Nudity is not fun for actors to think about most of the time. Neither is it fun for those on the production side-- especially if the guy who wrote it, is casting it, will direct and star in it are ALL THE SAME PERSON!
WOW, if there is one person less comfortable than the actresses potentially starring as Jade Silver and Kari K discussing their nudity in a scene, it can only be me. Really not sure, but cannot imagine that there are many other directors out there who maybe try harder to talk the actress out of the nude scene during the audition than INTO it.
Because my focus is on this movie, and the nudity is focused on one specific scene, this is not a matter of the horrific Hollywood SLEAZE STORIES that take place on a CASTING COUCH. This is not about me seeing a bunch of young girls naked-- While I certainly appreciate the female form in countless ways, the casting of these roles and shooting of the scene are far from erotic in my mind.
My focus is very specifically on exactly what I want to reveal to the audience in what may be the most important scene in the movie for many reasons, and how the audience should experience that scene. Because, I just CANNOT SPOIL THE SCENE, you will not see any real mention of what is happening in this scene. However, I will tell you that it is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MOVIE without this scene.
Not to sound too much like a writer/director here, but this particular scene is very much in many ways, the entire movie in miniature, and for it to work the characters are not wearing any clothes. It is a scene that I have troubled over from the very second I wrote the first draft. Any time I have EVEN TRIED to pull the nudity, the movie loses its potency and instead of its ending FLYING AT YOU like some crazed death-bird freaking you out so that you do not know what to think, it limps past you, almost begging you not to even look.
The very last thing that I want is for my overly exuberant nature to convince an actor they can and should take their clothes off, only to find out at the WORST TIME (while the shoot is happening) that they just are unable to commit and deliver.
Since I play the role of "Johnny Jones" in the movie, I am this scene, too! Being shirtless in this scene ALSO MAKES ME NERVOUS, but for even more reasons. I cannot blame the writer or director... I am him/.them... I am also 47 and out of shape-- THIS SCENE HAS ME WORKING OUT like crazy and watching what I eat/drink over the past few weeks (documenting the whole thing on video-- which I will post in a few weeks VERY UNCOMFORTABLY....). With the anxiety I feel about being in, asking others to be in, and shoot the scene, I definitely feel a little pressure.
The difference is that with this being my vision, my project, and my goal, I experience a level of passion and commitment that is unlike anything I have ever felt before. I WANT TO MAKE THIS MOVIE and MAKE IT RIGHT. This is one reason I want every star to be an Executive Producer-- they should have a say, as well as have a share of any money I may ever stumble across after the movie's completion, etc.
SO, my approach has been to be very upfront about the nudity, giving specific details related to the nudity required of each actor. Each time I have spoken with a new actor (male or female), I would rather OVERSELL how DIFFICULT the scene and the nudity may be, so that by the time I do bring actors on board, we both understand each and trust each other implicitly. Without that understanding and trust, I know it is not worth trying.
In fact, I send a document with "background and legitimate points of concern" to each, helping them understand the context of the movie as well, as things such as nudity and smoking that they may experience while shooting this movie. Following a video conference with some actors, one actress in particular very recently, I was very thankful to be given new and more specific information to include there. Now the "points of concern" are even separated and numbered, making them very hard to miss or misunderstand.
None of my actors should be surprised by anything I will ask of them once it comes time to shoot the movie. If I have done my job correctly, each will be beyond comfortable and focused on being well-prepared for the challenges that await once the cameras are rolling.
Nudity is not something I see coming up in a lot of movies from me. While other movies and stories of mine contain very sexy, and possibly profane or pornographic language and concepts/ideas, this movie is the first time that naked bodies became essential to the story. Not sex-- just the bodies.
COME SEE THE MOVIE!!! I PROMISE it will be worth it! EVERYONE will UNDERSTAND when they finall see "The END of FUN".
I have appointments every day (today is Thursday, July 21) for the next week with actresses hoping to play both Jade Silver and Kari K.
Just a few, I will be lucky enough to meet in person, and most initial meetings will simply take place over SKYPE and GOOGLE HANGOUTS. Our first topic is set to be a very candid and frank discussion of this scene.
I would MUCH RATHER actors TURN DOWN the ROLE immediately than for either of us to have a long discussion in which we become only increasingly more excited only to finally have to part ways over this one issue. In the process, I hope to serve a secondary purpose of building a strong network of good actors with whom there is a mutual level of ease and comfort in communication--and deep trust, particularly about potentially sensitive issues.
Several actors (male and female) have already chosen not to continue pursuing the role due to the nudity. One or two of those have stayed in constant contact, keeping tabs on the project anyway, which I find UNBELIEVABLY COOL. I know there are several of these folks that will collaborate well with me on other, more suitable projects, in the future.
To me-- right now--"The END of FUN" NEEDS this scene. If I achieve my goals and this movie gets a proper amount of attention, and there is only one scene is discussed as people walk out of the theater, this will be it. THIS SCENE CANNOT BE LOST!
Compromised? Changed? Possibly.
So far, for the role of "Jade Silver", I have allowed three actresses to read the entire script in the past three days, counting today; and one actress submitting for Kari K. In the end, I honestly figure that if someone really is the right fit, then they will be as passionate as I am about finding a way to make it work. Each of these people is a fresh set of eyes, as far as I'm concerned. This makes me more than willing to hear ideas and feedback.
I CANNOT IMAGINE anyone coming up with an idea strong enough to CHANGE MY MIND-- BUT, AS A COROLLARY: If one of these people does come up with an idea that I feel does work, then I feel like WE ALL WIN. Anytime, collaborators make each other better, EVERYBODY WINS!
If "The END of FUN" comes out without a topless Jade or Kari--or me; or without a naked Scab, or a naked Clown... then you can BET YOUR ASS that what you do see on the screen is what I believed to be the BEST CHOICE for the story and the movie! And you can KNOW it was the direct product of collaboration with extremely talented costars and Executive Producers. If the scene shows up as written, then PLEASE KNOW I TOOK GREAT PAINS to PROTECT EVERY ACTRESS and ACTOR during the process of shooting.
Of COURSE, I am extremely biased, but I really, really believe there is NOTHING ELSE LIKE THIS out there, and I mean that IN THE BEST WAY. WITH OR WITHOUT the nudity, the goal of EVERYONE INVOLVED will be to deliver the best and most entertaining version of "The END of FUN" possible!
RANT OVER! Thanks for reading! See you again VERY SOON!
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