Tuesday, November 22, 2005:

Rehearsal number three last night went well -- though technically I suppose this was rehearsal number one, as it was the first with the entire principal cast. And as the three performed the script for the first time -- complete with little bits of blocking and props -- more and more of the visual started to fall into place for me.

Scott and Melissa really do have a great chemistry (thankfully, my memory didn't fail me this time around), as do Donna and Scott. And there's some really great comic delivery, too, without anything really jumping out and forcing a pause. So far -- and the hope is that it will stay this way, with a minimum of rehearsal -- everything seems to be moving toward a very conversational presentation. I do have occasional concerns of this turning into a short film by Mamet, with very stage-like dialogue, but Scott and Donna and Melissa are doing a great job allaying my fears on that level.

This weekend, I should be able to get around to finally rounding up my remaining extras, which leaves me with not much left on the preparation plate aside from meeting with the rest of the crew and making sure they're all set up with whatever they need. And then it's off to the shoot, and then a week of no film talk, no freelance web design to finance the movie -- nothing but heavy drinking, I think, to carry me through until Christmas.