Well, dear readers, it was another fun day of shooting. Yesterday was devoted to the two set-up scenes for the episodes. We arrived at Angus McIndoe on 44th Street at 11:45. They were so gracious and terrific – providing drinks and water and even food for the scene between Beth Leavel and Barry Pearl. It took the cameraman and I about fifteen minutes to figure out which “look” we wanted – a table against windows out of which you could seem the Phantom Of The Opera marquee or a brick wall. The lighting ultimately precluded doing the window shot, since we didn’t have enough front lighting – and when you try to bring up the exposure to get the faces seen then the window light gets blown out. So, the brick wall it was, which actually made for a very pleasing shot. We did one rehearsal and then began shooting. I did two takes of everything, but Beth and Barry were so good that the second takes were basically just for protection. We did a master shot, two over the shoulder shots and two singles. It all went very quickly and I had a very good time saying my lines off-camera – I play a character in the show who’s never seen, only heard. Once again, Beth is just an incredibly natural funny person and she wrung every little nuance out of the three-page scene. And Barry, who mostly was reacting to what she was saying in her phone conversation, was also very funny.
We then packed up, did a couple of exterior shots of the restaurant and then headed over to Brad Oscar’s lovelier than lovely apartment a few blocks away. Again, it took a little while to figure out how to block the scene and camera, but we got it and then began shooting. Brad was hilarious, and his ever-lovin’ Diego’s reactions were terrific. I think we did three takes of a couple of angles, but mostly it was two and we did the exact same kind of coverage – a master, two over the shoulders, and two singles. We had a sound cord go bad so our cameraman ran out and got a replacement right down the street. We wrapped early then went over to Barry’s apartment so we could get today’s shoot and sound onto the backup hard drive and my computer. That took about an hour or so. Barry had a show, so the sound guy and our production assistant Gina and I went over to Joe Allen. We were soon joined by Mr. Kevin Spirtas. The food was great, and the conversation was lively and sparkling. At one point my old friend Jane Krakowski came in with friends. I don’t think I’d seen her for nine years. She looked gorgeous, as always, especially amazing since she’d just given birth to a beautiful baby boy. We had a nice hug and brief chat and then she joined her dining companions. Then we were joined by one of the dancers from the day before and then by Sarah Rice, the original Johanna from Sweeney Todd. We’d been wanting to meet each other, and she’s a delightfully delightful lady. All in all, it was a pretty wonderful day.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get my beauty sleep as I must be up very early in the morning to be on my way home to the City of Studio.
Today, I shall be up at five-thirty in the morning and my car will be here at six. I shall then be on my way to the airport and then be on my way back to the City of Studio. Please send lots of excellent vibes and xylophones for good weather and a safe, secure, and on-time flight.
Once home, I shall unpack, print out all the orders that have accumulated since Monday, do the four-mile jog, eat something light but amusing, return telephonic calls, and then relax.
Tomorrow and the rest of the week will be spent catching up on things, getting sheet music out of storage, getting the material to our editor (if he’s back in town), finishing the rest of the scripts for the web series, and doing errands and whatnot.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be on my way back to the City of Studio, I must print orders, answer e-mails, return telephonic calls, pick up packages, do a four-mile jog and eat something light but amusing, as well as relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which I shall be on my way home to the City of Studio – and do send those excellent vibes and xylophones for good weather and a safe, secure, and on-time flight.