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Monday, January 22, 2001 - Filming at Murphy High School. An easy day for me today! I decided not to go on location at Mobile's Municipal Airport today, as I needed the time to do other things. Around 2:15 PM I head for Murphy High School after Props Master Scot Broadus called me. He wanted to be sure the trainer planes' batteries got charged up and all systems were go in case the schedule got changed and we had to fly the plane again. I leave home, and shortly after I realize that I have no idea where Murphy High is located! I've lived in Mobile for 31 years, and have never had a need to go there. I call my wife Carol on my cell phone for help. South Carlene Street is off of Dauphin Street past Florida Street. Nooooo problem! I find the small village of trucks and motor homes clustered around the school gym and park my car on the football/soccer field. I look for the props truck and find it close to the action. Filming is about to start inside the gym. Suddenly Tyler appears. "Hey, Frits, can we borrow your wedding ring again?" he asks. "I thought you said you'd buy a cheapo to match mine. Scot called me the other day and asked me to measure the inside diameter of my ring, and it was 3/4 inch. He didn't tell you? Didn't you buy one?" "Yeah, dude, we did, and here it is." He pulls the ring out of his pocket. It's shiny and fully adjustable (by bending it...) and looks pretty cheap. "We paid $90 for it, dude, but yours matches best because that's what we filmed Jim with the last time. It's been 'established', you know? And since you're here now..." "Remember the last time you borrowed the ring, Tyler? I told you I'd cut off a certain part of your body if that ring didn't get back to me after the wrap." ... "I remember, dude - so can I borrow it - will your wife mind?" He's being a bit pushy... I sigh deeply... I take the ring off. Because of the cold it didn't take much tugging and twisting this time. I have barely gotten it off of my finger when Tyler swiftly grabs it and disappears into the gym... The script calls for Wilson (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman) and his friend Jim (played by Kevin Breznahan) to play some basketball. In one scene, Wilson sneezes blood onto his basketball. I'm told that the bleeding is caused by huffing (sniffing gasoline), which Wilson does in the movie... The sneezing scene is to be the last one of the day. Scot and Tyler are to do the special effects on the sneeze... There's a freshly mixed cup of "blood" on the bench in the truck. I didn't get a close look at the contraption Scot built, but it has tubing that I recognize. Blue model fuel tubing! When Philip sneezes, Scot is supposed to trigger the device which is taped to the side of Philip's head that faces away from the camera. Too bad it's too crowded in the gym. I'd love to see this! But I stay outside in the cold the whole evening... At some point during a break in the filming, some girls in soccer uniforms walk by. One spots Lavelle Higgins (Best Boy Electric) who is sitting on the tail gate of a pickup truck. Now if you've always wondered what a "Best Boy" looks like, here's your chance. But they all don't look like Lavelle, believe me! Lavelle is a tall, slim, bearded man from Louisiana who has the longest and wildest dreadlocks you can imagine! The girl walks up to Lavelle, gets his attention and she asks, pointing at his hair: "Can I touch them?" Lavelle smiles. "Sure," he says. The girl starts to fondle the long dreadlocks, some of which reach down to below Lavelle's shoulder blades. She calls over to her friends, and three more girls come up. They fondle and stroke and twirl the long locks. Lavelle just sits there smiling as the girls admire his cool hair... As scary-looking as Lavelle is, he is a nice and friendly guy who has bailed me out on a couple of occasions when I was alone on the props truck needing something, and with Tyler and Scot away on the set... It's getting darker and as the sun goes down, the film crew does their magic and creates their own daylight. They set up several suns on adjustable poles... The place is all lit up on the outside. During breaks Philip and Kevin come outside and either just walk around or sit in the chairs that always are put near the set. Actors, directors, producers, make-up/hair people, set decorators, costume designers can sit in those chairs either during filming or during breaks, depending on your job. So far the RC Consultant (that's moi...) has yet to sit in one of those tall director's chairs. I still remember what Scot said at Dick Russell's Restaurant during breakfast: "You'll have your own chair." Yeah - right! During the past week I have carried several of those chairs to and from the props truck, but my behind has never been in one of them... In between scenes Tyler gets in the truck and reads a comic strip that my son Ryan draws. It's called "The Squares", and I had given Tyler one of his compilations." Tyler says he likes The Squares. He sits there and reads them while he rocks back and forth to a Beatles CD that plays in the player. He thinks some of the strips are hilarious - some he don't get. I don't either! I strike up a conversation with Tony Niknejadi, one of the Production Assistants, one of several who work the set. He has a headset on. After I hear "CUT!" I walk up and talk to him, as my wife and I know his parents, Joe and Vickie Niknejadi who have moved to Arnold, MO. I find out they are setting up for the final scene. I see Kevin, the actor, walk out and head for where some cars are parked. Where's my ring? Where's Tyler? And if Kevin still has it on, where's he going? I go after Kevin, but I quickly turn around as I see him get into a vehicle that has Jackie Morgan (the Line Producer) and a gentleman pointed out to me as the Executive Producer in it. Where's that ^&*§•*@ Tyler? I head for the gym door, which is open. I walk in, dodging grips carrying lights, dragging cables and rolling equipment. Philip Seymour Hoffman is sitting in a corner talking to one of the directors. There's Scot! I go over to him and ask about the ring. He reaches into his pocket, holds up his hand and there's the ring! He hands it to me and put it on my finger. I see Tyler and I walk up to him. "Tyler, Kevin is gone. Did you get my ring?" "Scot has it, dude... Hey Scot, give Frits his ring." "I don't have it, Tyler. I thought YOU had it." I pleadingly look at Tyler. "Tyler, remember I told you I'd cut off your..." He interrupts me: "Scot, you have the ring. Now give it to him, Scot. Come on now, dude, Frits is getting pi$$ed!" Finally I hold up my hand and show him I have it. Tyler grins and he's gone to the set... I get a call sheet and see that tomorrow's film schedule calls for traveling scenes on the highway and interstate. The Zero (the "black, sinister plane" in the movie) will probably be used inside the vehicle. It's really getting cold now! I leave before filming of the final scene is complete. I go home and plan to spend another full day on the Love Liza movie set tomorrow. |
