the final chapter
"You're going to walk back and forth on the other side of the street," I was told. My dreams of actual film time were fading fast.
I took my place behind one of three Model T Fords that would move to open the scene. The engines fired, I got my cue and began to strut. I was in character, a man of the twenties. Twenty-three skidoo. Cut.
We lined up and did it again. Sweat poured down the back of my wool jacket. A gallon of water was spattered across the Model T's radiator to keep it alive for one more take. The car and I were in synch, but destined for no more than fuzzy screen time.
I was tired and downtrodden. I stood around with my fellow extras and talked about our real lives. Important stuff like favorite cartoons (Space Ghost ), the boring jobs we had in the real world (lots of state employees and secretaries). Julianna Marguiles chatted amiably with the same guy who'd mistaken me for Richard Linklater. I tried to nonchalantly scoot over and join in the conversation. Julianna looked at me as if I were a psycho.
Just then I was called inside to the set. My prayers were answered! I was on the team. I was told to walk back and forth again. Only this time it would be in front of the camera. At least 50 people were packed into the room, raising lights, painting small sections of the wall that might appear on screen, making sure a smoke machine was pumping out ambiance. I walked in front of the camera like a star.
I knew the odds were slim that my tiny moment of celluloid would make it into the final film, but I couldn't control the strut as I hurried back out to my fellow extras and our pal Julianna. Suddenly I had a burning desire to go camping.
Followup: Joe's scene was cut from the film!!!