know she loves it.

More inappropriate head shots coming in from people who have never worked before who are under the impression that Guerrilla Film means, any crap acting will do and that I will desperately take anyone that waltz’s though my door just because they have done me the favor of answering an internet ad.

WRONG.

I have 17 people showing up Wed. night and if they all suck then none of them will get hired. I will not settle or compromise on this one.


Sunday July 10,
I spoke with my partner J yesterday after he read the script. He loved it. We both agreed that it’s not on the same level as nailed, but I suspect I shall never write another script on the level of “Nailed”. He has two great comments both of which I have fixed. One was just a line but it changed the whole tenor of the scene. The other, is a rather feel good twist to the ending. Under normal circumstances, I might have problem with this but in the context of the this particular story, it’s really the whole point of the story. He’s quite sharp my buddy J.

I told him about using “One Moment in Time” for the closing credits and at the same time we both came up with the idea to have his wife sing it. So I sent him the mp3 demo I made of it and the lyrics.

Monday July 11,
J loved the song as did M and she is really excited about singing it. So when we go over there in Oct. I will bring the required gear to facilitate that.

I found myself an intern. Not just an intern but a smart, aggressive self starter who just happens to live around the block from me. D is going to be a real asset to this project. I feel confident that she will be able to handle the on set AD duties as well as being available to S (my production manaager).

We did a location scout yesterday and I think we are in good shape location-wise. We found a great little spot just below the Brooklyn Bridge where there is a set of steps that rises to the sky and has this amazing reveal of the bridge. It is going to be breathtaking.

J hasn’t been able to find a cheap flight to get over here yet but we are still hoping to work that bit out.

On the brighter side J gave "Nailed" to the first of our money possibilities yesterday. That’ the next step in the “Nailed Saga” hopefully the response will be similar to all the previous responses we have gotten so far.

Only time can tell...

Thursday July 12,
So, auditions last night ….
I really hate auditions and casting sessions. I tell you, I could never be an actor. The amount of rejection that actors have to deal with would probably drive me to homicide. We actually had 14 out of 17 people show up and that’s pretty damn good even under the best of circumstances and I know that one of the no-shows must have been too embarrassed to come back as she showed up at 9:15am first and called me to find out why no one was there. If she really had the fire required for doing this type of film she not only would have come back again at night but been there early just in case. Instead she let her embarrassment take the place of her desire to work and bailed. Better now than when it gets tough later.

Most of the folks who read for us last night were better than average with the exception of 2. One who just should never have answered the ad to begin with and who should really consider a career change and another one who was just so wrong for the part. I actually might have considered casting this person in one of the smaller roles if I hadn’t already decided on someone I know already.

What was really nice was that I had enough quality actors show up that I actually had to make a choice between 2 for each of the principals. Which is much better then what I feared would be the reality, me settling for what I could get.

2 of the actresses just knocked it right out of the park on their first go. I am happy.

So, on to the next phase. Table reading on Sunday night then rehearsal on Wed.

I spoke to Joe this morning. He is going to make it over here regardless of the cost it seems. As I understand it, the money people who are looking at “Nailed” are having the same reaction to the script as everyone else. This is a good thing.

All in all, I am quite content.


Friday, July 13
Well it was a hard choice but I made it. I have a cast and I think they are all going to bring a performance level to the project that I was hoping for.

Sunday, July 15,
Tonight was the first reading of the script and I would have to say, in all humility that we have quite a project here. All of the actors really understood their parts and the script really moved. It came in at about one hour and twenty five minute so with all the added stuff it should run about 90- 95 minutes. A perfect length for this type of script. We got to know each other a bit and it seems we are all on the same page. Wed, is our first rehearsal and I am realy looking forward to that.


Wednesday, July 20,
First rehearsal. What can I say. Everything I expected and more. It’s kind of amazing the different ways that Actors and Directors view the world. For me as a director these preliminary rehearsals are all about finding the rhythm, moments and the emotional level of the scene. For many actors, they view these rehearsals as fumbling in the dark to find their character, beginning to get off book (which means memorizing the whole script) and trying to figure out what I want. What’s funny about that is at this early point in the process, I am not always exactly sure what I want until I hear my words spoken and see it on it’s feet. So as the dance begins, both sides are feeling one another out.

The big difference between theatre and film, is that for most actors, theatre is an on going exploration of character and themes. Film is inherently the opposite of that. We capture one moment in time and that’s all they get. Some directors, Sydney Lumet being one of the best known, like to spend a few weeks and rehearse the whole movie down to the finest blocking movements. There are other directors who won’t rehearse at all. Woody Allen never rehearses his actors. He gives them the script and lets them loose. Once they are on set, he will walk through the scene with the actors and point out specific locations where he would like certain lines delivered but he rarely give actors “direction”. Of course if you look at the actors he has worked with over the years it’s easy to understand how that can work for him.

I fall somewhere in the middle. Coming from a theatre background, I do recognize the value that some rehearsal does serve. I like to use it as a tool to get the actors to begin to feel comfortable with each other. Particularly if there is supposed to be some history between the two characters. But I digress…

The rehearsal was great. We accomplished everything we needed to and then some. We roll camera a week from tomorrow and I think we are in good shape.
For now…