All posts in PRODUCTION

Changes to the script have been made within the shoot as well as adding a final overt scene of racism between the Eddie and Enrique characters that was not in the last version… but this is basically it. But more on that scene later.

Getting to the internet’s a bit of a hassle as we couldn’t get it at the house, but if possible, I’d like to be able to get a final translation of the van scene from Luis for tomorrow at some point (shooting Saturday)… mainly eager to have it from Luis in order to work the material with Oliver as well, because of the value I place on the different translations.
The van scene is actually broken into different parts; a lengthier part with the Eddie, Deysi, Asunción and Alejandro characters with dialogue — and a part without dialogue in which the driver of the van passes out at the wheel and the van drives out of control.

The speediness of production must seem pushy to those not right inside it.

Yasir Rodarte shot a funny scene with us the other day and he was very good, charming and funny. This is a scene set off hours at the palapa bar with Asunción, Alejandro and Enrique. They talk trash about their boss — the formidable Concepción León Mora, as Señora Bustamante — that she wants to be the only Mexicana in Tourism with a gringo caretaker, and each reveal something in their feelings for Eddie and Kate whom they work with as well.

I wasn’t actually needed on set — no last minute revisions required of me as a writer and I was not in the scene as an actor — but went to watch because I wanted to see Yasir in action, as it was his first day with us as Alejandro. At one point I seemed to make him nervous of all things because he kept looking at me and flubbing his line — so I quickly left so as not to distract him.

We shot at the Cuzama cenotes the other day. Interesting, as we tried to get the above ground and below ground footage shot in this incredible location, as well as give every one a chance to swim in the beautiful sweet water.

We shot horses that took us between cenotes in carts along the old hennequen trails, a ground level skirmish between the Torontonian and the Texan, and a 50 foot jump from into a hole in the ground to the underground river below. (Yes it was a 50 foot jump, but we cheated it so the actor only had to jump about 25 feet.)

He lost his wardrobe mirrored Aviator shades underground.

Damn it. Now production has to spring for a new pair.
(Postscript: found a pair at the market in Progreso for 50 pesos.)
SS

The first time I ever came to Mexico was on a Tristar movie shoot when I was a kid. It was my introduction to this beautiful country and its people and when the place first got under my skin. The movie was written by truly the great screenwriter Alan Sharp (Rob Roy) and he was the reason we were there, but more on that another time.

That first trip to Mexico was with my father and its his birthday today. He was — and still is for that matter — my best friend, my hero as well as my dad. He was a great artist as a painter and my inspiration to this day. Today especially I wish he was here to see the incredible journey of making this independent feature. I wish, in fact, that he was anywhere, because apart from anything else he was the coolest guy I’ve ever known, and the world was just a more interesting place with him in it.

Going to raise a glass to you tonight da.
SS

(Postscript: it turned into another very long day. By the time we were able to sit down for a drink, most everybody had gone to bed or just fell asleep. Robbie and Phil and Emma, eyes falling out of their heads with exhaustion, had a shot with me in his honour anyway. Very sweet and much appreciated.

Writing this now on Saturday night in El Hoyo — we really love it here, and owe Luis Esparza and Antonio Prieto another debt of gratitude for introducing us to the place.

El Hoyo — The Hole — is a cool casual net cafe-restaurant-bar in Mérida Centro. It is the kind of place an old friend of my dad would refer to as bohemian and louche. I think I love it for these reasons and because I refer to my own old fixer-upper house as The Pit, so no wonder I love The Hole.

Not only did Luis and Antonio introduce us to this place, they also gave us Yasir, who we met for the first time here. (He is truly a delight and sweet and funny and a wonderful performer, very light on his feet). And when we come into the city from the pueblo, El Hoyo is now Command Central! Everyone here acts like they know us now, which of course we love.

Shot with Conchi today and she was GREAT. Chris said Wow the Mexican actors are giving the Canadians a spanking!
Ha. He does like to keep us all on our toes…

Excited to be here tonight. We’re shooting the scene where the Canadians have just arrived, and after not finding the missing Eddie in Cancun, their search is directed to Mérida. They wander the streets during Carnavale, watch as they lose Dave to being seduced into dancing in the street, and go to the address of Alejandro, last with Eddie. He isn’t there, but when a woman, Ramona,  sees them she offers assistance.

Off Eddie’s photo, Ramona asks Pete to follow her… he loses Dave and Zoe in trying to keep up with her, and let’s just say it all ends in a skirmish involving a frying pan…

Now the wonderful Ariadna Medina, another local actress who will play Ramona, is getting ready with that frying pan… Poor brave Rob Fulton!

(Postscript: Braver than we thought. I watched from across the street as the police watched Ariadna lead Rob down dark streets in her heavy make up, with her sassy-assed walk and like all great low-rent, no-budget producers who have gone before me I thought: Oh God, they’re going to think she’s a hooker. Luckily I was wrong, they were just average beat cops interested in la mordida, and letting us know they were in charge — Ariadna charmed them completely, leaning into their car, smoking, referring to it all as a student lark, waving it off… they settled for telling us we could finish that shot, that was it, then move on. So we did, but it was of course the hero shot of the night.

Which we had to get in one take. Sigh.)
SS