In a movie vs. working on a movie

A few times since I started this internship, people have made comments along the lines of "wouldn't you rather be in the movie?" (ie: as an extra). I was surprised to hear them ask this, because it had never occured to me. Ultimately, I think it will be more rewarding to be on set during the whole shoot, instead of just coming in for a day; to have my name in the credits as a production assistant, rather than to be a nameless face in the background.

I suppose it's a sign of how serious I am about being in the movie business. It's not just some far-out fantasy, it's an actual career prospect, and careers are built on hard work, not on being in a movie for a day.

Life as a film production assistant

Five days ago, I didn't know exactly what a production assistant did. Here's a brief synopsis:
-carry stuff between set and basecamp (eg: bottled water, batteries for the walkies).
-"lock up" the set during filming (make sure no one gets into frame or makes too much noise).
-set up chairs and tents for the actors.
-hang out and be useful and responsible for anything that needs doing.

Biggest surprise:
-so many lights--and this is only a small production!

Best part of working on a movie set:
-not sitting at a computer.

Worst part:
-sore legs from standing 12 hours a day.

Fun things to do:
-chat with crew members.
-hand people bottles of water (you always get a big thank-you).
-enjoy the awed looks of the public when they wander by and find out you're making a movie.

Biggest misgiving:
-all the energy used, mostly for lights, and driving people around, but also for all the pop cans and water bottles that don't get recycled.

Oddest film lingo:
-the second-last shot of the day is called the "Abbie", after a 1950s director who apparently used to promise the crew that it was the second-last shot, then do 5 more.

Phrases buzzing around in my head:
-Picture's up!
-Uh, hey Jeff....
-Let's invite 1st team in.
-Go for Strum.

So anyways, I'm having a blast with this whole film thing. It's a lot of work, but so worth it!

Trivia and me

I just finished reading Brainiac, the new book by Ken Jennings. I enjoyed the parts about Ken's experience on Jeopardy!. The other half of the book, about the history of trivia in Western culture, was less interesting (I skipped most of it), but it did make me think about how much I have taken trivia for granted in my own life.

Besides enjoying to watch Jeopardy!, my favorite board game is Taboo, which relies heavily on trivia knowledge as you try to explain obscure words to your team. (For example, if your team knows that "Jolly Red Elf" is another name for Santa Claus, it's a snap to get them to guess "Santa Claus" without having to say "St. Nick" or "Christmas" or "chimney" or "reindeer.") I never thought about it before, but the friends I play Taboo with most often are also fellow Jeopardy! fans.

Something else I do a lot is quote from movies, or refer to lines or scenes. Gollum/Smeagol is a particular favorite, so that "we often refer to ourselves in the plural", even when I'm only talking about myself. And whenever Ryan, Jamie, my wife and I say "Buh-bye" to each other, it's always followed by, "Have fun storming the castle!" etc., from The Princess Bride.

Finally, I hadn't thought it strange until this book made me think about it, but really, how many people get an Internet connection in their house not so they can check their email, but so that they can research obscure questions that occur to them while eating dinner? I guess I am a trivia freak. Cool :-)

Danny and the Deep Blue Sea

On Friday night, I enjoyed a production of Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, currently showing at New World Arts Theater in Goshen. The play is about a man and a woman, both tough and world-wise, but also very world-weary, who meet one night. Each is just what the other needs, and they begin to dream about what their life could be like together. Reality intrudes, and they fight, as people are wont to do, but the kernel of peace they have found doesn't die.

Although I come from a completely different background than the characters, I found I could identify with the play's themes of violence, romantic relationships, and family. The play uses the f-word a lot, which I found distracting, but I got over it and afterwards was glad to have attended.

There are still shows next weekend (Friday Sept. 22, and Saturday Sept. 23 at 8pm and Sunday. Sept. 24 at 3pm). The show is 75 minutes long, (no intermission).

Production Internship

I got an internship as a Production Assistant for an independent film shooting in Goshen! The movie is called Elsewhere. It's a "teen thriller" about a girl in Goshen who falls victim to an internet predator.

They say that when you're looking for a job, you should tell all your friends so they can keep an eye out for openings. I did, and it worked! We were at the Brew Friday night, and Jamie saw an advertisement for internships in this production. I called them up and got an interview on Monday, which went very well. Carlos has to formally confirm it with his boss, but he pretty much said I was in. [edit: I'm in!]

I'll be working 12-14 hour days Saturday-Monday from Sept 23-Oct 18, but this is exactly the sort of opportunity I've been dreaming of!

How are you?

"How are you?" is a difficult question to answer. If I'm feeling good, there's no problem. "Great!" is a great response. But "Fine" is too shallow (and invites mocking from anyone who's seen the remake of The Italian Job), and "Terrible" is not what most people want to hear.

At face value "How are you?" means "How is your health/emotional well-being/mood," but face value is a quality sadly lacking in polite conversation. What it often means is "I choose to make rhetorical inquiries into your well-being so as to appear polite, although I really don't care how you are." What's the point of responding to that??

Some people consider it rude to say that you are "having a bad day" or "feel miserable." On the other hand, some people might actually care how you feel, in which case you could tell the truth, but how do you know who does and who doesn't care when they ask the same question?

One idea I had was to answer the rhetorical question as if they had actually asked what they meant. They say, "How are you?" (meaning, "I am making polite conversation, and expect no depth in your response.") You say:

"Okay...."
"Very nice weather we're having...."
"Um."
"I acknowledge your politeness, but recognize your desire not to actually converse with me."
"Really?"
"Really!"
"Oh, you know..."
"Yes."
"Not particularly."
"Right."
"How are you?"

I'll have to try some of these.

Free lunch!

One summer in college, unsatisfied with my minimum wage job income, I started seeing how many free lunches I could get. People were always surprised when I told them I got free food from such and such a place, which only encouraged me to try more.

Well, free lunch is back, thanks to Froggy Radio Free Lunch Friday! I signed up on their website (www.ilovemyfroggy.com) and today got a call that I had won a pizza lunch for me and all my coworkers at the Middlebury Library.

If you're listening to Froggy Radio 102.7 FM in the next week, you might hear my name as the guy who won last week, and if you're really lucky, they might even play a voice clip from when Beau Kennedy called me with the good news. ("Are you kidding!??")