understands that the famous ones are being filmed in their everyday lives by filmmakers, and the viewer hears our voices but doesn’t see our faces.
I prefer operating the camera, if I can.
So how big of a team?
“As small as possible,” I answer Ali. “Charlie’s bodyguard doesn’t want a big crew, and I think we can strike gold with just the three of us, but—”
“I knew there was a but,” Ambrose says.
“I can’t sugarcoat it,” I admit. “I shadowed Charlie so I could get a sense of how difficult it’d be filming him longer than five-minutes, and I lost Charlie for hours.”
I don’t mention how he ditched his bodyguard to give us some quality “alone” time together.
“You lost the kid?” Ali’s brows spring up. “During filming?”
“I wasn’t filming yet.”
“But you would’ve been,” she notes. “And that’s hours of lost footage and wasted time.”
“On the flip-side, I was able to ask him thought-provoking questions, and he answered honestly.” I want to explain what he said at the New York concert venue, but it involves Luna’s fanfic, which Luna told me in confidence.
So I mention Charlie’s apartment in Paris, which no one has ever seen before.
“Was he there when you were shadowing him?” Ali wonders since I did lose sight of him for a while.
“Not at first,” I admit.
Ambrose cocks a brow. “This is your pitch?”
“It went better in my head.” I smile but it fades, and I tap my pen to the table. “I’m not trying to pull one over on you two. It’s going to be a tough shoot. But I need you both on this. You’re the best.”
Ali contemplates fast. “Have you asked anyone else?”
I shake my head.
“I take it you’re settled with just a production manager and a sound mixer? So no gaffer or writer?”
She’s a PM (a production manager) on We Are Calloway and takes care of logistics like location, budget, and scheduling, but whenever we need an extra camera operator, she takes over with ease.
And I need Ambrose. A whole show can make or break on sound.
My leg jostles underneath the table a little bit. “I figure I can handle the lighting and story myself.”
Ali takes a long breath, and her tone changes considerably. “Jack, you know how much Ambrose and I love you.”
Fuck.
Ambrose nods. “You’re one of the best producers we’ve ever worked with, especially considering how young you started.”
“But,” Ali says, “we’re already booked solid with side projects. We have two music videos we’re doing just this weekend, and Charlie is a risky bet.”
“I’m not putting all my chips on him this year,” Ambrose agrees. “You know how much a week in Malta costs?”
Ali gives me an encouraging look. “I’m not even sure you need a PM, Jack. It’s just a pilot.”
“You do need a sound mixer,” Ambrose says, and adds to his sister, “Looks like I’m the important one.”
She gives him a pointed look. “You wish.”
Ambrose reaches for his iced water. “And I thought you were going to date more this year.” I did tell him that at his wedding reception, but only after he asked about my lack of a plus-one.
“I’m fine being single,” I say, but that hot feeling returns. The only thing that cools it is this project. This goal. I want it. So badly.
“You could be playing the field, instead of ignoring the field,” Ali notes, and Ambrose nods vigorously.
“This could be the one though. The white whale.”
We all talk about the white whale. That one project that puts you over the edge. That has your name on it and catapults your career. Being the exec producer of We Are Calloway has its merits and accolades, but it’s not the one.
Ali shakes her head. “You do know how Moby-Dick ends, right?”
Sure. The white whale ends up killing the guy obsessing over it, but I’m not obsessing. I just don’t want the whale to swim away before I even have a chance to see if it’s the one.
“Hey, maybe I won’t die if I have you two on my team?” I flash a smile. One that’s opened some doors and driven me further in life.
Ali laughs. “Nice try. I can put you in contact with another sound mixer.”
“But he won’t be as good as me,” Ambrose chimes in.
“No one is,” I say with a brighter smile. “But can I trust him?”
Ali hesitates. “It won’t be the level of trust like on a WAC production. I’d…make him sign an NDA. And maybe also talk to a lawyer. We’re talking about filming Charlie.