Well, the first day is officially in the books and, much like the line for "Dark Knight" tickets at the local Shreveport multiplex this weekend, it was long and sweaty. I can't say I was surprised since we wisely decided to film in the deep South just as the summer heat and humidity really gets going. But that is no consolation when you are sitting around waiting for things to get set up in 90 degree heat and you feel that first bead of sweat trace its way from the middle of your back down your spine and into your buttcrack...and it's only 9:15am.
As first days go, or at least so I'm told, ours was pretty light and went off rather smoothly. The only hitch in our giddyup occurred just before lunch when Suki (the DP) and Bob Bates (the Lead Electrician, aka Gaffer) blew a circuit breaker while setting up for a shot because they plugged in every light they could fit in the door. It was a relatively quick fix since...SHOCKER...plugging floodlights into domestic light sockets tends to make things not work so good and, as such, the malfunction was not unexpected.
Ultimately, I learned two things today:
1) Diet Coke is like currency on the set of a film. I don't know how many times I heard the words "sugar free" and "carbs" today, but it was well over two dozen and most of them were related to that most splendid of thirst-quenching calorie-free beverages.
2) Keri Lynn Pratt looks absolutely stunning through the lens of a camera. Don't get me wrong, she is very pretty in real life, but you put her in a tight shot on screen where she has to smile or laugh and it's like an explosion of beauty. This may sound like a little bit of hyperbole and who knows, you might be right, it's just that this is the first time I've seen that happen in person, on a screen. The most important thing, though, is that I can't get in trouble for saying any of this stuff since she and TheFiancee have become pretty fast friends and TheFiancee not only agrees but knew that would happen without even needing to see a single frame.
The best part is that Tucker, despite all his early protestations and misgivings about Keri, saw it too. Between shots, she came over to where we were sitting and we had this exchange:
Nils: By the way Keri, you looked absolutely phenomenal in that last shot.
Tucker: Yeah, I mean you're obviously good looking in person, but if you looked as good in real life as you do on screen, I would probably try to date you.
Keri: Gee, thanks Tucker. See I told you, you were wrong about me. Maybe by the end of this shoot you'll believe me.
T: Not until you sleep with me.
K: That's never going to happen.
T: We'll see.
N: Shit, I hope we don't. 'Cuz if we do, it means you were RIGHT about her.
That, and some actually, ya know, movie-making 'n stuff, is the first day of principal photography in a nutshell. Only 29 more to go...
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