Brrrr!

The thing about the winter’s first night shoot is I always underestimate how cold it’s going to be – I’ve gotten used to summer, when a long sleeved T-shirt is enough. I bring a few warm things and think I’ll be okay, but I usually have at least one body part that feels like it’s going to freeze off.

Last night, in Chatsworth, the temperature was in the very low 40’s (if you think that’s not cold, then try standing outside all night in low 40’s), and I didn’t bring enough clothing (my torso was fine, but my legs were really cold). I also got stuck baby-sitting the condor (it’s being sent up unmanned, but someone has to stay with it just in case). Had I gone up, I’d have had my sleeping bag and would have been fine. Instead I got colder and colder and ended up trying to burrow under the camo netting* to keep warm.

Camo netting is not an effective blanket.

I ended up having to hike the half mile back to the truck and get my rain gear because I needed the extra layer.

Call time: 2:30 pm
Wrap time: 4:30 am

For the next two nights, we’re in Castaic, which is going to be super cold (the predicted lows are in the mid-forties, but we’re shooting right on the shore of the lake, so it’ll probably feel colder than that), but I’m ready. I’ve packed every warm thing I own, and if I have to, I’ll wear them all at the same time.

Since Castaic is so far away (and we’re on nights, so we’d be fighting the traffic both ways), we’re being put up in hotels. I’ll be back Friday morning.

*When a large piece of equipment which can’t be moved might be in the shot (last night it was the condor base – it’s normally our trucks), it’s draped with military-style camoflauge netting. It looks cheesy as hell to the eye, but the film can’t read it. Sort of. If you know what to look for, you can see it – but if you’re looking at the background trying to see the camo netting, the movie’s got bigger problems than a truck in the frame, now doesn’t it?

Filed under: Work