The End of 2008

December's passing quickly, and with it comes a new year with new opportunities! I want to continue doing extra work off and on. There's an open call next week for Law Abiding Citizens extras in Philadelphia, to start work in January. I hope to increase my New York work. There's a number of shows I hope to work on next year. It's also time I get new headshots, and I feel ready to get an agent in New York, so that's what direction I'm looking towards for the new year. I will be taking an early Christmas vacation in Omaha, Nebraska in time for my birthday.
Will post again after the new year. Merry Christmas!

Filming 30 Rock in New York

By Thomas M. Hagen.

December 2nd, 2008.

I was called yesterday by casting to work today on the tv show "30 Rock" in New York. Queens, actually. Long Island City, Queens. This was a call two years in the making. I've wanted to work on 30 Rock since it's pilot episode, and was quite elated when I got the call. Now I just have to do Life on Mars, Fringe, and all three Law & Orders and I'll be set!

This morning I took a train to New York and made my way over to Long Island City. There I reported to one of NYC's largest studios, Silvercup Studios. The Sopranos filmed from here. Now they have 30 Rock and Gossip Girls. Signed the visitors log and went to a holding area adjacent to the lobby. there's about thirty extras here today.

It felt hot in holding so I ventured down the hallways between studios, to craft services. Got some water, and saw Tina Fey for a second at the other end of craft services, chatting with crew. Not wanting to celeb-stare at her, I focused on my water. Coming back to holding I passed show actor Jack McBrayer as he was coming into the studio.

Back in holding, i got signed in and wardrobe will be here soon to give our clothes the once over. The p.a. went over the specifics of our scene. We're in a bar, the 'ninja bar' as bar patrons. Alec Baldwin and and a few other actors from the show will be in this ninja bar. Alec Baldwin's character is missing his girlfriend and is hanging out with the guys in this bar.

A half hour later, several ninja garbed extras reentered holding. All black, complete with ninja masks. These ninjas will be the bar's waiters. Two of the black garbed ninjas practiced exhibitionist sparring on the far side of holding. Very Matrix-like. Clearly, they knew what they're doing. And actor Fred Willard just walked by, looking in on our room for a moment before moving on.

The two ninjas continue sparring. I went to wardrobe for approval. they had me change shirts to a purple sweater, as if I wasn't hot enough. On my way back to holding, shirts changed, I had to wait off to the side as a gaggle of Gossip Girl extras carrying chairs passed through the hallway.
Went back through the studio hallways with a coupl extras to forage over craft services to kill time. They were filming inside the studio nearby, as indicated by the flashing red light, and the occasionl bell ringing at the cut of each take. I've never heard the studio bell for real before. In movies, yes, but not in person. On the east coast, most filming is outdoor locations, or another setting. There's no bell. I guess I haven't done enough studio filming! This is my second time in a studio.

But our filming set will actually be a bar elsewhere. First they'll break us for lunch, and then we start filming after. Sitting here as the cooks prepare sizzling cuisine and steaming pasta, it is smelling good! But we have to wait until the crew eats before we do, so I drifted off to sleep in my chair while waiting. Woke up when thewy called lunch for us extras.
I chose the sausages and potatoes, the alfreda pasta, and some smoked gouda cheese. Right after lunch, they vanned the sparring ninjas over to set. Twenty five minutes later, i was with the last group of extras to go to the bar set.

Went upstairs to extras holding on the second floor, with a balcony overhanging the table where the actors will sit. Great birds eye view! So far, I saw actor Judah Friedlander down below.
I was selected to be one of the first few extras to go downstairs when they're ready. Meanwhile, they're banging a gong downstairs, testing it. It's amazing (another gong) how it all looks like pandemonium down below. Like worker bees scurrying to and fro. So many departments. To the naked eye it looks like pure chaos, 15-20 crew talking at the same time, brushing to get past each other and equipment, the equipment clanking, and walkie's blaring. It's a film set!

I went downstairs and was placed at a bar table near the actors table. Suddenly I noticed Alec Baldwin sitting at a booth across the bar, studying his lines. So, Alec Baldwin, Judah Friedlander, and show actors Lonny Ross, Keith Powell, and John Lutz sit at the table and talk to each other for the scene. Soon the actors replaced their stand ins at the table, and filming was starting!
For the scene, my attention is directed at the stage, watching the ninjas spar Matrix-lite. They changed what the ninjas had to do. a few takes in the ninjas pick up weapons. One a crossbow, the other a japanes blade. Over the next couple hours, they covered the three pages of dialogue from many angles. A few of those angles with me in camera view.

Alec Baldwin is running at a mile a minute. In between takes, he's quirky, funny, full of anecdotes for his co-actors at the table. He bases some of his character's dimensions off Lorne Michaels, who created and runs Saturday Night Live. But he could turn on a dime from joking into outspoken annoyance if he perceived his performance was being wasted and it could be avoided, which he spoke up about a few takes in.

Later on, while I was pantomiming conversation with the other extra at my table, that extra was talking above a whisper. At the end of the take, Alec Baldwin looks at us and points out there was noise coming from our corner. I just looked at my partner because I was not about to look at Alec Baldwin when he's hot!

During the takes, I had to keep taking swigs from my pint glass of what must have been O'Doul's mixed with lemonade. My partner wouldn't touch it, but I drank it to sell that I was in a bar. But it was killing my throat with all it's sugar! Three-four hours downstairs filming, and I got sent back to holding, as they weren't filming my angle.

Down below, Alec is getting very audible about getting this scene finished. I was sent back down to the bar for a reverse angle shot of the scene before. I sat at the far end of the bar away from camera so I don't mess up the scene's continuity. Having not slept last night, the fatigue was coming on, so I used the scene's 'guise' of a man leaning obver his drink, staring down at it, to let myself drift off to sleep, head above the drink. They called action or cut, I just didn't move at all. Perfect placement. I drifted off for a bit.

After that, they did an overhead shot from above the actors table. 90 degree staright down view. After that, we were wrapped!

A couple town cars were parked outside waiting for the passengers. I passed Alec Baldwin as he left the set. The other actors were getting ready to go. Went upstairs above the bar and got signed out, and took a treain back to the Philadelphia area.

Alec Baldwin is one of those actors who, like Stallone, or Nicolas Cage, feel larger then life to see them in person. He was terrific in The Hunt for Red October, one of my favorite movies, and it was exciting to work in such proximity to him! I took the day in wonder, and the shoot felt magical. The same feeling I felt the first time I did the West wing eight years ago...it's still there. And I'm glad to know it is. I never want it to go away...that extra work just becomes another day, becomes stale.

The filming we did today is for Episode 13 "Goodbye, My Friend." As a regular watcher of the show, I will be sure to see it when it airs! Two buzzwords to listen for to know it's the scene if the ninjas don't do it for you, 'mozzarella tempora' and 'hot tamales'. That's my day on 30 Rock! Thanks for reading!

"Blowing Up the Eastern Market”

With the recent release of the Ridley Scott film: Body of Lies, here's my journal from the day on set.

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Wednesday, September 5th, 2007
Here we are. September. And coming to town is a movie directed by Ridley Scott and starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Russell Crowe. "Body of Lies" about a former Iraqi reporter creating a fake CIA agent that's infiltrated al qeada to cast sucspicion and have al qeada turn against itself. And it's a Ridley Scott film starring Leo D'Prio and phone man Russell Crowe. Did I mention that?
The casting office booked me about five days ago to work in Washington. Took a night bus to D.C. and walked a few blocks to Union Station, to wait the rest of the night until my 5:30 am calltime. Restless about sitting in the very quiet Union Station, I wandered out and about the Capitol Hill area at about 1:00 in the morning, for an hour or two.
Took some time to chill, lay on cement walls and enjoy the view. The white stone of the Capitol Bldg & the Washington Monument lit up brilliantly, shine so bright and beautiful at night. I visited what I call the Lion Fountain near where North Capitol St comes to an end. A perfect view of the Capitol rotunda. Meandered over to the Capitol Bldg, past the Chinese Grotto, and sat ojn the steps on the West Side, looking at the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument lit up just as dazzling!
I didn't want to stay there too long, in case Park or Capitol Police had a problem with that, so I moved down to the Capitol Reflecting Pool for a while. The Hill is very quiet at night with the hiss of sprinklers going off in many places. Reflecting, it brought back memories of things I've done here before:
-On a field trip in '96, the whole class was dared to run around the length of the Capitol Reflecting Pool. Most of us, including me, chose to walk around instead.
-Looking at the Mall and Monuments from the top off the Capitol Bldg steps, back when you were allowed to go up that far, and the right angle triangle of Constitution and Pennsylvania was noticeable from that height.
-Sitting in a studio at the CNN Bldg between Union Station and the Greyhound bus station for a now defunct show called "Burden of Proof."
-A Capitol Fourth of July. Walking back from the Capitol to Union Station with family. Literally sick from the heat. The sprinklers were going off and we all walked into them fully dressed, cooling us off fast. We were one degree from dancing in them!
-Running from the Capitol Bldg area on the day of Ronald Reagan's funeral procession down the street. While lined on the sidewalk, a terror scare occurred, and suddenly, Capitol Police was barking at everyone to just run! Not giving thought to reason, just to react, I did, along with most everyone else. False alarm. Turns out a Governer's plane's transponder was malfunctioning.
A lot of memories here. Yes. Yes. But what about the filming? Right you are! Got to extras parking at RFK Stadium by 4:30 am. Always early is always good. At 5:15, hopped on the bus over to extras holding inside Eastern Market's building. The part of it that didn't get burned in a recent fire. The set is right outside the Building, lining it's wall. A Dutch flower market. There are European vehicles and Vespa scooters parked out front. I know I just travelled a mile from the Capiutol Bldg, and that technically, I'm still in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, but I'm no longer in America. I'm in Amsterdam!
There's about a hundred extras here. Euro charcater types. I guess that includes me. Sitting at a table, and behind me, are a bunch of fake plastic bodies on the floor. Bomb victims. That's right. Fake burned corpses. Did I say bomb? Yup. The scene we're filming at this Dutch Market is a car blowing up. I've read that it's going to be a simulated explosion, not an actual explosion. That's a relief, because they didn't offer me hazard pay! The first extra I met at parking said to me within thirty seconds of meeting her "I get blown up in car." I've never had a conversation begin with that sentance before. Unique. Should be a fun day ahed. I'm looking forward to it. My charcter - a shopper.
Wardrobe had approved my choice of black leather coat & Irish cap. The leather coat, I knew would be very hot to wear today, but I've been hoping to wear it in a scene, and today I got my chance!
Placed on set soon after, as a man delivering a stack of newspapers onto the pavement. The scene is: The terrorist backs his car into a parking space. Gets out, bumping past a Japanese tourist and then her husband who's trying to take her picture. The husband gives him a look, then goes ahead with the picture, and the director yells freeze, and everyone does. This would be the moment of boom!
Originally, I was close in frame for the steadicam, one of four cameras filming the scene amidst the simulate hustle and bustle of a marketplace. But the steadicam was repositioned beyond me, so I was out of the shot. I could only stand and watch. Take after take, the director yells freeze, and crew would run in taking digital snapshots of the central extras from various angles. Probably for cgi trickery.
The camera angles changed to cover the same action from other angles. I wasn't a part of this either. Next, I saw the car was rigged mechanically to blow, and the cars on either side of it to rock or be overturned. I thought the pyrotechnics or simulated pyrotechnics were about to happen, so I watched from the opposite side of the street when they began filming again, since I wasn't in the shot. But then I decided to return to my marker in case the crew decided to film a shot in my direction. The actual explosion wasn't up yet, just another freeze shot.
On the next two takes, those within frame were told to recoil backwards at the call of "Boom!" And this was really neat to watch. "Action!" is called, the trrorist brushes past them, the husband takes apicture of his wife, and as the A.D. yells "Boom!" a crowd fifty deep go backwards, flailing with a pretend shockwave. Flowers they were holding go flying. Even with no explosion it looked pretty real. With a cgi enhanced explosion, perfect. I should also mention the dummies are now fully dressed and have makeup applied, lying in a heap across the street.
We broke for lunch. A little grotesque lunch because makeup dept had applied soot, blood, ripped clothing, and wounds to about a dozen "bomb victim" extras. Bloody faces casually eating lunch. Bizzare. This is Hollywood. After lunch, sat in a small holding hall, with the dutch flower shop right out the side door. Must be close to explosion time, because the fire marshall in a hard hat, is now on the set giving safety instructions, as opposed to sitting in the firetruck that's been on the corner all morning. I will also take the opportunity to mention that although Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe weren't on the set today, Ridley Scott was very much alive and directing all day.
Got sent back outside, where after waiting to be placed and was left standing by a tape line of onlookers, I was blocked for wealking on the set's edge past a car. The p.a. gives a 3-2-1 countdown then "Boom!" I along with everyone recoil and stumble to the ground in shock, staggering up, and stumbling away disoriented. Finally! I get to do some cool action and acting today. Even as I was aware that I was out of the four or five camera's range. Good thing too, as my first take ended very badly. I recoiled to the ground, and as I scrambled to my feet, I tripped over a firehose and went down again, unplanned this time. My shoe came off, and I landed on my back unhurt. I remember that I laughed at the sheer moronic-ness of it, and that it was something only I can do to myself.
Now we were gearing up for the big moment. The boom. They set up the extras on the street differently, and I wasn't in this, so i spent the time on the street corner a half block from the rigged car. Before going to the real thing, more than a dozen final rehearsals were done. I saw a stuntmen by the exploding car with a wire strapped to his back. On detonation, he will be yanked backward fast to approximate a shockwave. Following rehearsals, a final safety meeting was called. Than a half dozen firefighters stood nearby with water hoses pressurized, as "picture up" was called on the real thing. I had earplugs in my ears for the sound, and 3...2...1... The car emitted a fireball, and an explosive sound not as loud as I expected. Compressed air cannons blew out the doors and windows. Hydraulic contraptions on two cars on either side of the bomb car, caused them to flip over.
In addition to the four or five cameras filming the action, a helicopter with a mounted camera flew close to film an aerial view. As soon as the helicopter had arrived and was hovering overhead, picture was up, and the explosion commenced. Even as far way as I and a few other extras were, on detonation, we got rained on by a shower of little glass bits pelting down like hail. To protect myself, I spun around, dropping to one knee, leting the leather jacket and hat be my protection, as I put my back to the glass, like you might turn your back to sandy wind or a blizzard flurry, to protect face and eyes. It was over in a second or two,. Bits of glass were now scattered all over the area. So that was my first on-set explosion.
Was sent to holding where I spent the rest of the next hour while they filmed a post-bomb scene outside involving news reporters, bomb victims, and European firefightes. Was in there until we were wrapped for the day. Went through sign out, and saw many of the extras carrying flowers from the now destroyed market. Returning there from holding, I picked some flowers left over. Many spectators had swarmed in behind the the wreckage of five burnt cars and scavenged for any pretty bouquets not damaged or destroyed. I observed that now there were five vehicles burnt and destroyed, not three. They really destroyed these cars! Hollywood.
Sat down on a bench across the street from Eastern Market and watched a forklift move all the vehicles down to the end of the block, where it had rained glass on me. Two of the cars had to be pushed rightside up with the sound of metal groaning, and breaking as they flipped rightside up. Watched the forklift operator work for half an hour before heading to Union Station to meet my sister for some deep dish pizza at Pizzeria Uno. After that, back to good ol' Philly!

Hasidic Jewish Kidnapper. Must be comfortable with kidnapping. Apply here!

November is upon us now, and I'm looking towards Law Abiding Citizen to be the last movie of the year to work on. That is, if my holiday plans don't preempt that.

I was called by a casting director in New York about being a featured extra on a tv show on the Starz Network that was out from L.A. filming, called "Head Case." Never heard of the show. They wanted me to play a Hasidic, Jewish, kidnapper. Which...just sounds a degree of zany. But a few days went by without word, so I called them back. Turns out that the role had changed, and they didn't need me. How many actors on both coasts get that a day. Lots, I imagine. The nature of the biz.

October Already?

Just a quick stop in. Is it already October? I've been very busy working two jobs, about eighty hours a week, and not a lot of time to even think about extra work. Dissapointed that I didn't get to work on the Transfromers sequel. Looking forward to upcoming movie in Philly: "Law Abiding Citizen" and an HBO pilot in DC called "Washingtonienne."

July Fourth.

It is July Fourth, and while I work tonight, and miss the regular fetivities of fireworks, I can celebrate in other ways. Today I have been watching the HBO miniseries "John Adams" on dvd. John Adams. A visionary who could only hope without any ceartainty to unify the colonies in declaring cessation from mother England, and establishing an incorruptible government of self rule rooted in law.

This while facing his own impatience pressuring him, the long days here in Philadelphia of the gentlemen who talked for the sound of their own voice, a ragtag, hungry army as their only hope, the threat of British troops marching on Philadelphia and beheading those daring to assembly in public, and the worries of a wife and family left in Massachussetts, stricken with small pox. That America could win it's independence was such a long shot. Well, thanks to his vision, including the recommendation of Colonel Washington to lead the continental army, we did.

I wanted to post an excerpt from a letter John Adams wrote two centuries back, and the leat letter Thomas Jefferson wrote before his death in 1826. Of interesting historical note, John adams and thomas Jefferson died the same day. Before he died, Adams said "Jefferson lives." Unaware that Jefferson had passed away hours earlier. Two great men who sometimes clashed angrily, but will forever be remembered for their part.

John Adams:

"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not."

Thomas Jefferson:

"To Roger C. Weightman, Monticello, June 24, 1826

RESPECTED SIR, --

The kind invitation I receive from you, on the part of the citizens of the city of Washington, to be present with them at their celebration on the fiftieth anniversary of American Independence, as one of the surviving signers of an instrument pregnant with our own, and the fate of the world, is most flattering to myself, and heightened by the honorable accompaniment proposed for the comfort of such a journey. It adds sensibly to the sufferings of sickness, to be deprived by it of a personal participation in the rejoicings of that day. But acquiescence is a duty, under circumstances not placed among those we are permitted to control. I should, indeed, with peculiar delight, have met and exchanged there congratulations personally with the small band, the remnant of that host of worthies, who joined with us on that day, in the bold and doubtful election we were to make for our country, between submission or the sword; and to have enjoyed with them the consolatory fact, that our fellow citizens, after half a century of experience and prosperity, continue to approve the choice we made. May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That form which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God. These are grounds of hope for others. For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.

I will ask permission here to express the pleasure with which I should have met my ancient neighbors of the city of Washington and its vicinities, with whom I passed so many years of a pleasing social intercourse; an intercourse which so much relieved the anxieties of the public cares, and left impressions so deeply engraved in my affections, as never to be forgotten. With my regret that ill health forbids me the gratification of an acceptance, be pleased to receive for yourself, and those for whom you write, the assurance of my highest respect and friendly attachments. "




Happy Fourth of July!

Window.

I paid a visit to the South Philadelphia block where I worked two of my days on Rocky Balboa. More specifically, to Franco & Luigi's Pastaria. The best pizza in Philadelphia is here, without doubt, and it seems to be one of Philly's best kept secret. I first had their pizza when working on Rocky, and was blown away by the quality. When I decided to move to Philadelphia, truth was, it was because of this resteraunt.

I don't get to stop by that often. I've only been ther three times since 2006, but when I walk through that door, it's amazing. Known for the pizza, it also boasts the singing chef. And when I stopped in the other day, I closed my eyes and listened to the songs sung in Italian, accompanied by accordian. The song was romantic and full of a heritage. Of culture, and tradition. Listening to it, I realized, that as we go through each busy day, we forget the simple beauty that can be found around us. I had forgotten that such a world could exist.

Music in particular, takes me to another place, and it's been too long since I'd listened to true music. Thanks Franco and Luigi. I have to come back soon!

The Joy of Being an Extra

It's always nice, as an extra, when you get some face time oncreen. It's true! I did watch the Happening, and there I am walking to camera, and past it.

I also updated my imdb filmography here:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2213168/

Smokin' Jackets and Sigourney!

One winter day while working on "The Village" I was seated in an auditorium hall for one scene. I was in the back row of chairs, with a huge space heater right behind me, cooking my back...and coat! Sigourney Weaver and Brendan Gleason were standing near me, on my right. She commented to me that I had the best seat in the house. I wanted to say "If I start smoking, there's a problem." What came out was a fractured inversion, that Yoda could have said better. There was a moment of bewilderment visible on her face. The words "Shut up, just shut up." went through my head, and I did so. Starstruck, wouldn't you know. Happens to extras too.

By Degree

Kevin Bacon has been added to the cast of "My One and Only." That takes me down a few spots, to one degree of Kevin Bacon. That's pretty cool to be able to claim!

A Day at the Lake -The Filming of "My One and Only" in Middle River, MD.

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008.



First off, I'll say that where we are filming today, at the edge of Gunpowder Falls State Park in Middle River, beyond Baltimore, is a breathtakingly gorgeous view of the Gunpowder River complimented by beautiful green grass and trees. Very picturesque. No wonder a movie would film here!


So, this movie stars Renee Zellweger, who is here today, as is David Koechner (Get Smart, the Comebacks). Being a period piece, the 1950's, they are both dressed for the era. Mr. Koechner is almost unrecognizable in spectacles and a pie hat. Also being a period piece, I am in period clothes as well. So are the tweny-five other extras here today by the water. Did mention how gorgeous the view is?


I came to Baltimore last week, and was fitted in period wardrobe, including red suspenders. I got suspendered! This morning, I drove down from Philadelphia at 5am to make an 8am calltime, with time to spare. Didn't get any sleep the night before, which is typical when I am working a shoot. I did make it here just fine, and parked close to the beach.


It's been a low-key morning. Picked up my costume from wardrobe, and changed. In addition to my outfit, they gave me a fedora hat. Then went to hair and makeup. It takes a long time to braid women's hair for the 1950's, and the hair dressers kept getting called to set, so it was two hours before it was my turn. I was a bit nervous that they would decide to shave my beard, and breathed a mental sigh of relief when they didn't.

Once we were called to set, most of us were positioned on the grass by the water, lying near vintage antique cars, on blankets, reposing for a picnic. A good 1950's recreation. An hour down here by the blanket, and I felt like it was the 1950's. B ut we're just the window dressing. The real action was taking place up a sloped hill, where Renee Zellweger is seated with other principals at a picnic table overlooking us and the lake.

So I got to recline on a blanket, with a fellow extra and friend I've known for several years. In addition, Bailey, a young red headed boy of about five-six years old was "asssigned" to us to be our child for the scene. Utterly cute and full of energy, he kept running off in between takes to chase down dragonflys. And he was also given a cap gun to play cowboy with, which he ceartainly enjoyed 'shooting.'

After lunch, we were repositioned to a new setup down below. The extra playing my 'wife' and I would walk to the edge of the water, and look out actross the river. Bailey would just be running around, playing with his toy gun. They filmed about ten or so takes, and then set up reverse angles on the picnic table up the hill.

We were then repositioned up the hill, in front of the picninc table. I wasn't used however, and spent the next few hours watching the filming from out of the way, and occasionally reflecting at the view of the lake. Wrapped at 12 hours in, I got changed back in to comfortable civvies, and drove on home. Another fun day well done!

I Happened.

A friend tells me I show up larger then life walking past Mark Wahlberg on the big screen on The Happening. Now I have to watch the movie. (Well, maybe the first twenty minutes!)

Gotta Go Back in Time!

Just a photo from the set of the movie I've been currently working on that proves I have gone back in time to the 1950's. But I brought a special item with me! A 2008 can of sprite!

I'm Walking on Greenscreen! The Filming of Happy Tears in Philadelphia.

May 28th 2008.

This movie stars Parker Posey (Superman Returns), Demi Moore, and Rip Torn (Men In Black). And it's been filming in town for a few weeks. The casting office booked me for today, and that finds me down at the Old Naval Yards at Philly's southern edge.

The Naval Yards are almost a movie studio of it's own. The long-emptied warehouses are utilized often by production companies. Sets, art dept, wardobe dept, equipment storage. "Invincible" utilized it. I did my first costume fitting for "The Village" here. And the movie "Annapolis" shot here, doubling for the real Annapolis, Maryland.

There's about forty extras here today, all dressed in black for a 'cocktail party.' Signed in, and grabbed a table in the far corner of the holding tent. A few hundred feet down the warehouse, they were filming a scene on an indoor set. That set being the interior of a plane cabin. We had to be silent when picture was up, else we get picked up by the microphone, and ruin the take.

I don't want to give away the scene, but it did involve Parker Posey, and a greenscreen carpet I was standing on, looking at an imaginary eyeline of something (or someone...) who wasn't there. It's cool to get to work in a special effects shot. I'm walking on greenscreen!

We sat in holding for hours before they needed us on the set. I had brought a little tv with me, to watch the season finale of "Lost", which I was dying to see. Yes I am a admitted Lost junkie. I was able to watch all the way through until the last two minutes. Just as they're about to reveal a long awaited secret, we got called to set, and I missed the pivotal moment!

Wefilmed the scene throughout the night from different angles. Parker Posey would crochet on a pattern fabric in between takes, and my feet were starting to feel sore. Doubly so for the ladies who were in high heels.

It's 4am. Things are starting to blur over. Almost 12 hours in. I'm pretty done for. Tired. Pained feet. The hallmarks of an extra. It didn't last much longer for me. I went back to holding and soon was part of a group wrapped.

That is a wrap!

Good Riddance

An extra was kicked off Transformers 2 here in Philadelphia. And he just boils my blood. It's a disservice to all the professionals here who are trying to bring more of Hollywood out here to film. There's many extras who obey the rules who would have jumped (me included) at the chance to have worked on the movie. Article here:

http://defamer.com/395718/ (small language)

What Happened?

It's Friday the 13th. And you know what that means. That's right. The Happening came out today in theaters. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, I worked two days on it last year at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. My second time on a M. Night film, and the third of four times on a Mark Wahlberg movie. And the reviews are overwhemingly bad. Two big movies came out today. Hulk and Happening. And one of those is on my view list, and unfortunately it ain't the Happening. Not a big horror guy. Sorry Night. Thanks for the work you've given me and I hope you're next film does a lot better!!!

Dressing for the Fifties!

I was in Baltimore this morning, attending a wardrobe fitting for the filming of "My One and Only" for work on Monday or Tuesday coming up. They put me in some vintage clothes which, are a little uncomfortable. The waist band on people in the fifties went well up their stomcah, apparently, so it's uncomfortable. and suspenders. Looking forward to filming next week, but not looking forward to wearing suspenders. Left the wardrobe fitting, and caught up with my younger sister for some barbecue. Was back in Philadelphia by the evening.

Terrence Says 'No Thanks'

There's many stories to be told from the set. Having just seen Iron Man, here's a small one about one of the movies' actors, Terrence Howard. The time he talked to me. I was in New York City working on a street set of the upcoming movie "Fighting" starring...yes, Terrence Howard. For my part I was playing a 'religous leafleter' on the sidewalk. Peddling my tracts to anyone passing by, for the scene. Terrence is walking my way, and since I'm instructed to solicit any passer-by's, it seemed within natural reason that I would offer him a tract as well as he passed me. And ceartainly odd that I would ignore him as a potential target. I'm not sure he quite expected it, but said "no thanks." and continued on. Scene continued...cut was called, and they reset the scene for another take. And thanks for reading my moment with Terrence Howard.

A War With No Y?

Just a detour from the theme of this site. I'm declaring internet war on Christourhope.blogspot. For no good reason. Just feel like it. Wait!!! I do have a reason. She never CALLS me!

T2

Hoping, and waiting. The window for a call to work on Transformers 2 is closing day by day. On other fronts, I may be lining up a day on "My One and Only" filming in Baltimore. And lastly, Iron Man was a gosh darn good movie!!! Saw it yesterday.

How Did I Get Started?

On the set, when I meet new colleagues, I like to ask them occasionally what their first project was. Or how they got into the extra biz. Occasionally, I get the question from others, how do I be an extra. So I thought I might tell how I began, and how others do too. I need to do a better job of remembering that I too had no idea of how it worked when I wanted to begin, and I hope this helps someone else get started. Eight years ago, not only did I not know where to begin, I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to begin.

I had assumed through high school that I would naturally get into acting, as I had a hope for it. In the summer of 2000, I finally decided to act on it. But I didn't know what I really wanted, where to look, what I was looking for, and most importantly, how it worked. I started taking acting classes at a nerby community college, where I got the lowdown on how to be a movie extra. How it was done. The Headshot. The Resume. A direction to start in.

My first hollywood project was a Dawson's Creek spinoff called "Young Americans." I worked one day, in Havre De Grace, MD. The show lasted six or seven episodes as a mid-summer filler, and was never brought back. Future stars Kate Bosworth (Superman Returns) and Ian Somerhalder (Lost) were part of the show, back in their starting out days. I was booked for the West Wing a few months later, thanks to another extra I met on a low-bduget. And by then, I had a pretty good handle on the extra business. The rest is history. Joined Sag in the last two weeks 0f 2003, and that was the divider between my years in the industry. B.C. and A.D. Pre-Sag. Post-Sag. Pretty important distinction for those looking to get started.

When you start, first know that you want to be an extra. Really want to. Because the idea that movies are tinsel and magic is false. It can be boring, tiring, painful, and relentless. There will be hours on end where you sit (or stand) doing nothing. There will be times where you're wearing a hevay wool jacket on a 90% day or a light shortsleeve shirt in the middle of january. There will be shoots that aren't that fun, and there will be shoots where you sit in holding all day and are never used. You are, aptly described, walking props. That's what you want. That is extra work.

Haven't scared you off yet? Good. Because it is fun too, and amazing to be a part of the machinery, and see how it is done. If it's right for you, you'll feel the passion to be there, no matter how the shoot is going.

So, now that you still want to, you need a recent picture. This will suffice until you get a headshot. There are photographers who advertise on the web, who specialize in headshots. Next, a resume. Any acting work, high school play, whatever. Until you can build up your resume.

The work you will find will be non-union, which is not going to pay as much until you become Union (SAG). Extra casting calls can be found on several websites. Some of the best are http://www.castingnetworks.com/ (New York), http://www.aftrasagdcbalt.com/, and www.actroscenter.org. The internet is a very valuable resource for casting information, headshot photographer, and actor resources. Feel free to explore. I did.

To wrap it up, you do extra work by mailing in your picture, and going to local casting calls for movies, and the internet is invaluable to doing that. When that first call comes, say yes, and break a leg!

A Juggling Act.

Balancing a full time job with the demands of extra work is both nerve wracking and never ending. You work hard to keep both worlds happy, and without friction. When a job comes out of the blue, for the next day, or next week, and you're scheduled your regular shift, well, you have to get creative. And keep it from getting too regular. So, I can't always take every job that comes along. Keeping the two worlds balanced. I mention this because lately the scales are tipping more towards extra work, with working on "Happy Tears" here in Philadelphia, and I have to tap the brakes a little bit. Bad timing too, as Transformers 2 begins filming in the area tommorrow, and if I get the job call, nothing is going to stop me from working on it! Very excited about it being in town! So, yeah, the scaleas are tipping a little. After Transformers, I'll balance it out.

Even Extras Go On Vacation!

Well, with the punishing nature of extra work, and when you have a full time job on the side, you need a vacation every now and then. This week finds me down and out in North Carolina, walking Topsail Beach at night, listening to the sounds of the ocean, as the waves break and the wash glints white in the light of the moon. A week to leave the world behind. A week to forget. A week by the ocean...

"Retaking Pelham- The Filming of Taking Pelham 123."

Sunday, May 5th, 2008.

Another opening, another show

In Philly, Boston, or Baltimo'

We're taking Pelham, we're on the go

If you can't keep up, you're reading too slow

Another opening, another show.

I'm back in Manhatten for another movie filming here. "The Taking of Pelham 123." A remake being directed by Tony Scott, brother of Ridley Scott and starring Denzel Washington, John Travolta, and James Gandolfini.

I received the booking call from the casting office last afternoon, and I have to say, I was pretty excited to get it. "The Taking of Pelham" was a project I really wanted to be a part of. So I left work, and got home to pack a bag, thinking I'd catch a 3am train to New York. Except, as I found out, there is no sunday train at 3am. Only one option left. Driving into Manhatten. A first for me. Never driven there before.

I drove through Times Square at my favorite time to be there. The black streets were bathed in the glow of all the huge lit up marquees. Quite by happenstance, I also passed Rockefeller Center. Familiar with the grid pattern of the city. I made my way over to 63rd & Park Ave, where extras holding is again...a church. Universal extras holding.

I was a little startled when I first arrived at holding. The church was closed still, and I was the second extra to arrive. There was a woman sleeping in a doorway, and a square tube of cardboard. Once I started talking to the first extra there, the cardboard began rustling and a face popped out from beneath. Spooked me. "Uh, sorry sir, I didn't know you were there. Just go back to sleep." The head dissapeared back under the cardboard.

There are about 270 extras here today, camped out here in chairs in the gymnsium below the chapel. Very packed space. Signed in, and got some breakfast. Apple slices, orang slices, and some oatmeal to munch. In wardrobe, I was given a tie to wear with my dress shirt and suit.
Forty minutes later, we all walked a few blocks over to set: an intersection, for three or four hours, until noon.

The scene was James Gandolfini coming out of subway steps onto the street, playing the Mayor. The steadicam operator does a trademark Tony Scott move (see Spy Game) where the camera spins around the actor's face. Somewhere in the background, as a blip of a blur, I'm walking the opposite sidewalk as a pedestrian.

Crowd control on set was impossible. Especially on a New York street. Pedestrians kept walking through and staring at the filming. Two black suv's pull up in the scene, some authorites jump out, James Gandolfini confers with them, and they then jump in the suv's which take off.

James Gandolfini has quite a legend and recognizable face in New York, having played Tony Soprano on The Sopranos in NY & NJ. So when he sat for a while in his star chair, many passer-by's were taking his picture and wacing to him.

They did two or three takes from another angle on two grounded cameras, then wrapped that location. Half the extras, mostly the non-union ones, were also wrapped for the day. But the last hundred of us got bussed over to a second filming location in the Bronx. I took the occasion to sleep a little on the bus over, waking up in the Bronx.

Our new holding was a middle school. Much spacier then before's trappings. Grabbed some lunch, and took the pork chop and the pecan pie. At the end of lunch, I got upgraded to be a stand-in. As far as firsts go, that was a big one to me. First time as a stand-in! I was matching a day player who had one line in the scene...well, one line and two sneezes!

So, upgraded to stand-in, I was rushed quickly to set ahead of the extras. The set was a subway train in a station. James Gandolfini was on set for a scene taking place in a subway car where he, as a Giuliani-esque Mayor of the city, first learns about the hijacking of Pelham 123.

I wasn't really needed for standing in. The day player, Jordan, did his own standing in. So I watched from the platform as the crew scurried for half an hour to prep the interior of the subway cars for filming, out of their way. once they started closing the doors, and it looked like the train might be taking off soon, i jumped aboard, being set in the adjacent subway car as they filmed in Gandolfini's car.

Prior to the train departing, there was someone who sat down in our car, trying to nonchantly pretend he was one of the extras. However, the bright yellow and blue clothes he was wearing just screamed "not one of us!" and he was told he'd have to leave, which he did with no fuss.
While they filmed next door, we played passengers riding the subway. The train took off, and we spent the next four hours riding the train as it went baqckwards and forwards along the track between four or five stations in the Bronx.

As we commuted, we got sleepy. Since the cameras were never seeing into our car, we were sitting down and started to drift off. Me too. Everything became a a drowsy haze, blending foggily as drifted in and out of sleep. Wake up. We're travelling forward. Wake up again, we're travelling backwards.

So after I reckon, four hours (can't be sure how long, really), they finished with the interior filming, rushing to complete it by a ceartain deadline. We all left the subway station, and soon hopped on a bus to film at the turnstiles of another subway station. But the sky was clouding ugly, and turning darker, so they decided to film that scene another day.

We were wrapped. Hopped off the bus and walked back to the school holding. Signed out, and took the bus back to 63rd and Park Ave. And new York City's parting gift to me...a $115.00 parking ticket...despite it being a Sunday.

Made my way back to the Lincoln Tunnel entrance pretty easily. Good, because I was worried that I would have trouble finding it, or there'd be a traffic jam ten blocks long. Not the case. Drove home, and that was my day on Pelham 123!!!

Thanks for Reading!!!

Scrambled Extras

It's a mad scramble when you're an extra. Constantly have to be somwewhere at the last minute. Last night I drove home from work after midnight, packed and drove to New York right away to make a 6am calltime. Coming into work at 3:00 that afternoon, I had no idea I would be doing any of this at the time. That's the world of an extra. It's a mad scramble.

Don't Get Short With Me.

I am reminded that not all blog posts need to be long ones by definition, so in the spirit of that I will give any who read this a break. So here goes:

"Brevity is the soul of wit."

That's all. Short, with apologies to William Shakesphere.

A New York State of Mind

There are four constants for any trip I make to New York. 1. There will be a lack of public bathrooms available. 2. I am guaranteed to get lost at least once trying to get somewhere. Every time, I come out of a subway, I am disoriented about which direction is uptown and which direction is downtown. Ergo, I usually end up going the wrong direction for a block, and then the backtracking gives away the game that I’m not a New Yorker. 3. My feet will be killing me from a day of traipsing all over the island, and finally… 4. My trip to New York will be acting related.

Tuesday evening I was down in Greenwich Village in Manhattan working on a film called “Duplicity” starring Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Tom Wilkinson, and Billy Bob Thornton. I arrived an hour early in the village, and signed in once they had everything ready. It was a slower shoot. I was only used as deep background for the night shoot, walking on a street, and quite literally, walking in circles. Although Julia Roberts and Clive Owen were both on set for the scene, but I was so far back, that I never saw either.
The reality is that not every job is going to be as fulfilling as the last. It’s not possible. They are going to be variances. Not as exciting, but that’s the truth about extra work, and you take the good with the bad because you love doing it!

Towards the end of the night, standing on my mark a block away from the scene, the punchiness of a long night awake began to get with me. Where you just don’t care. Not a lot of extras around me to talk to in between takes, I kept pacing back and forth singing Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind” quietly. The punchiness. It’s like being mildly drunk without drinking, and it’s common on a set. Some of the good things that also happened during the shoot, the casting director came around and greeted each of us, and it was nice to meet her, and look forward to working with her again in the future. And also for the new friends, fellow extras that you meet on set. The extra community seems to be a small world. For DC and Philadelphia. New York is a world unto itself, and I’m only scratching the surface there! Good things to come, means New York. It’s becoming more and more my center of attention over the past year and a half.

With that attention, comes the second half of my trip to New York. Getting over to 88th street…eventually. Once we were wrapped at 5:30 in the morning I made my way up to 79th st and Riverside. The bike path there along the edge of the Hudson, with New Jersey on the other side is one of my favorite places to be in the city. At night, with the skyscrapers of New Jersey lit up and reflecting on the water, it’s very beautiful, very peaceful. Unfortunately, I didn’t get there until after sun up, but still I strolled a mile along the edge of the Hudson, singing Billy Joel again along the way. Another favorite spot is Times Square at 3am-5am when the streets are empty, and the huge lights on signs reflect and blink on the black pavement. And lastly is St. Patrick’s Cathedral. A place where I enjoy going to for a little peace and prayer. I wound up there after Riverside, but didn’t have much time to stay before heading out again.

I arrived back up around 88th st. just in time for the open call Sylvia Fay Casting was holding for the upcoming movie “Brooklyn’s Finest.” Starring Wesley Snipes, Ellen Barkin and Richard Gere. In addition to being an open call, it also turned out to be an open enrollment into Sylvia Fay Casting. So this has been a productive trip for sure! After that I visited the Screen Actors Guild office, and then the office of castingnetworks.com which were stops I could have done without. Hopped back on the NJ Transit for home, and when I did get home, being awake and walking around New York for 24 hours, you better believe I crashed for a long time!!!

Waiting is the Harder Part

The silence is deafening when you're expecting a call for a project, and you're just waiting... Of the three projects in Philadelphia now, I've worked on Dream of the Romans through the main casting director. Of the other two, Tenure and Happy Tears, both being casted by the same director, I wait to be called. A call that may never come. I've also sent out emails which include my picture for three films shooting in New York City and one in Virginia: Fitspie, The Taking of Pelham 123, NY I Love You, and Julie & Julia. With Barbara McNamara Casting out of New York, I uploaded my profile into their online registry as well as e-mailing in for Duplicity. Next week, I will be in New York for the SAG open casting call for Brooklyn's Finest being casted by Sylvia Fay Casting. And when all is said and done, all the emails, all the casting calls, is the long wait for that phone to ring. And while waiting, you just keep putting your picture out there.

Good Things to Come

It's a good time to be an extra on the east coast. And why? Because a slew of movies are on their way here, if not arrived already. In Philadelphia, Dream of the Romans, Tenure, and Happy Tears. Coming soon: Marly & Me, Remorse, Three Sistas, The Last Airbender, Transformers 2 to Philadelphia. In DC: My One and Only. Currently filming in New York: The Taking of Pelham 123, Duplicity, Julie & Julia, and coming soon: Brooklyn's Finest. In addition, the area around Philadelphia will be getting two movie studios opening by year's end, which will bring a lot of productions here.

I've been on hiatus for several months, and now's a good time to get ready for a busy season! The truth is, that the work of booking extra work includes a lot of pictures, emails, letters, casting calls, and phone calls. Correspondance takes up a lot of time. constantly putting yourself out for every job opportunity, and being lucky to get jobs on half of them. If you're the look they want they'll call. If not, better luck next time.

So in preperation of that, I've been busy with some of the movies listed above. In preperation of good things to come. This blogsite will be going forward and backward at the same time. Here I will chronicle my efforts, thoughts, and adventures yet to come. At the same time, I will post the the journals I have kept from other shoots over the past eight years. Good things past....Good things to come.