Actors. Remember how much I love actors?
Sometimes they can be big old babies.
Writing Partner is not so sure about my choice for Lead Actor. He thinks I'm letting my friendship with Lead Actor dictate my choice and that I should have auditioned people before choosing him. I didn't remind Partner of the irony of that statment since I didn't audition anybody before agreeing to let him play the other guy in the room. I have good instincts on this. He should trust them.
I love my friends, but I'm not letting my friendships get in the way of my film career. I'm going to do what's best for the movie.
But Partner is wary. He has this belief that if you work for free you should get along with everybody in the room. He's heard some things about Lead Actor that he doesn't like so now he's convinced they won't get along. So he's going to call Lead Actor and if he doesn't like him, he's out.
Great. As the director of this thing, that's just beautiful to hear. So what happens if he doesn't like his movie girlfriend? What if he doesn't find her attractive enough to kiss? Is he walking off my set the day of shooting?
And he balked at me calling it "my set". It's our set, he says. We're both producing. So I reminded him that it's my apartment and I'm paying for almost everything and I'm the one taking responsibility if it all goes south. MY SET.
He assured me that he would never leave me stranded and can't believe I'd accuse him of such a thing.
So I told Lead Actor, Partner will be calling you. Be nice. Lead Actor was irritated. I'm not fucking auditioning over the phone to this guy. What's his problem?
Good. Now they both think the other is an asshole. So far I've handled this extremely well. I can't wait until they get on set and start punching each other.
Fortunately the characters are pretty antagonistic most of the story. So I told Partner, even if you don't like him, you can use that. Lead Actor certainly thinks so. But no. Life is life. Acting is acting. And he's not flying out here unless he likes everybody.
So I throw up my hands. Maybe after the phone call they'll be enemies and Partner will force me to choose between them. Or maybe they'll be lifelong buddies and this will be the most fun shoot ever. At least they both still like me.
Partner is jealous. You're the director. It's all yours.
ReplyDeleteYeah, and if they duke it out on the set, just make sure the camera is rolling ... you might get some good footage you can use in the editing room.
ReplyDelete;)
Actors tend to come in two basic packages. Ones who are professionals and will voice their complaints and then live with whatever the director decides, and those that are still playing out their adolescent melodrama in life.
Yeah, Martha said it:
ReplyDeleteYou're the director.
If you were co-directing, this would be an issue, but you're not, so it isn't.
You're the director.
As a producer, he's allowed to volunteer his opinion on everything, and you can either agree with it, or veto it all to hell.
You're the director.
Added to the fact that you're paying for (almost) everything, and money talks.
This is why most no-budget film shoots fall apart:
There's no hierarchy.
If there's one thing the SoCal Film Group has learned, there HAS to be The Big Dick In Charge, and everyone has to acknowledge that. If not, authority is constantly going to be questioned, and fights are going to break out. Everyone has a part to play, and they ALL answer to you:
You're the director.
I'm enjoying reading about your short, Emily. Continue to kick ass!
Danny
Thanks. It's tough to maintain that feeling when everybody in the room has more experience than you.
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