The day started out just fine until the director changed where the first camera setup would be. Never mind that I’m the director and me and the DP picked a spot three days ago, here I come with “wouldn’t the shot look better if we put it over there”.  Or never mind that me and the producer discussed this very spot and decided not to use it a month ago because of cost. I did it anyway. Never trust the director. 

After all of that, Bob McCabe, founder of the Detroit International Jazz Festival and our first interview of the day, arrived on time and ready to go. Bob was great; at 87 he has a better memory than I do.  Remember, I forgot it cost more to shoot in the new spot I wanted.

Our next interview was with trumpeter Sean Jones. Sean was great - we talked and he played. But it’s funny, Sean drove in from Pittsburgh - that's right, Pittsburgh, PA - to do the interview. It’s not like we wouldn’t pay for a first class plane ticket, but he wanted to drive. Myself, I don’t want to drive across the street. 


Our final interview was with publicist Matt Lee. Our initial thought was to shoot Matt outside, maybe at Harmonie Park near the Music Hall, and it would give us a different look. Good solid thinking. So, Michele, our producer, looked into getting a permit to shoot in the park.  The next day Michele called and said, “Do you want to hear something funny? I said yes. She said the city wants $1,600 to shoot in the park.” She was right, I laughed out loud. 

Now the plan is to shoot just outside the Music Hall's front doors. Good idea - not really. Today there was a Tigers game, and, if that wasn’t bad enough, the building across the street would blast jungle bird noises. That’s right, I said jungle bird noises.  Every few minutes we would get the sounds of distressed cockatoos screaming for their lives. You know, I don’t know why, that will be the subject of another blog. So we went inside.

But Matt was good and he gave us more juicy stuff off camera; so much for forgetting you’re on camera. Thanks.