Ok, so as many of you already know, I was recently an extra in a film being shot here in Providence called 27 Dresses, starring James Marsden of X-Men fame and Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy). I had a bit of embarrasment over X-Men underwear mentioned in a previous blog (we'll get to more on that later, lol).
So anyway, I was notified that they would be needing extras again for a Goth club scene and I was quick to respond that I would be available any time they needed me. As it turns out, I guess my extra status the first time got bumped up to featured extra since you saw me clearly in several shots. They told me I could only participate again if I could drastically change my appearance.
I laughed to myself as I thought of that concept. ME? Drastically change my appearance, that's just sooooo unlike me. LOL. So I bleached my hair, had my hawk up, wore my contacts, put the piercings back in, did the goth makeup and went all out.
Apparently it worked seeing as how Heather, the woman in charge of handling the extras, and Anne from LDI Casting were the only ones who even recognized me, even though within the first day of my last shooting with them all the AD's knew me by name (and I'm sure the director and assistant director did as well) since I was walking past the camera in just about every shot. I noticed this on the first day of my second go working with these people when no one was saying my name, including the guy who put me into every shot. At the end of the day, on my way back to the holding pit, I just looked at him and grinned, "You don't recognize me do you?" He gave me a look that read, "Uh, should I?" So I told him I was Carlos and I was the intern in just about every scene in the office. He did a double take and was in awe, commending me on my good job of changing appearance and welcoming me back on set.
Day one was long and grueling, I, ironically, got to play the DJ--big stretch. But it was all good fun. I will admit I was star struck yet again. Not only were James Marsden and Katherine Heigl on set again, but so were Ed Burns (The Sidewalks of New York, Life or Something Like It) and Judy Greer (Jawbreaker, The Village, Cursed, 13 Going on 30)--both of whom I am also a huge fan of, and also Malin Akerman (The Comeback). And of course within the first scene we shot I had them all gathered two feet away from me yet again, which is very frustrating because you want to say hi but you know the unspoken rule on sets is that you do not address the real actors unless they address you. It's a job. You're not a fan, you're a hired actor, and everyone is there to work. You can actually get thrown off a set for not respecting that fact.
But throughout the day, I did get a brief smile from Judy as she placed her drink in front of me on the DJ booth and a very friendly "Thank you so much" from Katie after her personal assistant asked me to hold her snack tray in the booth.
Day two: I was only actually needed for ten minutes the whole day, but it was an amazing day nonetheless, I didn't care about too much exposure since you could already see me in the film, and I was tired so yes I did sneak some naps in as I waited on the couch by the DJ booth in case I was needed. At one point, the director moved her station into that area (the whipping pit at Hell), but they allowed me to stay where I was after they set up. The director was amazed by my hair and started asking me about it. So I told her my method and then pointed out that I was the intern in the office scene. More shock, she also could not believe I was that same guy. In the meantime, the guy who I had spoken to the day before, I believe his name was Adam, came up with the assistant director and also started pointing out, "That's Carlos, the intern, can you believe that? It's amazing!" The assistant director looked at me and was like, "Oh my god, I never would have guessed if it wasn't pointed out, awesome!"
Everyone was really cool and fun to work with. But that's not even the highlight of the day.
They were setting up for another scene and James came into our section to talk to the director. I was on the couch still, now joined by another extra. At one point he looked right at us so she said hi and i nodded and mumbled hello and he said it back. Then he came up to us and actually started talking to us. This is a good, I was now allowed to talk directly to him. He said "Now I have been wondering this whole time and maybe you guys can clarify, especially you-" directed at me--"The goths, is this like their every day attire or what?" So I explained I really only do it for club nights or roles since I'm actually an actor and not just an extra, but otherwise I'm pretty normal and watered down. For some of the others it was their everyday and others still never do goth and were transformed by hair, makeup and costume.
Then I got kind of ballsy and turning 8 shades of red I pointed out that I was the guy who cut in front of him in two different scenes in the office and told him of my embarrassment and the X-Men underwear situation. He started laughing and said he hadn't noticed but it was great and that was definitely a first for him to hear somethign like that. Then he was making jokes about how basically I was walking around with Cyclops on my crotch the whole day. I laughed back, face heated and 2 more shades of red at this point, and stated that I did in fact own a Cyclops pair. He was like, dude that's awesome, now I wish I had seen them. I was like I don't have them with me today. He made more jokes and said, "That would have been hysterical, trying to sign them and being like, 'Uh, damn, I can't seem to get this pen to work . . . '" As he made all the appropriate gestures. We were all cracking up, even thoguh I was still blushing profusely and highly embarrassed, but he was a really good sport about it and I'm glad we all had a good hard laugh over the situation. He actually seemed very down to earth.
So yeah, that's my update from the world of showbiz. I can't wait to see this movie now, for so many reasons. I'm in it, hopefully you will actually see me in not one but two scenes, the cast was fantastic and amazing to be around, the crew and director and everyone were very friendly and accomodating, Heather was a sweetheart, Anne from LDI managed to tickle my funnybone yet again. I think that it's so awesome after no sleep, a 15 hour day, 5 hours of sleep and a 13 hour day, a night of finally spinning for real again, and five more hours of sleep, and here I am, up since 7:30, feeling absolutley awesome.
A lot of people I knew were also involved as extras this time around so that made it even more of a blast. I also met a lot of new great people and made yet more connections.
So now let's get everyone's butt's out to Gallery this friday and celebrate at Hathor's Garden!!!!!!
K, I think I'm done gushing now.
Well aside from the fact me and the boy are still going strong and it's been over a month now, a record for me, so I am rather well content.
