September 13, 1991
My baptism into the world of Hollywood filmmaking is behind me. From 6:30pm to midnight on this Friday the Thirteenth, I carried, lowered, raised, and continually worried about dropping a woman named Jill.
Base rate for extras is $40, but due to my extended workout, I received $75. I also made an extra $20 for being a "stand-in" for one of the characters. I never actually made it onto the set, but Dean snagged me the twenty bucks anyway.
Hopefully you can catch a glimpse or two of me in the wide shots. The tight ones are hopeless; it was all Jill.
Who do I remember: fellow EMT Bob, hair-woman Frankie, guy with the bullhorn John, woman in our gurnee Jill, the star Gregory Harrison, the guy in the hat who looked like the Cider Mill Guy Bill.
The camera broke, the gurnee wouldn't lock and I got stuck at the feet. Lesson: Get at the head of the stretcher. In other words, really think fast about why a certain spot would get focus (head of a gurnee) and then get there.
It was fun. Bob was interesting. Dean was friendly, professional. Maybe I'll try to do it again. Maybe I will never do another job again. Only time will tell. Good night.