Communication

The human psyche has always fascinated me. What's been on my mind lately is the motivation of different people. It's something that is specifically being studied through the characters in this film. What do some people want out of life? Why do they do certain things? Making movies as long as I have, I have met quite a few different characters in my life. What drives them? These questions are often answered the easiest with simple communication.

For instance, when Cameron was just getting to know me, he was helping me move c-stands from the back of the Van. He noticed a human leg and told me that for about three seconds he was ready to call the cops for murder, until he realized it was fake and was being used for the body of Sharon for shooting; A freak reaction caused by, and I hate to quote Cool Hand Luke, but "A Failure to Communicate."

Celluloid is communication. The films job is to communicate a story to the audience. When people fail to communicate with each other on a movie set, the project fails. You can have all of the fancy lights and lenses that you want, but without communication, you do not have a film. It upsets me when people won't simply talk to one another. With the advent of cellular phones and the internet, I now receive more written messages than a do phone calls. Just one more way that communication is slowly being stripped from our society. We think it's ok to be less social.

This week went great, we were able to get about ten minutes of footage in the can; all thanks to simple communication. I'm pondering how next week is going to go. Directing extras is a very tedious and stressful job. But am I scared? Fuck no. I'm excited. As Orson Welles once said; "A film set is the biggest electric train set any boy ever had." I'm ready to play with my cars on the track.

Media Section Updated

So now you can go check out the new snazzy production stills right here, 24/7, in your pajamas if you want to, and no one will judge you. Go ahead. Take a peak, we won't tell.

Everybody's an Actor

It's late in the afternoon, getting hot outside. Cut. Print. The scene is wrapped for the day. The front door is opened, the equipment is taken down and we begin the move back to the truck. Some crazed random notices the camera, comes into the store and starts asking to be in the movie, apparently he's a great actor. Since no one knows what to say to him, he starts asking Phil about getting an agent. He says that he found one that was supposed to find extra roles for him but he had to pay them a fee to get the listings. He already paid, and he's now upset that he hasn't found any work.

Me: The rule of thumb is that if you have to pay for it, it's not legitimate.

Man: But I already paid them. So when do I get to be an extra?

(In the tone that I owe him a role, as if everyone who makes a movie is in cahoots with everyone else who makes movies.)

The Strange and Bizarre

While we were setting up for the novelty store shoot today, we were treated to a private showing of some of the owner's unique antique museum. Seen here is a giant rat, native of New York city. Other pieces include mummified heads, a two headed pig, authentic titanic memorabilia, Wyatt Earp's badge, and even civil war slave tags. Aside from other bizarre sideshow attractions, he owns a giant lobster, about three feet long. I wish they sold those in the grocery store, with extra butter, of course.

Motel Capri

Part 2
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Greeted with a hearty nod of the head by a group of upstanding crackheads outside, the way was made to the bullet-proof glass enclosed managers office. The woman behind the glass stares at me, apathetic.

ME: I reserved a room yesterday.
WOMAN:(barely audible English) I need I.D.

I slide her my license underneath the glass. She looks at it cynically, then back at me.

WOMAN: This your I.D.?
ME: It is.

She inspects it more carefully, staring back it me, wanting me to admit to something, as if I am on trial.

WOMAN: You sure?
ME: Pretty sure.

She sets it down and stares at me again.

WOMAN: Room is sixty five dollar.
ME: You told me on the phone yesterday it was fifty.

I slide fifty dollars cash under the glass and stare at her. After a while, she realizes that she's not going to fool me. She gives me a key.

Inside the room, (We were the only guests there at the time, which is surprising, one would think that people would be dying to stay there with the amazing customer service they have to offer.) we are greeted with the wonderful scent of extremely cheap air fresheners. The stench is foul. The air conditioner is busted. There are no lights. The bed is stained, the desk and drawers are termite ridden. Carpet is stained. Not in places, just pretty much entirely. In certain areas you can't tell it was carpet at any point in time. There is a fourth of a roll of toilet paper next to the can. The bathtub/shower is unapproachable. It's obvious that the Ritz Carlton has nothing on this joint.

After filming wrapped and we packed up the van, I made my way to the office to return the key and check out. Upon leaving, I was greeted by one of the crack heads from earlier.

CRACKHEAD:(tongue enunciating between half a mouth of teeth) Want some soda? It's real cheap?
ME: No thank you.
CRACKHEAD: It's coke.
ME: That's a name brand.
CRACKHEAD: That's what I am saying.
ME: Thanks anyway, but I'm not thirsty.
CRACKHEAD:(Under-breath) You know anyone who needs some coke, you send them my way, you dig?

On my way home I stopped off at the Seven Eleven and snagged a can of coke; the black kind.

The Capri Motel

Part One
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When Joe goes undercover to avoid attention from the police, he shacks up at a shady motel. When location scouting, many locations crossed our minds, but we finally decided with the Motel Capri. In case you were unaware, aside from the excellent dilapidated Hollywood look to it, there is quite a history there:

http://www.kmbc.com/news/2329830/detail.html

So what you are thinking; there was a dead body in one of the beds, isn't that exactly the type of authentic location you want? And the answer is unquestionably yes; but we wanted to book the actual room that they found the carcass in. To our morbid dismay, the owner was quite reluctant.

ME: If at all possible, we would prefer to stay in the room where the body was found.
CLERK: What body?
ME: You know, the one that was all over the news, the guy that died here.
CLERK: I don't know what you are talking about.

Tomorrow we actually film there.