Waiting in the Night

Night. I am usually a big fan. Neon signs light up the city streets. People are walking around, going out to dinner, socializing, shopping, visiting, and…working. Working at night is not a first choice option for most of us. Some, I am sure, lean towards the nocturnal and prefer living on opposite schedules from the rest of the city, but I do not and there isn’t a thing I can do about it.

The past two weeks, and for that matter the majority of what we have left, will be night shoots. I am not excited about this. I thought I would be ok with it when I saw they were approaching on our schedule, but they are definitely putting a drain on me more than I thought they would. First, being on a different timetable than anyone I know can be a little much because I have no time to socialize with anyone that isn’t working with me. I find out days and sometimes even a week after something happens in the news or with a person I know. What makes this all worse is the fact that when we shoot, no one seems to have a sense of urgency. The director takes his/her time, almost painstakingly, and we end up never making our days. We film, the script is rewritten, we rehearse, the script is rewritten, we film…and then the sun comes up and we have to stop. Everyone wants to work. No one wants to sit around, wait, and do nothing for 6 hours before we film anything. Unfortunately, that is what is happening now, and will continue to happen for the next few weeks until we have spent all of our good will with the studio.

I think I would be more content with the situation if we were getting everything done. But we aren’t, and our schedule just keeps getting longer and longer. On the other hand, this is my job. I chose to do this. I love what I do. Sometimes it is easy and sometimes it is hard and I accept that.

But still, I’m not psyched for the upcoming nights.