That old ennui...

Without warning, and entirely against the desires of its residents, winter has come to Cleveland. Multiple feet of the dreaded cold white stuff has been dumped on us, and it seems as though there is more to come.

The end of the year is just around the corner, change coming steadily but inevitably, and I find myself becoming far too introspective than is good for my mental health.

Being a morbid sort of person at heart, each year I look around and wonder why this year was any different from the ones that proceeded it. And, admittedly, most years’ positives and negatives tend to cancel themselves out. Bills were paid, but no progress made in writing. Had my health, but had nothing more to show for my efforts. Its no wonder I get mopey and thoughtful around this time of year.

I’d be lying if I denied that that old Ennui is creeping back into my bones. That deep, thoughtful sadness that typically can only be located in black and white French films where the characters subsist on nothing but coffee and cigarettes. Call it the Blues, call it SAD, call it reality... but lately I find myself thinking back on the failures of the year gone by.

Even with hours upon hours spent with new friends having exciting experiences, I still feel awkward in social situations. I finally found a day job at the institution I’ve been applying to for years... only to have the position be a temp assignment. Granted, it was a temp assignment that could have gone perm, but that carrot has recently been retracted because of an onslaught of legal technicalities.

But even while my psyche is in the grips of a brooding mood, in many ways, this year was really one of the best. Next May will mark my second year as a freelance writer – when I first started I didn’t know if I’d last more than a month. I got to work on ‘Dark of Moon’, meet the Mooner cast and crew, and I got the chance to help out with ‘Chill.’ I organized and started working on my TV Pilot thanks to two consummate pros, a shoestring budget, and some very understanding friends. And – someday in the distant future, when the stars align – we might be able to shoot a scene.

I understand the way life works well enough to know it will all even out in the end. But even in the most logical of people Ennui can stop by on a cold winter’s night and roost for a while.

Things I learned at the Tredara shoot this weekend:

1) DJ will - one way or another - be getting his own personal keg for the wrap party. You know you're in the presence of a fun drunk when the beer-loving Druids start saying they want to give them a beer just to see what they'll do next.

2) If you decide to sleep in your car you'll feel strangely disconnected from the rest of the group... until you wake up the next morning and everyone else is complaining about sleeping on the cold hard ground. Booyah for reclining seats.

3) Everyone has exponentially more fun filming when we're not rolling sound.

4) All of the good takes of make-out scenes should instantly go up on Facebook. And here's Exhibit A: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1333563103#!/video/video.php?v=147997631899364&ref=mf

5) I need to get the BOOM rules and cue cards ready. And sooner rather than later.

6) Nothing made the cast and crew happier than having an excuse to race around the meadow in Sue and Ian's golf cart. Nirvana is an electric car and a green patch to zip across.

7) Pot lucked food is more for dinner and late night munchies, when it comes to breakfast you're on your own.

8) Madison Ohio is heaven on earth, and the close proximity of delicious breakfast-based greasy spoons only proves that further.

9) Noelle was right: we still have a ways to go before things are picture perfect... but I believe if we keep her suggestions in mind, we're off to a great start.

And Now, A Word From Our Co-Producer

Howdy all. Your co-producer Leigh here, in her first 'Dark of Moon' related blog post.

Now, despite having experience with independent shoots before, I have to say things are somewhat different from the co-producer's chair. The decisions are strangely personal, and knowing what our DP, Ass-Prod, and Writer/Co-Producer/Creator o' Worlds think has become critical. Unlike some of my earlier projects, everyone at the top is on the same wavelength and coming up with the same conclusions. And man oh man... is that ever a good feeling!

But like any new experience, I've been learning things about the process of film-making as we go forward. And I thought I might share a few things I've learned so far, just during the first round of auditions for Dark of Moon:

* SOMETIMES IT'S JUST NOT YOUR DAY - We've seen dozens of talented and ambitious actors audition for us. Actors with stellar resumes and true, honest skills. But if they can't make us see them playing one of the characters, we have to wince and move forward. We've already start thinking of how we could write several people into a project further down the line... but that's not helping things right now.

* THE AMOUNT OF TALENT IN 'NEO' IS OBSCENE - Don't get me wrong. We had more than a few 'American Idol' moments during the audition. (Our DP Noelle had to physically restrain herself from screaming 'Next!' once or twice.) But, overall, we have some damn talented people up here. I fully expect to be as blown away during our second round of auditions as I was during our first.

* LOOKING AT AN ACTOR'S AUDITION FOOTAGE IS CRUCIAL - People we thought were spot-on, can suddenly seem just a little off. And actors who we were less than impressive start looking like George Clooney. The suave can look goofy and the drama queens can come across as subdued. And at the end of the day, it's how a person looks on film that counts.

* I SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN BOOZE OF ANY KIND WHILE REVIEWING BAD AUDITION FOOTAGE - Let's just leave it at that.

- Leigh, Production Goddess

Cross Posted To the Official 'Dark of Moon' movie blog