It is an Arizona July. Temperatures are over one hundred degrees. God knows what the humidity factor is. I can't help but think, "why the hell did I do this to myself and everyone else?" The only answer I have to comfort myself is that this is the only time I have to shoot, this how everyone's schedule permitted them. All in July. I sigh and get back to blocking the scene. Time to go to work
When I wrote this scene, I didn't think of the difficulties of casting child actors, looking back, I was probably a little irresponsible. I was going to change the scene around when my producer Mario recommended his niece for the part. That worked. Instead of a small group of kids playing soccer, it was one kid kicking the ball around.
I blocked the scene out. The actors approach the kid, and one takes the ball and stabs it with a switchblade, and throws it back and taunts her. We do the scene several times, each time my actor Ian does the scene I can't help but smile because he is so good, but he does making me laugh.
Everyone is perfect. We finish the scene. But before we can move to the next one, Mario has to take his niece back to the house, as her father will pick her up. This is where things get bad. We started in the morning, but while we wait the afternoon sun sets over us as we wait for Mario.
Finally he returns. We set up the next scene. It takes several takes to get the audio right. We don't have a steadicam, so everything has to be handheld. Shaky shots in all. My actors are perfect. They are able to recite a lot of dialogue and do over and over again. I call a break. We all hang out in the shade. I check the ice chest for water. All the water is practically gone. Not good.
We have to pick a place to shoot the next scene, My location won't work. I decide on a wash under a bridge just across the street. It's big and wide and fits the nature of the scene. We're all set and the actors Ian and Connor start the scene, when Ian improvises and takes off his shirt and drops it. I decide to keep rolling. It's strange, and doesn't make sense. Or maybe it makes sense for that reason. Or maybe I had heat stroke, I don't know.
We decide to go back to the house for a break. I feel like I am going to pass out. My crew is exhausted, but my actors seem fine. I want what they are taking. There is some discussion about going on. I agree, but I need to cool off. A few minutes later and throws in the towel. No more for today. I agree. My actors shrug it off and take off. Everyone eventually leaves. I myself head to my home for a cold shower and aloe vera gel. Some sleep. And go again tomorrow