The Devil's in the details

So I am spending a week in Canada. I came over for my mother's birthday (collective 'awww' from the audience). Of course, once you hand over the card and the presents the issue becomes 'what do I do with the rest of my time here?'

This town is small. And industrial. And like a lot of small and industrial towns finding interesting things to do that don't involve fiddles, line dancing and Molson Canadian is a difficult thing.

I thought I had been thrown a lifeline when I heard about 'cineSarnia' - an interesting program that gets film prints from the Toronto Film Festival people and shows films in the local library auditorium. Films that wouldn't get a chance in the 6 screen multiplex dedicated to teen films and action pics.

The film was 'Everything is Illuminated'. Despite the tale I am about to relate, the film is brilliant. I HIGHLY recommend it - especially to young directors. The picture is a first film and is a slice of heaven on celluloid.

But, this being a small town, things do not go as planned.

'cineSarnia' is one of these local arts organisations that depends on sponsorship and funding. Like most of these things I am sure that people do it so they can boast that they support it - they don't necessarily love film. If they loved film then the following couldn't have happened.

There are many difficult jobs in the film business. Writing is arduous. Directing and producing fraught with stress and logistical nightmares. Editing a very fiddly, time consuming process.

Being the projectionist in a cinema is not, in general, considered to be one of these difficult jobs. Unless you are the projectionist for 'cineSarnia'.

Job 1 for the projectionist (of film). thread the film. This, the most difficult task, seemingly was accomplished without a hitch.

Job 2 - make sure the right lens is on the projector. <buzz> Failure! The star of this film was Elijah wood. In my opinion he is already a bit wierd looking. Try looking at him through the anamorphic lens! He looks like ET! The film was ruined by using the wrong lens. Even though it was obvious from the first minute of film the projectionist failed to change it.

Job 3 - focus. Doh! Not working right. Personally, I think stars should be sharp points of light, not look like toilet rolls against a black background.

The people in line had been told there were no subtitles so it didn't matter where they sat. Guess what? about 50% of the dialog is subtitled. So a LOT of people were unhappy.

In short it was a fiasco. A farce. An embarassment actually.

If you don't want to do the job right, then don't do the job.

But, great film. Rent it, buy it, watch it.

Oh yeah, and after the film I thought I'd go have a drink. I needed it. Went to a local bar where I had to hear 2 guitar players trying to teach each other how to play 'My Sweet Lord' (WRONG, by the way guys) for 25 minutes.

Editing done

Its done! Simon and I spent a day doing the rough edit and I spent a couple more days polishing it off as he galavants around the pacific rim.

I don't think I can put it on the website until after nominations are closed for the Cacophony competition. All 2 of you dying to see it will have to wait.

Oh, and I lied. There is a dog in it. Just not one of mine.

It's a wrap!

7 hours later, shooting on The Reunion is done.
I often say that the thing I love about film is the collaborative nature of it. This was no exception.
The challenge - if you remember/care - was to produce a film for Cacaphony Music competition. With today's footage we should do it.
Production stills (shot by Peter Cavanaugh) coming soon on the main site.
John Harris (our man from Man's Best Friend) was once again Guy.
Marcie Greene knocked an upexpected home run as Girl
Lisa Triay played Nora.
Last but not least, my friend and co-hort in cinematic crime, Simon Ordish, played Man.
Simon and myself were amply aided by Martin Nuza (filmmaker in his own right).
No expense was spared (except it seems in the naming of characters). Coffee was served twice.
Problems occurred (last minute cast cancellations and location dropouts) but we persevered.

Thanks guys. Let's see how we do.

Dogs make no appearance in the film.

Fat, Forty* and Foreign

This is the title for my book about coming to Vienna. A collection of articles on being the uncool outsider.

I've discovered some jazz clubs. One is a dive and one is posh. You know me, I love dives. This is no exception. Cheap benches with the vanish worn off by years of jazz-loving asses wiggling around on them. Big steins of beer. rickety tables, poor sightlines, bad pa. Perfect! Had a good time, but, talking with 3 musicians (yes, women) at the end of the night they just decided they'd had enough of talking english to this old fool and literally just turned their backs on me and started talking back in german. Thanks ladies!

The other place is posh (though beer is the same price as the dive). The music here is the real deal. Lines of Berklee-waffle eminating from the guitar player. Jazz Singer - some white chick who, when I listened closely, actually has a monotone or monovolume. Cool percussionist who thinks he's in the grateful dead.

Vienna is full of weirdos. Quite literally once a day I see someone walking down the street crying. That's not normal. Last night this very odd guy dressed in full parka and wolly hat - INSIDE the club - comes up to me and starts talking German. I apologise for not speaking it. I should have turned and ran then, but he starts talking in English.

'You are a musician'
'Yes, I used to be'
'You are good, I can tell'
'Uh, ok. Thanks'
'I bet you are professional. You could get up there and play'
'Um, I need to get a beer'

But charming. At least they are not starting a fight like in Toronto or London. And hey, maybe I can use his endorsement sometime.

But the posh place was cheap enough that students go there to soak it up. Which is great. But then, they aren't really interested (AGAIN!) in talking with someone like me so conversations are usually painful and brief. Was I like that? Actually, I may be like that now, so perhaps that is the problem.

* I'm actually not 40 yet, but it sounds better.

The bumps in the road

Well, the girl I wanted in 'The Reunion' has pulled out.

The lady who runs a theatre company that I was hoping to find other actors through is not answering her phone.

I have to go to Vienna tomorrow and I have no cast.

Filming in 2 weeks.

Argh!

Surley this is some sick joke!

And real filmmakers have to fight for funding?!

Location hunting

With Dave and his wife Linda down here this weekend it seems a perfect excuse to go location hunting.

Pictures of potential locations always get people excited about a project. It lets them project themselves into the film.

With the slip shod PLL PKM we did no such thing. A) we never thought about it in advance b) the girls were motivated enough as it was!

WSA is a different beast. We have Chris coming over from the states and Magda from the UK for a start. It would be great to get them in the mood of the piece before they get here.

Magda has it easy, all she has to play is the perfect vision of inner beauty. Chris gets to sweat a lot and be a frustrated wally. I still need to find an older man to play a mystic. I need to get my finger out on that.

The latest on shooting is the week after Cannes.