For a second time I found a day off harder than a day on. The last one in Rennes 6 days ago was extremely pleasnt but somehow Vannes, half asleep under an overcast sky as it was yesterday, was full of sadness for me. Maybe it was because we are over half way through the shoot and thus I can see the end coming. Maybe it was just that when you have such an energetic, intense and ultimately egotistical endeavour like making a film, that during breaks it is inevitable to have a come down or to experience some self loathing! Or maybe it was something else. All I know is I am looking forward to shooting more today than I was looking forward to the break on the last day of shooting. In fact I feel great now and "focused" as Roger would say!

Between "Action" and "Cut" the world is under your control. As a film-maker, you can make it afresh in your own image. Tell the story you want to tell. Get across your own point of view. The protagonist can win or lose. The hero can get the girl or not get her. It is your choice. What is more wonderful than that?
 
Axle won the Friday night poker tournament. "Bronson", as she is now called is the most naturally gifted player I have introduced to the game.
 
Earlier Pete asked Jonnie if he had make-up on or was just muddy. Now he certainly looks like shit as he should! That illustrates just how good a job Cristina is doing. Upon reflection, everyone on this film has been brilliant. There has been no-one who has let the team down substantially. We are a great team.
 
12.56pm
 
Rhys is up a tree while we shoot this scene. He drops leaves into shot on cue. Of course the level of leaves depends on the action of the scene. He has been very brave getting himself right up there.
 
We have shot the first part of the scene now. Axle soldiered on through a migraine complete with throwing up. She ran up and down to run it off. Unfortunately also she fell over and and hurt her hand and leg. It is her first injury so she has long way to catch up the brave and battle hardened Katie Higgs.
 
3.03pm
 
Just about to start shooting the end of the scene. Rhys is climbing up the tree again. I am now thinking about film stock and how much I have left. I've worked out that if I shoot the rest of the French part of the film at an 8:1 ratio then I have enough stock. Otherwise I will need some more. Always the amount of stock is a problem for the director. On a film where there is an improvisatory element it it's generally more acute. That is certainly my problem on this one as well as not seeing rushes.
 
I am now 14 days blind and 17 days mute in terms of seeing rushes now!
 
8.15pm
 
Sitting in Julie's caravan while Cristina removes the hair extensions from Julie and cleans up Jonnie. We are talking about the scene today. It was the scene that Julie did in the audition. She told me after the scene that she was really worried that it would be not the same as the audition or the rehearsal. What I loved about those versions is how affected Malika was, how personal she took it.
 
When we shot the scene I broke it up into parts so that we progressed through it bit by bit. When we got to the bit where he makes her so mad that she cries and storms off I kept doing takes. Eventually she cracked and in a blind rage she slapped him across the face. It was never scripted that way. It was never discussed that way. Never rehearsed that way.
 
As soon as she did it the energy changed. Things instantly changed completely. The gear had shifted up. Jonnie face was a picture of incredulity and repressed rage. I went straight into her close up and shot 3 takes on her. The second one was the best. Pure magic.
 
After shooting his reverse I did a wide for her storming off while he shouts "Malika! Malika! Malika!" after her. It suddenly occurred to me that if I did a tighter and wider version of the wide that I could cut out between the three as he shouts out her name, jumping cutting down the line. Also I can use them to repeat the action of the slap for added effect. The net result is he got slapped round the face fifteen times. Normally when I shoot a scene like this I have to whisper to the actress "Fucking hit him!" as it is human nature to pull back. This time I didn't have to. She pummelled him over and over and over again. Powerful stuff.
 
Rhys was up a tree practically all day today dropping leaves into shot. He did brilliantly. He's not let me down yet in 17 days of shooting.