And that’s a wrap!

My movie making experience last weekend came to an end around 11pm Saturday night. The director was merciful enough to finish my scenes early so I could catch a bus back to Hamilton before the buses shut down due to the storm. I did however make him double and triple check the shot list to make sure everything was done, and when he was 100% sure, I packed up and called it a day. Filming start at 10am and finished thirteen hours later, and I spend most of that time on my feet, watching people around me work on lighting to make sure the shot was ‘just right’.

I learned a great deal about the film industry that day, but in a good way. I really enjoyed the work that day, and can’t wait to see the finished product. I was also a good little actor, do what I was told and how I was told to do it. If I was told to be excited and smile a lot, that’s what I did. The director was God that day, and and I did whatever it took to keep him happy that day. He did seem very pleased when it was all said and done, so I’m hoping he was happy with the work I did that day. There was one large chunk of dialoge that I had trouble with and by trouble, I mean 10 takes trouble. But I had two or three tries that were spot on so he’s got something work with. Contrary to what people think, I was paid for my acting, in pizza. And it was really good pizza!

After a lot of make up, a lot of standing around while light was adjusted, and cameras being focused… I got a small idea of why feature films cost so bloody much to make. Still, I had a lot of fun over the weekend. So much that I can’t wait to do it again. Yes, I got bit by the acting but and want to do it again. I got more resumes (complete with new credit from the weekend) sent out and we’ll see if that makes a difference. There are some good new projects that just popped up online that I think will work for me… we’ll see if they bite back. If not, I can always see if the real work will.

Interesting thought: when I was seeing my therapist a few weeks ago, she asked me if I ever worked a job that was fully satisfying, and I answered no. That was a lie. When I was acting in college on stage, that was very satisfying. It was a one week production, and I was one of ten people who were part of an ensamble that was changing throughout the production. My role was changing with the times as the play was about a location that was hundreds of years old. I had many lines but multiple characters as the times changed. During one of the productions, Leah and her cousin were in attendance and that was cool for me, cause I think that’s the only time she’s seen me act in all the time she’s known me. Another night, the Bishop of Newfoundland was in the front row, watching the production. It was an eventful week, one that I really enjoyed and am very proud of. I felt that same kind of satisfaction again when I was on the set on Saturday. I was really proud of the work being made that day, and really enjoyed working with the actors and crew that day, a great group of people. Now if I could just find some work in this field that would pay a little, I’d be set.

Hope everyone else had a good weekend, and I’ll be around.

Peter