Friday, 21 June 2002: Part I

New York City, New York

The final day. Because we are so behind our call time isn't until 9pm that night. We are shooting at the Elks Club in Queens. It's an amazing location. A big old building with abandoned spaces - kitchens, auditoriums, bars, locker rooms and even a bowling alley. The only thing still in use is a gym, located at the end of a subterranean corridor and filled with ancient locals wandering around in underwear and vests. We think they are strange and they think we are strange.

Partying with the Elks

Mac and Seth have bought cast and crew the services of a masseuse to get us through the night. But lying down would be fatal round about now. We all feel sick with exhaustion and our grip Scott really is sick; he was like our guardian angel and could transform an ugly room by painting it with light in about five minutes. We have four major scenes to shoot. But by 3:00 am, lunchtime, we've only shot one. And the big worry is that the final, most important scene, of Mac calling James on the phone from prison is going to be compromised by just how burnt out everyone feels. But the prospect of not finishing is almost too grim to contemplate.