The new studio was everything we could ask for. It became a sort of clubhouse for the growing circle of friends we'd accumulated. With the bowling alley, we had a guaranteed time-killer when things were slow. And Chris and I found an old jukebox at a flea market that an electronics whiz-kid friend restored to play CD's, giving the place even more of a retro-feel.
But business was still business. And there were several movies in production that we got photo contracts for, along with TV pilots and returning series. This usually consisted of us hanging around the set on certain days, snapping promotional photos for the studio or press kits. To me, it was always a good way to see how movies were made. And of course, there was the chance to mingle with the stars. I say "chance" because we usually had none!
"Sunshine Dreamer" was the newest film we'd be working on. It was set in late 60's San Francisco and centered on a young girl working at night as a photographer (how coincidental!) at the old Fillmore West concert hall, her friendships with local musicians, and her day job at a local coffeehouse.
For us, it would be a chance to see the city by the bay, and get paid for it.
We didn't have much of an idea what to expect on this film. The casting hadn't been confirmed when we got the gig. A few days before departure we finally got word from the studio people what our work would be like. As well as the film's star.
The "sunshine dreamer" would be Blake Lively.
The thought of Ms. Lively made me smile quite widely (terrible pun, I know!). In between my nightly viewing of Seinfeld reruns, my new guilty pleasure was her series "Gossip Girl". I knew I'd have to try and not turn into a fan looking to get insider info on the show if we met. In other words, discipline Hollywood, discipline!
The studio sprung for a decent hotel for us and they made good use of the city. Several other locations around the city were chosen for their retro-feel. The main set was a funky looking coffeehouse modeled on a real one in the Haight-Ashbury section of the city. A facsimile of the inside was built on a soundstage nearby. The old Victorian homes made for a great backdrop and one would serve as the front for Blake's character's apartment.
I was more thrilled to see the Fillmore West. We'd be doing a lot of filming there. And the CGI crew would do their magic and digitally insert Blake against footage of famous bands performing onstage. And they'd be able to make the outside look the way it did 30-odd years ago. Chris and I found ourselves speaking in reverent tones as we walked around the place, knowing the history of it. It was like being in a classic rock church. It might sound like a cliché` but we could "feel the vibes" inside. It had been extensively restored in the years since it closed in 1971.
But as I said before, discipline Hollywood! Discipline!
The director of the film was a tightly wound spring of a man named John McDonald. He ran a tight ship and I doubted we'd be able to do clever things like on our other assignments. He insisted on punctuality by everyone, and I mean everyone! I have to admit I liked his style but it took some getting used to. He didn't appreciate it when Chris tried an artistic shot of John watching a video playback with some of the actors.
"My friend," he said with a calm, professorial tone "if you're going to do that kind of a shot, DON'T!" he suddenly yelled
After that, we stuck to snapping shots of the actors, not the directors.
5 days into filming, things were running smoothly. John was turning into an easy going man who simply wanted to satisfy the demands of a studio and his vision for the film. In other words, if we stayed out of his way, he'd stay out of ours.
But oddly enough though, we had yet to see Ms. Lively.
For the most part, John had been doing a lot of exterior shots around town, so I guess you could call that our "tourist moment". And the interior scenes involved other actors on the film. Although Chris, being the lecherous one, took a shine to a hippie-type actress. And a lighting tech, as well.
And as for me? Oh, just my usual job of editing and cataloging pictures.
All that changed on a cold, cloudy morning when we prepared for an exterior shot outside the Fillmore. Mornings like this reminded of Mark Twain's observation that the coldest winter he remembered was the summer he spent in San Francisco. Boy was he right! I was checking and reloading our cameras (and hoping my coffee would stay warm) when a black Chevy Yukon pulled up nearby and several voices could be heard. I recognized one as a studio rep we'd met on our first day. She was talking into her cell phone. It was the other voice that got my attention.
"OK, yes, she's with us now. She flew in last night from New York, uh-huh."
"Wow, is this the place Jimi Hendrix played?"
"This is it, Blake, the Fillmore West."
"Oh, my god this looks incredible, can we go inside?" she said with wonderment
Oh my, is that who I think it is? I slowly looked up from my work, trying not to gawk. But it was! It was the lovely Blake Lively. She had on a casual black leather jacket, black denim jeans and boots. And her blonde hair seemed to cascade over her shoulders. It was as if Serena van der Woodson had just arrived.
I hesitantly said "Hi" to the beautiful vision that had just arrived.
"Hi! Good morning! I hope you're not too cold!" she replied with that million dollar smile as she was guided into the makeup and wardrobe trailer.
"Uh, not since you arrived." I said with a smile.
I went back to my work and headed off to check in with John and see what was on our schedule for the day.
An hour later we were in the Fillmore lobby when Blake arrived, this time in character. She had changed into a pair of vintage hip hugger Levi's with colorful needle work and a white peasant blouse. Around her neck were several thin beaded necklaces. And her hair was straighter with beaded accents hanging from it. And she was holding a vintage Minolta camera. In short, she looked like the Queen of the Fillmore.
"Hi John!" she called to our director.
He greeted her and they went into discussions for her scene.
"Discipline, Hollywood, discipline." I heard a familiar voice say over my shoulder. It was Chris, who clearly could tell what my mind was on at that moment. We both smiled at one another.
Blake did a scene taking place outside at the end of a long night at the Fillmore. As she did her dialogue with another actor, I snapped photos, trying to listen in. But from my vantage point, that was impossible. It was clearly an emotional scene that ended with her walking off into the chilly morning, alone.
"Wish I was with her, oh well." I thought.
The setup and filming of this one scene took most of the morning. It was close to 12 when John was satisfied and announced we'd be moving inside for 2 more scenes that would take place, ostensibly, during a show.
Inside the Fillmore, Chris and I decided to use a part of stage left for shots I'd take, while Chris would be up in the balcony doing long-range photos.
The movie guys were blocking out where their cameras would be while I was getting my gear together for where mine would be. And the CGI crew was putting down tape everywhere and hanging little white balls they'd use to mark places to insert "band members" digitally.
"Hey! I saw you outside earlier." I heard a voice behind me.
I was kneeling down digging through my bag when I spun around on my worn out sneaker soles and promptly fell backwards on the slick floor at the sound of the voice. I looked up and there was Ms. Blake. She had traded the peasant top for a weathered, vintage green t-shirt with the Fillmore West logo on it. It certainly showed off her curves.
"Are you OK?" she said concerned.
"Oh yeah, occupational hazard." I said with a laugh as I stood up and regained my composure.
"Um, I saw you with the cameras outside. I thought you were some paparazzi for a minute." She said
"No, I'm one of the good guys." I said reassuringly.
"I figured you might know something about shooting things like this." She said.
"Well, my buddy and I are doing the photos for the movie so I guess that would be true." I said jokingly.
She laughed in response.
"OK, seriously, how would you shoot something like what we're doing here? I want to be as realistic as I can be."
"Well, it's not too hard. I'd just try to get as good an angle as you can and fire away. I suppose down in the aisles or on the other side of the stage would be good. You'll be hitting the film advance lever a lot. It doesn't do that automatically like cameras do now."
I'd never photographed bands before, but I'd seen enough photos to know what I'd try to do to get the right shot if I was in her position. Blake listened intently to everything I said. I could tell she was really committed to her craft, like I was.
"OK, thanks! I'm gonna talk to John." And she walked away.
"Oh! I never got your name." she said over her shoulder.
"I'm Jim, my partner Chris is up in the balcony somewhere." I replied
"I'm Blake, but then you probably figured that out already." She said
"Well, now that you mention it.." I said while stroking my chin in thought.
