These pretzels are making me thirsty September 28, 2006
Posted by Patrick in : Pittsburgh, Movies , 1 comment so farLast Monday started a little after 4 AM. For fear of sleeping in, I asked my mom the night before to wake me up early so I wouldn’t miss the shoot. We had to be there for 5:45 with three to four outfits from 1983.
When I arrived, I was sent immeadiately to wardrobe for approval of my outfits. Or rather, a couple women scoured through my clothes and picked out my outfits for me. Suprisingily, they didn’t have to go back to their stash of clothes to replace mine. They picked out two different plaid shirts to match with my tight black jeans and caramel pennyloafers.
Wardrobe sent me immeadiately to get my hair done. They shuffled me and the other male book clerk to the adjacent trailer to get our hair teased. I had my first experience with a curling iron. They singed the hair next to my ears so it would stick behind my ears.
After that, the next four hours consisted of sitting around an abandoned Ames, waiting for the call. My fellow extra said that being an extra is a lot of “hurrying up to wait.”
Right before lunch was the first scene. It was an interior shot, where the character Cleveland (Peter Saarsgard) was picking up Art from the bookstore. I was in the back of the scene rounding a corner with a bunch of books. Like any extra, I tried to milk the scene for all it’s worth and walked really slow at first. The assistant director was savvy to this, and told me that i was walking like a zombie, so I picked up the speed.
The other scenes included some exterior shots of walking past the camera. Most times, I was far from the camera, so I’ll be a small dot if anything. At one time, I was standing around to meet Michael Chabon, who was in one of the scenes. The assistant director saw me and picked me for an impromptu part to walk past the camera AND look at the main character with a “I know what you’re up to” kind of look. The camera was behind him, so it was pointed directly at me. We tried a couple takes of this, but it ended up not working, and he yanked it.
Overall, the day was a blast. It was long - 13 hours of working. We were paid minimum wage, and time and a half over eight hours. They fed us well and I had a chance to meet Michael Chabon, who’s a suprisingily kind man, and Peter Saarsgard. The thing that I really enjoyed was seeing how a movie was made. During a couple scenes, I was close to the director’s circle and monitors where I could listen in on all the decisions of how the shots would look and how the actors would interact.
They called me back earlier today for a shoot tomorrow. It’s a classroom scene. The shoot is at 1:00, so I’m taking a half day. Also, I’m going to Minneapolis on Friday for the Desiring God conference, which I’m excited about. My friend Emily has hooked me up for a place to stay.
Alright, gotta go to bed.
Sneak peak September 24, 2006
Posted by Patrick in : Pittsburgh, Movies , 3 comments
Here’s a sneak peak of a couple of tomorrow’s outfits. They recommended at least three or four outfits from 1983 that a clerk at a used bookstore would wear. The shoot time is at 5:45, so I have to get up pretty early. Around 4 AM. I’ll give a full report. Till then.
Finally! September 23, 2006
Posted by Patrick in : Photography , 1 comment so farAlbert, you’re posting again.
Second chance! September 22, 2006
Posted by Patrick in : Pittsburgh, Movies , 1 comment so farI just got called by the casting agency and I’m slated to be in a scene this Monday for the Mysteries of Pittsburgh! And Michael Chabon will be in the scene as well! I will be a store clerk. Details to follow.
How now brown town September 21, 2006
Posted by Patrick in : Pittsburgh , 1 comment so farPick up the latest issue of The Economist. It reports [subscription link] on the current Pittsburgh renaissance. Albeit slow, I think they’re right. The median price of a home is $116k?! But of course, I live here, and so I’m biased. Here’s a clip from the article:
As Pittsburgh upgrades its local economy, it will increasingly have demography on its side. Because so many prime-age workers moved away in the early 1980s—often taking children with them—it now has lots of old folk. At the last census, in 2000, 15.6% of Pennsylvania’s population was over 64 years old—second only to Florida—and the Pittsburgh region is older than the rest of the state. But now the Grim Reaper will even things out. Over the next quarter-century, however, the Census Bureau expects Pennsylvania’s over-64 population to grow by only 50%, the smallest increase of the 50 states. The national elderly population will grow more than twice as quickly, while that of currently vibrant states in America’s south-west will explode. When today’s most glamorous regions begin to face that brutal arithmetic, many of today’s young Pittsburghers may be glad they stayed put.
Mountain Goats show
Posted by Patrick in : Photography, Music , add a commentJohn Darnielle put on another great show this year. Most of his setlist came from his latest record, Get Lonely, which I picked up today. My coworker James accompanied me to the show. At first, I was nervous about inviting him. It seems like you can be obsessed about this band or not care for them one iota.
By the end of the concert, James counted himself in the first group. He ended up like me. The music itself does not draw me in as much as Darnielle’s personality and lyrical storytelling. His shows have a sort of mystical aura about them. It’s difficult to explain.
I took my camera to this show, but I might leave it behind next time. During the last few songs, I thought more about taking a good shot than enjoying the music. It’s probably why I don’t take that many photos at friend’s weddings anymore. With a camera, I feel more like an observer instead of a participant.
The gradual slope September 20, 2006
Posted by Patrick in : Christianity , 2 commentsDiscussing the devil’s interest in apathy and laziness today with some friends reminded me of the following quote from C.S. Lewis. It’s from the end of Chapter 12 of The Screwtape Letters:
But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy [God]. It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.
One year and one day September 19, 2006
Posted by Patrick in : Travel , 3 commentsThis blog has been running for a year and a day now. It seems longer than a year. To celebrate, here’s a list of last week’s highlights:
- The PSU trip to see my sis was fun. My parents and I watched Penn State trounce on Youngstown State. But YSU held their own. The first quarter was scary as it almost went scoreless.
- After six months of musicless driving, my stereo in my ‘96 sable is fully operational. All it was, was a disconnected connector. After tracing all the lines in the dash, I checked this rear chassis that’s hidden in the trunk. A connector from a previous job was lying there next to the chassis. Music while driving has never been the same.
- Speaking of the car, the multi-function switch on the steering column finally gave out. That means that I haven’t had headlights for the past week. This has resulted in two pull-overs by the police. Suprisingly, there have not been any tickets! I ordered a switch for $10 from a junkyard earlier today. It should be in by this weekend.
- Planning to go to the Mountain Goats show on Wednesday at the Warhol. It should be good.
- And Adrian reports that Bonnie “Prince” Billy plays Conan tonight. His Superwolf has been on heavy rotation these past few weeks. Has anyone heard his new one?
Back and gone again September 16, 2006
Posted by Patrick in : Travel, Pittsburgh , 2 commentsI returned from Canada on Wednesday night and am off again in several hours to Penn State. My parents procured four tickets to the Youngstown State game. Earlier today, I ate at Tessaro’s again with my old roommate. Afterwards, I saw my friend Jeff play at Friday Night Improv.
Friday Night Improv is a blast. It’s sort of like Whose Line Is It Anyway? I volunteered for the last skit which proved to be difficult. The scenario was a subordinate explaining to his boss why he was late to work. The subordinate had to give an excuse that another girl and I mimed. He had to guess what it was. The sequence was the following: I partied too much at a Metallica concert, then drove my car and wrecked it in a landslide. So I was trapped and later mistakenly picked up by the police as a kidnapper. Next time, I’m going to try something a little more easier.
Some travel in the near future September 8, 2006
Posted by Patrick in : Travel , add a commentThis blog will be postless for several days because I will be fishing in upper Ontario. My grandfather has visited the same fishing lodge for 55 years and has never missed a summer. He, my dad, two uncles, and I are taking Saturday to Wednesday to fish the French river for walleye and bass.
My uncle says that the French river spoils you. The waters are tremendous compared to Western Pennsylvania. It’ll be my third trip up. It really is a blast. Sitting on a boat all day catching fish can be quite restful. The nights are spent eating what we catch and telling stories or playing cards. I’m supposedly in charge of cleaning the fish this year.
Also, I redeemed my free United ticket, so I’ll travel to Minneapolis the last weekend of September to attend the Desiring God conference. I’m looking forward to the speakers. That also should be a good getaway. I’m hoping to find a group of people and tag along with them. I posted an ad on the Minneapolis craigslist for cheap housing. There has been one bite so far. If anyone has any housing ideas, let me know!