« A Day In The Life Of | Main | The Science Of Sleep »

September 29, 2006

Second Week Down

I remember reading a profile of David Cronenberg, back around the time when he was shooting Crash. It described him quietly presiding over the set of the film, which happened to be a major highway that had been closed down for a night shoot. He was sitting in his director's chair, rimmed by the massive lights that were illuminating the stretch of elevated concrete, thinking about the scene as the crew worked around him. That, to me, in a way, was a sort of movie magic all its own; closing down a highway and making it your own.

I thought about that yesterday. And also about how It's slightly difficult to put things in perspective, when you're shooting a scene of a film in a wing of a major international airport that has been closed down to accomodate your production and a gaggle of extras toting empty luggage swarm through the terminal as a camera crew pulls off a long, gorgeous dolly shot, and not feel feel as if you've reached some new level as a filmmaker. It's the sort of thing that shouldn't matter; but there, in the moment, it really does. Maybe it goes away after the first time.

All this, and it's not even my film! I wonder how Yen actually feels about it all.

Yesterday we shot two scenes from Ciao at the brand new Terminal D at DFW Airport. Yen always joked that he could shoot the scenes in his apartment (where the majority of his first feature, Happy Birthday, was filmed), but his vision was slightly more grand that that; and Jim, ever the great producer, was adamant in helping him realize it. As it turns out, we're the first feature film production to film at the terminal, which was cause enough for a few reporter to show up and cover the shoot.

Everyone arrived promptly at 7 AM. This was the first time we were working in such a volatile environment; even though we had the areas we were shooting in closed down and populated with background talent, the terminal was still in full operation, and there were countless things that could have derailed us - such as an unwieldy extra throwing a fit at security, or a baggage claim we were shooting at suddenly, unexpectedly, going into operation and a hundred passengers flooding the area to get their luggage, every last one of them looking directly at our rolling camera as they passed.

But in the end, nothing managed to throw us off. What we were shooting was essentially the beginning and ending of the film. There was no way to cheat these scenes. Everyone knew that we had to get them, and went out of their way to make it happen, and to keep things as relaxed as possible, and to have fun doing it. I think we were all just excited to be there. I know I was. I was even happy to be a stand-in again. Mark (our camera operator) said that people kept looking at me, trying to figure out who I was; after all, if you've got a film crew and a dolly following you, you must be someone important (which was what one woman said when she asked if she could take my picture).

I had the editing system set up on the floor of the terminal, and I cut together two of the scenes on the spot. We were having trouble with the eyelines on one scene and with matching the fading daylight on another, and being able to look at a rough assembly while we were shooting proved more invaluable than ever. I kept editing up until all the gear was loaded and we were ready to wrap out. The last scene brought tears to my eyes; but then, I'm always a sucker for any scene where people say goodbye at airports or train stations. Especially when they hug.

Afterwards, we all went out to celebrate - not just the fact that we'd pulled off the shoot, but also that it was Jim's 29th birthday. I'm sure the fact that we didn't get kicked out was the best birthday present he could have asked for - at least I hope so, because I don't think anyone actually got him anything. Except for drinks.

One week left!

Posted by David Lowery at September 29, 2006 06:55 PM

Comments

Posted by: Jake at September 30, 2006 05:45 PM

Posted by: R at September 30, 2006 11:42 PM