ELEPHAN
FEATURES
L I M T E D
QUALITY UK INDEPENDENT FILMS
Do
Elephants
Pray?
Director's Weekly Post Production Blog WEEK 28 Saturday May 17th...
We locked the cut on Monday. Suddenly a wave of sadness overwhelmed me. I left the cutting room feeling really empty and hollow. It made me think of Sam Peckinpah who in the latter part of his life never liked to be without a film to make or edit. He would prolong an edit inordinately long until he had another film to start. It showed he couldn’t face real life. To me that is sad both ways.
I got everything prepared for Cannes by 2am the night before and met Caroline at Tottenham Hale train station Tuesday morning. She had to give me some copies of the trailer. Caroline felt the sadness too. I took the opportunity to give her the elephant stone that I had been saving for since the shoot. There had been no point giving her the cast and crew present at the wrap party as her job was only just starting then. The exchange and goodbye was quite emotional. I don’t think I had ever seen Caroline like that before. She has done a wonderful job and should be proud of it.
I hope that while I am in Cannes Axle will work hard on the sound and that Roger and Neil will make inroads on the grade. In the mean time mine and Jonnie’s job is to find the right sales agent for the film. We need one that understands the film, feels as passionate about it as we do, has the ability to sell the film and can give us an advance. My feeling is that a French one would be best but who knows? The sales agent who loves the film the most is probably best.
Since Tuesday has been a blur of rushing around arranging things, scheduled meetings, improvised meetings outside bars, in hotel lobby’s or on the street coupled with endless walking up and down La Croisette. Sleep deprivation kicked in early and has got worse by the day. The most I get is about 5 hours now. For the first three days it was cold and wet. Everyone complained but I prefer it that way. I don’t do heat that well and sunstroke is thus kept a bay! I have curtailed the party going though and am focussing on the business.
Julie was here for a couple of days which was very pleasant. I hadn’t seen her since the shoot and she is desperate to see the film despite it not being finished. She also accompanied us to one meeting, which was nice. The biggest surprise in seeing her though was the addition of a large bump in her belly – another child ! She is due the first week of August, the same time Elephants will be delivered.
Most of the hard meetings to get I arranged last week, the others I have arranged while here. Only one company, Six Sales, has tried to pass out of hand (they didn’t like the trailer we gave them in Berlin!) and another pretentious one called Salt, just can’t be bothered to take the meeting! Many other responses have been very positive. The moment of truth, though, will be end of Cannes or a week after.
Apart from DEP, I am here doing work for Bluebell Films and am setting up my new film The Power. With the latter I am working with seasoned Producer Mark Forstater. From having 0% finance on day 1, we are slowly edging towards a theoretical 100%. The “t” word being the main one. It’s never certain until it’s certain. And even then…
The most surreal half hour I have spent in Cannes so far is talking to a director who has been summoned here to meet his financiers 2 weeks into shooting a film called “The Big I am”. He’s a commercials director making his first feature. After 12 days shooting he has shot 8 minutes which makes him about 9 days behind schedule. He said “I deal in perfection. If it’s not good enough I can’t move on. Other people can but I can’t. If that’s one set up a day who cares? Fuck ‘em! I can spend all day shooting a drop of water falling on an apple. That really turns me on. Most film-makers, I feel, are just slap dash, amateurish!” At the start of the conversation I said “Either you are a wanker or an idiot, which one is it?” Later I warmed to the guy and even found something in common with him! Either this film will go to three times it’s budget, shoot for a 100 days or the guy will be sacked. My prediction is the film will look amazing but will be totally vacuous and detached, as if there is a barrier between the film and it’s audience. The script, though, is currently being polished by a brilliant writer called Karen Bird, so maybe I’m wrong...
WEEK 29 Saturday May 24th...
I am on a train from to Monaco for the qualifying. Cannes is done. I am approaching Villefranche Sur Mer, scene of the epic 9 minute commercial for Shiseido I shot with Seanne in 2000. She has been my regular Production Designer ever since that wonderful experience.
Seanne is one of a number of people connected with the film who have turned up in Cannes to help the cause and to party. Last night she was the target of an ungracious tirade by Alex McCleod. I’m not sure if it was due to intoxicants or stress, but the image of Alex as a wonderful guardian angel after being a star during the shooting of the office sequences has been shattered forever.
On the first night of Cannes, while me, Paul Gernon and Jonnie were standing outside the Petit Majestic, Alex unexpectedly appeared, more than merry, celebrating his birthday. He asked “Can you sort me out with festival accreditation through the film?”
I replied “Accreditation has been closed for two months mate!”
“I need you to do it for me!”
“It’s impossible. Sorry, why didn’t you tell us you were coming.”
“I need you to do it for me – on the film!”
“It’s too late Alex!”
“I need you to do it for me!”
“It’s impossible!”
“I need you to do it!”
He traipsed off leaving me and Jonnie a bit baffled. The net result, nine days later, was him raging and screaming at Seanne in the street that he had been cold shouldered! Further, when I called him to try to explain, he didn’t answer his phone.
Now we are leaving Villefranche and Monaco is getting nearer. I am totally shattered. I’ve been doing 16+ hour days every day with seemingly no rest. I’ve hardly partied at all but have had only one good night’s sleep in 10 days. My sleep deprivation level must be up to about 30 hours at least.
Julie went back to Paris on Sunday. She took a copy of the rough cut. I was nervous about her seeing it before it was finished. I’m nervous about anyone seeing ANYTHING before it is finished! She texted me Monday “Your film is beautiful Paul… So powerful moving, modern, hypnotising, surprising, crazy… it’s huge. I feel too awkward to speak. I watched it twice in a row. Your work, your choices, your vision – it’s better than anything I was imagining! I’m so proud! What have you done to me? I was deeply sure that I would somehow be disappointed by myself, because it was too big, too beautiful to be true, I had to fail but your talent improved me. On set I couldn’t be conscious of that but now with a bit of distance it hits me violently; I’ve never been like this! Never! You directed me as no-one ever has, you transformed me, you guided me and now I truly understand how a gifted director can change everything! PAUL – THANK YOU! For the first time in my life I’m not ashamed of the slightest thing. I’m strongly proud of my work and I owe you all of that. You are extremely talented. Meeting you was the best thing I could have hoped. The film is brilliant, full of humour. The way you gave life to the film is fantastic…”
Transposing this now has given rise to gratifying sobs so I will discontinue!
Grace has been in Cannes since Tuesday. She arrived with a large bottle of Armagnac as a present! It is great that there has been three of us working on the film. We can cover so much more ground that way. Grace is taking care of film festivals while me and Jonnie work on the Sales Agents and finishing funds. Only one Sales Agent has come back to us so far but that response was as positive as humanly possible, the guy saying he had “Seen at least one or two films every day since attending Cannes and that ours was by far the best.” He praised enormously the direction, the story and the performances. He loved it. I’m sure not all of them will be the same but it is damn good start!
Apart from the exhaustion, I also am suffering with at least one cracked rib, the result of an over exuberant celebration by a Manchester United fan at the culmination of the champions league final. Over the last couple of days the pain has got steadily worse and now I am in perpetual agony!
In the Palais one day I met a young film-maker who had been inspired by reading the blog and the story of our film. That was pleasing. I gave him a poster as a present. Mirroring our commencement on the film last year in Cannes, on the bus into town, me and Jonnie have been brainstorming a new project, an auspicious start!
Despite expectation, Jonnie and Steph’s baby, Rosalie Triskelle, still hasn’t made an appearance. I just hope it doesn’t come when we have to do ADR in London on June 4th!
Anyway, the train is pulling into Monaco now. I pray Lewis can win this race, the jewel in the crown, but first he must get pole position today - I live in hope! First I need a treble expresso!
You are viewing the text version of this site.
To view the full version please install the Adobe Flash Player and ensure your web browser has JavaScript enabled.
Need help? check the requirements page.
