So You're an Actor Now?

I went on my first film audition Saturday, Feb 26. I just got the part.

Its been 20 years since I auditioned for anything. Back then, it was high school drama productions. They were usually pretty frustrating affairs. Many of the productions were musicals, and I couldn't sing or dance, so I was left playing the heavy: Big Jule in Guys & Dolls, or the Russian Constable in Fiddler on the Roof.

Back then, a friend told me about a casting going on for extras in Dead Poet's Society. I was a junior in high school, and took off from Career Week to be in the film. I think I worked about four days, and was amazed at the process of filmmaking. Because the set was a courtyard, they left many of the extras in place as they re-set the camera and lights. I wanted to keep working in film, but it didn't seem possible at the time. I went to college and studied art, and began my career in graphics.

Fast forward to 2007: Body of Lies was shooting in my neighborhood, and was looking for extras. I had such a great time that again I wanted to work in film professionally. I hooked up with a local crew and PA'd on a short film and I again wanted to get into it, but my life was making big shifts, and I had to focus on buying a house, and raising my first child.

Its when I was home with her that I thought about film again. I got inspired by a viral video clip of Michael Emerson in an industrial video, and the thought that down the road he would become Benjamin Linus on LOST.

I was browsing craigslist when I saw an ad seeking actors for an industrial film. My thinking was, If I could be an extra, I should try for nonspeaking roles. If I could do that, I could grow into a speaking role. I already had a job, I didn't need to make a lot of money, but would't it be great if...

So I went in the basement, took a headshot of myself, and sent it in.

I didn't hear anything for almost a year. But last month, a talent agent who had cast the industrial film called to see if I was interested in trying out for a commercial. I went, but I was out of my league. It was so exciting that I decided to keep trying, but I wanted to start building my reel for the next opportunity. I signed up to be an extra in an independent film, and met a great group of people who like me weren't professional actors, but were trying. I started lining up auditions and potential shoots. My wife is not sure what to make of it, but she's very supportive.

When I went to this audition, I explained that I didn't have speaking experience, and that I'd be happy to play Policeman #2, etc. The director emailed to say that part had been edited out, but that she felt I could handle a much larger speaking role.

My First Day as a Production Assistant

I had the best time last weekend, experiencing my first day as a production assistant for two independent short films, "Ten Years Gone" and "Philly", both shot in Arlington, VA.

Saturday morning, cast and crew of "Ten Years Gone" met at Director Ishu Krishna's house to pick up equipment, and caravan to our first location. A small neighborhood park served as the set for a flashback scene. Our biggest challenge there was framing the shot to avoid houses, fences, and other telltale signs of suburban Virginia.

The second flashback sequence was my chance to be an actor. I played a boss who wouldn't shut up. The scene basically involved rolling up to a red light, talking my head off, and oblivious to Ashlyn's(Erika Grace Allen) suffering.

After the flashback sequence, we returned to Ishu's house to shoot two of the main actors filming either end of a phone call that sets up the reunion that is the central event in the film. Because the flashback was shot with available light with no sound, Ashlyn's Room was the first full setup of the day. Once we got lights up and camera set, Erika our actress flipping through record on the bed, Matt with the boom mike, Teague with the slate, Ishu (director), Kerien (camera operator), Matt Leiner (AD), and I in the room, things started to feel tight, but the scene went really well and it got everyone excited for the rest of the shoot.

Because the crew was so small, it was easy to get to try different jobs, and when most of the crew went to film the second car scene, I stayed at the house to set up the lighting for the second bedroom scene. This time Brad (Brad Schaffer) would be standing in a room full of boxes that looked like he just moved in. The tricky part was that during the scene, he had to rummage through the boxes to find the phone. That made the lighting a challenge because when I got the lights right for him standing and talking, they threw crazy shadows into the area he was reaching into. I wish I had brought more clothespins. If you can't figure lighting out, the answer seems to be diffusion. In the end, a gel was taped up to the barn doors to soften the light.

Our big adventure was to go the Cowboy Cafe for our bar scene. When we got there, I was not optimistic. The bar was small, and the only place to set up was right in front of the door, next to the Golden Tee video game machine. Every few minutes, it would come to life with golf and and crowd sound effects.

The bar staff was great, as well as most of the patrons. They put up with bright lights, and our actors running their scene over and over again, including standing and singing,"Hercules and the Dunder Cheifs."

Sundays shoot did not go as well, however. We had some technical difficulties, and the reality of trying to film inside a shopping mall, food court, and bathroom without a permit was enough to cancel the shoot and reschedule.

I was so exhausted Sunday night, but it didn't matter. Both days were so exciting and fun that it beat the best day at my real job. I can't wait to go again.

Quiet on the set, please

My experience as an extra on the Body of Lies set really got me excited about the idea of working in film production, so last week I signed on to be a production assistant for two independent films shooting Sept. 22 & 23.

I'm looking forward to learning as much as I can about the process, and about the reality on set, to see if its the kind of thing I 'd like to get more serious about. I'm working with a really small crew and cast, but some have professional credentials, so I'm hoping there will opportunities to watch what they're doing and ask questions. I think the first thing I have to do is get some appropriate tools. I located a great source Filmtools.com has a great selection of hand tools, pouches, and a bunch of stuff I don't even know what they do. I'm conflicted, though. I want to be prepared and useful to the rest of the crew, but I don't want to look like a dork. Maybe I'll keep my tools in a bag...