Prayers to the Gods of Guerrilla Filmmaking (2014) - full transcript

- Hey, I'm just taking pictures, man.

Back off.

- Back off bitch.

- It doesn't look like a video camera.

It looks like a photo camera.

- It is a
photo camera actually.

- It is a photo camera actually.

So I know my rights.

But this is not China, this is Hong Kong.

It is a whole different place.

- There was this guy



looking for a lead
actor for a feature film

to be shot overseas.

Guess I must have gotten
in touch with Marco

and we met a few times over that summer

and I was definitely a
little hesitant at first.

I mean, you know,

you gotta be careful
with that stuff though.

But when I met Marco, you know,

I could tell he was somebody genuine

and it's exciting when people
are passionate about something

and people are willing to
invest a lot of themselves

and a lot of the resources like he has.

- The thought of a guy
independently producing a film

and willing to pay for people to fly,



like, the airfare cost him a lot of money.

It cost him probably, 10, 15 grand.

Just on airfare, to have people here.

$15,000 you could put a
down payment on a house.

You know, so to spend $15,000
just to get people here.

It's a bold move.

So I respect that.

- Marco contacted me like a year ago.

He told me that he had
this story in his mind

that he wanted three to develop it

and that he wanted me
to be part of the crew

and I was like yeah yeah, whatever.

I didn't believe him at the beginning,

and six months after he was like

okay I'm starting the script,

I'm writing it and everything

and I was like yeah yeah, whatever.

It was like a month
before buying the tickets

that he was like okay I will
start looking at tickets

and everything.

I was like whoa, maybe
he's serious you know?

(calm echoey music)

- Okay so basically the
plan, we go to Hong Kong,

we stay there for seven
days, we take three actors.

One guy's gonna take care of the audio.

One guy's gonna take
care of the photography

We just shoot on the streets,
maybe bars, restaurants.

All guerrilla style, no permits.

We don't have a producer.

We don't have any investors.

So I'm actually producing
this movie myself.

There's no real money.

Nobody's gonna get paid.

I'm just gonna pay for the
trip and for the accommodation.

Well we have to write a script

and we have to gather enough people.

But I don't trust some people.

I just don't want anyone to
bail out at the last minute

or think that we're going to
Hong Kong just to have fun

and have a holiday.

We're gonna go there to shoot.

It's not gonna be easy.

It's probably gonna be a pain in the ass.

So I'm gonna make sure
that everybody knows.

This is not gonna be fun.

The only problem is that
yeah, I'm a bit nervous

that people might bitch
about all the problems

we're gonna have to endure,

but apart from that

nothing can go wrong.

So this is what we used at the pharmacist

to explain we needed a shot.

- [Voiceover] What happened exactly?

- The worst cat in the world bitten me.

He brings every disage...

- [Voiceover] Disease.

- Disease, disease in the world.

Maybe also AIDS.

- [Marco] Show me your hand.

(laughing)

Alright cool.

We had an unfortunate accident today,

when one random moron,
which I won't mention

but it was one of the actors

got bit by a rabid cat
and now he has rabies.

(laughing)

- If I must die, I hope
to die after the movie's,

so that the movie could be in my memory.

Memory of Furio Mazzarelli.

With love...
- That's your last name,

Mazzarelli?

- Mazzarelli.

- That is a beautiful name.

- [Both] Furio Mazzarelli.

- [Furio] Staring Furio Mazzarelli, dead.

- If you see foam from his mouth...

Alert the authorities.

Yeah but don't touch him
because he has rabies.

- Oh shit!

(screaming and laughing)

- [Andrew] Well we arrived,

so let's have a round
of applause for that.

- We arrived so oh, they say,
80% is showing up.

- There we go.

- Well done, you need 20% now.

- Yeah.

- So first thing, we're gonna
have a plan every day.

All good with that?

You all know your lines right?

- Okay but to be fair, I
know them reading the script

like in the sense of like,

it's gonna take a couple times.

Like we're gonna have to rehearse before.

- [Marco] We are going to
have to rehearse before

because the scenes are very complicated.

- I met quite a few actors.

Most of the time I just met them in a cafe

and I just told them, look this
is what we are going to do,

it's gonna be hard, it's gonna be...

I don't want any troublemakers

I don't want people to complain,

because that's what I
was trying to filter.

That was my main concern.

I knew that we needed
people to be committed

and i told them, you know,

we were gonna stay in a very bad place,

that were going to be working
almost 24 hours, no rest

and then obviously most of them were
like yeah okay, yeah sure

because I mean, they wanted the gig,

but that is not a process that I liked

because you just have
to meet a lot of people

that are full of shit.

They just want to work on something

and also people, they think
that just because they look hot

they're actors.

So that wasn't a fun thing to do.

I mean Mathieu, I just saw him
when he sent me his picture

and I just thought like wow,

this looks like exactly the
guy I have in mind for Eli,

and if he's a decent actor,

I'm just set on him
because he just looks like

you know, just visually
because that's all I had,

and the other guy, I didn't
like him personally.

I thought he was obnoxious and annoying,

but that somehow he might have
fitted with the character.

That was the most important thing.

I put two or three scenes per day,

which if it works out,

it's very optimistic but if it works out,

it means that by January
6th we're finished.

- [Andrew] I'll work so
hard if we could do that.

- My schedule is very
tight, it's very optimistic.

- [Andrew] Let's do that.

- But if it works out, on
the 6th we're all finished.

After that, we do ADR.

After ADR, you can go nuts.

You can go to the beautiful girls

(all laughing)

to the mansion.

- [Alejandro] To the funny timing.

- Yeah you can have
funny timing with them.

- My name's Andrew Mazzolin.

I'm from, my father's from Friuli Italy.

My mother's from Treviso Italy.

Came over on the boat when they were like

three and four years old.

I never really wanted to be an actor.

I liked entertaining.

I liked playing guitar and telling jokes

and shit like that.

Acting was something that kind of

came as a by product of that.

Well I mean, a lot of people

are doing shitty community
theater, or fucking

doing shitty ass student plays in Toronto

or whereever the fuck,

and to do a movie in Hong Kong,

it's a bit of a fish out of water thing

and it's definitely a unique experience

and I can't knock that.

- [Marco] Which is one
of the main landmarks

of underground Hong Kong.

It's a big high rise building

full of cheap restaurants, hostels,

all kinds of dodgy businesses going on.

It's like it has a life of its own

and it also happened to be the location

of one of my favorite films,

which is Chungking Express.

It's a Hong Kong film from
1994, Directed by Wong Kar-wai.

I watched it in the time of my life

when I kind of almost
gave up on the idea of

ever making films.

I mean, I could tell that it
had a very very low budget

and it was shot in a rough way,

but somehow it's still really stylish,

it still looked professional.

You know, it had one of
the best photographies

I've ever seen in a film,

and I thought well,

maybe there's a chance that at some point

I'll get enough money
to make something good.

(speaking foreign language)

Because every two seconds
people would just go like

no, no, no, stop stop
stop stop stop.

Hey, can someone give me a hand.

- What are you doing man?

- It was broken already.

I just tried to close it.

- [Alejandro] You tried to
open it from the other side?

- Well I tried, and then it wasn't moving.

I didn't want to make a
mess, so I just gracefully--

- [Alejandro] So you made a mess.

I gracefully moved it,
and then it just broke.

Chungking mansion after all.

It has to be expected.

- Where anything can happen.

- Yeah man it's such a pain now.

I mean you can't even sit.

(laughing)

I mean, there's no space.

Would it have killed them to
have like, one more meter squared

and then they're gonna
move you to 97

which is gonna have three
beds but no ceiling.

(laughing)

- The ceiling's gonna
be the toilet of the guy on top--

- It's always a trade off.

You gain something you lose something.

(laughing)

- The script will start

with all the three characters

Eli, Patrick, and me myself Armani.

I'm really ashamed

for my way to talk in english.

I'm very embarrassed.

So I try to make little jokes,

some silly things but I'm
really ashamed.

- [Andrew] You should, I don't know man.

- So you're saying Marco

is just like Francis Ford Coppola huh?

I agree.

- Oh I did not say that,
but absolutely maestro.

You're absolutely Francis Ford Coppola.

- [Marco] Oh, long story.

(laughing)

- [Andrew] It is a prostitute.

I met the prostitute.

- [Andrew] The release form.

- Yes sign by tomorrow with your blood.

- [Andrew] And my pound of flesh.

- Whoa, it is a mattress.

- Oh yeah, it's a mattress.

- Not what I thought.

- But now it's actually better

because we put it in the middle
so it's not just...

- [Alejandro] Anyway guys,
we have to wake up very

in a few hours.

Just please go to sleep.

(tranquil music)

Like most kids I was into
the usual Hollywood fayre,

films like Back to the Future,
and Ghostbusters, Robocop,

that kind of stuff,

but then as I grew up

I got more interested
in slightly more serious

and artsy films.

I dreamed I was going to be a film maker

just like you would dream

that you would be a football player,

but I never actually seriously thought

that I was gonna make films.

At first my friends
thought I was making films

just kind of like as a hobby.

Now when they realize that
the stakes are much higher.

That I was going to Hong Kong
and putting all this money

and buying equipment.

Then they started to think that

there maybe was something wrong with me

because I was either deluded,

thinking that I was gonna
make all the money out of it,

or I was just having a middle aged crisis.

I think every artist, when they create

they create out of a need
to express themselves

to just get something out of their brain

and into the real world.

Well it's not a hobby

because it's not even something

that gives me pleasure as I do it.

It's more like a grief.

It doesn't sound nice maybe,

but film is like a cancer
and I have to get rid of it

and the only way to get rid of it

is just to put it on a screen

and once it's on a screen
I just feel the relief.

If I don't finish this film, that's it.

There's no producer who's
gonna put more money

or even fire me and hire
somebody else to finish this.

If I don't tell this story,
if I don't make this film,

it's just gonna disappear.

So it is a lot of pressure I think.

If you fuck up, that's it

and in the end nobody's even
gonna care if you do it or not.

- In North America they don't do this.

I'm bound by these laws
that say I can only eat this

until 10:30 in the morning.

Thank you McDonald's, thank you.

- He's loving it.

- He's loving it.

- Well I'm Matt, Mathieu,
whatever you want to call me.

I'm kinda from all over Canada.

I lived in Toronto this summer

which is where I met our friend Marco.

After many months we're finally here

and I guess I'm here
because, I think in our field

any actor would be crazy not to do this

if they were given this opportunity.

Like when you're starting out,
it's hard to get a lead role

in a film project anyway

and not a lot of low budget
projects are feature films.

So they're usually shorts,
so it's a rare opportunity

to get offered a role
in a feature like this

and be able to work on a full character.

Sleep?

What sleep?

(laughing)

We didn't sleep much.

Furio and Andrew and
I and Francisco a bit,

stayed up talking for most of the night

because we couldn't sleep,

and we're just getting to know each other

so that was good too, you know?

We're all like two feet away
from each other in that room so

and it's such an interesting crew.

Like you have people from Europe,
people from South America,

people from Canada, and
man Furio is hilarious.

Such a loud voice, such
a deep, vibrating voice

and then Andrew never stops talking.

- Today we were supposed to be back

at fucking 10:30 not 12:00.

He laughs, he talks a lot but,

he's not to be trusted.

He thinks that this is a high school trip

and I base this on
on previous experience

with rehearsal and stuff.

It was 10:30,

he tried to make it, you know
as if it was 12:00, but it wasn't.

- This is the mattress that
we're gonna be sleeping on.

Like one... this one
person, this one person.

- I'm signing my life away.

- [Marco] This you're saying
you're not gonna sue me.

You're gonna have a happy
face for the whole shooting,

and when I say 10:30,
you're gonna be here 10:30.

- [Andrew] And if you said it in English

I would have been here at 10:30.

- Alle mezzo, when I read my book

called Pimsleur learn and
speak conversational Italian,

they say alle mezzo is 12 o'clock noon.

- [Marco] Okay well what book was that?

- Pimsleur Italian,

and that's what I understood,

and I don't want to talk about it anymore.

- I guess for me that I would prefer

that you write to me in Italian.

- Yes.

- [Marco] I could translate but,

- words are nothing.

- I went to high school with Furio

but I haven't spoken to
him in more than 10 years,

but randomly he got in touch,

and he casually mentioned

that he was starting to be an actor.

I already cast somebody
as in the role of Armani,

but this person bailed out last minute

and because I didn't have
time to do casting again,

I asked him if he was interested

and so that's how he got him.

- [Andrew] It's still
a beautiful language.

- [Alejandro] Everybody sign the
thing, just sign the thing.

I mean, nobody's gonna abuse anything.

- So if Spielberg comes
and gives you this,

you're just gonne be bitching
about it, yes?

- Yes, Spielberg pay to me a
perfect of course of English

if needed.

- [Marco] Yes.

What time is it?

12:30 okay, we have time to cut your hair.

Finally, you puts hallelujah
here in the soundtrack.

(laughing)

Next time bring your lawyer.

- Usually I bring long
hairs, not like this

and then I now, I have to cut anymore.

- Yes.

- Fuck.

- We cut anymore.

(talking over each other)

- I don't know English,
I'm stupid, fuck off.

- Not at zero totally, no.

- I said 12.

- [Andrew] I don't know how
anyone sleeps on this mattress.

- Whoa, whoa.

- Eli, I don't know how
you did it up here man.

- Oh well, I've slept on worse.

- [Andrew] Really?

I think the ground would
be more comfortable.

- [Marco] (speaking foreign language)

- Probably.

- So I had a delicious
breakfast this morning,

of a sausage and egg Mcmuffin
with twisted noodles.

It was wonderful, in a broth.

- [Marco] We bring this one, this one,

and that one.

- Why did you bring these bags?

- Did I bring the right one?

- We should bring that here.

- [Alejandro] Bye bye.

- And now we play the waiting game.

- Yeah.

- We should pretend we
don't speak English.

- Yeah.

- Just speak a random language or Spanish.

(speaking Spanish)

- Who is it?

- I'm sorry, we're gonna make up the room.

- Oh no, it's okay, it's okay.

- [Hotel Employee] Okay.

- It's alright, don't worry.

- [Hotel Employee] Thank you.

- Bye bye.

- Oh shit, man.

- Right?

(laughing)

- Have some music in the background.

- Yeah, turn the TV on.

- I get to live in the
Ritz for a few hours.

- My first scene,
absolutely my first scene.

- [Alejandro] Virgin.

- I'm virgin, I'm virgin.

Totally virgin.

But is a virginity that I want to lose.

- [Alejandro] Well, is there a
virginity you do not want to lose?

- I'm excited, I am excited.

(laughing)

I'm hard.

- [Alejandro] Okay.

(laughing)

- [Marco] Okay, start recording.

Alright, roll camera.

Are you rolling sound?

- Rolling.

- [Marco] Okay.

- Wait, I don't like this.

This is wrong, there's
nothing on the screen.

- Yes it's rolling, your on okay.

Alright, roll one scene three take one.

(clip board snapping)

Action.

- He said he would be
here for the celebrations.

He said for the celebrations,
he would be here.

- [Marco] Okay cut.

It didn't work out?

- Yeah, I came from the
top and I realized the

boom was there.

So I don't think we saw
it but I was just scared.

- Sorry man.

- It's okay.

- We'll go with another one.

(tranquil music)

Because it was the first day,
I wanted to try tracking shots

and crane movement and I
did more takes, more takes.

I was being more of a perfectionist

and it didn't work out
because it took a long time

and the light changed completely

and now I have a lot of
issues with editing

because I have to make it match,

but because of our production schedule,

we're very limited.

We can't spend too much time on a scene.

So I felt like

we might not even make it.

I mean, if we go like this way.

So I was very disappointed.

I tried to keep it to myself
but I was kind of worried.

- Well the problem is that we didn't do

what we had planned for today.

- Yeah, we didn't even finish this.

- Yeah, that's fucked up.

- [Marco] Action.

- So, go to the bathroom
and take a shower I guess.

- [Marco] That's what we all decide here?

- It was very good, but it was slow.

I mean, a whole day for a scene.

- The whole movie?

- Yeah.

(laughing)

- You don't have to apologize to us.

You're doing a wonderful job.

Take care.

How's your day going?

(laughing)

- The leaning tower of Pisa.

It leans to the right or
to the left?

- It went to the right.

Because I use my left hand with hand job.

(laughing)

- It's a real vibrant city.

- Bustling with life.

- Bustling with life.

- People making out in the kitchen.

- Yeah all that shit.

- So these are very
complicated crane shots,

which requires a lot of
time for a very short scene

but if it works out
it's gonna be pretty awesome.

- I don't know if he's wearing that scarf

because he's sick or because he thinks

it fucking makes him look smart.

It's in the fucking
film making for dummies.

All directors gotta fucking
have a receding hairline

and wear a scarf.

Ah come on, shut up.

(laughing)

- Like a gangster.

- [Mathieu] You look good man.

You look good down there.

- Oh shit, oh shit.

Here.

(inspiring music)

- One of the main things
that he's trying to do

that we're trying to do

is just put together a
good project, a good film

with a very small budget
and show that it's possible

to put together something
good, something of quality

with limited resources.

- I have always believed that generally in art

if you want to connect a lot
with the art work you're doing,

it doesn't matter how much you've got.

I mean you can see these huge productions

that they say nothing, you know,

and on the other hand you
can as well see the contrary.

Like small productions that are
very very touching you know?

- I like what Marco is doing.

I like the intention
he has in coming here.

Everybody is here to gain good experience

and to help themselves

and I think that's important

because we're all hungry for something.

We all believe in the same thing.

- Everyone's involved in this
production for selfish reasons

and for non-selfish reasons.

Every actor on this is in this

because they couldn't get another gig

and this is a pretty cool gig to be in

for people that can't really
get gigs with the big boys.

Well it's...

(laughing)

it's a small budget movie

really trying hard
to be a big budget film.

Unfortunately money and time
is something that you need

to make a really beautiful film.

If you want to have a crane shot,

then you want to have a steadycam shot,

then you want to have,
you know, a two shot

and then a three shot you know?

That takes a long time
and have the lighting

and everything and you know,
we don't really have that time

because the money is not
flowing on this film.

- Deep?

No no no no no.

- A lot of...

- Alright there you have it.

- I have very a lot more
enemies than friends.

- Make?

- A voodoo doll.

- [Furio] A voodoo?

- Yeah yeah.

- Against me, it's probably...

Because surly there are
a lot of people that envy

me for being here.

So it's probably...

Because they are not good actors.

- I think I'm a wonderful human being,

however I'm also very blunt.

So if any of you piss me off

I'm gonna be very clear.

I'm not gonna be offended.

I'm not gonna expect any of
you to be offended either.

So if I tell you you're shit,

it's probably because you were shit

in that particular scene.

It doesn't mean you're a shit human being.

I'm sure you're a wonderful man

and you'll make a
wonderful father one day,

however if you're doing shit on a scene

then you're gonna be told
you're shit in one scene.

If you're really really tired

don't just you know, act tired

or act annoyed.

No we're not kids here.

Let's not you know...

Let's just be very very clear

about everything straight away.

You know, if I say
something you do not like

then tell me straight away.

If I'm directing you badly,
tell and let me know.

If you know there's
something on the script

you think is stupid,

let's just you know,
clear it straight away.

Let's not create this stupid drama

which is not useful.

- [Mathieu] I actually slept
better tonight than last night.

- I feel sick so I kept waking up.

- I don't know exactly how to get there.

We're going to a bar but
I'm a bit worried

because my contact is not there.

He's in China now.

- [Furio] One night and one night.

- You pitch or catch.

- Ready ready.

- Shall we?

- Oh shut up.

- [Andrew] I don't want to hear that shit.

- Let's go.

(police siren ringing)

- Don't I look handsome?

I do.

You love me.

You love everything about me,
you love the way I talk,

the way I sing, the way I look.

You love the way my ass
fucking shakes in these jeans.

You love the way I speak.

My fucking eloquence.

- Oh there's a Burger King.

- So I just woke them up.

So they're not in the
best of moods probably

and they don't seem to be enthusiastic

about the idea of shooting.

- It is just a job though.

I report infringements.

- Step by step.

You must be proud of yourself.

Do it in a kind of,

you must be proud of yourself.

Like really this kind of loathing at it.

- Alright.

You must be really proud of yourself.

- Okay that's it.

I like it like that.

- Oh my god okay.
(laughing)

- Yeah yeah I mean,

you can blame my--

- I'm not blaming anything.

I'm just surprised is all.

- Well again, because again, you know

maybe we didn't get on
the same page on the role,

but I want it to be kind of over the top,

and then when there's certain scenes

where you're being a bit
serious and it's actually--

- okay okay okay.

No problem no problem.

- Okay, so just you
know, have fun with it.

- You know when you read something

and you think of it a certain way, right?

- Yes.

- And then, I'm not saying
you're wrong or I'm right.

I'm just saying like, it's
just surprising is all.

- Okay well I mean, when we
last time we talked about--

- Seeing Armani for the first
time here was surprising

and it's wonderful and
this part's wonderful.

Everything's wonderful.

- [Furio] Am I a perfect Armani?

- You're perfect.

- This look is really
really really different

from the look I usually got.

- Yeah you're a very handsome man usually

and you dress well.

- I really am.

- [Andrew] You don't like like Kappa?

(speaking foreign language)

- Kappa, it sucks.

(laughing)

I'm a real fashionistic guy
and this is an insult.

- So how outlandish do
you want me to be here?

Do you want me to like, be like yes!

- Oh no there is the fucking microphone.

- Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry.

I won't do that.

- And it's also not our place so,

let's not smash this.

- How long is this scene?

- Very long.

- Yeah.

- This scene is long yes.

So let's try to be just right, perfect.

- I'm Patrick and I'm
doing G-R-E-A-T, great.

Tony the tiger.

- When you say, let's
see, where do I start?

Where do I start, you take your phone

and you start playing with it.

Okay, and then after that

you do the whole scene with the phone.

- [Andrew] Where are we starting from?

- [Mathieu] At Jesus.

- I start yeah, yeah at Jesus.

Jesus and I begin.

- [Francisco] Okay.

Camera rolling, calling.

- [Marco] Roll one
scene eight H, take one.

- [Francisco] Mark it.

- [Marco] Action.

- [Mathieu] Jesus.

- It is just a job.

I report infringements.

- [Mathieu] And it's not like

you're drowning kittens in a lake,

probably just pissing off a geek or two.

- [Mathieu] What do you do?

- [Alejandro] Should we cut?

- I've not taken the phone--

- [Alejandro] No let's keep this going.

- Complaining time over.

We're gonna have him saying,

we're not comparing you
to Mickey Mouse.

When he says Mickey M...

You get up,

and you go like I'm not the fucking rat.

I am not a rat.

- [Andrew] And for the record,

no, I'm not comparing you to Mickey...

- I'm not a fucking...

- [Andrew] Okay I'm
gonna say the whole...

Don't cut, go, go go go.

- Alright let's just do
it again from start then.

- [Andrew] And for the record,

no I'm not comparing you to Mickey...

- I'm not...

- Armani's a bit disappointing but,

I guess he's not as good
as he thought he was.

- [Furio] Not in English.

(laughing)

- I said no complaining.

I'm saying now, I was
trying to motivate you.

- [Furio] I don't understand.

I don't understand.

- We're a team, please just chill.

They're gonna kick us out.

- So the team must cooperate.

He doesn't cooperate with me.

- And for the record,

no we're not comparing you to Mickey M--

- No man.

- No more, one more word man.

One more word.

- And I go out.

- You're looking like crazy, you know?

These are actors, these
are actors and they--

- No no no don't say anything.

Don't say nothing like that.

- No but you can't choose.

I mean, everything is being filmed

and you signed the release form.

So we agreed everybody.

- Marco please.

- You don't want to be
nuts, don't be nuts.

Oh take the phone man.

Bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch.

(laughing)

- Furio is [inaudible].

- I'm really fastidito [annoyed],
stop it, seriously.

- Okay okay.

- I'm really serious, really.

- Okay.

- And he's outside,

yeah, he felt all bad.

We were having a smoke together,

and he was feeling bad

and he was like I'm so
sorry, blah blah blah.

I'm like it's okay.

He's like I was getting
so angry for the scene

and then, and then...

He was trying to explain--

- Alright, day one I want
you to take this chair

and break it against the wall.

(laughing)

(laughing)

- [Marco] Okay slower, slower

and take some pauses too.

- From where Marco?

- [Marco] "I like Claude", well let's
do it again from there.

"I like Claude."

- [Mathieu] Yeah I know, are we ready?

- Yeah we're still rolling.

- Yeah I like...

I like Claude.

(foreboding music)
- The first few days

of the shoot, I had a
very very difficult time.

I was nervous because of my first scene.

And then we got there

and I never worked with
any of these people.

I mean, they've done a
few scenes the day before

with Furio only.

It was a bit unorganized up there.

A lot of it was one take
and then we would move on.

If there was no stumble in the lines

we would just move on.

I remember my close up

and so many things threw me off

after he said cut

I thought for sure that we
were going to do it again

but then he just moved on,

because we were pressed for time.

So it's understandable,

but that's something I really
wasn't used to you know?

Working at that speed and
under that much pressure

and that much chaos, and
that really got me down

and then there was a big
fight that broke out.

So I just had to leave.

I was panicking a bit

and I was wondering a little bit

what I'd gotten myself into.

Well I mean listen, at the end of the day,

I'm 23 years old.

I'm a young actor.

I'm an emerging actor.

I don't have a lot of
experience under my belt

especially not in film.

So I'm in no position to have any demands

or have any expectations
out of anybody else.

Coming here, it was hard because

you don't know who you're gonna work with,

and you know, at the end of the day

if somebody doesn't do their job right

it could jeopardize the whole project.

- Well I grew up in Mexico.

When I was 18 I moved to Canada

and then...

One year ago I went back to Mexico

and stayed there for a year

and I worked on a few projects there.

Just because it's so easy there,

and you have family and friends

and locations for free.

A lot easier.

I guess it's not the same here.

Like we don't know anybody here

and it's hard to get locations.

- Put the camera away?

- Hello.
- Hi.

- Marco?

- Put it behind you.

- If we ask people something

that might be like oh, stop
bothering our customers.

Get the fuck out.

We don't ask him.

Fuck it, you know, you want to be there?

- Okay I need actors to come with me

so we can book the, so we
can reserve these tables.

- Pressure.

Working fast. I like working fast.

This is the only way

people seem to be working fast so.

- Really nice view from there,

because we can see outside.

So that's good.

Master shot.

A few close ups, close ups

a slider and that's it

and may the Gods of guerrilla
filmmaking be with us.

- [Alejandro] I'll try and
catch you guys from the outside.

- You all get rabies now.

- [Marco] Alright so, we're
rolling we're rolling.

Action.

(jazzy cafe music)

- Go?

Beyond the mountains in
the north of the city

the rest of China centers and strains.

Two of you only.

Right, and action.

- The audio was terrible.

I mean terrible.

I mean, I was far away.

I had many interference,
a lot of interference.

The have music in the cafe.

So we're gonna probably
have to redo most of it.

This is just what I didn't want to do.

Anyway...

- Yeah, I'm glad we finished this.

I think it was a good lesson.

Here we had one hour and
we finished in one hour.

So it's good to have a limit.

- Well this was a lesson in
guerrilla film making people.

- [Mathieu] I think this was
my favorite setting.

- [Francisco] That was smooth.

- [Marco] Isn't this the
most professional crew

you've ever seen?

(laughing)

- [Andrew] Okay to the, to the...

- [Marco] To the mansion.

(laughing)

- And we were served by
a girl named Christie Ho.

Now Christie Ho is the best cashier

in the history of McDonald's.

She gave me a sundae and I
specifically asked for no nuts

and she gave me my sundae
with no nuts in it.

Christie Ho deserves a
raise to four Hong Kong

dollars an hour.

- Key, right here.

- Key, this is complicated negotiation.

- Fuck.

- Key is...

(explaining in foreign language)

- Okay I have just...

(yelling in foreign language)

- No absolutely not.

I'm having a great time.

Look at this nice pink sheets here,

and look at my slanted mattress.

You know, that's nice

and then I think a mouse
got to the foam here.

He told me it was a little bit fucking budget

when we were coming here

but he didn't warn me
like how budget it was

and even if he had told
me how budget it was

I would have still came,

but it was a very big shock when I

put that key in the door,
opened it, kicked open the door,

and I hit the fucking
bunk bed with the door

because it's so small

and then I'm sleeping
on a piece of plywood

with a fucking one inch fold mattress,

and I got it better than my co-actors

because they're sleeping on
a fucking piece of plywood

with a one inch slab of concrete.

Our cinematographer squashed
a cockroach this afternoon.

After it was crawling on his face

and I mean he's Mexican
so he's used to that

but that's not a big deal.

Being in another
location, going somewhere,

sleeping in a fucking six
foot by six foot room,

being able to shit while I take a shower.

Yeah, you know that is bonding you know?

Having Furio fucking
take a shit this morning

and then I wanted to go take a shower

and he's like, oh it does
not smell, it does not smell,

and I'm like bullshit Furio.

It smells like fucking greasy Italian.

That's what it smells like, and he goes

it does not smell, it does not smell.

It will go away.

I must go have a smoke,

and I go thanks you jerk.

So yeah it's bonding, absolutely.

There are some things at Hong Kong.

Another thing I find that about
Hong Kong that's wonderful

is that people obey the rules, you know?

When it say, when people
says go up this way,

up the stairs,

and it has an arrow pointing
up the stairs this way,

everyone follows that rule.

In Canada, if it had an arrow going

stay to this side of the

stay to this side of the
fucking stairway to go up

people just blatantly disobey

and everything's so organized here.

So, the Chinese are...

- You have to watch this.

- [Andrew] I did.

- That was a great introduction.

You see that Francisco?

- [Francisco] No.

- [Andrew] You can see some method

Chinese acting here.

(laughing)

- I gotta take some cues from them.

I thought my performance was off today.

Now I fucking see what I was doing wrong.

- We shot, I think it's scene number two.

So it's a lot of the first scenes.

We're just looking up at buildings

and admiring city, and then
we have a nice tracking shot

of Patrick and Eli

walking down the street

and then talking about Armani and Fah.

A beautiful tracking
shot thanks to Francisco.

- It was almost perfect.

(calm guitar music)
- It's a beautiful backdrop.

This city is bustling.

There's always something to look at here.

It's a beautiful place to shoot a film.

In a way it helps.

It really puts you in the setting

and it makes you feel a part of the city

because you're experiencing
it for the first time

and so are the characters,

and you're looking around

like wow I've never been here before

and this is quite amazing.

- We're lucky we're in Hong Kong

because the lighting here is really cool.

There's tons of lights everywhere.

Right now we're not lighting that much

we're just making the actors
stand where we have light.

- Hong Kong visually
is very interesting

and because the movie's kind of dry,

it's mostly just talking.

You need an interesting backdrop.

Hong Kong is like a giant set,

like wherever you go

you have something interesting to look at,

and all those colors which really helps.

- It's much easier to shoot stuff here.

You don't need permits.

You don't need all that paperwork,

you don't need to go
through so much hassle.

You shoot a scene in the
streets or on the subway.

We could never have
done something like this

in North America.

- I don't know if this is legal.

- [Documentarian] Do you think
we'll get in trouble?

- If they catch us I believe yes.

Well generally in all the
cities that I have been to

it's illegal to record
in the metro stations.

- Then he wouldn't...

- [Alejandro] Okay move
it, move it move it.

- [Francisco] Well we need the train.

- [Mathieu] Great.

- Sorry man.

Must be the meat.

- I like this.

Let's do it again though

because I, you barely see the train.

The train leaving is crucial.

It's my bad, I called it too late.

- [Documentarian] Are you in character now?

- No.

- [Documentarian] Too early?

- Too early?

Yeah, if I was in character,
I wouldn't be talking

or I'd be talking about philosophy.

(inspiration music)
- It's a story of this guy

who just gets stuck in life
and he just wants to disconnect

and he just wants to start
like from scratch,

but literally from scratch.

He wants to be surrounded with the people

he thinks he loves and he thinks love him

and he find that things
are not the same you know,

and it's like he crashes.

I think that everybody does.

Everybody has passed through

something like this in his life.

- It's long winded and
there's too much dialog

and there's too many pages.

I don't know how many people
he showed the script to but...

- [Documentarian] Did you enjoy
the script when you read it?

- I enjoyed certain aspects of it

and I thought that, you know,
certain things could change

because he was very open at
the time he said to having,

suggestions and I offered
certain suggestions

and he was not receptive to
those suggestions at all.

- No, you have to say
"It's just a role".

- Oh okay okay.

- It is just a role,

- [Andrew] What, being a rat?

- [Marco] "Is it"

- [Andrew] Marco, please.

- What "please"? I'm trying to say, you know--

- "Is it".

That is integral to the
success of the scene?

- Yes.

- No it's not.

- Yes.

- I'm not gonna take that.

- But if you forget it here...

- Because you're Shakespeare,
this is Shakespeare.

I have to fucking...

- I don't understand what's the problem

with saying "Is it", do you mind?

- Well you would say, in an argument

like we were going,

if I'm in a heated argument,
I'm calling him a rat.

I'd go, "of course I can".

What would you call it?

- But again this is not about a person.

This is about this character, you know.

- I don't think he got the script.

I think he read it with his ass.

I think he just learned it like, I don't know,

two weeks before coming here.

Which is true because we were rehearsing

and he didn't know the script.

I mean it annoys me.

Just because, I don't know,

because I'm young and I have no money

or maybe because I'm not paying them.

You know there isn't so much,

I mean it is from some people,
there isn't so much respect

as if you know, I'm just the asshole

and I don't think he would act like that

with a paying production, no?

And as far as I can tell,

they didn't choose between projects

and chose my project.

They just got it because
there was nothing else.

I had in mind like a more
intellectual kind of guy

and this guy is stupid as fuck

and he's playing him as stupid as fuck.

He's being loud you know,
when he should be subtle.

He's being loud you know,
when I say that you know,

just subtly mock someone

and he's just like you
know screaming insults.

Mathieu is doing more the
character I had in mind,

and even actually Furio.

Furio I think is doing a better
job, than Andrew.

Yeah he's doing well.

Yeah Andrew just has issues.

I don't think even
he wants to be an actor.

He's just the kind of guy that
just wants to be kind of famous.

He just wants people to know he's an actor

and just likes people
to think he's an actor,

but he doesn't really like to act.

I feel nice

(imitating guitar)

Like sugar and spice

(imitating guitar)

I feel nice
(imitating guitar)

♫ Like sugar and spice ♫

(imitating guitar)

- I feel bad because Eli's
supposed to be very excited

in this scene,

and I feel like I wasn't very excited,

cus I looked tired.

I hope it doesn't look like shit.

I'm not sleeping very well
at Chungking Mansions I think.

On the plywood mattress.

It's frustrating, I
feel like my best takes

I'm always off camera.

Whenever the camera's
on me I shit the bed.

(tranquil music)

I don't know when I exactly when I said

this is what I want to do
for the rest of my life.

It started with curiosity and then wonder

and then finally having
the courage to try it

and then from that

passion for it growing
and growing and growing.

I've been in a period
just before this film

where I didn't do much acting work

for several months in a row

and I think that's what make me realize

that I want to do this,
because I wasn't doing it

and there was something missing.

Why do I trust this crew?

What choice do I have?

(laughing)

But I do trust this crew now.

At the beginning, there
was no way of knowing.

I mean, that was the scariest part,

but you know, after a few days
I started believing in people.

I think it's obvious

that we have a talented
bunch of people here.

We have a very talented
technical team I think

and I really do trust them,

and again, I mean I think
you kinda have no choice

because if you don't trust
the people you work with

then you're not gonna
create something good.

- I had to quit my job to
come here and finish a play

and I was in a play as well
that finished right before this.

So I had to quit my job
to do both of those.

I don't know, nothing's perfect.

Ideally I'd just like to be rich

and not have to do anything.

That I can afford to come to
Hong Kong on my own money.

Who am I taking the plane ride with?

This man?

- [Marco] This man, and a girl

that's gonna take the documentary.

So at least the whole Canadian
group is coming together.

So you're responsible
to count yourself.

You know, make sure, get a buddy.

You know you're
responsible for your buddy.

- Absolutely.

This is the most like
characterish jacket I could wear.

Like you know what I mean?

Like, I didn't know what you want.

I don't have like a nice like suit.

- [Marco] No no that's good.

You don't need something too good

because if anything,

the other guy is supposed to be the one

who would wear something like that.

- So I'm more life a ragamuffin.

So then...

- [Marco] Yeah yeah, try wearing this.

- So we're looking at
a 24 hour plane ride.

Oh man eh, I've never
been on a plane that long.

I'm just gonna...

- [Marco] Oh but there's gonna be movies

and video games usually.

- Really?

I haven't been on a plane in a while.

- [Marco] Usually, because they...

- [Francisco] A screen there.

- [Marco] It's not the
shittiest company, I mean.

I would have gotten the
shittiest if it was available,

but it wasn't.

- I don't know, I wouldn't
have done this film

if it was set in Toronto.

I joined a website that
posts auditions for every

fucking student god damn piece
of shit film in existence.

Any asshole that wants to put
on a little bit of a movie

can put their little ad up

and you can go audition for them

and I went and auditioned
for horrid horrid things.

Horrid, horrid, horrid,

horrid, horrid, horrid, horrid, things.

All these people that
want to be film makers

makes me want to vomit you know?

And at first, I was interesting about

like going to Hong Kong.

Like what the fuck is going on here.

Like, what are you?

Hong Kong? Craziness.

And then you know, I met him in person

and he did one of the worst
pitches I've ever heard

a human being do.

Oh the movie is not much
happens and you know,

the characters.

It takes place in Hong Kong.

You really have to read the script,

and I was like okay...

But you gotta understand
this is back in August.

So in the past four months

I've seen a lot more

and I've done a lot of shit on my own.

So the novelty of getting
this gig wore off.

Besides, it doesn't make sense.

I can understand him not showing up but...

I don't know why he chose me.

I don't know what the caliber
of the other actors were.

I know that if he's fishing
in the dumpster for actors

that are willing to do this for free.

He's gonna get a lot of garbage.

If he wanted actors that
would have demanded some money

they would have blown me out of the water,

but they would have never done this.

They would have spat at him if he said

you get to come to Hong Kong

and pay your transportation

and your food.

Well they'd go (spitting)

Fuck you.

- [Marco] If you're good now

maybe we're gonna work
together another time.

- If I'm shit and an asshole

then we'll never do it again I guess.

- [Marco] Yeah or you know,

maybe you're just gonna
go to greater things

and you're gonna be beyond us mortals.

- Yeah right.

Alright let's do it.

- [Marco] Alright so just read your lines.

- So you're gonna be a
great father some day.

- [Alejandro] Okay this
is very important Furio.

Do not bend.

- [Furio] I have to sit down.

- Yes you sit, but do not do like this.

You're going to get up though.

- So nothing 69 this evening.

- Exactly.

- I can't breath very well.

- [Marco] It's okay, your
character doesn't breathe.

(laughing)

- Are you okay?

(laughing)

No seriously, are you okay?

- No I'm not okay.

- Why didn't you say anything?

- No, I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay.

I'm okay.

- It's not like...

- Water red eyes.

- It's because I'm laughing at you.

I am not cutting your
circulation or anything like that

now am I?

- Inculation?

- Circulation.

(speaking foreign language)

- Ah, circulation okay okay.

Circulation is never good like now.

Make everything you want.

I'm ready to...

Avenge my death.

- We're in the seediest
district of Hong Kong.

Oh it's gonna be a bitch

but, how great it is eh?

Oh that's the one.

This is great man if we can do it here.

See places like this is
why we came to Hong Kong.

What do you think?

Is it possible?

- I just don't know if
they're gonna kick us out.

If we just put the camera there

and just pretend like
we're taking pictures.

- I don't think we can just sit there

and like finish out food

and then just sit there and shoot.

It's so busy there they
gotta be like, okay next.

- Well we're gonna take
our time to eat food.

I don't know, we're gonna
order something else.

We can have...

If you haven't finished your food

Do they want you to get out, or no?

- Especially for foreigners.

- Oh.

- It's OK.

- Oh awesome, and we're not
going to be shooting a movie.

We're just gonna take pictures of ourselves.

- Yeah, if you say, not
taking a movie, that's OK

just pictures, photos

- Okay see?

- Let's say that.

- Let's say that then.

- Yes.

- [Alejandro] This is so funny man.

- It's not fun

- You're under arrest.

- Like a long black stick

coming out from between my legs like this.

- All the typical
restaurants of Hong Kong,

they wanted money.

I remember one guy that wanted $4,000.

So we decided to steal the shot.

- We didn't even tell
them we were shooting.

We just grabbed two tables, set up,

and then the way we're gonna do this scene

is probably the most
frustrating way to do a scene.

We were feeding each other lines.

So you'd have the camera close
up on somebody, on me say

and then the guy sitting next
to me, would have the script

right in front of him

and then he would just tell me the line

and I would say the line.

- [Mathieu] It's so good.

- It's so good!

- [Mathieu] I told you, have some wine.

- I told you, have some wine.

Yeah, you got that?

- [Marco] Again again again, sorry, again.

- Which line?

- [Marco] This one, someone
they're looking at the camera.

Tell them not to look at the camera.

- Who?

- I order just like a dish of
rice, nothing else you know?

And after we stopped ordering
and we went on shooting

and I start to feel very bad you know,

because I saw that behind the actors,

the owner of the restaurant
like was starting to get pissed

and he was forcing us to order every time,

and Marco was like every time
he complains just order a beer

and I was like dude, we are people.

Don't do this to the guy, you know?

Stop filming me because
the guy's looking at us.

- Oh Furio eating chicken.

Poor guy, he's got a moment in this scene

where he's got to eat a piece of meat

and go, yeah this is really good,

and Furio does not eat
anything apparently.

He's a very sheltered Italian boy.

- It's good, very good.

- So he would take the chop
sticks and put it in his mouth

and go, it's good, it was very good,

and then go (gagging)

spit it right back out.

(laughing)

And then Marco would be
like, we have to do it again,

and then Furio would go,
absolutely not!

I cannot do it again!

He didn't figure out that
he could fake chew the meat.

He could just put it on his tongue

and fake chew it.

I don't know if he's a method actor

but he insisted on
actually chewing the meat.

- It's good, very good.

- Ah, this is a piece of shit man.

- [Mathieu] You've seen it?

- [Marco] No but this is Garry Marshall.

She does all these romantic comedies.

They do make all of these
holiday movies now.

I think I'm an artist, not
that the sense that I'm great,

or that I'm brilliant
(tranquil music)

but I'm trying to say something

and I'm trying to put
a vision and realize it

and it might be bad.

It might be, you know,

but I might just have completely bad ideas

but at least I tried to make something

that I thought was good.

Which is more than most
studios are doing now.

They're just getting stuff
out and they know it's bad

because they think people have bad taste.

They think people have
no taste what so ever

and you can just cram
what ever piece of shit

in their throat and they're gonna get it.

They just try to play it safe
and they do the easiest thing

which is just to impose a
standard, a very low standard.

They are not making art.

They're just selling a product.

So they behave just like any
other brand making a product.

If it's easier to make
you know, slapstick comedy

and it's easier with a slapstick comedy

to make a lot of money,
that's what you're gonna do.

- [Andrew] He doesn't think all Hollywood
films are a piece of shit.

If some fucking guy offered him

to direct their Hollywood film,
I highly doubt he would go

"oh no, I'm gonna be a translator in Canada

living in my shitty basement".

You know, people get up
on these high horses,

but they don't mean it.

They're full of shit.

It's like the guys that say

oh I'd never sleep with a
girl in a one night stand.

Well that's because women

are not throwing themselves at them.

If they had a girl come
up to them at a bar

and say, you know, let's
go back to my place

and she was attractive,

you think in one second
those guys would say no?

And I'm not an artist guy.

I'm not pro art.

I don't want to be a starving artist.

What's the difference between
being a starving artist,

and being a starving stock broker?

It's the same shit.

Yeah art is artistic
expression and all that crap,

but you what?

At the end of the day, it's a
business like everyone else.

If it's just the art well
then sit at your home

and act in front of your camcorder.

- Hoop dreams, and Salesman.

- [Andrew] Grizzly man, Grizzly man.

- Salesman is really good.

- [Andrew] Oh yeah, yeah
yeah, you've seen that?

- Have you seen it?

- [Andrew] Yeah of course I've seen that.

I've seen that a bunch of times.

- Oh Glengarry Glen Ross that
was one of the best movies.

- [Mathieu] Oh what a great film.

- Though direction is not that great.

It's I don't know, it feels kind of like

it's on a stage.

Even the movie, the way...

- [Mathieu] It's a play right?

- Yeah but it feels
kind of like its err--

- [Andrew] Forrest Gump's another
one of my favorite movies.

- Oh man, Forrest Gump?

Come on, that's bullshit.

- [Andrew] That's an amazing movie.

- What's amazing about it?

- Tell me what point of the movie is,

what is the...

- [Andrew] It's just a wonderful story.

- [Mathieu] I love that movie.

- [Andrew] It's just a wonderful story.

- But it's completely unlikely.

- [Andrew] It's a wonderful Hollywood film.

You know, he's ignorant because
he comes from a small town

and you know, he faces a lot of adversity

because of his charm

and a lot of that he pulls through,

and I don't think it's realistic

and I agree with you that it's not real.

- One time George Bush Jr.
Had a speech in a university

and he said like, you know,

when I was a kid I wasn't very good.

They said I was a bit slow.

I wasn't getting the best grades

and I got in trouble with the police

and that shows you that you know,

you don't have to have the best grades.

You don't have to be that smart.

- [Andrew] You can still have a rich daddy.

- You can still make it in life.

That was the message it was trying to give

and that's the message that
Forrest Gump is giving.

You don't have to be--

- [Andrew] I don't think they
really tell you that message.

- But maybe not, but that's
why so many people like it,

because again, if it was
someone like that studied

or someone that worked hard

or somebody that was just
you know, more intelligent

or more educated,

maybe some people would have
liked it, but not as many

because they would have been like

oh this guy thinks he's better than me

but because he's kind of like
slow and naive and innocent.

Then you know, you can just
think like okay obviously--

- [Andrew] Why is that wrong?

- Because it's manipulating.

You're creating a character for a purpose.

- [Andrew] Every movie's manipulating.

- Suit.

These tailors man.

- Oh my...

How do they make money?

- Someone must stop.

Like, did I hear tailor?

Where were you?

- Suits.

Hashish, cocaine...

- Here's your suits.

How many grams of suit do you want?

- Yeah exactly.

- I'm excited for tonight.

Certain people of a certain descent

get drunk relatively easily,

and one and a half beers
and they're all flustered

and making bad decisions.

Back in Canada, I've done some crazy

and silly things on new years

and I've had more than one
and a half beers in me.

- Marco?

- What up?

- What time is like, return time?

- [Marco] I don't know,
don't come back after two.

- Yeah.

- Unless you're getting
crazy footage.

- You see...

Snakes on a plane?

- Snakes on the plane?

- Si.

- Snakes is, the snake yeah?

- Snake.

- On the...

- On the Aero, sul aereo.

- Snakes on the plane?

Why snakes on the plane?

- It's a movie.

So we have 12 days
left, 12 days left here.

You have three days.

Tre giorni.

- The most hard three
days of my life I think.

I'm so tired.

- [Documentarian] Why are you so tired?

- It's a sub human condition to work

this one.

You have to admit it.

- Yeah
- Fuck.

- So if we're a half an
hour late, what happens?

- It's green too, let's go.

- I met a nice girl
from Taiwan last night.

I think she expected us to buy her drinks

but I don't think she knew
who she was dealing with.

And I don't really blame them, I mean.

You do what you gotta do but,

you can't pull the wool over my eyes,

or if you can then you're really
really good at what you do.

I'd buy my mother a drink though,

but she does a fair amount for me

like cooks me dinner and

washes my feet.

♫ Heigh-ho heigh-ho

♫ It's off to work we go ♫

- Is this funny to you?

Grab it.

Oh fuck, man.

This is funny.

I've done a lot more grip work
than I have fucking...

I've done a lot more
production assistant work

than I have acting.

- I'm just so hungry man.

- Me too.

- I'm thirsty.

I'm telling you we should create a union

and demand for our rights,

our worker rights.

- We signed that shit away.

- Yeah but that shit didn't
say that we had to work

40 hours a day.

Bye bye Hong Kong.

♫ I believe that
my heart will go on ♫

- [Andrew] I'm king of the world!

- I'm already tired.

This fucking bag is,

I'm the delivery man.

A kiss to my fans.

- We need another one Alejandro.

♫ I need a hero ♫

(laughing)

- Yes, maybe I'll take off my shirt.

My chest had lots of chest hair here

and then it has a line that
goes down to my belly button

which further goes down to my genitalia.

- Andrew's showing you his penis?

Oh man, very classy guy.

Andrew, we have the poster for
the documentary ready.

- [Andrew] My testicles?

- Your testicles.

- I wouldn't dare show my penis.

That'd be vulgar.

- [Marco] Yeah that'd be childish right?

- Yeah.

- So...

- When?

- Ask the driver to take you to blah blah blah,

okay uphill now.

That way?

I had put an ad in Reddit

saying like if you guys
know somebody in Hong Kong

who has a restaurant or
whatever that can help us out

and then there's this girl
just offered us a place,

but in the beginning

I thought that she was very
like disorganized you know?

She say like, okay we'll
meet this day at the island

at 8:00 in the morning.

We were like okay, nice, perfect.

We got there and the bar was closed.

- 14 yeah?

- 14 yeah so this is it.

- It's this one?

- Yeah 14, yeah.

- Awesome man.

- No not awesome because it's closed.

- [Mathieu] We are late aren't we?

- 17 minutes, not much.

- [Marco] Do we leave a message?

- Yeah, is this still happening?

We're here, please call us asap.

- Hi Kirsten it's Marco.

We're just us here

so can you give us a call or
just come down to the beach.

Thank you, bye bye.

(tranquil music)

- Now I can keep
from morning to night.

- Oh man, there's always something, no?

- Yeah well I have...

- Come on.

(exasperated sighing)

- Armani relaxing time.

- [Andrew] Make-a sexy time.

- No, another time.

If I can't become a great
actor, I'll become a porn actor.

Porn actor.

- [Andrew] Porn actor.

(speaking foreign language)

- How do you say?

- Cinema.

- No but, adult cinema.

- Man his Italian is really
getting on my nerves.

Stop Andrew stop it.

You're putting me in a bad
mood with your Italian.

- [Furio] Hey I'm not stupid
to like the Italian language.

- [Marco] Oh say it man,

you were saying... you
make fun of my English.

- I never make fun of your English.

- [Marco] You make fun of my accent.

- I've made fun of your accent maybe once.

- Well yeah, not making fun...

It's really annoying...

- Why because I'm trying to talk to him?

- Even his English is annoying

- So then what's the problem?

- His English is more
funny than your Italian.

- Well no because you're a
prick so shut your mouth.

I'm tired of this shit.

- And not that attitude man, what is this?

- I have no attitude.

- Well you just called me a prick.

- Well you are being a prick.

That's a fact that's not an insult.

- Wow that's not a fact.

I mean you're the one that's
showing me no respect.

- Oh right.

- We are having a private chit chat.

- Private chit chat.

- Yeah.

I want an apology.

- [Marco] I want an apology.

- For what?

- [Marco] You called me a prick.

- You are being a prick.

You're being a jerk to me.

- Well am I being a jerk?

I don't think you're cooperating.

- [Andrew] I was ready this morning

before anybody.

I'm cooperating, I had my
lines better than anybody

so don't give me that.

- I'm saying you made fun of
me, you made fun of everybody

- Who did I make fun of?

- You make fun of everybody.

- Who?

- You talk shit all the time

and I'm saying it's fine
- [Andrew] No I don't.

No I don't talk shit.

- You talk shit all the time.

You talk shit all the time.

Come on, you talk shit and it's fine.

- I'm not saying talk shit.

- Who do I talk shit?

- Okay maybe, I'm saying
you joke all the time.

- So?

- And I joke too.

- No you don't, you're not funny.

- Alright, and you're not funny either.

- Well I am funny.

- Oh that's what you think.

- I have a lot of people that
testify to me being funny.

- You're 29 years old and
you behave like a child

so be quiet.

- No I mean, first of all
stop giving this attitude

because as far as I know,
I'm still your boss.

- That's great.

- Yes.

Because I mean, just because I'm 29

and you know, you don't have to
treat me like an asshole.

- Well you are being an asshole to me.

If I want to speak Italian to him

I have every right to do so.

- Well then I have every right to say

that you sound bad, because I mean--

- You are right.

I do sound bad.

I do sound horrible, but I
have the right to practice

and his English, he wants
to practice with me.

So I have every right.

- Well I mean, you can do
it whenever, but I mean now

because we're not here for your holidays.

- Nope we're not, but we're
not shooting right now and why?

I don't want to get into that, but...

- Why are we not going to get into that?

- Well I think it's clear.

- Why is it clear?

Why are we not shooting?

Because I'm a bad organizer?

- Yeah.

- You want to help?

Yeah, you want to help?

- No no.

- Do you want to help organize,

because you're such a team player.

- Why would I?

Then drive yourself to the airport.

I haven't done anything for you.

- Oh man come on.

- I haven't done anything for you.

- Look I mean, every
time we had to rehearse

you came late.

You find like my aunt
is having a birthday.

That stuff, I mean that stuff
is really unprofessional.

You come, you don't know your lines,

you yawn all the time
when we were rehearsing.

- I don't think that's true.

I have to chase after you to rehearse.

I have to email you going,

Marco what's going on?

What ever happened to you?

- Don't go into that because
you're really pissing me off.

- Well it's true.

I wanted nothing but
the best for this film,

but I have to deal with your bullshit.

- No I have to deal with your immaturity.

- I am not immature.

- Well okay that's what you think man.

- Take my perspective
then you might disagree.

- I think your perspective...

I take a lot of people's perspective,

but I don't value yours enough
to fucking internalize it.

- See, so see, you show no respect at all.

- Not now, not now.

- No never, never, never show respect.

- Calm down, we are all friends.

We are here to make the movie.

It's important to play the
relaxed environment is...

- Yeah that's fine.

- Okay.

Well okay then, I mean...

- And you make, everything
to make the environment

not relaxed.

- Well you know what he is?

Get this on camera.

It's he's stressed about his own thing.

He's angry, and I find
that he's not someone

that brings up the energy
or makes things happier.

You know, I'll be
laughing about something.

Saying oh, I'm king of
the world, being whatever.

Just goofing around on the boat.

Oh no you're not.

You're constantly you
know, a negative guy.

- You're just constantly annoying.

You really annoy me,
you annoy me.

I mean honestly--

That's okay, that's okay,

but you don't be a baby and
just do stuff like that.

- Well let me tell you, you annoy me.

- Okay, say that.

- Then try to keep a sober attitude.

Because that annoys me.

- Fine, fine.

Then why don't you come
and tell me that to myself.

You know, we can talk privately.

- Okay then I mean, I'm
saying when we're away.

- No, so you say it in front of everybody.

It has to get to this point.

That's a good leader.

- Alright well, just
make a good scene okay.

- Yeah sure maybe.

- Yeah maybe...?

- I don't know if I want to anymore.

- Yeah that's mature right.

- Right.

- Well I mean, you're the
one that is gonna suck.

- I don't give a shit.

- Yeah right, that's mature.

That's mature.

- Get me a scene to act in and maybe.

- Get me a scene to act?

I mean, do you think that I like this?

Like, are you helping?

Is this a team player attitude?

- Oh it was.

- [Andrew] Stop this, this is like...

(laughing)

- I was gonna say that.

- Suck each other's dicks.

- Hand job all around, it's gratitude.

- In a circle.

- Because she didn't arrive on time.

- I am so sorry.

- Let me open up.

- No worries.

- It's okay.

- That's how we do.

What can we do, eh?
We just have to swallow...

- [Mathieu] Cheers.

(glasses clanging)

- [Marco] Yeah, do we have something dark

that we can hang or something?

- I am not good with manual works.

Why he asked me to do this?

- I walked away.

I saw the beginning,

and then I went by the
beach with Francisco.

- From now on, I'm gonna
keep my opinions to myself

and let's pretend everything is fine.

So at least we get nice shots.

I mean I can't risk that anymore.

So everybody all of the time,

I'm gonna be like yeah,
good job, well done!

You know, that's what they
do in Hollywood.

They just full of shit.

Then I guess that's how I'm gonna become.

You know, just become like
an asshole and always smile.

So everybody's happy doing their job,

because then obviously
they're not mature enough

to do what they're supposed to do.

- This just reeks of so much bullshit.

- Hey take it easy man.

If you have to be pissed at somebody
it should be Fah.

- Oh he'll get his fair share
of abuse when he gets here.

Right now I'm gonna let exchange have it.

- [Furio] My name is Armani.

- How angry should I be when I say

that's what I said?

- [Marco] That's not angry.

That's more like ironically,
like that's what I said,

because you're kind of mocking him.

- That's what I said.

I have had a lot of issues
in the past working jobs

in restaurants and stuff

because my bosses have their
own insecurities and stuff

and when they see someone
that they deem a smart alec

like myself, it doesn't gel well.

They think I'm a piece of shit.

They think that I'm anti authority

and that I don't respect them,

which is not necessarily the case.

That's just me you know?

And I said to Marco when we
were having a bit of a tiff,

you're not gonna change me

because I've weighed the pros and cons

and some people will like me

and some people won't like me

but I'm prepared to deal with that

because if everyone likes you

then you're doing something wrong

and if everyone doesn't like you

then you're also doing something wrong

but I fall maybe 60%
people like me, 40% don't

and I'm fine with that.

Some people want 80, 90%

but there's certain
sacrifices you have to make

to have that many people like you

and I'm not prepared to
make those sacrifices

because I'm a little bit stubborn.

- Camera rolling.

Audio rolling.

OK so roll one, scene six A, take one.

(clipboard clacking)

- [Marco] And action.

- Questa? [This one?]

- No.
- One or four.

Where are we going?

- There is an explorer
who is lost in the desert.

From a days, a lot of days.

He's dying because he has
no food, no water, nothing.

Before to die, he'd like
to have a last time sex,

but there are no womans.

So he had only his old female camel.

Better than nothing.

He put down his pants. Is right pants?

- Yeah.

- Take a...

and at the last moment, the camel moves,

and he goes...

(speaking foreign language)

- he hits a rock?

- He hits a rock.

He try more and times,

but at the last moment,
the camel always moves.

(speaking foreign language)

- Suddenly.

- Suddenly, he saw a beautiful woman

totally naked, who run, followed by a lion.

He takes a shotgun, pow pow,

shoots and he kill the lion.

The beautiful woman comes to him.

You're my hero, I make everything for you.

You saved my life.

He thinks a lot and tell her,

keep my camel firm.

(speaking foreign language)

- Keep my camel steady.

- Keep my camel steady.

(laughing)

It was not funny?

- No.

- No funny?

- [Natalia] How did it go?

- Another day of drama.

Fucking Andrew complained before.

(laughing)

- [Natalia] What?

- [Alejandro] How did it start?

- Oh because he was talking
crap in Italian again,

and I told him like, man I
can't stand your Italian anymore

and he just got so offended
and he starts to insult me.

If he was just, you know, talking to me

and there was no movie involved,

I would just, yeah man, beat
the shit out of this guy.

Obviously no, I'm everybody's bitch.

I can't do shit.

So I just have to pretend
everything's fine, we're friends,

but we're not.

You pissed me off from the beginning.

He does a decent job with his role

because I mean, he
has to play an asshole

and he's an asshole so...

Well we just have to mount it

and just put it there

as if it was one their
toys that they leave there,

for like 10 minutes, just
so we can take some shots.

Come on, are they coming man?

This lady said she's help

but I have to buy these fucking
spoons, that were like 70 bucks.

- Look in a bit of a trance.

You're really, captured by these penguins.

- The penguin scene, oh man.

The penguin scene.

Well, the movie opens with a close up

of this little penguin
toy, this little slide.

These penguins go up the stairs

and then they slide, and
then they go up the stairs.

You can't interact with this
toy at all, it's useless.

It's not even a toy, it's a decoration.

- This is our movie.

- There were so many tourists and locals

just gathered around

because we've got three cameras

pointing at this little stupid toy,

you know, these little
penguins and people.

Like what is with this toy?

Why, why are you taking
pictures of this toy?

They couldn't figure it out

and then I'm sitting
there just mesmerized,

taken away by it.

You could just tell they're
all looking at me like,

is this person just
not understanding this?

Like is he just stupid?

Like, what's he looking at?

You know, it's interesting
to shoot in the streets

and the chaos of that.

You get a lot of weird looks.

You really have to get over yourselves

and forget about what you look like

and forget about what people think

because they can't help but be intrigued

by what we're doing.

- [Marco] Go down, awe.

- Because we didn't have a lot of time

and Marco was just rushing

and he looked really stressed.

He was trying to fix a penguin
and it wasn't working out

and he was just like shaking the penguins.

And then he wanted to change the frame.

So instead of asking
me to change the frame,

he just took the camera and moved it.

Yeah, some people don't
work well under stress.

- Hey, everybody likes the penguins.

- [Mathieu] Well hurry.

Those penguins man, assholes.

Can we just make it seem like
they're stuck, like this?

- But I like to see that they're kind of...

This thing should be moving.

- Well shit man.

- What if you take this off?

- I was laughing because I was just like,

it was just funny because
the kind of guy Marco is,

he's very like antsy.

Like he's in a million places at once.

You've got so many things
going on in his head right?

And he was trying to make
the one penguin stuck.

You know, he just couldn't figure it out

and he kept dropping it on
the floor and kicking it away

and oh man, and in my
head I just feel like,

why didn't you figure this
out at the hotel room?

(laughing)

- Well they were working too well.

They weren't getting stuck.

Which is what they're not supposed to do.

They're supposed to be
going smoothly up the stairs

and then go on the slides,

but when I got them stuck.

They were stuck.

- Actually I have never
seen him not being stressed.

I cannot read him, you know, at all.

Sometimes you think he's
joking but he ain't.

Sometimes you think he's serious

but he's laughing you know?

I mean, I cannot tell you
if I have seen him stressed.

I cannot even tell you
if I have seen him happy

or sad, or pissed, no.

- As it is now, it's interesting.

I like the way it's coming
out but it is not fun.

It's just too stressful.

But yeah I don't know,

it would just be nice to
have a producer I guess.

Someone that is in charge of

having the schedule,

making sure everything cost
enough money and we have it.

Making sure everybody shows up.

Making sure everything works,

because now there's too many things to do,

and because of that the performers suffer

because I can't direct people too much,

and then people are also
not cooperative and anyway.

It's getting the best, to be the best

with even these circumstances.

- I don't know.

Just have a walk, I cannot
stand this smell of beef, man

it's terrible.

- I don't know, man, it depends.

- No you can go, but.

- No no no, well we have to

check those things on the ADR.

- [Marco] Let's just check Furio quickly.

(laptop voices)

- [Marco] That's the one in the bar, no?

- Yep.

- I really want an egg Mcmuffin.

- [Alejandro] The Big Mac is on sale.

- Is it?

So is Mussolini all ready?

- Looking for a place.

I don't know, in the
middle of nowhere I guess.

- [Andrew] So you scoped this
location out eight weeks ago?

- Last year.

- Trying to make a feature
movie in like three weeks?

That's a lot and with no funds.

So I think everybody's
holding up pretty well.

- [Marco] So yeah, how's
Asian Christmas anyway?

- Actually I didn't spend Christmas here.

I only spent boxing day,

which is also a holiday in Hong Kong.

- So how's Asian boxing day then?

- Well I don't know, I was
still pretty jet lagged.

So my mind wasn't that sharp.

- Sounds good.

- [Mathieu] Master or close up?

- [Marco] Master now.

- Oh my god!

- Oh my god!

(screaming)

- Dude, what's wrong with you?

- I need to fucking
get out of this place.

- [Marco] And slowly walk toward that way.

- When you have no free
time, you eat nothing.

- Maybe the walk.

And then, no actually, the spot itself.

It's a very noisy place.

Like they're drilling on, fixing
cars all the time you know?

It just makes my stuff a little
bit harder, a lot harder.

I believe that he should have seen first

where we were coming, before coming.

- My name is Armani.

(drums and harmonica music)

- What?
(laughing)

- We're switching hostels,
to a yeah, to a much

cleaner more civilized
and beautiful place.

I'm not sure about that.

- It's better.

I don't feel like a king,
but I feel like a prince.

- The mattresses feel like
they're actually mattresses.

That's the real stuff.

No styrofoam for us here.

- Before it was like, you know,

very few selected people
were working in movies,

and they were making a shitload of money.

Now everybody's gonna be working then,

but there's not gonna be
as much money as before.

They might not even make any money at all.

- [Andrew] If you think in the sense

that everyone can have a
freedom of expression but,

I haven't seen the quality of work.

- But of course, but
if you give a camera to

a million people you know, like 900,000

are gonna film their cat

or they're gonna film their ass farting.

That's obvious, but then you're gonna have

at least 100,000 people
making something good.

When before maybe,

you only had five people
making something good

and you know, because
they were the only ones

that had access to it.

So now you have to swim
through a sea of mediocrity,

but then you can find something decent.

- [Andrew] I think that it
used to be better before

back in the day, it was more like sports.

If you're the best, you know,
you get the biggest paycheck,

you get the best.

In film making I feel that

if you worked hard enough back in the day

I felt the work spoke
for itself a little more.

- Then why did someone
like Wells you know,

died almost in poverty, and
he was like you know, a genius

and he made some of the best movies.

It wasn't just about that
because it's an industry

and it's about money.

Back then especially, you
weren't just supposed to be good.

You were supposed to
be good and make money.

- [Andrew] I listen to a lot
of music and all this shit

and I just don't hear...

- Oh but obviously there
is more shit than before.

There is more shit than before.

Because most people don't have talent,

but the few people that have talent,

that didn't have a chance before,

are gonna have a chance now.

(speaking foreign language)

- On a scale one to 10, I give
it about a three and half.

I guess my favorite scene,
I don't really know.

I guess I don't have one.

But I'll be happy when it's over.

- He's looking for a location.

Now.

He cannot hear me complaining

because you come here with
a camera like a paparazzo

I don't know, like half
an hour, more or less.

Not sure.

Maybe more.

(tranquil music)
- I just can't justify

the way we shot.

I can't help but feel resentful,

when I feel my time's being wasted,

and not being wasted in the sense that

circumstances beyond our
control, like the weather,

but really just going to a place

and having us wait around
while you go scope a scene

that you don't even know
where it's gonna be.

It's just that I really
became very resentful.

You get warmed up, you'd
have the lines going

and then you'd be
waiting around for hours.

You know, he's always
justifying whatever he does.

Why should I plan in advance?

Why should we have a
location scouted beforehand,

so we know where we're
going and we can do this,

chop chop you know?

It makes sense to go and
have you guys wait around,

but at least have an idea.

We went to a lot of places just blind.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- Alright, let's go.

- It wasn't, you know, at 4 o'clock

we're gonna be there

and everything's gonna be ready to shoot.

No, I mean I had to go there at four

and look for the best spot

and I think I was pretty good at it,

because you know, it's
not like we went there

and we walked for hours
looking for a place.

We went there, maybe half an hour,

maybe an hour when I was really slow,

and then I was like: that's it.

That's the scene and that's
how this scene is gonna be.

I think if shoot guerrilla
style you have to do that.

You really have no choice.

In a way it's better because

it's the location that sets up the scene

and not vice versa and
that makes it realistic

but on the other hand,
you can't really pre-plan.

You plan in like five seconds.

Okay we're gonna go from there to there.

You're gonna have to do
this and this and this.

If I just had a stage

I would have to say you know,

I would want the set to look like

this and this and this and
this and this and this,

but when I come here,
it's Hong Kong telling me

how the scene is gonna look like.

That influences me,
it gives me more to work with,

everybody's an extra,
everything adds to the realism.

It's kind of like you know, the
French Nouvelle Vague from the 60s

when people just went to
Paris and started to shoot.

- Yeah.

- [Marco] We like traffic,
we like challenges.

- OK stay on the left then

but then turn on the
right on the second one.

Cars are gonna be coming all the time,

but as you can see people
walk, they carry shit.

So we should be able to walk too.

Okay scene seven A take four.

(clipboard clacking)

- Oh lonely Saturday afternoons,

They still filled with shame and regret?

(intimate calm music)
Today we shot

a very very long tracking shot

though the streets, through traffic,

though all these locals walking around

in a very very busy part of town.

To do a full scene like that,

I mean like no cutting

and just you get into
the flow of the scene

and it's really fun

and you're on location.

There was nothing staged,
we didn't have extras,

we didn't have nothing.

We're the only two people that are fake.

It was us two and the camera.

Everything else was real.

You know, everything else is Hong Kong.

It's the streets of Hong Kong.

With Francisco on steady cam

and Marco and Alejandro
dodging into places

and trying to stay out of frame

and that was cool.

I absolutely loved that.

- This was like a fucking nightmare.

I mean we had to like duck

so we wouldn't get into the frame.

Move people away.

I mean we've been doing it
for like a couple of weeks now

but not for eight minutes,

and not in the busiest road.

So that was quite something.

I mean, that was fun.

- Yeah.

- The background looks fucking great.

- Good.

I almost...

I thought a couple of times

that those were the
last moments of my life

because there was like
a huge truck coming.

The camera was in front of me

and I didn't know what to do,

but anyway, I survived.

- You know, I get resentful

because I feel like

I'm gonna look like an asshole on screen.

The sound guy, you know, he
can hide behind the sound

and months later work on the
sound and make it beautiful.

The camera guy, well he
hides behind the camera

and as long as whatever
he's shooting is pretty,

he doesn't give a fuck,

but us, you know, I'm looking
like an asshole on screen

because I'm dodging out of
fucking the way of some shit.

Not knowing what I'm doing

and you're the guy that
everyone's laughing at.

You know, you're the face of this film.

- [Marco] You weren't supposed to shave here though.

- I did shave, touch it.

- Yeah, you weren't
supposed to shave there.

- Oh...

- Oh god dammit.

- No comment.

- I think you're in trouble.

- One of those times, which
was about three days ago

you said for that particular
scene leave the beard.

Okay, now I don't understand
what days I've shaved.

- [Marco] Well why didn't you ask then?

- But you said shave, you said shave.

So I've never since you've known me,

ever came to your place
with a goatee or anything.

- Can we make him look like he has...

I don't know, like a pencil or something?

- So we are putting eye liner

on Andrew's face,

because he shaved a
little too much off today,

and it's not consistent with the shots.

- We had talked previously
about being clean shaven,

and I was clean shaven the first day.

I asked him the next day,

I said what do you think?

And I think he was just...
his mind was preoccupied

he said, yeah yeah, and I had scruff.

I just wanted to know in advance

and at no point was it
clear what was happening

and maybe I should have

made more of an effort to
figure out what I was gonna do,

but I was pissed because you know,

he would wait until the last minute

and then I'd get all this irritation

because I'd be shaving without anything.

I'd be shaving on the fly

and I'd get all itchy and
shit and I was pissed.

You know, it's something
childish to get pissed about

but you know, things like that compound.

It's like in a marriage
when people are pissed off

about someone squeezing

from the middle of a toothpaste tube

and that's what sets it off,

but there's so many underlying issues.

- Do you want to see it?

- No.

I don't care.

I just say the lines, you know.

To me it's pretty inconsequential.

(laughing)

- No spitting here, but here it's okay.

- [Marco] Can you buy one?

Can you buy one, what do you think?

Let's go to Yau Ma Tei, we'll see there.

Where are they?

Hey where are you?

We're in front of the
station, Mong Kok.

- I believe waiting is the thing
we have been doing the most

in this trip, even more
than shooting, waiting.

Waiting, waiting...

- But that's what film making's about.

- No it is not what film making's about.

It is a lazy director.

That's what a lazy director's about.

Film making is about waiting on the set,

not waiting for somebody to go to the 7-Eleven

without even telling the others
that he's going to the 7-Eleven.

That's not what film making's about.

- Yeah yeah, we probably should.

Alright come on, maybe we can find him

before the celebration starts.

And then they start walking

and I guess we stop at
the end of the corner.

- I don't know.

You know, I'm pretty good at
analyzing the situation

and knowing what the problem is.

Because I can say, oh well

I'm frustrated but this is film making.

Hurry up and wait is basically it.

- Very boring.

I guess I'm just not excited enough

to be doing what I'm doing right now.

- It's in you know, everybody's interest

to make the best movie you know?

It's not like you know,
Gene Hackman doing Superman.

You know, he has a lot of money.

He's just doing it because
he wants more money.

He doesn't give a shit about the movie.

These people need, just as I do,

they need recognition.

They need this movie to be good.

- I don't feel good you know, it's...

When you play Street Fighter

and the fighters have like their life

or their blood or whatever,

I'm like almost at the end.

That's how I feel, like I'm almost done.

(station intercom announcing)

♫ Everybody

♫ Yeah

♫ Rock your body ♫

- It's gotten to that point.

- [Alejandro] Doesn't
it look nice like this?

- We're here, we have nothing else to do.

Why not do it?

- [Andrew] And we spent
40 minutes coming here.

Think of the content of the scene.

He's talking about being alone,

wanting to get away from everything,

starting a new life.

- [Marco] Okay you're just finding excuses

because you want to do it now,

but it doesn't work.

- [Andrew] No I don't think...

- I'm not finding excuses

because I want to do it now.

I definitely believe that

at this very moment the city's ours.

We can go in the middle of the street.

We can have like the
shot of the whole city.

Absolutely beautiful man.

It's like there you have Hong Kong.

- [Marco] Yeah but it wouldn't make sense.

Like why would the city be empty?

The scenes were you want quietness.

That's the island scene.

That's why it's there.

It's to give a contrast
with all the busyness.

- Alright guys let's go home.

Good day today.

- I have 200 Hong Kong
dollars in my pocket,

and I think 80 Canadian

and that's it.

You can tell me whatever
explanation you want,

but my pocket is getting empty

and once it is empty,
I cannot move anymore.

So it's better that we
just start thinking about

how to spend the money.

How do you feel about
spending 10 more dollars man?

- [Francisco] I don't have money.

- [Marco] I can give you 10 dollars both but,

we go there, and we do it right.

I mean, it's not about
doing it half-assed.

- I don't want to skip
it because I'm lazy.

I'm sorry but you're
making it sound like that.

- Not it's not about lazy.

- I mean, if there is
somebody who has been working

after you in this film.

- It's like me.

- [Marco] I'm not implying that.

I'm just saying that this shot might work,

but it doesn't work as well.

- I understand but it doesn't work as well

that I have no money you know?

- [Marco] Okay well, I'll pay
the 10 bucks for the other...

- So all I gotta do is complain

and I'll start getting money too?

I mean, I'm just as broke as these guys.

- [Marco] Yeah but, you
haven't worked as hard as he did.

- Oh okay, so now then
maybe I should just,

I don't work hard at all.

- Okay then let's fuck it.

I just won't shoot anything.

Let's do more blackmailing no?

- [Andrew] No.

- Well yeah, it was that.

I mean, you've been giving troubles, no,

they've been helping

and he's been helping since
before the movie started.

- How have I been trouble?

For the camera, what have
I done to be difficult?

Go ahead.

What have I done?

- I mean just in general.

I mean if I say something
you get offended.

If I say let's do this
shave, you get offended.

- I don't get offended.

I get irritation.

So I say, can I know in the morning

what the shaving situation
is gonna be like?

You won't do that.

- Alright well anyway--

- Anyway, you always have an excuse,

and you can just say, you know what?

You're right.

From now on, I'll try and do that,

but you don't say those things.

You never do.

- Right, well you never
take responsibility

for your actions either.

- [Andrew] I take responsibility
for everything I do.

- Okay, well anyway this is too long.

- [Andrew] But then I'll
shave, and I'll shave it all.

- No can you just trim it a bit?

- [Andrew] I don't have a trimmer.

- [Marco] Okay well then
we'll just paint it on.

- I'm not gonna paint nothing on my face.

That's ridiculous.

I look like a fool.

- Oh man.

- He refuses to show vulnerability

or admit that he's wrong
(somber music)

and it shows a lot of strength
in a person I feel to admit

when they're wrong.

People are forgiving on the most part.

If you said, look guys I fucked up.

You know, I thought it was the
right decision at the time.

Most people go, well fuck
I can't fault you for that,

but it's when you fuck up

and everyone knows that
you know you fucked up,

and you still just
won't admit it you know?

- Do you think
that's affected your acting?

- Absolutely.

Absolutely, it made me hate him.

It made me fucking hate him.

- [Francisco] Okay I'm rolling.

- [Marco] Scene, four issues take four.

(clipboard clacking)

- So how's Asian Christmas anyway?

- [Marco] It's just annoying
having to argue with people.

I mean, don't you agree

that this scene looks
better today than yesterday?

Yesterday was really kind of dead,

but everybody was like, it's fine.

It can still kind of work.

Oh you know, you're just being difficult,

being picky, and it's like
now it just looks better

and everybody can agree it looks better.

I'm just trying to serve the movie here.

All these scenes that people
don't want to reshoot,

all these scenes that people
said they're perfectly fine.

You know, it works anyway.

Why are you being so difficult?

When they're gonna see the finished film,

they're gonna be like oh,
those scenes are really nice.

I'm so glad we did it again.

Right?

- You know what?

I feel very good because

I feel like I got a
big hemorrhoid removed.

(laughing)

There's a couple more hemorrhoids
that I need to get removed

but those will be removed
in the next couple days.

(laughing)

- It's transferred now?

- Yeah.

Give me 10 minutes.

(exasperated sighing)

- Can you?

Thank you.

(razor buzzing)

- [Mathieu] That's it?

- [Francisco] That's it.

- I don't think you're gonna
be able to see the difference.

- These are the details
that make or break a film.

(laughing)

That guy, his beard is longer today!

We're not watching this movie.

You're disqualified from Sundance.

(laughing)

- [Andrew] It's done.

- Hmm?

- [Andrew] It's done.

- Is it?

- [Andrew] Yeah.

- I think it looks different.

Come and see the shot.

- [Andrew] I don't need to.

We are charging the hair trimmer

and we tried already but it died.

So within the next few minutes

it should be back in action.

- Alright awesome.

- [Andrew] Yeah.

- You want the movie to be stupid?

You know, this is supposed to take place

one split second afterwards,

and we have a huge close up of you,

and we can see your beard.

So it's not just you know,

me being picky about you know,

door handle in the background.

It's like a close up of you.

- [Andrew] I know.

- Yeah, so let's get it right.

- [Andrew] Oh of course.

- It's not working.

(razor buzzing)

- You all have been very hostile.

for the most part.

Most of you have been hostile.

- That's how you feel?

- No no, that's not how I feel.

That's a fact.

They just snapped I guess,

which is fine but

they take it against the
movie and black mailing.

- What do you
think made them snap?

- Because it's hard, it's a lot of work.

It's stressful.

The group got...

got together sharing the hatred for me.

So if anything now, the
crew is more compact.

Everybody is friends with each other.

I just think it's unfair because

if you have a problem personally

you shouldn't take it against
the movie and black mail

and damage the movie in any way

which is what you're doing
and I think it's very stupid.

Every suggestion I got
was to work less,

or to make scenes easier,

not to make the movie better.

I never heard something like

oh it's you know...

Let's make it more challenging.

Let's make the scene a
different way, which is harder.

It's always been like, it's okay.

It's good enough.

Two weeks of hostility is nothing

compared to two years of
grief, getting this movie done.

- So it's making you very angry.

- I mean, it makes me angry at the moment,

but it's OK, in the end
it's the movie that counts.

(somber jazz)

- The minute that camera wrapped

I was happier than a pig in mud,

because I owe him nothing anymore.

Looking back I feel very
sad about my performance

and there's no one really
to blame but myself.

You can blame other people
but it's really all on me

about how I performed but,

I'm a little disheartened.

You know, I think I did some good work

but for the most part I had
no idea what I was doing.

I was like shaving in the dark.

I feel like shit

because I just don't like looking

like a piece of shit on screen.

You know, I just want to be
done and I just want to go home

and never look back really.

Maybe I won't be as
angry in a month or so,

but I don't know what's gonna happen.

So I'm scared a little bit.

- The last scene.

At least the movie's pretty much done.

- So the last
scene is with Mathieu?

- Yep.

This time there's full masters

and then close ups and details.

As if they were looking at him.

When it rings, you cannot look at it

and at this point you kind of look around

and someone is looking at you.

Like now, just as they're looking now.

Actually if you can get
the shot of this guy

that would be awesome.

- [Marco] It looks good though.

- Oh awesome.

- [Mathieu] That's actually pretty great.

(happy calming music)

- Yeah like just knowing
you know, I made a movie.

I don't know, even just the
idea that I made a movie.

It's something that kind of
makes me feel a bit of warmth

because it's like, ah, it's
something that I wanted.

I remember I would watch
like a Z grade movie

about I don't know.

Monster from Venus and whatever
and it was a piece of shit

and you would read, you
know, the director's name

and I would be like whoa,
but this guy made the movie.

It's a piece of shit but
you know he made the movie.

It's like when you're in high school

and you know, then the guy
that managed to have sex

and it was like whoa, you
know, this guy had sex.

So this guy made a movie.

So for me it was always like ah,

I just wish you know,
I could make a movie.

- Is this the last...?

- Actually no, because I
thought about another one.

- Actually!

- We might do another one.

- [Alejandro] Okay the
one before the last scene,

take one.

- In many ways making movies

is a bit like losing your virginity,

because you really want to do it

and you think you're the shit

and you think you have
everything figured out,

but then you go there and you
realize you don't know shit,

and it's harder than you think

and it's not as pleasant

and you're gonna see a lot of blood,

but the good thing is that you know,

you want to make it more and more

and you want to do it again

so that you know, you can wash away

the disappointment of the first time

and that maybe eventually
you're gonna become good at it,

or you know, you might
just be so disappointed

by the first experience

that you're gonna never
want to do it again

and retire in a convent.

Alright, yeah that's good.

So I guess that's a wrap.

- That's a wrap, holy shit.
I'm gonna cry.

Let's have a group hug.

- Let's have a group hug.

- Hey Alejandro.

Alejandro, we're finished.

Come on.

(all cheering)

- Adios Amigos.

- Next film.

- Thank you very much.

- It was...

- It was a pleasure, Francisco.

- Wonderful experience.

Aww man it's over.

- [Alejandro] It's over!

- It's bitter sweet.

(tranquil music)

It's been a great experience.

I mean I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I was very very very lucky to land this.

I mean, I was at the right
place at the right time.

That's all it is you know, I mean.

I don't know how it's gonna turn out.

It might turn out great,
it might turn out poorly.

It's tough because it's
now out of my hands

and you know, if I had it
my way we'd start today.

You know, today would be the first day

and yeah I mean...

(exasperated exhaling)

What I wouldn't give to
start today, you know?

- These are very exciting
times for film makers.

It's already happening.

People are just going out and
making movies with no money.

People that you know, 10 years ago

would have never dreamed to
make a feature like myself

and now it's completely reasonable.

It's hard, I guess it's remarkable,

but it's nothing out of the ordinary.

I mean, it takes
determination, it takes balls.

You really really really
have to want to make a movie,

especially if you're gonna make a movie

that's not just you know,

made on an iPhone with your friends.

Besides, this is just the
time of the revolution

so are you just going to join it

or are you gonna be sitting at home

and wished you were part of it.

Anybody can make a movie.

My grandma could make a movie.

I could probably teach her very quickly

how to cut something together.

She's not gonna make money.

She's not gonna become rich

or be on the cover of Time magazine,

but she is gonna be
able to make something.

If your goal is to make movies

then you should just get
all the money you have.

If you don't have any money,
sell whatever you want.

If you don't own anything, steal
some money, sell your body.

Find some money, you
don't need a lot of it

and just make something.

♫ When I was 21

♫ It was a mediocre year

♫ It was a mediocre year

♫ For

♫ Film making directors

♫ With a low budget film

♫ We shot on the fly

♫ One of our actors almost died

♫ When I was 35

♫ And now the days are short

♫ I'm in the autumn of the year

♫ And I think of this film

♫ As a pain in my ass

♫ That will not end

♫ That is our actor who died

♫ When I was

♫ 35 ♫

- That's your song.