So much is going on that I can hardly wait to write about it. In fact, it seems that nowadays everyone has something interesting to write about.
About five or six years ago, I was invited to an open-call in my city and because I have a lot of "ham" in me, it was natural for me to be there bright and early. Keep in mind that this was the first time I had ever gone to anything like this. Although I had taken acting classes and drama classes, I never dreamed that one day I would be walking the catwalk or doing print-ads and ultimately being an "extra" in a new movie that Russell Crowe is starting in.
But let me go slowly here so I won't leave anything out. I went to the open call for a commercial about cable TV. Although I didn't the role, apparently the two producers there, one for acting and print-ads, and the other was in charge of modeling took notice of me. (This was nearly seven years ago.) Would you believe that both were excited about me and they said I had great potential. They said that they would be contacting me. That they did. I was immediately signed with their agency, which is one of the best in my city and this is where my acting, modeling, print ads, etc. began.
The first thing they said I had to do was get a comp card. This has replaced the usual portfolio in many cases. This comp card is approximately a 5" by 7" card with one large picture of me on the front and four or five others on the back. It also contains all your measurements and sizes.
A photographer was recommended and a make-up artist. Both were hired to do all that the agency required. First the make-up lady did her magic and then the photographer took over 300 digital photos. Some of the photos were shot in the photographer's studio and then we changed locations to a beautiful loft apartment where I descended the spiral staircase in a lovely evening gown. It was my gown, which I had finally been able to afford from Lord and Taylors. I caught an unbelievable sale. I had all these pictures taken of me after changing into many different outfits. I thought I was a real super model on her photo shoot! I had asked my sister to come along to give me moral support and she turned out to be my wardrobe assistant. She teases me now about how she had to carry all those clothes and have them ready for me to change into. But she was a jewel and she really helped and was so proud of her little sister.
Finally, after having my photos taken, submitted to the agency and comp cards ordered and received, I was available for my first assignment. It was really the beginning of learning that perhaps as many as 90% of the auditions or open calls I went on, I didn't and wouldn't get. At first I was so disappointed and hurt. But finally, I realized that this was the nature of this business.
In May, 2009, I got one of my best jobs. I did a print ad and that is probably one of the best paying jobs a models/actor ever gets. It paid handsomely and I was thrilled! One downside is that I didn't get paid for approximately 90 days and that was so hard since I really needed that money. I had already spent it a thousand times in my head. (hahahaha) This agency pays that way though.
Having done a couple of runways shows at two major department stores in my city, this had been the highlight of my career until I received the opportunity to do a print ad.
But little did I know that I would be asked to be an extra in a Hollywood movie production just this week! I was so excited and had no idea of what this entailed. Let me just say that it was a wonderful and exciting experience, but in the long run, I was so exhausted that I just can't appreciate being an extra in a film. It wasn't even that I had to be up and on the set at 6 a.m. daily, or that I went to wardrobe and got my assigned clothing, or the cafeteria-like food, or even one of the nicest things, meeting so many wonderful people. No it was doing something over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over. Add to the constant start and stop of doing a scene, which meant I was on my feet constantly--like over 6 hours the first day. Sorry but I am a senior with health problems. Now this is no one's fault really. Not even mine. I just didn't know. Now I do though.
I only lasted one and a half days before I had to bail out. My feet were killing me along with my back aching and my neck was hurting too. Oh heck, my whole body was screaming at me, had I lost my darn mind or what?
Perhaps I will have another opportunity to be an extra, but you can be sure that I will know every detail of what the extra is expected to do since I know that physically, I just can't do everything.
We were outside my first day and the temperature was just above freezing when I got on the set. I didn't wear enough clothes so that didn't help me one bit. But as I mentioned above, one of the highlights of this whole experience was meeting so many wonderful people who also shared a love for acting, modeling, etc. Two standouts were these twins who looked like they had just stepped out of a Swedish or Germany travelogue. They were tall and very thin and had long, blond hair and bright blue eyes. They were the nicest young women and we had a lot of laughs. One had not dressed for the weather at all. She had a short, sweat suit jacket on and was folding her arms around herself and shivering unmercifully attempting to keep warm. I really felt sorry for her. She was the youngest twin and I teased her telling her that I could see why she was the youngest, since her sister who was a few minutes older, had shown the good sense to wear a heavier jacket than she had. But this a young man, another extra, became her knight in shining armor, and offered her a heavier sweatshirt with fleece lining, and she was all smiles again.
The stars of the movie were oblivious to us and we were to them as far as I was concerned. By the second day, I was just trying to concentrate on not dropping to the ground to get off my aching and swollen feet. In one scene, Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks, his co-star were doing their thing and I as "background" was right in their path. Elizabeth bumped into me as they were rushing by. I didn't even react. Mostly likely in real life, in a busy area where we were shooting, I probably wouldn't have reacted either. OK, maybe I would have turned around and wondered, the least she could have done was said, excuse me.
I met a lady who had so much in common with me. We shared the same first names, both had heart problems and we are both diabetics! Oh yeah, she and I were both in our sixties. I told her at one point that since there were so many seniors and I know all of us were exhausted, that I probably needed to call 911 for help.
All in all, it was an experience that I will always remember and I'll be looking for me in this movie, the "Next Three Days", which will be released in 2011. Maybe you'll see me and maybe you won't. (smile) I told folks that we needed to be real and face the fact that there was going to be a lot of cutting and it just might be some of us.
Halleluia!! President Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize!!!! I am so happy!! The Committee sees that our President is indeed the best candidate for world peace.
Until my next blog, be safe and always know that nothing is impossible with God!!
