Bright Star: Vermeer and a different time

Just saw the Jane Campion film "Bright Star" and was so taken by the cinematography of Greig Frazer. Reminded me of some of the gorgeous Vermeer paintings... so atmospheric and true to the period of the 1800's where all light sources were still candles, the sun and the moon.

Campion is so good at placing you right there with the characters... whether it's eye level with the lavender on ground or an over head of John Keat's bathing in the sun on the tree-tops. The movie was as beautiful as Keat's poetry is. Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw gave raw but understated performances that fit so well with the feel of the film.

I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to live back in a time where communication was either in person or by letter (which could take months if you were in another country.) I am completely socially inept most of the time (just look at some of the pictures of me, I look like I'm four)... and even more inept in speaking my mind in person when the stakes are really high.

Maybe that's why I love these kind of period pieces where it's all the look or a touch that can say what you can't. And in the case of filmmaking, a well placed candle or light... a slightly off balance frame or deep focused close up.

40 mules and 40 extras

Okay, we don't actually need mules but we today's casting adventure on this Bollywood film. 20 kids, 20 parents and 6 buff guys in super hero costumes...

This is all for a dance sequence which we are scheduled to film at Pier 39 on Thursday. It's Tuesday.

We had those kids in New York ready to go, and then the blizzard happened.

Welcome to Bollywood my friends!