Chapter 81 - Introduction to Film Production

January 17, 2012 – Monday 4 pm – Ironstone, East Ouigab

"How about the lyrics?" Bay-an asked.

Since Tayaw's first lesson to the band's 'Songwriting Unit', the trio finally composed their original melodies and finished each of their own songs' rough composition. Bay-an, being the most excited to finish writing his first song, asked Tayaw first how to write lyrics.

"Alright. Writing lyrics is quite difficult and if you're not inspired, it takes a lot of trial and error." Tayaw began, and Bay-an pulled out his notebook.

"What I'd like to do is to write the lyrics for a chorus first. I can only guide you. So, what do you want to write about? What is it that you want to communicate to the listener the most?" Tayaw asked, rhetorically. Bay-an knowing tayaw's teaching process, just processed Tayaw's words and answered his questions in his head.

"I'm pretty sure that while composing, you also could not help but to think which words would fit, right?" Tayaw asked and Bay-an nodded, relating very much.

"That's a good start. I don't want to influence your songwriting so much, but whatever you're writing about, try to think as many words as you can that relates to the feeling you want to convey." ….

Meanwhile, the 'Vocalist Unit', Jenna, Ike, and Ramil have also started taking vocal lessons. Since their classes started, the three learned to protect their vocal chords, how to warm up, and how to sing efficiently. They also started doing deep breathing exercises, jogging as much as they can together, so they can build stamina to sing longer.

Tayaw knows that unless the three aspiring vocalist have his enhanced body and recovery, it would take them months or even years to be excellent vocalists.

Tayaw, after talking with Bay-an, then went back to his room and continue his storyboarding.

Storyboarding, from the film making experience he was given, is the process of graphically ill.u.s.trating or drawing a film maker's visualization of how a frame or series of it (a scene) would turn out in the screen. If a layman would look at the story board, they would mistake it for an ugly looking comic book if they don't look any closer. While not all film makers do this, the film maker whose experience Tayaw gained, would always story board to save time and expenses during the production and post-production process.

Since he started, Tayaw was able to storyboard a half of the entire script. With his enhanced thought process and body, he was able to ill.u.s.trate what would normally take a few months of trial and error and drawing, in only three days.

He was able to ill.u.s.trate his visualization of how the main character, Steven, would be introduced. He drew the Steven waking up, preparing the breakfast, and watching the TV. He then ill.u.s.trated the small scenes of things that the Steven would notice on the way to work; the neighbor painting his fences, the taxi driver, and the coffee server. These would also repeat throughout a good part of the movie.

Tayaw also ill.u.s.trated the scene he imagined of how the main character would realize that he's stuck in a time loop. He drew what Steve noticed repeatedly, but from different camera angles, to his spiraling down to deviant and promiscuous behavior.

What Tayaw ill.u.s.trated was not only how the scenes would be shot, but the characteristics of the characters. Steven, in the beginning, would be portrayed as a normal human. When he was confused in the time loop, he would be drawn haggardly.

When Steven starts gambling, fighting, and whoring, Tayaw would draw horns on Steven's head.

While storyboarding, Tayaw also could not help the musician in him to think of melodies that he thought would fit in the scenes or important plot points, so he also has his special guitar always on standby.

January 25, 2012 - Wednesday 9 am – Clambu City – Silvertone Hotel

Tayaw walked in a conference and joined Jouny by the long table.

"Hey Jouny. How was the response?" Tayaw asked Jouny. Since Tayaw bought her script, Jouny volunteered to look for a casting director to hire. Tayaw, however disagreed and asked Jouny to assist him to cast instead. Tayaw is sure that any casting director's experience would conflict with his vision.

After Tayaw was done with his story boarding, he immediately booked a conference room in Clambu's famous Silvertone hotel to hold the auditions. The hotel normally sets up the conference rooms for the purpose of meetings but today, the tables are all removed and all that is remaining in the room is a stool for the actors to sit on, a long rectangular table or Jouny and Tayaw to use, a few cameras on the table, rolling, pointed at the stool where the actors would be sitting.

"Great actually. 17 actresses called me for Diwaya's part and 21 actors for Steven's part." Jouny started a short report. "I still do not understand why you want comedic actors, though?" Jouny asked in curiosity. When she talked to Tayaw about his preferences, Tayaw recommended to have half of the actors be comedic actors.

"Let's just say … my instincts. No… Gut feeling." Tayaw replied. Tayaw in his past life saw that many comedic actors do very well playing dramatic roles, which until this day, he does not understand. What he knows, however is that comedic actors are very adaptable in whatever role they are in. And this adaptability is exactly what he needs for his actors to learn the acting style he wants.

"Okay. But why choose actors who didn't have theater training?" Jouny asked again. "I'm doing something new. Trust me on this." Tayaw didn't bother explaining. Tayaw's actual reason in asking for actors without theater training is that he figured that if he wants 'real film actors', he has to choose actors who don't have to 'untrain' themselves of the habits and discipline of theater acting.

"Alright. Your movie." Jouny said helplessly. "Hey *****. Please call in the first actor in. Don't come in until the actor steps out." Jouna said to the intern she hired for the day.

…

Three hours later.

"You want to know what we're doing this December? You're asking the wrong question my man. You what we're going to do this December? Huh? We'll still be here, our hands on our keyboards and A4 papers! We'll be here, in our cubicles, slowly getting fat, getting ugly, it's going to last 'til we're in our fifties! That is if we're even lucky to reach that age without dying of diabetes or heart attack from sitting our asses around!"

The 10th actor theatrically recited his lines like it is any other contemporary theater play. This annoyed Tayaw greatly. 'Where's the anger? Where's the helplessness? Where's the f*ckin frustration?!' Tayaw yelled at the actor in his head. 'F*ck. Even the extras in the movies the roulette gave me are better actors that these fellows.' Tayaw sighed.

He understood that these actors had different training, but after Tayaw instructed them, they cannot still act believably. Tayaw asked them to speak the lines as naturally as they can like they're saying it to another person, but they sounded way off.

Tayaw still has not seen an actor that satisfied him. After seeing the 10th actor's acting skills, "Alright. Thank you. We'll call you once we've decided." Tayaw said, politely saying that the actor didn't get the part. He did not bother instructing the actor any longer as he has lost patience.

Tayaw then called for a break. "Damn." Tayaw sighed, shaking his head. "What's the problem, kid? I thought some of them were all good." Jouny asked in confusion. Tayaw shook his head. "Tell, me, Jouny, do you really see 'Steve' in any of them?" Tayaw asked in return. This stumped Jouny. Yes, while the actors did alright, to her eyes, did not see someone who fit her vision of Steve.

"We gave them two weeks. TWO WEEKS. They did not even digest the character?" Tayaw said in frustration. "Hey. Relax. We have 11 more actors to go; all comedic actors, all of them have no theater training, just like you asked. Maybe you'll find one from them." Jouny said. This is the first time that she's working directly in recruiting actors for her film, so she's very enthusiastic.

"We should have had them first." Tayaw said thoughtlessly, but this offended Jouny a bit. "Hey. I told you I'm not a casting director. Also, from their qualifications, I placed them in priority." Jouny said. "Hey. Okay. I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by it." Tayaw said.

Tayaw is not usually sensitive, but these days, he's actually feeling pressured. While he has skills as a film maker, the actors he wants are hard to find. There are also no camera man and other crew that has the skills he requires. Finally, there's only two months before the deadline for the Sorrento Film Festival.

After a few minutes of break, Tayaw resumed the auditions, with the 11th actor entering the conference room. Compared to the 1st to 10th actors, Tayaw is actually more hopeful with this new batch of actors who are either comedic or never had theater training. The 11th, 12th, and 13th actors have a more natural delivery that is better for films. However, they are still lacking. Tayaw still cannot see a believable acting. They still all looked like they're acting.

Jouna, seeing Tayaw's better expression now, is actually confused. "I don't see anything special?" Jouny asked in confusion. "Oh. I see them. Once we begin filming, you will see it, Jouny." Tayaw assured her.

The 14th actor then came in. Tayaw, recognized the actor and chuckled. "You know him?" Jouny asked. "Yes. If he writes comedy sketches, he's a comedian. If he doesn't, he's a comedic actor." Tayaw replied. The 14th actor, Uranto Vireza is a cast member of the popular weekly late night sketch show by a theater troupe. Every Thursday nights, the sketch show is performed live at the theater troupe's theater and is broadcasted live at a cable channel.

"Should I know him?" Jouny asked, finding Uranto's physical attractiveness a little underwhelming for an actor. "No." Tayaw said. The sketch show, despite being funny, is not really for the general audience. Their dark, mature and racy comedy only has a very small niche audience, and Tayaw is one of them.

"Mr. Virenza. It's nice to meet you. I'm a huge fan of 'Mad Concert'" Tayaw said, which surprised Uranto. "Thank you uh.. sir." Uranto said, unsure how to address a young man like Tayaw. "Alright. Please take a seat. Start on Act 1 Scene 5. Take your time." Tayaw said, back in a pleasant mood after seeing an actor he only saw on TV.

Uranto closed his eyes for a few seconds, gathered his emotions, and took a deep breath.