I'm going to be in a movie! (Update: follow-up scene trip report - post #35)

[dlk9s]

A real one, not some student art film. Warning, the following is long. Might want to print it and take it to the bathroom or something.

 

The movie is called I.D. Theft (or Identity Theft, depending on where you see it), starring Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy, with the likes of Jon Favreau, John Cho, Amanda Peet, T.I., and Eric Stonestreet. In the film, McCarthy finds Bateman's wallet and steals his identity. His life falls apart and he goes around the country trying to pull it back together. My part isn't anything really special, but it's still quite cool for me.

 

I went to an extras casting call here in Atlanta a couple months ago and on Monday, May 7, I got a call from the extras casting director asking if I was available the coming week. She said I would be a businessman (the casting call was for anyone, but they were specifically looking for businessmen, so I dressed the part) in an executive locker room scene AND that I was a finalist for a "featured" extra role. I told her I could definitely do it and she told me she'd get back to me. The next day, she called back and asked if I could go down to the sound stage and interview with the director (Seth Gordon - did Horrible Bosses, Four Christmases, King of Kong) because I was now one of two choices for that featured role.

 

Went down to the sound stage and hung out for about an hour, waiting to interview. In the meantime, I saw Jason Bateman walk by a couple times. Finally, we met the director. He shook our hands, introduced himself, looked at us for two seconds and said, "Ok, that's all I needed." At that, we were escorted back to our seats.

 

A minute later, an assistant director came over and said, "He wants glasses." BINGO. I was then escorted to meet the prop master so he could take my picture and keep my glasses (for prep I guess). Got to see a scene shot while walking through, too. Funny thing was, it was my only pair, so I kept them for a day while I went at bought a new pair, courtesy of the movie. I visited wardrobe, as well, for sizing. As it turned out, they liked my suit, too, so that will be used in the movie.

 

Last Monday was my first of two days to film. Got to "base camp" at 11:00am, signed in, and visited wardrobe. I was given workout clothes for the locker room scene, as were two other extras. Two other guys stayed in suits. We were then taken to extras holding where we waited...and waited...and waited. They finally called us to the set at about 5:30 (we did get lunch).

 

Correction: they called ME to the set. When I walked in, it was quite a sight. Tons of people in there - lighting, electricians, camera people, the director, the cinematographer, set dressers, props, etc. Like I said, it was an executive locker room, the kind with fancy wood lockers, toiletries on a silver tray at the sink, a cart with a pitcher of water and lemon slices...posh stuff. Less than a minute after I entered, while I was still figuring out where to stand, Jason Bateman (JB, as they called him) came in, saw me, and shook my hand.

 

Note: we were told by the extras PA that at no time were we to talk to the actors unless they addressed us first and NO PICTURES.

 

http://i.imgur.com/NstnI.gif

 

I introduced myself to JB (since I was now allowed to speak) and told him it was great to be there.

 

In the scene, I started holding a suit on a hanger, proceeded to put it in a locker, closed and locked it, punched in a code on a keypad, and turned and walked away. JB, in dirty, ratty clothes, had snuck into the locker room and was eyeing me from behind a bank of lockers. When I leave, he goes to the locker, enters the code which he saw me input, steals my suit, and heads to the john to change.

 

We did a ton of takes from different angles, and while I never got a chance to see what the shots looked like, I was front and center. In some of the takes, the camera started right in front of me. I never chatted with JB, but he did give me direction once or twice, which was cool. We also took turns at one point entering the locker code so the camera could get close up shots of our fingers.

 

Early on, the cinematographer wanted to start with a shot of JB that would have cut my head out of the frame, but the director nixed it, saying the audience had to see my face because they needed to recognize me in LATER SCENE. Yup, I get another scene. This one is going to be just me, all by myself. I am going to be at my desk (wearing my suit) and open a package that JB has sent to me. In it is the suit he stole and I think it's all torn up. I assume I won't have a line, but I might have to make some facial reaction. I don't really know. We'll be filming that in about a month.

 

When it was all done, JB shook my hand and thanked me for coming. I thanked him for having me, though it probably sounded like, "pphhhhmmmmmfff, blaaaaaaaccchhhaaaah....fart."

 

So, yeah, assuming I don't end up on the cutting room floor, I'm going to be in a real, major motion picture! It was totally awesome. I've been an extra a couple times, but to be "featured" is an entirely different experience. I'm sure no future acting gigs will come as a result, but this will definitely be an experience to cherish.

[TracyThom]

Very cool story. It sounds like your scene is part of an important storyline, so hopefully it makes the film. It's sure to be in the DVD extras if it does get cut.

[pretendastronaut]

Cool story, congratulations! I'll keep an eye out!

[homer]

Featured extra is jsut one step from a line and that means Taft Hartley and, voila, union!

 

At least I think that's how it goes.

[GormanHarvey]

Wow what an experience!! Congrats!

[Patrick425]

Wow, that's a great story! Maybe one day we will be saying, remember when dkl9s use to post on this site...before he got famous...

[chuckiehacks]

It's official - Brewerfan.net's acting WOAH SOLVDD.

[mikevan1818]

Awesome story! Sounds like it was quite the experience. BF.net just keeps expanding its talents!

 

During one of the shoots you should have just busted out, "These pretzels are making me thirsty!"

[dlk9s]

During one of the shoots you should have just busted out, "These pretzels are making me thirsty!"

 

That's funny, because I was thinking the same thing, but for the second scene! If, by some stroke of luck, the director gives me a line, I was totally thinking of busting that out.

[dlk9s]

Wow, that's a great story! Maybe one day we will be saying, remember when dkl9s use to post on this site...before he got famous...

 

See, here's the thing. If I become famous (which I won't, but I can fantasize about it), I'll still post here and people will consider me the coolest celebrity ever because I still keep it real and interact with the commoners.

[Baldkin]

Can't wait for your first Ask Me Anything.

[Funketown]

I've been looking through the "Actor Pull" for ages and I still haven't been able to land a gig.

 

That's about the best I can do for an Arrested Development reference.

[bjkrautk]

Certainly beats my extra experience....seated somewhere in the background of "Mr. 3000" when a run scores.

[dlk9s]

Oh, one other funny thing. Inside the locker was an ID badge with my face on it and the name "Clay Tweel." My character has a name!

 

I actually Googled it later and found out that's a real person - he has worked with the director on some films.

[saget]

So, what's your compensation? A cool $100,000 I hope.

[Paul77]

That's really cool. Congrats and thanks for the insight!

[DuWayne Steurer]

Certainly beats my extra experience....seated somewhere in the background of "Mr. 3000" when a run scores.

 

 

I'll one up you. During the Charlie Sheen strikeout montage when the Indians start winning during the original Major League, you can see myself and my little brother jump up and cheer during the strikeout of a Royals batter. We're on screen for all of about 3/4's of a second!

[TooLiveBrew]

Wow, cool experience, dlk! I'll definitely have to check out this movie once it's out.

[TURBO]

Awesomeness, pure AWESOMENESS!

[dlk9s]

So, what's your compensation? A cool $100,000 I hope.

While there are some people who try to get work as an extra for the money, I'm certainly not one of them. I actually got paid for that initial "interview," and that check just arrived. Two hours, sixteen bucks. $15.10 after taxes.

 

I did two days of filming as an extra last year and made about $150 before taxes.

[dlk9s]

I'll one up you. During the Charlie Sheen strikeout montage when the Indians start winning during the original Major League, you can see myself and my little brother jump up and cheer during the strikeout of a Royals batter. We're on screen for all of about 3/4's of a second!

 

I really wanted to go to the Major League filming, but if I remember correctly, they taped late at night. I was still pre-high school, so staying up crazy late on school nights was out of the question.

 

This is my third time as an extra. My first was in Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius, which came out in 2004. The filming was in 2003. I did three days on that one, filming several scenes. I am extremely visible in one scene where Malcolm McDowell and Brett Rice are talking in a country club restaurant. I'm a patron in the background - in the scene for a good minute or two. I'm in another scene as a law clerk with Brett Rice where I'm leaning against a file cabinet listening to him read the paper. There are a couple other scenes, but you literally have to go frame by frame to see me. That one was fun because it was set in the early 1900's, so we got to wear period clothing.

 

I'm also an extra in What to Expect When You're Expecting, which is in theaters now. If you wouldn't know where to look for me, you wouldn't see me. I'm sitting in a park watching a movie a few minutes in. I also walk behind Jennifer Lopez later, but I'm out of focus (naturally, since I'm just background). I drove my car in that scene, too, but I forgot to look for it.

 

Obviously, this "featured" role demolishes those. I'm still just an extra, though.

[JackNicholson1974]

This is a cool story. Congrats, very cool.

[DuWayne Steurer]

I'll one up you. During the Charlie Sheen strikeout montage when the Indians start winning during the original Major League, you can see myself and my little brother jump up and cheer during the strikeout of a Royals batter. We're on screen for all of about 3/4's of a second!

 

I really wanted to go to the Major League filming, but if I remember correctly, they taped late at night. I was still pre-high school, so staying up crazy late on school nights was out of the question.

 

This is my third time as an extra. My first was in Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius, which came out in 2004. The filming was in 2003. I did three days on that one, filming several scenes. I am extremely visible in one scene where Malcolm McDowell and Brett Rice are talking in a country club restaurant. I'm a patron in the background - in the scene for a good minute or two. I'm in another scene as a law clerk with Brett Rice where I'm leaning against a file cabinet listening to him read the paper. There are a couple other scenes, but you literally have to go frame by frame to see me. That one was fun because it was set in the early 1900's, so we got to wear period clothing.

 

I'm also an extra in What to Expect When You're Expecting, which is in theaters now. If you wouldn't know where to look for me, you wouldn't see me. I'm sitting in a park watching a movie a few minutes in. I also walk behind Jennifer Lopez later, but I'm out of focus (naturally, since I'm just background). I drove my car in that scene, too, but I forgot to look for it.

 

Obviously, this "featured" role demolishes those. I'm still just an extra, though.

 

We were there for the Major League filming during the day.

 

They started out with the 'opening day' crowd, by having the few thousand of us that were there spread all around.

 

Then they packed us all into each section, one at a time, so that they could make composite shots to make it look like the stadium was full.

 

During the strikeout montage, they packed us all in behind the plate. That's the only time myself or my brother are on camera and recognizable, but like I said, it's for about 3/4's of a second. I'd say we were there for probably about 7-8 hours, all told.

[hawing]

I look forward to Clay Tweel becoming the next Taint McFadden around these parts.

[dlk9s]

I was thinking...if there's a closeup of Jason Bateman wearing an ID badge with my smiling mug on it, I might just pee my pants.