Back to 14 hour days...

What a week!! Last Monday we were in a new location, the Dorothy Chandler Theater downtown ... where they used to have the oscars. I had never been there before so I was looking forward to seeing it. We were filming in the lobby, and I kept meaning to peek at the theater, but unfortunately never did. We were at this location Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, but Monday was the craziest. A nice "welcome to the coordinating world" for me. Let's see ... after checking in 170+ extras, I made some calls to "no shows" and whatnot and waited for the late arrivals. Of course, there was someone that I woke up that had had their alarm not go off and I told her to get there as fast as possible. Then there was someone that got in a car accident and totaled her car. She had her car towed and had a friend bring her. Most people I think would have just gone home after an experience like that. Any time there is an alarm excuse or a car/traffic excuse, the AD's roll their eyes. Well, it is LA and you really do need to factor in huge amounts of time when planning to get somewhere due to traffic. So, we get our count and start bussing everyone to set. I get there and a "missing" extra (that has not checked in) is introduced to me, and the PA introducing him to me quickly leaves. I slowly figure out why. I explain to him that we have our count and since he is late we cannot use him. He doesn't like that answer. And proceeds to tell me that he drove all the way from Orange County and left at 4:30 this morning, etc etc ... If he had some how made it to base camp where we had done the checking in, I might still have been able to check him in, even if he was late ... but apparently he couldn't find the shuttles from parking to basecamp that were marked with large signs. Well, 170 extras found basecamp, early, on time and late. There was nothing I could do ... it was too late. He then demanded to know the name of who "replaced him" (like that would matter!). After dealing with him for about 10 minutes or so, the casting director calls me to see how things are going. I step away to talk to her, but he doesn't get the hint and doesn't leave. He gives me my space to talk on the phone, but doesn't leave. So I tell her what's going on and then let her talk to him. Which of course now she is just telling him what the PA told him, and what I had explained to him earlier. He starts demanding names of who she is and who replaced him and just being nasty and very loud. You didn't have to be close to him to hear his tirade. He finally hands the phone back to me ... but doesn't leave. He just stands there!!! So I am told to radio security. Which is somewhat intimidating since I'm still getting the hang of the radio. I try and I get no response. I see a familiar face in the distance, a set pa, and I call him on the radio and wave him down. He comes over and I tell him what's up. He tries to talk to the guy. He tries to call security. Apparently, security is not on radio ... but he manages to find someone in security finally to escort this guy away.

So that was the beginning of my day ... the day had just started ...

Without having too long an entry, I'll try to make the rest short and sweet. I ended up having to send a group of extras home early, because they felt they could not do what was expected of them in the scene. The final group we were left with was just a strange group. You meet all kinds of people in the "extra" world. A number of them had trouble following directions ("don't take anything to set, leave your bags in holding") and were sometimes difficult to find when it was time to roll.

We had this same group for the next 2 days. So, for the next 2 days we had to deal with lots of the same ... people not following direction and "missing" extras.

Thursday ... new location and new batch of extras! What a glorious change!! The location was at CSUN (California Sate University Northridge). A little bit of a drive to get there, but nice to be somewere different. Basecamp was pretty spread out on the campus and the set kept moving around, so lots of excercise due to all the running around! But, it was a good day, and a great way to end the week for me!

I will probably be working again on Wednesday. They will also be filming in Las Vegas and there is a chance I will get to go since the calls are 300 extras each day. I've never been to Vegas, so it will be cool if I get to go!

Background Coordinating

Friday was my first day working as a background coordinator. It was a large call of about 200 extras doing an audience scene. John Malkovich plays Buck Howard, a mentalist, and the scene was his performance in "Bakersfield". I've checked in extras before, but I've never "coordinated" before and was trying to learn the ropes of everything I needed to do. I wasn't wearing a radio, but after a while a set PA gave me one, which made me a little nervous. I haven't had a job where I've used a radio in a very long time. But it was nice being able to have an ear on what was going on. They have more large calls next week, so I will be back to work again! It's great working around a movie set again.

The Great Buck Howard

Just got a job coordinating (extras) on The Great Buck Howard. It's a large call tomorrow, so I'm a little nervous because I've only coordinated a little here and there, but it should be fun!

Back in LA!

Well, here I am, back in LA! Actually finished unpacking yesterday!! Usually takes me much longer. lol Anyway, been settling back in this weekend ... cleaning up my apartment, stocking the fridge once again, and getting my car washed ... it was so dirty that it was no longer black and the car wash guy spotted me as an easy target to get talked into a good wax. He knocked $20 of the price and it needed it badly. My car is much prettier now. =)
Next week should be interesting and crazy for me. I have tons of phone calls to make. Have to let my agent know I'm back. She's been calling me to find out when I'd be back in town so she could submit me for commercials, so that sounds promising. Also have to call my loan officer regarding mortgages and then find a real estate agent so I can begin house hunting. Yep, I'm buying a house and moving my parents from SC to here. My dad is doing ok, not too bad, but not too good either. Hopefully, we can find a way to find a good deal on a house and get them moved here stress free. It all comes down to the loan officer and what she has to say about a mortgage. *fingers crossed*
It feels really strange being back in LA since I've been gone for 2 1/2 months. But after the heavy humidity weightbearing heat of the south, it's nice to be back to a cool sea breeze.