While Graham is best known for his dancing number in "Titanic"- tonight, I realized he had an earlier scene with Leo as well, pushed up against the
edge of the hallway, as Leo's character "Jack" rushes onboard, shortly before the ship departs.
I'll always remember driving past Popotla 25 years ago, and watching the enormous mock-up of the great ship rising and falling into various positions
during filming in the tank at Fox studios- and occasionally seeing some of the actors visiting Ensenada for breakfast.
That's why, when I hear the wind blowing and the waves crashing during the outdoor scenes at sea in the movie- I think of Baja, not the North
Atlantic!
And here's Graham in the dancing/party scene:
Happy 25th anniversary to the making of this movie- and to Graham's acting debut!
[Edited on 11-29-2020 by Whale-ista]Graham - 11-29-2020 at 12:51 PM
OMG. That long ago.
Remember being cast as the Titanic drunk!
And how I turned to a mug of tea on the Carpathia.
David K - 11-29-2020 at 01:11 PM
Wonderful experience!Whale-ista - 11-29-2020 at 01:13 PM
Well done! It's so fun to see familiar faces in movies.
Your character must have been nursing one heck of a hangover... but fared much better than most of the other steerage passengers.David K - 11-29-2020 at 01:57 PM
At the end of the movie you can see Graham along the rail with the other passengers... His flaming hair stands out greatly.RocketJSquirrel - 11-29-2020 at 03:48 PM
"flaming hair"! Oh... I get it. David K - 11-29-2020 at 04:18 PM
Yep, and this famous Baja novel title is referring to the young man's hair color >>>
[Edited on 11-29-2020 by David K]BornFisher - 11-29-2020 at 04:36 PM
The casting director should have scored an Oscar!! RocketJSquirrel - 11-29-2020 at 05:33 PM
More important... How were the groupies, Graham? A man's got to have his priorities. Graham - 11-29-2020 at 09:07 PM
Sadly, all the beer we got to drink was really sweet root beer.
There were so many redheads among the extras. But I think I had the reddest hair.
No groupies... But long nights on the set for 6 months... remembering falling hopelessly in love with several of the cute dummies!
Right after filming, took off with a burro for 6 months to walk to Loreto. Tecate supplied free beer all the way! Happy Days!
Skipjack Joe - 11-29-2020 at 09:22 PM
On the Carpathia. Well, at least you were one of the survivors. Wait. I thought only women and children were allowed in the lifeboats.Graham - 11-29-2020 at 09:31 PM
They filmed so many options. My first scene had me as an ice-covered corpse clinging to a barrel... TMW - 11-30-2020 at 09:24 AM
Oh my what an experience. Whale-ista - 11-30-2020 at 09:01 PM
If you only get to work on one movie in your life: Titanic is a good choice- a true epic!
Did many of the actors venture beyond the studio?
A friend saw David Warner walking near Alfonsos in Ensenada one morning and was so thrilled.
They filmed so many options. My first scene had me as an ice-covered corpse clinging to a barrel...
And... what was your motivation?
How did you prepare?
Did you go method or...?BajaBlanca - 11-30-2020 at 10:58 PM
What fun! I had no idea.Graham - 12-1-2020 at 08:37 PM
Yes, it was an experience all right. Interacting with Kate Winslett, Leonardo di Caprio, James Cameron... etc.
But 6 months mostly working nights... I was ready for quality time on the mission trail with my Baja Burro.
Because movie was being made in Rosarito, I thought it might be a lark and might get a couple days work as an extra. Sent in a picture of myself, my
wife at the time and our two children.
Ended up casting wanted us as a "core-group" family for the whole movie! Put us up in a condo on the beach, etc. Had no idea how big the movie would
be.
Not sure about main actors being out and about... we were either on set, in the condo sleeping, or occasionally running back to house in San Diego.
I remember being horrified when I read the script and saw the portrayal of First Officer Murdoch as taking bribes with the ship sinking. He's a big
hero in Scotland and knew how this would be received.
Before we filmed that scene I gave the actor playing Murdoch (Ewan Stewart) a bunch of material about how respected he was... and was so glad the
movie made that scene more ambiguous. Nevertheless, there was still outrage in Scotland and Titanic made a big "apologetic" donation to the Murdoch
educational fund.
Wouldn't have missed the experience... but realized movies not for me. Was very happy to take off with my burro!
