I meet a lot of interesting people in LA. Recently, I happened to become acquainted with a certain talented, multi-award winning actor. It just so happened that said actor was currently filming his upcoming project, Rampart, in LA and I was invited along for a behind-the-scenes treat.
Not wanting to let opportunity pass me by, I braved rush hour traffic and drove to the location downtown. Unfortunately, I wasn’t let on-set right away since no one could confirm that I was supposed to be there! So, I waited around for a while until I saw equipment starting to be moved. Having been taught well by my father, I tagged along with the equipment and eventually found someone who could help me. At which point, I was escorted back down to the holding area and allowed to enter.
I will start by saying, his trailer was BY FAR the best that I have ever been in. Not that I’ve been in many, but it certainly inspired me to create my own mobile space! Following a quick vegan mushroom soup dinner, we joined the rest of the cast and crew, where I was fortunate enough to snag a seat in the middle of the producer’s circle so we could watch the scene unfold. Sandwiched between an executive producer and the dialect coach, we engaged in conversation regarding the arc of the scene and how the dynamics change once the director gave permission to re-order the text. Same words, same setting. Very different feeling!
As a performer, watching this process was an absolutely incredible experience. I learned so much about the art of filmmaking and acting simply by observing those few hours and hope to be able to recall and apply it to my own future jobs. The two words that best describe this acting? Focus. Precision.
Inspiring.
Rampart is scheduled for release in 2012 from writer James Ellroy and writer/director Oren Moverman.
