Huge thanks to Tina Beckel for her on the set reporting!!!!!
ICE ICE BABY!!
I can’t contain the excitement of my recent work on the set of “ICEMAN” and I want to just dive right in but first things first. I must brag on the LEGACY team! This TEAM is a piece of ACE! Without these guys, this opportunity would not be possible for any of us, so never forget how you got to where you are! I sure won’t!
I personally have to thank Rachel for being my own personal cheerleader and Ashton for not only being at everyone’s beck and call while in holding but for personally rescuing me from being lost Tuesday morning when I was trying to find base camp. Thanks guys!! You RAWK!
Okay, on to the “cool” stuff about working as background (BG) on the movie “ICEMAN”. I was booked for Tuesday as BG for a very special scene with Robert (played by Chris Evans) and Richard (played by Michael Shannon) but as is the business of show business, things changed. It NEVER discourages me and I only look at it as the opportunity for the possibility of an even greater experience! I arrived to the base location around 6:30am Tuesday morning. This was after speaking with our very own Ashton (I like to refer to him as Tom Cruise BUT MORE AWESOME). Ashton may not realize it but he rescued me from my directionally challenged GPS. Ashley (with production) called shortly after I had dialed up Ashton so I decided I’d call her back one I was no longer lost. Ashley was calling to see if I was going to make it because due to Mr. GPS taking me to the wrong location I was running a tiny bit late.
Ashton led me to the main route and led me to signs with arrows that said “ICE” on them so I knew I could find my way from there. I called Ashley back as soon as I hung with Ashton to let her know that I was almost there! Once parked, I was able to catch a van then head down to quickly check in with Ashley and head to wardrobe. Wardrobe hooked me up in 1970’s clothing, then hair and makeup did their magic and I was ready to roll! Around 7:45am Ashley said they were ready for us on set so she took me and the three other BG actors to transportation where we hopped in the van to head up the road to location.
Once we arrived on set the director pulled Ashley aside to speak with her briefly then Ashley came back over and let us know that there had been some alterations she had not been informed of and some changes were definitively being considered.
No probs! Flexibility, patience, and understanding are golden for anyone willing/wanting to work in the industry: no matter the position you are filling to help out. I think I have a little too much fun doing this to be honest because I always get a bit excited when things changes because I know it will always be for the good of the film!
Anyhow, we hopped back in the van and headed back to base where we sat in the holding tent. We were to sit tight and wait for further instruction. Again, no probs! It was about 32 degrees Fahrenheit that morning so the four of us huddled around a little propane heater in the holding tent and waited patiently.
Additional BG was scheduled to check in a little after 10:00am and as the time continued to creep by and 10:00am inched toward us, we were pretty certain that “our” BG scene wasn’t going to happen. Long story short, it didn’t happen but wardrobe took us out of our 70’s get-up and placed us in 1980’s attire so we could get placed in the next scene with the approximately 30 new BG arrivals. Filmmaking is an art form and if it is placed in the right hands, it’s beautiful! I hate to jump the gun but I am willing to put myself out there and say that “ICEMAN” is in the hands of brilliance! I can’t give any vital information away but from what I have seen thus far, this movie will be AH-mazing. I know how to spell amazing, BTW.
Back to the scene … it was later in the afternoon now and even though it had warmed up a tad that day, we found cooler temperatures starting to recur as it got later. Don’t think that you don’t have to possess acting skills to work background because you certainly do! It takes talent to pretend it’s warm outside when it’s really not. It takes talent and good lipstick to cover your blue lips!
So it’s pretty cool outside but this was a “summer” scene. Most of us were in summer type clothing with little protection from the cool air. Some of us were even in worse shape than others too. If I were “PC” I would simply tell you that I had a wardrobe ‘malfunction’ but I’m not really PC so I’ll just tell you that my lovely, white bell bottoms ripped at the seem around the zipper. My awesome turquoise panties were saying “HELLO!” to everyone and I was getting an extra breeze thanks to that new opening! I didn’t want to have wardrobe redress me so I asked if I could wear a camisole under my shirt to pull down over the exposed under garments and my outer shirt would just cover the cami. Wardrobe said it was fine so I was good to go! Everyone in BG is strategically placed on set and given specific cues/tasks to achieve once they hear “background”. We were all set up and given our instructions and thankfully mine was simply sitting at a picnic table. I didn’t have to worry about flashing everyone since I didn’t have to move around. Here we go!
CAMERA ROLLING! SOUND ROLLING!!! ACTION!!!! BAAAAACKGROUND!!!
The shoot was only around two hours, maybe a little less. I can’t say exactly because I didn’t have a watch at the time. That’s pretty quick but the director was pleased after about twelve takes and several re-shoots from different angles and close to 5pm we were wrapping the scene up and heading back to base. Once back at base, we all lined up in front of the honey wagon to get out of wardrobe and put our own clothing back on so we could turn their clothing back in and get our vouchers.
I was standing in line to turn my wardrobe in when the head of wardrobe walked up to me and asked if I would be available on Friday for a big disco scene. I calmly (on the outside) and ecstatically (on the inside) told her I’d be available. She also asked my two fellow BG friends beside me if they would be available as well. She told us that she would get in touch with casting and let them know! I know me and anyone that knows me, does too and I could NOT wait to get home to email Rachel so I could tell her this exciting news!!! That’s exactly what I did too. Then it was official … I was booked for the Friday “DISCO” shoot! WOOHOO!! To be continued …..