Five Days Down, Eight to Go...

The first five days of production on "A Glimpse of the Soul" are now behind me, and I get a brief day-off, a reprieve from the focus of production.

I got lucky again. The team that surrounds me on set (from actors to crew to the production staff) is outstanding. I don't remember ever being so enabled to simply direct, especially when it comes to the kind of dramatic, stuff we've been making.

For the first time, I'm able to tune in to the specific performance patterns of my actors. I've been able to notice who needs a few takes to warm up a performance, and who goes stale if we re-take too many times. I don't remember ever being able to watch a take, give a direction, and see a performance improve. It's happening consistently, and I credit the team for giving me the clarity of mind to be able to make it happen.

I've been pushing the camera team a lot, too. For the first time yesterday, I challenged them with a shot that we never quite felt 100% about. It involved pushing in on an object, following it and keeping it in focus on a lens that could only give us a very shallow depth of field. After I don't remember how many takes, we simply had to move on, shoot something else. I like pushing the camera team, but feel badly for them when they don't quite succeed in getting the shot. I don't want them feeling inept -- the shot was a really challenging one, after all! If we find ourselves with a bit of spare time later in the shoot, we might try the shot again.

For now, I've got to decide how to use my day off. I've got more storyboarding and shot-listing to do for tomorrow, and there are bills to pay and chores to complete, but I also want to make sure I kick back a little. Production is a very focused, very intense time for me. I come home exhausted, more from the mental exercises of the day than from any physical labor. Maybe I'll catch a matinee.

-Arnon