Nothing closes out a twelve hour night better than commuting home fueled solely by Red Bull, struggling through the dearth of parking, only to open up your email and see that your carefully planned schedule that you just emailed out to EVERYONE an hour ago has been dismantled by someone who did see the call sheet before it was distributed and you have to get it resent out right before you crash.
My brain hurts from the literal hours I spent discussing and mentally manhandling our schedule for the next three days. Three days.
For the most part, though, I really like assistant directing.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Life Lessons
I took the weekend off. Sometimes, when you have out of town friends around for 48 hours, it's ok to take a break from your job. Only if it's unpaid, though. If you're getting paid, then your life is at its mercy. It was so nice to have my friends around. It's so frustrating that some of them live so far away. Like in other countries.
We had a night shoot yesterday, and I did something pretty stupid. We needed more ice, and I volunteered to go down to the gas station two blocks away and get some. Now, keep in mind that for the first two weeks of filming, girls weren't allowed to sit security to the entrance of our set with everyone there behind a fence during daylight. And I just half volunteered half was asked to go down to a gas station at 1 AM by myself in downtown Detroit.
As soon as I got in line to pay for the ice, these two men walked in after me, and one stood on one side of me and one of the other, and they started talking, same time, nonstop. You know, "What's your name, girl?" "You're so pretty" "Give me your number, I'll call you sometime" "You got a boyfriend?" This is actually pretty overwhelming when it's coming at you in stereo while you're trying to do something else. I even got, as I was walking away, "We could start a family!" Which would have been kinda funny, if I hadn't been so creeped out. I came back to location, closed that barbed wire fence behind me, and nearly ran upstairs to hang out with the G&E boys. Because basically they're the most bad ass crew members.
I don't scare easy and I'm pretty good at giving the F-off look, but never, in my life, anywhere I've traveled, no matter what area I've been in, never have I been approached like that. And as much as I hate hearing that I can't do something because I'm a girl, sometimes it's legitimate.
We had a night shoot yesterday, and I did something pretty stupid. We needed more ice, and I volunteered to go down to the gas station two blocks away and get some. Now, keep in mind that for the first two weeks of filming, girls weren't allowed to sit security to the entrance of our set with everyone there behind a fence during daylight. And I just half volunteered half was asked to go down to a gas station at 1 AM by myself in downtown Detroit.
As soon as I got in line to pay for the ice, these two men walked in after me, and one stood on one side of me and one of the other, and they started talking, same time, nonstop. You know, "What's your name, girl?" "You're so pretty" "Give me your number, I'll call you sometime" "You got a boyfriend?" This is actually pretty overwhelming when it's coming at you in stereo while you're trying to do something else. I even got, as I was walking away, "We could start a family!" Which would have been kinda funny, if I hadn't been so creeped out. I came back to location, closed that barbed wire fence behind me, and nearly ran upstairs to hang out with the G&E boys. Because basically they're the most bad ass crew members.
I don't scare easy and I'm pretty good at giving the F-off look, but never, in my life, anywhere I've traveled, no matter what area I've been in, never have I been approached like that. And as much as I hate hearing that I can't do something because I'm a girl, sometimes it's legitimate.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
My Most PA Moment of the Day 3
When, at 1:30 pm, I said, "See ya tomorrow," to my roommate before heading out to my 4 pm - 4 am shoot.
My Most PA Moment of the Day 2
When I said, "Everyone needs to keep their hands to themselves and their mouths shut!"
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Working 6 to 6, what a way to make a living
I have been hard at work this past week and a half.
The film I've been working on since last Monday started shooting a week ago. This means 12-14 hour days. The last four days have been night shoots, from 6 pm to 6 am. I hate taking naps, so sleeping during the day was really difficult for me. Also, lesson learned, after a night shoot, you want to go straight to bed, not hang around awake for a couple more hours to go have breakfast with your normal lifestyle friends. Also, I missed seeing my friends. Working such long hours means it's difficult to see much of them anyway, but working nights meant that I'd *maybe* see my roommates as I was grabbing some dinner at 7 am and they were heading off to work. But after our shoot wrapped yesterday at 6 am we have until tomorrow morning off, and it's blissful. It's easy to readjust to sleeping at night.
I've been learning a lot. The last three days, the PA who normally helps out with AC has been gone, and because I nagged the 1st AD about getting involved in more technical stuff, he put me in as the sub. Basically all I did as an AC was switch out dead batteries on the camera and move the monitor around, but I ALSO was in charge of the slate. I love being slate girl. I was in more shots than any one actor these past three days. Ok, but I really did like AC. And it gave me an excuse to be on set on the time. When the AC PA comes back, I might just follow him around and be the 2nd. Not that there's enough for for a 2nd AC, but it beats hanging out off set waiting to be sent on a run.
The last two days have been such dead days for the PAs, mostly because of the location we were at. But I would walk off set and see people just hanging out, nothing to do, waiting for the next job (not just PAs. Wardrobe, makeup, lighting, etc). I don't really want to spend my time like that. If I'm not on set, I'm going to be bothering Grip and Electric about their jobs and their equipment (I love our G&E department. They're super awesome). I'm going to ask Set Design about their background and how they approach a project. I may even hang out by the editing booth and try to absorb some Final Cut technique. I really, almost surprisingly because it's been so good, enjoy the people I work with and just hanging out with them, but I'm getting paid in experience so I'm going to make sure I get as much of it as I possibly can.
Other than that, I haven't been writing at all. So, that kinda sucks.
The film I've been working on since last Monday started shooting a week ago. This means 12-14 hour days. The last four days have been night shoots, from 6 pm to 6 am. I hate taking naps, so sleeping during the day was really difficult for me. Also, lesson learned, after a night shoot, you want to go straight to bed, not hang around awake for a couple more hours to go have breakfast with your normal lifestyle friends. Also, I missed seeing my friends. Working such long hours means it's difficult to see much of them anyway, but working nights meant that I'd *maybe* see my roommates as I was grabbing some dinner at 7 am and they were heading off to work. But after our shoot wrapped yesterday at 6 am we have until tomorrow morning off, and it's blissful. It's easy to readjust to sleeping at night.
I've been learning a lot. The last three days, the PA who normally helps out with AC has been gone, and because I nagged the 1st AD about getting involved in more technical stuff, he put me in as the sub. Basically all I did as an AC was switch out dead batteries on the camera and move the monitor around, but I ALSO was in charge of the slate. I love being slate girl. I was in more shots than any one actor these past three days. Ok, but I really did like AC. And it gave me an excuse to be on set on the time. When the AC PA comes back, I might just follow him around and be the 2nd. Not that there's enough for for a 2nd AC, but it beats hanging out off set waiting to be sent on a run.
The last two days have been such dead days for the PAs, mostly because of the location we were at. But I would walk off set and see people just hanging out, nothing to do, waiting for the next job (not just PAs. Wardrobe, makeup, lighting, etc). I don't really want to spend my time like that. If I'm not on set, I'm going to be bothering Grip and Electric about their jobs and their equipment (I love our G&E department. They're super awesome). I'm going to ask Set Design about their background and how they approach a project. I may even hang out by the editing booth and try to absorb some Final Cut technique. I really, almost surprisingly because it's been so good, enjoy the people I work with and just hanging out with them, but I'm getting paid in experience so I'm going to make sure I get as much of it as I possibly can.
Other than that, I haven't been writing at all. So, that kinda sucks.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
My Most PA Moment of the Day 1
When Scripty handed me her half finished cigarette and asked me if I could put it on a bench for her since she had to go to the scene and "it's such a waste."
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Scary
This weekend Roommate J and I watched Paranormal Activity. I thought it was great, but I didn't really find it that scary. Here are some reasons why --
1. Always watch scary movies with someone who is more scared than you are. I watched Blair Witch Project with BFF D. That way I can alleviate tension by teasing them for being scared.
2. Analyze the filmmaking while watching. I kept thinking about how the budgetary constraints made any special effects near impossible, which limited the amount of scary things they could do.
3. Check how long the movie runs before starting, then keep watching the timer on the DVD to see how far you're into the movie and how much time you have left. This helps you determine when the third act, and therefore the really scary parts, are coming.
4. Know the ending before you start watching. I mean, I didn't know *everything* about the ending. But I knew the basic idea.
5. Watch while hugging a pillow and through your fingers.
Surefire ways to make a scary movie seem not scary.
I started working on a film on Monday (and by working, I mean I'm paid in connections and relationships. Which is actually what I want right now. Though some money wouldn't be bad either). I'm having a wonderful time. These next few weeks are going to be super educational, super hard sometimes, and super fun.
1. Always watch scary movies with someone who is more scared than you are. I watched Blair Witch Project with BFF D. That way I can alleviate tension by teasing them for being scared.
2. Analyze the filmmaking while watching. I kept thinking about how the budgetary constraints made any special effects near impossible, which limited the amount of scary things they could do.
3. Check how long the movie runs before starting, then keep watching the timer on the DVD to see how far you're into the movie and how much time you have left. This helps you determine when the third act, and therefore the really scary parts, are coming.
4. Know the ending before you start watching. I mean, I didn't know *everything* about the ending. But I knew the basic idea.
5. Watch while hugging a pillow and through your fingers.
Surefire ways to make a scary movie seem not scary.
I started working on a film on Monday (and by working, I mean I'm paid in connections and relationships. Which is actually what I want right now. Though some money wouldn't be bad either). I'm having a wonderful time. These next few weeks are going to be super educational, super hard sometimes, and super fun.
Friday, July 02, 2010
Let me tell you something
Looking for jobs sucks. It sucks. I have been working on it, and it sucks. I can't even remember to make sure my resume is in pdf format so that formatting doesn't go all weird when I email it. Hellllo, newbie.
Ugh.
I'm not worrying about it this weekend, though, because everyone's offices are closed for the three day weekend. (Great timing, Amy.)
I'm going to try to write this weekend, but I've had a crisis of faith. And so rarely does someone else get that whole writing thing about me, that I don't really have anyone to talk to about it. My attention span is near zero. I feel that writing, when I actually get it done, is no more productive than spinning around on a hamster wheel. The Infinite Draft.
That being said, I'm going to spend some time this weekend writing. I'll go to my favourite cafe where I'd go on writing benders the day of a deadline during undergrad. And I'm going to work on my resume and try to figure out some new places to look for jobs. Because the only way to get out of a rut is to keep going. And what else am I going to do? Stop?
Yeah, right.
Ugh.
I'm not worrying about it this weekend, though, because everyone's offices are closed for the three day weekend. (Great timing, Amy.)
I'm going to try to write this weekend, but I've had a crisis of faith. And so rarely does someone else get that whole writing thing about me, that I don't really have anyone to talk to about it. My attention span is near zero. I feel that writing, when I actually get it done, is no more productive than spinning around on a hamster wheel. The Infinite Draft.
That being said, I'm going to spend some time this weekend writing. I'll go to my favourite cafe where I'd go on writing benders the day of a deadline during undergrad. And I'm going to work on my resume and try to figure out some new places to look for jobs. Because the only way to get out of a rut is to keep going. And what else am I going to do? Stop?
Yeah, right.
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