Four minutes before I yell action to start the movie, one of the producers pulls me aside in a panic. I tell him, whatever it is, don’t tell me now. I’m about to direct. Tell me in six hours.
Producer: We need to shut down the movie tomorrow.
Me: What now?
Producer: We need another $11,000 to pay the actors.
Me: Why?
Producer: We have to pay the actors their rehearsal days.
Me: Why? We read the SAG handbook - there’s nothing explicit on rehearsal days. Besides, all our actors agreed to work for free - why are we paying them all this money?
Producer: They’ve got us over the barrel. Two of the actors won’t back down. One of them won’t come on set tomorrow if she doesn’t get her own trailer and makeup room.
Me: Are you kidding me? How did this happen?
Producer: I’m trying to work it out with her manager.
Me: You need $11,000 by tomorrow morning?
Producer: Yes.
Me: I’ll get it for you.
Producer: How?
Me: Don’t worry about it. I’ll get. Now don’t bother me with this stuff before I’m about to direct! I’ll talk to you in six hours when I’m done for the night.
On our first day of shooting we still haven’t signed actor contracts. And the actors told me in auditions they will work for free. Now their reps are costing me thousands of dollars.
It gets worse
As the actors take their marks and I prepare to call action, the homeowner pulls me aside and starts yelling at me. It seems one of the producers lost the garage clicker. The homeowner swears he will shut down my production if we don’t find his garage clicker.
I patiently listen. I nod my head. Everyone wants to shut down the production today. Even for a garage clicker.
I make sure the actors are still pumped up for a 100 minute take. I slap fives with the actors and call action. What else can I do?
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