Dec's marriage proposal was nothing short of romantic. It was so unexpected, especially after the bar fight, which made the past 6 months really hard.
For 6 months I had been in London directing my new film Thanks To You which was about a professional dancer who falls in love with a guy she's known since she was a toddler, who was in a band with his best friend. Claire and Maya ended up tagging along because Maya had never been to London before and being UK savvy, Claire wanted to show her everything while I was busy. They also couldn't resist trying European treats to get inspiration for the shop back home. Sam and Nathan eventually joined in to have their needed honeymoon.
Yes, it was great that I was directing my first movie in a city that I had adored for as long as I could remember, but I wished I could actually appreciate the city.
Sure the movie had some classic London locations, Thames, and Downtown, but also had some locations that tourists didn't go to, neighborhoods, and other residential areas. The real London as I called it.
London was extremely different than New York City. Yes, they both are very busy during certain times, but just like New York at night, there are certain moments that just competley take your breath away. Due to chugging 20 cups off coffee each day to stay awake during shooting, I found myself experiencing those moments, the eye, big ben, buckinham palace, and small quante pubs lit up. I didn't like experiencing the sights by myself. When I'd finish shooting, which would be incredibly late at night, I would either be crazy tired and crash before Claire and Maya got home, or I wouldn't catch them because they fell asleep before I got to our hotel room we shared. Also, I didn't want to be the fifth wheel with 2 married couples. But the one thing I could say that kept me happy all the time, other than having my closest friends with me, was Declan sending me pictures and videos of what Charlotte was up to, dance classes, recitals, and just childhood moments that just had to be documented somehow.
Our little muchkin: )
Declan sent in a text with an attached photo of Charlotte at her ballet class, twirling in her tutu, practing arabesques and pirouettes.
The funniest thing Declan had probably sent me was when I was on set, in the pouring ran, when it was supposed to be bright and sunny, but hey, that's what I get for writing a movie that was set in London. No one on set was in a good mood, but the rain made some scenes "notebook worthy" , raising some people's moods, but mine was instantly raised when I got a video of Frankie and Charlotte together.
Charlotte and Frankie stared at the TV screen in intensity, as something big in the movie they were watching together was about to happen. 'Hey baby, what are you watching?' Declan asked. 'Mate,I love you and all, but I don't roll like that. I like women' Frankie smiled. 'Fine Frankie, what are you two-' 'SHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!' Frankie shushed loudly, as Charlotte's focuse never steered from whatever was on TV. As Declan chuckled behind his camera, Frankie mouthed quietly with Charlotte as Ryan Gosling repeated his line to Rachel McAdams in the Notebook, 'So, it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you...' At this point as Charlotte kept mouthing and staring at the screen, she handed her uncle a tissue to wipe his tears.
As Ryan Gosling continued on with his speach, Charlotte snuggled in closer to Frankie's body, almost soaking his shirt with tears. Just when Ryan Gosling was about to say his last line, Frankie shook in a hiccup. Charlotte was already on edge emotionally from the movie, even for a 5 year old, and Frankie scared her. 'Bloody hell!' she yelled, jumping from her seat on the couch. Frankie stared at her, a chuckle escaping his lips, and hiccuped again. Breathing heavily, she threw the pillow at Frankie as he fell off the couch from impact.
