Has anyone here done any film or TV work?

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Guys, I thought that I would start a thread on this subject as I am doing some TV work this week.
Any stories of your experiences?

Cheers, Ade.

[Don D.]

I was going to do adult films but I was a half a foot too short.

[J Melvin]

My unit did a documentary for a shot down pilot that was captured by Luftwaffe ground troops in 1944. Pretty low budget, but looked okay.

[AlexW]

Hope you're getting paid the going rate Ade.

Don't believe the 'no budget' cr*p if they try to give you that either.

Here's a thread on a UK reenactor site that discusses film work

http://www.livinghistory.co.uk/gener...p/xw_4029.html

But to answer your question yes, it was pretty dull really, early starts and a lot of standing around but good money.

Only advice I'd give is take a book to read, don't argue - especially about 'authenticity'. Give your opinion if asked, certainly, but don't offer it. Be professional and courteous and they'll come back to you for more.
Enjoy the experience for what it is

[Yannis]

Hi guys,
I've worked as a focus puller for 3 years. Incredibly long hours, very early starts, bad food and not so good money...
The good thing about it was you got to meet and work with some really nice/interesting people and this whole thing had an air of... how can I put it..."freedom" about it, meaning, it was nothing like a day at the office.

All the best
Yannis

[budgi]

I worked for Belgian television for about 8 years as cameraman, focus-puller, scenarist, assistent for production, etc for this station VTM.
Thats about it. If you have questions regarding this work you can always PM me.

Cheers,

B

[Seigfried]

Hi Guys, I thought that I would start a thread on this subject as I am doing some TV work this week.
Any stories of your experiences?

Cheers, Ade.

I did three days as an extra on 'Eyes Wide Shut' on my post-Bosnia leave a few years ago. It was the bit where Tom Cruise is in the circle of robed/masked men as he is unmasked. I was on of the masked men. It was being filmed at Elveden Hall near Thetford, East Anglia and Kubrick stuck to US times all the way through - working 1200-0001. I saw my fair share of jugs on set and Mr Cruise is about 3' tall!

John

[merdock]

Hi.

I once stared alongside Demi Moore ,when P.S. was having an afternoon sleep i had hair then
Merdock

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Guys, thanks for all your replies. The work we are doing is with the BBC and the pay is good

I will try and take a few pics.

Cheers, Ade.

[W Petz]

Airwolf TV series

Adrian,

A Marine Recruiter friend tipped me off that the Airwolf TV show was looking for some extras for a Military Funeral scene "Where have all my Children gone" so I and a few other Los Angeles US Army Recruiters got to be actors in our Dress Blues for one day. Got to meet Ernest Borgnine and Jan-Michael Vincent and made my first and last pay check as an extra. Bill Petz

[Erich B.]

TV/Film

I was an extra (German WWI soldier) in the film 'The Stunt Man' in the 70s. Unlike most film extra work, the food was good, the weather was nice (it was filmed at the cove in La Jolla California on the beach), and I was able to meet and speak a bit with Peter O'Toole. Most of the props were marked in German, and I translated them for him and that led to a conversation.
I used to do local television shows as a character playing various historical roles as well (US Revolutionary War, Civil War, various period characters) and acted as historical advisor for several theater groups and film groups.
Erich

[Rich G]

I did three days as an extra on 'Eyes Wide Shut' on my post-Bosnia leave a few years ago. It was the bit where Tom Cruise is in the circle of robed/masked men as he is unmasked. I was on of the masked men. It was being filmed at Elveden Hall near Thetford, East Anglia and Kubrick stuck to US times all the way through - working 1200-0001. I saw my fair share of jugs on set and Mr Cruise is about 3' tall!

John

John

so you're the guy with the bulge sticking out from his cloak ?

Rich

[Allan P.]

Ade,


Can you tell us about what film work you will be doing?


Allan

[Peter_Suciu]

Hi Ade--
A friend of mine is a WWII re-enactor and did some work with the History Channel in America. It was a special on the 82nd Airborne drop on Sicily. I saw most of it and it looked good.

Are you interested in technical questions as well? I produced a sitcom pilot that I'm currently shopping around to American TV. I can tell you all the things you need to consider when being on camera. The key is to avoid true whites if possible, and also avoid true blacks. Whites are too white and these reflect and wash out the picture, it is even worse with video. Blacks are worse and become a huge black hole on the picture.

PS

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Guys, thanks for all your replies and questions.

The production we worked on was being made for the BBC and is to be entitled "D-Day to Berlin". It will most likely televised here in the UK sometime this summer. Although not in that series, it will be a "Timewatch" style of documentary; with veterans recollections with footage shot to illustrate their memories. The scenes we were involved in were re-creations of the link up of US and Soviet forces in April 1945.

The scenes we did involved swearing an oath to the flag; meeting the Yanks; sitting around drinking Vodka and celebrating , and dancing with the Yanks. There was no "combat" footage needed.

The film was shot with a small hand held camera and will be grainy and perhaps a little shaky to give it an old "feel".

There were 10 of us from our group, "2nd Guards Rifle Div" taking part. We had 8 men and two women. We were looked after very well with some excellent food. Pay was good too.

We all really enjoyed the day and would certainly like to do more work like this in the future.

Cheers, Ade.