How To Stand-Out On A Major Indie Film Set?

It’s the final Saturday of my two-weekend schedule on the indie film set of The Tonesha Welch Story. I look up the basecamp location and see that I’ll be heading to Ellicott City, MD – one hour away. The closer I got to the location the more I began to doubt my GPS. I soon found myself in a very small town full of tight streets and intense traffic. Everybody was out.

After a few wrong turns, I finally get close to the location and saw a banner announcing, “The Historic Ellicott City OEC Springfest 2023”. An event where local craft beers and boutique wineries would be on display.

A truck with a Megamind logo comes into view and I pull into the parking lot. I got directed to head into a building that would be the main and only location for the day and waited for the shoot to begin. In this waiting period, I got to overhear creatives talk about their departments, issues, and what they should do to solve them (very interesting).

It was here where I finally realized the truth behind the stories, I’d read online about touching things that are not in your department – DON’T! Even if you’re trying to lend a helping hand, don’t, because if something breaks, gets scratched, or mishandled, it’s on them not you.

I finally met Akiba, and she informs me that the background actors for the day will be arriving shortly. Since all scenes were being shot inside there would be no holding trailers only holding rooms which were on the other side of this huge, historic building. Also, I wasn’t going to be the only casting intern (Deneen) for the day, another woman would be joining us. From the way that woman spoke and carried herself I knew she’d been in the film industry for a very long time.

Before I knew it, Akiba let me know the children background actors had arrived. Based on what I learned last week, after their paperwork was checked in, I immediately asked Akiba if I could take them to wardrobe and makeup. She agrees. At the wardrobe station, their clothes and clothing options were examined. Brand logos on their shoes and clothes were covered with tape and extra garments. At the makeup station, a light touch-up was given and then we waited. The kids played make-believe games until Vivica’s Assistant Director (AD) let us know that she was ready for them.

The kids complete their scenes and the adult background actors begin to arrive. I completed the same process as I did with the kids so I could make sure they were ready. By lunch, I was completely exhausted. The constant last-minute changes and running up and down to grab certain actors so Vivica could use certain body parts for scenes – it was a rush.

Lunch time passes. It’s 10pm. All background actors were finished for the day except for one woman who was asked to stay for an extra few scenes. Within minutes the background actor was flipped into an entirely new character. (Huh? She didn’t run up to wardrobe and get back so fast. Impossible). And she was flipped by only using 3 things. Someone had given her a black sweater/cardigan, a pair of black pants was turned into a scarf, and she had a pair of purple personality glasses.

Minutes later the AD comes back to us. She sees the background actor and was confused. She asked if she was new and where she came from. The actor says, “No. I was in the last scene. I was just given a few pieces of clothing”. The amazement on the AD’s face said it all about the importance of thinking creatively on your feet to save time. I can bet that individual who was able to do this and think ahead was going to get called back for future projects and/or stay on that AD’s mind.

The background actor goes in and about an hour later she returns. She’s finished for the day and Akiba gives me the final go-ahead to head home! An experience to remember.

Other Posts You May Be Interested In:

• What It Was Like Interning Under A Hollywood Actress?
• How A Schedule Can Impact A Film Production?
• Is A Gaffer Important On A Film Set?

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