a month later...

15 November 2009

Easy how a month will pass on you in Bombay. Remember though, the mantra is: "Hurry Up And Wait".

We interviewed a couple more lead actors, all of whom were very...actorly...and get very cagey about being asked to work for free. Don't get me wrong, I'm the #1 proponent of being paid to work, but this is the situation of a typically underbudgeted short film, working for prestige alone. So our first-choice actor at some point sorted out his schedule, agreed to an early December shoot, and plans were adjusted. And of course, after a couple weeks, something came up and he couldn't do it again. So, back to square one.

Add to that the excitement of hiring the remainder of our principles--director of photography, sound designer, music producer, et cetera, again asking them to work for free or minimum. The caveat here though is that no matter the budget, no matter the film, you have to face this onslaught and navigate it well enough to keep the vision of the film intact. That's the real lesson to be learned with the constant meetings, narrations, negotiations, phone calls, face time, and pestering contacts.

For example: the sound designer. Being very cognizant of the importance of good sound; no, great sound, in a film, especially after seeing the recent Austrian flick Revanche, we want to really excel in this area, and so speak to a friend eminently qualified. Now as a director / assistant combo this is where we learn that you can't really let your jaw drop when you're told that to get the sound design you're looking for--not the music score, just the sound of the film--you need to spend a full quarter of your entire budget. Mind you, this is not a feature with a big studio behind it where you have the luxury of separate departments for above-the-line / below-the-line delineations--what we got is pretty much what we're looking at. Best thing to do at this juncture: serious face, consideration, then Plan B.

There always has to be a Plan B.

Now repeat the same basic scenario as above, with countless re-tellings of the script narration, coffees and cigarettes, wringing hands, and off-color jokes, ad nauseum. This is the movie business, baby. Have a cigar, you're gonna go far.

So, in summation: the schedule has been pushed back a month, we should be starting up in Delhi in a few days' time, shooting second week December, and (gods willing) will have a product by year end.


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Now playing: M.I.A. - Sunshowers (Acapella)
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Now playing: Mitwa
via FoxyTunes