Four Hours in 2075

My long-awaited opportunity to appear in a feature film...four hours of my life devoted to portraying the character Trainer Terry in Brant Smith's (aka DJ Bad Vegan's) film "In-World War" concluded at 8 pm last night on a high note. Concluded for me, that is. He has been shooting for over three weeks and has months to go yet, and lots more locations worldwide to cover. And, after I left last night, they still had a few hours more to shoot yesterday's scenes. Twelve- to fourteen-hour days for Brant...

Even though I hadn't really planned on spending a dime on wardrobe, at the last minute, a few hours before I even knew my call time (due to a minor cyber contretemps) I was at Dress Barn in Oakland taking advantage of their 40% sale on pants suits, and honoring Wardrobe's request that TT wear a gray or beige pants suit. I have not owned a stylish pants ensemble like this since 1998, so this was an unexpected coup, to find one that fit...(maybe this will help with the next day job interview?), then I spent an hour hemming up the pants and trying it on with a variety of blouses. Got it down. What I would hope to wear and did: Gray suit, gray silk blouse, an Indian coral and lapis necklace tucked under the buttoned all the way collar. Looking semi militaristic, yet individual. Dangling painted earrings, purple and gray and silver. Then I got my nails done, and ran home just in time to wash my face and do my make-up and hair, jump into the Miata and zoom to the downtown location. I knew parking would be a bitch, now that the underfunded City of Oakland's meters run til 8 PM and cost $2 an hour, so I drove into this lot at 16th and San Pablo. Hadn't really realized that it would be a long schlep to the location, and arduous while carrying all my back-up wardrobe, makeup, mirror, hair dryer, camera, etc...Reminded by experiences like this one that my musculature is really good after three years of constant swimming. TT is in shape.

This being only my third film where memorization has been needed (first, "After School Special," then "Cahiers du Cinema"), I was really glad to have had the extra time to know my part and character (there was about a week's delay in shoot schedule). And, I really know my part. I've allowed TT to inhabit me. Everything you've ever read when actors are interviewed, about how they become the character...it's all true. Even for this minor character, this short role.

Had anyone told me three months ago that I would be able to re-state my lines for pick-up sequences for a feature film involving a roomful of about 30 people who would depend on my delivery and timing to act their own parts and choreography, under hot lights, with me wearing a suit and a silk blouse and standing in front of all of them...I would not have believed you. It's as though I have undergone a mind make-over since deciding I really love acting. The other part that astounds me, is that I do not really get nervous. My adrenaline gets going, but it's a slow build, and I am more wired when it's over than before or during. Fascinating transformation going on.

We shot in a classroom in an office building. The set got quite hot and the AC could mainly be felt in the next room behind a glass window, where extras relaxed and snacked awaiting future scenes. On set, we had people playing students in a classroom, a couple of guys in black playing Security, the lead characters, Mo and Junior and Mary, and a bit of pyrotechnics involving a red light and a smoke machine.

Sara Siddiqui and I played trainers together in the front of the room. She's the character, Mo. Mo's another important part of the plot and has many scenes. She's young and beautiful, and subtle. We had a really unusual and difficult moment of improv to do...thrown our way by Brant at the last minute...we were to spend about three minutes doing an awkward bit of silence, just standing in front of our students, while there are incongruous "noises off." You'll have to see the movie just for this. I don't want to give it away.

I found Brant to be a very careful, thoughtful, and kind director. The cameraman and his assistant, the rest of the crew, the set photographer, all seemed to be totally in sync with Brant, working with quiet efficiency. He's the kind of guy who will walk across the room to his actress and, if he has a note, will give it to her, quietly, and directly. He looks one straight in the eye - even if it's just to say, "Hello, Lisa." He's a perfectionist, not flamboyant, just quiet and earnest.

My co-actor from "Cahiers du Cinema," the studly Brian Levy, plays the character Junior in "IWW" and he sat in my classroom, front row. I could have sworn he was trying to get me to crack up. Didn't work. Great to appear with Brian again. He mentioned that "CDC" has a little trailer running on YouTube now. Check it out. Maybe I'll get to see the film by late September?

I also ran into Nancy Lemmel who would eventually get a short speaking role after I left. She patiently sat in the green room, reading for a few hours.

Go to Brant's blog at Studio Lo Mismo (see link on left side column of my blog) for a few early photos - uncompressed screen grabs from his fabulous RED ONE camera - from the production.