There was a local kid who auditioned for We Got The Beat. His name was Rob Russ. He was awesome. I wasn’t sure where exactly he fit in the movie, so in true AA FILMS fashion, Andrea and I decided to create a role for him. He’s super funny and he will stand out in the movie. I’m wondering what audiences will think about our cast. We have a good number of roles being cast out of Hollywood, but we are also casting the majority of supporting roles locally. What do people want to see? All known talent? A mixture? I love seeing new people on screen. It makes me feel like I am doing more than just making a movie, I’m also giving unknown talent a chance to do something they love.
I know. This is hard for me. I want the Celtics to win because there are many people I love out here in MA that want them to win, and quite frankly, their lively hood seams to depend on it, but I am a Lakers fan. I want them to beat the Celtics down to a tiny bubble of a team. The Celtics do seem to be a stronger team though. Remember Celtic fans… what ever victories you get, you are getting them against a Laker team that is missing one of their big three, Andrew Bynum. Imagine having the Celtics play without Pierce, Allen, or Garnet, although… many would argue that Garnet hasn’t really been there anyway.
Today I finalized more locations with the production designers. I also got the script to a point where it won’t be changing much at all – although I will be changing it. That’s just how it works. Andrea won’t want me to change it but I can’t help it. Actually before I go to bed tonight I think I’ll spend some time working on the script, trying to cut it down by a couple pages.
I’m not really one to toot my own horn, or… yank my own chain, or… spin my own bottle, but I am one of the better rappers when it comes to performance and lyrical genius. It’s just something I was thinking about on a Friday. If making movies doesn’t work out for me then I am going to take Nation 6 on the road. The only weird thing would be… if we do end up getting Justin Timberlake in our movie, he might be offended.
I have some people, who may or may not unmistakably be from L.A., who are trying to tell me who I should or shouldn’t cast in this movie. As the director I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on what I want out of the roles, and as the writer I feel like I have a pretty good idea of what I was going for when i wrote them. The question is, should I cast the movie solely on what I believe is best, or should I make decisions that incorporate the market value of the person I am trying to cast? Personally, I think I have to take it all in to consideration, but what do you think? Casting is one of the biggest decisions in a film. It can make or break your movie.
We watched the Laker game last night. Sorry, I call it “The Laker Game” because I am a Laker fan. At the 3rd period break we ran over to the Price Chopper to get some snacks. On the way back we were hit with a thunderstorm that produced rain falling sideways and up from the ground, it seemed at times. We were drenched. Mind you, we (Kaz the music producer and Dave the production manager) were all in flip flops running through the streets carrying groceries. Branches were falling, lighting was hitting trees, and we had all kinds of sh%# in our eyes, Anyway, all I could think… how great it is to be in New England making this movie. These are the times I will not forget. I love the rain. We don’t get much of it in LA so I sometimes I pay my neighbors to spray me with their hose.
The air conditioner was mixed and working all day. That is most certainly a highlight. Yizzay for that. The other highlight would be the incredible people I am working with. Andrea (The producer) and Dave (The Production Manager) have found an incredible group of people to work on this movie. I will mention them all at some point, but here are two that have really hit the ground running. Alecia Jean Orsini and Christina Bauer head up our production design team. In a word, they are “incredible”. I am blown away by their organizational skills, their welcoming personalities and their creative insight. I couldn’t ask for a better production design team. They are the best. It is so great to be here in New England working on this movie with such an amazing group of people.
I had no sleep my first night here because it was just too hot. I don’t know why, but I find it difficult to fall asleep when my body is sticky and moist like a freshly birthed alien child from Aliens. The air conditioning wasn’t working in the office either, so I spent most of the day in slow motion. It’s hard to do things, let alone think, when heat is walking around slapping you in the face all day. We did get a lot done, but I don’t know if I can handle it if we don’t get that air conditioner in the office fixed.
I flew Jet Blue to come out here. Why? I wanted to be able to watch the Lakers/Celtics game if, by chance, it were on during my flying experience. Wait, sorry,… I mean… jetting experience. Jet Blue says, “Thank you for Jetting with us”. The best part of my “Jetting” experience was jetting on the runway for 3 1/2 hours before taking off. All in all the trip out East from LA was a good one. I am very excited to be making this movie so I didn’t mind spending some extra time on the runway. One little added fact: I sat next to the mother of the new star of Adam Sandler’s next movie, Bedtime Stories. The odd thing is I taught him at at a performing arts camp in LA last Summer. His name is Jonathan Morgan Heit. He might be the most talent kid I’ve seen in a long time.
One little added fact: I sat next to the mother of the new star of Adam Sandler’s next movie, Bedtime Stories. The odd thing is I taught him at at a performing arts camp in LA last Summer. His name is Jonathan Morgan Heit. He might be the most talent kid I’ve seen in a long time.
