23-11-09 : The Blood Bond Saga (part 46)

Odds and sods

It became apparent last week that, despite our best efforts, we're going to run a few days over with 'Blood Bond'. As the increasingly exhausted crew rolls in on Monday morning, we look at a day filled with various shots we need to re-shoot, some of them moments that only occurred to us during production.

Given that this is a road movie, MB feels we need more footage of Tremayne and Deva out in the badlands.

DP Ross Clarkson is not yet back from Hong Kong, so Michael and associate producer (and occasional camera operator!) Oliver Williams saddle up the B unit crew to go out and shoot some 'walking' footage of our leads.

A few words about Ollie: His father, Nicholas James, was the guy that gave me my first real break in the industry when he hired me to work at the Media Asia film company. There was actually a campaign among some of the female staff to get rid of 'that other white guy' (in various ways, women have always been a problem for me...). Nick stuck to his guns and kept me employed. Had he not, I might very well not be here now, and therefore unable to hire his son, so there's a nice symmetry there.

By the way, I stayed on at Media Asia, even after Nick left the company, while the aforementioned ladies left... and were generally never heard from again. Except for one, who went to work for Stephen Chiau's company, and was very embarrassed to find that she had to deal with me when I joined The Weinstein Company.

Note to anyone entering the industry: You meet the same people on the way down as you do on the way up, so try not to make enemies if you can help it...

Anyway, back to Oliver. I first met him when he came back to Hong Kong and was looking for acting work. (He was actually on the last film made by my dear, late friend David Carradine.) I told him about 'Blood Bond', which was then in the early stages of pre-production, but mentioned that we didn't really have any decent roles for westerners in it.

He came back a few days later and suggested that he come on-board as a producer. Charming, tri-lingual, experienced, multi-faceted... It took me a couple of seconds to agree, and not a day goes by now that I don't commend myself for that decision. If you ask me what Oliver's done on the film, I'd have to say it'd be easier to say what he hasn't done! He's produced, translated, script coached, acted, written dialogue, operated the camera, painted the set...

Note to anyone coming on to a film as an all-purpose producer : Any job that needs doing that no-one is doing as yet is your job...

Oliver has exceeded expectations and really come into his own on this film. I think he can now do anything he sets his mind to. I know his dad is proud of him, and so am I. I just hope he agrees to work with the likes of me and Michael at least one more time before heading to Hollywood....!

I guess I must have a thing for shots involving hospital gurneys! I already directed one complicated set up, the last scene of the film, involving these objects. I also had an idea for a shot of our hero, John Tremayne, travelling the length of a hospital corridor while the camera looks down at him.

I was listening to the song U2 on the Live in Chicago album. Bono sings the chorus from "Into the heart" and The Edge plays one of those wicked zen guitar kicks as counterpoint. (I'm asking our composer to come up with something with that vibe...)

The aforementioned Oliver rises to the occasion, devising the way to get the shot and then operating the camera. We break one gurney with the weight of MB, a chair, Ollie, a camera and an assistant. The second holds up, and we try for the shot.

I don't know what was running through Michael's head as we stayed on his face for the full length of the corridor. Maybe "Someone get me out of here..." Anyway, the shot works for me.

Next up, another of our poor donors bites the dust. This guy is found hanging in a rundown apartment. This isn't as easy a shot as you might think. Our stunt coordinator, Ken Yip, has to rig a wire so we can hang our victim safely. (I think this only one of our two wire shots in the film!)

(By the way, there are hidden meanings in the film that relate to Tarot cards, such as The Hanged Man, so you can try to decipher the code when you see the film.)

The body is discovered by Lieutenant Wuchi, played by 2nd AD Pete Wong. I can't remember if I've mentioned Pete before. (It has been 45 blogs!) Anyway, he was someone else who came in to intern at TWC, and came on-board 'Blood Bond'. He's been doing great work as an AD, and gets his biggest acting role yet as Wuchi. Pete's just a great guy to have around, and just 'fits in', whatever the situation.

Note to would-be actors: Its not just who you know, its the impression you make on them!

Next : Blood on the bar floor and a clean getaway