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I got a telephone call at about 5.30pm on Wednesday evening from a lovely lady called Leslie who asked if I was interested in being a "background artist" in a film called Desert Flower, obviously I accepted straight away without even asking what I had to do.
I had just finished a degree in Drama & Creative Writing and had been taught to bite the hand off anyone who offered me acting work.
I was told I was to be a Burger Bar customer, very ironic as I'm a veggie and try my best to stay away from fast food joints, but obviously I’m a professional!
I had to be at a car park in Notting Hill at 8am sharp, the next day. I would be working for around eight hours for £90 which sounded brilliant, as lunch and refreshments would be provided. I was told to bring two changes of costume one spring (that i was already wearing) summer and winter. And I was told specifically not to wear red or pink.
Naturally I did some research into the film, and found out it was about a Somali model and her struggles. Very cool!
I had to fill in a few forms and sat on a double decker bus with other actors. There was about twenty of us ranging from about the ages of fourteen to seventy. Everyone was very nice and there was a lot of friendly banter. Other actors discussing what programme’s they had already been on and learning their scripts. It was very surreal!
We were told to go outside the bus so the costume designer could check out our outfits. We stood in a line, much like a prison line up as she checked us. Of course my costume was perfect and I got the thumbs up!
I headed back to the transport bus, which took us to the location. It was an old burger king, we sat upstairs in a room, and a producer took some of us down stairs to start filming.
All in all I was in three scenes, one in a small group were we had to cover up some posters of other films and pretend to discuss something while the lead actress, came up to us and asked us something. I was told by one of the producers not to react to her too much, when she did. We did that take about ten times. I got chatting to other extras and told them this was my first time doing this. One of them said it was a good job to get into and they there was a shortage of black female extras and I’d probably get a lot more work. SCORE!!!!
When we had wrapped that scene i was told to change outfit and i was called down to the "burger bar" i sat with another extra called Jason (not 100% sure that was his name), and we had to pretend to eat chips and interact with a waitress. It helped that he was absolutely gorgeous, so I had no problem acting with him. The day was just getting better and better.
I went back upstairs and wasn’t called down for a few hours, so I read my book, talked to other people, drank tea and even had time for a nap. I couldn’t believe I was getting paid to do this! At around half one-ish we wrapped for lunch and were taken back to the car park. The food was unbelievable no nasty burgers or greasy chips, it was real gourmet stuff. Fantastic! Lunch lasted about forty five minutes, then we transported back to the set.
I wasn’t needed for the next few scenes. There were a lot of larger than life characters so there was a lot of singing, dancing and joke telling. I loved hearing about the celebrities that other people had met and what they were really like, in the flesh. I heard some seriously juicy stuff that I obviously cannot repeat!
At around five I was called downstairs with another girl to be in a scene, which involved me walking to a table and pretending to eat food. For authenticity I thought it would look better if I took a bite, I did. Big mistake the burger bun was stale and I started to cough. Always the professional, I held it in until the director yelled cut! As soon as he did I couldn’t stop coughing. Lol there’s a reason why they’re called props! Thank god the scene was over, and I swiftly made my way upstairs to get a cup of tea.
At around seven one of the producers came up and told us that the filming was running late and the we would be finishing soon, I didn’t even notice the time as I was having so much fun. We were provided with sandwiches and cakes. I was seriously going to start to put on weight!
Around half an hour later we all called downstairs to do a wild track which is basically to make noise so that they can use it later for the film. So I just continued on a conversation that I was having with someone earlier. The producer shouted it was a wrap so we were taken back to the car park to be signed off. It was around 8pm and I was bushed.
Little did I know that you get paid extra for costume change and also for overtime so all in all I made a hundred and forty four pounds and seventy six pence. Result!! It was one of the funniest days I had, and I was really sad to say goodbye to my new found friends. Would I do it again? Definitely I’d be silly not too!
Thanks again Lucy it wouldn't have been possible without you!!!!!
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