Mariska Hargitay and Danny Pinto
FINALLY!
I've been trying to get on this gig for the longest time... I mean EVERYBODY's been on it but me. I've had to endure so many conversations about it from my fellow extras. And now my ambition has been realized (Yabba-Dabba-Doo).
It was a late morning call time at JFK's terminal #4 and I decided to self-report via LIRR and AirTrain combo -since I lived relatively close to the set. But as it turned out, it would have been cheaper for me to go into the city and take the specially rented shuttle bus ($19.95 vs. the $$25 I spent for the double-train joy-ride). Be that as it may... it was all worth it to get on the show.
My wardrobe passed muster at the first check this time and I settled in for the wait to be called to set. My table started to get lively when the bus arrived from the city and the cast of characters quickly got friendly with one another. The girl next to me was a former Radio City Hall rockette; the young guy across the table from me was a sketch artist... and a bit innocent (we had to explain the difference between a "hipster" and a "metrosexual" to him). He was very talkative -which was a good thing, and practically interviewed everyone around the table. Next to him was a middle aged guy who was a screenwriter and had made forays into producing a TV pilot... unfortunately, it didn't go anywhere -but he was good natured and took it in stride. On my other side sat a young girl with a heavy french accent. She spent a lot of time on the phone in perfect francais conversations. She was reading a book about acting and we got into a method vs. experimental theater conversation. And suddenly we were called to the set on the 4th floor.
A couple of us were selected to be business types crossing the path of a fleeing felon. He bolts as soon as Mariska Hargitay and her sidekick, Danny Pinto question him from behind the name-holding chaufer line. They chase him down in the airport and a confrontation ensues. Needless to say, we all get jostled in some way or another from the running principals. Loved it!
I've been trying to get on this gig for the longest time... I mean EVERYBODY's been on it but me. I've had to endure so many conversations about it from my fellow extras. And now my ambition has been realized (Yabba-Dabba-Doo).
It was a late morning call time at JFK's terminal #4 and I decided to self-report via LIRR and AirTrain combo -since I lived relatively close to the set. But as it turned out, it would have been cheaper for me to go into the city and take the specially rented shuttle bus ($19.95 vs. the $$25 I spent for the double-train joy-ride). Be that as it may... it was all worth it to get on the show.
My wardrobe passed muster at the first check this time and I settled in for the wait to be called to set. My table started to get lively when the bus arrived from the city and the cast of characters quickly got friendly with one another. The girl next to me was a former Radio City Hall rockette; the young guy across the table from me was a sketch artist... and a bit innocent (we had to explain the difference between a "hipster" and a "metrosexual" to him). He was very talkative -which was a good thing, and practically interviewed everyone around the table. Next to him was a middle aged guy who was a screenwriter and had made forays into producing a TV pilot... unfortunately, it didn't go anywhere -but he was good natured and took it in stride. On my other side sat a young girl with a heavy french accent. She spent a lot of time on the phone in perfect francais conversations. She was reading a book about acting and we got into a method vs. experimental theater conversation. And suddenly we were called to the set on the 4th floor.
A couple of us were selected to be business types crossing the path of a fleeing felon. He bolts as soon as Mariska Hargitay and her sidekick, Danny Pinto question him from behind the name-holding chaufer line. They chase him down in the airport and a confrontation ensues. Needless to say, we all get jostled in some way or another from the running principals. Loved it!
Director Peter Leto
Mariska was very friendly with us... she joked around and was definitely a decisive voice in how the scenes should progress. After all, she'd done hundreds of episodes and knew what worked and what didn't. The director, Peter Leto was very good in the debates with the cameramen. He knew what was needed and expressed it creatively to us thrugh his assistants. I was impressed with the way the large airport space was managed and utilized for the short shoot.
My partner in this scene was a former PR person who left the industry for a while but realized just how much she was re-enjoying it again and was getting ready to get back into it. She had a friend on the crew who explained the scene to us. I asked if there were any cameo stars in this episode and she mentioned that Chloe Sevegny was downstairs in her trailer -but unfortunately not in this scene. ZUT ALORS! Chloe is one of my favorite actresses and I was thoroughly disappointed at not being able to catch a glimpse of her. EH BIEN... that's how life is scripted.
Meanwhile, our blocking was soooo good that most of us were wraped early and sent home at 3:30 PM... still daylight!!! WOW! That hasn't happened to me for a while. Even the checkout went pretty quick. Great shoot...great experience...
My partner in this scene was a former PR person who left the industry for a while but realized just how much she was re-enjoying it again and was getting ready to get back into it. She had a friend on the crew who explained the scene to us. I asked if there were any cameo stars in this episode and she mentioned that Chloe Sevegny was downstairs in her trailer -but unfortunately not in this scene. ZUT ALORS! Chloe is one of my favorite actresses and I was thoroughly disappointed at not being able to catch a glimpse of her. EH BIEN... that's how life is scripted.
Meanwhile, our blocking was soooo good that most of us were wraped early and sent home at 3:30 PM... still daylight!!! WOW! That hasn't happened to me for a while. Even the checkout went pretty quick. Great shoot...great experience...
Epilogue 1: Aired on 4/18/2012 - a very quick chase scene!Oh... whooosh... suddenly I remembered that I had been conducting some pretty confident interviews in the past month in hopes of getting back into the "paying-job" genre of my working life. But quite frankly I don't know which way that decision will go by the powers that be. And so I'm self-reflecting, realizing that I'm on pins and needles about it. I'll find out by month's end whether I get the "big gig" or if I continue to be a regular extra this summer (perhaps on Person Of Interest)...sic.
Epilogue 2: Afer 5 interviews, I didn't get the real-world job... bummer.
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