Thursday, October 4, 2007

Playing Doctor for a Day

Yesterday was a very long day. . .and a lot of fun. I worked as an extra on the first episode of the 2nd season of DIRT which appears on the FX network. The program stars actress Courteney Cox (formerly of Friends fame).


We were on location in Pasadena at what was once a hospital. Thanks to Seth, a new acting friend, below is a photo of The Ancient One trying to look like a doctor on the set during a break in the shooting.



I also met a number of "on-the-set" friends with whom I have worked over the past year or two. For the day, we were a mixture of doctors, nurses, paramedics, policemen, patients, hospital employees, security guards and even a priest (who, alas, was never used due to apparent script changes). There were 40+ of us who arrived for the 8:30 a.m. call and they started releasing people at about noon. At the end of the day (evening), there were just 3 of us left and we were officially wrapped and 9:42 p.m.


Most of my "work" for the day involved walking up and down a hallway outside a hospital room (with a large window to the hall) while the action went on inside the room. I always marvel at how many camera angles are used for each scene and it can (and was) a long, tedious process. But it was great to be on a set again. And it isn't often that I get to be a doctor for the day (but at far lower pay).

6 comments:

Rod said...

Leon, Great to see you're continuing to get work! I think that's awesome! One of the great perks of acting is you get to be so many different people! I haven't had anything since Much Ado, but I'm working on it.

Leon said...

Thanks Rex. I know you will be back up there with gusto!

Tattoosday said...

Awesome, Dad, we love that show. Doesn't sound like you got to meet Courtney Cox-Arquette, though. That would have been an added bonus!

Leon said...

Saw her. Walked behind her (at a short interval). But extras do not initiate conversation with the principals. Occasionally, the actors do chat with the extras but not often.

Eric Valentine said...

That is a good post Leon and such an awesome opportunity to act again, great stuff.

You make a fine looking Doctor if you don't mind me saying so. :)

Leon said...

It was a lot of fun Eric, although I am not sure that I would classify "extra" work as acting. I do enjoy seeing how the filming process works and the incredible attention to detail on the set or location. I have learned a lot.