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!