A Band Apart

So there we were, a deadline fast approaching and our friendship on the line. It was all riding on me to turn in this script within 30 days. That was all the time I had been allotted. Leonard patiently awaited for me to pass the baton. He said as soon as he received the script and read it he would commence the ball rolling.  I got to say I felt that not only did I walk up to the plate, I knocked it out of the park. I delivered it ahead of schedule. The script had not only a beginning but it was much smoother read, it had developed some heart and the ending would foreshadow real events to come. But more on that later.

For now I was handing Leonard my script. The first full length feature I had ever written. My first baby. I felt I had learned from the mistakes of the past regarding “Sifting” and was fully prepared for him to nurture it into being. I refused to argue it into a shallow grave. 

So there I was, offering my script for the world to see. Since this was semi-auto-biographical, I was baring part of my soul. Hoping to garner my film making partner’s approval.

 

And what does that mofo do? Notes. He made notes!  On 3x5 index cards he made attempts to correct how I felt things should go. Particular phrasings and situations. Challenge my artistic vision. And what’s worse he was threatening to cut the opening. Mutilate my creation. Maybe I wasn’t as ready as I thought I was to let go. 

I sincerely had my doubt on the project at this point. Then Leonard reintroduced me to an old friend.

 

He had hijacked my copy of the book for several years. I was astonished to see it again. I was overjoyed as someone who was final reconnecting with an abducted love one.  I took this as a good omen. You usually never see anything again, that you’ve loaned to Leonard.

From then on things seemed to move along smoothly. After convincing Leonard just shoot everything as it is on Paper and make the magic happen in the editing room. After all we weren’t a major Hollywood studio bleeding millions of dollars a day on production. We planned on shooting on HD video so no film was being wasted. Leonard had situated himself as director/producer and put himself in charge of every minute detail. Working on our current short feature “The Lunchroom” i now appreciate what a monumental task this was. He haggled with the printers to get a better rate at bounded copies of the script.  He set up a domain name and website. And he said that I was in charge of the content on the website. We settled on the domain LastCallMiami Dot Com.

I worked on a Logo for the site

and movie

There was even a DVD mockup. Leonard then setup casting auditions through craigslist. We were amazed at the number of people that responded to work in front of the camera and behind the scenes. We hired a production assistant in the form of our friend and co-worker Quisqueya to help us sort through all the madness.

We began to scout possible shooting locations. We knew we wanted to shoot in Coconut Grove.

The script revolved heavily on music. Many different styles. From Hip-Hop to Ska to DJ’s. We knew we needed a band in the movie. We pursued Vanessa Diaz of the band shortStack to play the lead female character. We went to one of her shows to scout out her band.

Leonard networked with a local singer/songwriter in the hopes of collaborating on the score.

It was amazing to see this usually introverted anti-social guy, making moves left and right. Saying I was Proud if my friend doesn’t quite cover it. It was more of an admiration at his new found determination. Fueled by support from friends, family and our coworkers at The Answer Group. It truly seemed like for the first time it could become a possibility.

And then, like a clichéd Vh1 Behind the Music episode, it all went horribly wrong…