Advert: people wanted to play patients or visitors for a medical corporate. I applied and within a week I had been shortlisted and shortly afterwards received the news that I had the part of the hospital visitor. It was a lovely day and I arrived for my 9.15 call time earlier than expected, as usual. This was in Brentford, a place where I had spent many happy hours living in Brentford Dock. I couldn't find anybody when I arrived so I mooched about a bit then wondered if I was in the right place.... I ventured in through the doors of this University - still nobody in sight, just empty corridors. I back tracked, checked my instructions, looked at the board which stated what each floor was for and quickly realised that I needed to be on the ninth floor. Thankfully the lift was working and when the doors opened at the ninth floor I stepped out into a hospital corridor - how strange! I peered through one door and found myself staring at a bed with a body in it. Now I was seriously worried that I was definitely on the wrong floor maybe even the wrong building. I walked further along the shiny corridor and passed by two trolleys with patients on them - wait a minute - on further investigation I began to comprehend that this was a training hospital floor and all the patients were dummies! It was, to say the least, a little bit on the creepy side.
I heard somebody talking so headed for the voice and found the costume lady who was setting up in a side room. This was an amazing room with floor to ceiling windows over two sides of the room overlooking a sheer drop - good thing I didn't have a problem with heights.
The actors began to arrive then the door opened and a very beaming face walked in. a Supporting Artist named Phil who, strangely enough had worked on several of the productions that I had been on and yet, we had never met. We seemed to be waiting around for an awfully long time and apologies kept coming in from the Director for keeping us waiting. Actually, we didn't mind as we had good company, biscuits and coffee. The filming was delayed due to the main actor as he couldn't find the place....He finally waltzed in with a face like thunder and without an apology to anyone. Thankfully he decided to sit outside the room, ear firmly glued to his mobile whilst we all exchanged glances at each other...no words were said but we all knew what everybody was thinking!
Eventually it was time for Phil and I to do our bit. We were asked to improvise a scenario that included why I was there visiting Phil, how we knew each other and what family we had. We decided that I was Phil's co-worker from an I.T firm where he worked with a fierce boss. Phil was a married man, with a dog and was a problem solver for the I.T firm. I had come to see how he was and to convey messages from people at work especially from the dreaded boss. Next we had to browse through a magazine and make comments:
"What does she think she looks like?"
"Nobody in real life would ever get away with wearing that!"
The camera was focused on us and our dialogue so we had to be heard having a real conversation. Luckily for me I love improvisation as it can mean thinking out of the box and thinking very quickly on your feet! Both of us were wearing microphones but I have to say had I known we were going to wear them I wouldn't have worn a dress....especially as the mics were put on in front of everybody! Fortunately our dialogue went very well, possibly better than the Director was expecting as he came over, took our names and said he would use us again as he was very pleased with our work. We had also made up time so we wrapped almost on time.
Another job done - another friend made and hopefully a future couple of contacts - always nice!!
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