Diary of an Indie Filmmaker Chapter 16

Chapter XVI: Here we go...

We start shooting Saturday. This Saturday at 6am. I've never directed traffic before but Saturday I direct three name actors, one of whom you'd recognize, the other two you'd recognize their work. And to be honest with you I can't wait. The best way to alleviate one's nerves is to be prepared and I feel prepared though there are a million things left to be done between now and then.

We have at least a dozen people working behind the scenes now. I have an assistant director and even a second assistant director. There are line producers, associate producers, a casting director, tons of assistants and a lot of people who pull me in a number of different directions whose names and titles I'm not sure of. Stuff is getting done I forgot needed to get done and stuff is getting done I didn't even know had to be done.

And these folks are all great and dedicated and I'm getting 4 hours of sleep a night and having the time of my life.

The material combined with my highly respected partner is sparking interest. It has solid roles for women and black actors and up and coming teenagers and we're starting to hear from them. Tonight we meet with one of the stars of a WB show whose agent is begging us to give the lead to. But I can't overstate how much the reputation of my partner has to do with these doors opening. The people reading the script for the lead roles are incredible. And who knows... We may not get any of them but we may get some...

During the casting session I was surprised by the people who came in to read. A lot of recognizable faces; character actors, soap stars... A lot of people who worked quite steadily years ago. Man, this is a tough business on actors. This is still an unbelievably low budget movie paying actors a hundred dollars a day and yet they schlep over to the cattle call even after once working in the world of trailers and drivers and personal assistants.

Yes, we're still casting. Out of 23 roles we have 19 left to cast. We're casting as we need to. We will probably be casting until the end. This business is insane.

And I lost my job last week. Can you believe that? I've worked steadily for nearly 25 years and last friday I got laid off because sales was so low. It was the best timing you could ask for. If there was a moment in my entire life to lay me off last week was it.

Things happen for a reason, I guess.

God bless, my friends...

Comments

[SithChick]

My life could often be summed up by "things happen for a reason" with all the twists and turns over the years. Don't discount it and I wish you the very best of luck!

[Sheldon Gilman]

Now is the time to dedicate every moment to the movie---how could it have worked out any better than that? Somebody up there likes you!

[robbcash]

Good luck and please keep us posted. Hope to see you break the bank, and I know your Oscar acceptance speech will be top notch.

[Jack Marino]

Harry, you have now stepped through the membrane that separates imagination against reality, you're no longer a member of the audience, that terrifying monster with a 1000 heads, you're becoming a warriorfilmmaker. The deeper you get into this process, the more of the dragon's breathe you will inhale, do not get seduced by its sweet smell. I have seen so many filmmakers lose their minds once their films were done. Keep both feet on the ground and wear two hats one of an artist and the other as a businessman, then you won't end up in the pit of unknown filmmakers, looking for their next project. Good Luck my friend, and enjoy every minute of this splendid misery.

[Gracie]

God bless you & your project, Harry. May it all go as planned. I'll look forward to it's release!

[john beyer]

so ... what happened? how did it go?