BPS 261: How To Shoot In An Impossible Location With Peter Bishai

What if you were given permission to shoot most of your film in one
of the busiest and iconic streets in the world, Times Square. Well,
today's guest did just that. He shot most of his new film Rapid Eye
Movement.In the heart of Times Square, radio DJ Rick Weider is
driven to the edge of insanity as he tries to break the 11-day
world record for staying awake, under the threat of a deranged
caller who will kill him if he fails. In his quest to stay awake,
he endures a harrowing physical, mental and emotional ordeal while
summoning the will to survive against all the odds.Rapid Eye
Movement was given unprecedented access to Times Square by New York
City to shoot the majority of the film right in the heart of the
“crossroads of the world”. This included closing a lane of traffic
for several weeks to accommodate the placement of the main set –
Rick Weider’s mobile radio broadcast booth where he takes on the
11-day struggle to stay awake. No film has ever had this extensive
shoot in Times Square.The mandate of the film was to create
absolute authenticity. A custom-made soundproof windowed booth was
built to allow live audio recording, eliminating the need for ADR.
Literally thousands of “extras” were always on hand to give the
film scope and realism. The majority of the film was shot using an
ultra-fast 18mm Zeiss lens, creating a much bigger visual space
within the confined setting. No green screens were used for any of
the Times Square scenes. It is a true New York film.Canadian-born
actor François Arnaud takes the lead role of radio DJ Rick Weider.
He embraced the challenge of shooting on location in Times Square,
having to undergo a difficult emotional journey in the middle of
the intensity of New York’s famous landmark area. We always strove
to be authentic and nothing is more real than portraying mental and
physical torment in the midst of thousands of real people, the
cacophony of the city and the dazzling neon lights all around.With
the cooperation of New York City’s Mayor’s Office, The Times Square
Alliance, a band of determined filmmakers, an exceptional cast and
the enthusiasm of thousands of passersby who clamored to appear in
the film, Rapid Eye Movement has become a unique and thrilling
movie experience about pushing the limits of human endurance.Peter
Bishai wrote and directed the epic true-life saga Colors of Heaven
(aka A Million Colours). It is the winner of two South African
Academy Awards, Best Foreign Film at the WorldFest Houston Film
Festival and was the Opening Night Gala film at the Hollywood Black
Film Festival. He also directed the comedy-adventure The Dueling
Accountant, which won Best Comedy Film at the Philadelphia
Independent Film Festival and Best First Feature at the Long Island
International Film Expo.It is profiled in the book Fervid
Filmmaking: 66 Cult Pictures of Vision, Verve and No
Self-Restraint. His newest film is the psychological thriller Rapid
Eye Movement. He lives in New York City.

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