The "All Is Lost" Moment

So a little over a week ago, when I last posted, I thought I had reached that point in the "Blake Synder Beat Sheet" where All Is Lost.

I had the stomach flu from hell (not food poisoning like I originally thought...) all week, and consequently had to push back some of my 196a filming till this weekend. I thought certainly this is the part where "All Is Lost" in regards to my film project and now (just like the third act in a feature film) I'll come up with a plan and fix everything!

Then, earlier this week, I learned that my composer/lyricist was planning to drive to LA this weekend--right when we needed to record my lead actors' vocals for the upcoming scenes in my musical. I freaked out, but figured out how to make it all work, and prepared for a full weekend of shooting as planned. I thought, surely, at this point, nothing else can go wrong.

But as Ben and Brant point out to us about our movie ideas: MAKE IT WORSE.

So this morning, just as we prepared to film the first of MANY scenes featuring my lead actor, Aeon, I get a call.

He got into a motorcycle accident.

He broke his wrist.

He now has a big, fat cast on his hand.

Did I mention that Aeon is supposed to play the piano in nearly every scene of the film? And that we've already filmed a major scene featuring him WITHOUT a cast?

Now I'm hoping I can safely say this is the "All is Lost" moment of Spring Quarter 2008 for Alex Calleros.

And I'm coming up with a plan. To hopefully execute in a big, successful finale. It involves body doubles and my hands playing the keyboard and more pushing back of scenes.

But it's time to make it work. The hero is learning his lesson (that he can't control everything) and he's prepared to make the best of the situation. Because I'll be damned if this movie doesn't have a happy ending!