Production Diaries:
June 2004
July 2004
August 2004
September 2004
October 2004
Recent Entries:
HUNDREDS GATHER TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LATE MAKO IWAMATSU IN CAGES!
Wed, 14 Nov 2007
A SPECIAL TRIBUTE SCREENING OF MAKO!
Tue, 16 Oct 2007
Perles Acquires Cages Distribution!
Wed, 01 Aug 2007
"CAGES" RUNS 4TH WEEK IN THEATRES!
Fri, 13 Apr 2007
IT'S MY TURN TO FLY!
Mon, 09 Apr 2007
"CAGES" SURPRISES MANY AS IT ENTERS THIRD WEEKEND IN THEATRES!
Fri, 06 Apr 2007
"CAGES" ENTERS THIRD WEEK IN THEATRES!
Tue, 03 Apr 2007
LOYAL FOLLOWING TO THANK, AS "CAGES" ENTERS THIRD WEEK IN THEATRES!
Mon, 02 Apr 2007
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Mind Games
07/24/04
Whenever I start counting down the days, I am pretty afraid. In fact, I have been struck with many haunting nights of fear of the actual shoot itself; too many recurring dreams of what might happen on shoot. I know we can pull this off though... I am confident.
The world of CAGES has expanded with the arrival of many "new birds": Alex( Pho-boy), Bobby (Maron dawg), Mark (Lappy) and Wing (Stressball). From where I am sitting now, the atmosphere is tense and every bird in CAGES seems to be sucking the last of the air out of the office. There are more male birds in the house than female ones. I feel like the girl power has been invaded. Yes, the feminine voices are sinking. I’m pretty sure we still rock, yeah, babes? By the way, my camera assistant is a gorgeous female kick-ass roo, Rebecca. Way to go! Girl power!
I had a little session with Dickson, at a nearby playground last Friday. We had an Othello game. I hate to admit this, but the banana boy actually beat me (I only had 11 white chips on the board!). For every move I made, he anticipated me like the master. And mind you, he is just a kid! He barely knows what is going on in the world, yet he can see. I'm careful whenever I am with him... in this madness, I've been losing my mind trying my best to make everything happen. Sometimes I wish he was someone I could just pour my inner cry to. I wish that I was him now, going back to school, having fun with peers and adults, being all witty and smart. He relives my inner child.
I asked him what he felt about Jonah? What did he see in him? I was always careful with the word “see” and I know I have uttered that word many times over. This kid is a growing man, he understands me... somehow... like how I imagine my son would be like. He answered, “Jonah, he is just like me. The world hates him, and I don’t understand why.” We both went quiet. I lost my intended move suddenly on the green board. Did I sense something personal here? What did he mean, he is just like him? Big words for a small guy.
Somehow I understand Othello. Like CAGES production itself, it is a game. The players (the crew and cast), the chips (the money), and the board (the plan). Like Othello, there is no turning back, once you’ve placed your chips on the board, you will see your outcome (the consequences). Dickson told to me that it is all about strategy. I understand what makes him a master in anticipating my every move; precision, interest and practice. He actually studied every trick in the book about Othello. It led me to ask myself, did I oversee everything for CAGES? Contingencies? Back up plans? What if I am trapped like how I was in Othello? Do my years of production experience mean anything in this production? I questioned my own abilities. And I started to realize that the game isn’t about who has more chips or how experienced one is, it's just about having the right mind-set and executing the best laid plan – wisely. I may end up losing in Othello, but at least I have gained some enlightenment.
My personal sessions with the many people in Cages has opened my eyes. I hear their concerns and their strategies, and believe me folks, we will survive. This week alone has taken an emotional toll out of me. Maybe I am getting more sensitive (it’s not PMS!). I have learnt so much, thus I am looking at things in pretty complicated way. I have broken my own principle in hoping that I will gain something out of this game. Yet, I am playing another game. One that is full of risk. I am taking many chances within this short period of time to pull many strings together and pacify the budget and the production needs. I am pushing the team on to new grounds. I am hoping for the winning goal, to conquer the battle.
For some, it’s all about the money. For others it’s all about love. For now, personally, it is all about TIME. Time will tell how much ground we will break and how many wounds we will have healed. Like the story of CAGES, this production team is genuinely TIMELESS.
Flaps away,
Hass Sunny aka Fish
Production Manager
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