Location Scout

Lo and behold what a difference a day makes!
I call the key contact person yesterday AM--
she's available then & there to show Stu & I the barn.
It's her (1) day off from her Sudbury bookstore job,
so I run w/ it.
Call up Stu (remembering Monday was open for him)...
Check w/ my supervisor about my remaining comp time
& viola!
Mid-afternoon I'm standing in Pinecrest/Cushman Barn
amid left-over haunted hayride paraphanalia
ie. coffin, plastic skull decorations, pitchforks & knives
& bat gauno (the latter oh so authentic).

Betty Ann our key contact is very nice &
shows us the loft down thru basement.
It's cold & despite my pull-over I'm chattery teeth.
There's outlets for space heaters & the power box is intact.
But for the 12 hours we'll spend here in the next couple weeks,
a "bundle warmly" advisory will be in order.
Next door is #58 Bemis--
a lodge where we can store/cook food
& take bathroom breaks.
We're remote enough we won't be bothered during shoot,
but Rte 68 is close enough for Walmart runs if we need misc.
And you always need last-minute misc. ie.
batteries, electronic parts, napkins...
you name it,
someone will need something you haven't pre-planned for.

Even while Stu & I are waiting in the car for Betty Ann,
a black lab barking madly across the street from us...
I get a call.
I pick up, not recognizing the area code,
thinking maybe it's Betty Anne from alt number.
Nope-- the lions are infringing on film time.
Citifinancial wanting their money.
Then when we're inside, mid-tour...
General Revenue Corps aka Student Loan #2 comes calling.
I feel like a fake then.
Here I am producer, putting my own money into shoot,
but I can't even handle my own bills.
Who would depend on me?
Yet I always pay crew-- they are the front line,
they are the ones making reality out of my jottings.
Not a $2100 film school loan from the early 90's.
Damn these collection calls.
But in my heart I know that my anger is deflection.
I need to find a way out of this.
If I'm to continue this filmmaking path,
I cannot keep living this way.
Paycheck to meager paycheck.
Pouring Best Buy & Bank of America & loan monies
into my resume reel.
I can't.

No one's paying me to do this.
Maybe they should be.