[Previous entry: "NOVEMBER -The Start of something special"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "“oops”"]

11/02/2005: "“I Blog Your Pardon?” by Scott Allen Rinker"

So I’m back on my meds today and from here on out my blogs should be relatively coherent. At least I hope so…

Have to say, I never thought I’d get smacked down by Chris for using the word “masturbation,” though. Especially from a guy who pens a scene where one of his characters is caught sniffing a sexually abused cucumber while wearing just his underpants. But, it’s his blog so no more masturbation jokes, I promise.

Trying to stay on the topic of the movie, tonight I thought I’d share an exerpt from my personal journal written after the first day of filming, that lets you see what making the movie was really like:


“Dear Journal, (I write that because “dear diary” sounds a little girly)

Just wrapped the first day of filming on “Gamers.” Wow. It was a long day of shooting but what an amazing experience.

The day started off with a phone call from Chris at like 8 a.m. saying that Rose had gone into labor with the twins, he was rushing off to the delivery room and his brother would probably be filling in to pinch hit for the day. My first thought was, ‘Well, that’s Hollywood for ya. Nepotism, nepotism, nepotism.’

I couldn’t have been more pleased, however, than when I arrived at Chris’ house (our location for Gordo’s home) to find Chris had returned from the hospital to pilot this ship we were about to set sail upon. (Side Note: If he’s the Skipper, am I Gilligan or am I the Professor? I know that Dave Hanson is Mary-Anne.)

Don’t know how Chris managed it. I guess sleep really is overrated. He’s an inspiration. Three births in one day – his twin sons and his first feature- not many elves can say that, humans either. Though Rose deserves some kudos in there too!

I got to meet John Heard and Beverly D’Angelo finally; they’re really great people, very sweet. At least I think they are. We never actually spoke to each other. I think they thought I was an extra. But hey, we’re in the same movie and that’s what counts.

The guys are great, I feel we really have become the “Four Horsemen,” and of course Dave Hanson’s kicking ass, too. Thank God for the rehearsal time we had this past week. We’re moving so fast and shooting so many set ups, it sometimes feels like I'm in an old 'keystone kops' serial where everyone’s moving at a whirlwind pace.

And amazingly there’s been only one death so far. A crewmember happened to be standing too close to where Ben was practicing with his sword and got decapitated. I remember thinking, ‘hey, that’s something you don’t see everyday.’ Hope they got it on film. So far, I think the plan is to keep it hush-hush until the film gets sold, then use it as a marketing ploy. I think that’s genius.

I should get to bed now, got another big day tomorrow. We’re shooting the garage interiors and after 10 years I’m finally gonna get to use my DICE again!!! I’m trying not to let anyone know how excited I am about that but I don’t know if I’ll be able to hide my glee.

‘Till tomorrow sweet journal, good night.”

So as you can see, “Gamers,” despite its budget size ran like pretty much any standard studio picture. Just without the big cast trailers.

Scott