THE AIR I BREATHE opens in Los Angeles and New York on January 25th!

Sedona!

2008-01-10T14:23:00.000-08:00

One of the coolest things about making a movie is getting to travel. Because of THE AIR I BREATHE and my friendship with Jieho, I spent six weeks in Mexico City for production, a week in Seoul for Jieho's wedding, and several days in New York City for the Tribeca Film Festival last year. Now, I've spent a couple days in Sedona, Arizona. Check out the pic above and I'm sure you'll agree...it's beautiful.

The Sedona International Film Festival sponsors monthly screenings and this month, it was the Arizona premiere of AIR. Pat, the head of the fest, was kind enough to fly Jieho and I in to appear at the screenings. We started in Scottsdale, with a Q&A for a packed house. The film played great and the audience was wonderful. We got to meet a couple of fans from imdb.com and Myspace. The pic is below. Thanks for coming out, you guys!

Then, Jieho and I drove a couple hours into Sedona, which is famous for being near a "vortex". I don't really know what that means, but the place does have a quirky, relaxed vibe. It's also famous for Pink Jeep Tours, which the festival was kind enough to arrange for us. What is a Pink Jeep Tour? Basically, they put you in a back of a Pink Jeep, take you into a mountainous region near Sedona, and drive you up a very rocky terrain...so rocky that they drive you UP the rocks. It's a little crazy. The pic at the very top is Jieho and I, right before we escaped from the Pink Jeep before anything REALLY dangerous happened.

That night, there were two screenings in Sedona, both completely sold out! We surprised the audience with Walt Lloyd, the film's director of photography, who drove up from L.A. on a whim. The Q&A's were great, filled with fun questions from a very appreciative audience. Below is a pic of Jieho, Walt, Pat (the fest's director), me, John (one of the fest's founders), and Kung Fu Panda, who was nice enough to pose with us. In other news, I guess I'm not getting any taller. Damn.

It was a quick trip, but a great one. We got to show the film to three audiences who loved it. Thanks to everyone who came out.

And coming up? Plenty of great stuff. The trailer should be in Los Angeles and New York area theaters starting this Friday with an online debut to follow. Next week, there WILL be a premiere, here in Los Angeles. I plan on looking spiffy.

Til then, keep spreading the word...

Rainy L.A.

2008-01-06T19:23:00.000-08:00

It's a rainy day here in Los Angeles. Feels very Northwest. My heat's out and my apartment gets cold so I bought a little space heater which makes it pretty comfy in my little pad. Funny how I've lived here for over four years now. Moved in pretty much right around the time Jieho, Christopher, and I first partnered up with producers Paul Schiff and Tai Duncan and decided to have a go at making THE AIR I BREATHE. Left the place empty for six weeks when I headed off to Mexico City for the shooting of the movie. While I was gone, my neighbor and one of my best pals, Josh Flaum, picked up my mail, left it in my place. Josh was a part of AIR, too, shooting a couple days as Julie Delpy's assistant. A couple months ago, he moved out of the building and got a room in a larger place with some good friends of ours. Things change fast, don't they?

Tomorrow, I'm getting on a plane with Jieho, heading out to Arizona. There's an AIR screening in Scottsdale tomorrow night, then another two the following day in Sedona. We'll be appearing with the film, doing a Q&A afterwards. If you're in the area, come say Hi.

Rumor has it we may have a special guest joining us in Sedona. None of the cast, unfortunately (they're are all pretty busy at the moment) but someone else close to the film who's never seen it with a crowd before. I hope he makes it...

Every day, I'm getting cc'd on the emails between the producers and THINKFilm. It's a tremendous amount of effort to open a movie. Marketing plans need to be executed, theaters booked, promotions scheduled. The final trailer should be out any day now. The Myspace page is up and running. If you haven't already, stop by and join.

The website is about to be fully revamped. Reviews will start appearing soon. Theaters are booked in NY and LA, and it looks like the second wave of cities will be Austin, Portland, Seattle, San Diego, San Francisco, and Chicago. Funny how I have at least one friend in every one of those places. They better see the movie and bring a few hundred friends.

Just found out that AIR is showing at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, which is not too far from here. Not sure if we'll be making it over for that, but if you're in the area, I hear it's a great festival.

I guess I'm being a little link crazy today. It's just that the machine is rolling now. The release is coming and all I can do is keep blogging, keep working the Myspace page, just keep getting the word out. This is our baby. It's taken six years to make this happen. Six years...for something that you can enjoy in 97 minutes. I hope with all my heart that those 97 minutes are spent in a movie theater, enjoying our work on the big screen where it belongs.

Dreams come true every day. On January 25th...it's our turn.

Kung-Fu Charisma!

2008-01-04T13:48:00.000-08:00

Guess who learned how to add an image to his blog? That’s right, ME! I guess it’s about time. For someone who’s had a blog for the last couple of years, it’s silly how little I know about creating a cool page. For instance, over the holiday, I was wondering why no one was commenting on my blog anymore. Turns out I have to read and accept comments before they appear. Ooops. So I’ve since accepted about a year’s worth of comments. Thanks to everyone who was writing me and sorry for seeming to vanish. But I’m back now, and ready for action!

So how about that poster? I’m thrilled with it. Jieho, the producers, and everyone at THINKFilm did such an amazing job with it. I think it really captures the mood of the film. As for the official trailer, I can tell you that I have seen it and it is so VERY cool. I’ve heard rumors that it’ll be online by next week.

As for our other marketing efforts, please check out our official we-really-mean-it-this-time Myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/officialairibreathemovie

You’ll find some brand new photos there as we well as some of Jieho’s original storyboards! Please be our Myspace buddy, then add us to your top friends and if you’re feeling particularly excited, add our poster as your profile pic. By the way, in case you didn’t know, that’s how you sneak into my top friends on my personal Myspace page…

I hope everyone had a great holiday. I got a little treat while I was laid over in the Dallas airport (for THREE HOURS). I was checking out some magazines and thumbed through PASTE and what did I find but a FOUR AND A HALF STAR review for THE AIR I BREATHE! It sees reviewer Sean Edgar LOVED our film. Here’s a quote:

"Brilliant...a cinematic jack-hammer of sound and fury that resonates with enough moral complexity and kung-fu charisma to parade the entire spectrum of human emotion.”

I love the phrase “kung-fu charisma”, so much that I wish I’d written it. Grab a copy of PASTE and check out the full review.

Jieho and I are heading out to Arizona next week to appear at some special AIR screenings, one in Scottsdale and two in Sedona. Here's the link for the events:

http://www.sedonafilmfestival.com/show.php?x=26

If you live nearby, come check it out! It'll be the first time I've seen the film with an audience since Tribeca and I can't wait! See you there!

Florida Tour '07

2007-12-28T13:45:00.001-08:00

I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday. I'm currently on my Florida Tour '07, spending time with family and friends from Tampa to Orlando to Jacksonville, with multiple cities in between. Everyone I've seen has two questions for me: "Are you still on strike?" The answer, sadly, is yes. The other question (which usually comes first) is: "When is the movie coming out???" It's amazing to finally be able to answer them. "January 25th in Los Angeles and New York. After that, hopefully...EVERYWHERE!"

Not much business happens at this time of year, but that hasn't stopped THINKfilm, Jieho, and all the producers from putting the finishing touches on the AIR marketing materials. I recently saw the completed poster and boy, is it amazing. Very different from Jieho's Tribeca poster, but it is is elegant and mysterious and is going to look incredibly good on my wall someday.

I've also been fortunate enough to see some recent cuts of the final trailer. It too is so very cool. They're definitely using the trailer to play up our unbeatable cast as well as the ambitious energy and mood that Jieho has created with this film. I can't wait for everyone to see it. And it's going to be SOON.

Because before you know, the movie will be in theatres.

And then this particular butterfly will finally get to fly...

Random Stuff

2007-12-18T13:30:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Lots of random stuff today:

-- We finally have a Myspace page up for THE AIR I BREATHE. Check it out at: Myspace.com/theairibreathemovie

A big shout-out to our good friend Byran Hill, who did an amazing job designing the page. The page’s look is based on the poster that Jieho designed for the film’s Tribeca premiere. We’ll be updating the page with as much cool stuff as we can find: blogs, exclusive photos, maybe even a contest or two. If you’re on Myspace, please go there now and add THE AIR I BREATHE as a friend.

-- THE AIR I BREATHE had its Italian premiere at the 17th Courmayeur Noir in Festival. Jieho attended the festival and had a great time. To our surprise, AIR won a special jury award! Here’s a link to the fest’s website and an article featuring Jieho:

http://www.noirfest.com/eng/newsdettaglio.asp?id=158

-- Yet another trailer leaked online recently, this one with a THINKfilm logo. But I can tell you that this is only a test trailer. The official THINKfilm trailer and a new poster will be out soon.

That’s all for now. Til next time, take care and enjoy the holiday season.

BOB

Coming Soon

2007-12-10T13:11:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone,

Remember the good old days? Seems like only yesterday I was in Mexico City, describing all the weird and wonderful things about getting a movie made. Bullfighting with Brendan Fraser? Check. Watching future Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker practice his moped skills? Yep. Getting my butt kicked by Sarah Michelle Gellar? Oh yes. Blogging is EASY when you’re somewhere far away, hanging out with amazing artists and watching your dreams come dream.

Well, blogging about post-production is pretty hard. And kinda boring to read, I’m guessing.

But you know what’s fun now? BLOGGING ABOUT A MOVIE’S RELEASE!

And that’s what brings us together again, my friends. Because THE AIR I BREATHE is COMING SOON to a theatre near you! Hopefully. Let me explain.

Been a crazy year. In April, we premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival to packed houses and a fantastic response. After that, indie distributor THINKfilm bought the film. Which, it turns out, is not a speedy process. But the deal is done and the date has been selected…

JANUARY 25th, 2008, THE AIR I BREATHE will open exclusively in New York and Los Angeles. This is what’s called a “platform release”. A lot of indie films open in one or two big cities, and then slowly expand around the country. It sure worked for Little Miss Sunshine. But there’s at least one interesting snag we have to deal with…

Heard about that little writer’s strike? Well, if you live in Los Angeles, I’m sure that’s ALL you hear about. Well, I’m on strike now, which is no picnic, I tell ya. And I’m walking the picket lines because I absolutely believe in this very complex battle that is being waged between artists and the companies that employ us.

But how does this affect AIR? Well, the main thing is this: when you have an indie passion project, an ambitious drama by an exciting new director (and his trusty writin’ sidekick), you want to have your exceptionally gifted ensemble of actors out on all the late-night talk shows, promoting the hell out of the movie.

Which sucks right now, because the strike has forced the biggest late-night shows off the air. No Andy Garcia chatting with Jay Leno. No Kevin Bacon trading quips with David Letterman. A huge tool for promoting independent films is gone.

But we’re not giving up without a fight. We’re taking this to the streets. Or at least the Internet. THE AIR I BREATHE is coming and you can help spread the word. First of all, there will official AIR pages on Myspace, Facebook, and other social sites. I’ll announce it here. When I do, please go add us as a friend. Those pages will be a portal for all kinds of cool stuff, including photos, blogs, and maybe even some exclusive video footage. On top of all that, THINKfilm will soon release a final (we mean it this time) poster, as well as a brand-new trailer.

In the meantime, I’ll be updating my blog weekly (at least). Have you seen my Tribeca diaries on Myspace? If not, I’ll reprint them here soon.

The wait is almost over. AIR is coming. Be a part of it.

Year-End

2006-12-21T15:25:00.000-08:00

So I was sitting down to write a year-end blog and decided to check the website, just to see how long it’s been since I last blogged.

It’s been three months…to the day. It feels like I wrote the last blog, blinked, and here I am. But that’s how a lot of this process has been.

Thinking back, I probably haven’t told you much about the early days of AIR. Starting back in December 2001, Jieho and I spent two years writing the script. We wrote multiple drafts while Jieho was traveling back and forth to Korea, directing music videos, and I was here in L.A., writing studio projects that will probably never get made.

Then, the next two years were all about “packaging” the film…that means finding producers, actors, and financing. If it sounds easy, trust me, it’s not. Imagine two solid years of good news, bad news, worse news, awesome news, heartbreak, triumph, more heartbreak, over and over again. But as you know, it all worked out.

This year, our fifth, was actually making the movie. Six and a half weeks of production in Mexico City, and very timely blogs from me. Then, from March until now, post-production. And what a journey that has been.

Jieho and our amazing editor Robert Hoffman have practically lived in the editing room. John Paul, their dedicated assistant editor, lives next door. There were weeks where I was in there almost every day, helping Jieho fine-tune the film’s voice-over narration. There was several private screenings where the producers would watch the film and offer their suggestions. I think I was at all those screenings, and they were exhilarating. The movie Jieho and I had envisioned all those years ago was finally coming to life. A few weeks ago, Jieho and the producers locked picture. The editing was over.

Time to rest, right? Maybe for me. But for Jieho and Robert, the work was just beginning. They traveled daily, all over the city, overseeing the many facets of movie post-production you never think of. There was an army of professionals at work on our movie, creating special effects, looping dialogue, color-correcting the digital intermediate…what the heck does that even mean?

On top of that, Jieho was meeting regularly with Marcelo Zarvos, who was creating the original score for the film. I made sure I stopped in on the day when they were recording Marcelo’s beautiful music. I went to the Fox lot, which coincidentally was the first studio lot I ever set foot on in Los Angeles. Five years ago, it was to audition for a small role in a student film (I got the part). This time, it was to hear a forty-piece string orchestra play Marcelo’s haunting score…live.

I can’t really describe the feeling of that day. I walked into the studio and saw about a dozen monitors, all with a paused image of Sarah Michelle Gellar which I instantly knew was the moment leading up to one of the film’s most powerful sequences. Then, someone hit play, the action resumed on the monitors, and the orchestra played that first note, and it was just astonishing. Watching the sequence play out while hearing the music live…it was just about the coolest thing ever. Here’s a link to some pics and a small article about that day:

http://www.soundtrack.net/news/article/?id=871

After that, the momentum really picked up. Opening titles were created and the sound mix was finished, all of which led to…today.

Today, we watched the entire film, ON FILM, for the first time. And the difference is stunning. All those times watching it on a video monitor, and now seeing it blown up on the big screen...I just have to say that Walt Lloyd, our director of photography, is the best. The absolute best.

At this point, I have no idea what’s actually left to do…some little technical things here and there, I imagine. It’ll be sometime early next year before I actually get to see a final, yes-we’re-totally-done print of the film.

And that, my friends, will be OVER FIVE YEARS into this journey, for both Jieho and I. It’s not over, of course. There’s still the matter of when the film will be released into theatres. I can honestly tell you that I don’t know for sure when that will be. But when there’s news to share, I’ll be here…hopefully more often than once every three months.

But for now, there are holidays, and family, and maybe just a little time off. Thanks so much for reading our blogs and for all your kind messages. It means a lot that so many of you are excited about THE AIR I BREATHE. Keep talking things up on all the message boards, from imdb.com to smgfan.com and beyond.

Most importantly, have a great holiday season and we’ll see you in 2007!

Bob DeRosa AKA FLASH

12/19/06

New Friends

2006-09-19T14:22:00.000-07:00

You have no idea how many people it takes to make a movie. I really have no idea, and I’ve been helping make one. But the thing that I realize now is that each stage has it’s own cast of characters.

When we were writing the script, it was just Jieho and I. During the packaging of the film, where cast was attached and financing secured, we were joined by a deeply committed team of producers. Pre-production brought key crew members into the fold, and production added our brilliant cast and fantastic local crew to the family.

After production wraps, things shift. Our post-production team kicks in to gear, with Jieho and our editor Robert leading the charge. The producers and I are still heavily involved, but the cast and crew move on to other projects. The stars of THE AIR I BREATHE (Kevin, Julie, Brendan, Andy, Sarah, Emile, and Forest)…well, they’re movie stars, so I’m sure that most (or all) of them went on to shoot other movies over the summer. Many of them also shot movies right before AIR, so we’ll be able see some of those films this fall (trailers for new Sarah and Forest films are in theatres now).

And of top of that, there are other memorable actors in AIR, some with only a scene or two. I mention this because as the fall TV season begins, members of the AIR family are breaking out and it’s exciting to share in their victories.

Josh Flaum is one of my best friends. He and I spent nearly ten years performing sketch comedy and long-form improv with our comedy troupe THEM. We started in Orlando, toured Canada, and performed monthly shows in Los Angeles before going on hiatus a couple years ago. Josh appears in AIR as Julie Delpy’s assistant Wesley, and shot two great scenes, including a fast-paced emergency room exchange with Kevin Bacon.

Well, you can see Josh as a cast member (and writer) in the new Damon Wayans sketch-comedy show The Underground, which debuted last Thursday on Showtime. Josh shines in the first episode as a guy who brings Damon home to meet his grandmother. The show is really funny (and very dirty, so adults only, please). Josh’s writing partner and cast-mate on the show is Will Bowles, also one of THEM, and the show’s producer is Lena Bouton. Will and Lena are two of my best friends as well, and here’s some real trivia for you…at the very first reading of AIR, nearly three years ago, Will read Kevin Bacon’s part and Lena read Julie Delpy’s part. It’s cool how far we’ve come, and I send my heart-felt congrats to my deeply talented friends.

Jon Bernthal is another actor with a great scene in AIR. He plays a TV Interviewer who interviews Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Sorrow, with truly unexpected results. It’s really a mesmerizing scene and Jon does a great job working with Sarah. You can now see Jon Monday nights as a series regular on the new CBS sitcom The Class. Jon is very funny as Duncan, a guy who still lives with his Mom and reminisces about the girl who got away.

For me, seeing our AIR family on TV or at the movies is a nostalgic reminder me of those amazing six and a half weeks in Mexico City. For you, it will be a little sneak preview of what’s to come. Take a moment to meet Josh and Jon. This fall, see what’s new with Sarah, Forest, and the rest of our ensemble.

And then when you see THE AIR I BREATHE, you will be spending time with friends, in a house built by Jieho and all his amazing collaborators. I assure you, it will be a homecoming to remember.

Inserts

2006-09-01T10:43:00.000-07:00

I miss production. Writers don’t always get to be a part of it, so I realize I was pretty lucky to be in Mexico City for the whole shoot of THE AIR I BREATHE. This summer, life has been back to normal. I usually start the day at my favorite diner, having breakfast with friends and drinking lots of coffee. Then, I write for several hours in my little apartment. Take a walk to Starbucks in the afternoon. Sometimes I meet up with Jieho and Robert in the editing room, maybe help write a bit of voice-over or something. Then it’s back to my apartment and the next day’s work.

But in the midst of it all, there was a little oasis, when Jieho recently shot some inserts for a couple days. Inserts are shots that don’t include any of the lead actors, such as shots of moving cars, or close-ups of a hand holding a photograph or a gun. Our first day was on a small soundstage in Los Angeles. Insert shoots always have a much smaller crew, and many of the faces were new. But it was nice to sit by the monitor again and watch Jieho work with Walt, his brilliant Director of Photography. It reminded me of how much I love this process. I know it’s a lot of hard work, but honestly, I can’t wait until we make another movie. And another.

In addition to all the inserts, Jieho had to shoot a small MTV-style entertainment report that will play on a flat-screen TV late in the film. It’s a crucial scene, and the last actor Jieho had to cast for the movie was the correspondent giving the fast-paced report. A week before the shoot, I was hanging out with Jieho in the editing room and he asked me, “Do you know Kari Wuhrer?” I said yes, and I’m sure I stuttered, because with that question comes a funny story.

Kari Wuhrer rose to fame in the late 80’s as the co-host of Remote Control, an MTV game show that was one of their first original programs. Since then, she’s acted in dozens of movies (recently, she was great as the sheriff in Eight Legged Freaks). Well, sixteen years ago, I was backstage at a hair-metal concert in Cocoa Beach (it was Femme Fatale, one of my favorite bands of the era). My friend and I were getting autographs, taking pictures with the band, and yes, just being geeks. At the time, Remote Control was shot in Orlando (my home town), and the show’s hosts were backstage at the concert. And that’s when I first met Kari. She even signed a dollar bill for me. I still have it.

Well, Kari’s husband, a Los Angeles-based producer, was hired to work on the insert shoots, and he recommended Kari to play the correspondent. So when Jieho asked me about her, I told him my story. And if there’s one thing that Jieho and I believe in…it’s fate. So sixteen years ago, when I shyly asked Kari to sign my dollar bill, I had no idea that someday, I would be standing outside a Los Angeles soundstage, watching her say dialogue that I helped write. After the shoot, I met Kari for the second time. We had fun reminiscing about the 80’s, and believe it or not, she actually remembered that Femme Fatale concert. Really.

And that was my day back on the set of THE AIR I BREATHE. The next day, Jieho shot some driving inserts in downtown L.A. Me, I was at home, working on a new script. Production is fun, but ultimately, my job is right here, in front of my computer, trying to write stories. I hope you liked this one.

Soon

2006-08-10T15:37:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. New blog coming soon. I've been writing a new script and captaining an adult kickball team. Now I have two passions...The Air I Breathe and Kickball! Be back SOON!

out of town, back in town, out of town

2006-05-06T23:41:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I last blogged. But really, you haven't missed much. If I had been blogging, here's what I would've said:

"This week, Jieho worked in the editing room, and I...uh...did some other stuff."

I guess that wouldn't been very good reading. But I can mention a couple of things now.

First of all, check out the new issue of Creative Screenwriting magazine with Tom Hanks on the cover. The guys at CS have been friends for a while and very cool about covering my slowly blossoming career. Anyway, this month has a little half-page article that discusses how I came to work with Jieho on The Air I Breathe. It's pretty cool, and features a picture of me, taken by my good friend Blake Gardner (who you just might see in the movie, opposite a certain lovely actress we all know and love). They just interviewed me for the article, but I hope when the movie comes out, they'll do something bigger with both Jieho and I.

Second of all, one of the reasons I was away from the blog is I just spent a week in Seoul, Korea for Jieho's wedding! Yes, Jieho is off the market, and his wedding was an amazing experience that I can't wait to share with all of you...

...except I can't right now, because tomorrow, I leave town for ANOTHER wedding. Tis the season to get hitched, I guess. Anyway, I'll be back soon, blogging about Korea and other stuff.

Oh, and big congrats to Brendan. I read online that his wife just had their third baby! That rules! Everyone send good vibes to the Fraser family.

Take care, everyone, and I'll write soon.

Running With The Bull

2006-04-13T23:16:00.000-07:00

It seems like a million years ago, but I have memories…memories of the last day and a half in Mexico City.

After we wrapped, we got back to the hotel around six in the morning and I got a few hours sleep. Enjoyed one final meal of chilaquiles, a great Mexican dish that’s basically breakfast nachos: tortilla chips cooked in a spicy sauce, covered with cheese and cream, eggs on top. It rules.

That night was the wrap party, and I’d heard rumors that we’d be going to a restaurant that features real bullfighting. This proved to be completely accurate. The restaurant itself was closed, but they had a beautiful outdoor patio with a bar and buffet. We got there a little late, and after one quick drink, everyone piled into the seating area of a mid-sized bullfighting ring. Before I knew it, a small group of volunteers were down in the ring: this included Jieho, Christopher, Walt (our DP), Emilio, Paul (our Associate Producer) and Brendan, the only member of the cast still in town. Everyone was handed bullfighting capes and next thing you know, a bull-calf came racing into the ring. It was very cute, weighed about five or six hundred pounds, and everyone laughed and cheered as it took aim at our fearless bullfighters.

Then, the bull-calf slammed into Walt, a hit that lifted him up in the air and spun him around, dropping him to the ground like a rock. A moment of genuine worry, and then, Walt popped up, a big smile on his face, and the crowd cheered. Only later did I learn that Walk’s smile was masking very intense pain. This bull-calf was out to kill. The match continued as everyone took turns using their capes to “fight” the bull-calf. Everyone did well, but I noticed that tall people had a distinct advantage, which means that Brendan looked like a rock star.

I was watching safely from the crowd…which didn’t last. For the second round, I was grouped with Emilio and about a dozen Mexican guys I barely knew and next thing I know, we’re split into two teams to play soccer in the ring. Picture it: me, never very good at soccer, playing against a bunch of guys who’ve been playing since they were, oh I dunno, ONE YEAR OLD. Needless to say, I wasn’t much help to my team. After about ten minutes, I was panting, beyond exhausted, and that was when they let a new, fresh bull-calf into the ring. So now I’m playing soccer, completely overmatched, while having to avoid a bull-calf intent on knocking me out. At one point, my concentration lagged as I went for the ball and next thing I know, the bull-calf was chasing me down, butting me in the…uh…posterior, as I ran like hell straight for the edge of the ring. I jumped for the top of the wall, something I’d seen some of the other guys do, gripped the top of the wall with my fingertips…and promptly lost my grip and slid back down. The last thing I remember is gazing up and seeing Walt looking down at me from the railing above, grinning ear to ear as he shouted, “DEROSA!”

Luckily, the bull-calf let me live. Afterwards, we shared our adventures over margaritas and then the music started up. I’m about as good at salsa dancing as I am at playing soccer, but I have to tell you, it’s so much more fun to learn. I asked every girl on the crew to dance, each one teaching me something new. The more I learned and the more they drank, the better I SEEMED at salsa dancing. And that was good enough for me….

At noon the next day, a group of us managed to actually get out of bed and meet for brunch, one final meal in Mexico City. Afterwards, I quickly packed, somehow fitting six and a half weeks of life into three bags. I shared a flight with Christopher, Paul, Walt, and Brendan. We looked like soldiers returning home from battle, and I suppose we were. We boarded the plane, took our seats, and finally left Mexico City.

It’s funny how in these blogs I’ve written about Jieho and Christopher, all the producers and key members of the crew, as well as our amazing cast. But there are so many other friends that I made while making this movie: Magali (my best friend in Mexico City), Paola, Luis and Melissa, Joceline, Norali, Lisa, Chile, and so many others. You don’t know them, and there’s really no time to write about them all. But everyone who worked on this movie is a part of my heart now. And so is Mexico City. I miss them all, I really do.

This movie will honor them, my friends and their city. Just wait and see…

Lost in Translation

2006-03-28T21:57:00.000-08:00

I am not a lazy person. I feel it’s important to share this with you all, as it’s been over ten days since the last blog. You see, with shooting wrapped, it’s taken a good couple of weeks for me to recuperate. But I’m feeling rested and lately I’ve been back to work, which basically means figuring out what the heck I’m going to write next, then writing it.

But in the meantime, there will be blogs to come, hopefully one a week. I still have to tell you about the wrap party, which we already had in Mexico City. After that, I really want to “interview” Jieho, basically just check in with him about his thoughts on this ride we’re on, from its beginnings four years ago, through production, to now. After that, there will be much to write about. What’s post-production on a major motion picture like? Who will be releasing the movie? And when? There will be answers, trust me. Just not yet…

In order to tide you over, please check out this link:

http://wordofmouth.cocolog-nifty.com/wom/2006/03/_14_0824.html

I’m not positive about the language, but I believe that’s my blog translated into Japanese! ISN’T THAT COOL? You can click on my name on the right hand column and find past blogs. I love how they put in small pictures of the various actors. They even have a picture of picadillo from a past blog where I mentioned having dinner with Andy Garcia.

I guess what I’m writing right now will have to be translated into Japanese. I wonder how they say…

”Happiness, Pleasure, Sorrow, and Love.”

Now we can all find out…together.

The Last Day

2006-03-17T16:41:00.000-08:00

It occurs to me that in six weeks, I have never, ever, EVER seen a freshly paved street in Mexico City. Until now. It’s the last day of shooting, and I’m with Jieho and some other folks, including Associate Producer Paul Bernard, and we’re ambling by our location, on the way to our trailer, when we all stop, slack-jawed, as we gaze at the street where we will be shooting tonight…and it’s freshly-paved. Meaning, that for some reason, JUST THIS MORNING, someone chose to pave this street, and ONLY this street. The street we need, the street that now we can’t use because it’s covered with molten tar.

While Paul gets on his walkie-talkie and starts dealing with the problem, the rest of us head to the trailer…which is locked, the guy with the key NOWHERE to be found. Yes, it’s our last day of shooting, and things could be going better. After finally getting into the trailer, we head off to eat. The day’s problems don’t affect my appetite as I scarf down five cactus tacos with fried pork skin and avocado. Hey, it’s the last day, and for better or worse, we might as well enjoy it.

Luckily, things get better. We shoot the clothing-shop scenes with Brendan and Emile, the only cast members left. It involves a run-in with the Clothing Shop Woman, played by a local actress named Norma. It’s far and away the funniest scene in the movie. Norma is ridiculously good and she plays off Brendan and Emile like a pro. Is it a coincidence that for a movie with so many heavy days, we were treated to a light, fun scene on our last day? Whether by chance or design, it makes for a great shooting day.

Our trailers are parked pretty far from location today, so there’s lots of walking back and forth. I take my time, stopping at street vendors along the way. I don’t buy anything, but I’m just soaking it in, enjoying the city as much as I can as our time here fades away.

After the clothing shop, we move to the street scenes. The new pavement’s dry enough for us to drive on it, and though we can’t wet it down, we make due. We shoot some quick walk-and-talks with Brendan and Emile and before I know it, Emile is wrapped. I wish him well on his next film, and wonder to myself when next I’ll see this deeply talented young man. Such a future ahead of him, as he ambles off into the night...

I’m noticing that there’s a buzz growing among the crew. It’s harder to concentrate, as the end of the film looms close. People are taking lots of pictures. It’s like the last day of school, that last class, when the teacher’s still lecturing, and all you can think is, “Man, let us OUT of here.”

The last shot comes and it’s so simple, so perfect. Brendan, as Pleasure, walks down the sidewalk, making his rounds, as all around him the denizens of the night go about their business. So much of this movie is right there in Brendan’s face, the loneliness, the longing, the need for a better life, or just a second chance. It’s a movie about becoming who you’re supposed to be. And I will never look at Brendan again without seeing him as Pleasure, a character he was born to play.

Jieho calls, “Cut!” The crew waits breathlessly as the camera gate is checked. The A.D. calls out that the gate is clean, and THE AIR I BREATHE is wrapped. The crew just explodes, everyone cheering and hugging. A Mariachi band appears out of nowhere, starts rocking out. Someone pushes a beer in my hand, and I take a long, cold drink. I hug lots of people, faces a blur. Everyone seems so happy. Getting this movie made has been a war and we all survived it. I’m told later that film wraps are rarely as joyous as this one.

At one point, Brendan throws his arms around me, thanks me for co-writing an amazing script. We share some kind words. It’s only a bit later that Christopher tells me that my dream just came true. I ask him what he means. Christopher’s been my manager since the moment I arrived in L.A. nearly five years ago and he reminds me of something I told him in the very beginning. I have vague memories of this, but basically, I told Christopher that my dream was to have a big movie star hug me at the end of a movie and thank me for writing him an amazing script.

Which is exactly what has just happened.

Because of Brendan, and Jieho, our producers, and everyone in this amazing cast and crew…my dream has come true…right here, on the freshly paved streets of Mexico City.

Big Exits

2006-03-15T12:06:00.000-08:00

I knew this moment would come. You see, I’m always about a week behind on my blogs. This is a result of the time it takes to actually find a spare moment to get behind the computer, mixed with a desire to keep the comings and goings of our cast a secret (for obvious reasons). But at this point, being a week behind has led to the inevitable: there’s more to blog about, but the movie has wrapped. Yes, everyone’s gone home. I’m writing this blog from my apartment, bleary eyed from lack of sleep, yet buzzed from drinking too much coffee at my favorite diner. Production on THE AIR I BREATHE is over. But there are still a few stories to tell. I’ve spoken of the last days of Kevin Bacon and Forest Whittaker. As our final days approached, there were more big exits to come…

I first met Andy Garcia at a group dinner at my favorite restaurant in our hotel. We talked about picadillo, a remarkable Cuban dish. We marveled at the restaurant’s gift of a large chocolate monkey bearing a gift box of designer chocolates. And then I got to watch the man work. He wears a suit better than anyone I’ve ever met. He enters the set with a hushed charisma that’ll make you a little nervous…until he loudly cracks a joke that makes everyone laugh, instantly putting the crew at ease. He’s often posing for pictures with fans, even when stopped between his trailer and the sound stage. And he never stops trying to make the scene he’s acting in as interesting and spontaneous as possible. Due to scheduling reasons, Andy shot all of his scenes pretty much back to back. Two weeks after I met him, Andy shot his final scene, one of the most intense in the entire film, posed for a couple of pictures with members of the crew, and then left Mexico City later that afternoon.

For Sarah Michelle Gellar’s final scene, she looked through a medicine cabinet. It was just a few seconds of film really. It’s funny the way movies are made, because Sarah has so many powerful scenes, so many unforgettable moments, and after six intense weeks, that’s all we needed, maybe two takes of Sarah and the medicine cabinet. It was very late when we wrapped her. Exhausted, we all took turns saying goodbye. I told her it was great working with her, that we should do it again soon. She said, “Let’s rest first.” I thought that was it. But the next afternoon, as some of us waited for the vans that would take us to set, we again crossed paths with Sarah, on her way to the airport. She seemed completely energized, excited to be getting back home. Another round of goodbyes. This time, as she hugged me, she said, warmly, “Have fun.”

Advice to live by, don’t you think?

Wide Awake

2006-03-10T13:20:00.000-08:00

You know what’s nice? Catching yourself in a moment of your life where you think, “I have never been here before, or anywhere remotely like this…EVER.” I felt that way the other night, Oscar night in fact. Here’s what happened…

When people are talking in a screenplay, you want to find ways to make it interesting to look at. Two people in a moving car is generally a lot cooler than watching people talk in a room. But in that pre-production period when Jieho and I were compressing locations and cutting speaking roles to try and save money, it was suggested by our producers that we start cutting driving scenes. So that’s what we did, keeping just the driving scenes that were the most important, and it ended up being one day of shooting to cover all the scenes.

Well, I just found out why we cut driving scenes: they’re not a pain in the butt, really, but…well, actually, yes they are.

Here’s what happens: you want Brendan Fraser and Emile Hirsch driving in a car and talking? First thing you do is take the wheels off the car and put the car on a giant trailer called a process trailer. On this trailer you must also fit your camera, maybe a dolly, lights, and the entire camera crew.

Pulling this trailer is the camera car, which basically is a very big pick-up with a flap over the back to shield whoever’s riding. On this you have the sound guy and his equipment, the video guy and his equipment, two video monitors, the director, script supervisor, assistant director armed with a bull-horn, a producer crouched on a little apple-box, and if you’re lucky, a screenwriter, grinning ear to ear.

So when it comes time to shoot, the camera car starts up, pulling the process trailer behind it. And behind them, are about six to ten other vehicles that basically block traffic and provide background. That way, when you’re shooting Brendan’s close-up for instance, you don’t have an SUV driving beside him with people hanging out the windows taking pictures. No, that’s what you have in between shots. Seriously, it’s a major production and we stick out like sore thumb, especially when we’re driving through one of the busiest areas in downtown Mexico. The cars are all around us are a mix of star-struck people, trying to drive and simultaneous take pictures on their cell phones, while the rest of the cars are angrily honking at us for slowing down traffic.

Imagine Emile tearing through some of the funniest dialogue Jieho and I have ever written, when some creep starts laying on his horn through the entire shot, just to mess us up. It’s a crazy process, but we’re blessed with an amazing team and incredible actors who ended up nailing it every single time.

Eventually, the sun went down, and we set off for another scene. As police held traffic, we took a sharp turn into probably the busiest intersection in Mexico City…and broke a wheel. All of sudden, there we are, stranded, holding up about a THOUSAND cars (I’m only sorta exaggerating). Sarah and Brendan were in this scene, and thus stuck in the car, trying to keep each other laughing and in good spirits as a thousand cars honked in rage at us, our crew racing to fix the trailer and get us on our way before we started a revolution in the streets.

After a tense fifteen minutes, we finally took off and as we slowly drove through the streets, we passed through a specific park where Mariachis in full costume socialized on the side of the street. I don’t know how it happened, but a producer leapt into action, money changed hands, and all of a sudden, there we are, driving through the bright lights of Mexico City, pulling a process trailer behind us, as a Mariachi perched on the corner of the trailer, serenading the crew in between shots.

That’s the moment where I just laughed and thought, “I have never been here before, or anywhere remotely like this…EVER.” And it was right after that when word came over the radio…Brendan’s film CRASH had just won the Academy Award for best picture. Brendan was playing a very serious, quiet scene, and in between takes, he was cheering like a kid, completely thrilled.

I felt so privileged to be a part of this moment, and so privileged to be here in Mexico City, where every day brings a new experience, a new chance to live a moment so unlike any other I’ve ever lived before. I guess that’s what life is, a never-ending series of chances to do something new, see something special. I take it for granted when I’m home and one day just seems to roll into the next. But I do not take this experience for granted. Not at all.

I’m wake awake in Mexico City, drinking in the city and the experience of making this movie.

And I am forever changed.

A Particularly Good Day

2006-03-07T01:40:00.000-08:00

So what’s a shooting day like? Well, generally, it’s made up of a series of scenes, preferably in the same location, because moving the whole crew is the biggest pain imaginable. The amount of scenes can vary from one big scene to maybe seven or eight smaller ones.

A little while ago, we were shooting in an upstairs warehouse space that was dressed as a storage space/office for Fingers, the charismatic crime boss played by Andy Garcia. We had two BIG scenes to shoot in this space. The first one involved Brendan, Emile, Andy, and Victor Rivers. Victor’s playing Fingers’s bodyguard Eddie, and Victor’s a nice fellow, great company over dinner, and built like the biggest tree you’ve ever seen in your life.

We started right after breakfast with a blocking rehearsal. This means that Jieho and his Director of Photography meet with the actors and work through the scene. Jieho tells everyone what he wants from the scene and the actors figure out where they’re gonna stand and how the moments are going to play. Sometimes things change, out of necessity or even better, inspiration. Brendan, Andy, and Victor are all stoic, tough guys, and seeing Emile bound into this scene with a burst of youthful energy is a real treat. Andy suggests he grab a seat behind his seat, prop his feet up. It’s a charming moment, inspired and fresh. The scene plays great.

Then, when Jieho and the actors are happy, our A.D. calls in the heads of all the various crew departments as well as the actors’s stand-ins. Everybody watches as the actors do a run-through of the scene, beginning to end. Every time an actor stands in a particular spot, a camera assistant lays a cloth “T” at their feet. This becomes the actor’s mark and they’re committed to arriving in the same spot for the rest of the day. This is what they call, “Hitting your mark”.

The blocking rehearsal over, the actors head back to their trailers to continue the process of getting into wardrobe and makeup. While that’s happening, stand-ins (actors who are the same approximate size and look of the cast) stand on those cloth T’s while the D.P. and his team set up lights to capture the action. The most unexpected part of this process? The set is completely silent. Everyone works in whispers to keep the noise down, allowing everyone to do their jobs without distraction. Imagine dozens of people, working hard, and without a sound. This is one of the most surprising things I’ve learned about making movies. It’s just so quiet…

A little while later, the actors are called back to the set and they rehearse the scene one more time, in what’s called a camera rehearsal. This is so the camera-operators get one chance to practice on the actual actors before we start rolling film.

After that, the A.D. calls out “Rolling!” in Spanish and everyone grows silent. And then magic happens…

The second scene of the day is in the same location. It’s Andy, Victor, and Brendan again, only this time the ensemble is completed by Forest Whitaker, in what will be his final scene shot for the movie. Thrown into this mix is my friend Will, cast in a small but crucial part. Will’s a long-time friend, a great actor and experienced improviser. I won’t tell you what happens in this scene, but suffice to say Andy is less than happy with Will. As Andy expresses his anger, he improvises a bit, throwing curve balls at Will, who handles them with grace and skill. I allow myself a smile…there’s my friend, improvising with Andy Garcia. How cool is that?

Close to the end of the night, we share in a moment called the Send-Off. After Forest shoots his last take, the A.D. gets everyone’s attention and says, “Ladies and gentlemen, that’s a wrap on Forest Whitaker!” Everyone explodes into applause. Forest trades hugs with his co-stars and Jieho. Everyone wants pictures and handshakes. Such a gentle person, such a remarkable actor. It takes Forest forever just to get out of the building.

Meanwhile, Will wraps a few shots later, strolls to the make-up trailer, still a little dazed at having the opportunity to work with such incredible actors. It’ll hit him later, I’m sure.

And that was our day. Will’s only day. Forest’s final day. For the crew…just one out of many. But a particularly good day. Oh yes, it was.

Random Business

2006-03-03T23:51:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to spend a few minutes taking care of some random business.

First of all, a big shout-out to Ben Hershleder, a fantastic filmmaker and good friend who was kind enough to design the AIR I BREATHE website and set up our blog accounts. This site would NOT be happening if it weren’t for him.

Let’s show our thanks by checking out Ben’s personal website, www.hershleder.com. You’ll find a link for Ben’s latest hilarious short film and plenty of other stuff. Thanks, Ben!

Next, another big shout-out to smgfan.com, currently celebrating their 10th anniversary. Joan and everyone at the site have been deeply supportive of our film and the blogs, and we can’t thank them enough. Go check out the site if you haven’t already and make sure to read Sarah Michelle Gellar’s thank-you letter. She speaks very fondly of her experience making THE AIR I BREATHE, and says incredibly sweet things about Jieho and I, as well as her co-stars.

Are their other fan sites we should be aware of? I know emilehirsch.net is keeping tabs on our film, and they will be happy to know that Emile’s performance in AIR is simply amazing. He’s playing Tony, the nephew of Andy Garcia’s character Fingers, and wait’ll you see what happens. It may sound like hype, but I firmly believe that Emile is the finest young actor working today.

If there are any other sites we should be keeping an eye on, drop us a comment and we’ll take a look.

I had flirted with the idea of taking an entire blog to answer reader questions, but honestly, I keep getting the same two questions:

1) What color is Sarah’s hair? The answer is, it’s a brand new color and I like to call it…GORGEOUS.

2) Does Sarah sing in the movie? This one surprises me, because Sarah is indeed playing a pop star, so why isn’t anyone asking the more pertinent question: Does Sarah DANCE in the movie? And I wish I could answer, but…oh what the heck. Spoiler-time! Sarah dances, and man, does she ROCK.

There have been other questions, one’s I can’t really answer, so here is the stock answer: “Sorry, but I can’t give out the phone number (or shooting schedule or hotel location) of Kevin Bacon (or Brendan Fraser or Andy Garcia or Emile Hirsch or Forest Whitaker).” It’s good to know that the guys in our cast are beloved, but we’ll have to leave it at that.

And that takes care of our random business. Next time, we’ll have a little chat…about sad partings. Yes, Andy Garcia and Forest Whitaker are wrapped, and I’ll look forward to telling you about their amazing final days.

See you then!

Moments of Love

2006-02-27T07:38:00.000-08:00

Week four flew by. It was an amazing, intense week. So many incredible moments…

I noticed Kevin Bacon (playing Love, a love-struck doctor) relaxing before a take, shuffling his feet into a little dance move. When I told a couple of young ladies from the crew about it, I could visibly see their hearts break that they’d missed it…

I sat very quietly in the corner of a small room as Jieho rehearsed a scene between Andy Garcia and Sarah Michelle Gellar. It’s one of my favorite scenes in the movie and it’s so intense, so quiet, that while Andy and Sarah worked on the scene, I just looked to the floor, as if not looking would somehow give them privacy.

I watched a scene on a monitor as a character was raced along on a hospital gurney, his face in close-up the length of the shot, which spanned two hallways. It wasn’t until I wandered out to the hallway that I realized that our DP Walt was getting the shot hand-held with a very heavy camera while running BACKWARDS the entire way. The man is amazing…

I saw Brendan Fraser in a scene so raw, so physically demanding, that I was actually concerned for him. Then I found out later that he had a GREAT time shooting the scene, and I remembered why I love actors so much.

Darlene, one of our producers, invited me to dinner with her, Brendan, Sarah, Andy, and Victor Rivers (in town to play Eddie, Andy’s bodyguard) and for dessert, we were presented with a two-foot tall chocolate monkey. I repeat…two-foot tall chocolate monkey.

I watched one of my best friends, Josh Flaum, shoot his feature film debut, one scene with Kevin, one with Julie Delpy (so breathtaking on camera, you won't believe it). Josh held his own among these superstars. You have no idea how proud I am of my friend.

The week ended with Kevin Bacon shooting his last scene. As soon as we finished, the crew burst into applause. They lined up to wish Kevin well or pose for a quick picture. Kevin smiled graciously, taking a moment with every single person there. Then, he slid on his sunglasses and strolled off the set for the last time.

Love is gone. We miss him already.

The Best of Myspace

2006-02-22T22:45:00.002-08:00

I’m an avid fan of Myspace, an online community where you connect with friends and acquaintances, send messages, promote your show or band or whatever, and generally just waste a lot of time.

I started blogging on Myspace about my experiences on THE AIR I BREATHE months ago during pre-production, just to let my friends know what was going on in my life, both professionally and personally. Soon after arriving in Mexico City, it seemed like a good idea to start blogging in a much more public manner, via the official website.

Now, I’m only doing the one blog, but those old Myspace blogs are fun and I thought everyone might be interested in some excerpts, glimpses of the pre-production of the film and my first few experiences in Mexico City. So for your reading pleasure, here’s The Best of the Myspace Blogs:

1/16/06

Last night, a week and a half before shooting was to begin, I had a dream. The crew of THE AIR I BREATHE was gathered outside by a big campfire, and I was hanging out with a Brendan Fraser, just chatting. Suddenly, Sarah Michelle Gellar runs up to us and says to Brendan, “Let’s go practice our lines!” And the two of them ran off to rehearse. I so wanted to go with them, to hear the words spoken aloud, but it wasn't my place. So I hung by the fire, nervous, excited...and then I woke up. I’m dreaming about AIR every night…

1/24/06

Holy hell. I’m flying out Thursday. That’s two days if you’re counting.

Yesterday, I decided to learn Spanish. I gave myself the drive to Santa Monica and back. That’s enough time right? So there I am, screaming down the 10, listening to the CD adventures of Linda from Snack Track as she arrives in the Madrid airport and gets a crash course in how to speak Spanish, when I get a call from our 1st Assistant Director in Mexico City, needing a lot of work from me…and I’m a WAYS from my computer. A quick haircut and a good back-crackin’ later, and I’m back to the Valley to try and navigate the insanely fun world of script revisions.

Every time I leave my apartment, someone calls and puts me to work. Every meal with friends, I’m ducking out the door to try and catch up with Jieho for a few precious minutes. I am very much in pre-production, all these miles away. And yet, at least I get to sleep in my bed at night. Jieho’s in Mexico City, so far away, so exhausted, everyone needing him every second of the day.

I’ll be there soon, at Jieho's side, in the thick of it. I can’t wait. Oh man, I can’t wait…

1/27/06

The night before we leave, I realize I really didn't know how to pack for going away for 6 weeks to make a movie. I figured it out, but it took all night. I didn’t sleep a wink and Christopher Pratt (executive producer and me and Jieho’s manager) picked me up before 7 AM. We met one of our producers, a gorgeous Cuban beauty named Darlene, at the airport and hopped on our flight. Christopher was passed out before the plane took off. I slept a solid thirty minutes. Just too excited.

Mexico City is huge and crowded and actually kinda amazing. Our hotel is very cool. Got a quick nap before heading over to the incredible house of one of our producers for a little pre-movie celebration. Met a lot of the crew, including our great DP Walt Lloyd. Caught up with Jieho, exhausted from a day of camera tests and such.

I got a welcome hug from Brendan Fraser, who’s just the nicest guy in the world.

Talked about power-ballads and sushi with Sarah Michelle Gellar, who is very sweet and looks FANTASTIC.

Drank tequila and red-wine and enjoyed listening to a 10-piece mariachi band in the LIVING ROOM.

As the party winded down, our producer whisked a few of us off for a feverish all-night odyssey into the Mexico City nightlife. Packed clubs filled with cigarette smoke (ack), more tequila, being escorted past every velvet rope...and remember, I had maybe 90 minutes of sleep in 2 days. I staggered in around 6 in the morning, then passed out.

1/28/06

What does happiness look like?

It’s different for everyone, I imagine. But for me it’s simple.

THE AIR I BREATHE is broken up into four vignettes, each named after an emotion, each emotion represented by a single character that may or may not embody those traits upon first glance.

When Jieho originally invited me to co-write the script with him, he was planning on shooting the film in Korea, so of course I imagined all four "emotion" characters as Korean. After Jieho decided to make the film in the U.S. (or Mexico City…close enough), I had different images of what all the characters looked like, except for the character of Happiness, a spiritually bereft banker who makes a fatal mistake and must risk everything to save himself. No matter what, I always saw Happiness as Korean. In my mind, it was so hard to put a new face to a character who was so many things: lonely, desperate, ultimately transcendent. And he has a lot of scenes alone, a true test of any actor.

But now, after the first day of shooting on my first film as a professional screenwriter, I can honestly tell you exactly what Happiness looks like.

Imagine Forest Whitaker, currently wowing the planet on FX’s THE SHIELD, striding onto our set for the first day of shooting, pulling on the rumpled brown trench coat I always saw in my mind, and racing through the front doors of a bank. Now I can’t tell you what happens inside that bank, but when he comes out…

He IS Happiness.

1/29/06

This morning we started with STUNTS! Forest worked for a while, running, jumping, falling…it is amazing to watch him work. He always throws himself into the scene, body and soul, and afterwards, treats us all to a warm grin. He’s having a blast and it shows.

Jieho asked me to bring my little DV camera to document the making of the film, so I spend most of my time trying to find interesting angles to shoot the action without getting in the way. I’m not good at this at all, but I’m learning. Today, I shot a quick interview with Forest where I asked him about riding a moped in the film. Not normal interview kinda stuff, but I’m just trying to have fun, maybe show the human side of making movies that you don’t normally get to see.

Jieho shot our first full dialogue scene today, a fateful meeting between Sorrow and a small but important supporting character. It’s one of my favorite scenes, and finally getting to watch Sarah work was a blast. We were in a downtown intersection, the streets blocked off, and people started to gather, straining for a glimpse of the stars. At one point, Sarah was prepping for a shot, and I looked over and saw Emile Hirsch (onset for a fitting) chatting with Forest, and I thought, Holy hell, there’s a movie here. With stars. And I co-wrote it. Unbelievable…

2/4/06

It's pretty early here in Mexico City as we enter week two of production. We're staggering five and six day weeks so it's hard to remember what day it is. I'm mostly sure that today is Saturday. It's pretty cold right now, but I know it'll get warm later.

The first week went great, and Jieho's showing a confidence and skill that's blowing everyone away. We started off with four producers crowded around the monitors, making sure things were going well. Today, there will be one or two. The machine is rolling and Jieho and his extremely capable Assistant Director and Director of Photography are on fire.

I'm in the producer's trailer right now, and no one's around. It's very quiet, a little lonely. I miss Christopher and Darlene (who are both back in Los Angeles on business). We share a van in the morning, and while they're away, I ride by myself with our driver Miguel.

Soon I will drift over to the set, settle in a director's chair near the monitors with a head set and today's script pages photocopied into a pocket-sized packet.

I'm pretty tired. My inner clock is all messed up right now. The other day, I mentioned to our A.D. Paul that being on location for the first time feels like being the new kid at summer camp when all the other kids have been coming for years. Everyone knows how to do it, what to eat, when to sleep. I'm figuring it out though, and doing okay.

Off to the set in a bit. I just got today's pages. For some reason, they're not pocket-sized today. Oh well. Not everything's perfect in Mexico City, but it's damn close.

2/08/06

Today, we shot the hostess bar scenes at an elegant gentlemen's club. You know what that means, right? Yes, scantily clad exotic dancers. The funny thing is: imagine a wide shot where two of the main characters enter the club, dancers on the stage behind them. You need to see the girls dancing, but you also need to hear the characters’ dialogue. So the way the crew accomplishes this is they crank up the music so that the dancers get the rhythm, then they cut the music, call action, and as the actors do their lines, the girls keep dancing...in total silence. It's kinda unsettling.

We ended the day with Brendan kicking the crap out of couple of stunt men in the club's kitchen. It was our first real fight scene, and I got to watch the stunt supervisor work with Brendan, Jieho overseeing and adding his thoughts. When they finally rolled cameras, it was just stunning. Brendan kicks ass. Truly.

2/18/06

And there you have have it, the mysterious yet revelatory Myspace blogs. Hopefully, you enjoyed them. Today’s an off day, so I’m writing in my hotel room, listening to Cracker, and wrestling with a fearsomely slow Internet connection.

My cousin’s getting married today and I’m missing it. I’ve already missed the birthdays of three of my best friends. Another one next week.

But how can I complain? Tomorrow, we begin week four.

And off we go…

Debut

2006-02-15T21:45:00.000-08:00

It’s late at night and freezing cold, and I’m standing in the middle of the street, screaming at Sarah Michelle Gellar at the top of my lungs. How did I get here?

Flashback about ten years: back in Orlando, in addition to writing screenplays, I was also a professional actor. I learned improv at SAK Comedy Lab (where Wayne Brady got his start) and co-founded a 5-man sketch and improv troupe called THEM. We did weekly shows, Fringe festivals, corporate gigs, and even toured Canada for one glorious summer. In addition, my regular-guy looks got me a steady series of bookings in commercials and industrials training films.

After moving to L.A., I supported myself for a summer as Captain Rustworthy, Disney California Adventure’s favorite boat captain. I had to wear plastic lobsters on my shoulders. Thankfully, they closed the show. After that, I spent more than a year doing corporate comedy gigs and monthly shows with THEM. Eventually, I sold my first screenplay and I was thrilled to put aside the acting and be a full-time writer.

But occasionally I’m lured back into the acting world, and that’s okay, because I have exactly the kind of acting career I want. Basically, cool directors ask me to do stuff, and I say yes. For example, any time director Ben Rock has a TV or theatre role for me, I’m there, and Dan Myrick (co-director of The Blair Witch Project) cast me in his Internet television show The Strand and I got to improvise a scene with Kevin Smith. Fun times.

But I’d never been in a feature film before, and I was always hoping to have a cameo in THE AIR I BREATHE. Jieho’s very careful with his casting though, and I knew that if he used me, it would be exactly the right role, one that would showcase my unique acting gifts.

So on a cold, desolate city street in Mexico City, we were shooting the scene where Sarah Michelle Gellar’s distraught pop star finds herself suddenly cornered by a throng of over-zealous fans. There were two other main actors involved in this scene, but I don’t want to say who and ruin anything. Just know that it’s a pivotal scene, with lots of extras and stunts.

And in this moment of need, Jieho called on me to play a role that only I could play, a role of such groundbreaking importance that this casting decision might affect the entire film.

He cast me as a paparazzo. A celebrity-stalking, snapshot-stealing creature of the night. Sweet.

First, I reported to the set for rehearsal. They had built the exterior of a club, complete with velvet rope. A long line of extras in sexy clothes snaked along the sidewalk, awaiting entrance to the club. I was perched near the valet, pretending to hold a camera.

In the scene, Sarah races down the street, right past me, trying to catch someone. Before she knows it, she’s surrounded by her fans and I utter the line, “How about a picture?” before I start snapping away, blinding her. As we ran through the scene, I realized Sarah probably had a lot of pent-up frustration towards the paparazzi, as she would pass by and slam into me. This petite young lady hits HARD. Then again, maybe she just likes knocking me around.

From there, I went to wardrobe. The jeans and hoodie I was wearing were deemed acceptable, and our amazing costume designer added a black photographer’s vest. I had a choice of two caps: one was pretty hip, one made me look dorky. Common sense prevailed and I was dorked out, ready to go.

Suddenly, we were whisked back onto set. Along for the ride was executive producer Tai Duncan, drafted to play an affectionate fan. Right before our final rehearsal, I was given a digital camera with a lens as long as my arm and MUCH heavier. I was instructed, “This lens is very expensive, so be careful.” That’s when the rain began to fall. So we ran the scene in the rain, me leading the charge at Sarah, snapping off pictures and blinding her with the flash, yelling at her to “Smile!” Then someone would yell cut and I would scurry back under the overhang, as our props master would help me dry the camera.

The rain mercifully stopped. The shooting didn’t. We ran the whole sequence, oh, about a billion times. Every time, I was in Sarah’s face, screaming at her, snapping away. As the takes wore on, she would grab the lens, shoving me away, harder and harder each time. Meanwhile, Tai’s job was to sneak in and steal a kiss. That was our night. Tai getting kisses, me getting my ass kicked by Sarah. Over and over.

The night wore on, and the temperature plunged, and all the extras in their tiny dresses shivered between takes. Each take, I’m flush with the excitement of getting into the action, with a front-row seat for the scene’s breathtaking conclusion, where Sarah stumbles back into the street, as headlights approach and…sorry, but that would be telling.

Finally, we wrapped, far past two in the morning. My back and neck were aching from the constant standing and the heavy camera. I was ready for bed, which was great, because our other exec producer Christopher had already arranged a late-night excursion to find a place that had the reputation for the best tacos in the world.

As we drove off into the night, I left behind the sleazy paparazzo persona that had consumed me. I was lucky to have spent a night as a true player in this movie, in there close, watching Sarah craft a performance that will completely amaze her fans. And as for my deeply realistic portrayal…don’t blink, and you’ll witness greatness.

You may think I’m just hyping things, but I’m not. And the tacos? They were the best in the world. Really.

Hell and Back

2006-02-11T14:27:00.000-08:00

There are many sides to Mexico City.

We saw a really beautiful side recently. It was a restaurant location, as nice or nicer than anything in Beverly Hills. The restaurant was elevated, with large stone steps leading up to opposite ends. The entire front of the place were floor to ceiling glass windows that we removed. On top of that, the whole thing overlooked a beautiful courtyard, and the weather was absolute perfection.

And…it was Kevin Bacon’s first day. He’s playing Love, a hard-working emergency-room doctor, and he’s every bit as charismatic and charming as you would expect. The day’s scene introduced his married best friends, Henry and Gina, played by the fantastic Clark Gregg and the truly luminous Julie Delpy. It’s one of the more straightforward scenes in the film, funny and comfortable, the way friends are. And Kevin, Clark, and Julie just played the hell out of it. It was a real pleasure to watch.

What a great day.

The next morning, I woke up and realized I was in Hell. They say don’t drink the water. I don’t drink the water. A couple smart people told me not to eat raw veggies, which are thoroughly washed in water. Two days ago, I forgot that simple advice and started eating salad. Good for me, right? Wrong. I was in H…E…L…L.

The first day of Hell was all about standing as little as possible. I spent hours (and I’m not exaggerating here) HOURS working up the nerve to walk to the gift shop to buy medicine. I was delirious, trying to come up with a different plan. I knew everyone staying in the hotel was on set, unable to help me, and it never occurred to just call and ask for someone on the crew to be sent back to give me a hand. No, in my delirious state, I kept thinking, “There’s gotta be SOMEONE still at the hotel who I could call to bring me medicine?”

The only person I could think of?

Kevin Bacon.

I decided it was best to just make the trip on my own. Which I did without incident.

Day 2 of Hell was much better. Standing was a little easier. Walking wasn’t too bad. Still no chance of making it to the set, but honestly, I was just happy to be alive.

By the next day, I was fine, in our van with one of the producers, fighting traffic on the way to the set. Mexico City was crowded and angry that day. From this, to the beautiful afternoon a few days before, to the dark recesses of my hotel room…so many sides to Mexico City. They will all be part of this story, the good and the bad. The ugly.

And the very, very beautiful.

Ten Things I've Learned

2006-02-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Starting a blog on the making of a movie AFTER you start shooting the movie is really complicated. Where do I start? I could go back four years, tell you how Jieho and I met, how we started collaborating on THE AIR I BREATHE, how producers and cast and financing all came together, and finally how we ended up in Mexico City with Jieho directing.

Then again, I could start a couple weeks ago, when I arrived in Mexico City and strolled for the first time ever onto the set of a major motion picture that I helped write. That would logically lead to the first week and a half of shooting, with so many mind-blowing moments for me that I don’t even know where to begin.

But the problem here is all this writing about the past just keeps putting me behind, because what I want to write about is TODAY. I want to rush home from the set and share some magic moment, a memory emblazoned in my brain. I want to tempt you, just a tiny bit, with what you can expect from these four intertwining stories, each named after a different emotion.

But first, in my desire to catch you all up, I thought I’d do a brief recap of exactly what I’ve learned since coming to Mexico City. And here it is…

TEN THINGS I’VE LEARNED IN MEXICO CITY

1) People in Mexico City like to PARTY. It is not uncommon, when leaving your hotel at six in the morning to go to the set, to cross paths with people coming back to the hotel after partying all night. And if you decide to join some new friends for a night out…better have the next day off. Because you’ll need it.

2) Brendan Fraser, while an extremely nice fellow, hits like a tank. I don’t know this from personal experience, but the other day, I saw him take out a couple of stunt men in a fight scene that will rattle your teeth. No lie.

3) Driving in Mexico City is only for the brave…or crazy. I only see it from the back of a van, but things like traffic lights and lane dividers feel oddly quaint here.

4) Assuming it’s possible for a camera to have a crush on a human being, then I have to say that our camera has a massive crush on Sarah Michelle Gellar. Because the camera just loves her. Oh my God, does it ever.

5) If you say “Good Morning” to someone in barely acceptable Spanish, they will happily carry on a full conversation before realizing that you (or in this case, I) do not really speak Spanish at all.

6) Forest Whitaker loves his job. As the spiritually-bereft banker Happiness, I’ve watched him tumble to the ground, drag himself to his feet, and run up some stairs, gasping for air…only to break into a charming grin the moment someone yells cut.

7) Sometimes when you ask a very talented movie star to do a top-secret cameo in your movie, they say yes. And when this happens, you feel very, very good.

8) Mexican film crews rock. They’re dedicated, hard working, and like to have fun. If only I’d paid attention in high school Spanish class, then maybe I could talk to more of them.

9) Actors are smart. For instance, Emile Hirsch brought a costume-piece for his character that has got to be one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. It’s perfect.

And finally, one more thing I’ve learned…

10) Dreams come true. Sometimes they just take a year. Or four.

Which brings us to today. And as for what happened today…well, I’m exhausted, so I’ll have to tell you tomorrow. But here’s a hint.

Kevin.

Okay, another hint.

Bacon.

Seeya tomorrow.

Live from Mexico City

2006-02-03T16:09:00.000-08:00

I’m writing this in the heart of Mexico City, on location for the shooting of THE AIR I BREATHE, a film I co-wrote with the director, Jieho Lee. How did this happen?

Back in 2001, Jieho approached me about helping him write a screenplay that would be his directorial debut. The idea was based on a Chinese proverb that broke life down into four emotional cornerstones: happiness, pleasure, sorrow, and love. Now, over four years later, we’re in Mexico City with a fantastic team of producers, an amazing camera and A.D. staff, a remarkable Mexican crew, and a mind-blowing ensemble cast that features, in alphabetical order, Kevin Bacon, Brendan Fraser, Andy Garcia, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Emile Hirsch, and Forest Whitaker.

For Jieho and I, this is our first feature. How in the hell did this happen?

There’s a lot of story to tell. There’s the four years of blood and sweat it took to write the script, package and finance it. Then, there’s the story happening right now, the day-to-day production as this amazing cast breathes life into the words that Jieho and I wrote.
And at the heart of it all is a story of four desperate souls and their adventures in a dangerous world.

I’ll do my best to give you a glimpse into the making of this film. For me, it’s been the ride of my life. Please come along.