On set with Johnny Depp PT2: Extras get ready (768 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesRating: 1.33 on 17 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Jungle_Jimanee (View user info) at 2005-05-23 07:29:37 EDT
This is a long and detailed account of my experience as an extra on the film "The libertine", if you are one of those gentlemen that can only handle one paragraph, please leave now. This is part two: Extras get ready(NO appearance of Depp yet, but don't worry he is on the way), please forgive me as this won't be as interesting as the other parts but it is necessary. Once the whole thing is finished it will make more sense
Continued from: http://www.ubersite.com/m/66707 The introduction.
A few days later I get a call from Karen " I'm sorry James we don't need you in May after all, the director felt that the scene needed a black man in your part".
I agreed, one thing that I can't be is black.
She starts apologizing and I cut her off "hey don't worry about it, it wasn't your choice and I really appreciate you calling me, can't be the most pleasant thing now can it".
She apologizes some more (this is England, we like apologizing).
"Please don't, I never expect something to go through until it does so I'm not disappointed, just please keep me in mind if you find anything else" I drawl in my most charming voice.
She calls me back in five, " as you have been so nice about losing the other part, how about you just turn up on X and we will fit you in somewhere". "Karen, you're a star!"
Sometime on the shooting day I drive up to the location at Stanway House, I've been there before; it's a quiet sandstone stately home with gardens, a wall and an empty field opposite.
Well, the field was filled with oversized white caravans parked with military precision (about eighty or so) and guarded by two security persons keeping the three groupies back.
I parked close by, hit me up a bong of fine skunk, exhaled and declared myself to the security. Please note that throughout this story, I will be comfortably stoned, no big deal I used to smoke all day everyday (BTW I'm not proud of this).
Now anybody who works in films will tell you that extras are the lowest of the low, possibly even lower than the scriptwriter. I enter the extra's tent, got given a number and ordered to strip, if you have read part one you will know that I was very happy with the costume supplied. Well that one went to the black man, I got a beggar's costume.
I seriously thought about walking straight out as this might be the only time my face is ever seen on the big screen and do I really want to go down in history wearing a pink pigskin jacket and sackcloth trousers? Well I will wear strange clothes and be filmed for less than £80 so why not.
Make up consisted of having studio filth applied everywhere, even the teeth, my black matted wig had already been muddied up.
The atmosphere around the caravans was the relaxed kind that you get when everybody is earning far more than they should and there are no real deadlines, I chatted to everybody made a few friends.
Now life is what you make it and throughout this day, I, in a Fat Tony without the cruelty way, got everything I wanted. Example, I mentioned to the group of extras that I had a camera and would like pictures of us in costumes. The middle aged men laughed at me and informed me with an air of authority that there would be no chance of that, that I was naive to bring a camera, and I should sit down and wait you silly boy. I walked over to the make up people with my suggestion and was pointed to a place where all the previous extras had their pictures taken. One mass exodus later and now I'm in charge.
Hours passed and I became hungry, the old men informed me that I should wait in the tent and be ready for when they needed us. I informed the old men to hold the movie for me if I wasn't back in time, found the set manager (the one with the headset) explained our situation. Then found out that he had forgotten to tell us about the free all day food at the canteen and that we were not needed until 6PM, it was 2PM. Once back at the tent there was yet another mass exodus.
Time passes quickly (well it did for me I had a book), an air of tension gathers in the tent, the sun goes down, we sit tensed and ready. The man with the headset arrives and we find out that the Film is called "The Libertine", a Johnny Depp/Malkovich production, about the story of John Wilmot (Depp), a.k.a. the Earl of Rochester. A 17th century poet who famously drank and debauched his way to an early grave, only to earn posthumous critical acclaim for his life's work (IMDB).
Stanway house has been made to look like a street in London, in which Depp and his posse are out cruising for whores, we are going to be beggars and whores.
Night has set in with a little bit of rain and we set off through the caravans, past the dozen or so groupies and into the grounds. We follow a winding path round a lake, the house and walls are floodlit, the place looks magical and surreal. The closer we get to Depp territory the security increases, there are about five men dotted around with headsets.
We can see two large cranes with massive lights attached over the house, there are people bustling back and forth, I swallow a lump, here we go.
User Reviews
Submitted by Doneupandin (user info) at 2005-08-07 19:23:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I bet you want to fuck Depp. Fag.
Submitted by joedaddy (user info) at 2005-06-26 01:58:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Got SAG?
Submitted by Jungle_Jimanee (user info) at 2005-06-20 12:34:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
A care not Transformer for a man is defined by his enemies.
Submitted by Jungle_Jimanee (user info) at 2005-06-20 06:49:47 (#)
Ranking: -2
You are not a nice person.
Submitted by transformer (user info) at 2005-06-20 07:38:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
correct
Submitted by homeslice (user info) at 2005-06-03 17:15:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Johnny Depp is a douchebag
Submitted by hollygolitely (user info) at 2005-06-03 16:51:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
we're waaaaaaaaaaaiting!
Submitted by Jungle_Jimanee (user info) at 2005-05-24 06:46:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I see your beer and raise you a wiskey!
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-05-24 06:02:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
beer.
Submitted by killa (user info) at 2005-05-24 05:45:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I know James personally, lives in the same town, he was on the set with Johnny
Honestly the lat person I thought would be in this situation, strange but true.
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-05-23 12:39:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by funk_boy (user info) at 2005-05-23 08:31:41 (#)
Ranking: 2
Why ashamed about the everyday smoking thing? People drink everyday, and that is OK..?
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What? Since when is it okay to drink every day? Ask your liver in ten years.
Nice little background post...though I wait to see if it has any relevance on the following parts. Keep going.
Submitted by Jungle_Jimanee (user info) at 2005-05-23 10:26:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Well it's the truth you see and I'm building suspense (well at least trying to (working?))
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2005-05-23 08:54:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
little light today, is interesting stuff though so keep em coming.
Submitted by Jungle_Jimanee (user info) at 2005-05-23 08:47:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Sorry meant to say:
Thanks Funky, about the smoking, well I just didn't want to come across as something I recommend or anything. Had to include it though, as once the flaming torches and the horse get going in the mist, things appear really strange.
Probably would have been even without the smoking.
Submitted by Jungle_Jimanee (user info) at 2005-05-23 08:45:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
thanks Funky, about the smoking well i just didn't want to come accross as something I reccomend oranything. Had to include it though as once the flaming torches and the horse get going in the mist things appear really strange.
Probably would have without the smoking.
Submitted by funk_boy (user info) at 2005-05-23 08:31:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Why ashamed about the everyday smoking thing? People drink everyday, and that is OK..?
Keep the story going..
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2005-05-23 08:10:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by phuzzygish (user info) at 2005-05-23 07:43:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Cool man, keep it going.