It was the Friday of a very long week. Due to some location mishaps and actor scheduling conflicts, production had us running around since Monday, cramming what was essentially five or six days of work into four.
But ahh... Today was Friday.
Due to the very same location mishaps and scheduling conflicts, it was supposed to be an easy day. Just a couple of scenes in a house. So easy in fact, that all the department heads were expecting to be out of there before ten hours. The day was peppered with people on their phones, making plans for the rest of the night. A rare event in which we actually had a Friday night we wouldn't be too exhausted to enjoy.
I watched with glee as the Gaffer crossed off completed scenes on the day's call sheet, one by one as we finished them; slowly but surely inching towards the bottom of the list. And when he took a pen to the last row, my hand was already on a light switch, waiting for the magic words which would grant me permission to turn the sucker off and go home.
But alas, it'd be a couple more hours before I heard those words. Because right before the Gaffer reached for his walkie to announce the end of the day, the Director had a hope shattering thought.
"You know, since it's so early, why don't we cover this scene like sweat on a fat kid."
And just like that, four more shots were added...
4 comments :
What an asshole. I used to work for a director like him, who -- nearing the end of a potentially short day -- would brighten up and crow "Hey, we still have time to do a bonus shot!"
To him, a "bonus shot" was something to be happy about -- a rare treat. To us on the crew, of course, "bonus shot" had a rather different meaning -- it was the "bone-us shot" every time...
A good director knows how to get what he needs to complete the scene and still allow a few options in the editing room. A bad director -- the jerk who doesn't know what the fuck he's doing -- covers his pathetic ass by shooting tons of coverage that will never in a thousand years end up on screen. Without a second thought, he shovels the heavy load of his insecurity and incompetence onto the backs of an already over-worked/underpaid crew. Apparently this really IS his world, and the rest of us just happen to live in it.
Most crews are happy to do whatever it takes to get a shot the director needs -- that's our job, and a matter of professional pride. But when a director treats the set like his own private sandbox -- or worse, starts jerking off in there -- he loses the crew's respect. Once gone, it's gone for good.
There's only one potentially silver lining I can glean from this sorry episode -- the guy sounds like such a clueless fool that he probably won't have much chance to continue his career as a director. Unless the jerk is independently wealthy (or the next Orson Welles), it's unlikely the Money Men will keep funding his passion projects.
That's about all we can hope for...
Bonus shot at the end of a week like that? I'd have the grips waiting for him out back with a burlap sack and lead pipe !!
Just kidding :-)
Maybe not ...
Thats kind of where a good AD comes in and say "No". Where was the 1st AD on this.
Don't tell me, he was the 1st AD.
Michael - Agreed. This was a guy who'd constantly change his mind. It wasn't unheard of for us to finish lighting a room when he comes in and announces that he doesn't like the room anymore and instead would like the scene to take place outside... Where it's dark... When the characters are supposed to be having lunch...
Unfortunately, a quick IMDb search reveals that this guy has been directing TV shows and movies since the 60s, so I'm guessing his career probably won't end anytime soon. But he's definitely no Orson Wells.
The Grip Works - I think we were all too tired to pick up a lead pipe anyway. :)
Niall - There was a 1st AD. And no, he wasn't very good.
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