day one

As torturous as it had sometimes been in the few weeks leading up to the shoot, today went by more quickly than Men on Film could say "two snaps up."

We shot the last three scenes of the story first, with Grandmother and teenage Joey.  Surprisingly, everything went fairly smoothly, other than the sun deciding to peek out in the middle of our outdoor scene, thus disrupting continuity.  It's going to take some clever editing to overcome this one.

Is anyone listening to me?

Grandma in the shadow

the classic picture of slate and boom

my favorite part - working with actors

three

Today was the third and final day of prep before production begins tomorrow.

Remember my reference a few days earlier about bad things happening in threes?  It's true.  While driving the car out of the garage to go pick up the camera, my producer jammed the left side mirror into the garage post, cracking the glass and plastic casing.

There are my three bad things - a denied application, a traffic ticket, and a damaged car.

Am I lucky that all this happened before production begins!

the final countdown

First day of prepping for the film - the final three days of push before production begins.

What's prepping, you ask?  Excellent question - one to which I sought the answer myself just a couple of months ago.  From the perspective of a director, preparations in the final days of preproduction include communicating with every department to make sure that shooting will go as smoothly as possible.  Here's my to do list with each person for the next three days:

Producer - prepare crew memos, pick up rental camera
Assistant director - prepare shot list, shooting schedule, and call sheets
Production manager - complete all sorts of Screen Actors Guild forms and contracts
Production designer - dress the set and finalize art and prop decisions
Director of photography - draw storyboards (the ugliest you'll ever see) and convey my vision

Better get going.

one, two,...

Many cultures believe that bad things happen in threes.

My application to film in Story Park was denied two days ago.  That was one.

Today, hours after complaining about the city of Alhambra's employees (see my last post) and police department, I got a traffic ticket in Alhambra.  That was two.

And then there was one.

is the universe helping me?

It is said that when you want to accomplish something and pursue it with your heart, the universe will help you along the way.

A while ago, I found a park in the city of Alhambra, with the fairytale name of Story Park, which seemed perfect for my story.  Too perfect.

Today I found out from the production manager that a city employee with the initials of R.B., who alone has the authority to grant filming permits, has denied our application.  His reason:  "For all the years I've been working here, I've never heard of anyone shooting in a public space."  He must not have seen a single movie since the 1940s.

Like I said, the park was too perfect - from its name to its serene beauty.  I should have known from the start.  I didn't know how we were going to find an alternate location with just one week left until production.

Over dinner, I bitched about the situation to a couple of new friends - Ike, whom I first met a month ago, and Mark, to whom the first impression I gave was the new director who could't find a park.  Incredibly, Mark and Ike's backyard is a multi-level terrace that has a passing resemblance to a park.  They invited me to check it out when dinner was over, and after a quick perusal, even though the yard was covered by a blanket of darkness and their two humongous dogs, each weighing more than I do, seemed to penetrate me with their friendly yet intimidating stare, my heart leapt for joy.  Perhaps the alternate location was looking straight at me.

I guess the universe will help you along the way, but it will first play a few tricks on you before showing you the path.

meetings...

I've now had meetings with the producer, production manager, production designer, costume designer, assistant director, director of photography, gaffer, and editor, many of whom multiple times.

I can't wait until all these meetings are over and production begins.

to rehearse or not to rehearse

In the many books I've read regarding directing, a major decision to be made on the part of the director is whether to rehearse with his actors.

I've always thought that rehearsals would be a crucial part of a director's preparation with his actors, benefiting all parties involved by providing a glimpse into how the story will unfold during production. But my producer Quentin warned me not to rehearse too much with the actors, because it is important to keep an actor's choices and reactions fresh.  On the other hand, if I don't rehearse, how the heck would I know what to expect come shooting day.  I decided to go for it, but the final cautionary words in one particular book have haunted me:  a director who has never rehearsed should not do so with professional actors.  

So I proceeded with caution.  I scheduled three hours of rehearsal time with the four actors and planned all sorts of activities that would help guide the actors toward the character I had in mind for each of them.  How did things go?  Let's just say that it didn't go exactly as I had planned.

Some of the things I learned today:

Never expect the actor to see a character exactly the way the writer or director does.  Directing a child and directing an adult require manuals from two different planets.  Never overwhelm an actors with too many ideas (i.e., more than one at a time) during rehearsal or during production.  Props are an actor's friend.  I have less time than I think.  Don't work on the same line over and over again:  allow the actor to figure things out on their own time when the pressure isn't on.

The most productive accomplishment from rehearsal today was that I found out which of my "too numerous to count" (borrowing a medical lab term) ideas will not work.  

Considering all this, I have to say that rehearsal was a success, in that I learned a tremendous amount about directing, about acting, and about my story.  

I just hope my actors come back.

i never imagined this...

Prior to preproduction, I knew certain firsts were in store:  first time working with a casting director, first time directing SAG actors, and first time hiring a crew.

I never imagined that I would be learning about the differences between an employee and an independent contractor, how to withhold taxes on the W-2, and how to complete 1099 forms.

Aaaaahhhhyyyyiiii.

There are countless ways to spell the sound my vocal cords has been repetitively making, but that comes pretty close.

Many visits to the IRS website and phone calls to the California employment development department later, I can fudge my way through this process.  I think.  When it comes to Uncle Sam, or Aunt Sammi, one little mistake could spell doom.

Better make sure I cross every t and dot every i.

i drive on

It has been exactly one month since I left San Francisco.

I'm tired of driving.  I've driven more this past month than I had this year in San Francisco.  I miss walking a block away to restaurants and bakeries.  I miss walking ten minutes to see my friends.  I even miss walking 45 minutes to downtown SF, passing drug addicts and homeless drunks along the way.

But that's not the way of life here in Los Angeles.  I'm referring to the walking, of course; drug addicts and drunks are plenty here.  So I make my weekly, instead of monthly, visit to the gas station and hope that when I return to San Francisco, I will still remember how to walk.

I miss the fog too.

white frog

One of the "perks" of having my friend Quentin Lee produce my short film is the feeling of professional obligation to go to some of his film premieres and social functions which I otherwise would likely be too lazy to attend.  Tonight I went to the theatrical premiere of "White Frog."

A story exploring the relationship between a teenager with Asperger syndrome and his older brother, "White Frog" had some heartwarming threads to make it an entertaining movie.  But the surprising moment of the evening came when the moderator of the Q&A, a white guy who coincidentally was a college classmate of Quentin, belted out phrase after phrase in perfect Mandarin.

The characteristics of Asperger syndrome are significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, which are exactly what I suffer from whenever I am in the vicinity of a cute guy with talents I admire.  Needless to say, I was smitten by the moderator's charms and instantaneously became clumsy and speechless, hallmarks of many social disorders, let alone Asperger syndrome.  He got away before I had a chance to say hello:  actually, I found ways to sit alone and wait for the surge of heartwarming yet panic inducing thoughts to subside while he made his rounds greeting people and eventually slipped away.  So typical.  If my past is any indication, he's straight any way.

My evening ended at a bar in Hollywood, where I managed to exchange a few words with television star Harry Shum, Jr., who played the brother in "White Frog" and was in attendance for the Q&A.  How does a guy who doesn't drink, dislikes loud music, and turns into a listless pumpkin at the stroke of midnight (I'm being generous - more realistically at eleven in the evening) learn to enjoy his time at a bar?  I haven't figured that one out yet and probably never will.  Unfortunately, I was at the mercy of my production manager Daniel since he drove me to the premiere, and the earlier feelings of awkward joy in the theatre had faded enough that I no longer felt the need to walk home.  So I waited some more, chatting with Harry's adorable girlfriend, watching Quentin dance the latest hip hop beats, and pondering the meaning of a white frog.

When I arrived home, it was past 1 am.  And that's when I realized this:

I'm a white frog.

the perfect story

Today my production manager Daniel and I scouted for a park suitable for my story.  We found the perfect location in Alhambra at Story Park.

In the center of the park is a big leafy tree.  My knowledge of animals and plants is so pathetic that I can only describe them by their color, size, and prettiness.  I immediately visualized that the grandmother in the story would enter through there, the grandson would lead her over there, and they would traverse different paths to end up here.  Images were forming, and ideas brewing.  I am excited.

Could this possibly be the location?  Time will tell, as many hurdles, including permits and fees, are yet unknown.  But a possibility means hope, and hope means better sleep for me tonight.

Maybe it was an oak tree.  No idea.

when happens in palm springs...

It's a much welcomed and needed excursion for me this weekend.

I've come to hot Palm Springs this weekend, albeit unseasonably cool today, to celebrate my good friend Anthony's impending domestic partnership with his sweetie.  This break from pre-production comes at a most opportune time, as I've had enough of meetings and location scouting, and the end is nowhere in sight.  More importantly, I get to hang out with some of my close friends from San Francisco:  a beautiful vacation home, pool party, and barbeque - what could be better than that!

This being a gay bachelor party, which is essentially a bachelorette party without estrogen, a little entertainment is in order.  However, I've been sworn to secrecy and signed my name in blood - Anthony's blood, that is - so I shall not disclose further.  Although...

I suspect what happens in Palm Springs won't stay in Palm Springs.