One week Out

We shoot a week from tomorrow. We're almost ready. Our cast and locations are nailed down, and most of our crew and equipment.

Earlier in the week, we visited the theater again for a technical requi with our DOP Alex, and lighting/gaffer king Walter Klimkyw, who has shot in the theater many, many times. (I have known and worked with Walter since 1985 - he is ageing very gracefully.)

As we get closer, we're nailing down certain aspects of performance.

René Bazinet has joined the creative process. Jesko, Jacob and I met with him at Cafe Shaika in NDG last week. It quickly became apparent that the cabaret performance at the Corona should be centered around a two-step between René and Jesko. René was bringing a lot of enthusiasm, energy and intensity to the process. I think that, for Jesko, collaborating with René in this way is an unexpected career challenge and delight. René is a kind of mentor for him. I hope the result on screen will be exciting and unique, and especially interesting for those interested in clown work.

The pictures you see came from that session. Sans René, we had just finished a series of videotaped interviews with my brother Bob, for this site and for an eventual EPK. Boy, do we like to talk. Bob will have a huge editing challenge. You can get a sense of how relaxed we are - it's a good process.

Jacob has delivered a final, revised, script. I am still unsure of The Poet's motivation in certain sections, and we will need to work on this together before we shoot, so I don't completely suck.

Jacob and Jesko are off to Quebec City this week to buy costumes.

I'm pleased to note that my cousin Alec Gieysztor and my friend and co-worker François Lacoursière have confirmed that they will be part of the cast.

Once again, a short film becomes a snapshot of a life, trailing back for decades, in progress.