"We Can Fix It In Production"

I've never been a Production guy.

I went to a film school that emphasized indie-style filmmaking: they taught you how to do it all on your own, on-the-cheap, beginning-to-end. For this I am eternally grateful, because it forced me to learn what it is I love most about filmmaking: writing, planning & organizing, editing, and finishing. Notice I did not say shooting.

There's something about the chaos of the film set that has always driven me mad. Perhaps it's just unrealistic expectations I've had with filming, but I've always found that Production tends to say, "hey, remember all that planning you did? It's out the window. This is MY game now," and then you run. Scramble to find a way to salvage the situation and hopefully maybe get that one shot you had envisioned in your head so you can "fix it in Post." It can be heart-wrenching. This is why I'm an editor by trade, having steadfastly avoided the set for the last few years of my life. But can I share a secret with you?

I've missed it. All that stress, all that uncertainty, but also that camaraderie. That beauty of watching everything (and everyone) come together for that one moment on screen. Those heightened senses fueled by adrenaline and caffeine. And that burning passion to put down on film (or video) the idea or story that is consuming your consciousness. So when Megan and Christopher asked me to be the script supervisor for their feature, I saw my chance: I was going to step back into those uncertain waters and see if the graces of Production could overcome the trials.

And this past weekend was a trial at times, certainly. When the size of the crew is small enough to match the size of the cast it's always tricky. But, despite the difficulties (delayed starts, no A/C, and a busted wall to name three) everything that needed to be shot was shot, the camera and lighting crew got some really beautiful setups and angles, the actors gave brilliant performances, and no one lost their head. I think these achievements were due in no small part to Megan's example: she never lost her cool (even in the heat of the "hot set"), was always ready to take suggestions and change her plans to accommodate conditions on the ground, and yet she never lost the vision she had for the film moving forward. The set was a place for ideas and action: there weren't any problems we'd need to "fix it in Post"-- if there was an issue we could fix it right there, at that moment.

So when we finished shooting on Sunday, I stopped and thought about the weekend's experience. We'd had a few gasps and lots of laughs, some tense situations and some exhilarating moments, some technical issues and a plethora of creative fixes, inspiring performances from the cast and total dedication from the crew. We'd had an adventure, and I realized that I couldn't wait to do it again next week.

...

I guess I am a Production guy, after all.

Blood, Sweat, and Drywall

Filmmaking is a complicated thing with all the small pieces having to come together just right. To do that is difficult; to do it and stay on schedule (or at least catch-up) is a feat.

We made it through the introductory phase. You have to realize that a film set becomes a bit of a fraternity, a crew, a dysfunctional family. I mean, when you're sitting there with your hair and clothes sticking to you as sweat runs down your face and you know you must smell two houses down.. it's nice to know your fellows in the trenches are suffering equally and not judging just as equally.

Forget the classic office setting of water-cooler conversations and polite professionalism. On set, it's blue, dirty, sexually-explicit and completely lacking in PC. If you can't take a jibe, joke or innuendo, it might not be the place for you.

For me, the weekend was uncomfortable, mainly because we were shooting in a hot, suffocating atmosphere and I was walking around with a steady cam that only got heavier as my eyes began to droop and my stomach began to turn from the heat. I'm from the North. Heat and I have never gotten along. Take away air flow and I'm done for.

Not that I haven't been in pain on set before. On set for The Apartment, I nearly broke a toe; for A Hit to the Heart, I had to peel the camera strap off my badly burned neck; Last Days, I lugged coolers full of ice and water up a mountain in high heat. But the show must go on.

It's a fact of the biz that you have to be prepared for all conditions. Whilst on bigger sets, the actors and top of the line folks might get carts, assistants, tricked out trailers; but down here at the up-and-coming level, we fight through whatever the Universe throws at us and we do it for free and we do it for the love of doing it. Even when it seems like the love is gone, once you find yourself back at the day job and all you want is to be back on set.. well, then you know.

But, forget the heat. Truth is, I laughed my ass off this weekend. I laughed until I cried; I got to be silly; hell, I even sang out a tune or two. All the things people in the office setting would have referred me to HR for. There's nothing like being around a bunch of other creative people equally as crazy as you to endure this.

It was a tough first weekend, there's no doubt. But Megan likes the footage; we didn't jump the 180 line; the actors knew their lines and were a ton of fun; Shannon, Porshe, Caryn and I are already working on a spin-off of the film; the blood covering Dave was all fake (and freaky looking); and we only damaged a chunk of drywall.

Not too shabby for a day's work.

August 10, 2008 – The Day That Will Live in Infamy

Sunday was going really well on set. We were on schedule, things were jelling just right. My actors and crew were giving me 110%. I knew things were going too well.

We shot scene 40 yesterday, which I am not going to spoil here as it is one of the most pivotal scenes in the movie. The scene involves two characters arguing and to stop one he pushes the other against a wall. I think it might be the only physically violent stunt in the film and it’s not really that violent.

So we shot the scene for one actors coverage and I kept freaking out thinking we were actually hurting Ashton but he swore he wasn’t hurt and was actually controlling the action. The acting was amazing. I was blown away. I was so excited about the scene. So we switched to do coverage on Dave and go through the entire scene again.

I don’t even remember if it was the first or second time that we did the shot on Dave. The way the camera was set I could not see the wall on my monitor – only Dave. The way the actors were blocked I could not see the wall, or Dave and Ashton.

So the scene played out, the violent moment comes, the image on my monitor is tight on Dave; the push happens and suddenly Lauren (the homeowners daughter) turns to me with a look of horror on her face and I can see several other people with an aghast look as well.

I can’t see anything, I was afraid that Ashton was hurt, but the actors kept going, and no one in the scene stopped, so I assumed that the hit just looked really bad but it was fine. Not hearing “cut” from me my actors kept acting.

Suddenly, one of the actors shifted and I saw a mark behind Ashton’s head. I knew it wasn’t blood, but I didn’t know what it was. Then they moved more.

I saw my entire future in film disappear before my eyes and I imagined one of my best friendships dying with Susan’s eventual seeing of that wall…I really thought I was done for.

But I didn’t call cut so my actors kept acting. I don’t think I was capable of calling cut. I was told by those that could see me that the look on my face was priceless. My camera and sound people were as oblivious as I had been.

The end of the scene came and I managed to choke out the word “cut” and everyone on set exploded with the shock and surprise they had been holding in and Beth, Christopher and Cole were still oblivious. I don’t remember saying anything, but I probably did. Then I managed to shout for Christopher to come “right here right now”.

I don’t even remember his reaction but it was good I am sure, as was Beth’s and Cole’s.

So I immediately had Lauren get her mother on the phone and broke the news to her – we caved in the drywall on her wall.

This is where I have to praise Susan and David, my wonderful friends and the homeowners. They didn’t get mad. They didn’t cancel my movie. They still have not felt the need to blame anything on me. The response I got once they got home was “It’s not like you meant to do it” from Susan and “Shit happens” from David.

These are fabulous people and they deserve my praise, and a giant gift from me and Christopher.

With that drama, we still managed to completely catch up to schedule, and end our day early.

I tell you that God is good.

rockin' it out

first, i gotta say that ashton and dave rocked it out yesterday, and we have a hole in the wall to prove it! ashton blew me away (all his quiet preparation definitely paid off, n i have great respect for him and his commitment to the art) and dave stepped it up to match him to bring him down...and  break a wall. i can't wait to see the final product of that scene. awesome job you two!

my name is marissa merrill, and i am playing angela in this awesome film. i grew up in salinas, california and started my journey in the acting world with dance and theater when i was two-years-old. as soon as i was 18 (2 years ago), i moved out to los angeles to fulfill my dreams in film. 

this is the third project i have worked on with this general group of amazing people, and i am so honored to have worked with them multiple times. i gotta say thanks to christopher and megan for thinking of me for this project, and giving us actors all a chance to really show what we can do. christopher did an aweome job with the script and megan is doing an awesome job with directing and everything else she's done and does. it feels so amazing to be on a set where every single person is there because they want to be there and are passionate about the art. everyone is working their butts off and doing an excellent job. beth works tirelessly and never ceases to amaze me, and shannon is the chillest, most professional, and efficient AD. this cast is hilarious! they cast the goofiest people they could find and told us to be serious and stressed out...and everyone's really pulling it off well. i gotta say, sam's commitment to the look of her character is stunning. i can't wait to see the video blogs!

this weekend made me really proud to be a part of this project. i have a lot of faith in this film and can't wait to get back to work this weekend and keep rockin' it out. 

you all are wonderful!

Weekend One

I promise to blog more tomorrow, but I wanted to get my initial thoughts about the first weekend of shooting down today.

Saturday my stress level was crazy. I know the day went slower than I would have liked, but I do know that a large part of that stress level was the heat, and the fact that there were sudden and shocking layoff's at my day job this week and several people I adore were cut and that hit hard. But I know first days are first days, and when I got home and looked at my schedule and through about my footage I realized I was really happy & we were really not that far behind on saturday. We owed one scene and a shot for another.

We got a late start on day one and still shot about 10 pages. Insane.

Today was smother because we were getting our rythm down, but also because everyone rocked it out of the park, from our "titleless" people that do everything asked, to our homeowners...because we broke their wall today.

Yes, we broke a wall. I swear it was an accident, and I will tell you all more later.

However, I am jubuliant. My footage for the entire weekend is beautiful. My actors and crew are marvelous.

Peace out.