Standing In

One very cold Saturday morning I found myself standing in an outside shopping mall with the wind whipping up a frenzy all around. It was extremely cold and I was very glad to be shown to the basement of a local restaurant. I was to be a stand-in for the day for a Japanese actress (I never did find out her name) and this was an advert for a well known camera company. Others started to arrive and having been told not to expect breakfast we all milled around hoping at the very least for a hot cup of coffee. One of the runners appeared:
"You know that breakfast is in the next room? Help yourselves."
We didn't need to be asked twice! To this day that breakfast stays in my mind. There was cheese, hot croissants, rolls, freshly baked bread, ham, cold meats, fruit, yogurt, danish pastries (well, that was me in Heaven right there!). In fact, anything you could think of that you could possibly want for a cold breakfast was there with plenty of hot drinks.
The AD came up and asked me to stay where I was for the time being as he was about to take the Supporting Artistes on to the set. To be honest, I was delighted as it was a beautifully warm room with food, plenty to drink and the days papers had been given to me.
It wasn't long before the S/As reappeared very cold and needing the warmth of the room.
"We will be using you shortly" I was told. I began to dread going outside. Everybody had red noses and were stamping their feet trying to get some feeling back in them. I had to remind myself that as a Stand-In I was getting paid more than the S/As so I would just have to get on with it.
The S/As were called on to set once more.
"We will get to you soon" said the AD to me. So I took the Saturday papers and magazines, gathered  a danish pastry and a coffee and settled down in to my seat. Time went by. Nobody called. Had they forgotten me?  Well, at least I was warm and cosy. From time to time an S/A would appear and we'd have a chat over yet another coffee. Eventually the AD came over to me:
"Actually, I'm not really sure why you've been booked today. I don't think they're going to use you. "
I didn't mind, I was having quite a nice time thank you very much. After all, I would get my pay whether or not they used me.
"Lunch!" Various forms of pizza arrived and everybody dived in.
"And that's a wrap!"
The whole day had only been four hours long and I felt very blessed to be in such a lovely position to be paid for reading the papers, eating cakes and drinking coffee! Plus the lovely company of all the S/As to chat to - it really was the perfect day!

It's the End of the World!

I got an email from a friend asking if I had seen the casting on Starnow. For some reason it had bypassed me but this friend had been along to the casting on the Saturday and found that everything was above board and it was a proper casting for a film. The next casting was the next day so I should get myself down there. The casting was for dancing zombies.... well, the money was good so why not?

Off I went not quite knowing what to expect. In fact all I had to do was to fill in a form and have my picture taken and that was it. During the next few weeks I began to hear that friends had already started work on the film so I assumed that I wasn't needed. However, a couple of weeks later I got an email   asking me if I could go to a recall. This would be in the form of a short dance practise. Off I went, not quite knowing what to expect or at what level they expected me to be at. In fact it was very easy and the recall was just to make sure that we could all work together as one. Various movements were made, for example walking up and down then turning heads to the  right or left all to the count of eight. It was interesting seeing some of the people that couldn't walk in front of a camera. Their limbs seemed to take on a life of their own!

Another couple of weeks went by.... 

Mobile rang,

"Can I book you for three days work?"

Thank goodness for that! I was also asked to go for a costume fitting at Elstree Studios which would also be paid for. Now I imagined that we would be made up as zombies but, no in fact we had very ordinary clothes to wear. I work a knee length skirt, knee length boots, a polo neck and a padded jacket - very country woman!

The first day of work arrived at Letchworth and I turned up early (of course) and settled in for a coffee. A lovely lady called Jan joined me and I  knew that the 3 days we'd both been booked for would certainly be a laugh as she had a wonderful  sense of humour. Anyway, it turned out that the production team had a  sense of humour too as we were moved out to  location which was, for us, a freezing cold room with nothing in it above a pub. Luckily, another friend Derek had joined us  and he had been filming the previous day so knew where to get lunch, coffee etc as nobody bothered to tell us anything. In fact the next two days were a bit like that and we really did feel forgotten about. We did manage to put the heating on though which was something.  Day one consisted of ... well, nothing as we took turns to sleep on crash mats which had been left after Marshall arts classes. We were even given overtime! The next day seemed to be the same again. After several hours we were finally called downstairs to the pub where the main actors were. Finally we were going to do something! In fact it was just looking towards the actors at certain points all together. It didn't take long and we were put back in our room. Hours later, a man came up and said,

"You don't mind staying for overtime do you? It will be a couple more hours."

"Yes I do mind." I said. He looked a bit perplexed.

"I have been here for hours, done nothing and I have a long drive home."

At this stage we were already into overtime anyway but by then I was fed up and didn't want to part of it anymore so I left. I did feel a bit of a Diva when the minibus arrived to pick up just me...
The third shoot was to be a night shoot, weeks later, at a completely different location. I was dreading it....On arrival on a freezing cold late afternoon Jan and I headed for our breakfast. Although it was 4pm, the crew and cast had been working nights for that week so this really was breakfast for them.
We were moved over to location (a pub) and we settled ourselves in for the long night ahead. We were each given a pair of goggles which lit up so that it looked as if beams were coming from our eyes. Some people even had them in their mouths and I was very glad I wasn't one of them! When our time came we had to run up and down a closed off road. Now, when I say run I mean literally run - it was certainly not a dainty  jog! It was also very slippery as the previous days rain had started to freeze.  We all had shoes and boots on from costume as well so that wasn't easy running in somebody elses  shoes! I can't begin to explain how cold it was -  well it was the end of November but this was a particularly bitter night. Hand warmers and hot water bottles were very soon in evidence to try to keep some  of the heat in. I was very grateful that I had been given boots to wear and although I had a short skirt instead of the tights I'd been given, I managed to get away with wearing my own leggings - nobody noticed :)     Thankfully everybody had a good sense of humour which kept us going through the first half of the night before our dinner was served at 1am. We all felt so much better afterwards but of course nobody wanted to go back outside to do any more running! We finally wrapped at 3am and it was a very tired crew and cast that arrived back at base to get changed and then to chip the ice from the car windows.  I thought I had put this particular film behind me when,
"Can you do one more day?"
Well, we'd been ignored, frozen to death, did I really want to do any more?  It was a day shoot and it was at a different location so I said I would do it.
So on 19th December at 7.30 am I found myself near the  Royal Business Park in E16. It was very cold but everybody had their thermals on or had smuggled in some heat pads and hot water bottles. We were taken by mini bus over to the location which was a disused water tower. This was an amazing place - you walked in at ground level and realised that the floor dropped quite a way down plus there was also quite a way up too. Add to this the bizarre dummies scattered about that were dressed as people also with the lit up goggles attached it was certainly a weird and wonderful place to be!  We had to stand very still and lean slightly over so the camera could catch our lighted goggles. Basically, that's all we had to do whilst we watched the actors carry on in the bar that had been replicated in the basement.
I think we were all quite glad when the days shoot was over. The dining bus that had been our home for the day had steamed up as the rain came lashing down. Everyone was wet, tired and although more than pleased to say we'd all been on the set of The Worlds End, I think I can safely say we were all very pleased when "Its a wrap" was announced and we could all go off, warm up and  dry out. Just think...some people think this is glamorous!!

(and  no, I haven't even got the special goggles on - perhaps the alien invasion had a special effect on me!)

Humpreys music video

Got a message via that wonderful (!) site Starnow.
We are casting extras for a one day shoot music video happening in between the dates 27th- 30th of October.

The artist is called Humphrey Milles and you can listen to the track on this link.

http://soundcloud.com/raul-caldeira/06-not-enough/s-JhKZL

Now, I never do unpaid work. Very occasionally I will do expenses only if its something I am interested in but No Pay No Way is  my usual mantor. However, I listened to the track & found that I really liked the music so decided that in this case I would go ahead and do it for expenses.
So on a bright Friday morning, at 7am  I found myself at an office building in Woolwich High Street dressed in office style clothing. There were about 20 of us  so it took some time to get us all organised and fed and watered!
The job was simple, at first... we just had to sit down and listen to an actor give a speech. Of course there was no such speech as the music would be played over the top of the filming.
Next we had to stand up and give a person  a hug whilst the actor directed  us as to where we should be looking for hugs! Around this time people began to  leave. Not because they didn't like the filming but because they had other things to do, work to go to and besides, they weren't being paid so it really didn't matter - did it? It certainly caused a few problems as suddenley there were empty chairs and areas of space where there wasn't any before. This often happens with no pay/expenses pay  jobs. After a while we were asked to do a bit of mad dancing before being filmed having  coffee & biscuits.
I'm not in most of it as I was sat next to Humprey Miles on his left side which is never seen but I still think the track is quite good. Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdmKFNQLQUk

Black Mirror

Mid November I was asked to be a driver for a TV  series that showed the darker side of life. My car, a very old Nissan Micra in Cornflower blue seems to get quite a bit of filming probably because of its colour.

The call time was early - 6.30am. I found the base which was in High Wycombe and went into the room allocated for some breakfast. Next we had a costume check. I have never understood why, when you are a car driver, you need a costume check and several people had to change their clothes.  Sometimes I feel that it is the people in charge of costume that feel they have to justify their jobs so they make sure we bring lots of changes of clothes and then make sure we use them even though we can't be seen....
Next was hair and make up so we trudged round to another building whereupon a lady took off her shoe and a live mouse raced across the room! She had been wearing trainers that were too big and the tiny mouse had wedged itself in the front of her shoe jumping out at the first opportunity! It was certainly one of the strangest sights I've ever seen. Make up weren't too pleased though as we all went back to our allocated area leaving them to deal with the mouse...
It seemed to take a while to get the filming up and running so we just sat and chatted with each other. There weren't very many of us so it was lovely to get the chance to talk to other people about their filming and casting experiences.
Eventually, we were called to our cars and had to line up behind a barrier. We had to stop at the barrier and buy a ticket to go and watch, what I later found out, was some form of execution. The filming went on for some time with cars reversing back to Number Ones (first position) and then  going  again. It can be quite tedious as each driver is by themselves so only the radio for company and even then it has to be on low as the Directors wishes must be heard! This was quite a short shoot and after just a few hours we had finished, sadly before lunch was being served so there was just enough time for the chits to be signed and we were all on  our way home again. What would be the next job I wondered.

Crime drama

Phone call: Can you go for a costume fitting?
Yes, I'm available.
Phone call: It's now been cancelled.
Oh well, never mind.
Phone call: You've been booked.
Without a costume fitting? Suits me.

Off I went to film a crime tv series. It was to be set in Brixton although the holding area was about a mile away. I found the place, walked in, had my name checked on the list and then:
"You've been cancelled. You're not supposed to be here."
I looked at my phone messages - nothing. Checked the voice mail - nothing. Email - nothing.
I phoned the agent.
"Why do these people think I'm cancelled for today?"
"Because they cancelled you late last night. I'm trying to get a cancellation fee for you...Hang on, where are you?"
"I didn't receive any text or email so am here waiting to go into costume but obviously theres confusion as to whether I should be here or not..."
At that moment I was ushered into costume with mutterings of people not turning up.
"Who hasn't turned up? " (Agent)
"I don't know but it's a good thing that I'm here then.."
For whatever reason, a couple of people hadn't turned up so luckily my day was not about to be wasted after all. I was quickly dressed into 1980s fashion and hair dressed accordingly.
Off to the minibus to travel to Brixton Market. This is a wonderful place full of food that I have never seen before and quite frankly not sure I would like to try some of it either!!

Walking up and down the market made it really easy to forget what you were there for in the first place because everybody on the stalls and in the shops were so  friendly. I would have liked to stay for longer to find out about the food, how it should be cooked and eaten but time was against us.

Next it was back for a bite to eat then into 1990s costume. Now if you think about it, 1980s fashion was bad enough but 1990s? Can anyone remember what people were wearing in that era? Nope, most people remember it as pretty dull and boring which is exactly how I was dressed...and as for the hair...

The next location were some back streets where there were some old clapped out cars waiting to be driven. Actually, they were usually pushed because they kept giving up!  The job was simple enough - walk up and down, light a cigerette  and notice what was going on around me. I'm a non smoker so that took a bit of getting used to. The cigerettes are never real tobacco but are the herbal ones.  Smoke  enough of them and they give you the worst headache ever!!
After a very long 12 hours the job was done, filming was wrapped for the day leaving us to find our way to the nearest station....now, what direction  was that again? !!

The Corporate

I was approached via my website - somebody wanted to consider me for a part in a  corporate - fully paid. It was to play the part of a boss in a company - my script would be sent asap. I agreed and began to learn the script which was fairly short. It didn't seem too difficult so when the audition was set up I felt fairly confident. However, 24 hours before the audition another script was emailed over. It was a bigger part and I would be playing the Company Director. The trouble was that both the scripts were  fairly similar with the same  'business speak' words so one script kept turning into another....Anyway 24 hours later I found myself in Central London dressed in business wear and waiting anxiously to be seen. At that point I still had the two scripts - one that I had learnt and the other which was very roughly learned. I was also in panto playing two different roles so just had to hope that that didn't enter in to things!! I walked into a white room with an oblong table. Along one side sat three men whilst I sat on the other side. After the initial introductions I was asked to audition for the part of the Company Director. This threw me slightly as I had expected to say the first learnt script. Fortunately, it was OK to read it and as I had roughly learnt it the night before I didn't have to have my head stuck to the script! 

"OK now can you do it in an American accent?"

Now, I can do accents but first I like to study them. That way I find I can imitate them much better. However, I took a deep breath and launched into what can only be described as the worst possible American accent ever!! 

"Can you do a German or European accent?" This time to save my blushes I replied,

"If I could hear the accent you are after then I would be happy to imitate it for you."

"Can you learn an American accent?" By now, the audition clearly wasn't going too well so I began to relax as obviously I hadn't got the part.

"Well, from which part of the USA? My sons girl-friend is from Arizona and could teach me their accent which is pretty soft sounding."

That seemed to go down well - phew!

All of a sudden we had finished so with the knowledge that there was no way they were going to give me the part I began to walk towards the lift when another man appeared. It turned out that he was the writer. I had to go back into the room and do it all over again and yes, even the american accent!
 By the time it was over I knew I hadn't got the part but well, I tried and if you don't try then you'll never know.
A day or so later I received an email:  You impressed myself and David so much we would like to offer you the part . Would it be possible for you to practice in the Arizonian accent as well. We will probably film two versions. English and American so we have the choice.
WHAT?! Surely this was a mistake? Maybe they had sent the wrong email to the wrong person? I responded with: To say I'm shocked is the understatement of the year! 
But of course I accepted the part.
Six days later I found myself in Old Street in the most amazing apartment. The type you see in magazines - all white and glass and everything hidden - including the doors! This wasn't what I was expecting at all because when I had rehearsed it I assumed I would be sitting behind a desk or standing up. Yet here was a large settee and a man being 'interviewed' in front of the camera about the business using his own accent and an Indian accent. Thank goodness I hadn't got that one!
Make up checks were fine (I'm used to doing my own) and hair brushed then it was off upstairs. Aha! There was a desk and two chairs after all. Presenter sat opposite with the camera just off his left shoulder and I launched into the American accent with everybody round me and looking intently at me. I finished and breathed.....they all smiled - they liked it! Thank goodness for that! Lunch was postponed (forever as it turned out) but after a quick cuppa we were ready to roll. As it was all 'business speak' there was certain terminology that I wasn't sure about so a couple of explanations were made and the monologue altered accordingly. American done  now for the BBC accent....The trouble was, I had spent so long on the American accent that I hadn't really practised it in English ...
there were certainly a few starts and stops along the way as English slipped into American!
Finally it was in the bag and time for me to run home to make myself in to an old lady/ Beauty Therapist  for the pantos opening night. Luckily I made it with time to spare. What a great job!
 

Vegetaria!

I noticed a plea from  an agency on facebook. They wanted someone to appear in a vegan advert but weren't going to handle the job themselves as it was a favour to a client. Although I didn't belong to this agency, I thought I would apply. After various emails going back and forth I was invited to a costume fitting at the American church in Tottenham Court Road. As usual I arrived early and tried to get in.... The front door was locked and had no sign of a bell to ring. I wandered around to the back to another door. This time there were plenty of buzzers to press for attention but which one?!

Eventually somebody went in and I grabbed my chance and ran in behind. No signs anywhere. I could hear singing downstairs so thought I could try there and at least I could find somebody to ask.

It  turned out to be a rehearsal for the musical "We Will Rock You." Well, I didn't think I was quite suitable for that one so tried another room and found somebody connected with the vegan advert. At least I knew i was now in the right place! I was to wait upstairs until they were ready for me. Where  there's a costume fitting, theres a wait. An older man joined me and told me that he had been for a casting for the advert and that everyone working on it was supposed to be vegan. Oops.... 

I was finally called downstairs and walked in to find a young man in a boiler suit with fruit being attached to his groin. OK, so now I was getting worried - what on earth was going on and what would be expected from me?! One of the costume people must have seen the look on my face and said,

"Don't worry the fruit and veg are only for the men."

Thank goodness for that. Eventually myself and a younger  lady who was we supposed, meant to play my daughter were asked to sit down in a couple of chairs and pretend that we were in a car looking at the man in the boiler suit. That was it. Nothing else. I was surprised as they were paying for me to go to the costume fitting and really they could have saved their money.  As I signed the release forms I was given the date for the filming which was to be 2 days later at a different location.

Friday arrived and I got to location in time for a coffee and a chat with a  couple of the others. The girl playing my daughter turned up and quietly explained that she wasn't vegan either. We were called off to the minibus and driven to location which turned out to be a car wash garage. Our guy in the boiler suit was dancing to music with the various veggies and fruit moving in all their full glory! I began to wonder what was expected of us.... We were called in and asked to sit on a couple of chairs so that we looked as if we were the car wash customers. I thought it looked a bit odd personally as the boiler suit guy was doing such a good job I felt that we were somehow interrupting what was a good bit of filming. Anyway there we say until the Director asked us to go and dance around the boiler suit man. Now, I can pretty much do anything without too much embarrassment thanks to acting classes but this poor girl who I was with was totally mortified. She didn't act at all and in fact it turned out that she was a friend of the crew. Anyway, we danced away much to everyones amusement and were finally released for lunch - veggie thai curry which is a particular fav of mine so when the Director came and gave thanks to us and to release us, he also asked us to stay for lunch. Yummy!

Here's the link -   its no surprise that we were cut out but it's still a great watch!

http://youtu.be/OYwjjTuZsxM

Stick Imagery

An agency that I had almost forgotten about about sent me a text asking if I could be a stand in. It would involve learning a biography so that I could portray the character as closely as possible.  I presumed that this was a random text, said Yes, and didn't think any more about it. I certainly didn't think I would hear from them again. All of a sudden, the phone rang and  the agency explained that the producer wanted my  Spotlight link. Now although I have had several featured and speaking roles, my main work is with Corporate filming which Spotlight refuse to recognise. Anyway, through the power of persuasion and giving them lots of work which included theatre work (it proved a point that I could learn a script) I finally received a call on the Thursday to say I was booked for the next week for one possibly two days. Excellent news, in fact so good that I went out to celebrate and fortunately only had a couple of drinks because when I got back there was a message to say that I was needed for the next day and please could I learn the biog for that day as I couldn't have the script with me....Gulp! I downloaded the biog - all 9 pages of it.

After very little sleep, I caught the train to Camden, found the production offices and went in to meet the cast. It was a little bit daunting sitting, waiting in reception whilst people you recognise and are about to work with walk past you. Eventually I was invited in to the room. This was a large room that looked as if it had been set up for a board meeting with a large table in the middle. I sat down and nodded 'Hello' to people who were very quickly being introduced to me.  The script was read through, adjustments made and then we broke for coffee whilst chairs were rearranged to mimic the set that would later be filmed.  The character I was standing in for was to be interviewed and the  idea was for me to imitate the character as closely as possible. I had to walk in to the make shift set, sit down and be interviewed giving as full answers as possible. Luckily, I liked the character that I was standing in for so when reading the biography I had retained some interesting facts about her life. As part of the show, the character would have to remain on set for the full 45 minutes and be continually brought into conversation even when the next guest was interviewed. Any of the cast could ask questions and all this in front of a panel of writers who changed the script according to my reactions and answers. Lunch was called - a delicious cold buffet - after which the writers went away to look at the script and to write in some extra details. It was decided that the rest of us could all go home as there was little else to be done. I have to say that it was a little odd walking along the street to the tube station with the cast of the Kumars!

I arrived home and noticed a missed call. It was from the producer. Oh crap! What if he didn't like my portrayal of the character? Had I  learnt enough? I didn't  have time to waste as I was appearing in Radio Plays that were in front of an audience that night so I just had to bite the bullet and return the call. Producer was very happy and could I stay for another five days? The fifth day would involve doing the dress rehearsal at the London Studios - would I be OK for that? Errrm...now let me see.... Of course I would!!

Off I went to perform the Radio Plays and during the interval my mobile rang - I was also booked for a Corporate on the Sunday - it was starting to get busy!!

Monday loomed - I had spent any spare time researching yet more material for the person I was standing in for. I wanted to find out things that the Kumars wouldn't know because otherwise they could pre-empt my answers and it wouldn't be possible to do that in the real life  situation. This time the rehearsal rooms were in Kings Cross with a lovely late call time of 10am. Of course on arrival,  breakfast had to be eaten before any work could be undertaken. Another actor joined us named James who would  stand in for a well known actor. We sat at the table looking over  our  biogs eating our breakfasts put together by a lovely lady named Tara. Soon it was time to start work and I was up first. Again no paperwork was allowed so I had to 'morph' into my character. Fortunatly it went very well and when it was James turn I had to stay and answer any questions that were sent my way. It was a wonderful day and everyone got to  know each other a lot better so everyone felt comfortable with one another. On my way out, I popped in to the writers and gave them my research on the person I was imitating . They seemed to be quite relieved and asked if I could research the other character too but  I declined that offer!

The week continued with a lady named Jo  who joined us as a stand in for the singer that was also to be interviewed. On Friday, however, it was all change. Jo and I arrived at the London Studios, signed in and were shown to our Green room and more importantly where the coffee was! James joined us and just as I was about to take my first slurp of coffee...

"Everybody on set!"

Wait a minute, no breakfast and now no coffee???!

A microphone was given to me to wear and then it was on to set where 5 cameras were aimed at us. During the following hour, I developed the worst headache - the kind that just isn't going to go away and thanks to the kindness of the cast I was soon clutching tablets and a glass of water.

Finally, lunch was called and we rushed to the canteen to wolf down the chicken dinner and to grab a quick coffee. The afternoon continued with Michael Ball making an appearance in the form of an advert - all in the name of comedy of course!

Evening came and the studio audience began to arrive. James and Jo had gone out to grab some fresh air and some food and left me to concentrate on putting together a  small script. I had been asked  to provide the voice for Bindya, Sanjeevs ex-wife. The audience would not be able to  hear what I was saying but the actor I had to speak to on the phone would. I had to devise a short paragraph to explain to the actor that the daughter would be picked up in one hour. It was up to me how I delieved this so in my best Indian accent (Oh dear..) I told the actor (this was live) that I had been having a crisis with George Clooney and a project we were working on which was  why I was late picking up the daughter. The actor was so taken with this that he repeated it to the audience and totally forgot to say that the daughter would be picked up so luckily one of the cast improvised saying they had received a text explaining the lateness!

Finally the show ended and it was hugs and kisses all round. And Yes, I finally got to meet the person I had been impersonating all week and very thankfully she had responded to all the questions in a very similiar way to me. 

So who were all these people? The actor James stood in for was Tom Hiddlestone,  Jo stood in for Amy McDonald and as for me? I was Twiggy, the famous icon of the 60s and now the model for M&S!

Anoushka

I was asked via a website if I would consider taking part in a Dirctors workshop. The idea was that six Directors  would try a new method of direction on me and I would act it out with a script. Well, it sounded exciting so why not? Off I went to Swiss Cottage for 2.30 call time. It was being organised inside somebodys 'bejou' house. It was delightful but it was very small. There were a couple of people just finishing off their session in front of me so I holed up in the kitchen with a very welcoming cup of coffee and pretended not to listen through the hatch that was in the wall...well it was open, what did they expect?! It turned out not to matter too much as their script was entirely different to the one I was going to act out. My partner for the scenario turned up and was a strapping muscle bound , tall, gorgeous black young man. I only mention what he was like because he was about to become my son... Not only was he about to become my son, he was going to play my infant son. 

Warm up exercises first which were a series of mirrored movement using both facial and body movements.  The script was briefly explained and we could ask questions whenever we needed. 

 So, the first scenario was to talk and play with 'my son' as if he were a baby. Now, I am 5'3" so having this huge man on my lap - head in my lap as it were - was a little unusual. Anyway, we played the game and he happily chortled away whilst I sang lullabies and stroked his hair. At this stage, I think we were both glad that we weren't looking at each other.....

Next came improvisation. I had to get my now grown up son to the phone. He had earlier gone to a job interview that he didn't want and my job was to get him to the phone. His job was to remain sullen and refuse to go to the phone preferring instead, to stay inside his bedroom. This went on for a while but eventually he looked as if he was going to answered the phone when nope! he scuttled back inside his room. 

Next scenario was that my character had cancer and had recently come out of hospital and was returning home. My son hadn't been to visit and clearly didn't welcome her home, or that's what it looked like. In truth, it was because he was scared he was going to lose her and if he didn't interact with her then that would never happen. This part  was scripted and had to be very quickly learnt.

It was a really interesting role to have played and fun to see how Directors were learning from a Mentoring Director that was looking after them. Whether any more comes from it - I will just have to wait and see!

The Football Wannabes!

Text: Can you play a football fan, in blue,  for a well known newspaper ad?

I had a scarf, a hat, ...well, that would do wouldn't it?  

I arrived at Watford Football club for the call time of 7.30 am sporting any blue clothes that I could lay my hands on  and was directed to the parking spaces. We were quickly ushered into the restaurant where a welcoming display of croissants, danish pastries, sausages and bacon rolls with hot pots of tea or coffee awaited us. I sat down at one of the round tables and was joined by a friend of mine, Derek. The table soon filled up and banter flowed around the table as if we had all known each other for some time. However, the time soon came when we eventually we had to go to work. Filming was outside and as we were directed to our seats in the stand, we were given extra blue clothes such as t shirts, scarves and flags. I was split up from the people  on my table and soon found myself sandwiched between two people who were the sort of people I dread. You can always tell these people as the first words they usually say are not an introduction to their name but:

"Hello, I'm not really an extra, I'm actually an actor."

Nothing in the world gets my back up more than hearing this. If I am talking  to a trained actor, it will come out during the conversation. However, with wannabe actors, the need to establish themselves as an actor in the opening sentence is always a necessity  especially if they are failing wannabe actors... 

I asked them if they had had any training. Both answered no. Perhaps, I thought they might have some stage experience. Again no. Strangely enough both had agents, although I am sure it would be debatable as to how good these agents were in the light of lack of experience and training these wannabes had. One of them was very excited that he had gone for an audition for Emmerdale. Had he got it? No. 

The other had gone for  a role in a film - had he got it? No. 

I spoke to them about training and perhaps getting a few workshops under their belts or maybe the odd days acting seminars to help them out. Apparently, you don't need any of this, you just need to feel that you can act.....

I daresay these two are still not doing very much and I dread the time when I meet them again as I am sure I will do.

I resisted the temptation to tell them, when my  mobile rang in a tea break that I had just been offered a speaking role in a film....

Nailing it!

I was booked for a childrens tv programme for CBBC. I was quite excited at this prospect as it was to be filmed at Elstree Studios but not the one that I was used to.  I was to be a customer in a nail salon - nothing too taxing! Parking was available and as we had to take rather a lot of changes of clothes it was just as well. 

On arrival at the studios I was given directions to the place of filming. There didn't seem to be anybody about when I got there but there was another lost soul so we went into a studio where we thought we should be but nope wrong one so we sidled out muttering apologies....

Eventually we found someone who turned out to be the 2nd A.D called Darren. He very quickly took us under his wing and showed us where the tea and coffee were plus where our dressing room was to be. There were 5 of us in all so not a huge  crowd scene. 

In came costume and decided we all needed to change our tops but everything else would do. Off we went to set. I felt somebody touch my arm,

"Hello Felicity, I recognise you from the hot tub in Cardinal Burns."

Oh Dear God.... Here was a man who had seen me in my bra and pants, and actually it wasn't even my bra as it belonged to costume!!

I managed to steer the conversation away from the hot tub and got on with the work. It was very easy as all I had to do was to  walk in to the nail salon, go to reception and check my appointment then sit and have my nails done (and I get paid for  this?!!).  Occasional reaction shots were needed when several items were thrown across the set but suddenley it was lunch time. This was a bit of a shock to us as we hadn't been told that there wouldn't be any lunch.  Not even so much as a voucher for lunch....Luckily McDonalds saved the day... On our way there however, we were lucky enough to see Kevin Bacon in his army uniform which was just fabulous and totally made the day for everyone! It wasn't long after that when we were wrapped and were able to set off home after a very lovely day for all.