Whenever I have watched a film, whether it be an Indie film such as Juno or a mainstream blockbuster like Titanic, the end result always looks amazing and my perception, as is the perception of many is “poof” it all just magically appeared.  No one takes into account the lighting, sound, camera angles, musical score, rehearsal, emotion given by the actors, skill of the director, words of the writer and the funds it takes to make this magic.  It takes a village for certain, and with my recent visit to a movie set I found myself impressed with the effort of approximately 20 people coming together to film a 2 minute dialogue only scene between two very talented individuals.  Standing just feet away from the incredibly talented Stanley Tucci and behind the chair of Director/Writer Neil LaBute seemed quite surreal to me.  Though I am not a stranger to being on set, this time it seemed very different. Perhaps it’s because I am venturing into film finance in the near term and I am appreciating what an undertaking it is in order to create quality content in film.  Whatever it is, I cannot wait to begin and be part of this process.

One of the most interesting parts of being onset was the synergies and energies shared between all of the parties.  Like a finely tuned orchestra, once the pieces were in place, the rehearsals and run-throughs completed, and the word “action” spoken, everything flowed very seamlessly.  And I actually wondered, how can these virtual strangers make such a wonderful piece of art? It’s not only about the talent that is in front of the camera, the talent behind is just as crucial.  I observed a young man positioning a light outside of the window and then running up two flights of stairs to check it and then back down again he went.  He did this over 4 times in a 10 minute period.  Finally, he completed his task, and to my novice eye, I saw very little difference.  But the director, the actors and the director of photography all in synchronicity yelled “perfect”.  That is what makes a film great or even an award winner, the attention and dedication to detail, the message it conveys and also the enjoyment of viewing the final product.

I am really looking forward to being on set again in the near term, perhaps even having some creative input when my opinion is called upon.  I have always been and will always be a great lover of film, staying till all the credits have rolled and the lights come on in the theatre.  For me being on this set gave me a sense of privilege which I admittedly enjoyed.  To me it wasn’t as important to be standing next to a known actor or director, it was being there at the point of creation when something really amazing was being born.

– Gina