OneTwentyFour
Well the time finally was upon us, after month of talking about it, it was time to actually screen the movie LEAF for the masses.
After watching it so many times ( I think in editing, at last count, we watched it about 58,432 times) we were all numb to it. So as a result, you start to wonder, "I've seen this so many times, are the hard hitting scenes still hard hitting? Are the great sounding lines still great sounding?" You just get so desensitized, doubt starts to creep in. All you see are mistakes or things that you could have filmed better.
The closest thing to compare? James Blunt's "You're Beautiful"...
... the first time you heard it? The song was harmless....but after hearing it a thousand times....you heard all kinds of parts that bothered you about it, that had never bothered you before, right? How many of you just wanted to scream and curse because you've heard it so much?
That's how editing is. So I knew, that on Thursday night....all self doubt, all insecurities would be right there on the big screen, for all to see. So I started stressing out. Now when I stress? I write it all down, that way it won't feel like it's getting too overwhelming. I documented it all. A little peek into a nervous and stressed out guy on the movie's opening day.....
4:03am-Wake up. Would go back to sleep, but I have vivid images of Entourage. When they screened MEDAILLON. And everyone boo'ed and walked out of the theater. Okay. I'm wide awake now.
5am-I've been up for an hour. Now I'm pacing. Hey, how is the dog sleeping better than me?
6:45am- Now worry has definitely set in. I shot this film in digital....good idea? Bad idea? We'll find out in 12 hours.
8am- JJ Garvine passes along his best wishes. Remind myself to return the favor when he premieres his film KEEPING THE PEACE next month.
10am- Self doubt kicks back in "did I make Leaf too mean? Did I make him too nice? Is there too much yelling in this movie? Is there not enough?".....this could go on for a while
10:25am-Self doubt is interrupted by "should I have used that hip hop track for the one hitting scene?" The concern over the hip hop track subsides...Back to self doubt....
10:54 am-WINTER STORM ADVISORY. Great, this is what I get for trying to be "different" and not screen this in Los Angeles first. LA doesn't get WINTER STORMS. Good decision Tim. Even better you could have screened in San Diego. Instead of snow, you could have had this...
10:56am-After I hear of the advisory. I turn on the radio and it's P Diddy's "I'll Be Missing You", suddenly realize that if the NOTORIOUS BIG heard this tribute to him, he'd probably hate it as much as I do. Helllloooo Brooklyn..
10:59am-Good wishes passed along by my neighbor Wade, remind myself to say something nice about his hometown football team the New England Patriots.
11:01am- Get a text message that THE SMOKE left some nice comments on the movie's page. Good man, that Smoke.
11:05 am- It sets in, what a schmuck THE GLASSMAN was when I was on his show last night on 97.7. For a guy with a cool name like "The glassman" he wasn't all that cool.
11:07am-Hear from movie coordinator Sue Early. Who I like a lot, she's very nice, but alerts me with the message by sternly saing "THERE IS NO ROOM FOR ERROR". It sort of sounded like Sue was sending me out on a top secret mission. Neat.
11:11am-GOOD NEWS! Philadelphia may get it's own major league soccer team. This would be a blast. All they need is approval of the Philadelphia Republicans. I hope the GOP doesn't ruin this for me. Worry soon returns and I think "if this movie doesn't do well, maybe i can try out for that soccer team, afterall I was a soccer all star.....when I was 5"
This guy learned everything from me.
12:35pm- Out running errands, and run into a guy I know named Jeff, the last time I saw Jeff? The first "13th Grade" screening. Jeff must think I worry all the time. because I worried myself sick that day too. Though "13th Grade" did get a standing ovation on its first screening...so maybe Jeff is good luck?
2pm-I hear from some great folks out of New York who "have a good gut feeling about the movie"...I hope New York is right!
5 more hours.
3:30pm- Need a nap. Afterall, the dog is now taking one.
4pm-Time to head to the theater.
5:06pm- Turn on 97.7 to see what kind of music the Glassman plays....it's Savage Garden. This starts a conversation about things that suddenly dissappeared off of the face of the earth....Max Headroom, Juice Newton, Ace of Base, Hootie, that show with Frasier and the Everybody Loves Raymond Lady, Spuds McKenzie, Hubba Bubba Bubblegum, and the Dell Guy.
6pm- At the theater. Funny thing is, it's all the academy award nominees, and LEAF. Worry REALLY kicks in, "I'm out of my league, everyone will come and see ATONEMENT instead, Keira Knightley is much prettier than I am"
It's true. I just don't look as pretty while looking down in a field like Keira does.
6:20pm-It's snowing. I tell my crew "If no one shows, I'll ask the theater if we can just have snacks and beers since it'll just be us"
6:30pm-Sound test. The movie sounds good through these speakers....
Even if no one shows.
6:40pm- a crowd enters. They looks like ATONEMENT fans. Wait, they're going in to our movie!
6:50pm-Wow, okay people are showing. Worry goes away. For a minute.
7pm-SHOWTIME. The lights dim. The movie rolls and....NO SOUND.
7:05pm Still no sound. How is this? everything sounded great 35 minutes ago.
7:15pm-Sound issues cleared up...the movie rolls....here we go....
8pm-The crowd is into it! Keith Bullard's performance is a crowd favorite.
8:45pm-The movie ends! Everyone stays for the Q&A.
I'd better sound smart.
9pm-Lots of good questions. Just gave props to Heath Ledger for some great performances. Especially LORDS OF DOGTOWN. If you haven't seen this, try it out.
9:10pm-The coordinators pull me aside and ask if we'd let them extend the run of the movie. This is GREAT news...looks like we'll be back next week for another Q&A
9:15pm-Meet some film fans in the parking lot. Answer more questions...invited them back to the next show.
9:30pm-Meet up with the cast for a quick snack.
10pm-It's cold and late and time to go home.
10:01-12am- Lots of text messages from people all over the country. I didn't know that these folks stayed up so late.
1am- Time to sleep. Did I need to worry this much all day? People showed up, and they liked the movie. Before my eyes close, a new worry sets in....
"but will they like the movie next week?"
I guess sleep can wait.
take care and be good,
TIM
By the way the next showing of the movie is Thursday January 31st (many more dates to come)
01/31/2008 07:00 PM ¤ MIDWAY MOVIES
29 Midway Shopping Center
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 19971