The Film Begins
11.03.06 / G-Rated / Author: Chaz /
I took yesterday, Friday, off to prep for the upcoming shoot: charging batteries, assembling lightning equipment, doing laundry (yeah, that, too – since I am not at the Spielberg/Lucas level yet, I don’t have a Brazillian maid for such things. 
).
Despite an extraordinary lack of on street parking in the area of Albany that was being used as the HQ for the festival organizers, I found an empty space in the furthest reaches of a nearby supermarket parking lot. Luckily no one noticed me, so I avoided getting a ticket or being towed.
Each previous year the Quickies festival organizers provided the contestants with a theme or a prop, referred to as the “gimmick” that has to be used extensively in the film. I hustled to Bombers Burrito Bar where I would receive my “gimmick” and start planning my film with my crew. This year’s gimmick was two-fold:
- a piece of paper containing a phonetically spelled word that had to be in the title and provide the driving force for the film
- a bang, bash, explosion or other discharge had to be present in the film
My word was grāt; spelled just like that. I awaited my crew.
Once we were all assembled, we descended upon Elda’s restaurant in Albany. (Don’t go there, they have no qualms about charging premium prices for food and service that is second rate at best.)
We got immediately to work and followed the flow of the evening. Raucousness ensued.
I had a role in mind for a waitress that works for a local strip club (and yes, that’s all she does is wait tables) a gorgeous woman with caramel skin, thick, wavy dark hair and curves to spare. At 12:40 a.m., I rolled into the club to discuss the project with her. She seemed interested at the time and gave me her phone number again to talk with her the next day.
On my way out the door, the hottest dancer there worked me hard to give me a dance (read: get some $$ out of my wallet because I am a decent tipper). I politely bowed out as I was there for professional reasons. I was to regret that decision.
