It was episode 5 already, but it won't be seen until the next season -most likely in 2013. The show is about a "conspiracy" regarding some secrets uncovered from antique clocks... that spans across centuries of history associated with secret societies guarding a ...secret. And of course the nefarious agents pursuing its reputed powers to "rule the world". Anthony Edwards from ER (and my favorite role of his as "Goose" in TOP GUN) stars in this series; as well as Carmen Ejego -with whom I was in a Spike Lee TV pilot (M.O.N.Y.) a few years ago. But I was really hoping to see Michael Nyqvist (who played the editor in Girl With The Dragon Tatoo / Sweedish version). Alas... none of these guys were present in this scene.
The set was in DUMBO at a pretty little park by the Brooklyn Bridge, where we extras had to wear tuxedos to a gala affair taking place outside under a few white tents. As we interact with some of the principal characters there is a "flashback" scene with a walking man changing into that of a "priest in medieval garb", walking along the East River's railed banks. Spooky!
The director, as it turned out, was none other than Mario Van Peebles... whom I remembered as a young man from watching the old Cosby Shows. Later on he became a director in his own right. And now, here he was placing me in front of the cameras with a couple of ladies and another white guy. But after a few glances through the camera lens the other white guy was replaced by a black guy and one of the ladies was replaced by a cute young extra. The man has a good eye for balancing out the scenery!
I asked one of the women to take a photo of me -but she had a real shaky hand!
As it turned out, my African American companion began to tell us that he knew Mario from "way back when", he even knew his father and provided us with some fascinating anecdotes from his friendship days with Mario. Sure enough... Mario soon came over and chatted with him -even took an iPhone photo of the four of us and told my new friend to type in his email so that he could send out the photo and reconnect with him. WOW! Now that's what I call a once in a blue-moon opportunity for an extra to make some headway into a better role.
Our holding area was interesting also... it was at the Water Street Restaurant, the place where I first appeared on DAMAGES (with my talented "costar", Glenn Close). Of course our holding area was subterranean (i.e. in the basement-bar area) -luckily it was air-conditioned). And so it brought back some memories of how it felt seeing Glenn Close for the first time: something akin to "majestic".
I also met some of my buddies from Boardwalk Empire... and a longer acquaintance, Eddy the "Super Cabbie" (one of his fantasy scripts based on his taxi driver days). Eddy gave me his card; said things were really working out for him. I liked hearing that (with mixed feelings). He'd been around since I first got into this business -so I figured he'd paid his dues. But I also knew how short a period "success" lasts in show business. See you on the next set Eddy!
Later on I got a call from one of the casting agencies to go for a fitting for Winter's Tale. It's an Ellis Island scene from the 1890's. Oh boy...here comes another short haircut!
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