I'm an EXTRA!

Well here we go.. let me recap my amazingly triumphant entrance into the world of film!
On Sunday morning, 1am i met up with some USC students at LAX airport in order to be an extra for their senior film project.

The Basic Plot
Based on a true story of an alcohalic woman who was flying to Palm Springs to enter Rehab. While in the airport she visited the bar and got seriously drunk (one last hurrah) and was late in getting to her flight... she threw a fit when they didnt allow her to get on the flight (since it was pulling away) and was arrested and put into a holding cell. Somehow (and this is where the story lost me.. i was being told this in 3rd person) the chains or ropes or something holding her down got wrapped around her neck and she ended up hanging herself.

So the students were supposed to make a 10-12 minute movie about this. Given a budget and a core group of people they were to make this film, so they were looking for volunteers to be extras in the movie and thats where i came in.

So i showed up VERY early in the morning for our 11 hour session at LAX airport in a terminal that is normally closed at night, so we had free reign of the place. I met the Production Assistant (PA), which is the job i am looking at getting in hollywood (its a good entry level position). He was in fact a volunteer. used to be the director's camp counselor when the director was in middle school, and since he knew the job was asked to help out on this movie. When i told the PA that is what i wanted to do he gave me a crash course in PAing 101. It was VERY simple and didnt require all that much brain power, but then again it is a entry level position!

I had a GREAT time, everyone there was extremely friendly and made some good contacts from it. I was greatly impressed with the Director, just a cool guy who really seemed to have a vision for what he wanted. and i was also impressed with the AD (assistant director) who was REALLY on the ball, and completely organized.

So it was a great time of meeting people, kissing some SERIOUS butt and making some good contacts! I'm really excited to see how this all pans out, since they arnt really IN the business so they arnt going to get me any jobs anytime soon, but who knows what happens down the line.

OH, and my favorite part of the night... The lead actress is supposed to act drunk and scream at the top of her lungs "let me in the F(#$&$)ing airplane"... which by the time they filmed that scene the terminal had opened for business. The camera angle hid the camera from view so passengers just getting through security hear this screaming down the hallway and as they glance in the room think something aweful is going on as three policemen (actors) are tackleing this crazy woman to the ground and dragging her down the hall. HILLARIOUS to watch people's reactions!!!

OH and my second favorite part... being an extra my job is just to be in the background. So they were filming the scene where the actress is going off about not being allowed on the plane and i'm sitting in the background. We were told to "react" to the screaming lady when she starts to get loud. Not wanting to over-do my position as an extra i casually glanced up to see what was going on during taping and then went back to reading. the other extras did the same. we were informed by the director that he wanted MORE of a reaction.. this lady is going NUTS! so on the second take i took more of a notice.. SERIOUSLY looking at what was going on.. showing curiousity, interest!! after the second take i was informed by the director to TONE IT DOWN.. HAHA.. oh gosh i guess you cant win...

Well waiting for my big "red carpet" release party.. hopefully i'll make the "best dressed" list for this historic event ;-)