From Baalbek to bodies

Ed called me from Lebanon, where he's vacationing with Korean Jean. He called me for suggestions on what to do on his last day in the country. He was debating between a day trip from Beirut to Byblos or to Saida.

When he called he was visiting Baalbek, and couldn't contain his glee when he told me they were sitting in the Temple of Jupiter waiting for a Massive Attack concert to begin. I couldn't believe it. They didn't play when I was there, and I was surprised that they'd allow concerts on the site of those Roman ruins. In my mind's eye, I pictured Yanni at the Acropolis.

I was on set for Eric's short. He was shooting in a funeral home in Harlem. Last August, Kit had shot A Rainy Day at the same location, and we were surprised to find a call sheet for that production still taped behind a door.

The first half of the day went surprisingly well, and we left the Harlem location almost on time. The entire crew then drove across the George Washington Bridge to Teaneck, New Jersey, for the second location. It was also a funeral home. By then the rain started falling, and the crew set up a makeshift tarp under which everyone ate. The director asked us to move the tarp after dinner. A viewing was to be held that night in the funeral home, and they needed the space for parking.

The last time I saw a cadaver was on the set of A Rainy Day. A wake was being held in the chapel beside the one in which we were shooting. On a break I wandered the halls and, curious about the other chapels, looked into one. I hadn't been told about scheduled wake and was surprised to find a body lying in the open casket by the altar. In another chapel, where the camera crew was staging, caskets lined the wall. One person claimed that bodies were being stored within. The crew didn't seem to mind. Posted by eku at July 19, 2004 2:09 AM