Living in Oblivion

Living in Oblivion is a 1995 lowbudget independent comedydrama film, written and directed by Tom DiCillo and is also Peter Dinklages debut role.

Part one Director Nick Reve Steve Buscemi is shooting a lowbudget independent film in the middle of New York City. The catering crew are underfunded and apathetic, deciding not to replace a carton of milk that has been on the craft service table for a week. The scene being shot is a difficult one a young woman, Ellen, reproaches her elderly mother Rica Martens for not intervening when the father beat Ellen as a child. However, on the set, just about everything that can go wrong does go wrong shots are spoiled because of how the mic boom is visible the camera assistant fails to keep the shot in focus Cora, the actress playing the mother, forgets her lines and Nicole, the actress playing Ellen, becomes increasingly unfocused and careless. A dispirited Nick calls for a rehearsal without camera to refresh the actors. However, when Nicole Catherine Keener berates herself for acting badly, Cora Rica Martens reassures her with a gesture that reminds Nicole of a similar gesture made by her own terminally ill mother. Nicole is so upset by the memory that she turns in an unexpectedly passionate performance and Cora, startled by Nicoles sudden intensity, is equally good. Watching them, Nick becomes enthusiastic all over again. Unfortunately, it was not captured on film cinematographer and camera operator Wolf Dermot Mulroney, who has been diluting the substandard coffee with the spoiled milk, was vomiting in the toilet throughout. Nick ruefully calls for another take. This time, a sudden and insistent beeping sound distracts the actors. Nobody can tell where its coming from and Nick flies into a rage, berating everyone on the crew and cast for their inadequacies. He then wakes up in his own bed the beeping sound was his own alarm clock. He has dreamed the entire segment. It is 4.30am and he is due on set.Part two Early the same morning, the films lead actor Chad Palomino James LeGros is getting dressed in Nicoles hotel room. They have spent the night together, and Chad sugges

Source: Wikipedia