Hou Hsiao-Hsien and the Kingdom of the...

What to do? This is probably the last time I will be in a movie theatre for five weeks - an astonishingly long time, by the way. So, do I go see the totally enjoyable (but I will admit somewhat unaffecting) Indy movie at the best theatre left in San Francisco or do we hoof it out to no man's land to see the best movie in release by one of my favorite living directors, Hou's reworking of the Red Balloon? All problems should be so win-win which brings me back to my theme of contentment.

My crew is good. I did a bit of early morning work on Saturday and Sunday to make sure that I was on top of things and it continues to appear that I am. There are definitely still details that need to get mopped up and this week is already full with camera tests, schedule meetings, voiceover recording, license clearing, agreement signing, wardrobe fitting, makeup testing, rehearsing and location scouting.

But, I feel like I know what the film is going to look and sound like. I have looked at the many actors with substantial speaking parts in the same room and they make sense together and there is a level of commitment and thought that is pretty exciting to see in actors aged 16-25. I wasn't that serious when I was a college theatre dweeb.

I guess there's a part of me that's surprised that this isn't like teaching eighth grade film class in the South Bronx. There's no grabbing, wrangling or yelling and there may actually end up being some learning.