Since I can remember I've always loved to travel. The vacation idea was exhilarating but more so was the thought of going to an airport again. I've always loved airports. Their dab, bland colours and vast ceilings were a visual feast to my infant eyes. I never lost the passion for the structure of airports, I still love them today. I'd get excited when we'd walk to the terminal and check in the bags. Then a few hours later we'd see the plane we were boarding, the nose of the Boeing looking right at me through a gigantic glass window, me looking back at it with my hands on the glass. I don't know if maybe it was my love for airports and planes that drew to me to airports or whether I associated it with prospective good times abroad. I've been to dozens of airports around the world; Heathrow, Pearson, LAX, and Bandaranaike International in Sri Lanka just to name a few. I travelled every summer and winter break in my youth years.
Everytime I look head on at a plane, airbuses, Boeings, whatever...I wonder how long and how many parts comprise this gigantic metal bird and it nauseates me. These random ponderings make me feel like a child again. I still love airports and I plan to make a scrapbook of all the airports I've been to in the world.
The only difference between then and now, is that I have my rebel by my side :D
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Update
So a lot of you have been questioning the status of my script and so I feel it's due time to present the facts:
-it's a short film, no more than ten minutes long.
-it takes place in the early part of the twentieth century
-there are supernatural elements to it (but no CGI)
-it revolves around a card hustler and a railroad worker playing poker during a graveyard shift
-it takes place during the construction of a major Canadian railroad
-I'll need a modest budget to film it
-it's inspired by my ninth grade english teacher, (some of you may remember, Nazeem I know you do) Ms. McGregor
-The official working title for the short is called, "Meet Abraham"
So those are the facts straight from me. I'm not finished the script yet but believe me I'm a perfectionist when I write so it will be edited THOROUGHLY before I premiere it to my close friends.
What else is new...
Marcus I'm liking the blog about scrabble lol. Same with you Nazeem I'm following the Grundy Lake blog. Keep writing guys.
I'm on the final episode of the first season of The Shield. Amazing police drama it really is. I was hooked from the very first episode. I'm afraid to watch the final episode of season 1 because I'll want to watch the second season right away, but I'll have to let Marc know I want the second season in advance. So until I talk to him, I'm resisting my viewing pleasures.
I leave for Lanka very, very soon. I'm buying suitcases and carrion, as well as clothes for tropical climates. There are going to be huge ass spiders and roaches there and I will get pictures of them.
Shout outs to all the friends that recommended me as a professional photographer, I don't know how many of you are reading this right now but I'm certainly no pro, not yet at least. I've been contacted four times in the last week for jobs and pro bono positions. I'd like to take them all but my schedule refuses me some opportunities, same with my travel plans.
I'll get back to you soon loyal readers!
-BLOG OUT-
-it's a short film, no more than ten minutes long.
-it takes place in the early part of the twentieth century
-there are supernatural elements to it (but no CGI)
-it revolves around a card hustler and a railroad worker playing poker during a graveyard shift
-it takes place during the construction of a major Canadian railroad
-I'll need a modest budget to film it
-it's inspired by my ninth grade english teacher, (some of you may remember, Nazeem I know you do) Ms. McGregor
-The official working title for the short is called, "Meet Abraham"
So those are the facts straight from me. I'm not finished the script yet but believe me I'm a perfectionist when I write so it will be edited THOROUGHLY before I premiere it to my close friends.
What else is new...
Marcus I'm liking the blog about scrabble lol. Same with you Nazeem I'm following the Grundy Lake blog. Keep writing guys.
I'm on the final episode of the first season of The Shield. Amazing police drama it really is. I was hooked from the very first episode. I'm afraid to watch the final episode of season 1 because I'll want to watch the second season right away, but I'll have to let Marc know I want the second season in advance. So until I talk to him, I'm resisting my viewing pleasures.
I leave for Lanka very, very soon. I'm buying suitcases and carrion, as well as clothes for tropical climates. There are going to be huge ass spiders and roaches there and I will get pictures of them.
Shout outs to all the friends that recommended me as a professional photographer, I don't know how many of you are reading this right now but I'm certainly no pro, not yet at least. I've been contacted four times in the last week for jobs and pro bono positions. I'd like to take them all but my schedule refuses me some opportunities, same with my travel plans.
I'll get back to you soon loyal readers!
-BLOG OUT-
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The Oh Ten Travel List
I know it'll be hard to top NYC and Sri Lanka on a travel plan that doesn't involve a place like the Alps in Switzerland or the Outback in Australia, but I'm sticking to a lowly budget and close to home. I've decided LA is a definite choice for next July/August. This was decided the second we left New York on the bus. Before this trip should come a visit to Newfoundland and Labrador, the temporary destination option, also we had the Rockies and some places in Calgary in mind. I was browsing pictures of Canada and found some terrific natural settings on the East Coast, the type you visit in dreams. They've got everything from whales to glaciers to cliffside hiking. The tourist packages also seem to run at reasonable rates so grabbing one to add to the itinerary would a prudent choice. This is a short blog because its late so I'll leave you with pictures to tantalize the senses. Enjoy!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Commercial Shoot #3
So this blog will be written with careful discretion, I refuse to mention names because my previous blog on set was discovered by certain members of the crew that had Google Alerts activated. Luckily they had a terrific sense of humour and enjoyed my blog about them, though I was embarassed they had to read it. For the readers, just know that the Director (my buddy) and the Director of Photography were the same people as last time, as was the stills photographer. The rest of the thirty-odd people that composed the rest of the crew were completely new to me.
The commercial was shot at a West End school and my call time was 7:30a.m. I was probably the third person there, which was an impressive debut considering I hadn't slept the previous night and I was up all night at a club. Setup began immediately: lights, tents, directors/producers chairs, all that good stuff.
When 10:30a.m. rolled around we were ready to shoot. I was given a walkie-talkie because on location you're bound to lose people. I compared this kind of shooting to shooting in the studio, which was WAAYYY easier and much less hotter. Being outdoors for twelve straight hours will roast you to edibility. The production manager, whose name will not be disclosed here for aforementioned reasons, told me to go inside the school set and cue the actors to come out when he yells action into the walkie. I go in, meet the three girls who I am to work with. A couple of minutes later I here mumbling on the walkie and I'm yelling, "hello...hello?" For about twenty seconds there's silence and everyone inside is looking at me like what the hell is he doing?
Then the PM's clear voice booms through.
"Arvind, can you hear me?"
"Yeah, loud and clear."
"Good, you're fired."
I smirk as I hear the crew laughing at me over the walkie's.
Luckily the director had brought me on set to learn. I think I was the only person on that set that didn't need a resume to be there. Like they say, it's about who you know. These people were definitely demonstrated high degrees of patience and fogiving towards my amateurishness. I have to silently commend the crew for their hard work and I have to thank them for putting up with me most of all. my fellow PA's, the producer, the PM, and the director. Often I would be teased by the director about the air show going on overhead and creating a sound disturbance during filming, or about the cultural festivities that boomed loud music vibrations through the set.
"Where's Arvind, tell him to block out the sun."
"Arvind, tell the people to shut up."
"Arvind, stop the airshow."
"Arvind do twenty push-ups."
It was strange seeing the director was much more enthusiastic and silly on set this time than he was last time in the studio. Is the studio possibly more encapsulating of his sense of humour than the outdoors? Worked well for me though, I didn't get yelled at this time around, though I'm sure a lot of the people though I was useless because it was my first time learning a lot of things. The hour lunch break was enjoyed in the shade of the catering truck. Nothing is as good as free lunch, and a variety of it too :D
It's funny that while I was pulling cables as the camera's dollied over the four actors who played construction workers, I managed to get a straight view of everythind and everyone on set. Everyone is running around doing something, then after a couple of minutes everyone is motionless inside the director's tent, and they're all looking in my direction towards the camera (though they're actually looking at the camera and actors and not me, I'm just in the way). They are seeing everything that the camera is seeing by way of a monitor that is channelling the footage on set from the take into their tent. As soon as the director or PM yells action, everyone's eyes turn to the monitor. My eyes turned to the actors and the cables I had to pull at the same time.
It really is a fun job to work as a team, it was just bloody hot outside though. The most satisfying moment on set is when the PM yells, "That's a wrap." My loyal readers you've probably seen this on sets that have documented on TV and DVD special features, but when you're there on set and you hear it it's a relief. The weight of the world is depressed from your shoulder after three poignant words of joy. It was something like this:
"ACTION!"
The actors perform their lines and actions, the camera dollies, the director is yelling instructions ot the actors, the crew is watching with an observational eye.
"Good, CUT!"
"Did we get it?"
"Lighting's okay? Sound?"
"It's all good."
"It's all good? Good. Everything's good!"
"Good?"
"Yep."
"Alright folks, THAT'S A WRAP!"
Clapping dominates the next ten seconds of set activity.
Now is the time for PA's like me to shine. We take everything down and pack it up. We wrapped at about 6p.m. and I was out of there by 7p.m. The DOP gave me a big hug and said it was a pleasure, yet again, to work with me. He said he enjoyed my blog about him, but I refuse to mention his name here because I don't want them reading anymore. I feel like the slightest mistake even on technicalities will shun my already weakened reputation. The second AD said she hadn't talked to me the entire time, and I said that's because I was ignoring her. We both laughed.
Towards the end of my time there the sun was going down and I met the director in the parking lot.
"Had fun today?"
"Absolutely."
"You loved it didnt you."
Nods.
"Isn't it great working with a team, where everyone is close and friendly and cooperative."
I told him that my last three set visits were good ones because of the team of people. I haven't had trouble with anyone on set. People on his sets are generally friendlier than the generic crew of big productions.
"I'm glad you ejnoyed my team. I'm out man, I'll see you at your work." Then he gave me his boxset of The Shield season one and he was out of there with his overcoat and satchel and long and hindering gait.
Isn't it great working with a team.
The one thing I was thinking about when he said this was SouthPaw.
The commercial was shot at a West End school and my call time was 7:30a.m. I was probably the third person there, which was an impressive debut considering I hadn't slept the previous night and I was up all night at a club. Setup began immediately: lights, tents, directors/producers chairs, all that good stuff.
When 10:30a.m. rolled around we were ready to shoot. I was given a walkie-talkie because on location you're bound to lose people. I compared this kind of shooting to shooting in the studio, which was WAAYYY easier and much less hotter. Being outdoors for twelve straight hours will roast you to edibility. The production manager, whose name will not be disclosed here for aforementioned reasons, told me to go inside the school set and cue the actors to come out when he yells action into the walkie. I go in, meet the three girls who I am to work with. A couple of minutes later I here mumbling on the walkie and I'm yelling, "hello...hello?" For about twenty seconds there's silence and everyone inside is looking at me like what the hell is he doing?
Then the PM's clear voice booms through.
"Arvind, can you hear me?"
"Yeah, loud and clear."
"Good, you're fired."
I smirk as I hear the crew laughing at me over the walkie's.
Luckily the director had brought me on set to learn. I think I was the only person on that set that didn't need a resume to be there. Like they say, it's about who you know. These people were definitely demonstrated high degrees of patience and fogiving towards my amateurishness. I have to silently commend the crew for their hard work and I have to thank them for putting up with me most of all. my fellow PA's, the producer, the PM, and the director. Often I would be teased by the director about the air show going on overhead and creating a sound disturbance during filming, or about the cultural festivities that boomed loud music vibrations through the set.
"Where's Arvind, tell him to block out the sun."
"Arvind, tell the people to shut up."
"Arvind, stop the airshow."
"Arvind do twenty push-ups."
It was strange seeing the director was much more enthusiastic and silly on set this time than he was last time in the studio. Is the studio possibly more encapsulating of his sense of humour than the outdoors? Worked well for me though, I didn't get yelled at this time around, though I'm sure a lot of the people though I was useless because it was my first time learning a lot of things. The hour lunch break was enjoyed in the shade of the catering truck. Nothing is as good as free lunch, and a variety of it too :D
It's funny that while I was pulling cables as the camera's dollied over the four actors who played construction workers, I managed to get a straight view of everythind and everyone on set. Everyone is running around doing something, then after a couple of minutes everyone is motionless inside the director's tent, and they're all looking in my direction towards the camera (though they're actually looking at the camera and actors and not me, I'm just in the way). They are seeing everything that the camera is seeing by way of a monitor that is channelling the footage on set from the take into their tent. As soon as the director or PM yells action, everyone's eyes turn to the monitor. My eyes turned to the actors and the cables I had to pull at the same time.
It really is a fun job to work as a team, it was just bloody hot outside though. The most satisfying moment on set is when the PM yells, "That's a wrap." My loyal readers you've probably seen this on sets that have documented on TV and DVD special features, but when you're there on set and you hear it it's a relief. The weight of the world is depressed from your shoulder after three poignant words of joy. It was something like this:
"ACTION!"
The actors perform their lines and actions, the camera dollies, the director is yelling instructions ot the actors, the crew is watching with an observational eye.
"Good, CUT!"
"Did we get it?"
"Lighting's okay? Sound?"
"It's all good."
"It's all good? Good. Everything's good!"
"Good?"
"Yep."
"Alright folks, THAT'S A WRAP!"
Clapping dominates the next ten seconds of set activity.
Now is the time for PA's like me to shine. We take everything down and pack it up. We wrapped at about 6p.m. and I was out of there by 7p.m. The DOP gave me a big hug and said it was a pleasure, yet again, to work with me. He said he enjoyed my blog about him, but I refuse to mention his name here because I don't want them reading anymore. I feel like the slightest mistake even on technicalities will shun my already weakened reputation. The second AD said she hadn't talked to me the entire time, and I said that's because I was ignoring her. We both laughed.
Towards the end of my time there the sun was going down and I met the director in the parking lot.
"Had fun today?"
"Absolutely."
"You loved it didnt you."
Nods.
"Isn't it great working with a team, where everyone is close and friendly and cooperative."
I told him that my last three set visits were good ones because of the team of people. I haven't had trouble with anyone on set. People on his sets are generally friendlier than the generic crew of big productions.
"I'm glad you ejnoyed my team. I'm out man, I'll see you at your work." Then he gave me his boxset of The Shield season one and he was out of there with his overcoat and satchel and long and hindering gait.
Isn't it great working with a team.
The one thing I was thinking about when he said this was SouthPaw.
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