So i never got around to writing about my second movie experience. I'll try to keep it breif so i don't end up filling too many blank details in with my imagination, besides, the sooner i get through this, the sooner i can get to documenting my more recent film escapades.
Working on a film on the streets of NYC was an entirely different beast than in South Carolina. The people are entirely less friendly, there are more of them, and i never got to saw the set. My difference of experience might also have something to do with the fact that I was working on a project that was about 20 times the budget of the other film, and that instead of being one of 5 PAs I was 1 of 150. And oh yeah did i mention the two locations we filmed were 14th and 10th (meatpacking district) and Madison and 42nd (Grand Central). Suffice it to say, many a yuppie were unpleased to find out that they couldnt reach their couture fashion shops no matter where they found themselves.
I didnt see any famous people (in fact only the lead's stunt double was on set at all) and i didnt make any amazingly helpful contacts (2 months later will prove this) but i did meet some other cool PAs that may get me some day to day work in the coming months.
This was in fact the last weekend of shooting before a "planned shooting hiatus" which as far as I know still hasn't resumed, so I may be in luck when getting more work in a month or so, but for now, some other medium term jobs have developed. More on that soon.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Birthday and Wrapping
A lot has happened since the Halloween Party, so i will finish the story of my first movie in this post, and then continue on to my experiences on my second movie in the next entry i have the energy for. At this point this blog is mostly for my own documentation than anything else, but i figure if anybody is e-stalking me, they have something to read from time to time.
Anyway. My 22nd birthday comes and goes, and as i later learn its usually a very melancholy event. One after reaching legal drinking age, it's the birthday with no real milestone to attach to it, and as many people often do, an apt occasion for summing up your life up to that point and being massively self-critical, and on the day self-effacing. My birthday however did not cause this to happen to me. It was actually a pretty memorable weekend, and i never got too introspective about my direction, maybe now that i am stagnant again, things might be different, but at the time, life was good.
I think its partially that at 22 i have been given the opportunity to work in a field that I am interested in, in an exciting fast paced environment that if i keep working, eventually leads nowhere but up. Sure there are short-cuts to take, but really, the more time spent working the more valuable you become, and the more hirable you are (as in any freelance situation). The other side, was that because of the transitive nature of the business, most people are used to making good friends in short amounts of time, so when I gather for a birthday dinner at one of the other PA's house, i am greeted by most of the Production staff, and 6 or so of the actors. I guess promise of a home cooked meal also sweetened the deal, but I had to relish the thought that they all had come to celebrate. But I'm jumping ahead.
The eve of my birthday, the Cast has thrown a pre-wrap party, because the production is sending actors home as they finish, and only three of them will be around as of the last day of the shoot, many leaving the morning after, so-- a celebration is in order. The open bar is a nice relief (on the wallet) and the crowd isn't too thick. I'm thinking most locals head home for the weekend, and at this point a job is a job. I however am quite infatuated with the whole thing at this point. Many shenanigans are had and photos taken, and finally the party breaks up. Several of us head to another bar stick around there for awhile and then head to a Strip club (my first) sometime in the early hours of my actual birthday.
The next day is the dinner like i said, then its back to one more week of filming in the most abject filming conditions i can think of. Its quite bizarre to be filming in an abandoned building mostly because its the kind of place i would sneak around and take pictures of myself. Having a film set inside makes it difficult to process, partially because its hard to tell what is set dressing and what isn't, but also because everybody is operating out of it like its usual, according to locals, its the creepiest place in the entire city. But we bring all these lights and cameras in, and suddenly, its nothing more than a set. an Asbestos-laden-death-trap of a set, but set nonetheless.
Our last week in this location (and on this film) becomes quite epic, as most days of our filming involves hiring on more help, and more equipment to cover the needs of the splinter units we have filming on other parts of the abandoned campus, or at an ice skating rink several miles away. I kind of wish i had been off working at the ice rink as a change of pace, but at this point there is light at the end of the tunnel, so work is work. Our last day the crew waives its turn around, so most people only get 3 or so hours of sleep in order to finish early, and we end up working nearly a 20 hour day.
The real cast party is also fun, and includes several karaoke performances by yours truly (its starting to become a new drunk hobby of mine) and there are another instances of bar hopping before the party ends up back at the hotel. I forget the end of the night, but i wake up in my bed with my ride knocking on the door. He was supposed to sleep over the night before for us to get a head start, but my lush-like behavior ruins that. Anyway we get on the road En-route to DC where I later pick up a Chinatown special (also via Philly) to New York (finally).
Somewhere along the way I get a call back for my next job...
Anyway. My 22nd birthday comes and goes, and as i later learn its usually a very melancholy event. One after reaching legal drinking age, it's the birthday with no real milestone to attach to it, and as many people often do, an apt occasion for summing up your life up to that point and being massively self-critical, and on the day self-effacing. My birthday however did not cause this to happen to me. It was actually a pretty memorable weekend, and i never got too introspective about my direction, maybe now that i am stagnant again, things might be different, but at the time, life was good.
I think its partially that at 22 i have been given the opportunity to work in a field that I am interested in, in an exciting fast paced environment that if i keep working, eventually leads nowhere but up. Sure there are short-cuts to take, but really, the more time spent working the more valuable you become, and the more hirable you are (as in any freelance situation). The other side, was that because of the transitive nature of the business, most people are used to making good friends in short amounts of time, so when I gather for a birthday dinner at one of the other PA's house, i am greeted by most of the Production staff, and 6 or so of the actors. I guess promise of a home cooked meal also sweetened the deal, but I had to relish the thought that they all had come to celebrate. But I'm jumping ahead.
The eve of my birthday, the Cast has thrown a pre-wrap party, because the production is sending actors home as they finish, and only three of them will be around as of the last day of the shoot, many leaving the morning after, so-- a celebration is in order. The open bar is a nice relief (on the wallet) and the crowd isn't too thick. I'm thinking most locals head home for the weekend, and at this point a job is a job. I however am quite infatuated with the whole thing at this point. Many shenanigans are had and photos taken, and finally the party breaks up. Several of us head to another bar stick around there for awhile and then head to a Strip club (my first) sometime in the early hours of my actual birthday.
The next day is the dinner like i said, then its back to one more week of filming in the most abject filming conditions i can think of. Its quite bizarre to be filming in an abandoned building mostly because its the kind of place i would sneak around and take pictures of myself. Having a film set inside makes it difficult to process, partially because its hard to tell what is set dressing and what isn't, but also because everybody is operating out of it like its usual, according to locals, its the creepiest place in the entire city. But we bring all these lights and cameras in, and suddenly, its nothing more than a set. an Asbestos-laden-death-trap of a set, but set nonetheless.
Our last week in this location (and on this film) becomes quite epic, as most days of our filming involves hiring on more help, and more equipment to cover the needs of the splinter units we have filming on other parts of the abandoned campus, or at an ice skating rink several miles away. I kind of wish i had been off working at the ice rink as a change of pace, but at this point there is light at the end of the tunnel, so work is work. Our last day the crew waives its turn around, so most people only get 3 or so hours of sleep in order to finish early, and we end up working nearly a 20 hour day.
The real cast party is also fun, and includes several karaoke performances by yours truly (its starting to become a new drunk hobby of mine) and there are another instances of bar hopping before the party ends up back at the hotel. I forget the end of the night, but i wake up in my bed with my ride knocking on the door. He was supposed to sleep over the night before for us to get a head start, but my lush-like behavior ruins that. Anyway we get on the road En-route to DC where I later pick up a Chinatown special (also via Philly) to New York (finally).
Somewhere along the way I get a call back for my next job...
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Week sicks
Week 6 was one punctuated by illness. I'll spare the details, but waking up sick on sunday (enough so to visit the hospital) proved to be a waste of a day, and i skipped a half day of work on monday. Feeling better on tuesday, I put in another full day. Wednesday I made it to work, but had them take me to a family practitioner to get some proper attention. The doctor paid me more attention this time and actually allayed my fears that the symptoms were that of something more serious. This allowed me to finish the week out in a painfully yet confident haze. I'm mostly better by today (saturday) which allows me to feel okay about enjoying my night at the crew Halloween Party.
I was considering not going at first without finding a good costume. The theme was rock star, and I had no good accessories. Finally, I had a good idea, and then it turns out some people from the costume department were going as the same band i was thinking of. Suddenly, not only was my costume easy. but it became effortless, cheap and completed.
Its kind of a shame, because i get the feeling that this party will be where alot of people will bond, and in 2 short weeks the film will be finished. Sure we will have friendships that we can maintain over email and phone and stuff, and we will have all the shwag that will distinguish us in a crowd, But in a short while there will be an entirely new crew to meet and, then the process starts all over. I guess I should be thankful, because it keeps things interesting from project to project, and you don't have to work with the same jerks month to month if you get a bad bunch. Also, it makes the reunions all the more sweet when you get to work with somebody on a different project.
The Gypsy-like nature of the business seems to be such that, the more you work... The more you work. new friends beget new jobs, and new contacts, and as I understand it, pretty soon, the jobs wont stop calling YOU up. Thats a nice change from what im sure most people are used to, but as of right now, thats just what i hear. We'll see if thats how it actually breaks down at the end of the day.
I was considering not going at first without finding a good costume. The theme was rock star, and I had no good accessories. Finally, I had a good idea, and then it turns out some people from the costume department were going as the same band i was thinking of. Suddenly, not only was my costume easy. but it became effortless, cheap and completed.
Its kind of a shame, because i get the feeling that this party will be where alot of people will bond, and in 2 short weeks the film will be finished. Sure we will have friendships that we can maintain over email and phone and stuff, and we will have all the shwag that will distinguish us in a crowd, But in a short while there will be an entirely new crew to meet and, then the process starts all over. I guess I should be thankful, because it keeps things interesting from project to project, and you don't have to work with the same jerks month to month if you get a bad bunch. Also, it makes the reunions all the more sweet when you get to work with somebody on a different project.
The Gypsy-like nature of the business seems to be such that, the more you work... The more you work. new friends beget new jobs, and new contacts, and as I understand it, pretty soon, the jobs wont stop calling YOU up. Thats a nice change from what im sure most people are used to, but as of right now, thats just what i hear. We'll see if thats how it actually breaks down at the end of the day.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
long time coming
After losing a check in the mail last week, i mailed in some other checks and settled a debt back home. I should be financially set up soon so i can actually start paying off things I owe. Work is starting to get into a good cycle where i come home tired, but not in pain. The days go by quick enough, and i am actually becoming friends with more people outside of my department. I still make mistakes which get magnified by the people above me when they are noticed, but for the most part i think i am doing a good job.
We're more than past the halfway mark, and at this point have about 3 weeks left in the shoot. I will be sad to see it go (or for it to see me go) but that is the nature of the business, and chances are, if I keep in good contact, there is a good chance I will be working with some of these people again soon. It sounds like when i get out it might be a bit of a struggle to get my first jobs, but then they will start flying in. I guess at that point i better be sure its the right direction to take, because right now i am just going with the flow and figuring out a way to advance in the position I have found myself in.
Getting back home I need to be sure to evaluate my options and make the right choices. I think this might be a good track to get on, at least in the medium/short term, but the long term it might actually be more trouble than its worth.
On a lighter note; Went to the state fair last weekend and spent more money that I would have liked, but its nice to see how the other half lives. Its not a common thing to see a state fair for me (at least not in the city) so to see some of the things I would usually see in Six Flags are slightly less artificial. The rides at the fair are actually a good deal more scary because you could actually be worried about their structural integrity.
We're more than past the halfway mark, and at this point have about 3 weeks left in the shoot. I will be sad to see it go (or for it to see me go) but that is the nature of the business, and chances are, if I keep in good contact, there is a good chance I will be working with some of these people again soon. It sounds like when i get out it might be a bit of a struggle to get my first jobs, but then they will start flying in. I guess at that point i better be sure its the right direction to take, because right now i am just going with the flow and figuring out a way to advance in the position I have found myself in.
Getting back home I need to be sure to evaluate my options and make the right choices. I think this might be a good track to get on, at least in the medium/short term, but the long term it might actually be more trouble than its worth.
On a lighter note; Went to the state fair last weekend and spent more money that I would have liked, but its nice to see how the other half lives. Its not a common thing to see a state fair for me (at least not in the city) so to see some of the things I would usually see in Six Flags are slightly less artificial. The rides at the fair are actually a good deal more scary because you could actually be worried about their structural integrity.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Reverse engineering from the Rosetta Stone of filmmaking
Last night was the second and hopefully last of my 6 day weeks on this shoot. I did afterall come down here to work and i am actually grateful for it, but working days as long as this do tend to take their toll. Mornings are harder to struggle through when there is barely enough time to relax and turn around for the next day. As i understand it, we even have it easy because all the locations are nearby and relatively centralized. In other locations (LA for example) you could easily be driving several hours to your destination. This would cut your turn-around down again considerably, but then again, if i were in this situation loading vans, i could fesably sleep on the ride over. But enough complaining about hours.
This week, filmwise, we shot a pretty impressive two and a half minute shot which was handed off between 7 operators of which two of them were on rising and falling cranes and one which ends the shot on a rickshaw. The shot itself was a very cool feat, so much so that the producer bought a case of champagne for the crew to drink at wrap. I wonder however, in the shooting of the rest of the scene, how the shot will gel when its placed directly up along a scene which will be cut between shots that will probably last only a few seconds each. Of course this is the film student in me over analyzing things a little too much. I should be less critical so as to dismiss the power of really good editing. Most people don't even detect cuts between shots in movies, least of all action scenes, i know that. I'm not sure why i am questioning that power now, but it might have something to do with the fact that i have no opportunity to observe any aspect of the editing process on this film.
I guess the editing process of these major motion pictures remains somewhat mysterious to me, because it remains one of the few aspects of the industry that I consider somewhat mysterious. The key techniques i of course learned about in film school, and earlier on my own, but the true secrets will remain elusive to me until I meet, let alone talk to a real life film editor. As far as i can tell, they have not been on set at all, and while i am sure they are working to log and capture, and perhaps even to begin editing in a preliminary state, that aspect of this project will be an unknown to me until I see the film on the big screen.
Regardless of my opinion of the film once i've seen it all shot, i will definetely be among the first in line at the theater to put the final piece of the puzzle together. I can watch all the monitor VTR replays I can bear on set, but will never get a sense how it truly comes together until I see it with mixed sound design (dialog and music and sound effects all put together) and proper editing and color correction (to see just how effective the stunts will be in the picture and other unknowns like that). Editing is after all where most of the magic happens. It's also going to be fun to be able to spot all the places i was hiding during each shot (assuming I can manage to remember that stuff by the time this picture comes out) but really, the final film will serve as the Rosetta Stone of this whole experience to translate what exactly the outcome is of this whole shoot.
Thankfully the end of this week also means the end of our parking lot location, so the rest of the week will be able to stay lively. I think there's a new location every day next week so that may make it go even faster.
This week, filmwise, we shot a pretty impressive two and a half minute shot which was handed off between 7 operators of which two of them were on rising and falling cranes and one which ends the shot on a rickshaw. The shot itself was a very cool feat, so much so that the producer bought a case of champagne for the crew to drink at wrap. I wonder however, in the shooting of the rest of the scene, how the shot will gel when its placed directly up along a scene which will be cut between shots that will probably last only a few seconds each. Of course this is the film student in me over analyzing things a little too much. I should be less critical so as to dismiss the power of really good editing. Most people don't even detect cuts between shots in movies, least of all action scenes, i know that. I'm not sure why i am questioning that power now, but it might have something to do with the fact that i have no opportunity to observe any aspect of the editing process on this film.
I guess the editing process of these major motion pictures remains somewhat mysterious to me, because it remains one of the few aspects of the industry that I consider somewhat mysterious. The key techniques i of course learned about in film school, and earlier on my own, but the true secrets will remain elusive to me until I meet, let alone talk to a real life film editor. As far as i can tell, they have not been on set at all, and while i am sure they are working to log and capture, and perhaps even to begin editing in a preliminary state, that aspect of this project will be an unknown to me until I see the film on the big screen.
Regardless of my opinion of the film once i've seen it all shot, i will definetely be among the first in line at the theater to put the final piece of the puzzle together. I can watch all the monitor VTR replays I can bear on set, but will never get a sense how it truly comes together until I see it with mixed sound design (dialog and music and sound effects all put together) and proper editing and color correction (to see just how effective the stunts will be in the picture and other unknowns like that). Editing is after all where most of the magic happens. It's also going to be fun to be able to spot all the places i was hiding during each shot (assuming I can manage to remember that stuff by the time this picture comes out) but really, the final film will serve as the Rosetta Stone of this whole experience to translate what exactly the outcome is of this whole shoot.
Thankfully the end of this week also means the end of our parking lot location, so the rest of the week will be able to stay lively. I think there's a new location every day next week so that may make it go even faster.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
The word of the day is assimilation
Another weekend has come and gone, and this time it only took me 6 hours. We worked Saturday, on second unit shoot that was supposed to be a half day wasn' t. I hear we are working next Saturday as well so unfortunately it looks like this the week that never ends until at least halfway through the month. Today, I voluntarily took on a roommate for a week
one of Flash's friends that it turns out knows most of the crew from Wilmington anyway. Two weeks flying solo has been nice but now I get to reap the benefits of casual conversations of an old hand at this gig. Brian assures me that one job leads to another after you start to make friends, and that not surprisingly having dual citzenship actually helps your opportunity to work on pictures that have multiple locations across national boundaries. Hopefully i will be able to find some more local (NY based) production companies to get involved with soon, because all of the friends i am making here are largely based out of the South (Wilmington, NC to be specific).
Work days are going by more quickly as I get used to the work, and also more likely, as the crew gets used to me being around. Where i was was once a green "political hire", now as we bring in more local help for PAs I must seem much more integrated. You can really tell that these guys are used to working together, and it strikes me (as i have been told before for various different reasons) that this is a good first picture to work on. I think this is true, becuase I am seeing how the job works outside the majority of the politics that must go along with NY or CA based productions. Most of these guys have worked together, or work in small enough circles that they know the same people and its nice to know that can exist. The public perception of pretty much every movie is that the same people from the two major film centers of the country just ship them off to make movies wherever. I get this impression based on the first question i ususally get from onlookers on set. "Hey, so where are you from, California?" I tell them no, I'm from New York City, and very quickly realize that doesn't allay their misconceptions at all. I make sure to emphasize that many of us are from all over. Chris is From DC, Nicole from Philly/NJ, and the other PAs are 'locals' from Wilmington or at least somewhere in North Carolina.
Assimilation has been the key thought for the past two weeks, and in the upcoming week, it will almost become second nature as we welcome another 10 or 15 into our ranks to help us lock up a parking lot as we shoot a 4 minute continuous chase shot that involves passing the camera from handheld and between two different cranes. That should be crazy to watch, and i'm told nothing like it has ever been attempted.
I should also note that it might just be my imagination, or it might be a sign, but what was once delectable catering food, for the past two days has been sub-par quality dining. I havent been able to finish a meal at our 'lunch' break for a little while now. Now, it might be that I am getting tired of the southern specialties (although how can you get sick of barbeque) and am jaded on the diet of a film crew, but i am hoping the caterers have been slacking off. The true test comes tomorrow when we will be but a stones throw from true throwback school cafeteria food. Only time will tell.
And me, maybe i'll tell.
one of Flash's friends that it turns out knows most of the crew from Wilmington anyway. Two weeks flying solo has been nice but now I get to reap the benefits of casual conversations of an old hand at this gig. Brian assures me that one job leads to another after you start to make friends, and that not surprisingly having dual citzenship actually helps your opportunity to work on pictures that have multiple locations across national boundaries. Hopefully i will be able to find some more local (NY based) production companies to get involved with soon, because all of the friends i am making here are largely based out of the South (Wilmington, NC to be specific).
Work days are going by more quickly as I get used to the work, and also more likely, as the crew gets used to me being around. Where i was was once a green "political hire", now as we bring in more local help for PAs I must seem much more integrated. You can really tell that these guys are used to working together, and it strikes me (as i have been told before for various different reasons) that this is a good first picture to work on. I think this is true, becuase I am seeing how the job works outside the majority of the politics that must go along with NY or CA based productions. Most of these guys have worked together, or work in small enough circles that they know the same people and its nice to know that can exist. The public perception of pretty much every movie is that the same people from the two major film centers of the country just ship them off to make movies wherever. I get this impression based on the first question i ususally get from onlookers on set. "Hey, so where are you from, California?" I tell them no, I'm from New York City, and very quickly realize that doesn't allay their misconceptions at all. I make sure to emphasize that many of us are from all over. Chris is From DC, Nicole from Philly/NJ, and the other PAs are 'locals' from Wilmington or at least somewhere in North Carolina.
Assimilation has been the key thought for the past two weeks, and in the upcoming week, it will almost become second nature as we welcome another 10 or 15 into our ranks to help us lock up a parking lot as we shoot a 4 minute continuous chase shot that involves passing the camera from handheld and between two different cranes. That should be crazy to watch, and i'm told nothing like it has ever been attempted.
I should also note that it might just be my imagination, or it might be a sign, but what was once delectable catering food, for the past two days has been sub-par quality dining. I havent been able to finish a meal at our 'lunch' break for a little while now. Now, it might be that I am getting tired of the southern specialties (although how can you get sick of barbeque) and am jaded on the diet of a film crew, but i am hoping the caterers have been slacking off. The true test comes tomorrow when we will be but a stones throw from true throwback school cafeteria food. Only time will tell.
And me, maybe i'll tell.
Monday, September 25, 2006
First Day Off
What a crazy day off.
After sleeping through most of yesterday today i get up and know that its laundry day. Chris, one of my PA buddies, calls me up to come get me and we decide to go to Wings and Ale with the teamsters to watch the Redskins game. Now, im not a huge sports fan, but i can appreciate the experience of a good loud sports bar like anybody else, especially when hanging out with awesome teamsters. They impart war stories of other films they've worked on and who works with who, and i hear the story of the replacement muscle car that was being driven from set that had a wheel fall off in traffic, and fishtail into oncoming traffic. apparently the driver is fine, and there was no collision, but when the driver tested the other wheel, it had hand-loose lugnuts. Someone is not doing their job.
Anyway after beer and wings, we head off to kmart to get some essentials, and then back to the extended stay to do some laundry. Towards the end of the waiting game with the dryer cycle, we see two young women walk upstairs and be motioned into a room on the upper floors. We look at each other and we immediately and un-spokenly agree what is going on we chuckle, and get on with our afternoon. Later, as we are emptying the dryers the two young women come down to use the vending machine. At the time we are having a conversation with a shirtless man from Texas who is in town for some work (remember, extended stay hotel, so these people are all from out of town) and the two ladies overhear us saying that i am from new york, and Chris is from DC. The blond exclaims "hey, I'm from DC!" and her and chris talk about how hes actually from Maryland, and Shes actually from Maryland, and shes actually from Maryland, and how they are from towns about 15 minutes away. Anyway chris mentions we are working on a film here in town and--- well let me just paraphrase the conversation we had with this lady
--so are you going to school here? working?
-- yeah, i'm sorta going to school, trying to work.
-- oh cool, yeah we're doing production work on that film
-- oh yeah, what does that mean you do?
-- well we keep people away from getting in the shot, and control extras, and escort actors to set
-- oh yeah? you might say i do a little bit of escorting
--really? uh, ok
-- here let me give you my card, in case, you know, you or anybody on the production want to have some fun.
--uh, sure.
-- oh and my friend here is working too, but she's only in town for a week or so, we work out of here
--ok great
so in short, i experienced my first prostitute proposition, while doing laundry in the unassuming back lots of the Columbia Extended Stay hotel.
damn.
So from there, me and chris meet up with director James Wan, and writer/actor Leigh Whannell (of Saw fame) and watch about 5 minutes worth of dailies from the film (which is a pretty cool experience) and just hang out since the two of them are only in their late 20s. We head out to dinner at 5 points and chat up out cute southern belle waitress. She recognises James from being a movie person from an earlier film dinner that they must have had a few weeks ago, and continues to chat us up more than serve other customers. She gives us the rundown of her life (and it turns out she is from the same town as the escort we met a few hours earlier, moved to Columbia with her judge parents at 13, and is going to a Technical college to transfer to a school with a journalism program and grow up to be somebody) anyway, we have some fun with her and tell her that James is the director and Leigh is the writer of saw and we end up offering her a job for PAing on one of our longer more extensive shoots, which means we get her phone number, email, etc. and while she is away from the table wonder if she is really as innocent as she seems. over the course of the night we discover she has a pretty strong alternative musical taste ranging from jam bands (she went to bonnaroo, and follows string cheese around) to stuff like modest mouse, mars volta, etc. she has multiple piercings, a tattoo on her wrist, and was kicked out of catholic school growing up (for something as mundane as wearing blue socks, chewing gum, boring things like that) but damn if she isnt the cutest southern belle i've met in all my time down here. She'll hopefully be working for us in a week or two and said she would love to show us around town. More likely though, she will be preyed upon immediately upon showing up to work by the other actors and PAs. but who knows, maybe by being one of her initial contacts on the job i'll have an in.
Also, i've noticed i've picked up a little of the southern drawl when i speak in sound bites, mostly when telling stories and the like. It seems to naturally help embellish certain things. I try to catch myself because people might think a yankee like me is patronizing the southern drawl. I wonder if I pick it up any more profoundly over the next 7 weeks.
After sleeping through most of yesterday today i get up and know that its laundry day. Chris, one of my PA buddies, calls me up to come get me and we decide to go to Wings and Ale with the teamsters to watch the Redskins game. Now, im not a huge sports fan, but i can appreciate the experience of a good loud sports bar like anybody else, especially when hanging out with awesome teamsters. They impart war stories of other films they've worked on and who works with who, and i hear the story of the replacement muscle car that was being driven from set that had a wheel fall off in traffic, and fishtail into oncoming traffic. apparently the driver is fine, and there was no collision, but when the driver tested the other wheel, it had hand-loose lugnuts. Someone is not doing their job.
Anyway after beer and wings, we head off to kmart to get some essentials, and then back to the extended stay to do some laundry. Towards the end of the waiting game with the dryer cycle, we see two young women walk upstairs and be motioned into a room on the upper floors. We look at each other and we immediately and un-spokenly agree what is going on we chuckle, and get on with our afternoon. Later, as we are emptying the dryers the two young women come down to use the vending machine. At the time we are having a conversation with a shirtless man from Texas who is in town for some work (remember, extended stay hotel, so these people are all from out of town) and the two ladies overhear us saying that i am from new york, and Chris is from DC. The blond exclaims "hey, I'm from DC!" and her and chris talk about how hes actually from Maryland, and Shes actually from Maryland, and shes actually from Maryland, and how they are from towns about 15 minutes away. Anyway chris mentions we are working on a film here in town and--- well let me just paraphrase the conversation we had with this lady
--so are you going to school here? working?
-- yeah, i'm sorta going to school, trying to work.
-- oh cool, yeah we're doing production work on that film
-- oh yeah, what does that mean you do?
-- well we keep people away from getting in the shot, and control extras, and escort actors to set
-- oh yeah? you might say i do a little bit of escorting
--really? uh, ok
-- here let me give you my card, in case, you know, you or anybody on the production want to have some fun.
--uh, sure.
-- oh and my friend here is working too, but she's only in town for a week or so, we work out of here
--ok great
so in short, i experienced my first prostitute proposition, while doing laundry in the unassuming back lots of the Columbia Extended Stay hotel.
damn.
So from there, me and chris meet up with director James Wan, and writer/actor Leigh Whannell (of Saw fame) and watch about 5 minutes worth of dailies from the film (which is a pretty cool experience) and just hang out since the two of them are only in their late 20s. We head out to dinner at 5 points and chat up out cute southern belle waitress. She recognises James from being a movie person from an earlier film dinner that they must have had a few weeks ago, and continues to chat us up more than serve other customers. She gives us the rundown of her life (and it turns out she is from the same town as the escort we met a few hours earlier, moved to Columbia with her judge parents at 13, and is going to a Technical college to transfer to a school with a journalism program and grow up to be somebody) anyway, we have some fun with her and tell her that James is the director and Leigh is the writer of saw and we end up offering her a job for PAing on one of our longer more extensive shoots, which means we get her phone number, email, etc. and while she is away from the table wonder if she is really as innocent as she seems. over the course of the night we discover she has a pretty strong alternative musical taste ranging from jam bands (she went to bonnaroo, and follows string cheese around) to stuff like modest mouse, mars volta, etc. she has multiple piercings, a tattoo on her wrist, and was kicked out of catholic school growing up (for something as mundane as wearing blue socks, chewing gum, boring things like that) but damn if she isnt the cutest southern belle i've met in all my time down here. She'll hopefully be working for us in a week or two and said she would love to show us around town. More likely though, she will be preyed upon immediately upon showing up to work by the other actors and PAs. but who knows, maybe by being one of her initial contacts on the job i'll have an in.
Also, i've noticed i've picked up a little of the southern drawl when i speak in sound bites, mostly when telling stories and the like. It seems to naturally help embellish certain things. I try to catch myself because people might think a yankee like me is patronizing the southern drawl. I wonder if I pick it up any more profoundly over the next 7 weeks.
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