The Thacker Case

After getting a week’s work on The Changeling, I was quite shocked to get another day in December…during a writer’s strike, no less. This time it was a car call…with my ’68 Mustang fastback.

I was called at sort of the last minute the day before and then told I’d get my call time later that night. I waited until 10PM before giving up and going to bed. The next morning, I called around 8AM and there still was no official call time for me!

There were only two people on the call: myself with my car and another guy. We were stand-ins.

I finally had to make another phone call around 9, because I knew the location was about an hour away and I wanted to make sure I had enough lead time so I wouldn’t be late. Finally, I got an answer–and had about a half hour to get ready before I had to tune the car and get on the road.

My car had been running sort of rough, so I made the usual rounds, checking fluids and adjusting the carburetor. I wanted to do a little more, but there was no time. I got to crew parking, where I knew I’d be following one of the shuttle vans to base camp/the set.

This was a very small production. After working on The Changeling last week, it was pretty strange to go back to a tiny budget show. It wasn’t a bad thing, just a different thing.

Crew parking was several miles away from the set. One of the longest distances I’ve had. We even had to get on the freeway for awhile. Then, on some back roads through farmland until finally I saw base camp trailers stuffed in a small clearing at the mouth of a side road that seemed to go onto someone’s farm rather than be an actual road. I couldn’t tell for sure. There certainly wasn’t a whole lot of traffic on it–only occasional farm trucks carrying produce crates.

I met up with the other stand-in. He’d worked on the show before and sort of knew the ropes. I accidentally spoke with the director. I didn’t know who he was and just happened to be standing near him. He asked me if I was an actress. I replied, “I’m not serious about it… Well, I’m not seriously pursuing it… I’m only serious when I’m on set.” In other words, insert foot in mouth. Oh well. At least I was honest. I’m not an actress and I’m not actively pursuing it. I am, however, very serious and as professional as I can be when I’m on a set.

I enjoy what I do, but no, I’m not an actress. I don’t want the spotlight on me. It’s too stressful.

The scenes we were working on took place in a car. A few hours were spent prepping the car. My stand-in stint was spent sitting in the car–which was preferable to standing around in the freezing wind outside. I had a warm jacket, but still, the wind was arctic and the car was pretty comfortable. I definitely had the better end of the deal than the crew.

Finally, everything was set up and the actress I was standing in for (Eliza Dushku!!!!!!) traded places with me to do the scene. She’s so cool. She even thanked me and it was hard not to be fangirl and gush about her portrayal of Faith in Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.

Day turned into night. If I wasn’t ‘standing-in’ in the car, I was in the honey wagon. They had an extra room (with a heater) that me an the other stand-in were thankfully allowed to use.

Lunch was served and we ate in what’s called a Lunch Box. I hadn’t been on one in several years. They always amaze me. Essentially, they’re a really big trailer that pulls out on both sides and becomes a rather large room. Set up tables and chairs and voila! an indoor catering tent on wheels. I know from watching Extras that in the UK, they have converted buses that serve the same purpose except they’re more purpose built than Lunch Boxes.

After lunch (which was around average dinner time), we went to the other location which was further out in the farmland. I followed one of the other cars there because finally, my Mustang was going to be in the shot.

I did a little bit of double duty, too. I stood in until it was time to get my car in place for the scene.

This is when things got a little odd for me. They gave me a walkie-talkie so that I’d be able to hear my cue, but due to the wind whipping into the microphone of the Assistant Director giving various cues, the roar of my engine, my inability to see where I was going because of the way the scene was lit and the fact that I was listening for a cue that sounded like “Go Mustang” or “Go Background”, but he instead just said my name in a whisper that didn’t sound much different than the wind anyway, I missed my first cue.

I got the car turned around and Back to One, but the AD was not thrilled that I’d missed the cue. I explained my dilemma of not being able to hear very well despite clipping the walkie to the top of my collar, so he had a PA stand right next to the car (which is another thing I’m more used to) and give me a visual. Of course, by the third or fourth take, I knew what I was listening for and had been repositioned closer to the set so I could see more of what was going on and needed the visual cue less, but I felt better having the PA there because if the AD called me late again, I’d have someone to vouch for whether I took the cue or not. If I can discern the cue, I don’t screw up. It’s really that simple.

There were a few more takes where I was considered to be late, but the PA was right there. I shrugged it off. It was late. Everyone was freezing. Go ahead, yell at me. I was sitting in a nice warm car. I didn’t care anymore.

Really, though, I never got truly yelled at. It was more that I didn’t hit the mark at the right time, but a lot of that had to do with what the other actors were doing versus it taking a second or so for me to get into the frame because I had to be so far back. It seemed simple, but it really wasn’t. I had to sit there with my lights off, get them on and go for a ways before shutting them off and getting the car turned around in mud. I was a good sport about it, but I know several people who’d’ve pitched a fit about going off road in their classic Mustang.

They’d considered using my car as the hero car for that last bit. While I was okay with the idea, I realized that whoever was driving it had to be used to a manual steering, manual brake, car with a mid-stall torque converter behind a 400+horsepower engine. It’s temperamental and very far from a turn-the-key-and-go kind of car. You gotta know what you’re doing in my beast. I explained that, and they decided not to use it as the hero car. I was fine either way. I wasn’t even going to ask for more money. I do this because I love it.

Even when not getting out of there until 2:30AM, I still loved it. But that’s just the kind of girl I am.

The Changeling (5)

Monday was great. Tuesday was awesome despite the dead bird. Wednesday was incredible. Thursday and Friday, I didn’t see a whole lot of action.

In fact, on Thursday, I only worked in one scene and Friday we were recalled (Yes, a record for me. This was the first time I’d ever worked 5 days in a row on any show.), but sat in holding for a few hours before they decided to cut the scenes we were supposed to be in.

However, the scene I worked was a sort of inspection scene. I was assigned to one of the rooms in the hallway–with another lady as my roommate. All we did was stand there as the doctor worked his way along the line to Angelina.

Since I was a Code 12 patient rather than a mental patient, I stared down the doctor. I didn’t know how else to keep it interesting for me.

That was the extent of my work in the scene, but if I could download an image or two from my brain, I’d go for ‘Clint Eastwood with a big, white, one-winged cockatoo on his shoulder and Angelina reaching out to make friends with it.’ It was the last day of shooting. Strange things can happen. I heard later that the bird had been rescued after being attacked by a dog…and it was potty trained!

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. (And what’s with me and birds on this show? First the dead one and then Clint’s pet!)

My experience on The Changeling is likely to be the highest point of my background acting career for a very long time.

I waited until I got home to take the following picture of my hair and make-up. Hopefully, I’ll be in the finished product and have a screen capture or two to add!

Herbie: Fully Loaded Update!

I didn’t expect to see myself in the finished product because I was in deep background throughout most of the shoot, so I’m not surprised I landed on the cutting room floor. (Actually, there’s even a chance I was so deep that I wasn’t in frame at all!) But I am a little surprised that my car got in the movie twice.

Once, yeah, I’d seen it when the movie came out, but the second, super blurry time was a surprise. There were only a few of us there and once again, my car was in the back. I’m actually behind the person wearing the big hat. I just wasn’t meant to personally appear on screen in this movie, I guess!

The Changeling (4)

Monday was spent in holding. Tuesday was utterly amazingly awesome despite the dead bird. Today…

I got to the lot, passed the WGA strikers, (they’d learned what we were working on and started joking with us about having a good crazy day!), enjoyed my hot fresh buttermilk waffle breakfast, got into costume, hair and make-up and was shuttled to the sound stage just fine.

Once again many of us were used in the first scene of the day. I was placed second in line at the nurses station in the hallway. It was time for us to take our pills.

It seemed like I was set there prematurely because I kept being in everyone’s way. But every time I tried to move, I’d get told to go back where I was. It took a little doing, but I started to watch for when the camera guys and such were trying to frame the shot versus when I could be out of the way without being told to get back into place. That wasn’t easy. There was a lot of movement with various crew members doing several jobs and me trying to figure out when it was a good idea to not be standing where the guy carrying the ladder/lighting fixture/stand/etc. would run into me while coming around the corner. It was a hallway for goodness sake. Lots of work and not a lot of room to do it in.

At one point, we were real close to getting started. Angelina arrived and Clint was describing to her what the shot was going to look like. He was animated and right in the middle of the hallway and I wasn’t sure if I should stay where I was to help illustrate the scene or if I should clear out to make room. I ended up sort of cornered against the wall when Clint made a move to go down the hall and then come back. He landed about three inches from me as I tried to sink into the wall so as not to be in the way.

He sorta came back out of the scene and looked at me in kind of surprise. (Y’know like, “Oh hi. I didn’t see you standing there.”) I didn’t know what to do, so I do what I always do in that situation and smiled my biggest watermelon grin. Which he returned!!!!!! That made my day!

Also adding to the oddity, I’m sure, was my hair and make-up. One of the other extras said something about how every time Clint would come onto the set and see all of us the first thing in the day, he’d grin and shake his head. I gotta admit…we were a pretty motley-looking crew. You’ll see when the movie comes out. We’d been done up to look our worst and it was strange for anyone to be in a room with all of us.

The action of the scene was that the lady ahead of me would take her pill. Then I would move up and take mine. Then Angelina would fight and various defiant mayhem would ensue in this amazing tracking shot. We did the whole thing a few times in just one take, but I don’t know if that’ll make it into the finished product or they’ll have to cut a couple times.

When I was told I was to take a pill and then walk down the hall, they assured me that I didn’t have to actually take it. I could just pretend.

Well, when I accidentally swallowed the first one, I figured what the hell, why not keep going.

I ended up swallowing so many pills, I swore my stomach rattled. They tasted like nothing, but kinda looked like breath mints.

From what I could gather, at some point, they did a little close-up/insert of me. I don’t know if it was just me or if it was one of those where they start on me and then pan to Angelina, but I’m pretty sure they did at least one take like that. Maybe that’ll make it into the finished product. I dunno. By now, I was still just glad to be there and having such a great time.

Later on in the scene, while Angelina is fighting an orderly, all of us extras got to come down the hallway, shocked at what we were seeing. They even did a shot just for us! The camera went by all of us as we stared in fright. It was awesome that all of us extras got close-ups that time. I wonder if they’ll use any of them, though. It was just awesome that they even bothered with us. I mean, we’re extras, we usually only get camera time behind the principle or by accident.

Jen always asks how close I get to the celebrities. Well, today was a doosie. 3 inches for Mr. Eastwood and 0 inches for Ms. Jolie. Yeah, I was unintentionally standing in the way and she accidentally bumped me.

I spent the last scene of the day in holding before getting yet another call time while being signed out. Yeah, I was on my way to yet another day of fun and excitement!

The Funky Smell In My Prowler

I’ll admit the car was down for a few months, but it was in the garage. The windows were down, too, but when I started driving it again, yikes! it smelled funky. I can’t even really describe the scent… Maybe like boiled sweat. I’ve never smelled anything like it. Not putrescent, but certainly not a pleasure to inhale–especially in a car with such a small passenger compartment.

But it didn’t keep the car from running, so I drove it anyway–windows down, of course. LA weather’s good for that.

I was fortunate enough to get a week’s worth of work on The Changeling and that car is one of my favorites to drive on studio lots, so on the Monday, I kept the windows down until I got there and all was well, but funky smelling.

On Tuesday, as I was tossing my stuff in the car before heading out, I just by chance happened to look behind the driver’s seat. I found the cause of the funky smell, but didn’t have time to deal with it. I mean, I didn’t know how long it had been there and didn’t want it to either come apart in my hand or drip something icky that I’d need to clean off the upholstery right away. I’d need to take precaution. The only immediate thing I felt I needed to do was take pictures!

So, I drove to the studio that day knowing what was stinking up my car and I wished I’d taken care of it because it was kinda disconcerting for it to be there, me knowing it but not doing anything about it. Until I got home.

Yes, there was a dead bird in my Prowler…and it had probably been there for months! I still every now and then chuckle and utter, “There was a dead bird in my car.” I have no idea how it got there, either. I mean, yeah, the windows were down, but they’re pretty small on that car. And the car was in the garage, too!

I’ve yet to name the poor tweety, but it is now the patron saint of my garage. I’ll mount him on a plaque or something soon, but right now, he’s resting by the door, watching over my cars. Poor little thing. Completely mummified, too.

The Changeling (3)

Yesterday, the hair lady told us not to wash our hair so that it’d look gross for the next day, too. I couldn’t find my shower cap so I had to put a plastic bag over my head when I showered. That was weird, but whatever. The experience of it was kind of fun. When else would I ever have to do it? And for what better reason than a big movie?

When I went out to my Prowler, something odd happened. As I was dropping my backpack in the passenger seat, I happened to see something small and brown–and feathered–behind the driver’s seat. No. Couldn’t be, could it?

Yeah, there was a dead bird behind my seat.

And I didn’t have enough time to deal with it. I had to leave or I was going to be late.

So, I drove to the studio lot knowing the funky smell the car had had for the past few months was a dead bird. Ew. All I could think about the whole time was that there was a dead bird going for yet another ride in the car. It’d probably been in there for a few hundred miles around town at least. Click here for the whole story on the poor birdy…and pictures!

I walked onto the lot and got to base camp just fine. Had my waffle and made the rounds of wardrobe, hair and make-up before getting on a shuttle to the sound stage. Most of us were in the first scene of the day.

When the crew was ready, all of us were led into the breakfast room and lined up so they could pick and choose who sat where. I was selected first–which was bizarre because I’d never been picked first for kickball, so why now? What horror was I in for?–and seated in a seemingly normal spot.

The prop guys were busy putting trays of food and various cups at each setting and another lady was selected to sit in a wheelchair. The day before, she’d been selected to be a lobotomy patient, so today, they’d put a scar on her. She was so sweet, sharing a few more stories about the various featured extra parts she’d gotten that were somewhat similar to this one. I hope I work with her again.

All the rest of us were seated, plus a few were left standing in the food line. Then Angelina came in. She’s so awesome.

Anyhow, the scene was that she gets her food, goes and sits down, then the other principle has a conversation with her, sort of telling her the ropes of being locked up in the place. Some of us really were crazy, the rest of us were locked up because we’d hassled the police one way or another. We weren’t crazy, just sort of jailed.

Angelina smiled at me, admiring my broken nose. Yay! She made my day (even more than it had already been made by just being on the show!)

Then, the assistant director explained to me that ‘my brother had gotten beaten up by cops and I tried to sell the story to the newspapers. The cops hunted me down and locked me up there in the asylum instead of jail.’

I nodded like I understood, but I was thinking, “Holy shit! Does this mean I might be featured?” (“I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. Eastwood…”)
The scene happened, and sure enough, Amy Ryan (I can’t remember her character name for some reason) was telling Angelina (Funny, I don’t remember her character name either!) about how to fit in and that she knew she wasn’t crazy. She then said, “See that woman over there…” then told a little story about how that lady was a cop’s wife who got beat up. “And that woman over there.” She motioned to me!!!!!!! ” The cops beat up her brother–broke both his arms…”

So, during the scene, I was the woman they referred to for that bit. Yay! Whether I will be for the finished product, I don’t know, but on the day, I was the one and that was really freakin’ awesome to me. As if my day could get any better than it already was!

Well, it did…

They had to shoot inserts of us isolated as though from Angelina’s point of view. They shot myself and two other women plus the wheelchair lady. I really hope I make it into the finished product. I really, really do.

The insert close-up shot was pretty simple. I wasn’t supposed to acknowledge the camera per se… just do whatever I’d do while eating breakfast. At one point, the director, (yes, Clint Eastwood!) had me sort of look toward–but not at–the camera.

And that was it. I spent the rest of the day in holding (which was somewhere on Cloud 9 for me…) before unbelievably given a call time for tomorrow while being signed out. Yeah, I was going to come back again for more fun and games! I couldn’t believe it, either!

Of course, as I got in my car to go home, I remembered the dead bird under my seat and thought about the darn thing all the way home. My hubby was gracious enough to do the honor of removing it. Yeah, he reached in and grabbed it. The poor thing was stiff as a board–mummified! It’s now the patron saint of our garage. We put the poor thing near the door to watch over our cars.

The Changeling (2)

So, by some miracle, an extra’s most unlikely dream came true. After working on The Changeling back in October, I was recalled in December! I think I will eternally be in shock that I was actually called back. Usually, production says they’ll call you, but it never happens. I’ve learned not to believe it even when they say, “You’ll be working tomorrow.” until when I’m being signed out at the end of the day and given my call time.

I’d even brazenly scheduled a dentist appointment for today, assuming they’d never call me. But they did and I’d much rather be on a movie with Angelina Jolie and Clint Eastwood than sitting in a dentist chair!

They claimed that we’d be working the whole week. Yeah, sure, whatever…

I arrived at the studio lot and had to cross the WGA picket line. The guys were real nice. They understood we’re extras and make pennies to even their tens of dollars under the old contract.

I was shuttled to base camp where I was treated to a full breakfast bar…including freshly made waffles right out of the iron. The moment it landed on my plate, I knew I’d probably never have it that good on any other set.

After eating, I went to the costume trailer where I was given essentially a smock and a thin robe to put over it, a pair of slippers and various undergarments. It was 1928 and I was to play a Code 12 patient in an insane asylum. Yay!

In the make-up trailer, I had an even more in-depth experience than I did the first time. She broke my nose and put a big slash across it! Then, more blood in splotches on my lips. My eyes were darkened and I was generally looking drugged, tired and beat up. Yay!

In the hair trailer, I had about the same time as the first time. She made my hair look like I hadn’t washed it in months. I looked properly horrible. Yay!

Eventually, I was shuttled to the sound stage. There were tours going by looking at all of us extras in fright. It was great. We smiled and waved whenever we could. Each time I had to use the little girl’s room one stage over, all the various crew guys working on nearby stages gave me pretty strange looks at first. It was fun for me. When else can a girl walk around looking like that and it’s normal?

I spent almost the entire day in holding, reading a book about English weapons and warfare. Then, a PA beckoned me to work in the scene. I kept getting about a foot away from being in frame before the scene ended. Oh well. I missed it. I didn’t get to see either Angelina or Clint that whole day.

But I did get to eat sushi for lunch. And french fries! (They were good, too!)

And when I was being signed out for the day, I was given a call time for the next day!

Hollywoodland Update

When I worked on this show, it was called Truth, Justice and the American Way.

I swear this goes on record as my smallest appearance yet!

West Wing (2) Update

Yay! I landed on the cutting room floor in only one of three scenes! I’ve been on the show twice and managed to get in frame on the first and second time, although not in all scenes. That’s okay, though. I still get paid and I still think it’s fun regardless.

This was the scene where I started off standing on a squishy brass-looking seal. That was pretty odd.

And this one was actually kind of fun because I remember alternating between writing notes and playing solitaire on my palm pilot between takes. This kind of cross is also sort of difficult sometimes. I’m not always directly cued by a PA or AD, so I just have to take my cue either off of a visual of where the actors are, a specific line they say or sometimes if there’s a dead spot in the extras’ movement, it’s a good thing to try to fill it if possible.

I wish more gigs had been like my second time on West Wing. Looking back, it was actually a really good gig even though it was long.

LA AutoShow Highlights

I went to the LA AutoShow. Honestly, new cars don’t really thrill me all that much, so it’s a pretty quick show for me. I got to relive the exhilaration of the F430s I got to drive over the summer and now that it has been shown, I can mention that I got to drive the Maserati Gran Turismo, too. So, when I saw it at the show, I convinced the gal to let me into the booth so I could show my husband the car I’d thought was so nifty. I think my husband would still rather have an Astin. I can’t say which I’d rather have because I haven’t driven the Astin yet…but oh, how I want to.

Of course, I also stopped by the Lotus booth… I love the Elise. Someday, I will definitely own one. Absolutely. It’s not the fastest car on the planet, but it’s unique, sporty and little: Just like me.

I’m gonna get me one of them thar cute little cars… I love ’em!

The other highlight of the show for me was the ’08 Viper. I wanted to see what the new metallic green looked like in person and oh hell yeah, that’s my color for the car.

However, the single most important thing I did at the show was get in the car and ram the seat forward to see if I could easily get the clutch all the way in without sitting on a pillow, without platform shoes, etc.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See how much distance there is behind the seat? I know it screws up the aesthetics, but darn it all, I’m a little girl, so I’m forced to go to drastic measures to drive a big man’s car. I really don’t care how silly it looks as long as the car go, go, goes!

I’m sure I’ll be getting a green Viper at some point, too. I’ll likely swap my ’03 for it as soon as I can. It’s about time Dodge put an interesting color on the Viper.

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