No Pain No Gain!

Advert on Starnow caught my eye for someone to play a mother / victim in a domestic violence film. This was a student film, which normally I would bypass due to the fee of "No Pay" although this one did offer expenses. However, something about it interested me so I applied. A week later I was told that I had landed the role. This was never going to be an easy role for me to play as I come from a violent background with my father always using my mother as a punch bag. I did feel that I could bring something to the role that perhaps, others couldn't if they hadn't been through the same scenario. 

The shoot was in a private house in Egham, Surrey. I ,and my bag, which contained an entire set of different clothes in case they didn't like what I was wearing squeezed through to the conservatory to meet the man that was to be my husband. He was a trained actor - I am always delighted to meet and work with someone who has been through the actors training ground because it always means that, unless you are completely ignorant, you will come away with more knowledge than you previously had. 

Having briefly met each other, the sound person sat in front of us and asked us to get started on an argument. It's quite an odd thing to start an argument with someone you don;t know and whose character you know nothing about. Anyway, the character in question turned out to be one that slowly angered before erupting in violence. Once started we were well away and it took a minute to realise that the crew were looking visibly shaken! Windows were promptly shut to lessen the noise of the screaming! Next, we moved in to the sitting room where filming began in earnest as time was ticking away. We stood behind a sheet that was lit up from behind so that we appeared as shadows. Again, we started the argument but, this time using hand gestures so that we weren't quite so static. At one point a gun was brought out, fired, followed by me falling to the floor. Thankfully, we only had to do this a couple of times before it was time for me to wrap. As yet, the film is still untitled and editing hasn't been completed but I will endeavor to gain permission needed to provide a link for you to see the final product.