The Science of Insomnia

There is a unique sensation one experiences when walking away from a day of work on a film set, especially when it is as successful as the day we had yesterday. Creative energy, when fully engaged, is not something that dissipates quickly, making the transition from “set life” to “real life” quite jarring. Crossing the threshold from our carefully constructed fantasy into the haphazardly formed reality that surrounds us is akin to crossing over into a new world in an unfamiliar dimension with a ridiculously inefficient concept of time. The place did not seem to be inhabited by people in the traditional sense, but rather sleepwalkers floating through the dream I was living. Thoughts conjured in my head as to what motivations lie behind the actions these zombies were taking, as all I could see in their eyes was a deeply engrained emptiness, reinforced by years of repetition. I felt like the only person who was truly alive in this city, surrounded by the undead masses going through their paces as creatures of pure habit. Normally this fundamental nature is skillfully camouflaged from the casual observer, but last night I had the right kind of eyes to see it all so clearly.

For a second, I feared they may become hostile. This feeling was quickly assuaged by the knowledge passed down to me by luminaries such as George A. Romero, Max Brooks and Robert Kirkman. Thanks to these three visionaries, when the zombie apocalypse comes (and it will), I will be prepared. After a slight misstep, I strode confidently to my ultimate destination.

For the reminder of the evening, my thoughts were focused on dissecting the shoot, discovering what internal machinations caused such chemistry amongst a crew that had never worked together. I wanted to preserve this vital essence and this intense euphoria I was in the throes of, attempting to bottle it up so it could be liberally distributed throughout the remainder of our days together. Through my inexact scientific methods, I was able to draw a few conclusions as to what produced such delicious results.

Danny Crook, thank you for rearranging your life to be a part of this picture. I often feel as though my ideas are only 90% formed, lacking those extra little details that push them from interesting to exceptional. Danny is the guy that brings the other 10% without fail and often generates an even higher percentage of awesome (which is quantifiable, I assure you), creating mathematically impossible shots superior to what I had originally envisioned. In the words of Heath Ledger’s Joker, “You…complete me.”

Our producer, Dan Meincke, is a robot. Actually, he must be a cyborg as I do see him eat so he must have some sort of biological functionality. I did not know that we as a species were in possession of this level of technology, but he is proof. He works constantly, all day and all night, with an energy that never seems to wane and an output level that even Enrico Fermi would be jealous of. He also has the uncanny ability to maintain strict authority while being easily approachable. These are not human attributes, and must be the result of secret government experiments. I’m just glad he is on our side – imagine if the communists had gotten a hold of him.

Such strong personalities require a true leader to hold them all together, and Mike Noens is definitely up to the task. When I first learned that he was directing two feature-length films in one summer, I was divided. Part of me thought, “This guy is highly motivated and I want to work closely with him” while another part of me thought, “This is going to be a train wreck and I want a front-row seat.” Either way, I was in. I quickly discovered within a few days of working on Coasting (the first film we shot this summer) that Mike is more than capable of handling such an insane workload. He has the work ethic to ensure that he gets what he wants each day, an abundance of creativity and a working knowledge of film that is rooted in experience and a deep love of the medium. What really strikes me though is his ability to inspire a crew. I am sure everyone working on both movies this summer had the same doubts as I did, but his incredible level of dedication to each project made it clear to all of us that neither of these films was an afterthought, but fully realized projects with high potential for greatness. Everyone brings everything they have to set each day, and without a strong vision and understanding of the story being told sitting at the helm, this would not happen. This kind of charisma is rare, and I feel lucky to witness it five days a week for an entire summer.

I also have to thank Mike for being the bravest director I have worked with. He not only has the courage to say yes to my many outlandish ideas for how this movie should work visually, but also the resolve to tell me when something is not working for him. It is truly a collaborative, mutually respectful relationship, and in a way I look forward to him telling me that he is not happy with something because I know the ensuing conversation will be enjoyable and fruitful. We both want this movie to stand out, and what a pleasure it is to work with a director who understands that playing it safe is not the way to achieve this.

As I came to these realizations, my mind wandered back to the film itself and what other ideas could be plucked from the ripe script. The floodgate broke and concepts began to pour in, thoughts of how to make the camera more than simply a device to show us these events. The camera should be a way to show us what this world looks like through the eyes of these characters. This may sound simple, but it is easy to forget that our eyes do not take in information from our surroundings so much as they project our own feelings onto the environment, changing what we see to reflect our moods and desires. When considered from this perspective, the task becomes much more challenging but the results infinitely more intriguing and rewarding.

As the hour grew late, my body informed me of its need for rest, but my brain simply refused to cooperate. I lay in bed for hours sorting through ideas for shots and possible techniques to engage before finally drifting off. I got barely any sleep last night, but today I feel more energized and mentally active than I have in weeks. I feel as though I do not need the sleep – I am now in possession of something far more fulfilling. My life has become better than any dream I have ever had, and it is because of the simple fact that I have the best f***ing job in the world.