Courting Alex

I wasn’t on the list at the guard shack and I didn’t quite know what to make of that. But I’d driven my Prowler, so I at least looked somewhat important and the guard got his supervisor to okay me. That was really nice. It totally felt like good luck had smiled upon me because it’s next to impossible to get on studio lots without a pass these days.

I parked and went to the stage, glad that I’d have some time to read more of Heaven Tree–which I’d started a few weeks ago on West Wing and was still in my bag. I read another ten pages or so before the AD started checking us in.

I wasn’t on the check-in list, either.

Okay, now I was starting to doubt my sanity. I’d been booked as ‘street atmosphere and art gallery patron’. And that’s what they needed. I couldn’t’ve coincidentally pulled those two categories out of my imagination. Yes, I was on the right stage for the right show.

But I wasn’t on the list and there wasn’t a voucher for me.

That was a big problem. No voucher, no paycheck. Big problem. But the AD told me to hang out while he got it figured out. The best part of that expedition was that a lot of people learned my name. On sets, it’s rare for ADs to know and remember the names of background actors, so I figured I was either in for trouble or a great day.

As it turned out, I wasn’t on the list, there was no voucher, but I had indeed been booked on the show. Whatever. Once we were all sure I was in the right place, I was given a voucher from someone who hadn’t shown up. By this point, I was somewhat late getting to wardrobe.

I’d thought I was in for hell with wardrobe, but they actually fell in love with my clothes. That soooooo rarely happens, but it has been happening more lately and I don’t know what I’m doing now that I wasn’t doing earlier. Whatever. They gave me a different sweater and gushed about my art gallery stuff. (Funny how the shirt they’d liked for the art gallery was a shirt I picked up literally the other day at a thrift store because I knew it’d be perfect for extra work…guess I was right.)

The production needed some upscale cars so I volunteered my Prowler. Remember, I was late, though, so I had to practically run to get my car and then get out of the structure, off the lot, back in through the main gate and over to New York street.

Apparently, no one in New York has a Prowler.

I was apologetically told to go put my car back in the structure and walk back to the set.

Thus, I was even later. By the time I got to the set, the AD had already set just about everyone. He looked at me, considered the scene, scratched his head, then gave me a cross to do when the scene was about half over.

Great! I was in business. There was nothing left to do but wait.

During that time, Jenna Elfman came onto the set. She is sooooooo tall and gorgeous. I’m so jealous… Anyway, as I was standing there in lalaland, I hear that unmistakable voice–one I’d only previously heard through television speakers–say, “Lisa.”

My heart did a weird flippy-floppy thing. Why the hell was Jenna Elfman saying my name? How did she know my name? Lots of people who didn’t need to know my name had learned my name today, but why was Jenna saying my name? I thought I was going to die, but I looked up with raised eyebrows, ready to do whatever she needed.

She obviously wasn’t talking to me and I was glad for it. She did look surprised when I looked up so attentively, but the real Lisa approached and life went on as I breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Coincidence had already been weird that morning, this was weird enough on its own.

We started rehearsing the scene. I waited halfway through and went to do my cross, but Jenna and Hugh (I never learned his last name and I’m sorry for it.) were side-by-side on the sidewalk and skinny little me couldn’t even fit through so I just crossed behind. It seemed to work, but it ‘felt’ wrong, so I went up to an AD and explained.

I knew I was in weird territory, but I carefully phrased my concern, “Could you please let Jenna and Hugh know that there’ll be extras making crosses against them? There’s not enough room on the sidewalk without cutting between them and the camera.”

On the next rehearsal, I was able to get through. It was awkward, but Jenna and I didn’t do any funky dance steps and I didn’t get yelled at afterward, so I assumed all was well.

We shot the scene several times and then it was time to go in for coverage. I waited and read more of Heaven Tree while they got the stuff before my cross.

Okay, now this was a unintentionally big moment…

While shooting coverage of where my cross happens, there was a false start. They were still rolling. Hugh and Jenna were resetting. I was down the block and my cross was at the top of the take, so I literally ran back to my spot.

…Thus endearing myself to all the ADs. One in particular (the 1st AD, I’m guessing) promptly thanked me from the bottom of his heart.

But I’d just been doing my job. I felt weird being thanked for doing my job. Whatever. That was cool. I was the golden extra during the rest of the takes involving me–there weren’t many–and then I read more of Heaven Tree. (This is why I always carry a decently big purse–great for hiding paperbacks, my palm pilot and a notebook.)

Once the exterior was finished (We were on New York street where Seinfeld used to shoot. Once upon a time, I actually parked my car on that street while it was still dressed for Seinfeld. It has been fun to see it morph since then.), we were allowed a one-hour walkaway lunch as usual when shooting on the lot. I got a grilled cheese sandwich at the commissary. Yum.

Next up was the art gallery, so I changed into my fun outfit. Earthy green and beige, but lots of drama in the styling.

I was assigned a date and then told where to stand. The scene was going to be shot in three or four separate parts. We were right in front in the middle. That was cool.

During the second part, we were given a cross to the opposite side…where we were given certain marks to make sure we were in frame.

During the next part, we were given another cross all the way to the other side past where we were in the first section and then instructed to make our way back around and follow two of the principles to take their place looking at a painting when they left. We landed in the front again.

At some point my date noticed. I had been oblivious because my feet were killing me for having been standing on them all day.

I really took in his observation and realized that it was probably because I was the golden extra. The AD knew he could count on me to cross in the right place at the right time so he used the hell out of me, making me drag my date along. Which worked great.

I explained it in a nutshell while we waited do do another take, “This morning. False start. They were resetting. I ran.” My date chuckled knowingly, then rolled his eyes, “This really is your fault, then. We could be in deep background, with our backs to the camera, but no, you had to go and do a good job. Great. Just great.” We quietly shared the laugh.

Our crosses got rearranged a little as far as timing…And then there was the one where we were supposed to go when Josh Randall sat down…

…but he didn’t sit down.

I was terrified, but quickly faked it and walked through with my back to the camera while pantomime-talking to my date.

It ‘felt’ good and we didn’t get yelled at afterward, so we did it the same way every time. That was fun. The scene was great.

And then we were released. Great experience. The crew was wonderful. They still had another scene to do with Dabney Coleman. Long day for them. I was only there for eleven hours. I wish I could have more gigs like this one. I really do.

Comments are closed.