- 9:48
AM, Monday, June 9th, 2003
-
 - Great
to see you G.
-
- Ok,
now I can be honest. There was a tiny part of me that
thought I was just bullshitting myself
and
you guys. That there was just no way I'd ever be able
to pull this off. There was just so much to be done,
and no matter what I did, there was always
something I forgot. Yet, when it came down to it on
Saturday Morning, June 7th, just when I planned -
it was time to do G.
-
- I
actually woke up that morning and kept trying to do
more lighting tests. Ot maybe check that sound for the
12th time. Completely stalling. Actually I was
just in "prep" mode so hard it was difficult to say -
alright man, it's time. I did the first section,
stopped the tape and watched it and just like that -
it was a Trinitrons take. Slightly (and I do mean
slightly) akin to what the Beatles must've felt when
they came back together in 1995 and it actually
sounded like...The Beatles. You don't know exactly
what parts make it work, but when it comes together -
you know.
-
- Same
thing here - were the lights like this the last time?
Is it gonna matter because I used cheap lights
and didn't rent the professional stuff? Is the sound
right? Is the make-up right? Is my goddamn beard
right? That one actully got me - the beard is a little
bit off when G turns to the side. Oh and the big one -
my tan. Amazing what not having a job will do for your
tan. LOL. I was considerably darker last time. Just
not a damn thing I can do about that though. I'll
screw around with some color balancing later, but G
just ain't gonna be as dark. It's kind've
disappointing, but welcome to the real world. If y'all
would like to pay my ass to sit in the sun for a week,
I'd gladly take it. Oh yes, let me show you all the
pics. Don't worry too much about spoilers here -
you'll forget most of the outfits by the time you see
the show.
-
 -
- That
Nelly band-aid is funny as SHIT. That and the 50 Cent
cap. Woot. Can't wait until you guys see this
scene.
-
 -
- Amazing
what the black backdrop does to the lighting. This
annoyed my ass for like 30 minutes. It screwed with us
last time too, and we ended up balancing everything in
post. I finally figured out what happens though. When
my camera sees that much dark it pushes the exposure
setting way up - even when you've set it. So
compensating with the lights is the wrong move. You
gotta fuck with the stupic consumer camera that decdes
it knows your shot better than you. GRRRRRR. Anyway,
I'll fix it up in After Effects. And shiiiiiiiiiiiiit
- G is so stylin' dawg.
-
 -
- What
is this?!?! Where is G?!?! I don't understand!!! Ahhh
yes the secret location shoot for the ending.
I shall say no more. :)
-
 -
- And
finally, this is nowhere in the show. It'll only be on
the DVD. This is what happens when you take out your
cornrows. I actually went out in public like this
cause it was just so crazy. My step-dad had a perm
like this when I was a kid. LOL - that pic
rules.
-
- So
the actual filming went frighteninly quick. Only G's
song took more than 2 takes. How mofos freestyle rap
is just BEYOND me. A skill I will NEVER
have. I still say half the peeps memorize a whole
buncha shit - and then just draw from the well for the
situation. Anyway - everything else went incredibly
smooth. I was pretty objective too - I'd watch
each finished take looking for as many problems as I
could - but it was generally pretty good. There is of
course the overriding feeling that some how because
Charlotte isn't involved that this will be the lesser
of the two shows. I would be lying if I didn't
say that I think about that every second. I'll put it
this way: I would rather
have
a partner. I would rather have a manager to
bounce ideas off of. On the other hand - it has been
an amazing self-esteem booster to watch how many ideas
I've come up with on my own. When the creative juices
start flowing - it's awesome to watch where they go
when undeterred by negative thoughts. I mean
I even climbed the "Journey" mountain with all my
gear (including a DAT machine to keep the timing
right) by myself to shoot G (and eventually all 4). It
was kind've a last second thing wehere I got the
idea - but thought "fuck that" 'cause it would be too
difficult - and then went "No, do it." That's what
makes me, me. I do stupid amounts of work for the
tiniest details simply because it sets my projects
apart. And as I was climbing I was in... well
I was in 2001. I was producing again. It's a
feeling I've wanted so badly the past 2 years I can
hardly describe it. I was me again. I was going
the extra mile (uphill this time) to make the show as
good as it can possibly be. But you better believe
I still have lingering questions as to what it's
all gonna play out like when I'm finally finished.
Time will tell.
-
- BTW
- the cornrows still hurt like a bitch. But the black
chicks were a bt more fun to talk to this time so that
was fun. I don't know what the hell is wrong with me -
but as the longtime readers know, I just dig black
culture so much. I love bein' in the environment. It's
just so different than white culture. Period. Stop
saying we're the same damnit - 'cause they're just
COOLER than we are. Heh. They were all trying to
figure out who Norah Jones was and why the hell she
won 7 grammys when they had never heard of her.
I sang the title to them and they all freaked out
and shit and wanted me to keep singing. It was pretty
funny. Cheap as shit too - $25. I gave her a $10
tip I was so impressed. It was fuckin $80 last
time. That is the one plus about this go-'round. I'm
certainly a better bargain hunter than Charlotte was.
Product of different backgrounds for sure. I'm kinda
glad we were poor when I was a kid. Makes you tick
differently as an adult.
-
-
-
- Adam
|
