Acting out vicariously

Facebook certainly can keep us in the loops of many people and many things. It tells me this morning that eleven years ago today I was standing on my front lawn talking to the actor Terrance Howard.

A film was made in Detroit in August and September 2009 and some exteriors were shot in my neighborhood. They even used my next door neighbor's house for some interior scenes. 

It was pretty cool. The crew asked if they could set up equipment on our lawn and we told them yes. Next thing I knew, I was standing out there watching them watch over monitors the actors acting in the house next door. It was definitely odd hearing the acting going on as I watched it from out of sight.

Immediately after that they reviewed the scene. That's when Terrance Howard came out to watch it too. I stood next to him as he explained why he did this or that or why the lighting was such and such. I have no idea anymore exactly what he said. I was too much into, "I'm standing in my own front yard and Terrance Howard is telling me about acting!"

A very neat memory. And I wouldn't have even realized it was 11 years ago today without Facebook.

Another Chance at Film Greatness

The movie Little Murder, shot partially on my street, gave me an opportunity to become saved on film again last night. I was invited to be an extra for the second time in my life, and they tell me I have a greater chance of making the cut this time around.

I'm in two scenes, hopefully. In the first, I'm just a doctor walking past a door as two actors talk inside an office. If I make that at all, I'll pass by in a flash, but with stop motion on DVDs I ought to be able to be seen clearly.

But the real excitement is that I'm supposed to be in the last shot of the film. As two actors walk into a building, I'm walking away and up a flight of stairs. Sure, you'll only get back and side views of yours truly, but people have been discovered on less, right?

To top it off, they used my car in a parking lot scene. The car actually made it on camera before I did. But they also paid me an extra ten bucks for that, so it's all good.

We'll see what happens. I've learned to live with disappointment before, but maybe they'll be something more this time. If not, well, third time's a charm.