Today, dear friends, is our last day of shooting, and that last entry into this blog journal.
It’s been 4 weeks and we’ve once again met up with team A (ÁLEX, IVÁN and XAVI). Eider and Candy (our fabulous extra) are also here.
We began our first exterior shot early, just outside of ALEX’s house, which is really from the first episode (amongst others).
OK, and not to worry, because Rafa is definitely back and he’s in his now signature look: silk robe, black undies, and our collective smiles.
Our location couldn’t have been more perfect, as it turns out there’s a sky bar just next door. So we’d naturally have to go check it out.
Xavi, Kikko, Eider and I were debating life outside of Gayxample. We weren’t completely convinced such a thing really existed.
Our make-up department unloaded their arsenal out on the terrace and set to the task at hand. We had our fair share of looky-loos, but it had become par for the course at this point, and we’d all learned how to avoid and ignore them. Well, most of us anyway, because Kikko seemed to have befriended one of the neighbour ladies, and she looked like the type to start a Facebook fan page for him (if she hadn’t already).
Rafa flaunted his chest down the streets of Barcelona
Oh, and Kikko arrived, shot his scene, and off to the beach he went.
Eider was thrilled to once again dress up as a legalese/not a slut, but Laia was none too pleased someone had made off with her Louis Vitton.
While we did have a few interruptions, like the ambulance that stopped right in front of the doorway we were shooting at, and a few people that stopped right in front of camera to see what was going on, and a couple ladies we asked to walk on the other side of the street for us; it was all and all a pretty smooth and fast shoot. Oh, and it was all shot on a dolly.
We moved to our very last location: Adamo’s attic. It would serve as ALICIA’s home with her as yet unnamed husband (we may not know what his name is, but we know Jose Luis is playing him). The first thing we did upon arrival was take over the terrace and set up the ashtrays and coffee maker. Priorities, people. Priorities.
While they set up the lights and Giuseppe went over the shooting script, Ivan Bertran gave Xavi, Eider and I, massages (it was a stressful day after all).
We cleared the attic of all of Adamo’s personal belongings, or that were too “him”, if you will. We needed to transform the space into something…different.
Mireia once again donned the prosthetic belly, practiced her accent, and we started rolling. Turn the a/c on, please. Thanks.
While Adamo prepared our meal, he shared with us a few stories about a younger (than he already is, of course) Giuseppe. It was quite interesting, I must say.
The food was excellent, as always, and all we needed to do now was film a scene between Xavi and Eider, and we needed to do it before Spain
We were so set on finishing the scene that we didn’t even notice when it was all over. We began packing all the equipment up like it was just any other day. Everyone said their goodbyes like we would see each other again tomorrow or next week, and home we went. We left as if tomorrow we’d once again have to shoot all our different angles and reverse angles; as if we’d have all our usual anecdotes waiting for us to bring them to life; or that we’d keep learning about Iván Bertrán (Ivan the Great) and his crazy adventures, and all the crazy stories we’d endured together while on this filming odyssey.
A good friend of mine told me when we started shooting, that for the next few weeks after the shoot, I’d feel a little empty. That I’d miss everyone and long for the camaraderie that one develops when you share all the creativity, time, sweat and tears that come with making a film together. But it seems he was wrong, because I’m not really feeling like that at all. Maybe it hasn’t ended. Maybe we really will see each other again.
I’m certain that we will.Cenzo Álvarez De Haro - Translated and adapted by: Norman Giovanni Zelaya