Molly's Production Notebook

Since this scene takes place in a hotel, I wanted to look at some places that fit the bill and are close by. 

This ballroom is at The Inn at St. John's in Plymouth: 

I like it because the brick gives it an old feel but the sunroof gives it a hip feel, and the balconies allow for us to get high angles. 

Here is a lower angle of the same room so you can see the sunroof. 

A place that was brought up at the producers' meeting was the Detroit Athletic Club. 

This room has a unique ceiling and the high awnings make it look classy. 

Boasting a similar feel and closer to home is the Michigan League ballroom. This might be too identifyingly Ann Arbor, but is also a nice ballroom. 

As far as a scene to pick for this week, the one that immediately came to mind was the apology scene in Mean Girls. In both this scene and our scene, women who have wronged others (and have been wronged themselves) address all of them as a whole and apologize. 

First of all, I know the idea for Jamie and David's apartment is exposed brick, so I was looking for some places that fit what I am picturing in my head. 

Here is a place in seattle: 

Here is a place in new york: 

I really like the warmth that the yellow wall gives off and the richness that the brick gives off, and how the two work together. I also think the furniture in this apartment could feasibly belong to both Jamie or David (with Jamie having more control over decor, of course). 

And for Natalie's apartment, here is a place in Chicago that I think fits her personality: 

This is an apartment in a Chicago neighborhood called Logan Square. The blue is something I think fits Natalie well (it is unique and bright), and the desk would be great for the computer with all of her assassin files. 

Here is another view of the same apartment, and I think the blue couch is where Natalie could be passed out during the night after the NYE party. 

Finally, for my clip today, I wanted to pick one of my favorite barfing scenes- this one is from I Love You, Man. While it is a different scenario from ours, I think that the aspect of things getting rapidly out of control and then building up to a silly crisis is something we can tap into. This crisis is both funny and painfully awkward and we want to try to emphasize both of those feelings at the same time. 

The scene I want to look at this time around is from 30 Rock's "The Generalissimo." I can't find a youtube link, but if you go on Netflix, it is around nine minutes into the episode.

In the episode, Liz (Tina Fey) accidentally gets neighbor Drew (Jon Hamm)'s mail, and she decides to open it. She finds out all of these wonderful things about him, and when she returns it to him, she realizes he is hot too, and she wants to make him love her.

In this scene, she pretends her dog ran away (she doesn't have a dog) and Drew kindly offers to help her. In this still, he is comforting her, and Liz is hilariously happy about it.

She also makes a shirt for a charity he donates to, and she wears it in an attempt to impress him: 

After this, she asks him to a wine bar with her, and he tells her that he just got divorced and that he isn't ready for a relationship yet. By searching for the dog, Drew is just being a nice guy, he isn't trying to have a relationship with her. 

Damn. For Liz, this is a I HAD SUCH A GOOD PLAN AND IT ISN'T WORKING moment. 

I think this realization is similar to the one Natalie has when Brad says he isn't ready to move so fast. Natalie has been trying so hard to get Brad to like her- at first artificially, but then genuinely- and in the moment she is let down, and she fears that maybe Brad doesn't like her after all. 

As far as locations go, one I'd like to mention is The Second City. It is the most prestigious improv training center and stage in the city. There are two entrances, but the one to the mainstage (here) has this great facade that I think would be good to showcase: 

To end, here is a picture of the bean. Fun Fact- it's actually called the Cloud Gate. But no one calls it that. Just like the Sears tower is actually the Willis tower. But no one calls it that. 

My scene for this week is from Friends' "The one the morning after." Ross and Rachel have taken "a break", and Ross sleeps with a girl named Chloe. He finds out there will be an unexpected visit from Rachel, and then this happens (start at 0:50): 

  In this scene, Ross' inability to keep a straight face and his hilariously awkward attempt at hiding something could be paralleled by Graham/David. Our scene won't have had a whole prior episode to set up this moment, but we still want the audience to feel a similar sense of "oh no!" when the magazine with Kyle on it is found. 

The other thing I wanted to talk about is the location for the a bar scene that happens afterwards. I am assuming we'll film this in Ann Arbor, but here are a couple Chicago bars that I think feel the vibe: 

Billy Sunday (Logan Square): 

The Punch House (Pilsen): 

Celeste (River North): 

The scene I’d like to explore is from My Best Friend’s Wedding. In this scene, Julia Roberts’ character, Julianne, is in love with a guy named Michael, who is about to get married to a woman (Kimberly) played by Cameron Diaz. Julianne wants to make Michael jealous, so she asks her gay friend George to pretend they are engaged. 

I think that in this scene, Julianne parallels Natalie, George parallels Brad, and Kimberly parallels Jamie. I chose this scene because of how Julia Roberts plays it; her sheer horror at the thought that George will stay for the rehearsal dinner is something that could be emulated when Isabelle/Natalie reminds Jamie that Brad is not really her boyfriend.

This scene and our scene are similar in that the leading woman is highly resistant towards the label of a couple, thinking, "it’s just a ruse, it’s just a ruse," and it sets up the later moment in both films were the masquerade comes crashing down. 

Another thing I’d like to discuss is setting, which is in this scene is Jamie’s New York apartment. Since Jamie designs purses and handbags, I envision her apartment as being very modern and well furnished. I picture a bright, open space with modern furniture that is well lit by both artificial and natural light.  I think the apartment should make good use of white walls, and it should have a bar that the characters can take the tequila shots around.