Well, dear readers, I have to say, and so I shall say, that there is little that gives me more pleasure than to sit in a rehearsal room watching a choreographer work with good dancer/singers, bringing a number to life. It just gives me such joy and joy is what I had last night when I attended a rehearsal for the Outside the Box musical numbers we’re shooting on Friday. This time there are three ensemble numbers out of the six. I arrived about an hour into rehearsal because I don’t like to make anybody nervous while they’re creating. Our wonderful choreographer, Kay Cole, had just finished one of the numbers featuring Nick Santa Maria and the ensemble. I wish I could tell you what the show is, but you know we always like that to be a surprise. But the number was VERY funny and as I watched it I figured out how to shoot it, and what angles I definitely want for it. I gave just a couple of notes, she finessed it, and then I left the room so she could get the next number on its feet. Then I saw that one, and it’s a hoot and a half. Subtle movement things only because the song is very fast and has virtually non-stop lyrics from start to finish. Then I left her to do the third number. I came in when it was halfway done, saw that she was on the right track, and felt comfortable enough to let her finish without me having to see it. So, we’re in very good shape for Friday, in terms of the group numbers.
After that, I was so damn hungry (I hadn’t eaten since eleven-thirty in the morning) that I said damn it all, forgot my Cobb salad diet, and had a foot long spicy Eyetalian sandwich from the Subway and boy did it do the trick. The trick it did was the interlocking rings – I love that trick and I can never figure out how it’s done. Prior to all that, I’d gotten up at eight to have a telephonic meeting on the telephonic device. It was a very nice conversation, I got all the information I needed to make a decision (which I will make this day), and I think I’m probably going to accept the offer that was presented to me. I see no downside to it, and there are all kinds of upsides so it’s not really that hard a decision, frankly. After that, I got up, answered e-mails, did some banking, and then the East Coast Singer and the Pianist came over and we went to have an early lunch. I, of course, had my Cobb salad – I know it’s weird to eat one every day, but I’m just really on this kick and I simply don’t get tired of it. The ingredients are varied enough where it doesn’t bore me. Whilst we dined, we went through the show and I dictated all the patter, which the Singer entered into her computer. Then we came back and ran the show from start to finish again. I made on more song switch and asked them to add one more uptempo song, which we figured out right then and there and placed it where it would go. For something that’s been thrown together in a matter of hours, it actually plays really well, and the patter ideas all worked perfectly. I even came up with some staging basic ideas while she was running it. It’s amazing what you can do if you just focus on the task at hand knowing that it simply must get done. Then they left, I finessed her patter and sent it to her, then I got the approval for our next project, which we’ll hopefully announce on Monday morning. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Yesterday, I watched the first hour of a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Twilight’s Last Gleaming, starring Mr. Burt Lancaster, directed by Mr. Robert Aldrich. It’s neither’s finest hour, although I do know the film has its fans. I always want to like it better than I do, but it just doesn’t quite make it for me. But the cast is fine, the score by Jerry Goldsmith is very good, and it all moves along at a steady clip. The transfer is excellent.
Then I went to the rehearsal and the rest you know. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really must get a good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, I shall be up by eight, then I’ll get ready and get to The Federal by ten to do our first shoot of the day. We’re there until noon, shooting the first set-up scene. Then we’ll probably just stay there and have some lunch, after which we’ll go back to my house to do the second set-up scene. I was going to shoot it in the den, but since the actor’s friend is a musical director, I thought it would be fun to shoot facing the grand piano in the living room. That way it’s a totally different look we haven’t had before, and since we shot the Hal Linden set-up scene facing the other way, you’ll never know it’s the same room. After that, the Singer and the Pianist will come and we’ll run the show one more time, after which we’ll probably have a bite to eat. And I’ll have made the big decision, which involves Outside the Box, and which I believe will take us to a new and better level.
Tomorrow is our long day, starting at nine and finishing at six, shooting six musical numbers in a row. Happily only three feature the ensemble and the other three are either duets or solos and those go pretty quickly. Two of my regular pianists are coming by and I’ll shoot each playing the piano and use one for each episode. We always enjoy having a cutaway of the piano player at some point. The weekend is mine all mine, although I will write my commentary for the Kritzerland show (thankfully I’ve already figured out the show order), and write some more liner notes. Sunday night I’m seeing a one-person show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, shoot two set-up scenes for Outside the Box, eat, rehearse, and perhaps have a small bite after. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite motion pictures having to do with politics? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which it will be day one of shooting episodes three and four.