Awhile back I wrote a screenplay for my screenwriting class; it was a borderline experimental film about a scientist working on a machine. He is working in an attempt to enhance human perception and is on the verge of a huge breakthrough. He is denied funding for his research and is driven to try out his experimental machine on himself. After the machine is activated he is flung into another world of perception where he has a strange journey.
It was an interesting story, so interesting that one of my friends wanted to adapt it for his final film project at the university. Well we went to work adapting it, designing, modeling and drawing out storyboards. Before we knew it we had rented equipment and assembled a cast and crew. We set up a green screen set at my friend's place downtown and made preparations for shooting.
It was all ready to go, actors, make up artist, director, camera man and enough kino light kits to blind them all. Our make up artist went to work making our 21 year old star look like a 39 year old stressed out scientist. He was one of only a couple actors we needed that day so we took care of all of his scenes where he didn't interact with others-- which were most of them. The first day of shooting went well.The second day rolls around and it begins with a bit of trouble. One of the two supporting characters we needed for our actor to interact with was not answering his phone. We had spoken to him earlier that morning and he said he was going to go home and change then he would come to the location. A few hours and multiple calls later we were in a state of panic. We had run out of things to shoot with the talent we had. We were expecting to finishing on the second day of shooting with possible pick ups done later, but now that was just not happening.
Well the equipment was returned to the university, months passed and we were presented with an opportunity to finish filming. Our friend who's house we used as a set was working on his project so we were able to use his lighting and film equipment. The date was set and talent assembled and unfortunately the unthinkable happened... My unemployment ended and I had a job again. My second day of work was scheduled the same day as the shoot and there was nothing I could do about it.
Right before leaving for work the day of I get a call from my friend the director. The actor who had no showed the previous shooting day had called and informed him that he would be unable to make the shoot... It was somehow was rescheduled for sunday, I was back in. So I now look forward to sunday ready for another day dealing with the "talent".
