Tuesday 23rd October, 2007
Scene – Car Crash
This was the big day. The day of the crash. The hype began many months ago when we first found out there was going to be a car accident in the movie. This gradually built up over the months, weeks, days and hours until it was time. It was more than any of us could have expected…
We began at 2 pm on Tuesday and we knew we were up for a really long night.
The Horsley Road, home to our Head of Art Department (Vince), was scattered with fluorescent vests and written on the back was Green Fire Envy – Crew. It was a huge team effort to make this happen. We needed people for traffic control, setting up the scenes, make up, costumes, minding the equipment (sounds easy but is sooo boring… a big mention to James who had to do this for the majority of the night), actors were getting into character and there were many more jobs that had to be fulfilled. At about 3.00pm, we were ready to roll…
“Sound?”
“Speed.”
“Camera?”
“Set.”
“And ACTION…”
“Turtle on the road. I repeat, turtle on the road. OVER.”
“…N!”
...
“Um… cut?”
Yes, that’s right. Even turtle-transporter was an important job on our set. We employed small Tom for this one.
The first scene we shot was the final one. The make-up was so fantastic that all the locals driving past would slow down to take a look and some would even come to a stop or drive past several times and stare in astonishment at the blood-covered actor who was taking a bite to eat and waving to them in amusement.
That scene was completed and we were moving onto the next. The car crash. While the crew were setting up and the actors involved were getting prepared, there seemed to have been a bit of fun and relaxation behind the scenes. For some, waiting around just got too boring so they decided to have a bit of fun with the make-up artist, Trista and her friend Natasha. Cat decided to get a large burn on her forehead while James was made into a dead person who had been bitten by Count Tracey, the vampire.
Seb, his friend Eugene (who provided the walkie-talkies and police equipment) and Morgana were assigned to traffic control but it was obviously extremely exhausting for both Seb and Morgana who were, by the end of the night, fast asleep in Art’s car, oblivious to the screeching sirens and screams just 2 meters away. However, for Eugene, a budding police officer, it was an exciting night of taking endless photographs and video’s of the police cars.
Eugene: “I’m over police cars now. The undercover cars are cooler… OMG did you see that police car just drive past!”
As for food, we did not have catering but the food and drinks supplied seemed to be sufficient: i.e. lollies, biscuits and coke. But by the end of the night a B.B.Q. was organized which was greatly appreciated by many.
Back on set, the two smashed cars were towed in. In one of the cars, a lady was actually killed which came as a shock to Jessica Arapi (Monique) who had to act in the car. There were 4 police cars (made especially for us by mechanics), 1 ambulance and 1 fire truck as well as a lot of excited firemen and medics and the mechanics acting as police officers. We thank them for their generously given time and help. It is much appreciated and we really couldn’t have done it without them.
There were many shocked people driving by, slowing down to get a glimpse of the tragedy and waiting in anticipation to read it in the newspapers the next day which, fortunately, was not the case!
The crew were amazing… everyone worked well together and there were a lot of brilliant shots. Art was certainly on a role and was complimented by numerous onlookers at his dedication. Speaking of people on a role, we can’t forget to mention Mikey who was an extremely enthusiastic smoke machine worker… occasionally, too enthusiastic… :D The directors helped the actors immensely, not only but giving them direction and getting them into character but by giving them some freedom to add a little bit of their own flavour.
On the acting side of life, the most stunning performance of the night went to Jessica Arapi (Monique) whose delivery can be described in no other way than this: pure magic. There is not one witness of her acting who would think otherwise. This girl is going to go far.
Kayla (Sarah) and Aileen (Anne) did an excellent job at playing dead people. We all felt for poor little Kayla who spent a long time in her summer dress, lying on the wet road without complaining even once. Leigh (Matt) and Roger (Peter) also spent quite a long time outside on the ground! Aileen and Ashleigh were seated quite comfortably in the car, delving into the depths of their characters and the way in which they would play the scene.
All in all, it was a night to remember. Everyone was satisfied with the end result except possibly Morgana whose iPod was towed away with the smashed cars! Thank you to all those who made it possible including Vince and the Andriano family who kindly allowed us to use the facilities in their house! There was so much help given and we hope you will be blown away by the end product when it is released into cinemas next year.
We wrapped up at about 2am on Wednesday, 24th October and although it was a late finish, our slogan was still shouted with great gusto...
“Green Fire Envy… AA-ROO!”
- Ashleigh Cummings and Morgana Davies
art of multimedia