Fame Postponed :(

Sorry family and friends, but your connection to a movie star will have to be through someone else for now. Today, I woke up excited to go to the set of the new Hilary Swank/Minnie Driver movie, Betty Anne Waters, being filmed on campus here at U of M over spring break. We were told to dress like we were law students from the 90s, show up at our appointed time, and bring a book and extra set of clothes to choose from. I did all those things, even arriving a bit early, and was soon ushered into the "holding room."

Inside, we signed photo releases, were told that they'd decided to go for a more casual look than they originally thought so we should change if we could (which I couldn't), and waited about an hour waiting for the rest of the people to show up. Then, we were ushered into another room with fewer seats, many of which were already taken up by people who had got there earlier, and were told that we should relax because they weren't going to start shooting again for another hour. The 250ish of us ransacked the food they provided and waited it out on both seats and floor. Eventually, the big people came back to get the rest of earlier people, and we waited some more. From time to time, they would shout out "ROLLING" and we had to quickly silent ourselves. It was actually kind of funny and cool to see so many people stop talking so fast for several minutes and then pick it back up as soon as they called "CUT!" Those people came back, and again, we waited. 30 or so more people were chosen to be in the next scene, and the rest of us waited. You may or may not have noticed, but waiting was a definite theme of the day. We were told filming would stop at 7 so by the time 6:30 rolled around and I hadn't been called yet, I became a bit nervous and upset. I had been there for 4 1/2 hours by that time, and couldn't believe I'd waisted all that time and hadn't even done anything.

Finally, the big people came in and announced the last scene of the day would be filmed with all of the remaining people. We lined up, crossed the hall, and were placed into groups of 1s, 2, 3s,... of students in a classroom. Unfortunately, I ended up near the back on the aisle. The last people in the room were picked as "back action" people that started out standing and would walk to their seats after filming started. We practiced it a few times, and then Minnie Driver and Hilary Swank came in to practice their parts real quick. We ran through that a few more times, they decided to change it up, we did that a few more times, and we finally wrapped around 8:30. Both women seemed nice and willing to joke around with us little people, plus Driver's was just plain excellent! They raffled off signed movies and itunes stuff, but I didn't get anything :(

Overall, I think they could learn a little about efficiency with extras, but I can't say I'm upset I went. I would have regretted it way more had I not. There's more filming tomorrow morning, and I'm trying to decide right now if I should crash and try to get more time on screen or just let it go... Who knows, I just might end up in the movie, but I'd say there's only a slight chance. Hopefully, I'll get another chance some other time!