It was bound to end some time.
Until today our kids have been very respectful of the film shoot. Nobody's tried to get into the movie, they haven't trashed the set, and they've walked around the shoot instead of going through it. But at lunch some kids on the balcony threw some trash onto the crew below. The balcony is my territory. So much for my easy, relaxing lunch. From now on I get to be hall monitor.
Okay I secretly like being hall monitor. It's the power. It's nice.
I used to think that I should get a job in the industry. Working at a school doesn't exactly get me close to the action in Hollywood. But with the Bratz movie I've been able to see it up close. I've even snuck into craft services and had some tuna salad. Craft services is a little miracle of man's ingenuity. Steak and shrimp and ice cream and lemonade? For free? Every day? Holy cow.
I need to get up more courage and talk to more actors and maybe even crew people, though. I've lost a little of that nerve I had before.
The other thing about working at a school is the access you have to talents of all kinds. I'm going to have a student design the logo for my production company. And yesterday I learned that one of my coworkers is starting a film production class in March, so I'm going to use a couple of his brightest to help me with my short film - stuff like food and prop maintenance. And research; if you ever need any research for a film there's no better place than a school. Over 100 faculty, all experts in different areas.
Now I have to go shoo teenagers off the balcony so they don't throw trash on the blonde Brat and ruin her day.
Sounds like you've read "The Secret" and the law of attraction is working for you.
ReplyDeleteLucky.
Hey-enjoy your blog!
ReplyDeleteThought maybe you could persuade one of your kids to aim the trash at a specific target...
From Gawker.com:
http://gawker.com/news/new-york-magazine/project-runways-jeffrey-sebelia-still-bratty-237846.php
Project Runway's Jeffrey Sebelia: Still Bratty
Or, to be more precise: Bratz-y! New York mag catches up with the contestant who consciously filled the villain slot on the last season of the Bravo hit, and reveals that his success isn't going so successfully: "I'm totally broke," he's quoted as saying. But hasn't the show helped him sell out, like, at all?
"I'm almost afraid to admit what I'm doing," he says, "but it's costumes for a movie. It's a live-action movie for the Bratz." Those slutty dolls? "Yeah, those slutty dolls."
We're imagining Jeffrey's TV nemesis Laura Albert Bennett reading this profile while lounging on divan upholstered in hundred dollar bills, cackling, and then throwing the magazine into a giant roaring fire.
What Happened To Jeffrey Sebelia? [NY Mag]
Hey Em -
ReplyDeleteDon't be afraid of the people on the set. The ones not around while they're filming are probably bored off their asses anyways and would love a break.
Great Idea suckering students in. You should do that anyways whether or not there was a class. When you're just starting out is the time to get all your friends and family and students to help for free. They learn and you learn and everyone is excited and has fun. Its only when people get experiece that they become jaded and cynical and expect money - so cherish these times. There are so many talented kids - and you have a wealth of resources to work with.
Take them while you can. And try to shoot as much as you can. There is nothing better for your writing than to see how it stands up to an actual shoot.
And nothing like a film shoot to bring out the crazy in everyone....
Thanks, Greg. Today I let my class watch them shoot right below the balcony below my classroom and a producer came up to talk to me.
ReplyDeleteWe chatted a little bit. Unfortunately for me he wanted to talk more about the educational system in America than film, but he was still really helpful. And human.