Yesterday I had the day off. I worked on my shot lists, went for a 2 hour bike ride and saw Dogma (dreadful) and Being John Malkovich (highly reccomended). I’m glad I enjoyed it because today was hell. Someone somewhere has finally figured out in the last few hours exactly how long our film will have to play once it’s broadcast – so Maggie, Bill and myself had to spend two hours on the phone scything through the script deciding what has to go. The good news is that our valuable time will be better spent shooting the scenes we really need. The bad news is that many members of the crew have spent days finding locations and dressing for scenes that will never take place; actors have come in to audition for parts that no longer exist; and Kevin, our long suffering AD, will have to prepare yet another schedule. As I write this he is sleeping somwhere across town, blissfully unaware of what tomorrow holds for him. But, dear reader, fear not – this is what film making is all about: making plans for Nigel and then re-making them all over again.
Kevin our first A.D. unaware of the damage we’re
doing to his schedule!
Oh yeah, forgot to mention – the guys on the crew have told me that Chilliwack was also the name of a big Canadian hit act from the 80’s! I raced into Virgin to buy their “Best Of” on Saturday but even here – just 60 miles from their birthplace – they are persona no grata and there is a black hole between The Chi-lites and Alex Chilton where Chilliwack should be. Rats! Can anybody help me out? I HAVE to find out what they sounded like.