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!

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