That 4
Friends Movie
Second production
meeting
Our big 2nd production meeting illuminated me in the
slightest. It started with a
catered breakfast from our production caterer, which was very nice
(I've only had omelets on commercial shoots before). And we were
not only officially told that we're not riding with the official AIDS
ride (which I was told last week), we're calling it a
completely made up AIDS ride and not having anything to do with their
opening nor closing ceremonies (which was total news to me).
On
the not so good side, it's a little bit of a drag to not do the
official ride thing, but on the incredibly good side, it's going to be
easier not only logistically and continuityly, but our product
placement is free reign (we now dictate the "official" water, tent,
bikes, etc), so we've now received a half-million dollars worth of free
products to use, which is unheard of for such a small budget
film. I also found out we have a real Director of Photography, so
when he starts beating me up, I'll have a different Director to hide
behind.
In the course of the read-through of the script
(which is when the Assistant Director/AD
goes over the script scene-by-scene and people speak up regarding which
department's responsibility it is to cover what), we basically made
plans to have a zillion other little meetings regarding which
department's responsibility it is to cover what.
The real news, besides that whole re-writing the
name of the entire
race thing, is that Thomas and Jane have officially been
cast (although Wardrobe later told me and Make-up that it isn't
official yet, so, No, she hasn't fitted them yet and we're shooting in
less than two weeks). Various other celebrity names are mentioned
who may have
small roles. All attitude toward this cast business is pretty
low-key (except the Line Producer is clearly excited because he keeps
referring to them as "the stars," which isn't really cool in this
business).
No one said much of anything (the Assistant Wardrobe
did start crying into Wardrobe's shoulder when she heard one of the
names
because, apparently, she's worked with her before) until Alfredo the
Director asked about one scene where Thomas is to tear his shirt off
and
he wanted to know if they could rearrange that because of the whole
shirtless thing. "Why?" asked wide-eyed Producer Alice.
Alfredo said, "Then he would be shirtless." "Have you seen
Thomas?" asked still wide-eyed Alice. Some laughter.
Alfredo
said, "We can't have him shirtless through the whole next scene in the
hospital." "Why not?" demanded some female voices, followed by
more laughter. "Have you noticed," asked the not impressed AD
Bob, "that only the women are laughing?" "Guess we know who'll be
there for the shower scene," asked another not laughing man.
And I found out I'm rooming with the production
accountant, which means 1) they put the two dullest people, the
accountant and the set secretary, together or 2) I can't order room
service now because I'll be audited or 3) we're ordering lots of room
service and no one will ever know.
That 4
Friends Movie
Production
Journals - On the Set
The
Marilyn Website home
Copyright Marilyn Estes
1997-infinity