Very impressive! The set that was created for this show was simply AMAZING... so true to life. It actually made you feel like you were transported back in time and you had to creatively interact with all of the manufactured reality in order to contribute to the show's success.
Season #3 kicked off with this episode -the idea was to establish new relationships and character definitions before the plot begins to thicken. The role of Richard Harrow, the half-faced man, is played by Jack Huston (yes... related to all the Hustons -John, Angelica, etc.).
In this scene he is target shooting at a carnival (which was another set located down the steps from the boardwalk). He is bonding with a little boy who is the son of his good friend (one of the most popular characters killed in the season-finale episode of last season). The scene had to be reshot numerous times -one reason being was that the little boy was constantly blocking his face with the many toys he had to hold. Later I found out that the little boy was a twin. They use twins a lot I was told, because of the child-labor laws. There is a restriction clause on how long they can be worked -and so twins or even triplets are hired for childrens' roles.
I got lucky, because after standing in the distance, one of the AD's decided to bring me up front and put me directly behind Jack, along with some other mix of extras, and the direction was to look on in amazement as his sharpshooting skills miff the patience of the booth's barker. The barker asks Jack to leave before all his toy inventory is depleted. Being a veteran of WWI, where Richard was a sniper -his shooting skills are, of course, an unfair advantage. But Richard moves on unperturbed with his young companion and melds into the crowd along the carnival's central-planked avenue -busy on both sides with other barkers, and a LIVE ELEPHANT.
This was a wonderful surprise... to be one of the mulling crowds' member and to saunter a few feet past a live elephant. In holding we were pre-warned by the PA's "not to touch the elephant"! But there was some trepidation due to the chilly weather this day. It seems that the animal rights clause in the elephant's contract did not allow it to work if the temperature fell below a certain degree. Luckilly for us the sunny day warmed up a bit -not too much... just a bit and the elephant was allowed to "act". (Kids and elephants have great union contracts.) In fact the PA's were handing out "chemical hand-warmers" to us in order to prevent shivering. For me, it was my toes in my thin 1920's shoes that started to numb, but my jumping up and down between takes brought the circulation's warmth back.
At another scene, we were instructed to interact with the "tall man" and the "fat lady". So we imitated her hula-dance and stretched to shake hands with the tall fellow. The poor fat-lady was also very cold between takes and had to have a long coat put on her (I believe her contract clause may have stipulated it) ... unfortunately, no one cared for the tall man (seems there are no unions for tall-men)!? I felt bad for him. But we all persevered and the day ended only when the sun went down. This is a kind of signature use of light for Boardwalk Empire -natural lighting and a tenacious crave for detailed authenticity -which was part of what earned them the Emmy Award this year.
I have to note that the food was varied, plentifull and excellent. Everyone was treated well and it was one of the few times that the privileged union/non-union lineup didn't bother me. I also met up with my friend Marilyn, whom I haven't seen on set in ages. I snapped a few photos in holding of our period get-ups.
And then an unusual event occured where we were asked to lineup in the front of the holding area. It seems that a city film crew from the mayor's office was doing a documentary of sorts on the Boardwalk Empire costumes and set for REEL JOBS.gov -for which we all had to sign a separate release to use our image. I believe there's a special clause in the agreement for us extras which only allows a kind of "exploitation":"...(c) the right to exhibit, distribute, transmit and/or otherwise exploit such reproductions containing my voice and/or appearance, edited or altered as you may see fit, in any and all media now or hereafter known throughout the universe in perpetuity, and in advertising and publicity in connection therewith... "
In other words... we don't get anything extra for the extra. Sometimes I wish I was an elephant... or a kid... or a "fat-lady"!
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