Well, I'm not at work right now because I had a fall yesterday around the end (11:30pm ish). There are some cement steps in the church where we hold background extras. What none of us realized is that they have a strip of metal on their edges. And after it started to rain, I was going downstairs with newly wetshoes and slipped. Luckily the next landing was only three steps down. But I strategically hit the top step right below my shoulder blades and the next step with tail bone. I am ok. Nothing is broken but I am very sore and the bruises are going to show soon. I took off work because there is no way I can be running around or standing around a movie set for an 18-hr day while in pain. Just keep me in your prayers because I am ok. I just have muscle spasms and bruisng but no bones were broken.
Also pray for this set because we are so far behind and things are very tense. Pray that we may have the patience to continue working, that we may accomplish everything we can, and that what we do accomplish will be good.... or good enough. This has been a great learning experience but it is still very stressful.
Yesterday was a big day. We were down 6 PAs actually. We lost Sean, Buck, and Jamie to Indiana Jones which started filming abt 4 blocks away from us. We didn't have Rebecca because she showed up for the bus from NYC, the bus was not there. She thought it had left without her so she went home. And then when she tried to go back and catch it, the bus DID leave without her. We also lost Casey and Vincent due to PA car troubles or whatever. We did have Ali, Ernie, and Albert show up. But Bryan, Sally, Michelle, Patrick, Meredith, Sarah, and I can only do SO much. Plus we had abt 300 extras to control. That was a crazy day.
I got a lot of compliments yestreday. I do what needs to be done as efficiently as possible. I also have a nice temperment that some people respond to. SO I was able to say things in a way that people responded to. They would listen. Extras are an interesting bunch of people. You have the brash ones that always want to think they are superior to you. You have the whiny ones that complain abt everything from the bus selection, to water and snacks, to how long this day is going to take. I mean, I understand if you feel offended that the directors have not gotten to you and you have to wait for most of your day, but SERIOUSLY... You want to come and have job? I will give you the walkie and you can deal with this mess. I'm there as long as you are. No, longer. And I don't get to sit on my laurels and wait until they are ready for me. I am working here. And then there were the nice talkative ones who wanted to know abt me and the work that we're doing. The ones who want to be helpful and stress-free. They appreciated the time I spent with them; being real with them and not patronizing. Ali was impressed by my ability to handle them, as well as all the other responsibilities as a PA and a liason between new and old PAs. He said that he would not be surprised to show up and find that I'm running things within the next year. He also recommended I try to be a DGA trainee. I have been thinking abt it, but am undecided. All things in there time....
None of them really believed that this was my first movie set. It was fun. Especially when Stephanie came out with Baby Spencer. I swear I had the crowd fixated when I walked around with him for a while. And they commented that I always seemed happy. My reaction was always "Why not?" And it was true. We maybe be off schedule and outside in muggy, humid 90 degree weather, but it was still a good day.
So other than my fall, things were ... okay. I may have been a little snippy first thing in the morning because I was dealing with 15 things. People kept on calling me - both on walkie and on the cell - while I was trying to bring a cup of hot coffee (with no lid that fit - yeah that was not fun), a plate, and a burrito down the street. I felt that I actually answered the walkie with a "Yes! Go for Claire. My hands are really full at the moment. What do you want?" Then Patrick called me and gave me a lecture abt how he can't get any 1st-team-experienced PA so he has trained one (obviously me) in a short amount of time. To my credit, I listened while I finished placing his order and doing three other things at the time. And - while completely exasperatd and defensive - I managed to just say "Ok, Patrick. I hear you. I'll be back in Base Camp in 5 minutes." And you know, it is so hard for me to NOT get defensive and not talk back. But I am learning and I am greatful that he's trying to teach me. I may screw up only a couple of times a day but I try my best at getting 1st team (and just abt everyone else) what they want and they appreciated.
We were filming at Yale again today. I'm sorry I missed our 20-extras day. It would have been a little easier. It is horrible though because we were having 6-day weeks because America needs to get back to shoot Ugly Betty. And since we are days behind, things are getting pushed and pushed. Here's hoping that today could have been productive enough. Maybe, just maybe we'll be in Bridgeport tomorrow. Here's hoping....
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