A mule teaches a lesson to a stubborn production manager

Almost all that I have learned in production has come from two sources: talented and experienced mentors, and horrifying incidents which translated into lessons. I will devote future articles to the former; this one is culled from the latter.

I have twice made films in the New Paultz area of upstate New York. It is also home to Mohonk, a mountain retreat that is part of the Catskill range. It is there that I learned that a movie crew could be humbled by a draft animal.

The movie, called "The Rook", starred Martin Donovan ("Trust", "The Opposite of Sex")" ("http://www.onparole.com/therook/review.h..."). The story revolved around a community which was run by religious zealots, and a revolution that was forming throughout the land. The author described the movie as "a look at the future, as seen from people from the past." As such, characters would drive in horse-drawn carriages, but had telephones.

The scene we were going to shoot that day involved John Abbott, the character played by Martin Donovan, arriving in town to investigate a murder. Abbott was a stubborn, religious man, sure of his convictions. He arrives in a horse-drawn carriage, reading from scripture.

The practical problem we faced was that no horse would go down this mountain. It was very steep, with winding curves, and it was determined that the only animals that could make the trip were draft horses. Actually, draft horses is a kind term. They are mules.

The morning shoot went slowly, but it went. The logistics of getting cast and crew up and down this mountain, with its narrow roads, were tricky, but not impossible. I was the production manager on the shoot, and had the aid of a very capable assistant director.

Finally, right before we were to break for lunch, we got the master shot of the carriage coming down the mountain. The plan was that we would break for lunch, then resume with more coverage with Martin, the carriage, and, yes, the mules. We came down from the mountain in order to have lunch. I was inside discussing the next day's schedule with the second AD when Van, the First AD, summoned me over the walkie. "JB, you have to get out here right now."

Van was a very calm AD, one of those fellows who always brings composure to the most hectic of situations, so if Van was flustered, we had a problem. I didn't hesitate to heed his call.

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