Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
Ash
Dear Leigh,
Hope you’re having a good day so far. Personally, I’m really looking forward to the weekend, weather report also says that the temperature should drop by a few degrees, so that’s a bonus. I took your advice and have actually invested in a handheld fan, which I’m carrying around with me everywhere.
I have enclosed the links to two more possible shoot locations. They are not on my books personally, but I have already contacted both of them and started a discussion. Both are open to the idea of film-shoot rental. One is a camp in Botswana, surrounded by the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. I think you’ll like it and I think it works perfectly for the brief. It’s a luxury tented camp reminiscent of a traditional East African safari camp. The second one is on the beaches of Lake Malawi. Again, I think it’s just what you’re looking for. It has that rustic feel your director was talking about, without looking like—how did he put it so eloquently?—“a fucking dump.”
I chuckled to myself. Our director, Sebastian, was not known for mincing his words. In fact, he’d offended most of the people we’d ever worked with, and our producer did less producing work than she should, and more smoothing over and relationship repair. Sebastian was one of those eccentric and very often misunderstood geniuses, but I’d always worked really well with him. It was my job to take his vision and translate that using camera angles, lenses, and lighting to create the mood and feel of the film. In fact, our working relationship was so good that we, and everyone else, referred to us as work husband and wife.
Let me know if you and your director like any of these locations. If they’re not suitable, please let me know so I can get on to others. I have already booked Wellington’s Bar, the Chobe houseboat and the second villa we looked at in Matobo Hills. We do need to hurry with the others, though.
So, I took more of your great advice the other night and tried the Manchego cheese. I paired it with the Spanish green olives and caramelized onions like you suggested. My guests went wild for it. In fact, I think it was the highlight of the dinner party. I would like to think my sparkling personality and generous hosting ability might also have contributed to the praise lavished upon me, but I think it was the cheese that stole the show. I’ve been outdone by a chunk of Manchego!
I’m showing an overseas production company around a villa in Camps Bay on Saturday night, and I want to schmooze them—would love some more suggestions for a cheesy charcuterie board. I’m thinking French champagne and charcuterie. What do you think?
Looking forward to chatting soon and to hearing your next cheese suggestion,
Maximillian Adam
CEO
The Film Place
5 Longstreet Lofts
Cape Town
———
Dear Maximillian,
I feel you—the weekend could not come sooner for me. But only a few degrees?! I need the temp to drop by at least ten degrees. A friend of mine has taken to putting her clothes in the fridge in the morning before she changes. I’m thinking of trying that—the fan is not cutting it anymore.
I’ll have a look at these locations and show them to Sebastian. A tented safari camp is exactly what he’d put into his treatment, so I’m glad you’ve finally found one. If he likes it, hopefully budget allows.
I’m so glad the Manchego was a hit. Don’t feel too bad about not being the highlight of the evening. With a cheese like that, everything pales in comparison, so don’t take it personally. In terms of your charcuterie board, I have a lot of suggestions, but it also depends on how much you want to schmooze the respective clients?
Regards,
Leigh Smith
Director of cinematography, DP
Moving Pixel Films
Kalk Bay
Cape Town
P.S. Are you not concerned that you’re taking suggestions from a total stranger? You seem to be putting a great deal of faith in this stranger’s suggestions?
———
Dear Leigh,
Clothes in the fridge . . . genius. I’m going to try it.
I want to schmooze them so hard they will pay me $12,000 a day for a feature-film shoot!
P.S. Once two people have discussed their mutual love of cheese so extensively, they can no longer be considered strangers.
———
Dear Maximillian,
Well, in that case, there are only three cheeses you will need. Pule—it is made from the milk of a Balkan donkey. It has a tangy, slightly sour taste and pairs really well with something sweet like fresh dates and figs. Another great choice is Comte, a French cheese that goes particularly well with champagne, and lastly, and still a firm favorite, a good quality baked Brie topped with toasted walnuts and fresh caramelized pear served with freshly baked French baguette. If you served me that, I would spend $12,000 a day for a location. In fact, I’d probably do anything to the person who served me that.
Regards,
Leigh Smith
Director of cinematography, DP
Moving Pixel Films
Kalk Bay
Cape Town
———
Dear Leigh,
I’ll keep that in mind for the future!
Winky face? Winky face? Was that, was he . . . flirting with me ? I took a long, slow sip of my Coke as I stared at the screen. We’d been chatting for almost a month already, but I’d noticed that in the last two weeks Maximillian and I had started talking more about non-shoot-related things. The emails had become much more casual and friendly, and I’d certainly noticed that when I was refreshing my emails I always looked for one from him. Perhaps more eagerly than I should.
I shook my head. Nope! Not happening. The last thing I needed right now was to be email flirting with some location-agency guy. Flirting always ended badly for me. Besides, I needed to get through this shoot, which was proving to be a nightmare, not to mention work on about a million treatments in the next week. Today alone I had two studio-lighting tests and a gear check, followed by a very long meeting with very difficult clients. God, I did need that margarita. I picked up my phone and dropped Sarah a quick message.
Ash: Hope you’re herding for Friday night? I’m in serious need of that drink. And sushi. Can we also have sushi please?
Sarah: Anything else your highness would like to request? What about foot massages while you eat the sushi?
Ash: That actually sounds great!
Sarah: K, see you tomorrow.