One of my instructors at MPI passed a notice onto our Facebook group page that extra intern help was needed on the set of an independent feature being shot in the Troy/Detroit area. Since the film industry is starting to slowly bloom in Michigan, I was riding high on a wave of opportunities coming into the state. Also, this would've given me another chance to re-live the experience of being on an active film set, like I was a couple years ago...but that story's for another day.
The aforementioned film is called Dial-a-Prayer, brilliantly directed by Maggie Kiley and it stars the great William H. Macy and the very talented Brittany Snow, whom you've seen in Pitch Perfect.
The aforementioned film is called Dial-a-Prayer, brilliantly directed by Maggie Kiley and it stars the great William H. Macy and the very talented Brittany Snow, whom you've seen in Pitch Perfect.
I thought to myself: "Hey, an internship! It's not paid, but what the hell? The experience is all worth it." I'll be getting paid for this one day, and besides, everyone needs to start off at the bottom in this business. Hang up your pride, friends.
So on Saturday, March 8th, I headed over the production office/set, not knowing what I was getting into. I was excited, but nervous. I knew how strictly regimental these film sets operate, and I was determined not to screw anything up and have myself booted to the street. However, my apprehensions were lowered when I met with the set designer named Kim. She was very nice and very open about all that was going on. She gave me the rundown of the story (which I won't reveal in detail because the film hasn't been released) and filled me in on all the last-minute things that needed to be finished before shooting commenced the following Monday. Determined, I wanted to get to work.
That day was spent creating props and set decorations that would adorn the walls and office spaces of the shooting location. I also had some MPI friends come help out as well, so that was an added bonus. While this part of the production wasn't really my forte, I wasn't complaining. It was all very interesting, because as an aspiring director, it's important to understand how all the departments of a film production work, since I would basically be the boss. Like I said, the experience was all worth it.
But I was still eager to maybe see some shooting going on. So a few days later, I went back to the set on the 13th. This time, there was definitely more action.
They had to change the overall look of the set: the movie takes place over the course of a year or so, and as you know, seasons come and pass. It starts out around Thanksgiving, segues into Christmas, and so on and so forth. Like any office, they have decorations for the holidays. So, I was put on decoration duty with a friend from school. The cubicle area we were in was right across from where they were filming one of the scenes that day, so we got a pretty good look at the set and the acting. I couldn't have been more lucky to see this.
After a few hours or so, the cast and crew broke for lunch. I was shocked when everyone came in the room; this wasn't as big of a crew as I once thought. As a rough estimate off the top of my head, there were probably about a hundred people there, in total.
As I got out of the line, I noticed an empty seat at the table where the cast were. Who was sitting at a forty-five degree angle from the seat? Mr. Macy.
I could not have gotten to that seat faster.
I came upon the group as he was in the middle of telling stories about his experiences filming movies. This time around, he was talking about shooting the 1997 Mark Wahlberg vehicle Boogie Nights, in which Mr. Macy co-starred.
If you haven't heard of it, simply this: Wahlberg's an underground porn star in the late 70s. Enough said.
As he was going along with his stories, I had a small side conversation with a woman who was one of the supporting cast. I asked her what role she played; she filled me in. She asked what I was doing there, was I just visiting or was I part of the crew? I let her know my film school told me about the place and I came down to see what I could do.
As I said the words "film school", all eyes at that section of the table turned to me tentatively. I was met with "Oh, really?" "Wow!" "What school is this?"
This will be a moment that will forever live with me, in both glory and irony.
Mr. Macy leans over the table.
"You go to film school, huh?"
With a smile, he reaches his hand out towards me.
"Hi, I'm Bill."
(The angels sang choruses amongst the clouds. As I shook his hand, a heavenly beam of light radiated down and illuminated the spot where we were. Just kidding, none of this happened.)
I was so stunned, in my starstruck haze I didn't even think to introduce myself and tell him my name. I kick myself for that.
But we talked for a few more minutes, he asked me what I was going into. When I told him directing and writing, he quipped about giving me a call when I needed him for a role.
I just might take you up on that offer, Bill...
But long story short, after that day I was stuck back behind-the-scenes doing the grunt work. I never really got to sit down and talk with him again; the last lunch I was at, he was studying his lines. And we all know it's a grave sin to throw an actor out of their mojo. Hopefully, I'll run into Mr. Macy in Hollywood someday, and I'll be struck dumb if he actually remembers who I am when that happens.
So, that's my little story. If there's any sort of moral to it, it's this: when opportunities are presented to you, take them. Go for it, go all out and do everything you can, no matter how big or how small your part in it may be. You just might learn some valuable lessons and make some valuable memories.
UPDATE [9/21/2014]: The Hollywood Reporter had an article on the story I came across recently, published before filming began.
That day was spent creating props and set decorations that would adorn the walls and office spaces of the shooting location. I also had some MPI friends come help out as well, so that was an added bonus. While this part of the production wasn't really my forte, I wasn't complaining. It was all very interesting, because as an aspiring director, it's important to understand how all the departments of a film production work, since I would basically be the boss. Like I said, the experience was all worth it.
But I was still eager to maybe see some shooting going on. So a few days later, I went back to the set on the 13th. This time, there was definitely more action.
They had to change the overall look of the set: the movie takes place over the course of a year or so, and as you know, seasons come and pass. It starts out around Thanksgiving, segues into Christmas, and so on and so forth. Like any office, they have decorations for the holidays. So, I was put on decoration duty with a friend from school. The cubicle area we were in was right across from where they were filming one of the scenes that day, so we got a pretty good look at the set and the acting. I couldn't have been more lucky to see this.
After a few hours or so, the cast and crew broke for lunch. I was shocked when everyone came in the room; this wasn't as big of a crew as I once thought. As a rough estimate off the top of my head, there were probably about a hundred people there, in total.
As I got out of the line, I noticed an empty seat at the table where the cast were. Who was sitting at a forty-five degree angle from the seat? Mr. Macy.
I could not have gotten to that seat faster.
I came upon the group as he was in the middle of telling stories about his experiences filming movies. This time around, he was talking about shooting the 1997 Mark Wahlberg vehicle Boogie Nights, in which Mr. Macy co-starred.
If you haven't heard of it, simply this: Wahlberg's an underground porn star in the late 70s. Enough said.
As he was going along with his stories, I had a small side conversation with a woman who was one of the supporting cast. I asked her what role she played; she filled me in. She asked what I was doing there, was I just visiting or was I part of the crew? I let her know my film school told me about the place and I came down to see what I could do.
As I said the words "film school", all eyes at that section of the table turned to me tentatively. I was met with "Oh, really?" "Wow!" "What school is this?"
This will be a moment that will forever live with me, in both glory and irony.
Mr. Macy leans over the table.
"You go to film school, huh?"
With a smile, he reaches his hand out towards me.
"Hi, I'm Bill."
(The angels sang choruses amongst the clouds. As I shook his hand, a heavenly beam of light radiated down and illuminated the spot where we were. Just kidding, none of this happened.)
I was so stunned, in my starstruck haze I didn't even think to introduce myself and tell him my name. I kick myself for that.
But we talked for a few more minutes, he asked me what I was going into. When I told him directing and writing, he quipped about giving me a call when I needed him for a role.
I just might take you up on that offer, Bill...
But long story short, after that day I was stuck back behind-the-scenes doing the grunt work. I never really got to sit down and talk with him again; the last lunch I was at, he was studying his lines. And we all know it's a grave sin to throw an actor out of their mojo. Hopefully, I'll run into Mr. Macy in Hollywood someday, and I'll be struck dumb if he actually remembers who I am when that happens.
So, that's my little story. If there's any sort of moral to it, it's this: when opportunities are presented to you, take them. Go for it, go all out and do everything you can, no matter how big or how small your part in it may be. You just might learn some valuable lessons and make some valuable memories.
UPDATE [9/21/2014]: The Hollywood Reporter had an article on the story I came across recently, published before filming began.
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