October 23, 2002
shooting the medley
Listening
to: George Gershwin - Rhapsody In Blue
Reading: Rainer Maria Rilke - Ahead of All
Parting: The Selected Poetry and Prose (translated by Mitchell)
Today was the first day of the shooting of Short Stories: A Medley.
We kind of broke the rules, instead of adapting one short story from the school’s
basic English literature syllabus, we adapted all of them and mixed them into one fluid
plot.
I’ll elaborate more on the stories we incorporated once I get a hold of all of the
names of the authors. So, I am the director + scriptwriter, and today we got together at
Molly’s house to film the movie, using my sister’s Hi8. I haven’t quite
mastered the fader button, seeing as how I am completely new to the experience.
I was mainly working with Taran, a shy and silent classmate who doesn’t socialise much and has an incredible love for photography. He was the director + cameraman, though I would film a few scenes. Our teamwork was smooth and efficient, we would discuss the angles, practice the takes, really, really considered and worked on each other’s ideas. Great teamwork with him was crucial, so I’m glad we managed to pull it off.
Before, during, and after shooting today, the
desire in me has only exploded into flames. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a
video camera of my own so badly. Something with perhaps a USB port, something new,
something that hasn’t fallen to the ground so often and leaves a permanent streak of
angry static at the bottom of every movie it produces.
I already know the model, and the (affordable) price range, I’ve had a lusty eye on
it for almost a year now.
The Sony DCR-TRV 340-E.
It’s one of the things that I absolutely lust for, besides new RAM, broadband,
headphones, and the Playstation II. I don’t exactly have an intense passion for
filmmaking, but I knew I’ve had a big interest in it ever since I watched American
Beauty, and read House of Leaves. The filming was slightly arduous, as Simon constantly
persisted on spontaneously changing the script. He is probably the most uncooperative
person that I’ve ever had the ‘pleasure’ of working with. We got through,
although very slowly. In around 3-4 hours or so we all had covered a few mere scenes. I
hope things will go faster tomorrow, when we try to wrap it up.
I think I’ve come to admire how professional cast and crew members command stunning quantities of patience to film take after take, and how the actors maintain the passion of their lines over, and over, and over again, and if they’re great actors, we’d be convinced with his/her lines take after take.