FLIGHT OF THE CONDOR

The first hitch of the production. And it’s a biggie. A pivotal scene involves a shitzu being taken hostage. Problem is, the dog we were going to film has been reported ill. We’re using a stuffed-toy dog for the majority of the scene, but we desperately need a real dog in the movie for establishing shots. We’ve just two days to somehow find a replacement. That’s what we get for ignoring the #1 maxim in Hollywood: “Never work with dogs or children.”

If there’s one actor on set who has balls of steel, it’s Jamie Lane (Carl, a brash, but none-too-bright, hoodlum). Tonight's scene involves a tricky bit of nutty maneuvering, but as always, Jamie is up to the chapping challenge.











Amanda Rowan (Porshe) plays a key part in the scene and she's clearly have a blast in her role as the high-strung moll of a local crime boss. Amanda's costuming (see photos, above) are a character in and of themselves. Kudos to costume coordinator Erica Rice (above, right).

Rus Gutin (below) plays Duke, the senior hoodlum who is charged with looking after the impetuous Carl. The duo's banter in the first scene of the film is hilarious. Rus's timing comes from his many years as a stand-up comic. (You can purchase a DVD of his political humor here.)


Timmy, meanwhile, continues to crack everyone up with each take. The guy is utterly hilarious and we wish him well when he dashes back to Los Angeles tomorrow to audition for a small part in a Ben Stiller movie.

Things are moving at a clip and everyone is hugely relieved that the icy winds of the previous day have abated because tonight it’s time for the flight of the Condor -- a crane with a huge light on it -- to illumine the exterior scenes. The production has also hired a massive, Zeppelin-shaped balloon filled with light. No doubt, this "HMI" glow kite will result in a few reports of “UFO sightings” in the valley below. This piece of equipment ain’t cheap. They can fetch one hundred grand each and they’re so large that, should they float away, one is required to inform the FAA. We’ve tied down our balloon but it bucks like a lassoed horse every time the breeze picks up.

By the time the klieg lights are blazing, you could play a baseball game on the small plot of land where all the action takes place. The Gaffer, Nikolas Smith (left), has a fair number of toys to play with. (Nik's email address, btw, is "nikhitbytrain." Ok, now that's different.) One of the lighting guys has just finished work on the coming Will Ferrell film, “Land of the Lost.” He’s having way more fun on this gig.

-- Stephen Humphries (production assistant)