I know this is a music blog page......But how many times do I get to be on the set of a major motion picture.
On March 14th 2008, I was an extra on the set of the new Star Trek Movie that is being released in Theaters on May 7th 2009.
I kept mum about it, but now that the movie is coming out (And has already had advance screenings), I figured it was OK share my experience.
As I write this, the film has not yet come out, and I don't even know if the scene I was in will even be in the film. All of my observations and conjecture about the film have been written before seeing it.
A few months prior to the filming I saw a posting for open casting call for extras for a Paramount feature entitled "Corporate Headquarters". This was on the Trek Movie website which was kind enough to explain that Corporate Headquarters is the code name that Paramount is using for the new Trek movie (this is common practice for studios that want help maintain secrecy on a production while it still in production ).
I have been a fan of Trek since I was in Jr High School and I think it would be cool to be in Trek, even if it's just walking around in the background.
It was an open call, so I went to it.
The casting call consisted of standing in a long line with a bunch of people, filling out an information card and getting their picture taken.
I didn't hear anything back for months until Feb 21st, when I got a call from a casting agent, asking if I could show up at the Paramount studio lot for a meeting.
The meeting was nothing more than me and a bunch of other guys standing in a line up while a casting director looked us over and decided who was in and who was out.
I was chosen with several other guys.
We where fitted for shoes that day and told that we would be playing prison inmates. We where asked to not cut our hair, and if possible to please not shave any facial hair or to let our facial hair grow.
My beard grows very fast, so I stopped shaving the week prior to the shoot.
The next week I was called to go to the Paramount lot again, but this time for a costume fitting. There I got a few more details. I found out that we where prison labor on a planet plunged in perpetual darkness doing some kind of mining work and that this would be a night-time shoot lasting all night.
Later I would be called again and given a hotline number to call the day before the shoot to get instructions on where to show up and any last minute instructions (This is all done to maintain secrecy). We are told that it is expected to get very cold so be sure to bring any layering (for under your costume) that you want to and a coat to wear in between takes.
The shooting was at the Port of Long Beach. The directions they gave me where very detailed and made it easy to find. My call time was 5 PM and I got there a bit early. When I parked at the designated area there where already a bunch of other guys waiting. A shuttle bus picked us up and took us to some tents that where set up outside of an industrial complex.
Two tents where set up for costume and make up and one was just a holding area where we could just sit back and do whatever. They also have food cooking in case anyone is hungry. I had to fill out some paperwork to make sure I got paid.
We are asked to get into costumes first. I brought some thermal pants and a shirt to wear underneath. The staff that helped us with costumes had no problem with the thermal pants but said my thermal shirt was to noticeable under my costume shirt. I told them to go ahead and cut it (seeing as how one of them was already carrying scissors)so it wouldn't show. I figured that they would have to do this so I brought something that I didn't mind throwing out afterward. Our costumes where thin and the thermal shirt would provide at least a small layer of warmth. Our prisoner costumes looked like rags. Something that might have once looked like a prison uniform, but that had been worn down over years. The sleeves where all torn up and the collar was low.
Before leaving the costume tent everyone was given a large overcoat to put on over their costume. No cast member was allowed to leave any tent without their overcoat on. This is because we where outdoors and they didn't want any spy cameras to be able to take pictures of any cast member in their costumes.
Also being fitted where Klingon, Romulans, other assorted aliens, and (in another tent of course LOL) female prisoners.
The make up part was really fun. I wish you could have seen how wretched and miserable they made me look (We were not allowed to take pictures). I looked like the grime was embedded in my skin. They sprayed stuff in my hair that made it look horrible. I looked like I hadn't bathed in years. They also put scrapes and cuts on my knuckles and arms. These was so much attention to detail in the make up process.
While there I watched guys being made up into Romulans and Klingons. I noticed that the Klingons where not being outfitted with large ribbed heads that we are used to seeing in the TV shows and films, but where just being either made up with original series Fu Manchu style mustaches and goatees or having their own facial hair accentuated to look that way.
This made me think that they where going to go with the look of the original series Klingons, but later I would find out differently (I'll tell you more later).
After make up and costume there was a lot of hanging out and chatting with all the other background actors. The studio made sure that there was plenty to eat and drink in the holding area.
I had a fun time talking to everyone. Some were Trek fans like myself who where not trying to break into movies and TV, we just saw the casting call and wanted to be in Trek in some small way. Some were aspiring TV and film actors but where Trek fans too, and some were struggling actors and actress' who knew nothing about Trek and this was just another days work.
I found more than a few people that where musicians like myself. Some of them where there to be in Trek ,and some also moonlighted as background actors, or where trying to break into film and TV also.
Before filming began we where all lined up again for the costume director to give us a final look over.
He pulled me aside and said to one of his assistants that he felt the colors of my shirt needed to better match my pants. The prisoner costumes where comprised of multiple layers of ragged material varying shades of grey to brown. So I was taken to another tent where a woman used a tool to pull out more darker colors.
Now all the while, the one thought that went through my mind was:
I'm a damn prisoner on a damn prison planet (and it looks like the Klingons are running it). I'm slave labor. Why in the world does it matter that my pants and shirt match? Are the Klingons afraid of the fashion police?
I tell this to the woman who is correcting my costume and we both have a good laugh over it.
Finally we are taken to the set.
With our protective overcoats on, we are all boarded onto a bus. and driven to an out door set where we will film.
Our prison world set was in the middle of a large open in area and surrounded by industrial buildings. One those buildings would be used as a break room for us.
The sets can best be described as partial sets and I assumed that the rest would be filled in with CGI effects. But there was no blue screen set up anywhere (Yes, I watch my DVD extras LOL). We can see all the industrial buildings and even a water tower in the background
Now I finally get to see the Klingons in full costume. All the Klingons are wearing the metal helmets that covers there entire head and face with the exception of that Fu Manchu facial hair I mentioned earlier).
When I first saw the Klingons being made up I thought that maybe they where going back to the look of the original series, but now I am back in the dark as to how the Klingons might look in this film.
So now the filming begins.......
The scenes that we are doing have the prisoners working while the Klingons supervise us. So we are organized into work groups. and given various tasks to do. Some of us are turning cranks on large machinery. Some of us look like we are breaking rocks, some of us are carrying objects on your backs and being marched in a line by Klingons, etc, etc.
Before the actual filming begins the 2nd unit director talks to us about our environment. He reminds us that our planet is perpetually dark, and that lightning is always crashing over us. He tells us that there will be some simulated exlposions going on around us for when the lightning hits the ground. We are given a demonstration of the explosion effects so that we know what to expect. The explosions are not big but they are loud, and the actors who are being marched across the set are shown where the exlposions will be going off, so that they don't walk into them. earplugs are handed out for anyone who wants them. We are told that are years on this planet have made us used to the lightning and the occasional explosions they create, so don't look to startled by them.
This is being handled by the 2nd unit director, but I notice the films director JJ Abrams (Whom I recognize from my DVD extras)on the set too. He has occasional conversations with the 2nd unit director. Later on he left the set (probably get some sleep LOL) But first he looks everything over and checks out some of the filming.
Before the Director says action they have a few last minute things to get ready so we just hang out and joke around a bit. Some of us prisoners start teasing the Klingons shouting out taunts like: "They're not so tough looking!" and "We can take em'!".
At one point I get a chance to hold one of the Klingons prop guns. The Klingon actors are all big guys and are all dressed in these uniforms that have bid leather coats and gloves.
With all our groups assigned the Director shouts action and we begin to go through our paces. Then we do it again.....then we do it again.....and again, and again, and again, and......Well you get the idea.
At first I am breaking imaginary rocks in a large metal container with a large metal tool. There are a few other prisoners that I am doing this with and we make it look like what we are doing is hard and we are being worked to death. in between all these takes we start joking around about how all of this is just a stepping stone in our careers as prison labor. I point to the actors who are being marched by the guards and joke "Pretty soon that's gonna be me man!".
But this turns out to be true as I get switched into the group that is marching across the set.
Now I get to walk past the explosions. I am wearing the earplugs and they are still loud. It's hard to not be startled by them as I march past. I get to do this a number of times and I notice that we are walking past a scene that has an alien character being strangled by a snake like creature. A number of the Klingon are gaurds are watching this as part of the scene and are muttering stuff in Klingon in response to it.
What I remember most is that there is real atmosphere of fun on the set in spite of the gloomy scenes we are doing.
Occasionally we are asked to go the break room while they set up the cameras differently. They take pretty good care of us and make sure the break room is well stocked with snacks and drinks.
For the first half of this filming I notice how quickly I adapt to the cold. Our costumes are very light but the cold doesn't seem to be bothering me much (This will change later). During one break I notice one of the Klingon actors is sitting outside with his helmet off. His head is dripping with sweat. The Klingon costumes are huge and bulky, and it must get hot in them even out in the ocean air. Also during one break a film crew comes in and films us on our break (I assume this must be for possible DVD extras or something.
I should also mention that not all the prisoners are human. We have a lot of alien prisoners too. There are a number of us that are outfitted with rubber masks, gloves, etc. There is even one guy who has an entire lizard man outfit on complete with tail (not sure if he's supposed to be a Gorn or not). I also notice another alien made up like the salt vampire from the "Man Trap" episode. These are clearly just cool little fun in joke bits.
Before going to lunch (If you can call it that) The director preps us on some of what we will be doing when we come back. This scene will involve all the prisoners lined up in 4 to 5 long rows and all us pulling long heavy ropes across our backs. We have to make it look like we are pulling the heaviest thing in the world while the Klingon's prod us to work harder. The ropes are just tied to a water tower and director tells us that the water tower wont show up in the film and that he has no idea what it is we are actually pulling. I think to myself that he probably does know what it is, but doesn't want us to know, since it might be an important plot point.
So we break for lunch/dinner/whatever, we put on our overcoats and are bussed back to our tent where they have dinner catered. This time period is also a lot of fun as I get to hang out and just enjoy conversation with the rest of the background actors.
The first thing I notice when we get back to the set is just how much COLDER it's suddenly become.
Part of it might be the change of going from the heated tent to the outdoors again, but as the night has progressed, it has gotten significantly colder. Now the Klingons have it better with their heavy outfits.
In spite of this, I stay away from the break room during our breaks. I know that going back and forth from cold to warm will be worse than just staying out in the cold, so during all breaks I just put on my coat and hang out in front of the building with a warm drink.
Now we start to film that scene that has us pulling the ropes. I had to wonder about the importance of this scene since we had to do this so many, many times with a number of changes for different angles.
Like the scenes before it, there was a lot of waiting in between takes. There was a lot of goofing around (amongst us prisoners that is) during these waiting periods. But every time the director yelled "action" we were on our marks and ready to play the part for the camera.
It gets really cold in between these takes just standing there waiting. At one point I remember one guy getting so cold that he started doing push ups on the ground to warm up. A couple of us warned him that, that would only make him sweaty and make it worse once he stopped.
I dealt with the cold in between these takes by doing by best to take my mind off of it as much as possible. I did this mostly by joking around and talking to my fellow prisoners. At one point during a particularly long wait, I called out to the Klingon guard who was waiting like the rest of us to do his thing too.
"Oh Mister Klingon guard" I call out, as if calling for a waiter.
The Klingon, who is a good sport, comes running up to us to hear what I have to say.
"You see those nice leather gloves that you have on?" I ask him.
He nods quietly.
"Well do you think we could all get a pair of those?" I ask motioning to the other prisoners, "Because these ropes are really starting to chafe".
The Klingon nods quietly and I turn to my fellow prisoners and say "See, you justhave to know how to talk to them".
Everybody has a good laugh and hopefully forgets about the cold for a few seconds.
Now as if the cold wasn't bad enough, The director wants to know if there are any of us willing to go shirtless for a scene. We are told that there is the potential for more screen time on this scene for those that do (In other words you have better chance of seeing yourself in the movie). I don't volunteer, even though they are setting up some heaters off camera.
These scenes involve the Klingons executing some of the prisoners. The rest of us are set about doing other work tasks while executions are taking place. Some of these tasks involve working with machinery that give off small butane flames that generate heat (thank God LOL).
About the only good thing about the cold is that it does keep me awake. But somewhere between 4:30 and 5am I begin to notice that the temp has warmed a significant 5 degrees or so. Later on it's back to puling ropes. And we do this till the sun comes up and they can't shoot anymore. We all go back to the break room to get our overcoats, and personal belongings and wait for the bus to take us back to the tents.
As we line up for the bus the director personally addresses us all and thanks us for out time and work. "I know it was cold and uncomfortable shoot for you. But you all performed admirably and never complained......Truth be told we all complained a lot....we just did it with good humor. :)
Then it's off to the tents to get back into civilian garb and check our costumes back in. Everybody is required to remove all make up before being shuttled back to the parking lot where are cars are parked. The make up tent is set up with staff to help us remove our make up.
My make up wipes off quickly with some moist towels and I am ready to go (I will have to wash my hair when I get home).
At just a little after 7am, I am back in my car and driving home. The hardest part now is just staying awake, so I dial up a family member on my headset, so that the conversation will keep me awake.
All in all, it was a really cool experience. Yes, it got very cold, but what I remember the most is just how much fun I had that night.
UPDATE: The Trek Movie website has just posted a story about a scene involving a prison break is going to be cut from the theatrical release of the movie but will be included in the DVD version......At this point I am guessing that the scene that I am in will not be in theaters.....deep sigh LOL.......But I am still looking forward to seeing the movie the weekend of the 7th
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