Granted, we’re only in week two, but I feel comfortable going on the record with that confession. Now for some of you, calling this flick our best probably isn’t saying much (as there are cats who feel we’ve never done anything cinematically worthwhile). For others, you’ll never agree (the hardcore MALLRATS won’t find much to love about this flick). But for me, as my jaw drops watching the performances spark to life while we shoot, as I marvel at the dailies every night, and smile widely when Scott and I cut the scenes together over the weekends, that’s the impression I’m getting. This flick certainly isn’t the funniest film we’ve ever made (far from it), but it’s already the most visually rich affair, with the most thoroughly realized characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching any of my casts commit to celluloid. As we come to the close of week two of our scheduled 11 weeks of shooting, for the first time in my career, I feel like a full-fledged filmmaker, as opposed to just a writer who directs his own stuff.

Rehearsals went incredibly well. We were scheduled for two full weeks, but by the end of day one, it was clear that we could’ve started shooting the next day. In the midst of rehearsals, we took time out to head into Philly’s famous Sigma Sound (where Bowie laid down tracks, many moons ago) to record a song for the big musical number in the flick.

Yes — I said big musical number. Where’s GLAAD now, as I prepare to unabashedly unfurl and let fly my drama-fag flag by showcasing my adoration of show tunes?

…

If you’re ever shooting a movie about two people falling in love, I can’t urge you strongly enough to cast a pair of people who are actually falling in love. The chemistry between Ben and Jen is so palpable, you could almost bottle it and sell it as an aphrodisiac. Take after take, we watched Ben and Jen (who we couldn’t have cast as love-at-first-sighters at a better time in their lives) flirt through a rapid-fire-dialogue dance of movie meet-cute. But this wasn’t just art imitating life; somehow in the midst of all that smolder, they managed to provide us with a pair of performances that reminded this little black duck why he’s always worshipped at the Altar of Affleck, and is now currently constructing a Lopez Basilica as we speak. Honestly, the performances they gave were nothing short of spellbinding.