Day 12: The Lighthouse Scene

So, if you're wondering from the book: "Where is the lighthouse scene?" There isn't one. This is where the book and the script diverge a bit, but we wanted to have an iconic backdrop to the first time Happy and Jamie get to know one another. Introducing Sarah Catherine Hook of Netflix's "First Kill." SC plays Happy Klein, a free-wheeling first mate on a schooner that docks in Camden in the summer and Key West in the winter.

Photo by Kay Stephens

Call time was 4 a.m. I got there at 5 a.m. just as the light was starting to change. Luckily for us, the sky was cloudy and overcast, so it remained a consistent grey over the lighthouse, which is supposed to be a sunset, not a sunrise scene. A little movie magic will change that in post production.

Photo by Kay Stephens

Sarah Catherine Hook and Zak Steiner on the set of the lighhouse scene. Photo by Kay Stephens

This is the interior of the lighthouse. We got special permission from Bob Trapani, the Executive Director of the American Lighthouse Foundation. He also happens to be an author of a book on the Rockland Breakwater. He and his wife, Ann, stayed to watch the shoot. It's interesting, because Bob is in charge of 17 lighthouses across the state and he initially was not inclined to let anyone film at this lighthouse. Too many people over the years have treated lighthouses as though they are some kind of Disney ride. Not enough focus on the cultural and historical aspect. But through Cheri, Bob learned this was a local Maine novel and script and he graciously allowed us to shoot our scenes there.

Me and Bob.

We've been so lucky in that rain has held off for most of the shoot--but this remnant of a hurricane day was actually the perfect overcast greasy sky to go with our scenes. We had a beach scene next between Happy and Jamie that was pretty somber and the gray, cold skies complemented it.

Film crew setting up on a rocky beach. Photo by Kay Stephens

Photo by Kay Stephens

Jamie admits to Happy that he's being crushed under his responsibilities at home. Photo by Kay Stephens

Jamie appreciates the lightness in Happy as a counter to his dark feelings. Photo by Kay Stephens

The last scene of that long day was the barn scene where Jamie approaches Dale Fogerty to make amends.

Billy Wirth as Dale Fogerty

This is a great scene if you know what happens in the book. Billy talked with me ahead of time about adding one more line into the script, which I'll keep a secret, but it's perfect. He made Dale Fogerty his own character.

Zak Steiner and Billy Wirth face off. Photo by Kay Stephens

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