Hollywood, Here I Come!

Of all the things that I envisioned doing during this year in Winston-Salem, being in a movie honestly never crossed my mind. However, I can now cross that off my list!

For the past month or so, the city has been home to film crews and movie stars who are making The 5th Quarter. Andie MacDowell (Groundhog Day, Four Weddings and a Funeral), Aidan Quinn (Third Watch, Legends of the Fall, Benny & Joon - and a fellow Illinoisian, by the way), and Ryan Merriman (Final Destination 3, The Ring 2, perhaps more of an upcoming young guy) are the three stars of the show.

The 5th Quarter tells the story of Jon Abbate, a Demon Deacon football player whose brother died in a reckless high speed car accident, and the way that tragedy inspired the team to a phenomenal season, including the ACC championship and Orange Bowl in 2006.

Last Monday, they closed down the Mellow Mushroom (the pizza joint beneath our apartment) to film some scenes in there. They also used our church as the staging/catering area, so people were all over the place. And, the actors also have short-term memberships at the Rush, so I feel more connected to the movie than I really should.

During the football game a couple weeks ago, they filmed some scenes. I cracked up when the people next to me brought binoculars with them - and were shrieking about seeing Andie MacDowell and Aidan Quinn on the other side of the stadium. (They were like ten feet from Chris on the sidelines - apparently, Andie MacDowell is looking really good at 50!)

After the game, they invited anyone who wanted to stay to film some crowd scenes. I was there for a short bit, but I'm sure I probably wasn't really in the captured video. However, I went back this weekend for some more screen time, and if I'm not in the movie, I will be totally surprised. I was in the fourth row, and a scattering of people throughout the crowd, in addition to the entire first three rows were instructed to leave as if it were the end of the game. So by the end of the scene, there's no one in front of me - watch for me folding up my blanket with great dramatic flair! The scene involved a post-game interview with Coach Grobe, so I'm pretty confident that part won't be cut, but we'll see...I was also in the second row in another scene, right behind a very cute three-year old, so if they keep that scene in the film, I should be pretty visible as well.

It was crazy cold out as we were sitting in the shaded side of the stadium (probably 45 degrees), but it was one of the most interesting things I've done. I was so surprised how many people had come from afar as fledgling actors. There were people who had tried out for some of the paid extra positions and didn't get it who still wanted to be able to put this on their resume; There were people who had been taking acting classes and wanted the experience to try out their skills; There were people who were desperate, star-stalkers (no, not me) who have tried to be in every production that's been filmed in a hundred-mile radius; and, sadly, there were kids whose parents are trying to make them the next big thing, complete with acting coaches and portfolios of head shots in tow.

Me, on the other hand, just showed up with my ultra-warm stadium blanket (thanks to a fantastic Christmas present from Gma and Gpa T. some years back), my black and gold headband/earwarmer and gloves (thanks to my birthday present this year from Chris), and my black and gold plastic pom-pom (thanks to Jane, who saved it for us from the Clemson game when they were here in October!)

I wish I would have taken a picture of these other extras because it's probably not what you expect. There were MOST types - although very FEW of what I would consider ACTRESS/MODEL types....if you know what I mean. I'm trying to put this thought in the nicest way possible - but it was obvious to me why many of these people couldn't get gigs. Many of the people there were middle aged women who were not what society would consider attractive. But, darn it, they were trying, and I'll give them credit for that!

Luckily, I thought to bring a book, as we sat around for a good portion of the night. They fed us (although the joke was how many combinations of condiments could you put on a hot dog so that you felt like you were eating something new...) and they had raffle prizes to keep us entertained. One of the women sitting at my table (who fit into the aforementioned category) had been taking acting classes with the hopes to become a commercial actor. (Apparently the Piedmont region is a hotbed for that type of work.) As God can only orchestrate, she won a walk-on speaking role in the casting directors next film - Hallelujah! I was so excited for her. I was also excited that I won $25 cash - a much more appropriate gift for me as I'm not sure what I would have done with the prizes involving future acting...

My brother-in-law, Greg, also got to be an extra in the movie, Empire Falls, when it filmed in Maine. But his involved a WAY cooler cast - Helen Hunt, Paul Newman, Ed Harris, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, AND - Aidan Quinn. How ironic! Greg's gig was also WAY cooler because he got selected (and I think paid) for the role. I, on the other hand, just showed up because I had nothing better to do.

Anyway, being an extra in a movie is great fun if you ever get the chance. My previous acting experience consists of my senior year's high school play, but, at my small school, that's not impressive in the least bit. (I can't even tell you what the name of it was...) I think they pick the play based on how many characters there are (to equal the small number of people interested in participating), and it's never anything well-known. People tell me that I have an expressive face - handy for pantomiming, which is all we did as extras. But, unless some casting director comes back to track me down, I'm pretty sure this will be all the acting I'll really ever do.

(**I apologize for the lack of spacing and paragraphs - I have no idea what is wrong with this site right now, but I can't get it to leave the spaces in... )