Back from the set

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mntetn
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Back from the set

#1 Post by mntetn » Mon Jun 09, 2008 1:01 pm

Spent Thursday and Friday as an extra, uh, I mean "background artist", on the set of Hannah Montana: The Movie which is due out in May '09. I enjoyed the experience despite 90+ heat and 14-hour days. Not everyone would have the patience for it.

It was an outdoor carnival/concert setting. We were at a place called Smiley Hollow, which is a rental venue for company picnics or major family events. They brought in one of those traveling carnivals to complement the scene.

I was expecting to be walking up and down the midway, but instead they put us in crowds cheering Hannah. I'm surprised they would want adults for this, but in a crowd shot you probably wouldn't notice the difference anyway. There were about 300 of us both days. They had over 1000 on Wednesday, many of them kids.

We got to see both Miley and Billy Ray up close, but we were not supposed to engage them. Nonetheless, Miley bantered with the kids near center stage between takes. She is a little sweetheart and she clearly enjoyed the kids. At one point between takes, she was attacked by one of our 17-year cicadas, and she kind of freaked, then later she was approached by a butterfly, which unnerved her as well. After the second attack, she said "I don't like anything with wings."

We worked most of the day on Thursday, but by Friday it looked like they were just cleaning up things they weren't happy with, so there was a lot of downtime. We did do one scene with Billy Ray. Other than that, he stood in the back watching the goings-on. He was wearing a garish golden wig, which just drew attention to him.

Everyone from the director on down treated us respectfully and looked after us. Assistants walked around with plenty of bottled water, misters, and spare sunscreen. The director, Peter Chelsom, was easygoing and patient.

I don't have any pictures to share since they were strictly prohibited, though many flouted the rule, including one bootleg cell phone video of an on-set accident Tuesday. The wind caught one of the large sun shades and blew it into the Ferris wheel. When I got there on Thursday they weren't putting people on the Ferris wheel any more, just dummies. Anyway, I didn't take any chances picture-wise, so the only evidence I have of even being there is my pay vouchers. They did at least pay overtime for the long days, so my take will be closer to $200 than the $120 I was led to expect. (Minors were released after 8 hours due to State laws.)

There will be at least two new songs. I fearlessly predict one of them will be #1. The other one, the one they are apparently closing the film with, was catchy, but probably not #1 material. We'll see.

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#2 Post by silvercamaro » Mon Jun 09, 2008 1:07 pm

This whole deal sounds like fun. I'm glad you did it, and I'm delighted about the overtime as frosting on the cake.

(Wait. Give me a sec. I'll come up with an even more horrible cliche.)

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#3 Post by ulysses5019 » Mon Jun 09, 2008 1:10 pm

silvercamaro wrote:This whole deal sounds like fun. I'm glad you did it, and I'm delighted about the overtime as frosting on the cake.

(Wait. Give me a sec. I'll come up with an even more horrible cliche.)

....and the cherry on top.
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Re: Back from the set

#4 Post by MarleysGh0st » Mon Jun 09, 2008 1:17 pm

mntetn wrote:I was expecting to be walking up and down the midway, but instead they put us in crowds cheering Hannah. I'm surprised they would want adults for this, but in a crowd shot you probably wouldn't notice the difference anyway.
Oh, we'll examine the tape very carefully when the movie is released, to see you cheering for Hannah. Were you able to blend your voice in with the high-pitched squeals of all those tweenage girls? :lol:

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Re: Back from the set

#5 Post by mntetn » Mon Jun 09, 2008 1:50 pm

MarleysGh0st wrote:Oh, we'll examine the tape very carefully when the movie is released, to see you cheering for Hannah.
I'm waving a yellow pennant during most of my scenes, so this may help when we do the frame-by-frame. But they made me take off my glasses (which are Transitions so they looked like sunglasses) so even people who know me will have a hard time recognizing me.

I also have a feeling that by the time they remix it, they will have me cheering in scenes I wasn't even in to begin with.

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Re: Back from the set

#6 Post by ulysses5019 » Mon Jun 09, 2008 3:22 pm

mntetn wrote:
MarleysGh0st wrote:Oh, we'll examine the tape very carefully when the movie is released, to see you cheering for Hannah.
I'm waving a yellow pennant during most of my scenes, so this may help when we do the frame-by-frame. But they made me take off my glasses (which are Transitions so they looked like sunglasses) so even people who know me will have a hard time recognizing me.

I also have a feeling that by the time they remix it, they will have me cheering in scenes I wasn't even in to begin with.
You're right! I just saw you on the Disney Channel.
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#7 Post by lilclyde54 » Mon Jun 09, 2008 4:52 pm

That sounds like a pretty fun way to spend a day,
I felt the change

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#8 Post by geoffil » Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:54 pm

The ferris wheel incident made our news here in Chicago. Did they give you lots of great food and snacks? How long did it take to get your voucher signed?

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#9 Post by mntetn » Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:58 am

geoffil wrote:The ferris wheel incident made our news here in Chicago.
The bootleg video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3_HWl0iMfg.
Did they give you lots of great food and snacks?
Lunch was very generous (and they only charged a ½ hour for it) and they also served snacks out of one of the midway booths. We were given snack and ice cream tickets. And again, as much bottled water as we wanted, which was a lot. The kids got a carnival prize ticket for each day they were there. The games and rides were set up, but the operators (even a fortune teller) were sitting on their hands most of the day.
How long did it take to get your voucher signed?
We wrapped at 7:30 both days, and they paid us to 8:00 to include getting our vouchers signed and transportation back to the parking lot. The first night I got away at 8:40 because I had to retrieve my alternate outfits and thus was near the end of the line, then had to wait a longer time for the buses. On Friday I did better and was in my car a little after 8:00.

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Re: Back from the set

#10 Post by Ferrous Wheel » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:02 am

mntetn wrote:I don't have any pictures to share since they were strictly prohibited, though many flouted the rule, including one bootleg cell phone video of an on-set accident Tuesday. The wind caught one of the large sun shades and blew it into the Ferris wheel. When I got there on Thursday they weren't putting people on the Ferris wheel any more, just dummies.

I wasn't built to bring joy to plastic mannequins! What kind of third rate production is this? I demand to go back to the state fair....

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#11 Post by mntetn » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:09 am

All about Ferrous Wheel

Merry Man Joined: 30 May 2008
Wow, how clairvoyant was that?

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#12 Post by littlebeast13 » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:14 am

mntetn wrote:
All about Ferrous Wheel

Merry Man Joined: 30 May 2008
Wow, how clairvoyant was that?

That MM's actually older than that. I registered FerrousWheel on the TUB back when mini was pregnant with Erin late in '04 and was on iron pills, or something like that having to do with iron. Anyway, she came up with FerrousBueller, and, well, another pair of mini/beast twin MM's were born.... :P

lb13

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#13 Post by Ferrous Bueller » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:16 am

littlebeast13 wrote:
mntetn wrote:
All about Ferrous Wheel

Merry Man Joined: 30 May 2008
Wow, how clairvoyant was that?

That MM's actually older than that. I registered FerrousWheel on the TUB back when mini was pregnant with Erin late in '04 and was on iron pills, or something like that having to do with iron. Anyway, she came up with FerrousBueller, and, well, another pair of mini/beast twin MM's were born.... :P

lb13
You just don't want to admit that you and mini are the same person... :P :P :P :P
Anyone? Anyone?

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#14 Post by Not Mini » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:24 am

Ferrous Bueller wrote:
littlebeast13 wrote:
mntetn wrote: Wow, how clairvoyant was that?

That MM's actually older than that. I registered FerrousWheel on the TUB back when mini was pregnant with Erin late in '04 and was on iron pills, or something like that having to do with iron. Anyway, she came up with FerrousBueller, and, well, another pair of mini/beast twin MM's were born.... :P

lb13
You just don't want to admit that you and mini are the same person... :P :P :P :P

I don't know what you're talking about!!!!!
Beast is not Mini!!!! Really!

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#15 Post by MarleysGh0st » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:25 am

Ferrous Bueller wrote:
littlebeast13 wrote:
mntetn wrote: Wow, how clairvoyant was that?

That MM's actually older than that. I registered FerrousWheel on the TUB back when mini was pregnant with Erin late in '04 and was on iron pills, or something like that having to do with iron. Anyway, she came up with FerrousBueller, and, well, another pair of mini/beast twin MM's were born.... :P

lb13
You just don't want to admit that you and mini are the same person... :P :P :P :P
If they are, it really is time for the Men in the White Coats! :P

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#16 Post by littlebeast13 » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:34 am

MarleysGh0st wrote:
Ferrous Bueller wrote:
littlebeast13 wrote:
That MM's actually older than that. I registered FerrousWheel on the TUB back when mini was pregnant with Erin late in '04 and was on iron pills, or something like that having to do with iron. Anyway, she came up with FerrousBueller, and, well, another pair of mini/beast twin MM's were born.... :P

lb13
You just don't want to admit that you and mini are the same person... :P :P :P :P
If they are, it really is time for the Men in the White Coats! :P
But who would they go after?

Which one of us is real and which one's imaginary...?

Or could we both be........ :twisted:

lb13?

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#17 Post by MarleysGh0st » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:39 am

littlebeast13 wrote:
MarleysGh0st wrote:
Ferrous Bueller wrote: You just don't want to admit that you and mini are the same person... :P :P :P :P
If they are, it really is time for the Men in the White Coats! :P
But who would they go after?

Which one of us is real and which one's imaginary...?

Or could we both be........ :twisted:

lb13?
Since I haven't met either of you, I have no idea. :?

Is there any BB who has met you both? At the same time? :twisted:

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#18 Post by ulysses5019 » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:45 am

MarleysGh0st wrote:
littlebeast13 wrote:
MarleysGh0st wrote: If they are, it really is time for the Men in the White Coats! :P
But who would they go after?

Which one of us is real and which one's imaginary...?

Or could we both be........ :twisted:

lb13?
Since I haven't met either of you, I have no idea. :?

Is there any BB who has met you both? At the same time? :twisted:
I don't think it's possible. Something to do with beast's ankle bracelet and minis ankle biters.
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#19 Post by littlebeast13 » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:47 am

MarleysGh0st wrote:
littlebeast13 wrote:
MarleysGh0st wrote: If they are, it really is time for the Men in the White Coats! :P
But who would they go after?

Which one of us is real and which one's imaginary...?

Or could we both be........ :twisted:

lb13?
Since I haven't met either of you, I have no idea. :?

Is there any BB who has met you both? At the same time? :twisted:
Well, there are only 4 people currently registered with this Bored who can vouch for my existence, and I don't think any of them have met mini. And the two of us certainly have never been seen in the same place at the same time, so.................. :?: :shock: :?:


lb13

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#20 Post by IHateSeat9 » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:50 am

littlebeast13 wrote:
MarleysGh0st wrote:
littlebeast13 wrote: But who would they go after?

Which one of us is real and which one's imaginary...?

Or could we both be........ :twisted:

lb13?
Since I haven't met either of you, I have no idea. :?

Is there any BB who has met you both? At the same time? :twisted:
Well, there are only 4 people currently registered with this Bored who can vouch for my existence, and I don't think any of them have met mini. And the two of us certainly have never been seen in the same place at the same time, so.................. :?: :shock: :?:


lb13

You moron! All of America can vouch for your existence! They saw your ugly mug glowing on their TV screens for a full hour back in the day....

And they all know you're an incredible dumbass too....

IHS9

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#21 Post by ulysses5019 » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:57 am

IHateSeat9 wrote:
littlebeast13 wrote:
MarleysGh0st wrote: Since I haven't met either of you, I have no idea. :?

Is there any BB who has met you both? At the same time? :twisted:
Well, there are only 4 people currently registered with this Bored who can vouch for my existence, and I don't think any of them have met mini. And the two of us certainly have never been seen in the same place at the same time, so.................. :?: :shock: :?:


lb13

You moron! All of America can vouch for your existence! They saw your ugly mug glowing on their TV screens for a full hour back in the day....

And they all know you're an incredible dumbass too....

IHS9
That's a bit harsh. Remember, there were quite a few commercial breaks.
I believe in the usefulness of useless information.

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#22 Post by MarleysGh0st » Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:05 am

ulysses5019 wrote:
IHateSeat9 wrote:
littlebeast13 wrote: Well, there are only 4 people currently registered with this Bored who can vouch for my existence, and I don't think any of them have met mini. And the two of us certainly have never been seen in the same place at the same time, so.................. :?: :shock: :?:


lb13

You moron! All of America can vouch for your existence! They saw your ugly mug glowing on their TV screens for a full hour back in the day....

And they all know you're an incredible dumbass too....

IHS9
That's a bit harsh. Remember, there were quite a few commercial breaks.
But at least we can say that beast is real--or real enough to fool TPTB.

Now who can vouch for mini's existance? :twisted:

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#23 Post by ulysses5019 » Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:07 am

MarleysGh0st wrote:
ulysses5019 wrote:
IHateSeat9 wrote:
You moron! All of America can vouch for your existence! They saw your ugly mug glowing on their TV screens for a full hour back in the day....

And they all know you're an incredible dumbass too....

IHS9
That's a bit harsh. Remember, there were quite a few commercial breaks.
But at least we can say that beast is real--or real enough to fool TPTB.

Now who can vouch for mini's existance? :twisted:

I've met both mr and mrs mini.
I believe in the usefulness of useless information.

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