Mechanical. That’s the word I felt the most today. Much like the way a computer operates, traditional films follow an elaborate set of rules and conventions. I mentioned the terminology yesterday. Beside that there are actions that must go in order.

Set. Sound. Camera rolling. Sound rolling. Everyone speeding. Everyone set. Now action.

Rinse. Repeat.

They have marks that they must hit and focal lengths and focus points that stay the same. If a light goes on? Striking. If you walk in front of the camera? Crossing. There is a board that tells the camera every scene, every take.

Rehearse. Block. Cheat camera left. Rehearse. The process feels endless. Is this frame good?

On a 16-day shoot the scenes feel completely disconnected. Of couse, it doesn’t help that the film is still untitled. But somehow, in the end, the magic of movies comes together and we get a nice story, with great lighting and sellable dialogue and acting. Everything else that happens is more or less lost until the special features on the DVD are released.

I have been here for five hours so far. There is only so many shots of people adjusting lights and moving marks one can shoot, right? I’m averaging about 100 decent photos each day. Much less than I anticipated, but more than currently feels necessary. Weird.

+Joe+