Quiet on the set ...

When the second cameraman snapped the last clapper board, it signaled that party time was imminent. The usually whisper-quiet set came to life with a steady hum. It was as if the crew breathed a sigh of relief in unison. Conversations started and the click of cigarette lighters and small talk bounced through the cavernous studio. The extras mulled around like lost puppies and the stand-ins scurried to see what titles were filming where the following day. Reels of cellulose safety film were stripped off the cameras, stowed in cases and either tied or strapped shut. Lights went out one by one, cluster by cluster, click after click and turned the yellowish, artificial, incandescent daylight into shadowy dusk.