We were shooting out in Topanga at a house specially contsructed to use as a film location. Beautiful setting which looked just like it came straight out of a cheap horror film like Texas Chain Saw Massacre - half expected the locals to be playing banjos! The neighbouring property was lived in by a mad woman who looked and sounded as though a life time on booze/drugs had turned her brain in to mush. But the house was filthy and the surrounding area was covered in dog shit so carefully placing of feet was required! Was lovely to be out in the countryside. Thing was the valley only received light from approx 10 until 4 afterwhich we would be placed in shadow and the temperature would plummet.
Shoot started with a couple of simple set ups and then we moved off into the woods for a massive dolly shot of a man walking. It took ages, most of the shots over the next three days were dolly shots - they all took an age to set up and I am not sure how they really contributed to the drama of the story. I really am not a fan of dolly shots on film student shoots - it seems to come down to a camera exercise with performance going out of the window as they struggle to hit the technical requirements of the shot.
By lunch time on the first day our lead actor was struggling especially as we were rushing to snatch a coupe of shots before lunch (we were already in grace) Overall the shoot did not work, as most shots were poorly planned, set up time was enormous and the actors were ignored. Lots of look left, get up, look down, run etc......
Oh forgot to mention Zach Tobacco who handled craft services - what a great guy , he did a fab job! Go sign that portaloo inspection certificate man!
On the second day we spent hours setting up for a long tracking shot of the lead actor coming downstairs and discovering his mum passed out on the sofa with a strange man next to her. Well we took over 11 takes and couldn't pull it off, so arranged for an insert. At the end of the scene because of the change in set ups it was realised that a number of the shots were similar in size and framing. So suddenly the possibility of the scene not being able to cut together raised its ugly head. Anyway one of the crew (not a core member of the team) said it was fine as they could cut to a static of the bottles on a table. So it was instantly agreed that this would work and they should move on. Sure the crew members suggestion could work but did he know how the scene had been planned? Had they talked through the revealing of the scene with their editor and discussed potential problems in the edit? I sensed not.
We left all the gear and the truck at the location. Not all the kit was packed away and secured after the second day of shooting. There was cabling, flats and C stands left out all night oustide the house. I would hate to be responsible for the L&D for this shoot.
The straw which broke the camels back was came on the last day. Up until then Nick and I had turned up on set ten minutes before call time. Having said this members of the core team and crew turned up late. So on Monday got up at 4.30am, shower, breakfast. 5.30 picked up phone and headed to the front door only to find a text sent at 11pm (already in bed) that call time had changed to 8.30. Called Nick who hadn't received the message - he was equally furious. So arrived at the location at 8.15 in time for the 8.30 start time and safety meeting. The camera/lighting crew turned at 8.55, 25 minutes late, and the safety meeting was held at 9.15. The day was a cluster fuck - nothing planned out, dolly shots for everything, a staged car crash, Zeke had to go to hospital as he got glass in his eye, we over ran and ended up shooting at night and trying to light for the day. It was a late wrap.
One of the actresses was called back for a pick up shot, she sat around until 8.30 in the evening. It was clear that she wasn't going to be used. She was then sent home. She was a really good sport about it.
The crew did work hard and really tried to work through and get what was required but I feel it came down to poor planning and execution. Really enjoyed working with Zeke Hawkins and John Clark - both great guys and real hard workers - very professional.
Nick and I had a blast recording the sound. We checked in with Heather (Editor) after the first day to see if it was OK, it wasn't OK it was excellent. So pleased there.
Patrick Falconi asked me what I thought about the Royal Family, so when I told him that Prince Charles was my Uncle he was bowled over. If only I could have kept a straight face for longer as I really think I had him for a moment!
Finally wrapped at 9.30pm and ended up having to drive the camera truck back as nobody had been assigned to this role. Exhausted. Really didn't enjoy this shoot. It was a shame as it was s good workable script, great location just needed more planning.
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