Passion and Stubborn Belief

"If you build it, they may not come, but shouldn't you build it anyway? I mean - a baseball field in the middle of a corn field? That's passion and stubborn belief, baby. That's just badass." - Don Hall

He wrote one of those blogs today that just makes me want to cheer, run around my apartment like a spazz one or two times screaming "Fuck All!" and, well, quote him on our blog. Whenever it comes down to the homegrown, DIY mentality ... I get very excited because I feel that brand of theatre makes very fascinating stuff. You can watch your ginormos like "Phantom of the Opera" until the cows come home (which I'm seeing on Friday for the umpteenth time, I must admit - it's my early birthday present from Chris ... I'm like a pig to slaughter sometimes for the big musicals, but POTO was the show that made me want to do theatre in the first place) or you can sit and watch something a little more dangerous, a little more fresh, a little more fleeting and feel just as energized if not more because you're watching something that is being put on for very little, but the heart size and the commitment is so much more .... I love our storefront Chicago scene, as you well know ... I know that we might rehearse in our apartment, our basement, our backyard, what have you (and I really hope our actors don't mind - we have a very spacious and comfortable apartment which we decided to use because of those very reasons when we were considering whether or not to keep our rehearsal space) ... but I know that our actors' talent and everyone's professionalism are just as great as any other show ... we just don't have the bottom dollar sometimes, but .... we'll try to prove to you otherwise to the best of our ability. Anyway ....

Good stuff, Don.

Here are some more pictures from our filming of A View from the Bridge for those who might not want to join myspace just to see pictures (ahem, ahem Tom Gordon, ahem ahem.)

Chris Riter (Director) and Ed French preparing for a shot.

Dave Goss (Marco)

Holly Micelli (Asst. Director and DePaul Intern) and Ed French in the back of our jeep. Who needs a dollie, yo?

A View from the Bridge Postcard

Poster designed by Sarah Stec.

Filming

Ed French is in town to do the filming for A View from the Bridge.

Lots of creativity is floating through these walls. Lots of inspired ideas. Lots of calculated experimentation. Our actors have been amazing. They've been able to do take after take. Their lines are completely and strongly memorized which makes shooting a joy (they haven't had much rehearsal time, so they really had to get those words down quickly). Their focus has been extraordinary. Dave Lykins, who is playing Alfieri, has been filmed the most and he's put in a lot of hours with us this week. He's been great and looks wonderful on film.

Aris Tompulis (Eddie) has done a couple scenes with him, as well, and has been intensely stewing his juices subtly enough for the camera.

Ed said that it's been a pleasure working with everyone so far ... Chicago is full of incredibly talented actors and we're so happy to work with these chaps. Everyone has been gracious, professional, calm and helpful. It's been awesome.

Dave Goss (Marco) joined us yesterday to film additional scenes at a Catholic church in the Pilson area. It was beautiful and I think the scenes will look great. I wasn't able to take any pictures in the church, unfortunately, but everything has been captured on film, so we'll have that to chronicle our efforts.

We have a few outdoor shots to take today, some exit shots, Alfieri scenes and anything else we may have put aside for a rainy day. Chris finds this all really exciting and could keep going and going and ... he's a film junky so this has been like Christmas for him. Ed is an old friend, as well, so they've been able to catch up and work with each other gracefully and intuitively.

I think you'll enjoy the end results, my friends. I'm so proud of the work that's been accomplished thus far ... after we finish up today, Ed will fly back to Brooklyn, start the editing process and we'll go from there. Hopefully, we can give you a sneak preview online.

I'll try to post some pictures of the work that will be done today, if I get a chance. (Edited 11/12/07 - Added Pictures - Please check out www.myspace.com/greyzelda for more pictures.)

RZ