what are some of your worst moments

Re: what are some of your worst moments

[quote author=Mike_Donis link=board=Directing;num=1091519877;start=15#19 date=08/09/04 at 11:49:08]

That's brutal, did the script turn out alright?
[/quote]

Pretty much everyone agrees that it’s better after the rewrite.
 
Re: what are some of your worst moments

Well, maybe. But any rewrite should make a script better, shouldn't it?
 
Re: what are some of your worst moments

Definitely...but under the circumstances, you wouldn't have re-written it overnight were it not for your actor screwing you over, no?
 
Re: what are some of your worst moments


On shooting day 3 (5 day shoot), my main actor showed up to the set 1 hour late and had the worst case of hiccups in the world.

He took some back-pain medication that gave him the violent side effects of hiccups....he had been hiccupping for 3 straight days prior to showing up on the set. The night before he went to the emergency room. He was in total pain.

Every other line he delievered that morning had hiccups in them. Editing around his performance was very interesting.....but he still gave an amazing performance. ;D

We were all scared he wouldn't show up that morning and starting freaking out b/c we would've had to add additional shooting days if he missed it. Whew!!

They don't teach this in film school. :P
 
Re: what are some of your worst moments

My worst moments are going on right now...

With a project I'm working on, I've had my main actor's:
1. Jaw break, wasted a 8 hour day of filming-he never called from the hospital.
2. He went on vacation-he planned this months ago.
3. His grandmother died-went to the funeral.
4. He went on vacation again- again he planned it months ago...

plus:

5. Hurricane Charley just hit-it's been raining every day almost.
6. The other actor moved and now lives 5 cities away, and we're too far into the project to start with a new actor.
7. I'm about to get fired for keep trying to take off work to film.

:) But I wouldn't want to be doing anything else!
 
Re: what are some of your worst moments

Wow Phil that does suck. I question the passion of the main actor. Is he doing this for fun? Sounds like he is. I would think that anyone who really wanted to be a professional actor someday and with hopes of being discovered would try and give his best performance on camera and would be passionate about doing the best film he can do. Which means, Don't leave the director hangin! I feel for you, because I can tell you are pouring your heart and soul into the film.

BTW Phil, where in Florida are you? I'm up in Jacksonville.
 
Re: what are some of your worst moments

At the academy we had our final project.

I called up around 7 actors and all were interested in meeting me for an interview. On the day of the interview, one by one they dropped like flies, calling me saying that "something" came up and couldnt do it. I ended getting some actors who were attending the academy.
On the day of the shoot, the actors came and said they didnt read the script at all. Man, was I fuming! So we let them read over a couple of lines or so, shot it and read over the next line then shot it and repeat. Also at the last minute, one of the actors refused to say some of the words in there, up to this point... I'm like whatever(its a school project anyway). And to make things worse, while my fellow students had 2 days in their schedule for their projects, I had a half a day with unprepared actors.
But in the end my friends,
My movie made it to the top at screening :)
 
Re: what are some of your worst moments

Hey Kidster, Thanks for saying I'm passionate! I soo am. We're down in Boca Raton FL. This project is soo huge, all I can do is keep fighting...but I guess this is true for most of us here?

Hey man, if you ever have something screen down here for a festival, let me know, and I'll go! Good luck man. :)

P.S. and if you think this is bad, you should hear what I'm going through for my 120 minute feature!!! :-X :D
 
Re: what are some of your worst moments

Maybe in a year or so I will have something ready to screen. I am still in the pre-production mode of my feature. I am taking my time, making sure I have my **** in one sock before I go into production. In fact, some might think I really am having it hard. I live in Florida, but am shooting on location in St. Louis for 14 days. The reason, for the logistics is I have a full (free) crew up there that will show up everyday. And a much larger talent pool to pull from (St. Louis -Chicago-Kansas City) versus Jacksonville. Looking through literally 1400+ head shots is no easy task.

Let me know when some of your shoots are, and maybe I can get away for a day or so and come hang out on the set.
 
Re: what are some of your worst moments

Will do man. Keep in touch and good luck! I'll see you in Sundance? ;D Peace.
 
Re: what are some of your worst moments

Worst thing for me...

We had been shooting scenes with a vehicle for several days. On the final day we needed the vehicle, it was taken out of town with no advanced notice.

The other producer was completely at fault for this mishap. I really gave him a hard time about it and he confidently declared "Don't worry. You will have your car by the first shot." I did not share his confidence. This looked as if it was going to be a huge disaster for our film as we were on an extremely tight schedule.

Thirty minutes later I arrive at the shooting location and there sits the vehicle. A straight on match, a 2001 Black Volvo Cross Country. A few yards away sat a pregnant woman in a lawn chair. The other producer had chased down a soccer mom and borrowed her car while she watched us shoot. She rather enjoyed it.

Hooray for Volvo driving soccer moms!!!!
 
Kidster...who is your crew

Kidster...who is your crew

Kidster...

Who is your STL crew?

I just moved from St. Louis and I know or know of just about every working pro there...and a lot of non-working (and struggling) crew members.

Just curious.
 
Re: what are some of your worst moments

I was shooting at the Dallas Convention Center years ago. The talent was to be Bob Dole so a little more dress code than usual was required. One the way in, I grabbed a V8 for some early morning nourishment and headed into the men's room to ensure my full focus would be on the shoot. The inside of the convention center's bathroom was covered, ceiling, wall and floor with one inch tile which cleverly camouflaged the step up to the urinals. These we're no average urinals. They were as tall as me and each were a proud 2 feet wide. Anyway, I tripped on the unseen step, stumbled toward one of the monstrous urinals, paid way too much attention to my tomato juice, slipped on my never-worn church shoes and into a man-eating pisser. I spent the next five minutes bathing in the convention center sink, freaked out about what diseases I had to have just gotten. The irony of the whole ordeal?
Sen. Dole was speaking at a Urology convention.
 
Re: what are some of your worst moments

grinner - that is LOL funny.

My worst experience was directing a 9 year old boy in a scene. After several takes late at night he just burst into tears and wanted to go home.

Luckily his mom was there and was able to calm him down and we were able to finish the shoot, but for a minute or two it was looking like a disaster.

Chris
 
Re: Kidster...who is your crew

Re: Kidster...who is your crew

[quote author=natobnate link=board=Directing;num=1091519877;start=30#33 date=08/19/04 at 14:28:47]Kidster...

Who is your STL crew?

I just moved from St. Louis and I know or know of just about every working pro there...and a lot of non-working (and struggling) crew members.

Just curious.[/quote]



Charlie Ragle is my AD/Producer. Jamie Ryan DP. Joey Myers Sound. Adrea "Ace" Campbell Line Prod. April Howlett Make up & Hair. These guys are great and have worked on a few Indie's already. I'm the rookie in the scenario..first time directing a film.

But hey, if you know of any others that would like to help out..by all means let me know who they are. I am trying to shoot a 86 page script in just 18 days (last 2 weeks in May 2005) so the more help the better.

Send me a message if you can.

BTW where did you move to?
 
Re: what are some of your worst moments

Kidster,

I actually don't know nor know of any of your crew. That really surprises me.

If you are shooting in St. Louis take advantage of the St. Louis Film Wire, www.stlfilmwire.com. Its a listserve with 800+ members who are eager to be involved with St. Louis filmmaking. It is a phenomenal resource. And I welcome anyone else reading this to do the same! If you want to shoot in St. Louis that the wire is a tremendous starting point.

I moved to Chicago recently to produce for DDB Chicago.

If you want further info/advice on STL filmmaking feel free to contact me directly, nate@nathanpbrown.com, and you can see some of my St. Louis film experiences at http://www.nathanpbrown.com
 
Re: what are some of your worst moments

Nat,

Charlie and Jamie are the only ones that live in the St. Louis area. (Illinois side of the river) Charlie has been in TV production since 1993 (Exclusively Charter Cable) and Jamie shoots freelance (Rams games for ESPN)

Congrats on the move to Chicago. Do you know of any good places to find talent in Chicago? Any sites or magazines I can put a ad in?

The wire looks like it will be a very helpful link thanks!

BTW. Loved the Fitz rootbeer commercial.
 
Re: what are some of your worst moments

An amazingly hirsute actress in a nude scene.
I will say no more except this: check the goods thoroughly during casting.
 
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