The Ugly Truth - My Extra Debut

So I'm sure anyone in America who has basic television has seen the endless previews and media attention surrounding the new romantic comedy "The Ugly Truth" starring Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl, and I suppose if you've been following my blog enough you'll know that I got to be in this film May 2008 when it filmed in Los Angeles and near San Diego. Now it was nothin' special, I was just an extra for 2 days, but it was a fun experience to hang with the stars up close and personal, watch a movie being made and be part of it, so I just wanted to reminisce a little.

Day 1: I was scheduled to be a night club go-er and patron at for a Salsa club scene to be filmed downtown at the train station (odd location I know, but they made a pretty impressive make-shift salsa club inside). As always with movie making there is usually a very early call, and then a lot of sitting around and waiting for hours. Luckily wardrobe approved me quickly in a red chiffon and beaded halter top, black ruffled skirt and black heels I'd all brought from home, and I was sent to wait in line outside the hair and makeup trailer for approval. About an hour and half later I was sent inside the trailer, with a little surprise as I came up the steps to see Gerard and Katherine inside by the entrance. I don't remember much but I do recall that it was very stuffy, and small in that little trailer and that Gerard Butler has a loud, infectious laugh that seemed to filled the tiny space with a sense of fun and humor.

The set for the salsa club was very large, with balconies overlooking a long oval bar I believe, and a dance floor, with rows of tables and booths on each side. Because of space, and filming tricks, they mainly kept people on one side of the dance floor tables. During filming my first assignment was to walk to a booth by the dance floor, and sit down and join my "date" (a guy whose name I can't really recall, other than he made me laugh and we enjoyed playing with the accoutrements on our prop drinks). Ours was a great spot to be because it was close to all the action, where the actors hung between takes, and apparently the camera was right on us, (my friend actually found a movie still shot with my head in it, total crack up, haha!) I know its me because of where I was positioned, and because there were no extras on the booth tables on the opposite side of the floor. Here's the pic.

LOL, I'm such a nerd! I feel like a party crasher with my head tilted like that (I promise I wasn't looking at the camera, lol!) Let's hope someday my personal and career accolades extend past something more monumental and slightly embarrassing like this, hehe, but if not, it was fun and that's all that really matters.

Overall, film day one was a great day, a long day, a little over 12 hours, but full of laughter and good people. What I enjoyed most was how friendly the other extras were, (extras usually are though) and how casual and laidback Gerard Butler was. Even though some people still didn't know who he was then, (the guys especially until they realized he was King Leonidas in"300"); he didn't act like a star. Gerard didn't sit in his actor's stool really, and instead preferred standing talking with extras and crew, or sitting in a booth next to ours squished next to some camera men. In fact, it struck me that he much preferred this casual atmosphere verses hanging out in a lonely trailer between takes, because he mainly hung out on set with all of us during that time from us extras to the salsa dancers to the crew, regardless of our importance on the film and Hollywood politics. I thought that was really cool.

Being on set was one of those observational experiences where you see this strange dichotomy firsthand with the Hollywood hype, filmmaking, and movie "stars". Its an exciting feeling to be there and yet everyone is normal, they all sweat, they all get tired, they all get hungry, restless, stressed, happy or forgetful. The only difference with famous actors is they have a job where they can have creative release, share a bit of their charisma and hopefully get a handsome paycheck for it, and depending on the press and public's mood they receive adulation and acceptance or criticism and indifference. Makes you realize how fleeting and complicated it all is.

I have to say that living in Hollywood for 5 years now you see it all when you go to parties, meet celebrities, hang with them, even date them, and your perception changes. Hollywood isn't really isn't as glamorous as people think, its mainly an endless rat race of the egos. I love the entertainment industry, don't get me wrong, and its fun to participate, but my belief is that unless you're in it for the right reasons you will get chewed up and spit out. You've got to just love your art, be passionate about it, be pure about it, and hopefully you'll get a break, AND if you do NEVER EVER take yourself too seriously to forget the people who got you there in the first place. It seems like Gerard Butler and even Heigl maintain that humbleness and I really respect that.

Anyway, not to take a completely serious and philosophical approach to this blog, I just wanted to share that portion of the experience in lieu of the new movie coming out. My other day on the Ugly Truth set wasn't as exciting I'm afraid, (though it was more drama, haha). I was cast as a wine festival go-er (they always add go-er to extra casting assignments, haha) at a Lake near San Diego. Beautiful location, but the day was rather like an endurance contest, and showed the not so glamorous side of filmmaking which includes knats attacking everyone in the bitter cold foggy morning, following by a HOT HOT heatwave in the afternoon causing sun burns, heat stroke, and exhaustion. Can we say glamorous?! But hey, at least they got some Hollywood movie magic out of it and maybe The Ugly Truth will be a blockbuster, haha!

"The Ugly Truth" opens in theaters today. I may catch a matinee this afternoon, and maybe I'll see my silly face in it, lol. Good memories :)