The observations of a cartoonist from New Jersey who moves to New Orleans. Original illustrations and commentary on difference between the two places.
Showing posts with label brawler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label brawler. Show all posts
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
It's a wrap...
At two AM this morning I left the set of the independent film BRAWLER. It was my fourth day on the shoot, that started at nine AM. Long and grueling day of a film that I am proud to have been a part of. Talented people that I enjoyed working with and learned a lot from watching. Over the four days I worked background actors came and went, either they didn't like the heat or the pay. After the twelfth hour I was resigned that anything after that was going to be for the love of the art. I think the performers and production people were there for art and not for big bucks.
The director Chris Sivertson is a very cool and mellow dude who never yelled or raised his voice. That's what the assistant director was for. She spent the better part of her time screaming at the less professional extras to be quiet on the set. Most of them were whiny and lazy amateurs who spent more time belly aching about the heat than doing their job. We probably would have been done hours earlier if they had listened and done what they were told when they were told. Time was wasted by the A.D. constantly having to tell background to shut up. Repeatedly she would have to tell the same extras to move six feet to the left and they would just stand there with blank looks. One background actor spent the entire day bragging to new extras how much experience he had in the industry. Even as the A.D. was screaming quiet on the set, he continued talking how much he knew. He knew everything except when to shut up.
There were some very good background performers there. Real professionals who didn't complain and were on the mark. I felt bad for one named Austin, he had a five AM report time the next day to work on the film Green Lantern. I hope he made the call time. In the past few months of doing this work, I have repeatedly run into many of the same extras again and again.
As we stumbled out of the warehouse sweaty, tired and aching the principles and production people thanked us for a job well done. I never played sports of any kind, but I think I know what it means to be part of a team. A group of people working together for success at a common goal. I hope the film does well and all of us move onto bigger projects and work together again someday.
The director Chris Sivertson is a very cool and mellow dude who never yelled or raised his voice. That's what the assistant director was for. She spent the better part of her time screaming at the less professional extras to be quiet on the set. Most of them were whiny and lazy amateurs who spent more time belly aching about the heat than doing their job. We probably would have been done hours earlier if they had listened and done what they were told when they were told. Time was wasted by the A.D. constantly having to tell background to shut up. Repeatedly she would have to tell the same extras to move six feet to the left and they would just stand there with blank looks. One background actor spent the entire day bragging to new extras how much experience he had in the industry. Even as the A.D. was screaming quiet on the set, he continued talking how much he knew. He knew everything except when to shut up.
There were some very good background performers there. Real professionals who didn't complain and were on the mark. I felt bad for one named Austin, he had a five AM report time the next day to work on the film Green Lantern. I hope he made the call time. In the past few months of doing this work, I have repeatedly run into many of the same extras again and again.
As we stumbled out of the warehouse sweaty, tired and aching the principles and production people thanked us for a job well done. I never played sports of any kind, but I think I know what it means to be part of a team. A group of people working together for success at a common goal. I hope the film does well and all of us move onto bigger projects and work together again someday.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
I miss you Kiddo....
This is the first Father's Day in 13 years that I haven't spent with my daughter.
Our favorite film to watch together is Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill. A few years ago I bought her the yellow suit for Halloween. I had been calling her "Kiddo" since she was a toddler. She's a real tomboy who loves action films and video games. When she was learning to walk she would take a bad spill, her eyes might water but she seldom cried.
We both balled like babies when I left New Jersey back in March. Tomorrow I am working as an extra on the set of the film Brawler again. The actor Michael Bowen is in it. He was also in Kill Bill. If I get the chance, I will break protocol of background extras by saying Hi to Mr. Bowen. Extras are not supposed to speak to principals.
Someday when I do get to talk to my Kiddo again, she'll get a big kick out of the fact I spoke to an actor from her all time favorite film. As long as my daughter considers me a success, that's the only opinion that truly matters.
"When will I see you again?"
"You know, that's the name of my favorite soul song from the '70s. "
Our favorite film to watch together is Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill. A few years ago I bought her the yellow suit for Halloween. I had been calling her "Kiddo" since she was a toddler. She's a real tomboy who loves action films and video games. When she was learning to walk she would take a bad spill, her eyes might water but she seldom cried.
We both balled like babies when I left New Jersey back in March. Tomorrow I am working as an extra on the set of the film Brawler again. The actor Michael Bowen is in it. He was also in Kill Bill. If I get the chance, I will break protocol of background extras by saying Hi to Mr. Bowen. Extras are not supposed to speak to principals.
Someday when I do get to talk to my Kiddo again, she'll get a big kick out of the fact I spoke to an actor from her all time favorite film. As long as my daughter considers me a success, that's the only opinion that truly matters.
"When will I see you again?"
"You know, that's the name of my favorite soul song from the '70s. "
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Who Dat?
It's kind of cool being ignorant of pop culture. I watch very little TV, I haven't been in a movie theater in years. The last DVD I rented was at least a year ago with my daughter. I think we picked it because of an exploding car on the cover. When I get to a movie set, I'll find myself standing next to the lead thinking "I wish this guy with all of the hair would step away from the coffee maker so I can get a cup." He's who?
Director Chris Sivertson
So, I'll do a little research on line when I finish the shoot to see who it was I didn't know. Brawler stars Pell James, Marc Senter, Nathan Grubbs, Michael Bowen and Bryan Batt. One looked kind of familiar. I saw all of them over the course of two days, nothing really scandalous or even remotely interesting to report. All polite and courteous folks. Marc Senter who is both producing and starring in Brawler seemed very cool, funny and talented. After a long hot day's shoot he was still there making sure everyone got their checks and left content.
Director Chris Sivertson
So, I'll do a little research on line when I finish the shoot to see who it was I didn't know. Brawler stars Pell James, Marc Senter, Nathan Grubbs, Michael Bowen and Bryan Batt. One looked kind of familiar. I saw all of them over the course of two days, nothing really scandalous or even remotely interesting to report. All polite and courteous folks. Marc Senter who is both producing and starring in Brawler seemed very cool, funny and talented. After a long hot day's shoot he was still there making sure everyone got their checks and left content.
Brawler Boiler
DAY 2: Monday I returned to the set of the film BRAWLER. Very few background extras returned from the day before. Oppressive heat and gruelling conditions weeded out those with health problems and ones with better sense. After talking with the casting agent it seems a change in shooting schedule prevented a rented air conditioning unit from being there. Or so the story goes. I enjoy watching the filming of movies. The camera shots being set up, angles and lighting. We were in a windowless set with only a few large fans circulating the hot smoke filled air.
In this scene we were a cheering crowd at an illegal cage match aboard a ship. We stood by patiently as the fight director ran thru the final choreography of each fist swing and canvas fall. The actors fought heat exhaustion more than each other. I briefly conversed with the director and some crew, very cool and approachable people. The actors made it a point to slap the extras on our sweaty backs and say "Good job, thanks for coming out." I saw less than a quarter of the extras from the first day on the second day shoot. A few new ones who didn't know what fun was in store for them.
Look for the film BRAWLER, sweaty and gritty fun.
In this scene we were a cheering crowd at an illegal cage match aboard a ship. We stood by patiently as the fight director ran thru the final choreography of each fist swing and canvas fall. The actors fought heat exhaustion more than each other. I briefly conversed with the director and some crew, very cool and approachable people. The actors made it a point to slap the extras on our sweaty backs and say "Good job, thanks for coming out." I saw less than a quarter of the extras from the first day on the second day shoot. A few new ones who didn't know what fun was in store for them.
Look for the film BRAWLER, sweaty and gritty fun.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sound rolling, background sweat!
Oh sure, being a background extra sounds like the most glamorous job in the world... yea. My latest 'acting' gig is working background on the film Brawler. I'll just tell you me and my buddy are in it, and one of the hottest looking background actresses working in New Orleans. The extra herd was kept in a warehouse until it was time to shoot. We then were crammed into a closed in set with no ventilation and a smoke machine. 
Did I mention it was mid 90's and extremely humid? To make matters worse they fed all of the extras beans for lunch. It was a horrible, hot and miserable day at work. My friend (The Bobby DeNiro of extras) refused to go back to the shoot today. I (The Joe Pesci of extras) am going back in today because I can use the money and like watching hot chicks sweat.
Did I mention it was mid 90's and extremely humid? To make matters worse they fed all of the extras beans for lunch. It was a horrible, hot and miserable day at work. My friend (The Bobby DeNiro of extras) refused to go back to the shoot today. I (The Joe Pesci of extras) am going back in today because I can use the money and like watching hot chicks sweat.
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