Diplomats

Time: January 2003
Camera: Sony VX-2000
Location: Greenbelt Municipal Building meeting room
Lighting: 2x Lowel Tota-lights, overhead fluorescent lighting

"We do not have oil!"

-German Diplomat

This was the very first scene shot for The Last Move. Needless to say, I was both very excited and very inexperienced. The German diplomat was played by my grandfather, 4 of the 5 were part of a barbershop quartet, and the last was my dad's friend and photographer for a few scenes in the film.

Ah what a scene. What can I say. First of all, this scene is a remnant from an old version of the script, where the whole Germany-with-oil subplot makes some kind of sense (and was relevant). It was really just supposed to represent a means by which MysteryC manipulates nations to cause wars, but I think that was never made clear. The new version of the script I'm writing completely reworks this part of the movie into making sense.

I would have most likely cut or rewritten and re-filmed this scene if I had the opportunity. Unfortunately I never did. It kind of became a point of motivation to complete the film, as I was under constant pressure from all of the actors in the scene to get the movie finished. In some ways it was a good scene to film first, since having so many serious faces already in the project helped drum up more interest.

Another point that I feel must be addressed: my style was ridiculous and all over the place. Head on, centered shots with slow zoom of the two diplomats arguing was a weird choice. I guess it does build some intensity. I cringe watching this scene now, with how strange and generally sloppy my directing was. It was very daunting, being 15 and trying to direct six adults. Honestly it was my first real directing experience, and I was usually too timid to say anything.