Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The Edit
I've been editing away and too busy to blog. I eat, sleep and dream about the movie Nothing Special. It's looking funny, beautiful and complicated if I do say so myself. It's just not me though. My editor, her kids, her husband, and my dog all agree. I think that's a pretty wide audience range so we're okay.
We're running around repeating Karen Black lines. They're incredibly funny.
Said goodbye to Hal and Girija the other day. I will miss them.
Uploaded candid production pics to a Flickr site for sharing with cast and crew:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingspecialthemovie/
We're running around repeating Karen Black lines. They're incredibly funny.
Said goodbye to Hal and Girija the other day. I will miss them.
Uploaded candid production pics to a Flickr site for sharing with cast and crew:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingspecialthemovie/
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The Day After
Ok. I wanted to sleep-in on my “day off” but Girija came into my bedroom around 7:30 am and said “Hal has hurt his neck. He was wrestling with a crew member at the warp party last night and heard a loud crack in his neck and is worried he may have a fracture.” I jumped out of bed and we flew to Cedar Sinai. It seems as though my film has nearly killed a few people. Tara scratched her cornea. I got pneumonia. Hal broke his neck… They x-rayed him and saw something funny, then decided to order a CT scan and saw nothing funny, so we went to my favorite Back Cracker, Ira, and fixed him up with a chiropractic adjustment. Hal decided his 60 years was an unfair advantage on a 20 something year old and won’t be wrestling him again. I came home and took a nap. My son, Caleb, claims I was sleeping soundly and said, “Roll sound. And… action” When I was woke up at 4:40 pm I was confused and thought I had dozed in the middle of a filming day. I came downstairs and there was Niko, Paul, Rodrigo, Sascha, Tara, Jared and Daniel (the worlds best P.A. – “Copy that”) slaving away to wrap up the loose ends. It was like being in The Wizard of Oz. We are not in Kansas anymore. I wonder if I’m the wicked witch, melting like butter, or Dorothy on an LSD trip. We Wrapped! It really occurred to me while reading Studs Terkel in the Hospital waiting room. I yelled out, “Oh my god. I just wrapped a feature film in 17 days! Oh my god!” Girija laughed and people looked. I wonder if they wanted to give me their resumes or move away from me so as not to catch the crazy.
Yesterday, we had an informal wrap party, Karen Black and Julia Garcia Combs decided it needed to happen. I told Tara to spread the word and we would have beer and wine and Hal would make delicious desserts (which he did) and Karen would bring Pasta (which came eventually)… Tara’s response “You had me at Alcohol” An extra made a point of telling me what a great actor he was and how his monologues made his teachers cry. Bless.Tomorrow I finish watching the dailies, see Hal and Girija off to their plane bound for Australia, and go to MaryJo Duprey’s birthday party. I’ll meet John Lloyd Young (her friend who won the Tony for Jersey Boys) and Katarina (don’t remember her last name, but I do know she was nominated for a Nobel peace prize.) Mary Jo travels in those hi-falutin circles. I’ll have dallies on the brain and hope to be capable of convo. Copy that. Cut. Karen Black is awesome. Action. Barbara Bain is perfect. Roll sound. Julia Garcia Combs will make the most auspicious debut of a young actress in years. Fly in the wine.Time for cough syrup and codeine induced dreams. Fly in the elephants! What’s on the schedule, Alesia?
Yesterday, we had an informal wrap party, Karen Black and Julia Garcia Combs decided it needed to happen. I told Tara to spread the word and we would have beer and wine and Hal would make delicious desserts (which he did) and Karen would bring Pasta (which came eventually)… Tara’s response “You had me at Alcohol” An extra made a point of telling me what a great actor he was and how his monologues made his teachers cry. Bless.Tomorrow I finish watching the dailies, see Hal and Girija off to their plane bound for Australia, and go to MaryJo Duprey’s birthday party. I’ll meet John Lloyd Young (her friend who won the Tony for Jersey Boys) and Katarina (don’t remember her last name, but I do know she was nominated for a Nobel peace prize.) Mary Jo travels in those hi-falutin circles. I’ll have dallies on the brain and hope to be capable of convo. Copy that. Cut. Karen Black is awesome. Action. Barbara Bain is perfect. Roll sound. Julia Garcia Combs will make the most auspicious debut of a young actress in years. Fly in the wine.Time for cough syrup and codeine induced dreams. Fly in the elephants! What’s on the schedule, Alesia?
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Shoot Day 16
We shot Union Station first thing morning and it was beautiful. I snagged the Red Hat society Red Riveter Chapter to be my background today at Union Station. They were patient as we had to do five takes with them walking by. The Red Hat Society is an organization dedicated to "enjoying life to the fullest, no matter where we are or what we are doing! We are the mothers, daughters and grandmothers, of society." It was originally based on the poem "Warning" by Jenny Joseph, which depicts an older woman in purple clothing with a red hat.
It was Karen Black's last day and we did a very touching scene. The last one for her in the movie as well. What can I say about Karen Black? Why she isn't obnoxiously followed by papparazzi I don't understand. Not that I wish it on her but she is an utterly compelling actress and human being. We did tow shots with Julia in the car. She did her Oprah monologue about her mother living in Paris and I cried. Had to find tissue to mop it up when I was in the tow car. Morgan looked up at me and said, "Are you crying?" and he realized he wasn't wearing one of the comtecs. Her work with that monologue in homage to her mother's parenting was so beautiful. I can't imagine any audience not being moved to tears as well.
Morgan just came up and said he rewatched the wide shot with the train in the background and that's it incredible. He also said, "I guarantee you if you put it in the movie people will talk about it. She starts to drive away and oh my god it's so beautiful."
We started with the sun up and we wrapped with the sun down. Tomorrow's our last day but I'll continue blogging for a little while during our edit.
It was Karen Black's last day and we did a very touching scene. The last one for her in the movie as well. What can I say about Karen Black? Why she isn't obnoxiously followed by papparazzi I don't understand. Not that I wish it on her but she is an utterly compelling actress and human being. We did tow shots with Julia in the car. She did her Oprah monologue about her mother living in Paris and I cried. Had to find tissue to mop it up when I was in the tow car. Morgan looked up at me and said, "Are you crying?" and he realized he wasn't wearing one of the comtecs. Her work with that monologue in homage to her mother's parenting was so beautiful. I can't imagine any audience not being moved to tears as well.
Morgan just came up and said he rewatched the wide shot with the train in the background and that's it incredible. He also said, "I guarantee you if you put it in the movie people will talk about it. She starts to drive away and oh my god it's so beautiful."
We started with the sun up and we wrapped with the sun down. Tomorrow's our last day but I'll continue blogging for a little while during our edit.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Shoot Day 15
They put makeup on me yesterday cause I think they didn't want people looking at my green face.
I had my first movie dream last night. I dreamt that we had already napped so when Richard woke me up I was like "Woah, what's happening? Am I late?" I had been totally convinced that we were wrapped. I'm not the only one who had Nothing Special related dreams last night. Marty dreamt that someone was impaled and Marianne Murphy had an anxiety dream that something went terribly wrong with the tow dolly shots.
Ok, today I decided to blow dry my hair and put on a little make-up so I don’t look so death-warmed-over-ish…
Mark Sheppard and Lynda Timbers, two of our investors, came to set to with a splash. Mark played the viet nam vet in the wheelchair who was insulted by May as she traipses through the store, drugged-up after a colonoscopy. He was funny and a great spirit. Lynda played an extra, waiting in line at the grocery store. She stood in the aisle of beans and read the package nutritional information for hours. I think she finally decided she needed to have those beans. Speaking of beans, beans the wonderful fruit - The chefs made a bean burrito for breakfast and more beans for lunch. Yesterday we started with beans and corn tortilla’s and had a chickpea salad for lunch. Everybody is tooting! Toot. Toooot-tut-toot. Phhhhhhh-oot. Do not go in there! At least today we were not confined to a smelly little doctors office. Anyway. We wrapped the grocery store and I went out to drive my car back to base for a few more shots and transpo had taken the entire front end off my car! They are making a special rig for the tow dolly shots tomorrow. I didn’t recognize the car and was looking around for it. It looks positively vandalized. I am having tea and waiting for the camera to arrive to pop off a Louie shot, now that he is fully recovered from the concussion. He took his last meds last night. He is really to ruff-ruff and jump.
Went to get the shot on the street of Marcus' POV of Louise driving up and a news crew was there doing a story on the stabbing of three homeless people. They interviewed me and I said something pithy. They asked if I'd change my lifestyle after hearing about the stabbings and I said, "No, but if someone came at me with a sharp object or bullets or other things on trajectories I'd be scared." One of the benefits of living in a civilized society is walking down the street and not expecting someone to stab you. They also took footage of us doing our thing so perhaps I'll be on KTLA local news tonight.
I got a tummy ache from the chickpeas.
Josh Green and Tim Castro were on set today. They were just great. I love theatre actors because they know their lines, they have bits worked out, they bring options and they walk and talk without walking into furtniture and check-out stands.
It's such a strong supporting cast that there's no false moves from the actors. It's just very believable. Part of my plan was to get as many 'oners' as possible then pickup coverage for fun.
We have two day left. Tomorrow we shoot at Union Station but we don't even have the street secured where the girl finds her mother.
See you tomorrow.
I had my first movie dream last night. I dreamt that we had already napped so when Richard woke me up I was like "Woah, what's happening? Am I late?" I had been totally convinced that we were wrapped. I'm not the only one who had Nothing Special related dreams last night. Marty dreamt that someone was impaled and Marianne Murphy had an anxiety dream that something went terribly wrong with the tow dolly shots.
Ok, today I decided to blow dry my hair and put on a little make-up so I don’t look so death-warmed-over-ish…
Mark Sheppard and Lynda Timbers, two of our investors, came to set to with a splash. Mark played the viet nam vet in the wheelchair who was insulted by May as she traipses through the store, drugged-up after a colonoscopy. He was funny and a great spirit. Lynda played an extra, waiting in line at the grocery store. She stood in the aisle of beans and read the package nutritional information for hours. I think she finally decided she needed to have those beans. Speaking of beans, beans the wonderful fruit - The chefs made a bean burrito for breakfast and more beans for lunch. Yesterday we started with beans and corn tortilla’s and had a chickpea salad for lunch. Everybody is tooting! Toot. Toooot-tut-toot. Phhhhhhh-oot. Do not go in there! At least today we were not confined to a smelly little doctors office. Anyway. We wrapped the grocery store and I went out to drive my car back to base for a few more shots and transpo had taken the entire front end off my car! They are making a special rig for the tow dolly shots tomorrow. I didn’t recognize the car and was looking around for it. It looks positively vandalized. I am having tea and waiting for the camera to arrive to pop off a Louie shot, now that he is fully recovered from the concussion. He took his last meds last night. He is really to ruff-ruff and jump.
Went to get the shot on the street of Marcus' POV of Louise driving up and a news crew was there doing a story on the stabbing of three homeless people. They interviewed me and I said something pithy. They asked if I'd change my lifestyle after hearing about the stabbings and I said, "No, but if someone came at me with a sharp object or bullets or other things on trajectories I'd be scared." One of the benefits of living in a civilized society is walking down the street and not expecting someone to stab you. They also took footage of us doing our thing so perhaps I'll be on KTLA local news tonight.
I got a tummy ache from the chickpeas.
Josh Green and Tim Castro were on set today. They were just great. I love theatre actors because they know their lines, they have bits worked out, they bring options and they walk and talk without walking into furtniture and check-out stands.
It's such a strong supporting cast that there's no false moves from the actors. It's just very believable. Part of my plan was to get as many 'oners' as possible then pickup coverage for fun.
We have two day left. Tomorrow we shoot at Union Station but we don't even have the street secured where the girl finds her mother.
See you tomorrow.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Day 15
I nearly went to bed without blogging. It was a very good day. The fog is lifting. Barbara Bain wrapped to a standing ovation. Christine Briehan played the wretched receptionist and did a great job. It's getting boring telling you how wonderful everyone is. What can I say? It's casting.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
The Last Off Days
I saw my family physician today. Pneumonia! I knew I was sick, but… cough, cough… anyway, I told him there were a few nights after filming that I thought “Shit, I should go to the hospital” and he said “Shit, maybe you still will” I pulled a muscle coughing. But I’m still standing and on another round of antibiotics and cough meds. I am better than before, so we are going in the right direction.
Yesterday, I saw the last 6 days of dailies with Daniel. Too sick to look at them before. Breathtaking. Karen, Barbara and Julia are a hit in my book. Electric. I think Daniel agrees. He said, “Somewhere in this town, someone is planning to win an Oscar for their film, but they don’t even know Nothing Special exists.” It sort of reminds me of “For Your Consideration” (If you haven’t seen it, you should) Another of my favorites “State and Main” sometimes feels like this set. I’m sure its always that way. In our case, minus the child molester and the naked actress with a penchant for Matzahs… but, “does it have to be an old mill?”
We have 4 days left and I am looking forward to smoother sailing, but that might be the regular wishful thinking that sometimes emanates from my ignorance/wishful thinking/ determination – take your pick. Still, it seems to work, so who am I to argue. Sascha took Hal and Girija to Taropy session (or something) with his lovely wife, Lauren. They loved it. She uses Taro cards in a way that allows the subject to unoad their subconscious and talk about a relevant question in their lives. Its very Joseph Campbell “Hero with a Thousand faces” kind of thing. I just want to say that all the nuts don’t come from Hollywood, some come all the way from Australia. I love those nutty kids! And I can’t argue with Garcia’s back remedies, I’ve been doing pretty well into hat regard. Niko came today and took Hal and Girija to the Self Realization Center, to which Hal was denied access! Actually, it was temporarily closed, but they saw a spiritual meaning in it. Me, I think it must be a property tax problem. Anyway, I love my crew. The art departments are all outstanding and Marty, my A.D., despite our occasional tense moments and loud disagreements keeps coming back everyday with a fresh new attitude. I gotta hand it to him. Did I tell you that Morgan rocks? He is really masterful.Time for a nap.
Yesterday, I saw the last 6 days of dailies with Daniel. Too sick to look at them before. Breathtaking. Karen, Barbara and Julia are a hit in my book. Electric. I think Daniel agrees. He said, “Somewhere in this town, someone is planning to win an Oscar for their film, but they don’t even know Nothing Special exists.” It sort of reminds me of “For Your Consideration” (If you haven’t seen it, you should) Another of my favorites “State and Main” sometimes feels like this set. I’m sure its always that way. In our case, minus the child molester and the naked actress with a penchant for Matzahs… but, “does it have to be an old mill?”
We have 4 days left and I am looking forward to smoother sailing, but that might be the regular wishful thinking that sometimes emanates from my ignorance/wishful thinking/ determination – take your pick. Still, it seems to work, so who am I to argue. Sascha took Hal and Girija to Taropy session (or something) with his lovely wife, Lauren. They loved it. She uses Taro cards in a way that allows the subject to unoad their subconscious and talk about a relevant question in their lives. Its very Joseph Campbell “Hero with a Thousand faces” kind of thing. I just want to say that all the nuts don’t come from Hollywood, some come all the way from Australia. I love those nutty kids! And I can’t argue with Garcia’s back remedies, I’ve been doing pretty well into hat regard. Niko came today and took Hal and Girija to the Self Realization Center, to which Hal was denied access! Actually, it was temporarily closed, but they saw a spiritual meaning in it. Me, I think it must be a property tax problem. Anyway, I love my crew. The art departments are all outstanding and Marty, my A.D., despite our occasional tense moments and loud disagreements keeps coming back everyday with a fresh new attitude. I gotta hand it to him. Did I tell you that Morgan rocks? He is really masterful.Time for a nap.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Day 13
Started the day kinda tense cause we had about nine pages again and I didn't know where the honeywagon was. It was parked pretty far around the corner and I screamed at Brianna, the 2nd AD, when I finally found it and I think I drove her to tears. Thankfully Daniel Combs stepped in and let her know I was really pressured and not quite as much of a bitch as it seemed. When I finally found the honeywagon and noticed all the dressing rooms for all the actors I wondered how much it cost. When I asked Frank in transportation he just said, "I got a deal." Just in that raspy voice way you expect the Teamster to say, "I got you a deal."
We did the Mother's Day restaurant scene today. We had both Barbara and Karen on, a stunt double, a fist fight between Karen and Barbara, and 50 extras... I mean background artists... to coordinate.
We shot in the back of the Foundry with Eric Pierpoint and Johnny Kassir. I'm not gonna say screamingly funny again although they are. I'm gonna say... pee in your pants, choke on your cough drop, laugh out loud even though you know sound is rolling hi-larious kind of funny. The scenes were perfect except for the incredible stench from the tannery enxt door. The foul measma was a cross between a gangrened wound on a dying soldier and a sespool mixed with dead rabbits and angry pigeon poo.
I'll leave you with that thought. More tomorrow.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Day 12
Felt 20% better this morning. Good thing because we had 9 pages on deck. Barbara Bain and Karen Black were both working on set today. Makeup created an awesome black eye on Barbara. It looked so real people were walking around wincing and they thought she hadn't been to makeup yet.
Karen Black gave an Oscar worthy performance today in a monologue about her long lost son.
Marianne Murphy wrapped today and is off to New York. Her performance was so funny she made the grips laugh out loud once.
Once again Julia delivers. She keeps coming in day after day with energy and perfection even though she's working harder than anybody. I'm amazed by her ability to go from tongue tied to confident to confused and back around to witty in one scene.
I have a rockin' art department. Niko and I share a disdain of scene numbers. When my AD says scene # so and so Niko and I both say I don't know what that is, what's happening in that scene? Rodrigo and Matt took off a door and put it back on. Then they took off another door and put it back on. Then another door and put it back on - so we could fit the dolly through the doorway to make the shot. They're troopers. Yesterday Siobhan taped newspaper around pillows and furniture then Julia ripped them off. Then she taped newspapers around pillows then Julia ripped them off. Then she did it again...
Tomorrow is the Mother's Day scene in the restaurant. Another nearly 9 page day that will complete 6 days sick as a dog. I'll let you know how it goes.
Karen Black gave an Oscar worthy performance today in a monologue about her long lost son.
Marianne Murphy wrapped today and is off to New York. Her performance was so funny she made the grips laugh out loud once.
Once again Julia delivers. She keeps coming in day after day with energy and perfection even though she's working harder than anybody. I'm amazed by her ability to go from tongue tied to confident to confused and back around to witty in one scene.
I have a rockin' art department. Niko and I share a disdain of scene numbers. When my AD says scene # so and so Niko and I both say I don't know what that is, what's happening in that scene? Rodrigo and Matt took off a door and put it back on. Then they took off another door and put it back on. Then another door and put it back on - so we could fit the dolly through the doorway to make the shot. They're troopers. Yesterday Siobhan taped newspaper around pillows and furniture then Julia ripped them off. Then she taped newspapers around pillows then Julia ripped them off. Then she did it again...
Tomorrow is the Mother's Day scene in the restaurant. Another nearly 9 page day that will complete 6 days sick as a dog. I'll let you know how it goes.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Day Eleven
Mary Jo wrapped today to a standing ovation. While she was on set she decided to get a quick little hair cut from our incredible hair department. They got to talking and discovered that they're both good friends with Cyndi Lauper so they took out their cells and called her up.
We did a close up with Louie Garcia today. I kept him calm with delicious goat cheese.
Another brilliant day with Karen Black. Today we did all her running down the street and screaming shots.
The regular politics on set as usual. Somebody said this. Somebody said that. Somebody overheard...
One of the executive producers showed up, Daniel Combs, and he was extremely pleased.
We finished off the day with outdoor street shots. A crowd gathered during our long walking shot on Hollywood Boulevard just to watch Karen Black walk down the street.
Tomorrow will be another great day as we'll be at the Crafstman House with both Barbara and Karen.
We did a close up with Louie Garcia today. I kept him calm with delicious goat cheese.
Another brilliant day with Karen Black. Today we did all her running down the street and screaming shots.
The regular politics on set as usual. Somebody said this. Somebody said that. Somebody overheard...
One of the executive producers showed up, Daniel Combs, and he was extremely pleased.
We finished off the day with outdoor street shots. A crowd gathered during our long walking shot on Hollywood Boulevard just to watch Karen Black walk down the street.
Tomorrow will be another great day as we'll be at the Crafstman House with both Barbara and Karen.
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