12/20/2009

And Then There Was One

I am, in industry parlance, the LMO, The Last Man Out. The production is completely shut down, the facility sterilized, the rentals all returned, the accounts closed, the crew and staff all given their t-shirt and final paycheck and sent on their way. The gig has played out and all the things most people think of as 'making a movie' are done with.

Only I am left to sweep the floor, shut off the lights and lock the door behind us.

Normally I find this to be cathartic, a bittersweet moment, an exhalation and a congratulation after a job complete. I drive away from the empty production office on my final day, secure in the knowledge that all of the loose ends are tied and that I may confidently add a line to my resume and IMDB. Usually I take a week to watch old movies, re-read my favorite book and overindulge in Japanese beer before striking out to find the next gig, before seeking the chance to do it all again.

Not this time, though.

With two days to go on this show and naught but the dumpster and the copy machines to be picked up, I was offered a slot on a new show that starts Monday. Moreover, this new show is moving into the production space that my old show just vacated. I took it, of course. This business is just too fickle to turn down work so I'll just have to make it without the usual decompression. I'll have to forgo the release of saying that I'll never be back this way. I won't get my tidy personal coda of a cigar and a stroll into the metaphorical sunset. And, that's just the way it's going to have to be.

Once more, unto the breach.




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10 comments:

Tom Harper said...

Congrats on getting another gig so quickly. But those decompression periods are nice too.

nursemyra said...

Re-read your favourite book? Just how often have you read the same one... don't you hanker for something different after three or four reads?

Tengrain said...

There is nothing like have a set of bookends for every project, but I am a great believer in compartmentalism. I'm sure you will find time for that beer, no?

Regards,

Tengrain

Tom said...

Well, I re-read one of my five or six favorite books. My favorite book is Dune by Frank Herbert and I've read it thirteen times in seventeen years.

I think one of the hallmarks of a good book is the capacity for re-reading.

And no, I haven't skimped on the beer.

Kvatch said...

Shouldn't that be: "And then there was one...more." ;-) Congrats on the new gig.

My current gig is winding down, as well. Hope there's another soon.

Bee said...

I WISH my gig would wind down...

Congrats, buddy, on picking up another schtick so quickly:)

nursemyra said...

Have you read any Cormac McCarthy?

waldo said...

Bill Bryson is always re-readable. Oh, and best wishes for the season for mucho gigs and the New Year.

renalfailure said...

I sit through the credits to see who the caterer is.

Unknown said...

Yes, you had to take this but doesn't it feel like the fates have smiled upon you when things workout so nicely? I mean there was no lag, no relocating. It's perfect.