Un-interesting:
Last week, I ended up shooting Ms. Perkins which did, in fact, end up winning the Upstart Script Contest.
Shooting 8 pages of dialogue is difficult enough, trying to do it in three hours could be a nightmare. But…since the script is essentially a monologue, I assumed the shoot would be relatively easy going for everyone involved. Passed the one hour mark though, the energy in the room totally faded out.
The only thing that seems to keep energy up is if everyone has a job that seems important. The problem with this script is that there’s only one real “actor” so even though there are a dozen extras, all they can do is sit there and watch.
I felt the room turning on me at the end of hour three, so I decided to pack it up earlier than I wanted to so we wouldn’t end any later than I scheduled. It wasn’t all bad though. It wasn’t really bad at all actually.
Interesting:
In the part of the script when the class has to turn in the papers for Mr. Falcone to throw away, I gave all the extras the direction to actually try to do the assignment like they they thought high school freshmen might.
Click “more” below to check out the mostly R-rated results if you’re not easily offended.
Out popped a dozen people in dark windbreakers identifying them as feds -- agents from Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Some raced to the loading docks. Others hurried through the front door. All were armed.
Sorry I couldn’t help out more. Can’t wait to see it though. The “essays” are great.
Hahah, the bottom two are mine.
Good shit.
I wouldn’t say the room was turning on you or anything. I’d say that Raf (in the back of the classroom, of course) wouldn’t shut the fuck up during the takes, but that’s it.
Then again, we do have a new standard for hate-eliciting filmmaking conditions. And here I thought no one was going to beat the first day of Tybalt Be Trippen with its 112 degree heat.
Plus, you know how to keep a group entertained during shoots with good humor and refreshments.
Hah, you’re right. When I wrote this I hadn’t truly experienced “hate-eliciting filmmaking conditions” what a difference three days will make.
I guess what I meant is that people definitely wouldn’t have wanted to be there for another half hour. I wanted to replace all of the shots I took from the dolly that didn’t really work, but I figured, whatev…
The whole thing didn’t turn out like I wanted because I didn’t prepare like I should’ve (or I thought I did). But at least I stayed on schedule, right?
Nothing ever turns out how you want. Sorry, that was needlessly depressing.
It’s really a matter of articulating what you want as best you can and hoping it matches what’s in your head enough to be pleasing.