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 set
Some Professional photos that are great!
Bill Murray Joins Get Low
Variety Story on Bill Murray and Lucas Black
AJC Story on filming
My Nemesis
MTVs Take on Movie
