John Silvestri
Helping Piece Together the Puzzle That is Mosaic
BY BECCA NADLER
2nd AD John Silvestri loves solving problems on set. "The challenge of trying to make what you're working on better in whatever way possible—I think that's the most fun aspect of it."
HBO's Mosaic, directed by Steven Soderbergh, provided ample opportunity for Silvestri to problem solve since the show was structured to be viewed both as a linear TV series and in piecemeal segments via a mobile app. "There was so much prep for it," he says. "We were given a 600-page script that was broken down by characters, [and] only one of the actors had the entire script."
Communicating effectively with the crew also required keeping track of 100-plus-page script revisions, and to add to the complications, scenes were often shot from multiple characters' perspectives. "We came up very early on with the idea to use a character prefix so people would know which script we were pulling from," says Silvestri.
"The harder thing was with the actors, telling four different people what you're doing when on your call sheet you have down four different scene numbers for the same scene."
(Photo: Marcie Revens)
Short profiles of Guild members in all categories sharing their experiences at work.
See more articles from At Work With
Leo N. Bauer
The Advantage of Slowing Things Down
1st AD Leo N. Bauer take his time on set.
Michelle Parvin
2nd AD Michelle Parvin loves the collaborative atmosphere on Amazing Stories.
Duncan White
Ensuring the Surprise Factor
Associate director Duncan White's reality tv experience informs his work on scripted series.
Suzanne Geiger
UPM Suzanne Geiger is always prepared for whatever the day could bring.
Dana Robin
On Venom, the Devil Is in the Details
On Venom, the devil is in the details for UPM Dana Robin
Michael J. Moore
Ironing Out Wrinkles
1st AD Michael J. Moore's scheduling system worked like a charm on A Wrinkle in Time.
Susan Faith Locke-Shapiro
A Daily Polish After the Set Is Cleared
Associate Director Susan Faith Locke-Shapiro's work doesn't end once cameras stop rolling on The Daily Show.
The latest DGA Quarterly features a focus on independent film, including our cover story on Horror's Resurgence, the DGA Interview featuring director Richard Linklater, and more!
View the Fall 2018 Issue
Horror's Resurgence
In uncertain times, directors Fede Alvarez, Ana Lily Amirpour, Susanne Bier, James DeMonaco, David Gordon Green, John Krasinski, Andy Muschietti, Jordan Peele and James Wan update and elevate a time-tested genre with works that invite audiences to confront their fears.
The DGA Interview
Richard Linklater learned by doing, and over the course of his 30-year career, the Texas-based filmmaker has left his own unique stamp on the indie world and beyond.
Dennis Hopper, the Director
As the 50th anniversary of Easy Rider nears, Hollywood's eternal bad boy is examined in a new light.
As he prepares to unveil his latest film, The Front Runner, about Gary Hart's doomed 1988 presidential run, director Jason Reitman reflects on the film's biggest influence, Michael Ritchie's The Candidate.
Director Nikki Parsons on So You Think You Can Dance
Nikki Parsons, the director of the award-winning reality competition show So You Think You Can Dance, oversees the blistering pace required to produce the live show with preternatural calm.
Nicole Holofcener and Robert Frazen
Nicole Holofcener and editor Robert Frazen arrive at the beats and cadences of her character-driven dramas with a shared understanding of the director's intent.