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Murphy’s Law

Last week, I directed a short film in Austria alongside Dennis, the producer, with whom I had worked on preproduction. We devised a meticulous plan, created a comprehensive shot list, and organized our team, aligning all our ducks in a row. I believed we were in an excellent position to undertake the creative challenge of translating our script's vision onto the screen.

Our plan was to arrive at our location in Hagenau, Austria, during Monday afternoon and commence shooting by 7:30 pm. However, we had to take a detour through Munich to acquire a vintage car, a crucial prop for our film. By the time we reached Austria, it was past 6 pm, and further time was consumed for check-in and dinner. Consequently, we weren't ready to start until around 11 pm. The crew and cast gradually acclimated, but when we finally concluded our work, it was already 1:30 am.

Everyone was already exhausted due to the travel, and the late start only compounded the lethargy. I retired to bed at around 2:30 am. The following day was a full one, but due to the late previous night, we had a sluggish start. Our initial scene featured the vintage car, which we had retrieved in Munich. We arrived at a picturesque location, a long winding street, on a bright sunny morning. It was a montage scene meant to convey the budding romance between the lead actors. I intended to capture this with a drone to obtain a variety of stunning shots from different angles. But just as we were about to commence filming, the car unexpectedly sputtered to a halt on the tarmac. Despite various attempts, including the intervention of a local biker who offered his expertise, the car refused to cooperate and stalled as soon as the actor attempted to move it into position for the scene.

"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong," as the old adage suggests. Our unfortunate experience validated this saying. After multiple efforts to resuscitate the old-timer, we reluctantly decided to return it to its owner. Nevertheless, before doing so, we managed to capture a few scenes where the car's motion was not essential, providing some value to the film.

The delay and the late start from the night before significantly set us back, and by the time we were shooting the final scene at night, the crew's frustration and exhaustion were palpable. A couple of members even expressed their frustration, but I remained focused on completing the scene. Once we wrapped up for the day, the weary crew vented their frustrations to Dennis, the producer, stating that the shoot was disorganized and improperly planned. They also mentioned that it was unfair to continue working after 9:30 pm. I offered my apologies to the crew, acknowledging the unexpected car breakdown and assuring them that we would strive to adhere to the shooting schedule the next day.

However, the next morning brought a fresh dose of Murphy's Law. I awoke to the news that Dennis had broken his leg and required immediate medical attention. I visited him in his room, ensuring him that I would manage the production to ensure the shoot continued as planned. With unwavering determination, I seized the helm and navigated the ship through tumultuous waters of production. The day featured the most scenes we had tackled thus far, and I moved from scene to scene, from one set to another seamlessly. I was in my creative flow.

Speaking of flow, when I'm in the zone, the world around me dissipates, my focus becomes laser-sharp, honed in on the creative task at hand. I lose track of time and even hunger, gaining a nearly supernatural surge of energy. I've heard of people experiencing similar states when they're immersed in what they love, and I adore every aspect of making films, including the struggles that come with it.

While Murphy's Law may contain some kernels of truth, it should never serve as an obstacle when looking ahead. We can methodically plan, strategize, and prepare, but sometimes life throws unexpected punches, necessitating swift adaptation to persevere. That's what I do - I adapt and persist. Numerous other challenges cropped up, and for each one, we found a solution. Eventually, by the week's end, we had successfully filmed all the scenes. It reminds me of Shakespeare's words, "All's well that ends well."

It also echoes another famous phrase: "Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end."

© 2023 Vikram Bhandari