I love Kijiji, there are so many opportunities to get acting
work
Below is what happen to me from May 26th –May 30th
2016
Thursday
Then I responded to ad on Kijiji for Matt Damon and Kristie Wig movie called
Downsized that was filming in Toronto. Found it sort of odd they had posted the
names and information, usually they don’t!
Friday
I got email back in a few days asking for my measurements,
again weird and interesting. They I go an email to go to Pinewood Studios on
Commissioner street for a fitting on
Saturday may 28th at 10:30am
Saturday
So I cycled down and got a first had view of the studios.
One word MASSIVE! In the parking lot I
saw signs for new XXX movie with Vin Diesel, Downsized, Extant and Stephen King
movie IT and new star Trek movie filming in Toronto this fall. I Was there little early so I chatted with a
few extras waiting to be fitted, many of them did this part time while pursuing
full time careers.
I got fitted very quickly and was sent away. I reported for
background duty on Monday May 30th at 7:00am at the Enercare centre
in Toronto (exhibition place)
Monday
I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep! I had so many thing going through my mind all
night. Was I going to meet Matt Damon or Kristie Wigg? Is it going to be a hurry up and wait type of
day? Will we have opportunities to take pictures?
My alarm bell rang at 6:00am and I jumped out of bed! I had prepared some snack, book and clothing
for the day the previous evening.
It was beautiful morning and I was excited to cycle down
from the Annex area to the Exhibition
Place and the Enecare Centre.
At that time in the morning there hardly any traffic going
south towards that area, got here in less than half an hour.
I locked my bike across the street and all I saw were green
screens everywhere! Massive green screens. Talk about futuristic!
Walk toward the building and started to look for signs as to
where to go. Kept walk west and finally made it to the area for background
actors. There lots more people who had
early that me! Lots of families, students
and professionals. I got in line and
gradually made it to the desk where I was given a piece of paper to fill out
and instructions as to where to go.
There were serving coffee, light refreshments and some
breakfast food.
I went to wardrobe to get my clothing that I was measured
for on Saturday and quickly changed into them. They went to the massive room
with all the back ground actors and took a seated and waited. I looked around a
saw a few people that I had seen at fitting on Saturday.
Few minutes later I saw friend of mine Chris Strongman local
author and speaker I had known for a few years. We got sat down and I share the
crazy 48hrs I had gone through. His answer was priceless “that’s Hollywood for
you!”
We got settle in this huge room full of extras, lots of
families with their kids, millennials, actors and lots of interest and amazing
professionals and entrepreneurs.
They key thing I heard was you have is “hurry up and wait”
was the common theme of the day.
We had some excitement in the morning where we pulled out
and ask to various places to stand and wait while crew waited for decisions to
be made by director and to be whisked away back to the holding area.
Luckily I had brought some reading materials and food to
pass the time, that didn’t help I was excited to be on set a tried to take a
peak and see what was happening. I made
few calls to friends to tell them what
was happening.
I sat on my table and got to meet and learn from some of the
background actor who done some recent work with
Vin Deisel in upcoming Triple XXX
movie coming out in Summer 2017 called “Return of Xander Cage” and few other
films shooting in Toronto.
Interesting part of
is that the director name is Alexander Payne who has filmed various
movies form Sideways (2004) with Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church,
Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh.
His original name is Alex Papadopoulos which his paternal
grandfather changed to Payne.
This was great to know that a fellow Greek was director this
movie. This will become important very soon!
Keep reading….
AS they morning continued I had great conversation with
Chris Strongman regarding his entrepreneurial pursuits in recent years and few
other actors at our table.
Then at around 11:30am a magical moment happen that would
change the day for good
I was talking to background actor when I go tap on the
shoulder and turned around and go this statement “ Hi I am Alexander Payne,
would you be interested in say few words in the film?” I was shocked and couldn’t bring to say yes
fast enough!
I said “Yes!”
We began to walk toward the set and he said I was thinking
some like“ We don’t have quarantine per say, we just don’t want any lice” we
kept walking and I was listening.
We arrived on set and there was Matt Damon talking to some
of the extras and Alex Payne and I were still practicing and figuring out the
lines.
The next 30 minutes happened so fast.
First I whisked over to the script producer to have him type
the lines into the script. Then I had an audio lady ask for permission to unzip
my shirt and pants to pass through a recording mike down my pants! I said “Sure go ahead”
The make lady came by and dusted my forehead with some make
up and there I was back on set taking directions from Alexander Payne this time
in front of hundreds of other extras, producer and movie crew.
It was a long panning scene from Left to Right and I was at
pet exhibit talking to group of pet lovers about animals and what would happen
to them when we shrink them and their pets.
It was very funny I had two ladies in their 70’s who were
sisters, 7 year old girl who didn’t want to be there being consoled by her
father (producer) and few other extras in the back row who laughing and looking
interested in every world I said.
So it began repetition and waiting and repetition and
waiting. After the 10th take Alexander Payne says “Jim cross your
hands and just speak” I replied “work with me Alexander I am Greek I need to
use my hands!” He responds “if you can’t
do I will do it myself and do a cameo”. I said “Okay I will do it give me a few
seconds” and so we continued with lots of more takes which seemed like
forever!
I think we did like 35 takes before it was all over. In the end Alexander Payne came over and said
“Efxaristo” to me which means Thank you in Greek.
I was went back to the script producer and review my line
and the movie crew to remove audio equipment.
We all went back to the holding area and the energy at my
table was over the top. They were happy for me and little irritated. I was
informed that this doesn’t happen often that director comes in looking for
background actors to say lines in film.
They I was brought some paperwork to fill out and was told
“You have been upgraded” I said “what does that mean” I was advised by the
other background actor that when you say lines in a movie you get paid extra.
In this situation I get upgraded to Actra Apprentice and get more money!
So I filled out the paperwork and continued on with the day.
I went out in the afternoon and did 3 more large scenes with background actors.
The last scene we did I had to mime my words to actors at my
table, which was a very funny experience to do.
It was also was exciting experience for my friend Chris
Strongman who got chosen to a scene very close to Matt Damon and Christine Wigg
near the end of film shooting.
It was exciting and long day of filming to see Hollywood in
action.
The story doesn’t end here just yet…
Few weeks later I got
cheque in the mail. I open up the check slowly and looked that number
and proceed to close the envelope and take a deep breath for a few seconds. I
then opened it up and looked at the number again. It was $1800! WOW for less than 14 words, as Chris
Strongman said “that’s Hollywood!”
But wait there is more…
The next week I get another check in the mail. It’s for $25, they paid me for the fitting I
had Pinewood studios.
Stay tuned for the movie coming out December 2017
Moral of the story. From a click on Kijiji can lead you to starring
role in Hollywood!
