Playing Trains

Corporate - can you play a passenger on a train with possible dialogue?

Yes, of course I could. Off I went to Sundridge Park Station, Kent, for a nice late start - 11am. As usual, I was far too early so parked the car up in the stations car park and went to see what was happening.  Along the way  I met a man who was also a bit bemused by the set up. Where was the catering van, the make up, the costume? A train was in the station and somebody yelled at us to get on. We jumped on without our bags containing the usual two other outfits (we were dressed in suits as the brief said 'Smart, no summer colours, take hats and briefcase"). The train began to move which we hadn't expected - where were we going? As it happened it was only going to the next station and back again.The train seemed to be quite full and we quickly realised that these were volunteers (paid) who worked for the train company. It's always interesting to see people playing extras who have no experience, the compulsion to look at the camera can sometimes be overwhelming...... We were sorted out in to 'Good Train" and 'Bad Train' (I kid you not) and I was in the Good Train. I was approached by a woman "You can do lines?" I said "Yes I could do lines" and I was promptly taken down to the front carriage where the crew were. The lines weren't difficult. As far as I remember they were something like "Can you tell me what the problem is? How long will we be?" Normally this would be completed very quickly however, remember what I said about people looking at the camera? For some reason, people felt the need to not only look in to the camera but to turn round and look at the camera so it went on for a while. The poor Sound man had to hover between seats to get the right position and he was a very squashed Sound man by the end of it! Back to our seats whilst other scenes were filmed and then off to lunch. Now when I say off to lunch....we stood on the platform eating fish and chips with a can of coke.... Not a sign of a coffee to be had anywhere. We were then given, which was unexpected, a bag of food and drinks to keep us entertained for the afternoon. which as  the day went on, was very much appreciated except we only had one loo on the train so most of us declined the drinks! 

Next, we were bundled into a carriage and had to react to a guy who was getting fed up , as  in the script, the train by now, had been at a standstill for over an hour, eventually he opens the doors of the train and jumps out. 

It was quite a long day, and I could really empathise with the real guy who did actually jump out of the train as our carriage was getting warmer and warmer, books had all been read, the food had long since gone...I can't imagine what it must be like stuck on a train with no information coming through from the driver.

Eventually, they asked for volunteers to walk along the track to the station. My hand shot up and I was chosen to 'escape'. We had to climb down a ladder then walk with high visibility jackets on, along the track. By the time we reached the platform the words we had been wanting to hear were said "It's a wrap!". It was a very strange sort of day but lovely people and they did try their best, in very unusual circumstances to look after us so, would I do it again? Course I would!