Sometime ago there was a social media trend: ‘That moment
when…’. I must admit, even though I never shared a post that started with those
words – I found myself laughing when I’d speak to myself while being stuck in
traffic & the sentence started with ‘that moment when…’
A couple of months ago a great Art director called me. 24hrs
later I had said yes, was on my way to a lovely coastal city and had a bit of a
jump in my step. I was working in Art department.
Weird things happen when you work in Art department…
I’ve never had a pretty notebook. In my mind, notebooks are
practical: mine has always been those plain schoolbook types. All of a sudden I
have a green, ring binder notebook with beautiful antique clocks on the cover.
The word 'porn' gets a new definition. Not the image you just thought of. I
promise. Porn is that moment when a plan comes to life, when a reference is now
touchable and when after rigging, moving, painting & building for days a
set comes to life: its bigger than the TV screen and you walk around it looking
at the bits sourced with great care, making part of a whole.
The crew discussions centre on shoes. Yes – shoes, not celebrities
or music. Merrell, Solomons or New Balance are reckoned to be the best, but
each to its own. Standing, running, moving, rigging, climbing for long hours
everyday: comfortable shoes are a must & developing a weakness for casual
shoes: entirely possible!
Suddenly, budgets aren’t measured in camera’s per
days, but in building material, screws, cement, nail guns, pop-rivets. Its
harder to stay in a line item, because leftover pieces of wood and perspex are used in games that did not pay for it. Stuff breaks, designs are
improved, briefs change and so… well, the budget becomes set pieces. The upside
of it is – trying to explain to the Accountant where the money went: priceless,
because he smiles, because its beautifully crafted pieces, logo’s and sets.
It turns out, its all about the high-visible vest: its like
a superpower. A can do. A moment of dirtyness, turned prettiness.
No comments:
Post a Comment