I wanted the scene to feel true.
It wasnt some happy-go-lucky comedy moment with blue paint, but a devastating psychological assault.
It was emotional, which was the point.
They understood deeply how this scene should feel.
Most had been subjected to dirty tricks, or had inflicted them on others.
We shot it during the middle of production because by then, you have confident kids wholl try anything.
TRACHTENBERG:The paint was so cold!
Im so pale that I actually got dyed.
I had patches of blue that didnt come out for a while.
HUGHES:We did it in as few takes as possible.
I didnt feel the need to physically devastate Michelle to get [the emotion] out of her.
Shes a fantastic, natural, instinctive actress.
Those paper towels were really scratchy, and I remember the girls saying, Sorry, well go lighter.
Shes not getting sick!
Bronwen was so cool and knew exactly when she got it.
To film the underwater bathtub scene, the crew shot below a steel-framed Plexiglas tank on a platform.
TRACHTENBERG:Water has always been holy, dangerous, and cathartic, and thats what Bronwen captured.
She was terrified that I was drowning, even though we were all safe and there was a lifeguard.
I was a very odd 10-year-old.
