I haven’t been on too many movie sets, but I’ve been lucky enough to be on a few.  Generally, there is a lot of down time and then a lot of rushing. In my experience, when that happens the crew more often than not will start running through takes to ‘get’ the scene, or their version of it. But over the last few days as we were all working ungodly hours, I was supremely spoiled by the support I felt as an artist and as a person.  I had the realization at about 430am wednesday, that this crew (and cast) is becoming a family.

no one stands still long enough to get a photo

On set at the Prairie Inn, during what could’ve seemed like endless days, everyone kept their spirits alive and their work incredibly strong. Not only that, but if in the middle of a complicated moment in a scene, I needed another take, or simply a minute to breathe, this crew was here to support that; in fact all of those ‘minutes’ were filled with work from everyone. This is something I have never experienced on a set before. From Gaffer to Boom Operator, Actor to Dolly Grip, Set Dresser to Slate, we all want each other to succeed. It is a supremely humbling feeling.

joyful, I promise you...

Ideally, as an Actor, I want to work on a script for months and get to know the character. So with days instead of months to work on the script, I am doing a crash course and trying my best to refine moments. I will try to refrain from sounding too ‘Actory’, but quite simply, without the support of this crew, my work wouldn’t be possible.

This may sound like a pre-Oscar, Oscar speech, and I promise you, I am aware of how much more work we all have to do. But today, I am just incredibly grateful to have this family to move forward with.

So to be redundant, a thank you to this family we are building, from a tired, but very grateful and supported heart.

james.

I was once told by an acting teacher, ‘If you’re ever going to get cast, you have to know your type’.  Well, the Park City police department did a great job of reminding me of mine this morning at 12:15am.

While the entire crew(minus our fearless writers Lavoie and Keith) were on a test shoot, I took it upon myself to catch up with a loved one. I sat down on a Park City restaurant’s stoop and chatted on the phone as test shots commenced.

After about 10 minutes a cop began circling the corner and eventually pulling up on it (the corner).  I was still on the phone politely ignoring him, but had the sudden realization as he approached, that not only was I the only one in sight,  but I was fully bearded in gym shorts and dress shoes. Lets say politely, ‘the homeless guy type’.

Earlier in the day, my 'burglar' look, minus cowboy hat.

The cops first question was if I was from around here, which of course, I am not. Second was, where I was staying; which of course I couldn’t really remember. Third question he asked was where I’d been for the last 20 minutes.

Let’s put it in script form:

EXT-Street Corner 12:15am Park City

James

‘Huh. here?’

Cop

‘Well, what are you doing here?’

James

‘Um, we’re making a movie, doing some test shots.’

Cop

‘So you don’t know anything about a robbery up the street?’

James

‘I’m sorry?’

Cop

‘There was a robbery right up the street, do you know anything about it?’

At this point he made me go retrieve one of our team members the handsome Michael Redfield to confirm my identity. I overheard the cop say to Michael, ‘I fit the description(or the type) of the burglar’.

As exciting as ‘fitting the type’ should have been, I was definitely convinced for a few minutes that I might be going to Park City jail. Luckily Michael did not use this opportunity to have me arrested. Needless to say, Michael seems to be the trustworthy type as I fall into the potential burglar/homeless man category.

Lesson learned, so when we go out to do test shots today, I’m going to be wearing a suit.

-James