The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN filmmaker Moya Thompson took full advantage of an opportunity to observe production of the big budget movie, Ride Along 2, and hopes one day to incorporate some of the techniques and concepts she learned on set into her own films.

Though it was her first time on set of a major production, Ms Thompson said her behind-the-scenes experience was all too familiar, since she has worked on Bahamian films like Rain and Windjammers.

The invitation to observe the movie's production was an initiative by Randy E Rolle, the Consul General for The Commonwealth of The Bahamas to Atlanta and surrounding areas, the Ministry of Tourism and moviemaker Will Packer, who is also the producer of this summer's hit movie Think Like A Man 2. Mr Rolle invited Bahamians in the film industry to submit their credentials.

Ms Thompson was invited on set for three days to see what it really takes to create a hit movie. "Basically learning was up to me," she told Tribune Woman. "Some of what I learned, I learned through trial and error, some by default and some was based on interviewing and talking to various workers on set.

"Watching the actors work and their process was also interesting for me. In watching Kevin Hart (comedian/actor) I found that he is pretty much just like how we see him on TV. Always hamming it up, cracking jokes, being loud. But he also had an introspective side and was very focused once the director yelled 'Action'. A lot of times actors fumble on lines. Kevin was very good with knowing his lines and remembering his cues.

"Sherri Shepherd, who plays a wedding planner in this movie, I found it fascinating how she was directed from one extreme to another until the director, Tim Story, got the correct tone that he wanted. That was interesting to observe because each time she did her part (which was a phone conversation with Kevin's character), she would improvise. So each take would be different in tone from the next and her lines she would change up each time, but still keep the spirit of the scene."

Ms Thompson said she was also fascinated by the various techniques used on set when a night scene for the movie was shot.

"Basically they would hose down the streets and vehicles in the scene and then have a truck come through again and spray water. I thought it was because in the scene it was raining. But they said that it wasn't actually raining, that they did that because it was a way to make night scenes pop under the lights when shooting. There were a lot of little nuggets like that, that I learned. I learned that they even had to get clearance to use the names of characters. They have to put in applications to use the names they choose for the film. I also learned the importance and the seriousness of the various unions and their rules because everybody who works on the set is in a union - the craft services, the teamsters (people bussing you from base camp to set), the actors of course, the cinematographers, the make up artists, etc. And the film can be fined if simple rules are not adhered to. If you wear slippers on set, they could be fined. If you do not feed them on time they are fined."

Based on what she was exposed to while on set Ms Thompson also recognised the need for more support for the local filmmaking community.

"We need more people, businesses and organisations to support the filmmaking community so that we can get away from guerrilla filmmaking and take it to the next level," she said. "Our government also needs to allow for more concessions so that we have more international filmmakers opting to shoot here which will allow more experience to local filmmakers. Apparently the Atlanta government has taken this initiative and have allowed for many concessions and discounts for filmmakers. This has opened Atlanta up to become almost like a second Hollywood.

"Film is now big business in Atlanta between Tyler Perry Studios, Will Packer Productions, Roger Bobb's Bobbcatt Films, BET; it is a thriving community and has brought business to Atlanta through the many productions that are now opting to shoot there because it is so affordable."

Currently, Ms Thompson, who is the owner of C2it Production Company and is on the board of the Bahamas Actors and Filmmakers Association, is writing for an animated series that she is really excited about.

"It is someone else's project so I can't say too much about it until they are ready to discuss it publicly. But they've been working on it since last year and I have written about four scripts already for it and have one more to go. I am also presently producing my students' summer projects in preparation for FilMAD Camps' annual film premiere that occurs every December. I also had two short films that I was supposed to shoot in early August, that centred around kids and teenagers coping with parents who are alcoholics. I was unable to shoot those as planned. A big part of the reason was due to lack of funds, but also because I ended up going on this trip to Atlanta. So I hope to be able to move towards shooting those short films in December over the winter break," she said.

In 2012 Ms Thompson produced a ten-episode television series It Takes A Village which debuted on Cable 12.