So I tried blogging from holding yesterday, but it didn't work out on my phone, so this isn't exactly instant, but at least I'm blogging faster than I was.
I worked on Entourage yesterday as Male Bank Personnel, which wasn't really a role since they just grouped everybody together. I think sometimes they give names to the extras just so they can tell how many they will need and then they just pick and choose who goes where once you get there.
My arrival on set was an hour and 45 minutes early. The 45 minutes because I gave myself plenty of time to get there and the hour because I made the rookie mistake of not calling in to check for updated call times. So I ended up getting pretty far in my magazine before anyone else got there. I also got the pleasure of watching the Latina security guard be amused at the various noises that were coming out of her phone.
Eventually other people came and the PAs showed up and we got checked in. I had brought a variety of clothes, as usual and of course got approved in what I was wearing. Then back to some waiting and internal debating as to whether I should put my stuff back in my car. Next we were shipped via van to the holding next to the set, which was an emptied out store front that had dealt in some sort of fat loss system. It was empty and cold. We grabbed folding chairs and sat down. I had left my bag behind, which seemed like a mistake now because there was plenty of room there and I only had half a battery left on my phone, which was to be my only entertainment unless someone interesting to talk to came along. I was also thirsty, but craft services was way across the street, past the bank we were shooting in, and nobody had said anything about being able to grab stuff. It's funny how the dynamics of 5 versus 50 extras on set can effect ones comfort level with set etiquette. Generally with not that many extras I tend to feel like what is there's (the cast/crew) is mine and I either ask or grab when it feels like it is fine. With a large amount of co-extras though I feel like someone is always managing us more and that they will tell us what to do and my role is to just sit there and wait. Of course every set is different, no matter how many people are there, so you always have to feel out the situation. That is one of the things I like most about background work, everything is always new. Sure, it often sucks, but even when it sucks I feel like I'm earning my living.
Not too long later we were asked to line up outside of the bank. I got picked out to walk into the bank and stand at the ATM for what would turn out to be a very long time on each take. Apparently my character wasn't good with technology or caring about the line forming behind him. While waiting to shoot a man told me I looked like, "the football player from Glee", which was not a reference I understood. I told him I appreciated the reference because I'm still trying to figure out how I should package myself as an actor and knowing who I looked like helps me decide what sort of roles to go for. He then told me I looked like 3 other actors. I don't think he understood my point.
Everything else that happened on set that day is either confidential or not particularly interesting. It was actually a very short shoot day and super easy. It is kind of funny, this is the 2nd time now that the shortest shoot day for me has been extended by my showing up earlier than I needed to be. I guess my subconscious has a work ethic.
In other news, I tried out this theta wave audio meditation the last couple of days. You put on head phones and music and noises play that are supposed to increase the theta waves in your brain. There is a guided meditation one and then just the waves playing on the other. I liked the guided one since it gave me something to do, but I couldn't sit (lay) through the just waves one because it put me in that state of mind where you are trying to fall asleep, but can't so you bounce around all restless. I may use it to actually go to sleep in the future if I can figure out how to keep the head phones from bothering me. I've been tossing and turning quite a bit at night lately, spending a lot of time in light sleep mode and not as much in deep sleep mode. Possible theories as to why include over thinking, too much sleep, too little sleep and excessive eating of otter pops.
So hey, that was a pretty good update turn around. Hope you enjoyed. Tonight I may go to Afrofunke with some new friends. Tomorrow I'm supposed to be in a groupon.com commercial, but I still haven't heard the details on that. I hope everyone is well!
Love,
Chris
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