Director's Chair...

No I’m not referring to the very informative ezine by Peter D Marshall, which I highly recommend to every indie film maker or the famous interviews of pioneers, movers and shakers of the industry. I’m talking about a funny incident that happened to me while filming a DVD promo for a Hula dance troop. I was setting up the scene with my DP and out of nowhere a Chinese/Filipino elderly woman sat in my (Director) chair. Now I’m from the old school and I was taught to respect your elders, but my chair was directly in front of the video village that I needed to see the shot. The elderly woman was very comfortable in my chair and even asks me to get her a drink, as if she didn’t know I was the guy directing the scene. My producer approached me and volunteered to assist the nice lady with another chair but she refused because she could see her granddaughter much better through the monitor. My crew began to whisper to one another that I was being punk'd Asian-style? Then I recall something similar happening to my friend where an elderly woman took his chair in front of the cake and it was his birthday! To make a long story short (way beyond that point) I finished the day standing next to the elderly woman and even ask her opinion about certain shots. The moral of the story is to respect your elders, even if it cost you your (Director) chair.