Text: Can you play a restaurant diner in a Sushi restaurant? Of course I could but where was it? It would be in Central London. Job accepted. The base location was actually in Wormwood Scrubs Car Park and early too - 6am which meant everybody driving in as the tubes start at 5.15 so couldn't be sure of getting there on time. As soon as we arrived at the base we were all told to hide our stuff that was on view in our cars - well, considering where we were it wasn't that surprising. I strolled over to where the coffee was being put out and helped myself to some very welcome refreshment, especially welcome at that hour! People began to arrive and to my astonishment I didn't know a single person there. Normally there is somebody to recognise. It's very odd not knowing anybody - it's a bit like starting a new job - unsure of what to say, who to speak to or what to do. Usually I just head for the dining bus and generally always find someone for a conversation but the bus was full of equipment so was a no go area. Thankfully, it was a bright and sunny day so that we could all congregate outside for a natter.
Costume called - over I went - I was dressed for a business lunch in my usual black business suit. They liked the suit, hated the shirt. I was put into a grey see through shirt which thank goodness, a vest top was found to go under it to preserve a bit of modesty! Especially as then i was told to lose the jacket. Trendy accessories to be replaced by classic pearls. Returned to the bus to find that all the equipment had been cleared so breakfast was being served. This was a cooked breakfast in a box the type of which you would normally expect to find noodles in - how odd. Still, it was filling and set everybody up for the day ahead.
Next, we were off in the mini bus to the restaurant location in Nottinghill. I was paired up with Darren and we were placed at the back of the Sushi restaurant. After an hour or so, the place started to get really warm - air conditioning couldn't be put on due to the slight noise it would give. It had been an early call and no water seemed to be forthcoming..the girl behind me just lay down on her bench seat with her eyes closed. Everybody was struggling to look interested, make pretend conversation and to stay awake! The sushi in front of us couldn't be eaten either as it had been prepared the day before especially for the filming. We did have to look as though we were eating it though, with chopsticks, which caused a little bit of hilarity as beans shot off plates in all sorts of directions.
Next came close up shots of the main actors so we scurried upstairs for a welcome cup of water or coffee. We had all been told to leave everything behind at the base so I had nothing to read or do. However, it wasn't long before we were called downstairs to resume 'eating'. We were placed at the front of the restaurant this time, very close to the lovely Simon Baker (seriously gorgeous in real life). Suddenly make up and costume descended on me:
"You're in shot"
"You're definatly going to be seen"
I hadn't the heart to tell them that my name is "Mrs Blur" to the people I work with as usually that's what I am in the background and therefore, this scene was likely to be cut. Anyway, it gave them something to do. I sat by myself reading menus and deciding on drinks to have with my lunch. Of course, in my head it was much more exciting. I was a business woman waiting in a city restaurant for my lunch time lover - he was late and I was getting impatient. I kept looking towards the door waiting for him to arrive....
"It's a wrap!"
Daydreams would have to wait, it was time to go home. The mini bus was sent to collect us but the first one was full so five of us said we would wait for the next one. Well, we waited and waited and waited some more. No sign of our mini bus. One mini bus turned up but on its way to a different location where they were filming that afternoon. The driver said he would radio through that we were still waiting to get back to base. Still we waited....One of the people phoned the agency who assured us they would get right on to it. We waited some more - still nothing. A security man from the film was spotted across the road so we all ran over to him. At first he seemed reluctant to radio across to base but eventually he did which seemed to galvanise the troops in to action and finally a mini bus arrived to take us back to base. Once on the bus, my mobile went off with a couple of messages left by people. Both of the messages concerned my costume blouse because they thought I'd gone home with it! Bit of a cheek really - they'd noticed that the blouse was missing but not the fact that we hadn't signed out or got our chit signed so that we could be paid! It was with some relief that I finally got back in to my car, in my own shirt and with water in hand. My mobile went off.
"Re: the job for tomorrow - you are confirmed"
Well, that was a much better way to end the day!
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