THE SHOOT - Part 5 - Wrapped The last night we had a wrap party hosted by Amy and Dan Ludwin (their daughter Caroline was one of our extras). We watched dailies, cackled like kids at every single little brilliant thing we had shot (warning: the dailies always look great). We stayed up until 6:00 a.m., someone barfed in the sink and Greg wrote the Ludwins a hilarious thank you note that I never saw. I’m sure we kept them up way past their bedtimes. For most of the world is was a school night. For us the work was DONE.

Highlights:
Chris Ceraso’s wonderful turn as the Headmaster.
Elaine Bromka as the hilariously uptight music teacher.
Kyle Masteller and the toke 'em up posse
Michael "I'd be happy to direct you" Schreiber
Bob's performance art
Greg and Brooke's love/hate relationship
All of Julie's Eve Ensler moments
Emily fainting
Annah's banana
Kurt's gas can
Dawn's 'Kick Me' sign

The actors take a funny script (it better be funny, or tightly drawn, or SHORT, otherwise why are you wasting all these people’s time?) – the actors take it and make it better – they, what else – give it life. That's a rule: trust your people. Work with people who are great at what they do and create an environment where they can give you everything they've got. The production, to be efficient, requires intolerably long hours. Do everything you can to fill those hours with trust. You want your people taking risks. Keep them laughing between takes. Care for them. They are surrounded by people who do not nourish them. Care for your people and they will give you their best.  ¶ 1:11 PM