Today’s production problem started before I could get to the shoot. I’ve only been to Mack Avenue Records once, and I thought I remembered where it was, but I didn’t.
So, I got off I-94 and headed down the service drive. It wasn’t until I got to 8 mile before I realize I must have driven by it. Turning around, I got back on track with the address now in hand and made my way to the location. Then I got a call from the DP, Lon Stratton.
Lon called to say that his car had broken down on 696 and something; I don’t remember the cross street. Now, if you don’t understand the importance of this, Lon is the cameraman. No cameraman, no pictures. So, we quickly came up with a plan. The PA will go get Lon, and we mere mortals will start setting lights and dressing the background.
Now, the shelves of CDs you see on this one wall at Mack Avenue is the background we used for Al Pryor, Mack Avenue’s A&R man. To the eye the background looked one way but on camera it looked another. So, while the crew continued to play with the lights, I got the Mack Avenue people to stock the shelves with more and more CDs, as I rearranged them. And when I would say we needed a few more CDs, they would just go in a room and bring out a box of CDs.
But things worked out, we got started and Lon finally showed up to shoot Al.
That’s what I’m talking about. Thanks, Mack Avenue Records.