Production Diaries:
June 2004
July 2004
August 2004
September 2004
October 2004
Recent Entries:
HUNDREDS GATHER TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LATE MAKO IWAMATSU IN CAGES!
Wed, 14 Nov 2007
A SPECIAL TRIBUTE SCREENING OF MAKO!
Tue, 16 Oct 2007
Perles Acquires Cages Distribution!
Wed, 01 Aug 2007
"CAGES" RUNS 4TH WEEK IN THEATRES!
Fri, 13 Apr 2007
IT'S MY TURN TO FLY!
Mon, 09 Apr 2007
"CAGES" SURPRISES MANY AS IT ENTERS THIRD WEEKEND IN THEATRES!
Fri, 06 Apr 2007
"CAGES" ENTERS THIRD WEEK IN THEATRES!
Tue, 03 Apr 2007
LOYAL FOLLOWING TO THANK, AS "CAGES" ENTERS THIRD WEEK IN THEATRES!
Mon, 02 Apr 2007
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The Next Chapter of my Life
09/12/04
This about sums up what I must face after today. I just completed my last day of shooting for Cages. This has been something I have dreamed about for over two years. My life, my focus, when it came to my fledgling acting career really centered around one man’s vision. I feel in love with Cages from day one and imagined what it would be like to be able to play a role like Ethan. Well today I know that feeling and I must say I never would have thought it felt this good. Good in the sense that I feel I have accomplished something not many get the opportunity to have. I have been blessed with this role. Let’s face it, if this was a larger Hollywood film, someone like me with not that many credits would have probably never got this opportunity. Movies, especially today are cast off the bank ability of the actors and many other business calculations we might not comprehend.
Do these Hollywood formula’s always work? Only the audiences can be the judge of that. I myself like to see fresh films with fresh faces that allow me, an audience member to go for a ride with no pre-conceived notions of what or how the film might be.
I believe Cages falls into that category, and for that I must say I am proud to be a part of this creation.
I can go on and on about our director, and I have in my past blogs, but what I want to say in my closing blog is not only thank you for the opportunity that I have been given but to also shed some light as to some of the things I have experienced. I am by no means special in any regards but what I have learned was something I will always cherish.
First off if you see something look effortless on film, chances are, there was a lot of work going behind that performance. I have witnessed that myself. Watching actors like Mako, Tan Kheng Hua, Asrani, Zelda etc. give their heart and sole to a role, taught me more than any class I have ever attended. Then being able to play opposite them is a whole other experience in it’s own right. I had that with Kheng. I hope every actor gets the chance once in their life to work with a giving, kind, and professional such as Kheng was to me. She is the type of actor that will make you step up your “game” to a whole other level. She gives everything to you even when she is not on camera. Completely selfless as an actor and a person. I hope my performance brings to life the experience I had working with her.
As far as the crew is concerned, they have a major, integral part in what we do as actors. They create our world so we can create our characters. They do more for us than I ever thought. Being involved with this project from it’s early stages, I saw and observed all the magic that goes on before the director says action, and I must say, I don’t think I could have believed in myself as much without their support. I always felt like they were their rooting for me. This helps especially when their are emotions running high and deep in scenes. You want to know that if you mess up, no one looks down on you, they only pick you back up.
That’s a team. That is what Cages is all about.
As an actor you must trust your director when it comes down to how the scene will play out. This can be hard, trust me, but you need to let go of what you might think is right and learn to collaborate together. If you have done your homework, and you have an open and understanding director with a clear vision such as Graham, the scene can grow even more powerful than you ever thought it could.
One note I want to add, which was huge for me was when you look at Rushes, don’t be so hard on yourself. First time I saw myself in a rough format, I felt like I failed. I hated the way I looked, sounded, walked etc. But then after talking with many people, you realize that you aren’t the only actor who thinks this way. Many do. However what you see isn’t a finished product, like you would see in a film, but a snippet of a scene. There is no underscore, sound, edit, nothing. All these things can make or break a performance. It took me a while to understand that. Once I did, I decided not to see my work until its done. If the director is happy, and I felt good in the scene, that’s all I can ask for. There are many other things I have learned, and as much as I would love to write them all down, at this point in time (2AM) I am just to drained emotionally and physically to go further. To be frank, I am tired after today:) it was long, technical and tedious at times, but I wouldn’t want to trade it for anything.
This is what I love to do. Now I know that more than ever.
It might be a long time before I work as an actor again, but when/if I do, I will walk on set having a better understanding of the whole process.
I hope all of you when you see Cages, will enjoy the film as much as I have enjoyed my time being a part of it.
Okay, okay, I have to thank Graham one more time:)
Thank you for your art lessons, you put me through painting hell!!! LOL!!! No more nudes in reds, whites and blacks for a while. PLEASE!! :)
Thank you for believing in me, in trusting me with such a wonderful character, and thank you for your friendship.
Thank you Mark and Beck for your camera genius. You have created a magnificent piece of art here. I am proud to be a part of your canvas.
Thank you to the art department, for your sleepless nights preparing our beautiful sets. For the inspiration I needed in my 12th hour of painting. (IS)
Thank you to our lighting department, or should I say stunt men. The risks you took to get us looking good, you know what I mean (light poles, rain trucks etc.)
Was an inspiration to all of us when we were down.
To our sound guys, Thank you for your patience and your ability to capture my mumblings. Hey Ross, did you get my “F*ck 48 hours line clean?” LOL
To Wing, thank you for taking on a job not many would take on. It’s not easy being the hard ass but you always kept us going. You have my respect always.
To Makeup and wardrobe. Thanks for putting up with me and my hair. You broke me!! My hairdryer will never be the same :) Curls, Curls, Curls.
Last but certainly not least, thank you to our producers and over all production team. I know it hasn’t been easy dealing with us SAG actors but you made it a wonderful experience working here in Singapore. I hope down the road we can do something again, but this time with a bigger budget!!
Thanks for all the support Tania. You have been wonderful.
Thank you to everyone. You have all changed my life forever.
Bobby Tonelli
Ethan
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