View
Originally uploaded by Peggy Archer.
View from the roof of Hollywood Center's Stage 6.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Never Believe Anything I Say.
At the last minute, I got added on for one more day.
Since I've been the "up high guy" for the whole rig - running cable, dropping out power where they need it, etc., the gaffer insisted that they keep me on for the first shoot day, just in case they needed me. I didn't do too much work (well, setting up my hammock was work), but the day was kind of fun anyway. Three camera shows are new to me. I've rigged and wrapped them, but never been there on a shoot day.
They work much differently than single camera shows*.
The cast came in at call, rehearsed all day, and then, about 7 pm, the audience came in and were seated in the bleachers. A 'warm-up' act (some stand up comedian) kept the people laughing while we finished getting ready for the shoot. Then, they introduced the cast and started shooting.
What seemed so strange to me is that they shot it in sequence - like a play. They'd start the scene and run it to the end. When it was time for them to move into the next room (the sets are end to end with the open sides facing the bleachers), the director would yell "Reset!" and the camera operators would push the cameras (they're on these big wheeled platforms) to the front of the next set where they'd do the next piece. If there was any amount of down time between scenes (such as a big wardrobe change or a set redressing, the comedian would come out and 'work' the audience. He'd tell jokes, give away t-shirts, and generally distract the audience from whatever boring technical shit was happening. When they were ready again, the bell would ring, the AD's would call 'rolling', and they'd do the same weird thing all over again.
Freaky.
In movie world, you start on one set, shoot until you're done, and then move on - relighting every time the camera angle changes. To see something shot in sequence like that was odd..
Oh, the show's called "Lucky Louie" (airing who-knows-when on HBO), and the lead actress is also the voice of Bobby Hill.
TIP: should you ever be in the audience of a sitcom, bring a sweater. As soon as the cast walked onto the stage in the morning, the AC got cranked up to 'frozen tundra'. I had the heat rising off the lights to keep me warm, but I saw a few of the audience members shivering (the other crew members, being 'three camera' veterans, had all worn sweaters into work).
* Sitcoms are called "Three Camera Shows" (although this one has four), and are shot in front of a live audience.
"Single Camera Shows" (although most use two cameras) are shot more like a movie, and never, ever have an audience. One hour dramas are "Single Camera".
Since I've been the "up high guy" for the whole rig - running cable, dropping out power where they need it, etc., the gaffer insisted that they keep me on for the first shoot day, just in case they needed me. I didn't do too much work (well, setting up my hammock was work), but the day was kind of fun anyway. Three camera shows are new to me. I've rigged and wrapped them, but never been there on a shoot day.
They work much differently than single camera shows*.
The cast came in at call, rehearsed all day, and then, about 7 pm, the audience came in and were seated in the bleachers. A 'warm-up' act (some stand up comedian) kept the people laughing while we finished getting ready for the shoot. Then, they introduced the cast and started shooting.
What seemed so strange to me is that they shot it in sequence - like a play. They'd start the scene and run it to the end. When it was time for them to move into the next room (the sets are end to end with the open sides facing the bleachers), the director would yell "Reset!" and the camera operators would push the cameras (they're on these big wheeled platforms) to the front of the next set where they'd do the next piece. If there was any amount of down time between scenes (such as a big wardrobe change or a set redressing, the comedian would come out and 'work' the audience. He'd tell jokes, give away t-shirts, and generally distract the audience from whatever boring technical shit was happening. When they were ready again, the bell would ring, the AD's would call 'rolling', and they'd do the same weird thing all over again.
Freaky.
In movie world, you start on one set, shoot until you're done, and then move on - relighting every time the camera angle changes. To see something shot in sequence like that was odd..
Oh, the show's called "Lucky Louie" (airing who-knows-when on HBO), and the lead actress is also the voice of Bobby Hill.
TIP: should you ever be in the audience of a sitcom, bring a sweater. As soon as the cast walked onto the stage in the morning, the AC got cranked up to 'frozen tundra'. I had the heat rising off the lights to keep me warm, but I saw a few of the audience members shivering (the other crew members, being 'three camera' veterans, had all worn sweaters into work).
* Sitcoms are called "Three Camera Shows" (although this one has four), and are shot in front of a live audience.
"Single Camera Shows" (although most use two cameras) are shot more like a movie, and never, ever have an audience. One hour dramas are "Single Camera".
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Look out world, here I come.
Today will be my last day on the sitcom - the rig's done, the prelight's finished, and they'll only keep a small crew on for the rest of the show.
About fucking time too. I'm so ready to move to something else.
The film industry creates adrenaline junkies - I've gotten used to a new place every day or so and after two weeks of staring at the same four walls and six people*, I'm going nuts.
The one thing I have been liking a lot has been the short days (although the long days do pay well). We've been working 10 hour days every day, meaning that I've been able to go out with friends, rent videos, brush the cat, etc.. All the things I normally can't do when I'm at work from early morning to midnight.
Best video rental of the week: Layer Cake. Damn, what a great movie. I think I'm going to have to buy it next time I'm at Sony.
*Don't get me wrong - I really like this group of guys. If I had to get cooped up on a stage for two weeks, this is the group I'd have chosen.
About fucking time too. I'm so ready to move to something else.
The film industry creates adrenaline junkies - I've gotten used to a new place every day or so and after two weeks of staring at the same four walls and six people*, I'm going nuts.
The one thing I have been liking a lot has been the short days (although the long days do pay well). We've been working 10 hour days every day, meaning that I've been able to go out with friends, rent videos, brush the cat, etc.. All the things I normally can't do when I'm at work from early morning to midnight.
Best video rental of the week: Layer Cake. Damn, what a great movie. I think I'm going to have to buy it next time I'm at Sony.
*Don't get me wrong - I really like this group of guys. If I had to get cooped up on a stage for two weeks, this is the group I'd have chosen.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
It's true.. We are all evil.
Yesterday was rehearsal day - three camera shows rehearse and light for the first part of the week, and shoot Fridays in front of a live audience.
One of the guys has his grandma in town from the midwest, and he brought her to the set yesterday - just so she could see what a TV set looks like.
The scene being rehearsed yesterday was one in which the lead actor repeatedly uses the word "cunt". I think he said it at least 30 times, as they kept running that scene over and over.
Did I mention that his grandma is the religious type?
He said he warned her that it was an HBO sitcom, so there might be some bad language, but still - of all the scenes they could have been running they chose the 'cunt' scene.
Grandma left pretty quickly.
One of the guys has his grandma in town from the midwest, and he brought her to the set yesterday - just so she could see what a TV set looks like.
The scene being rehearsed yesterday was one in which the lead actor repeatedly uses the word "cunt". I think he said it at least 30 times, as they kept running that scene over and over.
Did I mention that his grandma is the religious type?
He said he warned her that it was an HBO sitcom, so there might be some bad language, but still - of all the scenes they could have been running they chose the 'cunt' scene.
Grandma left pretty quickly.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Why is that damned sun so bright?
Out WAY too late at a post-Emmy party (where some bitch spilled an Appletini down the back of my dress, so I was sticky and smelled like that nasty apple pucker all night).
Good thing I don't have to be at work until 2 pm.
Friday, I had wondered why the DP wanted to come in to work so late, but now I'm glad.
Good thing I don't have to be at work until 2 pm.
Friday, I had wondered why the DP wanted to come in to work so late, but now I'm glad.
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