Today was a special day. I woke up at 6:15am in a modest but comfortable two bedroom apartment on the upper west side of NYC to complete the last day of shooting for The Independents Movie (oh man, I don't have the energy or focus right now to fill you in, but suffice it to say this is a movie based on The Sweet Remains. And if you know me, and don't know the Sweet Remains, well then... You have some research to do. I can't be bothered)
We shot some scenes in Jersey on the edge of the Hudson (beautiful but freezing.
Literally there was snow on the ground) in what felt like subZero temps and then we rocketed to Astoria to shoot my last scenes in a subway. I think it was 46th and Astoria, a huge interchange. So many moving parts in this situation; first Rich's ride breaks down on the RFK bridge headed to LGA to get home to his first born's 8th birthday. Then we realize we have to drive to Astoria to pick up the remains of our wardrobe for the following scenes and then get me to the airport by 345 for my flight to Münich for the tour. Let's just say there were 6 people in the van (affectionately referred to as Bonnie Blue in the movie) plus extremely expensive cameras, multiple wardrobe bags, sizable luggage, and one stressed 40 year old. I did not want to short this movie's scenes but also didn't want To miss my plane. It wasn't pretty, or comfortable for anyone..,, although somehow I was in shotgun, which means I had it pretty good. Perks of being a key actor maybe?? Don't worry, I'm the youngest of three. I didn't sit in shotgun until I was 16.
It was a little after 1pm when we raced east across town to Astoria where we knew we could film our last shot of the movie; me and Greg performing in the subway. We had about an hour to shoot the last scene (I had a hard out at 3:15) which required some different angles and perfect timing from pedestrians... Needless to say, we got the footage in the nick of time and I was in the taxi to JFK by 3:30. Ps. I had a 5:45 flight. Check your google maps... It's dicey.
Cattle called my way through security wearing half my wardrobe from the movie (40 min) and made my way to the gate in time to jam a pepperoni flatbread in my face and wash it down with a couple IPAs (my last for a while) and then boarded my KLM flight to Amsterdam. Even as I write this, I pray for sleep, however, sleep isn't coming despite some cognac and a half a sleeping pill. I probably should've taken the whole thing, but flying from the east coast doesn't give you enough time to have a proper snooze. Oh well. Buckle up Germany!
