~CaptainVigilante

Well as an update as things keep happening,

Since THIS is something that is not only interesting in my life, it's safe for the internet. (Can't talk about too many crazy things on the internet, I don't know when I'll ever been in the public eye)

So Monday May 19th I was on the set to the movie as an Extra. The movie as you know is "Blood Done Sign My Name"-directed by Jeb Stuart (Nice Guy btw). Anyways, never been on the set of a movie before, especially when working on it- definitely a new experience.

My agent booked me for monday to get used to the experience. The filming was done in Gastonia, NC for this particular few scenes so it was a lil drive but nothing for me to say much about. I arrive there, the first thing they do is look at my hair and goatee and say "Go to hair and makeup and see if you need to shave it off and get a trim" (I'm a young white male in the late 60s in a small NC town according to the movie, short hair and no goatee) so after getting in line with all the other extras, I sit down, they trim my hair (sorry no more Top-knot, and to those of you who didn't know, Hey I grew a Top-knot a couple months ago) and the lady was nice that trimmed my hair, then they sent me to a guy to shave me, who then gave me advice to get a really cool electric razor for 15 bucks at Walgreens.

Then of course there is wardrobe, by the time I got there I was the last one (got sent around back and forth earlier about the hair and goatee issue, otherwise I'm supposed to go to wardrobe first) and so the lady had fun picking out clothes for me to wear... by this time you would not recognise me from this morning...people I talked to earlier had to do a double take to realize I am me.

Ran into the PA (Production Assistant) named Tyler whos sole purpose is to move everyone along and make sure everything happens on schedule and handle extras... so yeah, this guy is super stressed during the day, and it's best to make sure you don't make his day harder or his head may explode. Nice guy though, but will definately be sharp and quick to tell you where you need to be, and you better listen.

Everyone on the set told me that the film industry is a lot of "Hurry Up and Wait", you get ready as fast as you can- then be on standby for the next who knows how many hours. During that time you get comfortable but not too comfortable, you have to get up and go at any time someone points at you and says "Hey you! Come with me" (It's kinda like being a tie fighter pilot).

So you get ready, wait... wait... wait...

wait... socialize with other extras

wait... talk to staff about the melo-dramatic Kevin Costner movies

FOOD! YAY!

wait... talk to other extras about agents (Apparently there are some that just suck, those are the kind that charge you money upfront before they find you work)

Up! They need 3 white people! ...wait, they didn't pick you this time... keep waiting

Wait! Time to go on the set! Alrighty! Now we... wait on the set!

It's a lot of waiting, but it's a lot of fun goofing around while doing it, especially since you're being paid to essentially be on call. They always bring food and snacks, and that's awesome- you WON'T get hungry.

THen when it's lunch time, today they served steak, yes, steak, with other good food from magical caterers. The only catch is, when they start serving, all the crew eat first... so the trick is to keep a sharp eye on that steak, the minute you see a random extra grab one- you teleport! People I heard complain about there not being steak left, but truth is if you snooze, you lose. WATCH THAT STEAK! And it's good steak too.

You meet a lot of interesting people that are extras, make a good number of friends.

But when you're on set, they are very strict about the rules there.

-No Photography, if you wanna keep working, don't take pictures. The PA openly admit to the double standard that crew members can take pictures and the extras can't- I guess is because the crew all know eachother and know they don't have any nefarious motivations.

-Do NOT talk on set when filming, the mic equipment is SUPER SUPER SUPER sensitive and can pick up random idle chatter from 50 feet away. Infact all those times you hear background talking, that'd edited in.

-Be ready to do what they tell you, and just follow directions.

-and... do NOT, do NOT! Talk to the stars set. You can approach them after hours, but while on set they have to consentrate and can get annoyed as people going crazy over them while they are trying to work. They are typically nice, but they are very professional and the industry really requires you to do the same.

So after the day, I actually wasn't used after all- but I still got paid (check in the mail after two weeks of the week you worked) and got a free haircut and steak. It's great stuff!

In the meantime, I'd talk about more craziness but I got more work to do. I'm meeting my agent tonight about another job.



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