Oh shoot!

I have survived my first international film shoot but not without some minor stress related trauma. At the beginning of the week, weather forecasters were predicting rain for the first day of my shoot. By the end of the week they were describing something akin to an apocalyptic monsoon. As the predictions grew worse and worse, I became more and more unhinged. I woke up in the middle of the night haunted by dreams of teenage performers crying and their parents screaming at me for being unprepared. I was so panicked I tried to hire a mobile home to house the cast and crew. Thankfully the storm never came. It did rain intermittently but the frame I rented enabled us to continue shooting and kept everyone dry!



While I was making drastic plans to accommodate the weather, I didn’t consider that anything else could go wrong. But alas, the phrases ‘problem free’ and ‘film shoot’ rarely belong in the same sentence. On the second day we were running behind schedule but everything was going well. The father of one of my actors was in a hurry to leave and kept asking when we would finish. It put a lot of pressure on the crew and I found his presence very unnerving. His daughter was playing the role of Sarah. She was two shots away from finishing and I was preparing the poster for her final scene when the trouble began. As I was writing ‘French Kiss and more $10’ he said ‘What does this mean?’ I said ‘Don’t you remember? It’s in the script that I sent you.’ Then he said ‘I haven’t read the script but I don’t like this movie and I don’t want my daughter to be in it.’ I couldn’t cry I was too angry. Around 30 girls auditioned for the role. My casting ad was very clear - ‘Sarah: female, 13-15, all ethnicities, she’s precocious and insecure and often uses her burgeoning sexuality to attract attention.’ We managed to compromise and we filmed Stephanie’s last two shots but I was forced to leave the sign as ‘Kiss $1’ which killed one of the film’s biggest jokes and took away some of the significance of Sarah’s character.




Apart from that incident I really can’t complain. My crew was very supportive and I was touched by all the hard work they put into the film. The teen actors were very patient and seemed to get along well together. We enjoyed overhearing their conversations as they talked about parties they had been to and music they liked. You know you’re old when ‘teenager speak’ sounds completely foreign to you. The neighbourhood we filmed in, East Williamsburg, was so friendly and about ten people stopped to donate money to my fictional charity ‘Africa Eats’. My AC, Greg, was even asked for a kiss from a passerby when he sat in the booth!



A couple of days before the shoot the actor who I had cast as the ‘Old Man’ pulled out of the project but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise because I found Steve Arons. He’s a wonderful actor who was perfect for the role and super friendly!

'First Kiss' Script

I thought you ought to see this . . .


Scene 1 EXT. BROOKLYN STREET -- AFTERNOON

In a pair of short shorts that are one size too small for
her, JESSICA, 11, walks up the street on her way home from
the shops. It's the summer holidays and she's bored. When she reaches
her apartment building she looks in her mailbox. Most of the
letters are bills addressed to her Mother, but there's one
that looks more interesting. It's an appeal from Africa Eats.
She opens the letter and reads it. A big title
reads, 'Please get involved. The money you raise could make a
huge difference.'


Scene 2 EXT. ON THE CORNER -- MORNING

The next morning JESSICA sets up a kissing booth on the
corner of her street. Her stall reads 'Kiss for $1' and 'Help
me raise money for starving children'.

A group of TEENAGE BOYS is hanging out nearby. They come over
and look at the stall and laugh. SARAH, 14, also comes over.
She snarls at Jessica. Jessica sinks deeper into her chair
and pretends to read her Teen Magazine.

From across the street, ASHLEY, who is another outcast, is
watching the scene from her apartment window. Jessica doesn't
notice.


Scene 3 EXT. ON THE CORNER -- MORNING

An hour has passed. The group of BOYS comes up to the booth.
BOY ONE puts a dollar down. JESSICA nervously stands up. She
leans over the makeshift counter, closes her eyes, and
puckers up to give him a kiss. When she isn't looking, the
boy stands on a crate and turns around. He bends over and
places his bottom in her face. He farts. One of his friends
takes a Polaroid picture. Jessica opens her eyes. She looks
shocked and then dejected. The boys laugh loudly as they walk
away. She slumps into her chair and covers her red face with
her magazine.


Scene 4 EXT. ON THE CORNER -- MORNING

Her next customer is a fat, middle aged MAN. He puts $20 on
her stand and looks at the young girl eagerly. He has to bend
down to reach her. JESSICA looks uncomfortable and unsure,
but before she has a chance to pull away he's given her a
sloppy kiss. He stands up, grinning. SARAH has come over to
the booth. She puts her hands on her hips and gives the man a
severe, questioning look. He stumbles away as if pushed by
the force of the young girl's grimace.


Scene 5 EXT. ON THE CORNER -- MIDDAY

An OLD LADY slowly walks up the street using a walking frame.
She stops at JESSICA's stand and gives her a dollar for a
kiss on the cheek.


Scene 6 EXT. ON THE CORNER -- LUNCHTIME

JESSICA leaves her apartment building carrying a sandwich and
a drink of lemonade. Someone has written 'Slut' on her booth.
As Jessica struggles to stick extra pink tissue paper over
the graffiti, a single tear falls from underneath her heartshaped
sunglasses. ASHLEY, 11, walks over. She helps Jessica
with the sticky tape. Jessica looks up at her sceptically.
Ashley smiles nervously and then Jessica begins to smile
back.


Scene 7 EXT. OUTSIDE JESSICA'S HOUSE -- NEXT MORNING

With an accomplished look on her face, JESSICA leaves her
apartment. She waves at SARAH who is now sitting in the
window of the kissing booth talking to THE BOYS. The older
girl has changed the writing on the booth so it reads 'French
Kiss and more $10'. She's talking to the boys flirtatiously
but takes a break to wave back half heartedly.

Jessica walks to the post office box to send the money she
has raised to Africa Eats. ASHLEY is waiting for her there
and when Jessica arrives she holds out a bag of sweets. They
walk off together with towels wrapped around their necks,
giggling as they head to the pool.