So much for my riveting blog updates, sadly this blog will be mainly random thoughts and regurgitations of my current struggles here in NYC (alas, I suppose all good artist need to have stories about their crappy lives before hitting the red carpet).
So I have applied to 108 jobs/internships and submitted my films to 18 different film festivals...something has to catch soon! Fingers, toes and eyes are crossed! I volunteered on a Independent Feature Film set last week as a PA (Production Assistant - what would happen to this world with out an acronym or two or three million). Call time was at 1:45pm and there was promise of a car stunt scene later in the evening, unfortunately this entire shoot did not quite live up to my expectations.
I spent most of the night lifting heavy equipment and lumber in and out of vans and then while I wasn't lifting that stuff I had to watch it. I don't like to toot my own horn but I am f***ing fabulous at watching stuff! At one stage I got to go near the set and stand just outside the door of the room they were filming in and tell people to 'shut the hell up!"...nicely of course!
Then it was time for dinner - the one perk of volunteering on a set is that they feed you and after lifting lots of heavy stuff all night I was hungry. Only problem was they ran out of food and I got to feast on a fist full of lettuce leaves. Yummy! To all my fellow student filmmakers, (and I cannot believe I am saying this but) it was worse than having pizza on set.
Next, it was time to move locations for the car stunt scene. Again back to the heavy lifting and packing of vans and placement of "road cones" on the street (note to self: they are NOT called witches hats here and referring to them under that name will get you committed). Oh, and I almost forgot that while we were packing the craft services table (non filmmakers, this is the term for a food and snacks table on set), one of the vans ran over a half drunk bottle of Powerade. First, the extremely loud bang from the bottle lid bursting off scared the bejesus out of me and then things only got better when I was showered by the remaining unnaturally blue contents. But I can sense you are waiting with bated breath to hear that it was all worth it to see the amazing car stunts...but sadly the stunt car scene merely consisted of a car turing onto one of the avenues in the wrong direction, screeching breaks to a holt and then doing a U turn ...exciting? Not so much.
We wrapped at 2:45am and I made my way home. It was about a 20 minute walk to my subway station and it was extremely surreal to walk through completely empty streets for 15 of my 20 minute journey...I did not see another sole from 11th Ave to 7th Ave. Then I got on the subway (which never fails to entertain me) and I shared a carriage with two African American boys who must have bought their wardrobe at a buy one get one exactly the same free. The both had on the exact same camouflage pants (super baggy and around their knee as you do) and a matching green hoody. But what really set off the outfit was their thick golden brown bling encrusted belts and chain and matching baseball caps with crystal covered brim. I was mesmorised by all the sparkles and maybe even slightly jealous of their shininess. An impressive out fit to see on one person but two side by side, NYC never under delivers!
So this blog leaves me (and probably you) asking, what the hell am I doing? Is this really what I want to do with my life. And the answer is still a clear yes for me...ideally not the circumstances described above but I'm prepared to do my time and climb the ladder (hopefully fast though). It was also a good learning opportunity about how not to treat people on your set...especially if you are not paying them! Ahem...anyone hiring interns...please do not treat us like crap.
I'm currently working on my Airline Pilot and Series, a little bit lighter subject matter than my feature project Transplant. I have been inspired by The Office style of shooting which makes my series even more affordable to shoot...attention any Exec Producers out there! And I am also working on a few short film ideas so with any luck I shall have an exciting new film to post before we reach the second half of the year.
Who knows what shenanigans the next month will bring...stay tuned!
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