First of all, let me say that I would totally go out with Aidan Quinn. Not only is he completely adorable in person, but he is a goofball. A character. And, he smiled at me, blinking into the bright morning sun, when he came out of the hairdresser's trailer. He was all bed-heady and he was wearing plaid shorts and a t-shirt - not in costume yet.
Michigan with its limping economy has put out the call to filmmakers. It is offering a huge discount to production companies who will come to the state to make films. And, they are coming. Clint Eastwood is here. So is Drew Barrymore. The current attraction is a boon to us, the amateur thespians who are community theatre writers and actors and directors.
My friend Claire sent me information on a casting call for extras. They were filming the pilot for, “The Prince of Motor City”, a new ABC series. The shoot was scheduled for a cemetery in Detroit. Claire and I invited our friends Bob and Tim too. We were required to show up in funeral garb. The instructions clearly warned us to do our own hair and make-up, and said it would be a long day so bring books, snacks and maybe cards to occupy ourselves. We would be paid minimum wage. We were not allowed to speak to the movie stars unless they addressed us first. And there would be absolutely no photographing of the movie stars.
We showed up at 5:30 am, all dressed in black. After we stood in line to register, we were sent to the wardrobe trailer. Huh? We thought we had to wear our own clothes. The two men running wardrobe were nice, but they didn't like the long skirt and big straw hat I had selected. They wanted me in something sleeker. They picked out a sexy black and white dress. I took it to the tent marked, “Women”, bent through the long vinyl flap and found myself in the pitch darkness with several other women who were fumbling to change.
I got one of them to help me with the zipper, but it was no use. The dress was too tight. I took it off, put my own clothes back on, and returned it to wardrobe.
“Here. Try this suit,” one of the guys said. He held out a black pinstriped suit.
“I have trouble with pants,” I said. I'm not fat, but tiny waisted with ample hips. Pants are always a challenge.
He insisted, so I dutifully went back for another change. The pants didn't fit.
Another trip to wardrobe.
Finally, he selected a black skirt, jacket and top. Back into the tent I went. This combination worked out okay. I came out, went back to the wardrobe trailer and flung my hands in the air. “TA DAAAA!”
He was not impressed. “Good for you.”
Then there was jewelry. A necklace was carefully selected for me; several strands of shiny black beads. And black panty hose.
“Are those the only shoes you have?” he pointed down at my flat, open toed sandals.
“Yes,” I said.
“What size do you wear?” He fumbled through his collection of shoes but couldn't find anything in size 7 1/2.
I was sent to the hair trailer, where a couple of bagpipe players in kilts loitered. The hairdresser beckoned to me. She took out the loose strands held up with clips, and snugged my hair back into a French twist. She sprayed and sprayed and sprayed it.
Finally it was time to go to the shoot. We gathered around a shaded mausoleum that had the words, “Hamilton” engraved across the top. There was a casket in front, and several huge bouquets of roses and calla lilies. There were sixty or so of us extras in a scene that was supposed to have twice as many people. So it was explained that they would move us around, and movie magic would do the rest.
Our guru was Reggie, a young smiling kid about college age, wearing a headphone and microphone. He was our designated boss for the day. He walked through the crowd picking out people. He walked up to Tim, who was bald and towering six foot four over the rest of the crowd. “I need you to come with me,” he said.
Tim was taken from us. The next thing we knew, he was sitting in the back row of chairs at the funeral, grinning giddily with the other extras who sat among the stars.
We were jealous. Bob, Claire and I were longtime community theatre thespians. Tim was a newbie to the acting world. Not only did he get special air time, but he got to sit, when standing was already getting old.
