Monday morning I was looking through the AJC and a blurb on the front page caught my attention. It read "Stars in ATL shooting movie" and it mentioned that you shouldn't be surprised if you see Sissy Spacek, Robert Duvall, or Bill Murray on the streets of the city. I began reading the main article and it suggested that there was a requirement for a large number of extras for a scene they were shooting. The paper listed a website and suggested those interested could just show up on Wednesday for the shooting.
After reading the site it struck me that this was just the type of corny adventure my Mom would have loved and it sealed the deal. The wardrobe descriptions suggested that with the dark suit and coat I already had I would be able to pull it off but would need a Fedora and a basic black tie. I gave myself a budget (I'm unemployed you know) and went shopping. I couldn't find a cheap black tie that fit the budget but I figured something from the closet would work and the Fedora was the key.
The site suggested that you arrive at 5AM and the location shoot was in a small town to the southwest of us called Dallas, Ga. I got up at 4AM and dressed up in my outfit. When I looked at myself in the mirror I could have sworn I saw Bogart staring me back in the eye.
I arrived on time to the "extra's staging area" which was an abandoned drag strip about 1/2 mile from the set. The first thing that I noticed was there were a lot of cars already there. I then noticed that there were a LOT of people there. Somewhere in the back of my mind I had figured that 5AM and freezing cold weather would have kept these people from coming but no such luck. When I realized that the short line I was standing in was for those who had been "pre-fitted" and I would need to go to the end of a line that had about 800 people in it my movie "sense" should have kicked in and the term "foreshadowing" should have immediately come to my mind.
It took approximately 1 1/2 hours to get through the line which was really only to sign a waiver limiting the studios liability should anything horrible happen like getting run over by a wandering mule. Through attrition and a time cutoff, the approximately 1500 or so other extras in line were widdled down to about 6-800 and I made it in under the cutoff. 
At about 9AM I made it to Hair and Makeup. Turns out no clippers were used in the 30's and most of the mens hair needed to be adjusted because of the straight edges. After standing around for another 40 minutes or so I ran into my nemesis...Wardrobe Man! Think old man in gray ponytail with beret, ascot, and yellow rectangular glasses. His first look at me, he stumbled back, held his hands over his eyes and shouted "Christ, could you have worn a brighter tie with more contrast!" and quickly began surveying other extras. Somehow I talked him into a tie from the wardrobe department and he gave me my "Green Ticket" which said I had passed inspection.
The group of us that had been through Wardrobe check were loaded onto a bus and sent out to the set. The set was on Picketts Mill State Park, the site of a civil war battle. I thought we all looked pretty good and the site of the old cars helped to put me back into the 1930's.
As we arrived a production assistant was lining several people up for a shot, and since nobody said I couldn't I got in line. Welcome to Hollywood! My first shot was entering the scene and heading to camera right as several of the principal actors were starting up an old cranked engine compressor of some sort. After the scene I realized that Wardrobe Man was only the sidekick of my true nemesis "Wardrobe Lady"! Think 4ft tall, 3ft wide, 15 cats, a permanent scowl and dressed in her own wardrobe. When she looked at me she shouted "What in the hell do you have in your pockets, I'm going to lose my job!" After emptying my pockets of all non essentials and hiding my phone and walllet in my back pocket my next inspection came with "Love the tie, its my favorite...lose the hat!" Never could figure out what was wrong with my hat but I didn't give her another chance of running into me after that.
Throughout the day I ran into all of the principle actors including Bill Murray, Robert Duvall, Gerald McRaney and Sissy Spacek. Everyone was very likable and approachable excpet for Sissy Spacek who nobody seemed to see or approach. Bill Murray was exactly like you'd think...loud and fun, keeping things light and very approachable. He charged a lady and gave her a big bear-hug and said "There, now you have something to tell everyone!"
Get Low is the story of a recluse who stages his own funeral before he dies and it becomes a huge event with 1000's attending. It is based on a true story and we were filming the funeral scene. The scene starts with Bill Murray taking the stage and introducing himself to the crowd as well as the idea that this was going to be a "live funeral". Bill plays Mr. Quinn, the owner of the funeral home and employer of Felix"Bush' Brazeale played by Robert Duvall. Bill's speach is interrupted when Bush enters the scene leading a couple of bad guys with a shotgun. At this point, a boy takes a shot at Bush but misses. After a band takes to the stage to calm everyone's nerves Bush still wants to tell his story and Robert Duvall takes the stage.
Duvall tells the story of meeting a married woman and falling in love. On the night she was supposed to meet up with him to run off and start a new life she failed to show. He went to her house and encountered her husband, who was bloodied and holding a hammer. After a struggle a fire started because of a kerosene lanter that had been thrown and Bush found himself and his lover on fire. Bush says that he somehow he "flew" out of the house and never knew but was sure that he left his lover and her husband to die in the fire.
During this scene, Sissy Spacek walks through those gathered and up towards the stage but leaves before the full story is told.
That scene was shot throughout the day and at mid-day the cameras were reversed and shot several more times. My job was "background" and sometimes "deep background" and every once and awhile "I don't give a shit where you are but stay in the background." I believe I enjoyed the behind the scenes happenings much more than the thrill of being on camera, but it will be interesting to see if I can pick myself out when the film hits theatres.
Following are several links related to the movie:
Awesome flickr setSome Professional photos that are great!Bill Murray Joins Get LowVariety Story on Bill Murray and Lucas BlackAJC Story on filmingMy NemesisMTVs Take on Movie
It's almost summer and one of the things I like best about the season is Baseball! How pleased was I when Gracie told us in early spring that she'd like to play T-ball? Pretty pleased and we ran right out to sign her up for the YMCA league
As we all know, players are made in practice. Thanks to the glove and ball that Aunty Hee-hee gave her as a graduation present we were all set. A couple of days of practicing catch and fielding grounders only got us more excited for the first game. My enjoyment was only limited by the number of times I had to tromp through the hilly woods to find Gracie's errant tosses.
Gracie was selected to be on the "purple" team and when we finally got to the field for our first game she got her team jersey and cap. Each of the kids took a little batting practice and then the coach had them in the field taking ground balls. Gracie shows great form in her "ready" stance and giggled every time I told her to shake her booty to keep loose.
We played a bit of shortstop the first inning in the field. No dandelions were picked as the field was freshly mowed and the butterflies haven't made their appearance just yet. The "light blue" team got a chance to hit around and the "purple" team did their best to field and toss to first. We didn't make it half way through the top of the first before we had the first cryer. Thankfully Gracie made it through with only a minor pouty spat...not enough balls were coming her way!
The second inning in the field we moved over and played on the right side of the field. Gracie wanted a ball and she was attacking each hit with enthusiasm. She found herself in the middle of a couple of scrums and eventually got to toss a ball towards first base. For our last inning in the field, we asked coach if we could play first. She was a natural and gave everyone a good glove to throw towards. Her new friend Kayla took her place at second and they made a good combo in the field!
Defense is fun, but Offense rocks! Coach lined the players up for their first swipes and everyone was jostling to be the next big bopper. Gracie brought her own helmet, another great gift from Hee-hee.
The only activity that we didn't get to practice before the first game was hitting. We didn't have a chance to scrounge up a tee and a hitting net so we went in a little cold.
No worries! Grace has a solid swing and made good contact each of her swings.
The hit Gracie had in the second inning was her finest. It was a gapper that made it into the outfield and surprised the "light blue" team who scrambled to catch up with it and get it into the infield. Gracie might have been as shocked as any of them, it took a while for coach to get her to drop the bat and run to first!
I had a pretty good view of the game as I was helping coach out at first base . Here you can see me pointing to the base so Gracie new where to run. It was pretty fun and all the kids were so happy to run the bases! I had a great time and can't wait for the next game. On the way home we saw a Lamborghini and we oohed and ahhed. Gracie asked me which was better, her play or the car? It was a no brainer, she's a natural!
