More Movie News

Because of a recent goggle search to look for other people that were movie extras in the last movie I was in this past April, I ran ito SoCal mom's blogs about being in production. Her stories were so entertaining that I thought you might want to hear mine.

Here is my experience with a bowling comedy:

I did it again. I just could not stop myself. The e-mail boasted that all I had to do was drive to L.A. and I could be on a movie set with Tara Reid for 3 hours, from 1:30 to 4:30 am. Was I going to go? I figured that I would be crazy not to. I had Good Friday off and could sleep in the next day. So, true to form, I went with the same coworker as last time, who also could not wait to do a second movie.

We were supposed to show up as chic and in clubwear, preferably in designer jeans. Is GAP a designer? :) Anyway, after much discussion over what constitutes chic we were on our way at 6:00 on Friday night, not wanting to miss our call time. This is when the rain started pouring and the windshield wipers were not working properly in my co-workers truck. So, I gave the ultimatum = change the wipers or turn around. I was not getting killed to do this movie. A quick stop at Walmart and we were back on our way. And we could actually see this time.

We got there an hour and a half early, so there was time to change and check in. Oh yeah, we had the chic thing down, by the way. After checking in, they directed us to a restaurant/bar that would serve as our cell--I mean waiting room-- for the next 4 hours. Yes, 4 hours. Thats right; for those of you doing the math, we were supposed to be done by 4:30. Well 4:30 came and went and we still we not called onto the set. A reporter from somewhere in San Diego kept taking my picture and I wanted to point out how early it was in the morning, and that by now, my face was so greasy that she did not need a flash. But I held my tongue, lest I get one of those pictures taken of me mid-sentence that gets published where I look a little slow.

Right after I gave my coworker the "if nothing happens in 15 minutes, we are leaving" speech, they came for us. I was in group 3A, which meant absolutely nothing when we got on the set. The numbers were set up to distract us. Trixy. False.Yet, even without the numbers, I got a front row seat, right next to coworker-- right behind the main actors bowling alley, and, as it turned out, 3 seats down from Tara Reid herself (who by the way is about as big as my pinky finger. She looks 10 years old!) Guess it a good time to mention that this was a bowling comedy, hence this scene took place at a bowling alley...

I liked my seat and settled in for a morning of clapping and cheering. It was all supposed to be routine until the 3rd take when then main actor (Ross Patterson) kicked one of the dice he was dropping and then *ping* it hit my foot. MY foot. So what did I do while the cameras were rolling? I covered it with my shoe. Yes huh I did! I did not want anyone else to see it and give it back to him for me. I wanted to be the one to do it. When they yelled cut, and he picked up one die, and started the search from the other, I stood up and made my move: "Mister, actor, sir. Here you go." Tara and all the other actors were watching me from the side like, Why is she talking to him? But I had a reason... I had a prop. I handed him the die then sat back down. A horrified girl behind me asked, "What did you just do? Slip him your number?" I laughed and told her it was the die and that I did not think fast enough to try the number thing :)

Well, scene after detailed scene was shot and it was then that I remembered what I did not like about movies. Too much down time. So I started talking to the girl next to me about American Idol. Mister lead actor guy (sounds like a Budweiser Commercial) started turning his head to listen, and pretty soon, he and I were in a full blown American Idol conversation. He thinks Taylor or Chris will win. Me? I am (was) still voting for Katharine. Oh and I told him to look for me next season. I am totally trying out!

For my first moive extra experience, click on August 2005 in the column on the right--->