For the “car crash” scene in “City Island” (yes, even quirky romantic family comedies need a good car crash) we mounted our lovely brand new 35mm Arricam on the back of our not so lovely 1970 Ford Galaxy. There was a lot of talk about how to achieve the car
Below are two clips from a scene which takes place on the Roosevelt Island Tram. For those unfamiliar with Manhattan and it’s satellitte islands, Roosevelt Island is a strange little place located to the east of Manhattan, on which for many years the only thing of any importance was a
In my experience there are three kinds of improvising actors: those that can, those can can’t, and those that think they can but really shouldn’t bother. Ezra Miller belongs to none of the above categories. He belongs to one of the rarest of all actor categories: those that MUST improvise
Apropos of my discussion the other day of the absurd contraption known as the “process trailer”, here are two charming and telling moments, showing Julianna in the one and Andy in the other, each alone–trapped–in the car trying to figure out how best to get started. Directing via walkie-talkie is
Two clips below, featuring Steven Strait and Dominik Garcia: they’re driving in a car. Sounds simple, right? NOTHING IN MOVIES IS SIMPLE. This mini-moment involved mounting the Honda Element onto a contraption called a “process trailer”–an insane device that is, essentially, a trailer on which you mount the car you’re
I have the odd feeling, having worked with the ineffably charming and wildly professional Emily Mortimer, that I’ve worked with an “obit-definer”. Do you know what that is? Well, think about it. When we die, if we deserve a public obit at all, it tends to be about things that
The above machine is a movieola, the ancient industry standard editing machine. I’m old enough to have actually learned to work one–it was on its last legs and flatbeds (remember them?) were already in use. Currently we’re editing on Final Cut Pro. I’m also old enough to remember when convincing
I’ve received a number of questions from various readers and thought I’d address a handful of them in no particular order.First: the most fun scene to shoot? Andy Garcia going on his first “audition”, lousing it up horribly and then unexpectedly being asked to do an improv at which he
Somehow the past three days vanished in a haze of life-cathing-up errands, phone calls and the truly transitionary shift from production to post. Said “transition” for me takes the form of a particularly strange anxiety dream–this exact dream has happened to me after every movie. In it, I am standing
One of the delights of the shoot of “City Island” was observing the genuinely warm and admiring friendship between Andy Garcia and the great Alan Arkin. Alan plays the role of the “great and failed acting teacher Michael Malakov” (as Emily’s character Molly characterizes him) and though he’s only in