Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1380878
Summer 2021 – LOCAL695.ORG 27 of the Thai production staff were busy hand-washing them to remove the lube. I laughed and said, "Good one, very funny." Our Thai UPM wasn't one for jokes, she stared me dead in the eyes and said, "No, this is really happening, they are doing this for you." I think she knew I wasn't going to believe her, so she had filmed and photographed the Thai crew hand-washing lubricated condoms, and then hanging them to dry. I have seen many things over my years in this industry, but I have never seen anything like that. It was amazing. You don't know dedication until you've seen someone gently hand-clean condoms. The following day, I was presented with a bag full of relatively lube-free condoms. I certainly wasn't going to waste them, after all that hard work, so we absolutely ended up using several of those lovingly washed condoms. I don't know if I can properly express my gratitude to the Thai crew: both my sound team and the entire Thailand local crew. The final few days of the shoot took place in New York City, and the toughest part of that final company move wasn't the jet lag—but the extreme temperature changes. We went from humid summer-like weather in Thailand to winter in NYC. From shorts and T-shirts to heavy coats and gloves in the span of a day. While in New York, I had the good fortune to work with local Boom Operator Frank Graziadei and Sound Utility Jerry Yuen. One of the best parts about distant location work isn't necessarily the locations, but the opportunity to work with crew who know those places intimately. I not only got to film in iconic NYC spots, and experience the challenges that exist there, but I also got to work with one of the most legendary Boom Operators on the East Coast, and I'm so grateful for that. The entire experience of making Finding 'Ohana was such a unique, fun, stressful, incredible time. I was very fortunate the timing worked out the way it did, as I got to travel to all those places right before the whole world shut down due to the pandemic. This movie was a great example of how prep and planning can sometimes only get you so far. Oftentimes, things change and new requests are made in an instant. I try to avoid thinking "that can't be done," but instead rely on creative problem-solving and the insight of my crew to achieve as close to the director's vision as possible. Sometimes you spend a night in Bangkok hunting for non- lubricated condoms in every convenience store within walking distance and you come home empty-handed. But don't give up! Take it from me, soap can remove most of the lube. Washing the lubricated condom Ke Quan as George, Kelly Hu as Leilani in Finding 'Ohana. Photo: Colleen E. Hayes/Netlix © 2021