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In about 12 hours
I'll be rolling my first shot on film. I'm both terrified and exhilarated at the same time. So much can go wrong, yet I feel as if I'm prepared for anything that might come at me.
I've been reading up a lot on directing techniques and theories. How to work and collaborate with your actors. How to maintain your set and yourself. I truly feel like this is my time to show how I've grown as a director.
Tomorrow, I begin production on Lodger on the 2nd Floor.
Stressed the fuck out
So I called my courtroom location today to confirm the time for my shoot, and apparently they forgot it was a holiday weekend and I couldn't do it that Saturday anymore. As a result, I've had to spend today frantically organizing my cast and a skeleton crew together to shoot the scene 4 days early next Tuesday morning. Thankfully, I was able to get all my actors, and a good chunk of my essential crew to do it so hopefully if nothing else comes up it should all work out.
In a way I feel like this has been both a good and bad thing. On the one hand it kinda sucked having to scramble to get all this stuff together so fast, but on the other it did help relieve some of the time pressure on the weekend shoot. Plus, I feel like it will be a good way to kickstart the production, since it gives us the chance to get stuff started, but on a small scale.
Aside from the 50s kitchen location (which I might have a lead on), the only major thing I have left to get ready before shooting is costumes.
Ahhhhh
I keep watching back through this guy's audition tapes and I really just want to go ahead and cast him.
But I do have a few concerns. For one he's a little younger than I originally envisioned (though his performance is swaying me). The other big thing is he seems to be doing a quite a few other Watkins films this semester. Once again, I'm not trying to be selfish by not wanting to use actors other students are using, but at the same time it does sorta diminish his performance in my film at the end of the semester. Particularly since he's starring in an oddball slapstick comedy film-- though that one is a Production 3 so atleast it wouldn't screen until the night after mine. I don't know, maybe I'm being stupid, but I just feel like the audience would get kinda sick of seeing the same actor in 5 different films in the same night.
Ugh but every time I watch him deliver that confession from the end of the film, I get chills.
I think I'm going to give the other actor until the end of the day tomorrow to get back to me, and if I don't hear from him, I'm offering this guy the part.
So I didn't realize it when I first contacted him...
but I might be getting an actor from Lawless to be in my film. He wasn't a huge part, but he is the character who cut Tom Hardy's throat in the film.
He's reading the script right now, so I guess it will depend on whether or not it's something he'll want to do, and if he's going to want to be paid.
And now that that bit of unpleasantness is finally taken care of
it's time to worry about more important things.
Gotten Done:
Finalize Cast
Meet with my production designer
Call Kodak and order film stock
Work out shooting schedule
Sent in SAG-AFTRA paperwork
Find film loader
Write a fucking Art History Paper due Wednesday...
Still need to do:
Secure locations (partial check)
Secure a 50s car.
Create storyboards/shot list
Rehearse with actors (have heard back from both my leads and just need to schedule a time)
Visit location with crew
Find artist for poster
Find on set photographer
There's no more art history shit for me to deal with until after my production, so from here on out, I'm in full on director mode.
Well I feel accomplished!
I was quite productive today.
I contacted Kodak and figured out my costs for everything. I couldn't place my order yet because the my money hadn't transfer over yet, but I'll do it tomorrow.
I also sent in my SAG-AFTRA paperwork, so that my film can be all legit and stuff.
I contacted locations, still no luck on the courtroom or 50s kitchen, but I did finally get a confirmation on the location for The Chaney House (where literally over 75% of the film takes place)! Only downside is they're going to charge me $750 a day to use it. I'm trying to talk them down some (though they said they usually charge $1500 a day anyways), and I'm still searching for a possible free alternative-- but if all else fails it's nice to know I'll have something.
So with that now in place, I was finally able to work out a shoot schedule. Unfortunately, if I do end up having to go with the one location, I'm not going to be able to afford to shoot more than 2 days, so that means I had to try and work about 13 pages of screenplay into two 12 hour days. It's going to be a tight schedule, but I think I was able to make it work. Plus, the good news is if we bust our asses the first two days, then the third day will be a nice, easy 7 hour shoot where we get all the leftover scenes that don't take place at the boarding house.
I talked to a bunch of my professors and got some good advice about shooting film.
I set up a time for my first production meeting to be this Thursday!
Oh and I still haven't even started my Art history paper that's due Wednesday...but I did get a perfect score on the quiz he gave us today!
Stress
the pressure continues to mount as I approach my production dates. Here's my to-do list.
Finalize cast
Secure locations
Meet with my production designer
Call Kodak and order film stock
Secure a 50s car.
Create storyboards/shot list
Hopefully rehearse with actors
Work out shooting schedule
Write a fucking Art History Paper due Wednesday...
less than 4 weeks away and I feel like ripping my hair out.
