Sc. 30 -- Ext. Doc's Office: Doc tells Harry to show Luke everything

Frank films the scenes in the order listed above, with Sc. 28 consuming the morning before our lunch break at 12:30 p.m. The company picks up Sc. 30 after lunch, which takes the crew until dusk to complete.

Sc. 30 spotlights four key cast members (although only two have dialogue) -- actors Stiers as Doc Stanton and Landau as Harry. In the background listening to the discussion about Luke's amnesiac state are co-stars Whitmore as Stan and character actor Brent Briscoe as Sheriff Coleman.



During our lunch break, Landau entertains some of the crew with anecdotes about actor Bela Lugosi, whom he masterfully played in Tim Burton's memorable 1994 biopic, "Ed Wood.” Landau won virtually every acting award that year for his unforgettable performance, culminating in the Oscar as Best Supporting Actor. His was truly one of the best performances ever given in a motion picture, and Landau is humbled when complimented about his uncanny portrait of Hollywood's fading horror movie icon.



Someone in the small crowd asks Landau if he has ever seen a 1946 feature (one of Lugosi's least memorable roles) called "Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla" (yes, folks, that's an actual movie). Landau, in his research on Lugosi, screened every title he could find on the actor. The memory seems to spark the actor to throw us a couple of lines from "Ed Wood" as well as the gorilla picture. These are the moments that endear crew members to our craft.

Landau finishes his improvisational bits, then completes his ballot for Sunday's Academy Awards, which I am supervising on behalf of the crew. In parting for the set, we agree to all meet in the Red Lion's lobby bar, "R.J. Grins, " to catch the telecast of Sunday's Oscars. For many of us, it will be quite a thrill watching these ceremonies, knowing that among us is one of the industry's finest talents, one who stood on that very stage in Hollywood six years before to accept his own statue in recognition of his stellar portrayal of one Bela Lugosi.

Curiously, in looking over Landau's ballot, he chooses actor Willem Dafoe as the year's Best Supporting Actor for his role as another memorable movie vampire -- Max Schreck playing Nosferatu in "Shadow of the Vampire." Turns out, Landau, confident of his pick, bet co-star Brian Howe $5 that Dafoe would land the award. We'll see who pockets the money Monday.

Coming up next week -- the Mayor of Lawson meets the Mayor of Ferndale.