Eric Bogosian
subUrbia Filming in Austin
May 9, 1996.
The Washington D.C./Studio Theatre production of subUrbia directed by Jo Bonney opened two nights ago and it was very fine. The company is intense, totally immersed and they let it rip. If you missed seeing a 7/Eleven dropped into the middle of a theater at Lincoln Center, head down to D.C. The set is fantastic in its detail. This is an expensive show to mount this way (with the complete 7/Eleven on stage), and it will only run six weeks. If you are a student, there is a student discount. This production features a revised script which will be available to other productions from this point on. TCG says they will publish it in the fall.
On the other side of the country, the filming of subUrbia just wrapped. I visited the set one hot night last month. Real gonzo filmmaking. Rick Linklater and Company have constructed a place so nasty and true that it feels strangely universal. They are creating a scale model of the American Dream complete with burgers and pizza and asphalt and puke. The Linklater team have "locked down" a busy suburban corner in Austin, TX, complete with gas pumps, a waffle restaurant and across the way, a strip mall. They've been shooting all night, five nights a week, from dusk to dawn. Overhead, suspended by a massive crane was a 25,000 watt lighting cluster encased in white fabric. This creates the "moonlight" for the shooting. It is so bright the local birds wake up at 3:30 am thinking the sun's come up. Steve Zahn (who plays "Buff") spent one night rollerblading from tree to tree with a hockey stick, whacking the trunks trying to get the little chirpers to shut up.
Local folks came by to watch the shooting, people took photos, pick-ups trucks rolled by loaded with drunk college students shouting unintelligible remarks. The convenience store (run by Ajay Nadu - "Nazeer" and Samia Shoaib - "Pakeesa") stayed open all night, people came by to shop, dogs barked in the distance. The effect was surreal.
I saw some dailies and as promised, the stuff is garish and blunt, funny and intense. As Zahn says "This is a good thing."
Other good things: Cindy Sherman's serial killer movie is just wrapping out in New Jersey. I continue to maintain my high standard of movie excellence playing the twisted Dad of the young murderess, Dorine. This movie will rule. Look for my sixty seconds in this fine film next year.
And last night I saw the NYU production of subUrbia and it was extra loud and extra good. Also extra fast. Made me proud to watch the young folks kickin' ass.
More subUrbia: Productions are about to open in Brisbane, Australia (with an Aussie cast!!!); and the infamous USC production in LA might re-open in Los Angeles for the summer. Mike Uppendahl, the director, is keeping us posted.
Finally, Griller a sort of sequel to subUrbia just workshopped at Lincoln Center directed by Robert Ubinati and an all-star cast. This is part of the Director's Lab up there and was not open to the public. Nonetheless, in front of fifty people every night for four nights it was very funny and scary. What more can you ask?
