*Please always keep in mind that the reason why my photos of these events are always so crappy is because I keep the flash off and take them very quickly. So they are often dark and blurry, because I want to be as unobtrusive as possible on set.
The Connecticut trip. It was a beautiful day. Call time was 11:30 a.m. The ad read, "NO LATER THAN 12 TO GUARANTEE CAMERA TIME." I left the house at 9:20...got on the Cross Island Parkway and headed across the Frogs Neck Bridge, past Westchester County and beyond the exits for New Rochelle (Rob and Laura's hometown from Dick Van Dyke..can't tell you how thrilled that made me!) I entered Connecticut at around 10:40, and found my way to Stamford shortly thereafter. It was a quaint northeastern town. Pretty cookie-cutter, but enjoyable and lovely nonetheless, especially on a sunny summer day. The only problem was parking... it was one of those towns comprised of one-way streets, meters and parking garages to make it as inconvenient as possible to get out of your vehicle and walk around. Far from a hassel-free experience. I drove around and settled on a Macy's parking garage, which required 75 cents for 4 hours. The shoot was supposed to last about 8. Disgruntled, I left the car, deposited the coins and set off on foot to find the Butterfield 8 Lounge. Once I found it, I entered at the same time as a girl about my age. I could tell by the way she was dressed--yuppie business attire--that she was responding to the same ad as me. We took a seat at the bar. The tender was very nice and accommodating, albeit clueless as to the project, except for the fact that there was filming last night and yes, they were expected back again today... but "mmmaybe around noon?" We each got a diet coke and flipped through a newspaper. At the end of the bar were two gorgeous boys.... mm-mm-mm damn, they don't grow em like that in western Pennsylvania! Not my type though...I actually go for average looking guys with sweet dispositions and old-fashioned manners. To ask for too much is to ask for disappointment. At any rate, later we were joined by two more people dressed for the part, a man and a woman. And later one more guy. So there were 6 of us, and very few patrons in the restaurant.
FINALLY after waiting for 2 hours, the crew arrived and we were permitted upstairs. The entire upstairs area of the lounge was rented out by HBO. There was a snack table and a kitchen crew cooking in the back. The mundane looking lounge was transformed into a SET within minutes. The entire back wall was comprised of floor-to-cielling windows, which made the space seem bright and airy. They errected a huuuuge black curtain sufficient to cover every ounce of light! To compensate, they set up studio lights. The make-up artist set up shop in the back corner, and begged for a light by her so she could see what she was doing. Across the room the actors congregated in a booth and practiced lines.
All the while we watched and observed the actors get their make-up done. The other girl and I were jealous!!!! There were two young, skinny (shocker) female actresses, and 3 male actors. They were all very focused and 'In the zone.' It was as though there was an invisible wall separating us from them... They did not look at us AT ALL, although we were 5 feet away, talking and laughing. The makeup artist was boisterous and amusing.
One of the hot guys (who was European by the way, Lithuanian to be exact... which makes sense. California and Europe breed the best looking guys, what can I say...) had the confidence to approach one of the actors and request a script, as all of us extras were curious to know what the scene--and the series!--was about. We all flipped through the thick script to find the scene with the set description "Lounge" in the beginning. We found it and were shocked by how SHORT it was!
The casting director came up to us and introduced herself, thanked us for coming, and told us to help ourselves to the food and to let her know if we needed anything. She also asked us to call our friends and invite them--fun day, free food and 25 dollars cash...in other words, they didn't have enough extras and she would like some help doing her job. The girl called her boyfriend and sister, one of the guys called his girlfriend and a friend--who all said no, and the hot guys got a friend to come. Oh, the other 5 extras were FROM THE AREA..surrounding towns. Besides the cast and crew, I was the only one who came from New York. Soon there were many of us. We walked around mingling with the crew--the sound guy, the script supervisor, the makeup artist! --who had some FUN stories about some of the celebs she's done..doesn't matter if she was telling us the truth, we laughed and had a great time.
The casting director called across the room--WHICH TWO EXTRAS ARE GONNA DO THE MAKE-OUT SCENE? We laughed, thinking it was a joke.......... hours later (literally) when the production got off the ground, the director asked us the same question. None of us really knew (awkward moment!) At this point, we were all friends, but... not that close! He then looked at another girl and I and suggested a girl/girl kiss scene...... My initial reaction was "no no, hell no, no way." He coaxed, "Guaranteed air time......" that's a low blow. The other girl just giggled while I stood with a disgusted expression. So I came off as the uptight prude and some other girl volunteered. I still don't know if I regret saying no more than I would have regretted saying yes....... That's what this business does to you. It distorts your perception. I turned this occurance into a facebook status (obviously) and asked for my friend's opinions. First of all, it should come as no surprise that I got AS MUCH attention and feedback as a result of that posting as I did on my birthday. Just the mention of a "girl-girl kiss" stirs so much excitement that, as poorly as this reflects on our society, it might be the only way for a girl like me, armed with no connections and only a dream, to get noticed. I was on an HBO pilot set and had the director talking to ME...but because of those pesky, obtrusive MORALS, I didn't get much more out of it than $25 bucks. A lot of my friends said, "It's just acting..you're playing a part.. MOST successful actresses of our time have done a girl-girl kiss..." Sad, true story.
The 5 MAIN actors performed their scene, which took place in the corner of the lounge in a booth with surrounding tables. Some people were chosen to sit at the tables behind the actors or next to them, but I was watching the prompter, and only 1 guy got face time over the shoulder of a speaking actor.. pretending to be talking to someone who wasn't there. They shot the scene from several different angles many times until the other extras and I could recite the scene. In between takes they turned the air conditioner and the fan on, but we were still all wilting from the sweltering heat.
The kitchen brought out a hot meal of chicken tacos and rice..... Then they began to set up the hallway scene where the dreaded but much anticipated kissing scene would take place. I went for a walk and fed the meter... thinking about my hasty decision to opt out of the lesbian lip action. On one hand, it's NOT me. But then again, it's not supposed to be... it's acting. It could've been my big break. After all, it's sad commentary on society BUT an incontrivertable fact that girl/girl kissing PUTS ASSES IN THE SEATS. It gets attention...and when you're trying to break into the business, attention is invaluable. Sex sells, but at what price? I never want to sell myself short. And why do WOMEN always have to be the sex objects? Well, because men are simple-minded enough to fall for it. I'm not going to CHANGE this trend, so I might as well take advantage of it and cash in! (in case you haven't caught on, this was my internal monologue on that walk to and from the car,) But then again, would I even WANT that as my big break? Would I want a career that was started by a degrading 25 dollar slutty make-out scene? Better than being a waitress, perpetually knocking on doors.... once my ex said, "Don't do anything demeaning, your pride and self respect is more important than money or noteriety. You've got your head in the clouds about fame and fortune, you don't get it..I admire people leading simple lives in small towns across America, with honorable jobs like teachers and dentists." To which I retorted, "You can admire the HELL out of them... you just don't know who they are. That won't be me." I'd rather be KNOWN for something unfavorable than be unknown for living honorably... not that I want to be infamous, because I could've blown up a preschool or joined the adult film industry years ago.... but you get the jist.
By the time I returned the hallway was all set up. It was tight and narrow, with a camera on one end and lates all over. The girl and the sexy guy were positioned towards the back, behind where the actress would stand to deliver a monologue. They were cued to make out from ACTION until CUT. Myself and one of the other male extras were positioned right between the Restrooms, poised to walk past the actress as she delivers her lines. I was the short one, so I stood ni front of him and walked out first, pretending to talk to him (mouthing some nonsense,) as he nods and follows closely behind. Well, we were there for about an hour doing it over and over again, walking back and fourth. The actress performed in Russian as well, idk why... but they got all different takes. I made sure to time my walk when she was saying something pertinent that would NOT be cut out! hahaha... Meanwhile, the two kissy-faces were at it the entire time! Thank God I said no, that would've been awkward as hell. It wasn't just a peck...it was an hour of making out in minute-long intervals! pass, thanks.
Two of the extras were never asked to appear on camera in any way. However, we all signed releases and were all paid 25 dollars. Yes, the Frogs Neck Bridge costs 5.50 each way and we all know 56 miles of gas is no joke...so I'm sure I profitted very little from the experience--MONETARILY. However, it was immensely satisfying to finally get PAID. It doesn't matter the sum..it's about feeling VALUED. I told the casting director to call me again, and she made a note on my release.
Then it was back on the Cross Island. It was a quarter after 9 on a calm summer night. The sun had just turned in, but the sky was still partially illuminated. I couldn't bring myself to drive past the exits for New Rochelle without driving through. I own the complete series of Dick Van Dyke and I watch it several times a week. It feels like coming home. So I did, I went to New Rochelle. And it was a SHIT HOLE. I was afraid for my life...at the red light, I locked the doors, rolled up the windows, and prayed... Then I typed the adress that they used on that show "148 Bonnie Meadow Road" and turns out it was 5 miles away in Scarsdale... I thought about going but remembered an article I read about a driveby, and decided to veer back onto the parkway..... however, there was a steady, ENDLESS stream of cars going 70 mph 3 or 4 lanes... just whipping by. I actually had to put my flashers on and pull into that triangle-like-shape that has the horizontal lines in between an exit and the road, ya know? But it was pretty small so I was still sort of sticking out into the exit lane... it was terrifying. One of those deer-in-the-headlights moments where I just wanted to disappear... I waited and waited for an opening to pull out without any luck. finally I saw a small window of opportunity. There was a car coming, in the lane closest to me, but he was pretty far down (it's so hard to guage how fast cars are going when they're behind you and you just have a second to judge,) the other lanes were open, so I put my blinker on and tried to nudge out so he could see I was coming, hoping he'd change lanes... fucker almost plowed right into me--literally. I had to swurve to avoid a collision, and HE had the balls to honk. Fucker would rather hit me than switch lanes to let me over. My heart was pounding.. that was almost a really hideous accident... all because people fucking suck.
So I did what I always do when I need to restore my faith in humanity--I go home and put on an innocent rerun-- Dick Van Dyke or Full House. And all's right with the world again.
No comments:
Post a Comment