01 - Bound by Charlene
Story index at the bottom
By Jamie
Monday, August 12th 2002 - 07:21:24 PM
Never knew there was anywhere to post this till today!
When I was a student, like most, I had less money than I wanted, and even when I got some, it never lasted very long. Real work never appealed to me and being in the movies did.
One night at dinner my room mate told me that she had heard that they were shooing part of a Brad Pitt movie on the Green on the campus and that they needed extras and paid $80.00 per day. $80.00 sounded good, Brad Pitt sounded good and being in a movie sounded like a lot of fun.
So, the next day, we went down to the Green, sure enough they were shooting. But there was no Brad Pitt and they were not hiring extras. But we had nothing else to do so we stood behind the tape and watched the shoot. It was more fun for the people that we met than the actual movie since they spent most of the time just standing around. Actually $80.00 per day for that looked really good.
Our persistence paid off, even though no one we have ever heard of was in the movie, which was made for TV. They did near the end of the afternoon announce that they would need extras the next day. If interested we needed to go and listen to some instructions right now and return the next day.
We went and listened. The deal was good. We would get $80.00 per day and an extra $25.00 if we used our own clothes. $105.00 was sounding better all the time, and we could always make up the few classes we missed. The deal was, we had to be over 18, with id to prove it, be legal to work and be available 8:00-5:00 the next day. If we were selected to speak or otherwise be featured there would be an additional payment. They needed 12 girls but could not promise that all applicants would be selected, nor that we would appear in the movie, even if selected .
$105 sounded good, so we decided that we would be back the next morning. Stacie, my friend had the required conservative skirt, I did not, but borrowed one and we went and bought new hose.
Next morning we arrived at 7:45 and were pleased to see few other people. By 8:00 there were only 9 applicants so we all got chosen. The assistant to the director gave us a pep-talk and explained that there was some paperwork to do and that we would receive our checks at the end of the day. He also explained that half of us would be required for a second day and that we needed to let his assistant know if this was a problem so that we could be cast appropriately.
Stacie and I got selected for the two days, to our great delight. We did the first scene. In it a futuristic cop, this movie is set in the future by the way, pulled a futuristic gun and told us we were all under arrest. We then had to put our hands behind our heads and then drop to our knees and cross our ankles.
The next scene involved additional cops "cuffing" some of us, sadly we did not get selected for this and just sat and watched. You got $50.00 extra if selected as "discomfort pay", but we didn't. Watching was fun, but being involved and getting an extra $50.00 would have been more fun.
Things moved slowly and then it was lunch time. After lunch they re-cuffed the arrestees and did some shoots of them being marched off somewhere. It was amazing how many tries it took to get them walking the way the director wanted. We gave up any chance of being in any more scenes. Just before the day was over we got our money and Stacie and I were reminded that we did need to come back the next day. They said that they needed us to dress exactly the same way as today, for continuity, and that we would be getting the "discomfort pay" too. They needed to check that this was OK. $50.00 for being handcuffed sounded great so we signed the waivers and handed those back too. They said to meet in room #207 the next morning at 8:00am.
Next morning, we were prompt and found room #207. After a few minutes the an assistant director arrived and gave as a briefing. He explained that: "today's scenes would be after arrest and while awaiting booking", we would be cuffed so if we needed the bathroom, or to do our hair, or anything else, now would be a good time. He explained that "since there will be closer shots today we will be sending you each to make-up, in just a moment".
Now, this was what it was all about, close up shots and professional makeup. First we needed to check in with him so that he knew who was who and so that he could give us the instructions to take to the wardrobe and makeup people. We duly lined up and as he checked us off he gave us each an instruction envelope. I was given my envelope and instructed to go to room #209, Stacie was sent somewhere different, but I later learned that her experience was the same mine.
I got to room #209 and after a few minutes a gal and a guy came in. He took my instruction envelope and tore it open to read the contents. He read for a moment and then asked me to stand up. He cuffed me. He then put the instruction sheet in my hands, behind me and told me to go to room #217 where makeup would meet me.
I got there and again there was a wait. The movie business is not fast. A couple of artists arrived and took my instruction sheet and read it. After a moment she opened her makeup kit and asked me to come and sit down in the makeup chair. She applied liner, mascara, blush, powder and lipstick. She then told me to open wide. I did, and before I could realize what was happening she had inserted a huge ball into my mouth and strapped it in place behind my head and asked if I was ok. Clearly there was no way to effectively answer so I nodded.
She gave me back my instruction sheet and sent me on to #317. This was a little more difficult since I needed to press the elevator buttons, which is not so easy when your hands are cuffed behind you. I got to room #317 and inside I could see a number of the other girls sitting round the edge of the room. Their hands were behind them and I guessed they were gagged like my but could not see that since they were hooded with black bags.
As I entered, a guy came towards me and took my instruction sheet and was about to put a bag over my head too. I shook my head and made some noises. He said that I had signed that I was willing to be cuffed, hobbled, gagged and hooded and that I would be breaching my contract if I messed it up for everyone now. Surely I did not want to ruin it for everyone, he said. I recognized Stacie by the skirt and cardigan and decided to cooperate.
I was hooded and then led to a chair where I was chained into position by hobbles attaching my ankles to the chair legs.
We spent the day like this. At the end of the day we were freed, given checks for $205.00, they had doubled the "discomfort pay". I have never made that much money for doing that little. In fact I could not have done anything the way they had me restrained. Stacie got her hood removed so you can see her face and the gag, but I am literally faceless in the movie so don't expect to recognize me soon!
BTW, look at test97000.tripod.com for details of the movie.
Jamie
http://test9700.tripod.com
__________________________________________________________________________
Jamie's stories
- 01 - Being Extras for a Movie (MF/FF)
Index of all stories in the "Archive for Everyone" section