GLIDING THE SKY

YEEHAWWWWWWW!!!!! A new weapon to add to my arsenal!
I got this tuesday evening. This very expensive package costs a hefty sum and now it’s within my hands! It’s partial payment for a film script I’m writing for my old friend and fellow filmmaker, GI JOE

I have never written a film script for anyone. I basically write for myself. But Joe and I have been helping each other out thru the years. He did most of the intricate sound designs in my works back then when the term digital was just applied to musical scoring and MIDI was in the “ IN “ term.

I on the other hand acted in his films. Usually playing a villain.( Figures doesn’t it? )
Most of the time I enjoyed it but there was a time I was hanging 70 feet above a cavern lake. With no safety rope, I was clinging with my bare hands and had to climb thru a jagged wall while carrying a backpack filled with rocks. After huffing and puffing my way on top.

JOE: “ Ok let’s do another take! “

Oh yeah easy for him to say. I have to do the climbing down and then hanging by my bare hands routine. So I go down and I clench my teeth and hold on to dear life.

FLIM: “ READY WHEN YOU ARE! “

JOE: “ Wait I have to meter the light.

And Stands up over the edge and takes his sweet time taking light meter readings
while I hanged on to dear life.

FLIM: “ Well? “

JOE: “ Wait….5.6…uhm foot candles…hmmm lets…

I tried to find a notch in the rock to cleave my booths on. But the damn wall is just too slippery.

FLIM: ”BETTER HURRY…I’…”

JOE:” OK ! ACTION! “

I climbed again and this time my face had this determined look, Of course I had a determined look. I was determined not to fall into the lake below with its dark waters filled with BAT GUANO…Or at least that’s what I hoped it was.

JOE:” Ok..lets do another take.”

I just stood there and looked at him.

JOE: “ This time I want you to have this determined look.

FLIM: “ I already have a determined look.”

JOE: “ Well let’s have a more determined look.”

We were both directors but it was his film and that means he is the captain and all I could do is to obey. I just hoped that they can recover and identify what’s left of me when I do slip.

After the ninth take, he must have seen my most determined look because he said that it was perfect!

Another notable moment was when we were shooting my fight scene. He said that it was my big moment.

JOE: “ Ok we are going put squibs all over you and then when I
say action….”

FLIM: “ WAIT!WAIT!WAIT! SQUIBS? You mean as in
pyrothecnics Is this going to hurt? “

JOE: “ I don’t know . I haven’t tried it myself.”

FLIM: “ Are you going to give me a signal when they will detonate? “

JOE: “ I don’t think I should. I want you get surprised when you get hit so…when they do explode …you’d be surprised.”

FLIM: “ That’s very STANISSLAVSKY! BUT ISNT THOSE
THINGS DANGEROUS?

I read that certain squibs exploded inward instead of outward and that they can burn you with the flashes.never thought that I was going to be at the recieving end of a squib.But hey, this is Joe. The guy who patiently layered 12 overlapping tracks for my short film opus. The sound was so good that in the CYBERPUNK film showing in Japan, the audience thought that it was a 35 mm film despite the fact that it was only in super 8.

FLIM: “ What the hell , let’s do it! “

He yelled action, gun squibs exploded all over the place and before I knew it , I collapsed with a heap of blood on me.

JOE: “ That was great! “

I’ll tell more stories about our collaborations next time. But for the moment let me rave about the steadicam system that I now have.

Initially I wasn’t so keen on getting one. I really favour the hand held, catch the moment, fly by the handle type of shooting style that is the hall mark of the documentary and cinema verite style. Im not referring to the supposed “ crazy shots” that cameramen in local noon time shows and the Philippine mtv chapter are so fond of doing. Their version of the hand held shot is way too blatant and obvious. Does not carry the marks of a true hand held shot.

So there was Joe trying to convince me to get the Steadicam gizmo.

JOE: ” You have to get one. Specially you ,( he was referring to my penchant for intricate camera moves and complicated shots! ) I can now imagine what shots you would be doing .

The irony of it all was , I spent huge amounts of time doing fluid and steady shots that seemed like it was shot using a steadicam during my early films. But in the latter ones I wanted a more unrestrained look. A more spontaneous look.

Getting a steadicam was the furthest thing from my mind.

Then one day we were on the phone discussing our individual projects. He told me about a movie script that he was developing for filming.

He then offered me to write the screenplay.

Imbue the story with my black humour.

Be glad to help, I said.

In two days I had the first act. He loved it!

I wasn’t expecting anything. So I was pleasantly surprised when he informed me that he ordered the Steadicam as a down payment for my fee as a writer.

GETTING a Steadicam is the furthest thing from my mind.

NOW I HAVE IT! I WONDER WHAT SHOTS I WOULD DO? AND I'M GIDDY AS A SCHOOL BOY.CINEMA VERITE BE DAMNED!( for the time being
at least)