First time on a professional set when most of the crew were my friends.
First time on a professional set when I just got to watch.
Of course, then Spike asked me to be Jay-Z’s stand-in for lighting.
Jay-Z came on set!
Actually, being in front of him was when I realized I was a Jay-Z “Stan”.
Jay-Z walks over to me (as I’m standing in) and says, “I got this, man”. And I spontaneously lit on fire.
Jay-Z left set.
And my attention for being there went with him.
My self-dignity returned as my “Standom” vanished.
Sorry. But that’s really how it went.
Then the hard part came.
Spike and I in an edit suite. Actually, I’m there (most of the time alone) and then he comes and we work together on what I’ve done.
Spike pushes you hard (did I say hard?) and even if you push back (and I do try) it doesn’t matter (most of the time) cause you’re learning tons. But it’s all coming at you very fast (did I say fast?).
Being able to watch him on set and then work through edit/story choices with him one-on-one is a rare filmmaker education. (and no we don’t always agree… actually there isn’t much “agreeing” as it were… I do what the man asks me to do!)
This project has been the most intense so far.
If I’m not cutting I’m texting/talking to Spike. If not that then I’m talking to 40 Acres. If not them then the post house. If not them then the DP (Malik, who is a good guy and has helped me out tremendously from his end)
And now.
We’re done already… well almost.
You know… it’s almost better than film school. But not better than the Sundance Labs (there. i said it.)
This has been an interesting year. I sort of feel like that character, Mr. Citizen… you know, the one in that August Wilson play:
Aunt Esther: “You on an adventure, Mr. Citizen. I bet you didn’t know that. It”s all adventure. You signed up for it and didn’t even know it.”
Now I just wanna sleep. Then… write.
In the meantime, here’s some pics and video from the shoot. Oh and this video was actually posted the afternoon of the first day (and not by me)! Gotta love the “internets”.
Jay-Z & Citizen Stan (Me)
I’m tired.
If you swing by here at all on any kind of a regular basis then you know I’ve been negligent in my posting duties.
My apologies.
I said I’d post “soon” about the Spike Lee/Jay-Z shoot. I should have said, soon “ish”. But here are the good parts… and yes I do mean the good parts:
Sorry. But that’s really how it went.
Then the hard part came.
Spike and I in an edit suite. Actually, I’m there
(most of the time alone)and then he comes and we work together on what I’ve done.Spike pushes you hard (did I say hard?) and even if you push back (and I
dotry) it doesn’t matter (most of the time) cause you’re learning tons. But it’s all coming at you very fast (did I say fast?).Being able to watch him on set and then work through edit/story choices with him one-on-one is a rare filmmaker education.
(and no we don’t always agree… actually there isn’t much “agreeing” as it were… I do what the man asks me to do!)This project has been the most intense so far.
If I’m not cutting I’m texting/talking to Spike. If not that then I’m talking to40 Acres . If not them then the post house . If not them then the DP (Malik, who is a good guy and has helped me out tremendously from his end)
And now.
We’re done already… well almost.
You know… it’s almost better than film school. But not better than the Sundance Labs (there. i said it.)
This has been an interesting year. I sort of feel like that character, Mr. Citizen… you know, the one in thatAugust Wilson play :
Now I just wanna sleep. Then… write.
In the meantime, here’s some pics and video from the shoot. Oh and this video was actually posted the afternoon of the first day (and not by me)! Gotta love the “internets”.