The worst parts are over. I have the beginning and the end. I just need to film a few scenes in the middle. After everything I need a few easy days of just dialogue driven scenes that can be accomplished easily. But of course I can't have that because it's me. My lead actor Ian informs me his timetable for staying changed. He was going to stay in Tucson for another month before he left for Israel. But now he tells me he is going to leave sooner. Then my other actor Connor tells me he is leaving also. FML.
We get two more days with them, before they leave. Will I ever see them again? Doubtful.
So my feature debut is in peril, what else to do? I look over the footage, barely enough to make a full hour. The minimum length for a feature is 70 minutes. FUCK.
Recast the actors and start all over? Hell no.
But there is another option. My producer Mario is playing a small part, maybe I can make his part bigger and tie it in the story. Could I do it? Hell I'm the director I can do what I want.
I remember during the auditions there was only one actor who was good besides Ian and Connor. His name is Nathan O. Miller.
I made a brainstorming session and made up a side story that would tie into the main action.
Mario, Nathan, and me make plans to meet and discuss the story. I was a little late, but I walked into an ambush.
Mario and Nate had already been talking, and apparently Nathan had made up his own storyline with an assassin character. He and Mario had been going over it. and they both talked it up to me. I was shocked to say the least.
I listened and sure it was better, more exciting, but that didn't lessen the sting of it.
On the other hand though, in one of the earliest incarnations of the story, there was an assassin character who chased the main characters.
What could I do? My back was against the wall. I agreed to do it.
