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Today we open with insert shots, close-ups of Melanie holding postcards andthings. So Mark's trying to direct Melanie about holding the post card acertain way for the camera, then holding the [CENSORED] just so. Nextshe has to pose for the medium shot, checking my continuity Polaroid andholding her arms out to her side to match the way she held the letter for theclose-up. A little more, he instructs her. "Acting is ha-rd," she sweetlywhines in a little girl's innocent voice. More directing, more tweaking."Acting makes you slee-py," she sweetly whines in a little girl's innocentvoice. We rehearse the perfect dolly shot of Melody returning with her purse andpicking up the [CENSORED]. It's a flawless rehearsal. "We should haveshot it," I softly sigh just over Mark's shoulder. Mark leaps up. "Whydidn't we shoot?!!!" he asks in his alter-ego's excited pinched delivery. Hesystematically points at everyone within pointing-shot, machine gunning thewords "Fired! Fired! Fired! Fired! Fired!" Okay, this time we're really ready to shoot, we mean it. Melanie is sentoutside the set door to await her cue, when she'll "unlock" the door andenter. Mark wants to tell her something before we roll, so he calls her."Melanie! Melanie!" No Melanie. He keeps calling, "Melanie? Melanie!"Door stays closed. Then Scott calls "ACTION!" and she walks in. We fallapart laughing.
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After days of waiting for more Polaroid film and me sharing my limited stashwith Wardrobe, Make-up, Props and Set Dressing, we each finally get our ownboxes. This afternoon I walk onto the set to find key grip Chad, his back tome, pointing my camera at the floor and firing off successive shots of myfilm, each piece falling in a waterfall cascade. I quickly run to him andfirmly put my hand on his neck, restraining myself at the last moment when Irealize something isn't right. Suddenly I see that he is merely holding thecamera, himself shaking, and the camera itself is firing the film out. Thecamera and grip guys are calling to him with panicked advice: "Pull out thebattery! Hit the off switch! Pull out the battery!" Swing man Ronnie latertells me Paul was pulling up dolly track and my camera stuck on and then fell- poor Chad was caught in the crossfire trying to help. I laugh and tellRonnie my fury at Chad turned to terror when I realized I nearly jumped aformer-Marine who could have killed me with reflexes alone. |