Thursday, October 28, 2004


Attention! Ready for battle, or in this case, ready for the catered meal between takes. Posted by Hello


Explaining the actions on the set Posted by Hello

Lights, Camera, Action! An Experience in Film

Lights, camera, action!

Most people only get to hear those famed words from afar, however I recently got to experience those directions shouted directly to me, as an actor on the set of my first major motion picture.

Moving to California was a dream and the goal of acting was a major piece of that dream. To be a successful actor and writer are the two achievements that I am currently working on while living in this amazing state. Albeit, I am a long way from attaining that goal but the first small pieces are in place that have allowed me to work on a live set.

Last year, I was able to land a role as an extra in a documentary on the U.S.S. Sqaulus, a sub that sank leading to the first successful underwater rescue operation. The documentary, which is slated to be aired on the History Channel in January or February documents the actions of the heroes on board, and those that came to their aid, and the course of the events that led to the rescue.

A local production company which produces, "Tactical to Practical" with the help of host Hunter Ellis started filming at the U.S.S Pampanito, a historical museum built into a sub that is floating in the San Francisco harbor in Fisherman's Wharf. The full-day shoot exposed the actors to a variety of scenes and was my first television shoot, and even though I was an actor without a speaking role, my likeness should be shown in numerous scenes and in one dramatic recreation of a scene.

Then three weeks ago, the chance to be an actor in a major Hollywood production became a reality. The first chance to ever make it as an actor requires hard work, determination and an understanding of the way a film set works. The best way to be able to view these happenings is by becoming an extra. Most films cannot work without the aid of background players, who give movement and paint the scene behind the context of the primary characters. Though a day of shooting is extremely long, it offers a rare glimpse into the technique of actors, directors and producers.

Working on XXX: State of the Union, the follow-up to the initial XXX film starring Vin Diesel was no different. Filmed on location at the USS Hornet, I followed-up my first film project with another military role, this time as a US Marine. The $115 million production didn't waste any time or money, as they were shooting on location at the Alameda Naval Air Base for about three weeks, most of the shots were inside the decks of the famed aircraft carrier. This time the follow-up film will feature William DaFoe, Samuel L. Jackson and Ice Cube, taking over for Vin Diesel.

In one scene myself and a handful of other actors chased an armored personal carrier as it was (in the film supposed to) being driven by Ice Cube to a elevator hanger. As the hangar raises from the hull of the ship to the upper deck of the aircraft carrier we point our guns and try to shoot the elusive actions of Ice Cube's character, to no avail of course. Through the scene, there is fire, flames, smoke and loud noise. It was as close to combat as you could expect and very well choreographed by the directors.

The entire ship was converted to a movie set with lights, cameras and equipment everywhere. Lights dotted the ceiling and cameras and dollys lined decks and hallways of the ship. The first day of the shoot was spent organizing into groups, also called squadrons for purpose of the extras and their mobility. We were issued full military gear and equipment including helmets, goggles, flack vests, combat boots, fatigues, and even M-16 machine guns (which were de-commissioned versions of real guns, meaning all the important pieces and triggers were glued up).

We trained for scenes, and got to watch the complicated, rehearsed and choreographed movements of the primary actors and directors to get an idea of where we were to move. Setting a single scene could take anywhere from thirty minutes to three hours. In one scene, a battle preparation, tanks and hummers were driving and moving around the innards of the ship as the troops (extras and myself) ran about scurrying in front of the cameras and the production teams.

In another scene, the primary actors are discussing an issue around a stock of ammunition boxes and the camera circles them over and over for a minute as the extras run behind them. In one of my movements, I hurdle an object on the floor and in the distress of all the action surrounding me, reload my magazine on my gun and take off, all within feet of the primary actors and the cameras.

It was exhilarating to be able to run and realize that a series of cameras in some capacity, were capturing my movements. That those actions, even though they were behind the primary actors, are forever going to be immortalized on film and seen in theatres across the country and the world.

Even though an extra actor is considered the lowest form of the acting foodchain, there is no better place to start a career, and especially to get a taste of the industry. From what I saw, the long hours and the tedium on the set didn't deter me in the least. It was not only fascinating to see how everyone reacted and worked together, it was comforting that I was not put-off by the event and in fact, spent nearly 40 hours on the set. It was sad when it was over and I anxiously await my next chance to dance and mingle in the background of another major motion picture.