What a World, What a Life, What a Weekend, What a FILM!

Hot Diggety.  Drivin' 70 miles or so round-trip is so much better when you can carpool.  Luckily, the crew of this film have WANTED to do that and have BEEN ABLE to, so that's what we did.  It's hard to do on most projects simply because call times ("report to work" for those of you outside of the industry) and wrap times ("go home") are so difficult to align with those folks who live near enough to you to make it work.  But on this gig, we only had the stages for twelve specific hours each day, so pretty much everyone's call time was 7 a.m. and everyone's wrap time was 7 p.m.  So we carpooled, and if someone had to wait, then so be it.

Yesterday we covered a "fight scene" and made it work.  It was Day One, so we didn't have a "groove" established yet, and at the end of the day, I personally was just a tad worried we wouldn't complete everything today.  But all of the actors were fabulous people.  The crew did what they could to find the "groove", and we managed to complete just shy of half the script.  And a beautiful just shy of half it was.

Today was an early start, and before lunchtime, we had covered a lot of the script, particularly the really emotional stuff.  I was weeping buckets - before lunch - and trying desperately to keep my shit together so I could keep up with my job while the writer held my hand.  I ain't proud - I'll take a hand-holding or a hug or whatever if it's offered.  But man-oh-man was that some beautiful shit.  Gorgeous.  Moving.  I can't wait to see this completed film!

As each actor finished up their emotional scenes, I'd offer hugs and let them know how they'd moved me.  I'm an actor, too, so I understand how it feels to wonder whether anyone thinks you've done a good job.  Each one appreciated what I had to say to them, and they were able to laugh at with me when I told them I'd cried.  I even let the others who'd witnessed my tearfest make fun of me tell the tale of the wondrousness we'd all been privy to.

The crew was also really great, even with only having two days to find a groove.  But really, I want to thank the entire producing team and my friend, the director, Dawn.  I've never been treated with such respect as I was by THIS producing team.  Really special "shout-outs" to Kelly and Mike, who went above and beyond to make sure that anything that anyone needed was provided, post-haste.  We didn't have enough Production Assistants to grab silly little whatevers (because honestly, are there ever enough PAs?), and most of the time, when you're working and feel a need for a "silly little something" you just try to get it for yourself.  But when things are moving quickly because you have a limited amount of time to spend, sometimes you just have to ask someone else.  Mike and Kelly were incredibly proactive in making sure you didn't ever really have to ask. I love those guys, and I hope to work with them again very soon.

Beautiful man; Gorgeous woman; Incredible young lady!