dim sum diaries

What a day. I just polished The Forbidden Phoenix serial story for the Edmonton Journal and sent it off. I also just came back from auditions and an artistic team meeting. We're schedule for the final script meeting next Monday, so I have to gear up and get ready for the final push.

The great news today is that I got to see the designer's initial drawings and plans. The set looks pretty wild... provided we're within budget. There are a couple of things that may have to be cut, but I love the designer's concept of the Empress Dowager's sedan chair and an umbrella waterfall. Very creative and imaginative. I can't wait to see what she does with costumes.

The tough news today is that the producing companies turned down our request to add a girl (Phoenix's daughter) to the mix. It's essential to the story, but we can't get an actor. My director is going to make a last ditch pitch, but we've already started brainstorming options on how to make that character work if we can't get a live actor. I'm thinking this character is key to the story, or else the audience will be expected to endow a silk with human properties, and we just can't really care about a piece of silk as much as we would care about a real girl.

Sigh. This is the part of production that reminds way too much of television. Artistic ideas clash with financial realities. There's got to be give and take both ways, but I always believe that if everyone believes in the best idea winning, then anything can be done whether it's on a $1.25 budget or a $125 budget. However, everyone has to be willing to be flexible.