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Wednesday November 18, 2009
Shoot
So I turned out to be more like forty-five minutes early, and was treated to one of the most revolting breakfasts ever provided...
I ordered scrambled eggs and bacon, and the "cook/s" put the uncut bacon strips
into the liquified eggs whilst scrambling them...!
Dear gods what were they thinking...?!
It rendered the bacon into slimey strips of soppy, sodden egg-"flavoured" meat... utterly and thoroughly disgusting.
Other background arrived up and to 6am, a little while later of which we were checked in and given our vouchers.
2nd 2nd A.D.
Marc Turchin
was our main wrangler throughout the day
I did clarify that these 1978 scenes that were filmed today are flashbacks.
The wardrobe ladies understood how we had no time to procure any 1970s clothing; all they needed for me was a shirt and tie, and later a blue turtleneck.
I retained my own jacket and pants
(oh, and they provided me with a pair of 1970s brown shoes).
Marc brought us over to the "staging area," nearby to which was our holding.
He told us only a little bit was being filmed, and most likely we'd be wrapped by lunchtime...
which almost invariably foretells to me that we could expect some nice ovetime...
which we got.
After a two-take shot of the arrival at the museum of principals
Mary Page Keller
as Georgia,
and young
Keegan Boos
(as the young
Ewan McGregor role),
Marc let several of us to one of the gallery rooms.
We were told in advance how careful in the museum we were to be: we were to walk single file, at least six feet from walls, et al.
It was not a really large call: about twenty of us, as art museum patrons.
On set, both 1st A.D.
Rod Smith
and the film's main director
Mike Mills
set the room with the background in such a way as to create a work of art in itself.
I examine a three-dimensional metal sculture, as Georgia and young Oliver arrive and check it out as well.
As the two depart I "happen" to watch them leave
(e.g., considering my placement it is probable I may be very recognizeable).
(Remember that I do not believe in providing storyline spoilers myself [such generally currently and/or eventually being
readily available Elsewhere notwithstanding], I only convey indications of where I can be seen.)
In a later scene/shot, I am down the hall as the pair pass me; my back is to the camera but one of my best friends should find it even easier to spot me as she puzzlingly seems to be able better to recognize the back of my head on screen rather than when I am facing the camera.
Later on as the pair walk down the second floor balcony along the bank of elevators, in some of the takes I emerge from the side and head in the same direction.
In a couple of the last takes I was not sent out, so my being in that shot depends on editing...
Apparently making up for the hideous "breakfast,"
the caterers had an exquisite lunch, making the one hour meal penalty even sweeter
(as previously mentioned, we did go into overtime, by an hour and forty-eight minutes).
Considering this was Day 12 of a 30 day shoot, this was an amazingly friendly and laid-back crew and set.
According to its IMDB entry, the film's scheduled release date is "sometime" in
2011.
As we headed out, affable director Mike Mills accepted my thanks and congratulations, but somewhat comically admitted he had no idea when it might be released.
Mike was fortunate that those that were cast as background this day were all as honourable as I; under SAG contract rules, directors themselves are not allowed to direct background.
It's a pointless, illogical and impractical rule, but actual directors can only direct principal actors.
Standard practice is the director tells the 1st A.D. (or any A.D. that's immediately handy), and the A.D.s tell the background performers what to do when and where.
Literally, a director directing background means the background performer could file a claim with SAG to be upgraded to Day Player.
Here, Mike not only literally directed me what to do when, but even physically moved me here and there now and again.
But as I said, I'm honourable if to a fault, and maintained my professionalism.
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