Dancing in the Rain
#STORM CLOUDS GATHER
Some days on set are just so good that even after you and the team have spent 16 plus hours working yourself to exhaustion you get home and pass out on your bed happier than you've ever been knowing that there is around four hours before you're back at it again. These days are why I love this industry, the passion that can be found on a film set is something special. But not every day is as amazing as this. Some days are harder than others as the body fatigues it does get harder to push the long hours, depending on the shoot you might be battling with horrid weather conditions, or technical difficulties, or even your performance might be harder to hit today than it was yesterday, all depending on your role on the film whether behind the camera or in front of it. However there are also days where you sit back and just wish you never decided to do this whole acting or film making thing. These days don't come often but when they do be prepared as you - like myself - will realise how easy it is for a film to fall apart when they hit, and they will hit hard.
#DOWNPOUR
When a day like this does raise its ugly head and you are the one in charge of the film get ready to do everything you can to keep your team strong through this onslaught. The film gods have decided you don't get to make your film today, hell you might just not be able to finish it in general. That is it, all that hard work and you cant finish with the budget you have. The morale of the team plummets and you watch on as a potential mutiny is about to happen. Everything that can go wrong will go wrong, in our case, one of our cameras broke, our second camera failed to connect to the monitors and our main light also died. If this wasn't enough we were already pushed for time being the middle of winter shooting outdoors, and the day ended up with a high speed car accident that was not a film stunt or anything - luckily no one was seriously injured. The team wants to just pack up and just forget all about it, nothing is worth this much, or maybe it's exactly what the project needs.
#JUST DANCE
What if this horrible day was almost a test to see how much you wanted this film, this dream of yours that you have dreamt for so long. When it starts to pour and everyone just wants to pack up and call it a day this is the moment where you need to get out there and dance. As everything falls apart around you and your team has lost faith, it is up to you to bring them back. Don't give up this is just a test you can finish it, there will be options that don't include calling it a day. Generally after a storm and the sun comes out you're left with a rainbow. Don't focus on the terrible moments that are unfolding in front of you on this day, remember the goal and keep your eyes on the prize. Lead by example and show that positivity through the storm. Find a way, if you don't someone else will and it was because they didn't give up, they danced through the whole storm, thunder, lighting and all. They kept the smile alive, and they completed their film where as you did not. Don't let these bad days stop you, and halt the whole production. Make sure you find something that can help progress the film forward, you might miss shots you may compromise or you may get the best alternative, if you run out of time you might be able to come back however this time with more knowledge and everyone has had a great rehearsal in the space. Remember a little rain never hurt anyone, so dance, dance until the storm clears and then you wont stop dancing cause you made it through the hardest moment on your film.