Monday, June 30, 2008
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!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
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!
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!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
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!
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!
Friday, June 13, 2008
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)
http://defamer.com/395718/ (small language)
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