"The Hit."

It's sunday night and I'm absolutely exhausted! 

By 11am on saturday my house had become over run with many a film person and so much equipment that it was being put on the balcony. There just was no room for 15 crew members, lighting equipment, cameras, lenses, my hamster and all the rest of my belongings.

My flat was the perfect set for a short film directed and written by my brother in law, Davor Krvavac. In his words;  “The Hit” explores the universal capacity of survivors and perpetrators of extreme violence to accommodate their experience; to return to mundane, ordinary life, despite carrying the knowledge of what for most would be unimaginable horror.

I feel slightly perturbed by the fact that my flat is the perfect home for his character. Should I be concerned with the fact that my now highly unfurnished flat can be turned into a desolate and bleak home for someone who has committed, what to me is unimaginable? Perhaps I'm being oversensitive? 

So, people start arriving, introductions are made. I'm swiftly introduced as Su, the art director... oh and I live here. Smile. I'm not sure how to deal with the responsibility of this title... what exactly is expected of me? I was overwhelmed by all the people, how quickly things were made to happen and the efficiency of these highly skilled and talented people. I was in way over my head and felt incredibly awkward at first. Especially as Liam the Ist A.D. was demanding and made me quiver. Every time I heard my name being called sharply I was reminded of how my mother would call me when I was in trouble as a child. I quickly realised that this was just his manner... and I could also see how efficient this made him. We did not have much time and he made things happen. So much so that the shoot was projected to finish at 4am and the flat had been rearranged and vacated by 2.30.

Now that I have recovered somewhat from the weekend's events, I now feel like I have been part of something really cool. I wish that I could have been more involved, but one really can't compain. I think I would have enjoyed being the costume department too. How amazing would it be to get invovled with more shoots? Sod it to be a runner though... I think I made more than my fair share of tea and coffee, not to mention the clearing up during and after... Just imagine 15 people in a small two bedroom flat... now think about 14 men all using the same toilet over a 16 hour period. Nice.

My role on the shoot was minimal, exluding the provision of the set of course, but I must say, the opportunity to watch these people work was incredible. The skills that they possess, made me feel inadequate, I had no idea what they were talking about half the time, the only conversation I could follow was about football between scenes! Just about. It was however an opportunity to meet new people, creative people, there were many question as to what I do, about my art work and my flat.

When I was dressing the stairs for filming, one of the directors asked if there was a way we could suggest an air of violence... A print that my sister and I worked on in the summer was ripped and attached to the wall in an askew manner to suggest that some force had been used. How exciting is that? Our artwork has actually made it into the film!