And here I go...
Action!So, tomorrow it begins. I’m directing a movie. It’s a first for me in a few ways. It’s my first studio directing gig, it’s the first time I’m going to be directing my own writing, and it’s the first time I’ve ever been optimistic heading into production (so that’s good, I think…maybe it’s misplaced optimism…oh God…better go get the Xanax…).
By the way, I understand that some sort of press release announcing the cast and so forth is due any day now, so I won’t steal that thunder. I’ll just say that I’m going to be in very good hands with my actors.
Naturally, my ability to write brilliant and lengthy essays for this site is going to be seriously curtailed for the next two and half months while I shoot. As such, I’m going to be turning to some friends of mine to see if they can cough up anything interesting. As soon as they do, I’ll publish it, and you can comment to your heart’s content.
In the meantime, if I notice anything interesting or awful or cool (particularly vis a vis the WGA, its elections, the negotiations, etc.), I’ll do a bulletin-style entry. I’m not gone.
I’m just busier than I’ve ever been.
But don’t go anywhere. Stick around. See who pops up to talk. And as always, enjoy the Forum.
Break a leg.
Not yours.
Someone elses.
Overlap action, Craig, overlap action.
Hey Craig,
Congrats on production and I hope it goes fabulously for you. Best of luck!
Hmm. I was gonna say “good luck” but now I realized “break a leg” is more appropriate. Break a table leg or something.
Oh, and tell the DP to keep shooting after you yell “cut” for some extra cutaway material.
That’s all I got.
AW
Congratulations, Craig.
Best of luck to you.
All good luck to you, Sir. Hope shooting is as smooth and untroubled as can be.
Chookas!
Bon chance.
Congrats and pom-poms from Team Craig - we’re rooting for ya!
Go get ‘em.
Break a leg, Craig.
Hell, break two legs.
Craig,
Your prescience is amazing.
All these wishes for broken legs, and you already have the cast in place.
All the best for a great shoot,
Dave O
Good luck, Craig!
Thanks for running this site, writing movies that make us laugh, and giving wise counsel.
Congrats on this next step. You deserve it and much more. We’re all totally stoked for you.
xoxo, Marianne
Woohoo! Congratulations! Best wishes and all that jazz!
You may find — I bet you will — that the start of shooting brings with it a certain calm. The crazy multitasking demanded in prep is (to a great extent) behind you. The cast, locations and schedule are all more or less set, and any work you might want to continue to do on the script falls within increasingly narrow parameters. You’ll be able to use that sense of calm, increasingly, to focus on the task at hand without distraction. And as you internalize that calm it will radiate out from you, creating an oasis of calm at the center of the set that will allow you and your fellow artists to do your best work. The days will be long; what you did before lunch will seem like it was days ago; but the weeks will fly by. All your friends and admirers — and I’m proud to be both — are in your corner, rooting for you, cheering you on.
Break some legs and have a great time.
Let us know what you can when you can, and above all— enjoy the process.
Cheers!
Sounds like this will truly be “A Craig Mazin Film.” Just don’t do your own stunts… Congrats.
May we in 20 years look back on the “Blogger” directors of ‘07 as we today look back on the “Film School” directors of the ’70s.
Mazel tov!
The daily quote on my Google homepage today seems rather apt:
“The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men.” - George Eliot
Maybe the same could be said of those brave men and women charged with moving story forward. Here’s to not being perfect.
Go get ‘em.
Attaboy, C.
Dear Craig,
What, you can’t match Jeff Lowell’s dick size and blog daily during production? Tsk, tsk…
One word of advice — teach your 1st AD what you look like when you’re actually deep in thought and what you look like when you look deep in thought but are really only playing one of Homer’s “Turkey In The Straw” cartoons in your head. I learned this years ago when I worked as an AD; saves tons of time.
Have fun and everyone else will, too.
Oh, and fire someone the first day to show who’s in charge. Anyone. Preferably not one of your leads.
And please call your wife before you come home in the evenings so I can get my ass out of your bed.
Knock ‘em dead, brother!
All my best,
Clifford
Hmmmm….ditto.
Bust a fibia! And many thanks for such a tremendous site. Go get ‘em Tiger!
Don’t suck. Be awesome. Wear pants.
I have already bought my tickets.
I wish you the best.