Last night was single most difficult shoot day yet on Vanguard – thankfully it was also the last of the really big scenes. There’s plenty to shoot yet, a couple scenes that fell by the way and a couple picks ups, but otherwise from here on its bits and pieces to fill out the narrative.
I get’s pretty lonely directing and producing a feature, you’re surrounded by people but when things get tough you feel very much adrift and on your own. There’s nobody to turn for a rescue when things get ugly and nor can you tell everybody to go fuck themselves and walk away. Screw the auteur theory - it’s the film that owns the director. Once you’ve put up your hand for the job you’re locked in for a couple years of your life right to the bitter end.
You create a heightened persona, that of someone capable of orchestrating people and resources towards that ultimate of goals – ‘ a good movie’. You endeavour to lead by example, maintaining enthusiasm and confidence whilst accepting that there are some things you just have to live with and choose instead to overlook various transgressions. And then cop shit for even the slightest infraction in return.
Maybe it’s a sign that you’re doing all right when they’re only fretting about the little things. Though it makes you think, ‘god help me if I fuck this movie up’!
Thinking the next ones going to be animated J.
E. J. Roy – Writer and Director of Vanguard.
