Monday, December 15, 2008

I Love Show B'dness


Last night, I was standing on the cold concrete floor of some factory closed for the week end listening to an Oklahoma sleet storm attacking the metal roof, and watching the last of the principle photography on another movie - not mine. The writer/director/lead had just dried himself off, changed shirts and donned a coat. His last scene was outside in the sleet... in a T-shirt. The opening scene for his movie. Now he was trying hard to remember what shots he absolutely had to get before he shut everything down and went into post production mode. It was midnight. And I thought... what is it I like about this movie making stuff again?

A week ago, I was in Michigan catching a Rosie Thomas show (an RT Christmas tour must become a tradition if Christmas is to continue as we know it). I stopped into a Barnes and Noble just for fun and pre-ordered a copy of "Treasure Blind". "That should be arriving on February 10th," the clerk announced knowingly. I thanked him and grinned all the way out the door. I also found it on the radar of the Lifeway Christian Bookstore, although that clerk said, "To be honest, I've never heard of 'Treasure Blind' before." I knew that, but it made me think about things. Our little movie was about to be sitting on the shelf next to real movies. I wonder if it will find any friends. Anyone to eat lunch with? I hope somebody likes it. What if no one does? What if it's a big lonely failure? What is it I like about this movie making stuff again?

So anyway, I'm working on my next script. It's agonizing, and draining, and ultimately frustrating. I love it. I just can't explain why to any rational or sane person. But I take comfort in the fact that, if you're an artist of any kind, you totally get it.

1 comment:

Rich Deem said...

May God continue to bless you.