FIRST POSITION PLEASE !

Report from shooting of the film Bear's Kiss in Lysekil and Uddevalla, Sweden, June 2001.

PART 1

It all started with an article in the Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet 13th of May 2001. There one could read the news that actress Rebecka Liljeberg, 20 years old to the day, would take part in a new film directed by Russian filmmaker Sergei Bodrov. This was very exciting news for all of us who has learnt to appreciate Rebecka's acting performances in films and TV-series like Närkontakt (Close Encounter), Fucking Åmål (aka Show Me Love), Där Regnbågen Slutar (Where The Rainbow Ends) and Skärgårdsdoktorn (The Archipelago Doctor) to name but a few.

From further Swedish newspaper articles it soon became clear that shooting of this new film, named Bear's Kiss and telling the story about a travelling circus where Rebecka plays the part as young trapeze artist Lola, partly would take place in Lysekil and Uddevalla in the west of Sweden. This region, with Trollhättan as the main city, has in only a few years developed into a Scandinavian center of film production. It was in Trollhättan where Fucking Åmål was produced in April and May of 1998, a film which during the last years has been followed by several successful Swedish and foreign film productions in the so called Four Town Region.

Since I myself live in a town not far away from this film production area in the west of Sweden I soon started thinking about the possibility to travel to the filming location and maybe get to see something. The opportunity to see shooting of a new film featuring Rebecka Liljeberg would probably not turn up again within the foreseeable future. According to the newspaper articles the shooting would commence in Lysekil the 28th of May and go on for 16 days. Reportedly the film team was going to pitch up a large circus tent in the North Harbour of Lysekil. This was also confirmed by an e-mail to the tourist information office in Lysekil.

No sooner said than done, Saturday 2nd of June 2001 I went for a trip north to Lysekil. It really was by pure chance. The only thing I knew about was the circus tent in the North Harbour, but I didn't know anything about how or when the shooting would take place, what days and what times they were going to shoot or in what locations. I also didn't know what these shooting locations would look like and whether it would be possible to get close enough to see anything or not. The purpose of the trip was of course to try and catch a glimpse of my favorite actress although I tried not to have any high expectations.

It took two hours of driving before I reached Lysekil which is a beautiful small harbour town in the rocky landscape of Bohuslän. There were lots of cars and lots of people out in the narrow streets this sunny summer day. On the radio, Swedish-Greek band Antique's latest hit I would die for you was playing as I slowly drove along the street passing by the shops and restaurants at the South Harbour. I soon managed to find the North Harbour on the other side of town, where I immediately spotted the large blue and white circus tent.

The circus tent was pitched up on a small enclosed area next to a little cape sticking out in the boat harbour. On one side of this area there were a couple of big industry buildings and sheds and on the other side the main street, Norra Hamnvägen. This made the large circus tent look a little bit squeezed in against the fence next to the street. Most of the film requisites seemed to be in place. Old cars and caravans in typical circus style were arranged on a space of grass. Laundry was hanging on a cord between the caravans and Chinese lanterns had been put up all around. Two horses were standing in a small tent next to the caravans. No bear in sight though. No Rebecka either.

At this early in the day, about 12.30, there weren't any major activities at the filming location. Some people were just walking around, looking after the film equipment, while others just sat in the sun talking to each other. In a corner, next to the trucks and caravans belonging to the film crew, I saw some young kids preparing for a circus performance. They had changed their clothes and were practising their part of the performance. My expectations were pretty low at this time. There was no action to talk about and I thought they were just doing rehearsals in preparation for upcoming scenes and that no professional actors would appear this day. I spent the next few hours walking around Lysekil, eating lunch, and looking at all the people before I returned to the North Harbour.

Now things had started to happen! Spotlights and lampshades had been rigged up and there were several actors and circus artists dressed up in circus clothes, exercising different performances. One guy stood juggling, another was practising his unicycle and in a small outdoor manege two girls were making acrobatics on the back of the two horses. It seemed like they were going to shoot some scenes this day after all! There was no problem getting close enough to watch. The film area was enclosed by fencing, but it was possible to stand at the gate and watch. There was always someone from the film crew guarding the gate to prevent unauthorized people from entering the film area. It was not a big area. Everything took place right before my eyes, only a few metres away from the gate where I was standing. Now and then a few more curious spectators turned up next to me to have a look, but otherwise there seemed not to be any great interest or commotion around the film production.

The first scene to be shot this day was a short scene that seemed to describe the preparations for the circus. Two men were carrying a couple of boxes, while in the background the guy on the unicycle and the acrobatic girls on the horses were practising their performances. Another guy was standing on a ladder putting up Chinese lanterns. First, they rehearsed the scene a few times until the director was satisfied and then they made a couple of real shootings on film. The director was standing inside the circus tent looking at his screen, while a female director's assistant was outside, giving the actors signs and commands on what to do. It was interesting to follow their work.

During the afternoon they also shot some scenes inside the circus tent. The walls of the tent was partly open so one could see what was going on inside. It was basically some different gymnastics and acrobatics performed by children and youngsters. I spoke to a man who was waiting outside. He said his son was taking part in the shootings. Apparently the film team had hired a dance- and gymnastics group in Lysekil to acquire children for the circus performances.

On the street passing by the circus tent

After being out for a short walk I soon returned to the shooting location. Time was about 16.30. Then, when I least expected it, I suddenly got to see Rebecka Liljeberg! I came walking on the sidewalk along the street passing by the film scene and the circus tent. The only thing keeping me out from the shooting location was a two metre high fencing. This was the backside of the circus tent where trucks and caravans, among them the so called Mask-Mobil, belonging to the film team, was being parked. Suddenly Rebecka appeared from behind a caravan in company with a guy, only a few metres away from the fence where I came walking by! I looked at her, she looked at me and I turned my head around after her when she disappeared behind the Mask-Mobil. It all happened too fast for me to react, but for sure it was Rebecka!

Just imagine, this talented actress who I have read so much about and probably seen every appearance she has made on screen, now I suddenly got to see her in person in front of me! After a minute of hesitation I turned around and went past again. I looked at Rebecka where she was now sitting on a small doorstep in front of a house, eating something from a paper plate. She was on the other side of the fence only a few metres away from the sidewalk where I came walking. Rebecka looked up at me and followed me with her eyes. It was nothing strange, she just looked up as you do when someone passes by and maybe she wondered why I was glaring at her. Probably she understood that I recognized her. I don't know what she thought about that. Personally, I would probably not find it very amusing if strangers kept glaring at me.

But it's a little strange the way you react in a situation like this. I mean, here I had been travelling almost 200 kilometres to try and catch a glimpse of my favorite actress and when I finally got to see her I became totally paralysed. I didn't say or do anything. But deep inside I was very happy just to have seen her. It's really quite incredible that I managed to find the shooting location guided only by information in the newspapers and that I managed to pick out a day when Rebecka was present!

After that nothing much happened for a while. Rebecka disappeared and I was rambling about waiting for some action from the shooting scene. I was now convinced that I was going to see Rebecka Liljeberg acting! The film crew was busy rigging up cameras and spotlights but on the acting front nothing happened. Around 19.30 things started to move. Rebecka came out from the Mask-Mobil where she had been dressed and made up for the upcoming scene. The film technicians still had some work to do, so Rebecka just sat down on the grass next to the open space of asphalt in front of the circus tent waiting. I stood at the gate about ten metres away watching.

Finally they were ready to start shooting. In this scene Rebecka's character Lola would appear from the circus tent and walk towards the group of caravans while the camera followed her. At the same time another few circus artists, among them the guy with the unicycle, would be passing by in the background. Not a very advanced scene, but at least I got to see Rebecka in action! It was very exciting! First they rehearsed the scene twice until the camera man was satisfied. He was positioned on some kind of mobile lift that slowly raised itself several metres above the ground while he followed Rebecka with his camera as she was crossing the open space of asphalt. Rebecka was dressed in a pair of light khaki coloured loose fitting trousers and a brown and white sweater. Her hair was made up in a single pigtail in the back. During rehearsals she was also wearing a thick warm coat. The wind had started to blow at the film scene and it became much more chilly during the evening.

When they were done with the rehearsals and the actors knew where and when to move it was time to start the real shooting. All the time I stood at the gate watching and it was just perfect! Everything took place right before my eyes, only a few metres away! It was very important that everyone kept quiet during shooting. The film crew stood still and quiet, the few spectators were told to be quiet and turn off their mobile phones. On the street passing by, the traffic was stopped during shooting. It was really quite interesting. You never think about how much work there is behind the scenes of a film production.

They shot the scene three or four times before they were completely satisfied. "First position please!" the female director's assistant called out whereupon all the actors returned to their original positions. On the command "Background action!" the extras started to move according to their instructions and then it was time for the actors to do their part. Rebecka had removed her coat and came patiently walking from the circus tent, over the space of asphalt towards the caravans, over and over again until the director was satisfied. Every time when the scene was done and the director's assistant called "Thank you!" and "First position please!" another assistant came running with Rebecka's coat so that she wouldn't be freezing on her way back to her starting position! Well, she is the main character after all! Unfortunately it also started to rain now.

However, the director seemed satisfied with this scene, so they took a break while preparing for the next scene. Time was about 20.30 in the evening. Now I began to understand the backside of being an actor. Lots of waiting between short scenes to be shot over and over again. A trying profession no doubt! It was getting darker outside and the circus area was illuminated by the Chinese lanterns and the signs with the text "Circus Fortunato". It was very beautiful and created a nice magic atmosphere!

Next scene was shot inside a caravan some distance away from the circus tent, why I couldn't see much. Not until 22.30 in the evening it looked like they were done in the caravan and went on with the next scene that would take place in the area in front of the circus tent. The film technicians had built up a lamp shade with floodlights inside to illuminate the area in front of the tent during the next scene. The lamp shade was shaped like a big square box, several cubic metres large, and was manouvred by a rented crane. I went over to the entrance once again.

The film crew was working late in the evening

Meanwhile, supper and something warm to drink had been arranged for the actors and the rest of the film crew just inside the gate at the front entrance. The gate was open and I was standing just a few metres away from Rebecka Liljeberg as she was reaching for something to eat and drink. So close but still so far away..... Rebecka had her hair in two pigtails as opposed to a single pigtail as she had before and she was wearing a thick warm coat. She was laughing and talking. I stood only a few metres away watching her although I pretended to be looking at something else. Rebecka turned her head and looked in my direction. It's true, she looked straight into my eyes! Or maybe it was just my imagination. Those beautiful eyes that makes me think about Agnes in Fucking Åmål. I wish I'd had the presence of mind to approach her and ask her for a picture. Maybe I'd even got the opportunity to talk to her then. But I didn't have the courage. Soon the film crew started working again and the chance I had was gone forever.

I watched the next scene. There was sort of a sad "when the show is over" type of atmosphere over this scene. Silent trumpet music was played and one of the actors came walking from the caravans, over the space of asphalt and into the circus tent. At the same time some girls passed by in the background and greeted each other. Another couple, a boy and a girl, came walking hand in hand. Once again I noticed how important it was that everyone kept quiet. Even the screaming sea gulls disturbed the shooting and made everyone wait until it was quiet! From a house not far away from the harbour, a couple of overrefreshed and bawling people came walking. One of the guys in the film crew ran over to try and silence them.

Sunset over the film location in Lysekil

I started to freeze. It was almost midnight and I was tired and hungry. I had spent the entire day at the film scene and was quite satisfied. For how long they had planned to be working this night I didn't know. At least I had seen my favorite actress, which was my goal, and I had seen how the shooting of a film was done. Considering my two hour drive back home I decided to leave.

It was dark and rainy. I drove nonstop all the way home, listening to the night radio that played Culture Club Do you really want to hurt me?, Antique I would die for you and Kim Wilde Cambodia. I came home at just after two o'clock in the morning but already I wanted to go back. I wanted to see more from the film shooting. And I wanted to see more of Rebecka.

[To be continued in part 2!]