2 Days before Day 1 of a 6-Day Shoot

The Hatboxes shoot is getting close.  This was part of the Hatboxes day today...

At 1:46 am, the first AD circulated an updated shooting schedule.

At 2 am, the director of photography circulated notes, which the producer responded to at 3:10.

At 3:35, I received a message asking what size Hatboxes T-shirt I want.

At 5:28, awakened by an 8-pound cat with 20-pound paws on a mission to snuggle, I replied that I'd like a large shirt, please.

At 6:15, I watered the garden.  Very relaxing; the time it takes is the time it takes.  Glad to see some tomato blossoms.  Contemplated despising something vital to the Hatboxes endeavor:  PayPal (user experience too often worse than voice-mail hell, if you know what I mean).

Handled a couple of pieces of Guild Literary Complex and West Andersonville Neighbors Together business.

Replied to a thread about the weirdos that come out of the woodwork when you put something out there...narcissism never dies.

Reviewed the 1:46 am shooting schedule and got dizzy considering how this whole thing went from "What if...?" almost two decades ago to "Day 1 Friday:  Shot 16 EXT. DALEY PLAZA – DAY Daley Plaza – 118 N Clark St:  6:30 am Setup..."  Quite the rainbow...

 8 am:  learned that we are now only $486 ($111 as of 7:30 pm) from our Indiegogo fundraising campaign goal! [21 June:  we cleared it, and then some!]

Gotta love the lighting equipment list:

(2) Juniors (2000 watt)

(6) Babies (1000 watt)

(6) Tweenies (750 watt)

(3) Betweenies (300 watt)

(3) Inbetweenies (150 watt)

(3) Inkies (100 watt)

(2) Mighties (2000 watt)

(2) Mickies (1000 watt)

(2) 4ft 4bank kinoflo

(2) 2ft 4bank kinoflo

(16) Baby stands

(6) Combo stands

(2) Mombo stands

Mailed a postcard to myself so we can maybe use its bar code sticker on a prop (It read, "CHANGE YOUR SOCKS!" if you must know).

Then I discovered that a pair of overlapping errors have created a scheduling conflict for one of our actors.  Circulated some options to the crew. [21 June:  1AD created a fine solution.]


Researched some last-minute wardrobe questions.

In the afternoon I picked up a couple of props...

(I'm a sucker for elegant design)
...and chatted with the folks at Farragut's about the wrap party.


Picked up enough bagels to feed all of Suriname for a day—thanks, Einstein Bros!

6 pm:  Rehearsals!  Great to have such smart, thoughtful people to work with.


At the end of the day, Etta Worthington, our intrepid producer, turned up with food and equipment and ideas and a to-do list that promises another busy day tomorrow.


Susana Darwin