Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
|
|
New career in retirement?
On a whim, a number of us gringos answered a casting call for white folk on a film being produced on Caesar Chavez. The film stars John Malkovich (who
is also producing the film), Rosario Dawson, America Ferrara, Gabriel Mann............and a guy named Jack Holmes in the role of Robert F. Kennedy.
We drove up to Hermosillo last Thursday for a fitting and were assigned roles as "extras", meaning you wont have any lines and will generally be faces
in the background of shots. My wife was assigned to a pool entitled White Female Crowd and I drew Male Senator's Staff.
Then, Sunday, we drove up to Hermosillo again and were put up in the Holiday Inn overnight, as our call was at 4:30am on Monday.
We got to HMO early enough to hang around the pool where we immediately noticed Jack Holmes, as he is an INCREDIBLE likeness to RFK. When he meets me,
the first thing he says is that I bear a resemblance to one of RFKs actual staffers at the time; Peter Edelman. Well, at this point, I dont even know
WHICH senator's staff I may belong on. Senator George Murphy (CA) is also in today's scene. Anyway, we spend the next two hours talking with him (over
Tecates!) about all things Kennedy related. While Mr. Holmes is not old enough to remember the events of 63-68, he is an authority on most things
related to RFK because he wrote a play and starred off-Broadway in a play about RFK.
Long story short, Mr. Holmes tips off the film's director (Diego Luna) about my likeness to Edelman............and I am immediately given the "role".
This doesnt involve lines, but I am imminently prominent in the closeups of RFK during the scene. In fact, with the camera angle, my face is only
SLIGHTLY less prominent than RFKs. The scene is the Senate sub-committee meeting in Delano, CA. where RFK is hearing testimony about how the growers
are treating the migrant farm workers. It's 1966. Later on in the day, we shoot a scene where RFK and all his staffers first meet Chavez, Dolores
Huerta (Rosario Dawson), Helen Chavez (America Ferrara) and a grower named Bogdanovich (John Malkovich).
So, 16 hours later and one Ivy League haircut later, my day is done. As photography is STRICTLY forbidden on film sets, I can only show this photo of
my wife as a grower's wife and myself in the role of "Peter Edelman" (not actually mentioned as Peter Edelman in the script).
[Edited on 6-6-2012 by Hook]
|
|
AmoPescar
Senior Nomad
Posts: 835
Registered: 7-15-2006
Location: North San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Need a Fish Taco and a Pacifico!
|
|
WOW...very cool!
Sounds like you had a lot of fun and an exciting couple of days. Looking forward to seeing the movie.
Miguelamo
Nomad Amigos...Here\'s hoping you all have safe Baja travels, amazing sunrises, sunny days, comforting breezes, beautiful sunsets, tasty tacos,
cold cervezas and frosty margaritas!!
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
a guy named Jack Holmes |
Is that the "John Holmes" of late nite movie fame?
What kinda movie is this again?
|
|
Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6742
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
Member Is Offline
|
|
Drinking Tecates with the Stars. Worthy of a book cover
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
|
|
Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
|
|
That's a great story Hook! You guys look great! Here's more on Edelman.... he is in his mid 70's today...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Edelman
and, a photo of Edelman in this link. Wow!!
http://www.nysut.org/rfk_11171.htm
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
|
|
Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
|
|
I had actually brought some round, frameless glasses with me and decided to wear them on the set. The director never said anything about them. Then, I
got home and looked up Peter Edelman..........and he wore glasses.
Just remember that Peter Edelman's character is NOT in the movie, as far as I know. I just happened to look somewhat like him and the guy playing RFK
noticed and told the director.
I have been given lots of ribbing over here because my wife PLEADED with me to join her for the casting call. As I have worked on TV and film crews
before, I knew the days are long and rather boring and didnt really want to participate.
Then, as we were sitting out there waiting to be cast and fitted, I was virtually the last one chosen. I just sat their reading my book, probably
looking rather uninterested to the "extras" casting director. Well, I was pretty uninterested.
So, I arrive on the set the day of shooting and am immediately hauled into "hair and makeup" ahead of everyone where the casting director informs them
that "this guy will be right next to Bobby Kennedy in every shot, all day". So, that's how I found out that my role had some significance. I went from
uninterested to the most prominent extra, overnight.
The makeup gals were appalled at my hair; almost a modified mullet or at least the type of cut worn by rockabilly guys in the late 50s, early 60s.
They made short work of THAT. No worries; I was due for my summer cut, anyway.
Clearly, talking Kennedys over Tecates by the pool had apparently made an impression on the RFK character. We talked about the whole Johnson
administration, Eugene McCarthy's entrance into the Democratic Presidential race in '68, the assassinations, Bobby's trip to South Africa, everything.
It was really a good time; save the fact that my wife felt rather excluded because she was, well, born in '64.
The frickin' Beatles had hit America before my wife was born. We do experience
some generational separation sometimes...........
[Edited on 6-6-2012 by Hook]
|
|
Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
|
|
Fun, fun!!!! That is so cool, Hook. GREAT pic of you and your lovely wife!!!
Barry
|
|
Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
|
|
Quote: | Originally posted by Bob H
That's a great story Hook! You guys look great! Here's more on Edelman.... he is in his mid 70's today..
http://www.nysut.org/rfk_11171.htm |
The script is a little different than what he describes of the committee hearing in that interview, Bob H. That's all I'll say.
|
|
DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
What a great experience!
|
|
BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13197
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
very cool story !
|
|
acadist
Super Nomad
Posts: 1125
Registered: 3-31-2007
Location: Spanaway,WA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting for the Sun
|
|
Awesome! This why the board needs a 'like' button!
Dave
I moved to CO and they made me buy a little rod to make it feel like a real fish
|
|
dean miller
Nomad
Posts: 456
Registered: 1-28-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
Congrats!
I was in a 1950s Clarke Gable racing movie "To Please a Lady"
My wife was in "All the President's Men"
It is a thrill to see your self or loved ones on the big screen.
I will get an equal thrill seeing you and your dear wife on the screen.
Please keep the board informed when it is released..
sdm
sdm
|
|
TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
Excellent, thanks for sharing.
|
|