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Day 29 of 29 - Saturday, February 17, 2001 - Filming at an Exxon gas station in town - Philip accidentally sets himself on fire - Filming comes to an end... I wake up and as I'm walking around I feel sore all over! My legs are tense and my feet have... but I have already mentioned all that! - This is it! The final day has arrived! Because of the late ending last night (this morning actually!) crew call isn't until 4:00 PM today. I will have several hours to finally get caught up with my Love Liza journal. I am three days behind plus I intend to add a list of credits at the end. My goal is to finish the journal before Thursday, as that is the day Mike Brantley, Media Writer for the Mobile Register, had said his article about the movie will be published. I still have typos here and there in previous reports that I would like to get corrected before Mike publishes Alvin's Web site's address... As I am trying to remember what happened three days ago - the events of the last three days are all sort of running together - my phone rings. Scot! It's always Scot! It must be him! I answer the phone. It sure is! "Frits," he says, "what are you doing?" "On my computer writing my journal," I reply. "What's up?" "You know that red plastic gas can that Wilson uses in the scenes?" he asks. "Yeah?" "Well, Todd wants about ten more just like it," Scot says. "TEN?" I ask, "why ten?" "I don't know," Scot says, "but do you think you can come up with them on your way to the set?" Here we go again! •ªº%^&*! I have no idea what the can exactly looks like, even though I saw it used in a scene yesterday. And it's always stored in the props truck. But there are several types of cans, all red, and they all look alike, sort of! "Okay, I'll try," I say, "How soon will they play?" "Soon after we set up," he says. "Okay, I'll see what I can come up with," I say and I hang up. I still have several hours before filming actually starts, so I can probably still finish two of my daily reports. With all the scanning of the pictures and transmitting them to Web guru Alvin Reed I can easily spend two to three hours on each daily story. I continue pecking on my computer keyboard with two fingers, the only way I know how... When it gets close to 3:30, and as I'm happily typing away, Scot calls me again, on my cell phone this time. "Any luck yet?" he asks. "No - I haven't even started looking yet. But I'll be leaving in a few minutes." "Okay," Scot says. "Just get five or six cans, if you can find them. You know about what it looks like, right?" Yeah right, I'm thinking - red and squarish and it has the word gasoline embossed on the sides. But don't they all? "Okay, I'll be on my way shortly." "Great! Thanks, Frits! See you on the set." It's after 4:15 when I leave my house. Shooting call is not until 5:00. I had already mapped out a plan, but I didn't tell Scot. But he would be proud of me! I figure I'll just hit some stores on the way. There are several that are promising. I could start at K-Mart, then Big Lots, then Wal-Mart, all here at Tillman's Corner two miles from my house. Then head for the Autozone store on Cottage Hill and Azalea Roads, and whatever other store I can find that could possibly have gas cans for sale. Home Depot perhaps. I have about an hour. But what if I can't find them?... I swing by Big Lots. Nothing! They have none! They are out! I decide to skip K-Mart and head for Wal-Mart. Plenty of cans! But all are the wrong shape or size. They are red, though... I take off for the Autozone store on Azalea Road. When I get to the intersection of Highway 90 and Azalea Road I see a Family Dollar store in the Skyline shopping center. Hmmm... They sell them too, I remember from the last time the director wanted that small red can... I make a U-turn, go back a block and drive up to the store. I walk in. There they are! They look like the one we have used on the set! But is it the right one? I pull out my cell phone and dial Scot. He answers. Good! That must mean he's in the truck as he always leaves his cell phone there during filming. "Scot, I think I found them. What is the size? One or two gallons?" "Let me look..." I hear him rummaging around. "Two." "Okay. I'm looking at a two. Is there an embossed symbol with an American flag in the upper left hand corner with the words..." "That's it!" he interrupts me, "and the model number is P20." "That's it, Scot, P20!" They have five of them, that's all." "That's fine! Get them! Thanks, Frits." I pay for them and head for the set, which is located at the McGugin's Exxon station on McGregor and Old Shell Roads. We have shot there a few weeks ago. As I get into the truck I notice that the squirrel has undergone another transformation. He's sporting a loin cloth now, a red hat, carries a bouquet of flowers and has jewelry on... Scot loves to dress him appropriately for certain scenes or locations... They are setting up for a scene at one of the gas pumps. All the Exxon logos and names have to be "greeked out", meaning made illegible or invisible. Mark Hannibal (On-set Dresser) of the Art Department asks me if I can help him with this. He has already cut out all the red and yellow and blue plastic pieces needed to cover the logos on four pumps. I borrow a ladder from the grips and I start sticking the panels on the Exxon name with double-sided tape. There are smaller Exxon words lower on the pump too that need covering. The camera dolly tracks are laid out and soon the camera dolly and the camera are in place. Filming starts. There are some problems with reflections in the windows of "the Denny car" and Hannibal and I make them disappear. The scene is filmed several times. Then they shift camera angles and Hannibal and I have to take down some of the covers and move them to other pumps. I take pictures of Lisa Rinzler (Director of Photography) and Bill Newell (Gaffer - he heads up the lighting/electrical crew.) In the last scene the camera films Wilson (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman) walking away from the pump toward to building where he buys one gas can from a row of five (those I had bought earlier!). That scene is repeated several times, and each time Hannibal resets the two clocks in the store back to the exact same time, something that's very important. A move to a vacant house on Dawes Road is called. Leonard passes out maps to that location. The final scene of the day and of the whole production will be filmed there. But lunch is first! This time lunch is about a mile farther down on Old Shell Road at the Brick Pit Bar-B-Que. Everyone meets there, including Philip, Jack Kehler (Denny) and even Sarah Koskoff (Maura). Then it's on to Dawes Road. It's around midnight already. The trucks and other vehicles park across the street from the vacant house in a couple of parking lots and an open grassy area. I help Scot get the props cart and all the director's chairs across the street to the house and set them up across the driveway. There is a fire truck parked near the house. Several fire fighters are standing by it. An ambulance is in the driveway of the house next door with its lights flashing. Someone hands me a red knit cap with a gas pump and Love Liza embroidered on it. Everyone on the set gets one. I notice there are blue ones and Dolores is the only one with a white one. A little later Jill Newell (Costume Designer) hands everyone masks. I decide to put mine on my new cap, as my glasses get in the way. With this getup I look just like one of the crew! The cap is functional because it's cold! I had put my long johns on this afternoon before coming to the set. Good thing! I walk into the house to have a look around. It's a small house. In the living room there's a big mural painted by one of the people in the art department. The burn scene will be done in the small dining room in the middle of the house. The set has already been dressed. There are computer boxes on the floor around a chair. A can of gasoline sits nearby. Soiled rags are next to the can. A corner of a couch is needed in the shot and one is quickly fabricated by Tim Cohen (Art Director) who staples a drape to a large cardboard box. It looks believable! In a back bedroom I run into Tony Cecere, the Stunt Coordinator, who will play Wilson and who will set himself on fire. People are taking pictures and I ask him if I can take one of him. "Sure," he says. He has pulled a mask out from one of his bags. It's one that was used in a burn scene he did for another movie. Someone snaps a picture of the three of us... He won't be using any protection on his face and hands for this scene, but he has all the necessary protective layers on under the clothes that he sprayed with fire retardant a couple of days ago. More than two hours or more go by until everything has been discussed and set up properly. Finally Jimi Woods (1st Assistant Director) calls for a safety briefing. The firemen, the stunt coordinator, Philip and the handful of people that will be present all huddle around and listen to him. Filming is about to start. Scot tells me to get all the dirty envelopes. He gets a handful of red utility rags ready, puts them in a shallow tin dish and hands them to me. In this scene Wilson sits in the chair, holding the suicide note written by Liza. After reading it he strikes a match to it and sets it on fire. He drops it accidentally on a gasoline-soaked rag. It starts to flame up. Then his pants catch on fire and as he tries to put it out with his right hand, it also catches on fire. It's time! Jimi asks everyone not immediately involved with the scene out of the room. I hang behind. Perhaps I can... "Frits," he points at me and motions me out... @#$•ªº! I go outside and stay near the doorway, next to Scott Lumpkin (Unit Production Manager), Jacky Morgan (Line Producer) and others. Several are standing at the window a few feet away from me. Jimi is making sure everything and everybody is in place. "Keep a path clear through the front door," he says. We move a bit to the side. "The fire truck and the ambulance are outside just in case." I see two fire fighters in full yellow protective gear standing on the opposite side of the dining room. Scot and Boyd are standing by on this side of the dining room, each holding a large fire extinguisher. A couple of blankets are between them on the floor. This is the spot where Tony will walk to while pulling his burning shirt off. He will then fall down on the blankets and Scot and Boyd will put him out. Scot asks me to use some Scotch 77 spray adhesive and glue a penny in the corner of a couple of the suicide notes. This will assure that the burning letter falls a bit faster to where it's supposed to and prevents it from fluttering away. "Ready everyone? Ready? Ready, Tony? Everybody ready?" Jimi asks and he makes sure he gets a confirmation from everyone. Scot and Boyd have their fire extinguishers ready, nozzle in one hand, the other ready to pull the trigger. Tony is sitting in the chair. He takes a small bottle of fluid and sprays some on the rag on the floor, then on his right lower leg and also on his right lower arm. He is holding the suicide letter in his left hand. He takes a lighter and holds it under the note. Tony nods. "And action!" Jimi says. Tony sets the paper on fire, throws the lighter out of frame and transfers the paper to his right hand. He drops the burning note and the rag catches on fire. Then his right leg flames up. Big time! He gets up and frantically starts to slap his leg with his right arm. It starts to flare up too! Tony is moving and jumping around and tries to put the flames out on his leg. He wears no visible protection on his face or hands. The flames get around his face several times. Then he starts to pull his shirt up and walks out of frame. He drops on the blankets. "Cut!" I hear Todd say, immediately echoed by Jimi. "CUT! Put him out!" But as soon as Todd's "Cut!" is heard the two fire extinguishers have already done their job. Tony is put out in less than two seconds. It's decided that there was just too much fire too quickly, so during the next takes Tony is asked to use less fluid. As the second take gets under way those of us standing outside hear music coming from the lighting/electrical truck. We are starting to laugh as we hear the song that Lavelle Higgins (Best Boy Lighting) is playing in his truck. It's "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash! How appropriate! We are all cracking up in a quiet sort of way. After the second take Scott Lumpkin motions to Jimi to step out and listen to the song. Jimi does but he quickly goes back in. He wasn't laughing. He wasn't even smiling! I don't believe he thought it was funny... The scene is repeated a couple of more times without incidents. Then it's time for Philip to his part. This scene is a follow-up of the one with Tony playing Wilson. Wilson is taking the burning shirt off his arms and throws it out of frame into a box. Philip gets into position. He has his shirt off and is holding it in front of him. Some fluid is poured on it and after filming starts, it's set on fire. Wilson wrestles with the burning shirt and finally slings it into the box. "Cut!" Immediately a blanket is thrown over the box, snuffing out the flames. The take is repeated two more times. Time is running out. It's 4:20 AM! The fire truck and the fire fighters are supposed to go off duty at 4:00 AM, but they are still standing by. Jimi tells Lisa to get what she wants right now or to forget it. They decide to do one more close-up scene. Tony is called back in for some close-up shots of the burning shirt and pants flying out of the frame. He lights them and throws them on Todd's cue. They use a bit more fluid for these shots... And then it's "CUT!" - It's over! People clap and several hug each other. The final "Cut!" came at 5:45! Todd wants to say a few words and everyone quiets down. Todd is holding a bottle of champagne and he has tears in his eyes as he thanks everyone for their contribution to Love Liza. After his brief speech there's more applause and then everyone turns to everyone next to them and shakes hands or hugs. It's quite an emotional scene, and I get caught up into it to. It's over... MY picture is finally done... I feel sad... I start walking around to tell people bye and to take some last pictures. Martina Rawan (1st Assistant Camera) is taking her camera down. On the front porch I see Philip wearing his blue Love Liza knit cap. I walk up to him and ask if I can take his picture. "Sure!" he says and stands for me. Just as I snap the picture with my disposable camera I thought I saw his eyes close. No! Not now! Damn! But... I thank him. He laughs. "Just kidding!" he says, "I always do this to people! Take it again." I do and this time I get a smiling Philip. I thank him again. I immediately look for Scot. He's already picking up things and taking them to the truck. I help him gather up his props and the chairs and start loading up the truck, something he's let me do by myself several times. We pass each other several times but there's no conversation or joking as usual. We work quietly without saying a word. He's done many movies. He's pretty tough and professional. But he told me before that this is what always happens. I think Scot is sad about this ending too... As I'm stowing things on the truck Todd Louiso, the Director, comes up to the lift gate of the truck. "Hey, Frits!" I turn to him. He is holding the champagne bottle. There are still tears in his eyes. I quickly jump down off of the truck. "Frits, I want to thank you so very much for helping us out," he says as he shakes my hand. "Thanks for a great job!" I thank him for letting me hang out and tell him it was a great and memorable experience for me. I wish him well with the movie. "Thank you again, Frits," he says and he starts to walk off. "Todd, can I please take one more picture of you?" I ask. At this point Gilly Charbonnet (Key Grip) walks up to tell Todd goodbye. I have someone take a picture of us. I walk around some more and shake hands with everyone. The women all give me a hug. Some of the men hug me too. There's a lot of that going on! I run into Scott Lumpkin and Jacky Morgan. "Thanks for your help, Frits," Jacky tells me. "Don't be a stranger. Come by the office sometime." I promise that I will. "And join us for breakfast a bit later at Steaks and Shakes across from the motel," he adds. "Okay," I'll be there.," I tell him. Then it's time to leave. I look for Scot and we talk a while. He says he will call me in the next couple of days and we'll meet so he can give my rc stuff back, and the boats that belong to the other guys. He'll be here in Mobile until Thursday. Scot is not in a happy and joking mood, which is unusual for him. I think I know how he feels. And he can tell how I feel. "Are you sad?" he asks. "Yep," I answer. "You'll get over that," he says. "I'm gonna give you a hug," he says, and we hug. "I want to tell you something. I have enjoyed having you on the set with me. You have bailed me out several times. These last three days were really bad and I have seen you hustle." "Well, I have enjoyed working with and for you, Scot," I say, "if it had not been enjoyable I would not have come back to the set, you know that. You've been great!" "Well, you seem to have an affinity for this work. I've seen you work under pressure. You are a great fabricator. You can do this!" My heart swells as he pays me these compliments. "Look, I was just doing what I knew and I tried to help you out," I answer. "Well, you did, and I want to thank you again. "I'll see you, Frits," he says and we give each other another hug. "You know," he says and he's smiling at me with his head cocked over a bit. "There's another movie coming to town." "Here - to Mobile?" He's still smiling. "Yep," he says, "I'll be in touch, pal!" He turns and walks to his truck... After breakfast I finally head on home. There are a lot of thoughts going through my head. I'm still feeling sad, but I feel great about the things Scot told me. What an experience! I'll never look at another movie in quite the same way any more! I know how all that is done now! I know that it takes far more than a couple of big name actors to make a movie. They work hard too, and it's not always under the best of conditions, but there's a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scenes. I was there! I became part of Love Liza! I get home close to 7:00. I've been up for the past 23 hours! Carol is just waking up as I walk into my house... 
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