Of Coffee's For Closers (Location Scouting)

Before I get to posting my Country Getaway blogs (of which there are only three, though they are, as Mike lovingly refers to them, essays. Well, one is.) I felt I should update this thing with the news that I have actually tried to move my project forward since coming back from Eleanor's. Yesterday, I went location scouting for a coffee shop for the flick. 

It didn't go as well as I would have liked, a lot of places said no outright, which is something I know I should have been prepared for (both through reading about it and actual experience), but it still sucked every time. Here's another thing that took me a little bit by surprise, the smaller 'family run' businesses and cafes/coffee shops weren't really willing to commit to a project like mine, however Starbucks and Costa Coffee both seemed to be interested in the project. I couldn't believe it! Starbucks was the first place I went, certain it would be a flat out no, but on the contrary - the manager I spoke with, Rudy, was really friendly about the whole thing, saying he'd call head office and give me a call back and let me know. He seemed like a nice guy, and I'd like to believe he will, but I haven't received a call yet, here's hoping I will tomorrow. 

Costa Coffee however was a whole different story, we were taken to the back and interviewed over a desk by a guy called Jason, nice guy, who seemed very intrigued by the project. I have to give him a call back tomorrow, and I hope it goes well. Out of all the locations we went to (around 10 or so, I believe) 4 gave us solid maybe's. Which is slightly better than a no, but not as good as a yes. Also, out of all the places we visited, it was this specific Costa that really impressed me. Frankly, I want to shoot this short in this Costa Coffee. It's perfect. The feel of it, the look of it, everything.  I'm hoping I'll be getting some good news tomorrow and that I can then start prepping a casting call and sorting out equipment. The sooner I get this done, the happier I'll be. I never realized it would be so difficult to do this all on my own, I knew it would be hard, you'd be an idiot to not think that, but not having a team or anyone to really tag team with you just makes it all that much harder. Mike has been helping me out with script stuff and a few pre-pro things, but nothing super solid yet. It doesn't help that he lives quite far away, so even if he wanted to help the project by going location scouting, he couldn't. 

I hope for good news tomorrow, and I hope that this thing starts falling into place. If not, then this project is going to get a massive rewrite for a location that we can actually secure, be it a house or whatever. If a coffee house is unattainable, then I'm going to really have to rethink this script. 

Anyway, here are some photos from a few of the locations we went to. I'll post them in order of preference, ending with the Costa that I want to use. 

Also, before I forget - thank you to Gina, who came out with me location scouting yesterday. I always work better doing stuff like that with a partner, it makes the whole process a lot easier, makes us look more professional, and gives the whole approach an air of professionalism. So, thanks. I'd like to think she learned alot and will use it as a positive learning experience. I'm sure she'll get a lot more out of  it when it comes to drawing up and getting the contracts signed.

4. Parade Cafe

From L-R: Front of Parade Cafe, looking to the back//Back of Parade Cafe looking towards the entrance//Awesomely blurry shot of the counter

3. Espresso Bar

No pictures as of yet, waiting for at least a maybe.

2. Starbucks Coffee

From L-R: Side Entrance of Starbucks, looking in//A Little Further Back from previous photo//To the right of the Side Entrance

Costa Coffee

From L-R: Back of Costa, looking towards the entrance//Front of Costa looking towards the back//Alcove to the right at the back of Costa

I hope that you guys like all of these, just in case I have to use any one of these. But it's the Costa I've got my heart set on right now. The guys at the Parade Cafe seemed really cool, but didn't seem to really grasp that we'd  need to have control of the cafe for the day/night in order to have a controlled environment, something that's obviously important for a shoot - you can't have people constantly walking in, ordering whatever, messing up your shot and audio. It just can't work that way. 

Anyway, I'm really tired now so I'm going to go listen to the new MC Lars album, 'This Gigantic Robot Kills' (just heard a track that had MC Bat Commander on it,  I thought that was pretty awesome) then I'll be going to sleep. Expect an update about the locations tomorrow at some point, as well as my blogs/pictures about my Country Getaway. 

UPDATE:

Finally back from an awesome session of Smackdown vs Raw at Glenn's house. That was a lot of fun, despite the fact that, no matter how hard I tired, I just couldn't win with my guy, Chris Jericho. That pissed me off lol. I also fucked up my finger a little bit by trying to mash/rub the buttons for kicking out, etc. 

I also finished the first Resident Evil game that Eleanor got me for Valentine's Day. I'm about 13 years late to this party, but I had a good time with it for sure. 

Anyway, on topic about the location scouting: I went to the Espresso Bar (the one I didn't have any photos for) and got bad news. Of course. I also called up the Costa Coffee that I've got my heart set on, the guy Jason picked up and said that they weren't completely sold on it, so I've got to e-mail his director/head office. Great. He gave me a generic e-mail address, so hopefully it'll actually get through to someone who'll be able to help me out, because I would love to use this location. A lot. 

I really don't get why so many people have been so opposed to the idea of allowing us to film. I'm talking about one day's worth of shooting. A night shoot, so we don't effect their business during their day. Paying them for the privilege of shooting there, as well as the wage of whoever is staying behind to essentially chaperone us. As well as the fact that we'd be tidying up everything after ourselves when we leave. I don't see the problem, I really don't! I mean, what is the problem with that above situation? You're getting paid, we're not affecting your business AND we're of course going to tidy up once we're done, and we're only talking about one day's worth (two at a push, considering how short the script is) of shooting. 

I just don't get and it's really bugging me. 

Like, really bugging me.

It shouldn't be as hard as this.

That's what she said.

Of 'My Country Journey' Prologues.

Let me just open this by saying I joined the library last week. I have been a member since the 6th of February, which (for those of who are NOT mathematicians) means I have been a member for 6 days. In those six days I have read 3 books. This after not having read a book, as in novel, as in not a comic book/graphic novel or magazine, in a very long time. That's fucking insane! This is what not having a job does to you, people! I like reading, but come on! 3 books, and not short/picture books(!), in six days! SIX! I really need to get on finding a new job. Which I will do once I get back from Eleanor's, which acts as a nice segue into the main topic of this blog; I am leaving to go visit my girlfriends house in the *shudder* country for the first time since we started dating over two years ago. I know, you may think it's bad, but remember; I'm a city boy, born and raised. I come from Hong Kong and live 20/30 minutes away from Central London. Nothing could sound more unappealing to me than the country. The, 'life-going-by-very-slowly'/'everybody-knows-each-other-and-their-business'/'everyone-is-actually-fucking-crazy/their immediate family'  country! 

Chew on that for a second. Let it digest, and realize why I haven't been there in the 730+ days I have known Eleanor. If you want to challenge any of these, especially the last one, go and watch Hot Fuzz again and tell me that it's not a fairly accurate portrayal of country life! You KNOW everyone is not only crazy, but packing heat to boot! I can't wait to be surrounded by a bunch of disillusioned youth; white kids embracing hip hop and black urban culture. As if I didn't get that enough in Welling, now I've got to deal with it out in the boondocks too?! Now, I get the concept of embracing a different culture because you can't relate to the one you've been pre-conditioned with, but come on! Hip hopper's in the 'middle-of-nowhere' countryside?!

This is basically a blog prefacing the fact I'm going away for a while, the 23rd in fact. I may try and blog whilst out there, if the internet connection holds. Assuming they know what the internet is, of course. If I can't, I may write it all up in Word, journaling every day as it goes ala Doogie Howser MD. I don't expect you Brits to know who that is, as you were denied quite a lot of the awesome programming that I grew up with. If I do it this way I'll be posting them once I get back with any photos I may have taken. 

In all seriousness, me going to Eleanor's hometown is long overdue. She has every right to be slightly pissed at me that it's taken this long. Until now, circumstance has always seen to have Eleanor come down to my house. It's always just worked out that way. However, now with her volunteering at a school as well as pulling bargirl (urgh) duty again, and me being all jobless - it just made sense for me to go up and see her during the half term that's coming up. Soon enough, we may not be able to have even that luxury when I get a job. I hope that that won't be the case though and that we'll continue to make time for each other. I know I'm prepared to do so.

That's it in regards to my trip! Just a few other quick things, in no particular coherent order:

- PLEASE, look over the 'Of Virtual Yard Sale' post again and if you see anything you like, or that you think someone else would like (in which case tell them and direct them to the page!) make an offer. Any donation would help me fund 'Coffee's For Closers'. I'm talking "I'll give you £2 for the Borat poster" kind've donating, friends! 

- I would be worried about my post offending those who live in the country, or any sort of village. But I'm pretty certain I don't have any stable readers, let alone any 'fans' to push away. So, I don't think I'll sweat it just yet. 

- Mick Foley actually managed to write a pretty enjoyable novel in Tietam Brown. I'm somewhat impressed.

- Y2J isn't at fault. Plus, that chick was wearing a Cena shirt. Fucking marks.

- My ma makes fucking gnarly burritos. Dinner was rad. AND I had blueberry pancakes for breakfast. Awesome!

- Could the WWE have brought Christian (Cage) back with any less fanfare. I mean, seriously. This is a guy who went to TNA and PROVED he could be a main eventer, even holding the TNA Heavyweight Championship for a time. Now he's back, and on ECW. The third show. The runt of the litter. I didn't think it was possible, but the WWE have managed to fuck up this come back (when they could have written him into a number of roles on Smackdown! with the Edge/Hardy storyline, as obvious as it may seem. And made serious money in the process.) WORSE than the Chris Jericho return. If this is their idea of trying to boost ECW's ratings, then I feel for them. I feel even more for poor Christian. 

- Mega64 just seem to get better and better. 

- As I write this blink-182 are in Mark and Travis' LA Studio working on a new record. How fucking exciting?! Incidentally, I have friends who never got to see blink-182 perform first time 'round who are excited about seeing them when they commence their '09 world tour. Here's a quick newsflash though: you will never see the blink-182 I saw back in 2003/04. They'll be a completely new band. And if they're not, they'll probably lose major credibility for trying to recreate something that just doesn't exist anymore, and you can't force that kind of thing. I for one am looking forward to the new sound, the new direction. I, for one, am looking forward to the new blink-182. 

Also , a photo was taken of Mark Hoppus in the studio (again, happening right now) holding a Fender Telecaster. The kind of guitar that I play, although mine is left handed. I thought it was pretty neat.

Of 182.

I know I posted a new, somewhat lengthy, blog yesterday, but all of this news is too exciting for me to not talk about. blink 182 may be returning, and a lot sooner than anyone thought they would. I didn't think it would happen, even after they started talking again. Now, I'm a huge blink 182 fan. They are my favorite band and they have made some of my favorite music, and some of my favorite albums. Hell, I love all their albums. If you can't dig on that, then fuck you. I hate cats that hate on people because of what they listen to. I don't like Coldplay, but I'm not going to insult you because you might like them. Grow the fuck up, okay.

Anyway, this blink 182 stuff; when it first broke they were all talking again most people clamored for a new tour. Essentially, those who had never seen them wanted to and I can't blame them, they always put on an awesome show. They were the only band I would follow on tour, and I did in 2004 when I saw them at Wembley Arena with one of my friends, Clare, and the very next day we got up and travelled all the way to Manchester just to see them again. I was at the barrier for both gigs and it was totally worth it. 

However, whereas most people wanted a new tour, I was more interested in a new album. I wanted to hear the evolution of their sound now that they had their falling out, went and did two very different things and were now, seemingly, going to get back together and record a new album. When I read this this other day, I was excited. I didn't want to get my hopes up just to have them dashed, but fuck it, I was excited. (jump!) David Kennedy, the second guitarist from Angels and Airwaves, supposedly confirming a new blink 182 record was going to happen. 

Now, I'm an Angels and Airwaves fan, I'll admit it. I also like +44, but I always liked AVA that little bit more. Maybe it was because of what Tom chose to make it represent. I remember when the blink 182 break up, or 'indefinite hiatus', first happened and everyone was bitching and pointing fingers and everyone had an opinion on something that, ultimately, wasn't their business. I always felt for Tom during this time because, as he kept saying, he just needed to grow as a musician and felt that blink 182 wasn't right for him anymore. Essentially, he had matured and grown up and people couldn't accept that. People change over time, and the fans had to learn to accept it. Which is why, although I'd love to hear a new album from them, I think Tom has got himself into a corner of sorts: on the one hand he's looking like a total hypocrite. After leaving his band to pursue a more serious musical career, he has now gone back on all of that and is potentially reforming blink 182? Okay, so AVA was basically an exercise in futility and doesn't actually represent that people can change like Tom originally intended. On the other hand, Tom embraces his blink 182 heritage and begins to play blink songs at an AVA gig (which, admittedly did start to happen in little medleys he'd play. +44 also started playing blink songs at their shows) or AVA songs at a blink gig, which just won't work. AVA really pushed away a lot of blink 182 fans with their different sound, something that +44 didn't really do, and, in the end, Tom still ends up looking like a hypocrite. Hm.

Anyway, I felt like talking about all of this because today in the States, this years Grammy awards are happening. Not a big deal, right? Wrong. Today is going to be the first day that all the members of blink 182 will share a stage since their final shows in December 2004 (click here for the jump) and it's something I'm fucking excited to see. Will it look weird? (Mark and Travis wearing what they always wear, Tom in his AVA leather get up. Short answer, if this is the case, is yes.) Will they get on? Will they perform? It's announced they are  just performing hosting duties, but who knows, maybe they'll surprise us. Maybe it's time for an official announcement about the return of blink 182. 

I hope so.

UPDATE: 

I was right. Then again, it was pretty clear that something was happening, and this was pretty much the only obvious answer. That being said, it doesn't stop me from being any less stoked. Even having a little argument with my girlfriend didn't stop me from being totally stoked by the awesomeness that is the simple fact that my favorite band has officially reformed. Check out their new website (jump!) declaring big things will be poppin' in '09! I, personally, can't wait til the new album and would love to see them on tour again. Let's hope that this lasts, for all we know they could have another falling out in the recording studio or whatever, but I'm pretty sure we all hope that that's not the case. Incidentally, while U2 were performing I just had this image in my head of Tom standing awkwardly by Mark and Travis (seeing as he tried so hard to get AVA to be somewhat like U2), maybe whispering to himself; "Awwwwkwaaaaard."

Also, I totally called it, in regards to what they were wearing. Mark and Travis wore what they usually wore and Tom wore the AVA get up he's been sporting for the past few years, it was kind of weird. As was the fact that Tom was always that little bit further away from Mark and Travis at all times, as you can see in the video below.

Of 'My First Meeting'

So, I had a 'meeting' today in regards to Coffee's For Closers. I felt the need to talk about it because of just how good I felt after it. The meeting was with one of my friends from Uni who's going to be helping me put this project together. We had a Skype meeting and it felt all official. Well, not really. Not in the sense of dressing up in a presentable fashion, going out to a production company meeting room and talking to a bunch of execs, or whoever, but it did feel as though something positive was going to come out of it and, I feel, that that's exactly what happened. The script is only 6 pages so what we did, after talking about a few random things that included (but wasn't exclusive to): the Resident Evil 5 demo, the Matt Hardy heel turn, the fact I joined the library yesterday and got a bunch of books out, Chris Jericho's autobiography, microphones and headsets, and a bunch of other things, was talk about the script in great depth.

The meeting was scheduled (I refer to it as scheduled in order to make it sound that much more official, awesome!) for 1pm. Mike had ordered a headset, in part, for this meeting, but it didn't work. So after discussing a bunch of random topics, including a few in the list I mentioned above, we decided it would be best if he went out to buy another headset that would work so that the conversation wasn't limited to me being able to talk, and him having to type a reply. Obviously that was never going to really work, despite the fact I feel it was one of the best conversations I've ever had with him. Anyway, he went to go a headset (a feat that takes a couple of hours for him, as he's got to travel into Dover in order to reach anything resembling a functioning society it seems - I tend to forget that not everybody lives 10 minutes away from a shopping mall/centre like I do.) and I went and watched this weeks Smackdown. 

An hour and a half (and one mediocre wrestling show) later I got a txt from Mike saying he was nearly ready to go online. I was half way through a section in the book I'm currently reading, World War Z, and met him online after I was done. Incidentally, that book is really weird. At numerous points I've found myself wondering 'Why am I reading about a fictional zombie war that has never (will never?) happen'. 

Anyway, the actual meeting has totally re-instilled my confidence with this script. Seriously. There was a short while there, when it was losing momentum, that I felt my faith in the script and the project slipping, but after this Skype meeting my confidence about this thing has sky rocketed again. The script IS good. It's a GOOD idea and it's a GOOD short story. It's a, well, it's not really sweet, but it's a good story that's funny, in an observational kind of way. No walking into walls in this one! And, most importantly to me, it's got somebody else interested enough in it to want to invest their time (possibly money, Mike???) into helping me create it. Now, I know I can write. Without coming off as brash, or egotistical, I know I can write. But I also need quite a bit of positive reinforcement when it comes to my writing. I'm sure a lot of writers feel this way, because they tend to put a lot of themselves into the story or their characters, and they worry about people judging their writing, the story's substance, or tone, hell, there's a whole wealth of things that could be criticized, in some cases without being at all constructive. Because of this I think a lot of writer's can be quite fragile in regards to their scripts. So to know that somebody likes your writing style and the story you've put together means a lot, frankly.

MEANWHILE, back on topic; Going through the thing word by word, page by page with Mike really helped me to get perspective on the story as a whole, as well as helping him to fully understand where the characters were coming from, etc. The meeting lasted for a total of about 2 hours and we managed to get through the script, again 6 pages, no problem, highlighting the elements that we weren't sure about. Thankfully that's restricted to, literally, about two lines and it's something that I should be able to sort out without a problem. There was one part to the story that I wasn't so hot on changing up, but I'm definitely going to have a look at it due to our discussion. However, and Mike is one of the people who also believe this, the scripts (or stories in general) that you write, ultimately, have to fulfill you as a writer. You shouldn't write something, or change something, because somebody told you to if you honestly don't feel it would work. Of course, there are occasions where a convincing argument is made and you suddenly have a  moment of clarity and understand where they were coming from, but these tend to be few and far between. I've always believed that as long as the criticism is constructive, then it should be heard. Yeah, you can choose to just ignore it, but at least hear it out. 

So, yeah. The meeting went well, everything is pretty much in place for the script. One more redraft and I'm happy to lock it. Next step is sorting out a location and equipment. Seeing as I'm unemployed at the moment (one of many, of course) I'll most probably try and do some location scouting some time next week if I can. 

As a final note; I'd like to say thanks to Jack Goddard for, hopefully, getting the ball rolling on this Cash Drive for 'CFC' by picking up Solaris for £10! That's £10 that is going straight into helping this short film happen. Thank you, dude!