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Saturday, January 20, 2001 - More filming at Municipal Park. I'm on time this morning, getting to the Park bright and early, around 6:30... They are setting everything back up, with some changes dependent on what the script requires. There will be a make-believe race filmed today, in which Denny wins the quarterfinals. Early in the morning Scot introduces me to an attractive young woman. "This is Frits, our RC Consultant," he says. "Frits, this is Holly - she'll be working with us today. Holly works with Tyler and me and does not appear to shy away from carrying heavy stuff. I find out later that Holly Goline she is a commercial producer. During the early morning scenes a larger crowd gets involved. There are several extras who have signed up for this film. Before filming starts Jimi Woods, the 2nd Assistant Director, tells them where to stand and what to do and when to do it... A Production Assistant with a clipboard comes around and gets all the extras to sign a talent release form. For a couple of the crowd scenes they use a steadycam, a highly maneuverable camera that's strapped to the operator. It looks very heavy. The camera operator will walk around with it while filming. Someone lifts it off of the stand and helps him install it on his body harness... As the camera operator starts moving, his small entourage of assistants moves with him. One helps guide him on course, the other keep his trailing cables out of harm's way. The sound boom operator follows too, followed by her cable roller-upper... At one point in between scenes there's a break and I decide to take a picture of the set near the water. On the first day I had met Scot he had told me that taking pictures on the set was forbidden. Well, I am not on the set, really... I am far away, and there is nothing going on, really... Plus - no big film guys are looking in my direction... From where I'm standing I have a nice view of the lake and the set. I stand close to a tree for cover. I get the camera out of my pocket and snap a picture. The flash goes off! •&*¶•ª!! I didn't expect that! Immediately I hear a deep voice: "Hey, Sir, NO CAMERAS ALLOWED ON THE SET!"... The small family in front of me turns around and looks at me. I turn and look at the guy who just hollered at me. Damn! Of all people to catch me! It's Scot! He starts to walk in my direction and is pointing at me: "As a matter of fact, Sir, hand that camera over to me right now. Give it to me! I'll have to confiscate it!" Now the family is staring at me... I hand the camera over to Scot and as he pretends to take it, he whispers: "Did you see those people turn around and the look on their faces...?" We laugh and then he's off to the set... Scott Gayle shows up and hangs out with me. He and I both end up in three scenes as extras! I'm getting to be an old pro at this! During one of our many trips to the truck we discover that the cowling on the Zero has split apart! Apparently the black cowl got too hot in the sun, and because it was held together with hot glue... well, you get the picture... I plug the glue gun in again... Scott G and I totally rework the cowl by hot-gluing it. We cover exposed glue with black, dull paper tape. Looking good! I stand the plane up against the wall - this time against the side that's not lit by the sun... The poor Zero is ready for "Action!" again! For a couple of scenes the camera is placed in a boat and it is anchored about 100 feet away. Lisa, the Director of Photography is in it with a couple of "grips" . One pilots the boat and the others anchor it by sticking poles in the muck... The scenes filmed by the camera in the boat involve the boat modelers "racing" and the "crowd" reacting... Scott G and I get standing and walking parts in a couple of them... Nothing to it any more... We're old pros now... Yeah - we get our whole body in the frame this time... I help Holly set up a tent that will be heated with a propane torch. We attach wall panels to the tent sides to completely enclose it. We bring in tubs with blankets and towels. A couple of directors' chairs are also put in the tent. I'm not sure what the tent is for, but I figure in case somebody gets really cold... In one of the scenes the script calls for the film character Wilson (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman) to swim in the lake. Well, it's been cold for weeks and the water temperature is probably around 45 degrees! This morning the word was that this swimming scene would not be filmed here today. But the schedule has changed. They decide to go for it! Philip is going swimming! I notice that a medic and a diver in full wet suit are stand by, just in case... But where is the Crocodile Hunter?! There are alligators in this lake, I was told... "ACTION!" The star Philip Seymour Hoffman makes a shallow dive into the water and swims out a short distance. He and a couple of other actors deliver their lines. The take lasts about one minute... Then it's "CUT!" and "Again!" They do the scene two more times. After the third time, the actor shouts: "Do it again!" I'm not believing Philip is doing this! He's been in the water about five minutes or longer... Hypothermia should be setting in soon. After the fourth time he hollers out: "Again - QUICKLY!" They do one final take and Philip swims to the bank... He gets out of the water and after the director yells "CUT!" Many people, including me, applaud. He really deserves that! Warm water is immediately poured over him. He puts on a thick robe, walks toward the heated tent, and disappears into it with the medic right behind him. Club member Charles Dortch's brother Jamal shows up. He rode his bicycle over from his house nearby and says he's signed up as an extra. He gets selected for a couple of scenes. He hangs out with Scott G and me for a while and he helps us with the cleanup later. After filming is over for the day, Scott G and I help track down all the props, load them in the truck and secure them for their daily trip "home". Home is the Guest House Inn where most of thew crew stays. I get an updated call sheet that shows on Monday filming will be at the local Municipal Airport and at Murphy High School's gym... The call is for 6:30 AM. Just from looking at the call sheet, the planes and I will not be needed Monday... I go home looking forward to flying one of my own plane at Irvington Field the next day as Sunday is the movie crew's day off. And mine too!... |
