Car arrived at 6:30am. My pickup time was 7. He was
EARLY!! And GOD that’s early. Concerned (and surprised), I called the AD who
said “just make him wait; you don’t have to get into that car until you’re
ready.” Wow. That was weird. Well, you know I was gonna milk this one! Besides,
I knew it wouldn’t take an hour and ½ to get to Harriman State Park. One of the
benefits of being the only local cast member. They get the out of town per diem
(that’s daily allowance to live on, for you non-industry folk) and I get extra
sleep.
Call time was 8am at Sebago Lake in Harriman. (A place I’ve been hiking for
years—who’d have thought?) Upon arriving I was greeted by a variety of crew
people all with walkie talkies confirming that “Sadie has arrived” and “can we
get a check on the hair?” (which had just been dyed red. Very red). Breakfast
orders were being taken for the cast and when I asked what my options were I
was told “anything.” Impressive. After coming too a little more, I ordered an
egg white omelet with “all the veggies you’ve got.” I’ll be damned if they didn’t
whip up an amazing egg and veggie masterpiece. I can’t think of a vegetable
that wasn’t in it. This was prepared a mile up the road in the “hot food truck.”
Then I wandered around waiting for my call to go to “make up.” Found a hiking
trail and got a good 10 minutes into it, only to hear my name reverberating
through the woods. Hustled back up and was very politely told that it’s best
not to wander off too far. So, I went to make-up. Spent an hour getting the “natural
look.”
By 11 am I was told to hang tight until noon lunch break. So, I took another
hike. This time much further and once again my name rumbled through the forest.
I returned to find the place completely deserted except for the poor PA who got
stuck looking for me in the woods. I didn’t realize that lunch was at the
location a few miles up the road (where naked Asian woman danced on water to
the song “Across the Universe”. SO cool) so they had to send another van for
me. Ooops. Okay, now I get it.
The food was quite good! (and the thousands of bees and wasps MUST have
agreed!) Lunch was fast. Literally. We had to walk around eating so as not to
be swarmed—and I mean SWARMED—by wasps and bees.
I ate fresh snapper and a giant salad. Being in a mid drift and hip huggers
made it easier to resist the carrot cake, peach cobbler, pecan pie,
macaroni.... you get the idea.
By 1:00 we headed back to our trailers for more touch ups on our natural beauty
(heh hem).
Then there was more waiting. One cast mate said, that Paul Newman said, that “you’re
not getting paid to act, but for the time you spend waiting around.” Seems
like. (Frankly I rather enjoyed such rare downtime! However, ask me about this
in January.)
Finally at 3pm it was time to shoot our first scene (which is actually toward
the end of the film). Me and my 5 castmates were led into the woods, positioned
around a GIANT paper mache hand, and waited for the director to yell action so
we could frolic down a hill for about 10 seconds until we heard “CUT.” We did
this 3 more times and by 3:30 the A.D. announced “That’s a wrap” you can all go
home.
Whew. Make-up is exhausting!
We changed, piled into a van and drove back to NYC tired and excited saying “holy
shit, we’re making a real f***ing movie.”
We’ll have 3 solid days/scenes with Bono next week. I think I’m going to be
star struck.
...While I should have been “sleeping like a log”, I was actually laying on
them. All day.
I can’t believe I thought a 7am pick up call was early.
A “teamster” van (and those drivers look and act EXACTLY as the term sounds)
came for me at 4:45am. Shortly after I’d gone to bed. I was so f***ing tired
that I was nauseous, yet as soon as I landed back in Harriman, I B-lined
straight for the hot food truck. (Obviously that omelet really made an
impression on me.) The AD kindly asked that I let her order my breakfast so I
could join the others in make up. It was then that I looked around and
discovered that I was the ONLY actor trying to move in on the food, which the
camera crew who’d been there for hours hadn’t even made there way over to yet.
Some things never change right?
After getting the layers of our “face on”, we changed and were led deep into
the woods to shoot our beatific morning-after-trippin-on-LSD scene, where we
lie in the grass and sing a beautiful and languid tune, in multiple harmonies.
With wind machines and fake sunshine we did our lip sync rolling around on the
ground getting stabbed and scratched by thorny bramble. Bug spray was an
afterthought only AFTER I made a joke about ticks and Lyme Disease—which my
Asian, London and African American cast mates knew nothing about. I immediately
enlightened them with wonderful horror stories about the little ring leaving
bloodsuckers. Afraid I’d started trouble but it turns out that our star
(originally from North Carolina) actually had it a few years ago and was quite
relieved when the discussion arose and prompted a hosing down of watermelon
scented bug spray. (Couldn’t really get a read on the ticks about this stuff,
but the ants seemed to LOVE it!)
The scene was interrupted about every 3-5 minutes for a short, quick downpour,
forcing the crew to run back and forth in a panicked hurry with a 4-poled tent
to shelter us (now that was comedy) so we could stay put and not lose our
perfect flower-shaped position. All the while a smiley, blonde, female medic
reassured us that the ticks “do NOT like the rain and wind” and that NOW we
were at least educated on the subject, and could be on the look out for the
infamous bulls-eye ring of a rash.
Uh, okay. But what about fake wind???
Finally we had a moment of no rain and it was time for “ACTION”. I, being so punchy
from no sleep and rolling around in muddy wet woods, simply lost it and couldn’t
stop laughing. Of course, we all know how contagious this is. Before I knew it
we were all in hysterics. (Although our vibe WAS to be on LSD, this wasn’t what
Julie had in mind for the scene.) However, I don’t think any of us cared at
that moment. About anything.
Then the rain came down. Hard. This time we were called out of position and
asked to put ridiculous rain suits over our clothes. (Where’s the camera when
you need it??) I was transformed into the Michelin Tire Man.
The rain finally gave us a break. We were “touched up” and sent back into the
woods.
We laid in a tight circle: sticky, sweaty and muddy for what seemed like
(probably because it was), hours. We all had to pee beyond belief, were itching
from head to toe from wet grass and desperately trying to ignore the ant bites,
until finally the A.D. called “action”. Suddenly our voices seem to come from
the sky (which was a speaker on a crane hidden somewhere above the trees that
played our pre-recorded track).
As we soared above and beyond the noisy generators and wind machines, singing
along to our version of one of the most beautiful Beatles songs I’ve ever heard—“Because”—I
knew that all of this was exactly “why” I came to New York City.
Until next time...
..from the rooftops of Manhattan! (and they haven’t. For
days.)
Thanks to all of you who have been checking in and requesting more journals.
Last week was a blur of more woods scenes. I’ve now been to Tarrytown, Harriman
and Catona) Frolicking about with my castmates and tons of extras (our “Pranksters”)
to get the footage we’ll need for some of the films bigger and wackier scenes
to come later.
New location this week (NYC!) and still going round the clock with enough time
to get home, shower, feed and go to bed. Finally starting to get used to the 5
am pick-ups. I wake up at 4:45, stumble to the street, get into my van or car
(usually not knowing where I’m even going on any given day) and am taken to my
trailer. Which Rocks. Couch, frig, and a better TV/DVD/stereo system than my
own at home.
I listen to NPR waiting for my omelet to be delivered, sipping the coffee I’ve
brought in my giant Thermos. By the time my motor skills are functioning enough
to eat, I’m seated in the make-up trailer. A world in and of itself. The
Make-up trailer starts bustling around 4am. By the time I arrive the music’s going,
the coffee’s brewing and Santa’s little elves are working their magic. Since we’re
shooting many of the later scenes first, everyone (except me) gets hair, hair
and more hair. Sideburns, afro’s, long bangs, extensions, etc. Julie has made
it clear that “Sadie’s” hair just stays “wild and unruly” throughout the film.
(what’s she trying to say)? So, I’m easy. This leaves me a little extra time to
chat with the cameral man (who I just found out shot “Amelie” among many other
films that have been touted for their “beautiful cinematography—lucky me). I’m
smart enough to know that HE’s the guy you want to befriend. So befriend I
have. A quiet and serious Frenchman. Of course I’ve already gotten straight to
the important questions like: “Does the camera really add 10 pounds? Do I look “stocky”
in the purple pants? Am I giant looking compared to the rest of the cast?” And
so on. With his heavy French accent and wonderful smile he responds: “Madame,
what is this “sssstocky”? I say, “you know, thick.” He now replies with
twisted, puzzled face (stuttering on the “th” sound): “ThhhhICK”????? I say: “Yeah;
“bigger, rounder”. He says: “Dah NA”! You look, ah (contemplative pause)...
Tall.” An even bigger grin spreads over his face.
He then assures me that only amateurs can make you look 10lbs bigger and that I
have nothing to worry about! (I now LOVE this man). So I leave him to enjoy his
coffee. Relieved. (hey, I meant me, but I know what you’re all thinking!)
I’m then taken to the rooftop of the ABC Carpet Building in Union Square. Wow,
what a view. What a set up!
As I walk down the street from my trailer, surrounded by the Walkie Talkie
people, it’s 8am and NYC is waking up. I feel like I’m in a movie already as I
hear my own voice blasting around the block and I’m making my way through
civilians who are staring at the girl with big red hair, way too much make-up,
tons of jewelry and SUPER tight jeans. I find myself wanting to sing along with
my track (out loud) so they know that it’s me they’re hearing and that I’m
doing something special and important right now and that I’m not just some
hooker or madam being shuffled off to jail by FBI!
[In fact, I snuck away at lunch to do a little voice over for MTV and the cab
driver told me I looked like a “Beautiful Mafia Queen.” I decided I’d better
not tell this to the director OR our famous wardrobe guy - Who by the way is
Albert Wolsky - the man who’s done 70 major films and has received many Oscars.
He did “Grease”!! I don’t think he got an Oscar for that one though). I also
decided to change next time I leave for lunch.]
We spend the day(s) shooting my rooftop performance of “Don’t Let Me Down” as
well as mine and the gang’s version of “All You Need Is Love”. All sorts of
things are happening in the film at this point. Crucial love things which I can’t
give away.
Sorry. All I have to say is you’ll have to see the film. Our lead guy and girl,
Jim Sturgess (Jude) and Evan Rachel Wood (Lucy), are devastating. I’m tearing
as I type remembering each of them do this scene.
Tomorrow I’m back in the woods to shoot the “Circus” scene with Britain’s own
Eddie Izzard. If you haven’t seen “Dressed To Kill,” (Eddie’s critically
acclaimed standup performance done in San Francisco) you should rent it.
Immediately. Eddie is “Mr. Kite.” I can’t f***ing wait!!!
We don’t shoot with Bono until mid-October.
We don’t do our nude scene until Julie gets the budget approval for “The Tank.”
It’s so exciting to know that I KNOW NOTHING as to what’s really in store for
me over the next few months.
And I don’t dare try to think BEYOND that.
What a day, what a spectacle—what a world!
Watching Eddie Izzard do his thing was an amazing lesson in “performance.” Wow.
The day began for me with a nice LATE pick up of 7am. Halllefuckinglujah! I
actually slept more than 3 hours!!
The teamster van arrived at 6:50 with our star (Evan) dead asleep in the back.
I, however, was wide-awake and very excited to shoot our circus day on a giant
farm in Katonah, NY. So far, we had only heard about the 50ft paper mache man,
the peasant women with heads 5 x’s the normal size, the human cows, the Blue
Meanies, the pop up circus tent surrounded by torches, and, of course, Eddie
Izzard.
The gang and I spent the first half of the day a mile from set where our “base
camp” (i.e., trailers) was, while the above-mentioned madness was costumed,
organized and rehearsed. This left plenty of time for more cast bonding - by
now the 6 of us have gotten quite close, and quite silly. Flu (for 2 of us) and
all, we rolled down hills, jammed out with blades of grass as horns (after a
lesson from cast mate Joe, the blue-eyed blonde Brit who can do ANYTHING, who
learned this from a local while shooting a film over in Africa—of course) Then,
wearing off most of our 3 hours old make-up, we challenged each other in
gymnastics. Joe won. He can walk on his hands for miles.
After all of this hard work, we broke for lunch and were taken on a “gator” (a
large tractor-like mobile) deep into the woods and down what seemed like the
yellow brick road, until we came upon THE SET just before the catering tents.
None of us could believe our eyes. This was definitely (and I quote our
director) “a big-budget movie day.” As most of you know, Julie Taymor is famous
for her puppets and life-sized (in this case way-beyond life-sized) paper
mache/cardboard characters. There were fields of “hands” the size of SUV’s,
dancers in cow costumes, (so real that we were ooohing and ahhhing over one
particular calf who was so convincing until we saw his converse sneakers
peaking out). and a 50ft man towering above it all. (Of course then came the
jokes that finally someone in this film was taller than me.)
After lunch we were gatored back to base camp to be “retouched” as it was
almost (finally) time to shoot.
Us girls got into ours skimpy “summer of love” outfits, accessorized with
giant, down overcoats. It was NOT summer in Katonah.
Went back to set & briefly rehearsed our scene with Eddie, and then broke
for dinner. My stomach was confused by the strange meal hours, so instead of
dinner, Evan and I hit the sweets table and got busted (Again) shamelessly
sticking our fingers in cake frosting, pie filling, and brownie icing (there
are no calories if you don’t have an actual piece right?) The same tough,
salty, woman reminded me that others might like some of those deserts that we
were making a disgusting mess of. In retrospect, it did look pretty revolting
when we were done.
Then we sat with Eddie where I ratted Evan out for knowing his entire
performance of “Dressed To Kill” verbatim. I kid you not, Verbatim. He was most
impressed when she finally got the nerve to demonstrate by answering my bold
question “Are you gay, Eddie or do you just dress in Drag for fun?” In Eddie’s
voice (this girl can sound like anybody. It’s really scary) and using Eddie’s
EXACT dialogue from “Dressed to Kill”, she proceeded to explain to me how we
was NOT a Drag Queen, but a Transvestite wanna-be-lesbian and how there are 3
categories of Transvestites and that J. Edgar Hoover was really just a freak
pervert and so on. It was Hilarious. Eddie was most impressed. Eddie is
brilliant and his take on U.S. AND foreign politics enmeshed with the history
of the world, is not only an education, but also a fucking riot.
Finally we were all called to set. Time to shoot! It was 6pm and the sun was
going down fast. Bruno Dubonelle, our DP (cameraman) was panicked (the sunset
always seemed to have this affect on him). So there went the idea of pulling
the great prank the gang and I had planned for our first take, which in this
case would have certainly cost us a $70,000.00 shooting day (I forget where I
got that number, but you get the idea). Another day. Hopefully the documentary
crew that follows us everywhere will get it on film!
Eddie stood in front of the tent surrounded by Blue Meanies. (Yes, I said Blue
Meanies). We were positioned up the hill about 100ft from him in the field of
cows, giant hands, peasant creatures and a hundred other people holding 6-8’
3-dimensional cardboard chairs. (No, I have NO idea.)
We ran down the hill pretending (???) we were still “tripping”, got to the
tent, and feigned surprise and delight while Eddie performed “For the Benefit
of Mr. Kite.” We squealed and applauded until we heard CUT and I smelled my
hair burning. I had gotten too close to the torch. A joke was made that my
now-dyed-three-times hair, was almost red enough for the director, and that
fortunately I have plenty of it to spare.
We got our take though. And called it a day.
I got home at Midnight. Showered and CRRRRRRAAAAAAASHED!
I had the strangest dreams last night.
Still dreaming..........
Oh, by the way, the film has been officially titled: “Across The Universe”.
How Appropriate.
…Screw the “egg man” (although his omelets I still look
forward to everyday!),
I just spent 10 hours less than 5 feet from Bono. I’m not usually star struck.
Of course this is the first time I’ve worked with a star.
Man, was I struck.
Although, had someone told me years ago that he was so short, I may have gotten
out of bed on time for school more often, sparing myself (and probably my
family) the humiliation of running through neighbors’ yards to make the next
stop, or simply chasing the bus down in tears. (Remember those days Mom)? The
cool thing is that all of those little daydreams came true for me today. At
least the PG-13 ones did. Heh hem.
As always, the day began with the teamster van picking me up at the crack of
night. I had trouble sleeping because I was actually a little nervous about
meeting one of my biggest childhood idols. Due to the unrelenting weather, we
couldn’t shoot in the woods so we did the outdoor scenes indoors at Steiner
Studios in Brooklyn, using what is called in the film world “Blue Screen.”
Which is a giant GREEN screen. (This allows for computer graphics to place the
proper elements around us later).
As I sat having my make up done, one of the PA’s came in to ask the other
make-up girl if she had finished the rest of the cast and was “ready for Bono.”
I thought I was going to puke eggs. Knowing my nervousness and excitement, the
girls gave me the option of finishing me in a hurry OR slowing down. I chose to
seize the moment and meet Bono. At 8am, under fluorescent lights and
pre-caffeinated nonetheless. Moments later he came in singing a Johnny Cash
song in a very raggedy (he played the garden the night before) voice, and
practicing his western accent for the role of Dr. Robert, our California guru.
He was in full western wardrobe with, of course, those damn sunglasses we never
see him without these days.
He introduced himself to me and I just laughed as I took his hand. Yes, because
I was nervous, but also because I was thinking “of course I know you’re BONO!!”
Anyway, once I regained composure (somewhat) I said something stupid to him
like, “I’m trying to just tell myself that you’re a normal person, but, you’re
not, you’re BONO!” He laughed and replied with his western accent that he is
not normal and he’d prove it to me later. (Read on)
I finally tore myself away when one of our make-up artists said loudly: “Okay,
Dana, you’re done and now you’re just gawking”. Bono just laughed and told me
not to worry, that we’d talk plenty on set.
The first scene to shoot was the last scene of this song sequence, where Bono
(Dr. Robert) lands us in front of “The Headquarters of the League of Spiritual
Deliverance” and proceeds to give us a lecture on “transcendental perception”
(??). It was still early morning and Bono was still half asleep. He kept
flubbing his lines. After numerous flubs, (I was starting to worry and I wasn’t
the only one) a little tension started to creep in, but Bono brilliantly broke
the ice (and caught us all way off guard) with: “I’m sorry people, what can I
say? I’m a rock star.” We all had a good laugh at this. Then he NAILED the
first scene, in his first film ever.
We were then positioned on the roof of our magic flying bus which was made from
an old fashioned school bus that the art department completely gutted,
graffitied and designed to be a very hip hippy traveling home with bunk beds
and a spiral staircase leading to the roof. The scene begins with Bono singing
to us “The Walrus” as he (and the LSD) transports us to The League. In between
a GAZILLION takes of various scenes we swapped stories about life, love, music,
religion, politics, drugs and Hitler. And Hitler on drugs. Cocaine to be exact.
With childlike awe, Bono enlightened us all to the fact that it is now common
knowledge that Hitler was indeed a coke head. He was so strangely excited by
this.
Anyway, it was time to party and trip. (Like I wasn’t already?!)
With Bono’s AMAZING rendition of “The Walrus” blasting all around us, we climbed
and danced and writhed all over our magic bus with 10 giant fans blowing “the
wind” in our hair. As the crew rocked the bus (literally), Bono ROCKED “The
Walrus.” We just danced and screamed and ooooooooohed all around him slowly
working our way inside the bus, where we sprawled ourselves out on the carpets,
bunk beds, staircase (you just have to see it!) and began to shoot what turned
out for me to be THE MOST AMAZING SCENE I JUST MIGHT EVER HAVE!!! Still singing
The Walrus, Bono started at the back of the bus where pranksters and cast mates
were all piled on top of each other by now. He worked his way up to the front
of the bus where I sat banging on bongos. When he got to me he suddenly decided
to improvise by grabbing my arm and licking it, sucking my fingers, pouncing on
me and teasing me with almost-kisses and singing to me with his mouth less than
a centimeter from mine. OH MY GOD I was the chosen one!!
I was praying that we’d have to do our usual numerous amounts of takes to get
it from all angles. The A.D. asked if we were ready for the next take or if I
needed a cigarette first. My work ethic took over so I suggested we just do
this over and over until we get it right. It just got better and better. Bono
said to me later that he hoped I didn’t mind his “deciding to have a go at me.”
I said, “Oh PLEASE, have a go! Have a few!!”
We wrapped the scene by 7pm. Bono had to split. We all hugged him good-bye and
he said he’d see us in November (when we shoot the party scene with him!). He
also invited us to the show tomorrow at the Garden. We’re going!!
The rest of the evening was spent shooting me and the gang partying in the bus.
Still so high on our experience with Bono, we went CRAZY. Julie wanted things
in fast motion, slow motion, bizarre motion. We danced and climbed on top of
each other, busting open bags of multi colored beans and jugs of water (the
props) and pouring everything we could find as well as ourselves, all over each
other, singing and squealing and so on and so forth.
I can’t believe I’m actually getting paid for this!
We wrapped about 9 and were taken to our vans.
It was gushing rain as we crossed the Manhattan Bridge. I looked out the window
thinking this is a long way from Wildwood, Florida.
“Sexy Sadie, what have you done?” (That’s the lyric to the
song, “Sexy Sadie”)
After that scene with Bono, I have no idea anymore.
I don’t know how “sexy” I was feeling for my big screen debut in that
the-white-with-pink-splotches Kamona, but I guess I’ll just have to take it
from John and Paul that Sadie IS sexy.
This was the day we shoot my introduction in the film, which is also my
introduction to the world (especially if the buzz on this thing turns out to be
right!) as an actor and singer. I didn’t really think about this while
shooting. Thank God.
I can’t even begin to describe what “Sadie’s Loft” is like. Completely
fabricated but INSANELY real down to the scuff marks on the hard wood floors to
make them look decades old instead of brand spanking new. I kept knocking on
the brick walls because I just couldn’t accept that they were only paper mache
and dry wall!
There was rambling poetry on all the walls, crazy art work and, get this, a
GIANT collage of me! (Pictures I guess the art department took from my website
and stills from what we’ve shot so far.) This was a wonderful and strange
surprise. (hope they’ll let me keep it).
The scene outside my window was so real that by midnight, I was still convinced
it was 3pm on a cold November day.
This is toward the beginning of the film when our 2 main guys (Jude & Max)
decide to split for NYC, right after Thanksgiving dinner at Max’s where he
announces he’s dropping out of Princeton University.
The two end up at my door responding to an ad in RAT Magazine, (A popular rag
back in the day) advertising a room for rent in my loft.
I take them on a tour of my loft showing them all of the crazy rooms, then I
introduce them to my cat, Rocky. (Who can guess THAT reference!). A gray tabby
with raccoon eyes and tail (ooops, just gave it away).
Rocky was pretty amazing. He had a 14 hour day without one bitch fest.
Impressive. HOWEVER.....
....His trainer seemed to know how to keep him content. Liver snacks and
chicken flavored Gerber baby food. Yum. 14 hours of this (and my having to pick
him up and put him down a thousand times to be shot at various angles) did not
bode well for his gastrointestinal functions, if you will.
By 11pm we were down to the final shots. Or so we hoped. After my 3rd
15 hour day in a row, I was pretty punchy, as were Jim and Joe (Max &
Jude).
Julie likes to get EVERY scene at EVERY angle.
The rest of the crew (on their 18th hour) was ready to get home. (Today
was supposed to be a short day!)
The pressure was on for me to get the final Rocky scene right! This really
meant just picking him up, and placing him in exactly the same spot I had for
hours and takes in a row, and perfectly positioning him so that Max can trip
over him as he had done accidentally in an earlier take, (which of course Julie
loved, as it was perfect then, but now how to be recreated).
With my being so punchy and Rocky being so stuffed to the gills on liver snacks
and Gerber chicken, this scene was harder than I thought.
With minutes left to the midnight hour, which was the crew’s cutoff time, the
goal was to nail the scene and wrap!
Upon hearing action, I picked Rocky up from the sofa and began to walk with the
boys behind me and all the cameras on me. Suddenly I was enveloped in the most
heinous of stenches I have EVER encountered in my life!! A mixture of putrid
breath and foul, foul gas wafting up. As I spoke, it crept straight into my
mouth and I tasted all of Rocky’s savory snacks of the day.
I literally began to gag. As in eyes watering, throat pulsing, gagging. Knowing
the cameras were only on me for the first few seconds of this scene, then on
the boys as I pass through the room, I quickly turned my head to the side so my
hair would block the gagging. Jim and Joe, being well aware of the stench and
now seeing my head turn to them gagging, had to do everything in their power
not to lose it. Seeing this and coupled with my nervousness/punchiness, I
COMPLETELY LOST IT, dropped the cat and fell to my knees laughing.
I made my way out of camera range and they kept rolling. Jim and Joe had the
most incredibly bizarre expressions on their faces as they fought so hard to
stifle laughter and remain in character as the 2 nervous boys hoping to get the
apartment from this strange rock n roll girl, the likes of whom they’d never
before encountered.
Finally they made their way passed the camera and from the other room we heard
Julie: “CUT!!! Dana, what the hell is going on???” At this point the 3 of us
were laughing so hard we couldn’t breathe (not that we wanted to in the cloud
of noxious gases)!
All I could choke out was: “Julie, I’m so sorry. But you have no idea what’s
happening with this cat.”
Our producer, Jen Todd suggested we watch the playback as they thought my
laughing may have been off camera enough, and that Jim and Joe’s odd
expressions might work with the scene, seeing as how some of things Sadie says
to them are quite strange.
As we watched playback, we were even more crippled with laughter. Jim and Joe
looked like 2 very confused young lads who might also puke at any second.
Julie LOVED it!! Her exact words were: “Oh my God, you guys look so weird! It’s
perfect.” She then turned to me and said with a smile, “Okay, Sadie, it worked
this time, but you can’t do this again.”
So that was the scene. When you see this movie you’ll be part of our inside
joke.
I laughed all the way home. For so many reasons.
Oh and by the way, I’ve met Joe Cocker. He told me he loved my guide vocal for
his version of “Come Together” and was very touched when I told him that he was
one of the main vocalists I studied when I came to NY to sing, AND that I
auditioned for the film with HIS version of “With A Little Help From My Friends”.
I also got to meet Elvis Costello, who just came by to visit T-bone Burnett
(who’s helping me get my own material together! ). Elvis told T-Bone and I that
the engineer of the “Sergeant Peppers” album just wrote a book telling the
world he really co-produced but never received proper credit for this from
George Martin. Elvis backed him up on this and even wrote a forward for it. He
said it’s a fun read.
Elvis isn’t in our film. Joe Cocker is though. He’ll play a few different characters
as he sings “Come Together”. I’ll say no more!
I watched Joe record “Come Together” the other night. He NAILED IT! In 5 fast
takes.
I cried. For so many reasons.
... And man has my life Come Together. Read on....(this
journal may turn out to be for mature audiences only. Mom & Dad be warned.
haha)
Last week was indeed a beautiful thing. Don’t know if any of you have read all
the press we got for the recreation of the East Village circa mid 1960s, but it
was amazing.
I'm told Saturday’s New York Post had a 2 page article all about it.
The best part for me, was that this part of NYC, was where I first landed—broke,
alone and COMPLETELY messed up at 18 years old! Where I spent day after day “Strung
Out” on Avenue B, insisting to every homeless guy or drug dealer who would
listen, that I was going to be a singer! Now here I was shooting a film. Wow.
The first scene to shoot was my coffee meeting with “Bill”, (the sleazy record
label guy who’s trying to steel me away from my band and sign me to his label)
at a cafe near my loft in the East Village. As Bill tries to convince me that
he’ll “make me a star”, the “magic bus” rides by. Upon inquiring in Sadie
fashion (with a southern accent mind you): “What the Hell was that?!”, I learn
about our soon to be guru, Dr. Robert (Bono) and his big party happening that
night, which I later bring my 5 cast mates to. (We will shoot this party scene
with Bono the night before Thanksgiving. As you can well imagine, I cannot
wait!)
It was a short, but painful scene. I mean physically painful. In movie time it’s
dead summer, but in reality it was freaking cold. In light of this, (and the
fact that again, Julie wants EVERY angle covered) we had to do the scene over
and over because a scantily-clad-freezingtodeath-background person would be
shivering, chattering and/or hugging his/her self and the camera would catch
it! Of course Bill and I knew the cameras were right on us, so we just
pretended it really was August in NY—A challenge to my acting skills indeed,
since I’m in an almost sheer summer dress. Although I DO have on a GIGANTIC
Pink hat with a HUGE velvet brim. But I think the hat was more ridiculous than
it was warm. (but I loved it!)
The great thing about being a “principal” (which I’ve been trying to learn not
to feel guilty about) is that in between EVERY SINGLE TAKE (even if only for a
fraction of a second) there’s someone literally running over to cover me in
coats and blankets until the camera starts rolling again. Most of the time they
just get the crap on me and the A.D. yells: “OKAY, COATS OFF!!!” This was to be
the call I heard almost as much as action for the next few days on Rivington
and Clinton....
The next set of scenes were night shots. Still August. Still Freezing. Probably
not for the 50 dancers, who take after take, slithered and jumped and spun all
over the streets, ALL night long (and beyond—They were AMAZING!!! The film is
worth seeing just for these guys and gals) to the song “Come Together”, which
is sung by Joe Cocker. Joe plays 3 different characters throughout the song: A
Homeless Bum (which Julie decided should just be how he looks naturally. Ouch.)
A Pimp (which we all agreed he should keep this look in real life); and A
Crazed Religious Fanatic (No Comment).
All I had to do for this scene was walk with JoJo, whom I just meet after he
auditions for me at the infamous “Cafe Huh?” (Out front of the Cafe Huh—a take
off on the infamous Cafe Wha?-- is a large poster with a picture of me that
says: “Sadie and The Po Boys Performing Tonight”. Very cool.) JoJo and I
stumble into the bizarre “pied piper-ish” dance scene. (I was so hoping I’d get
to dance in this film, but I guess Sadie IS WAY TOO COOL TO DANCE!) I suppose I’ll
be grateful for that in the long run as I’m not the most graceful 6 footer.
JoJo is played by Martin Luther, the amazing singer who joined me for a song at
BB King’s in August. He becomes my boyfriend in the film.
This scene took ALL NIGHT LONG. Largely because the wardrobe people kept
running up and down the street to the calls of: “COATS ON!” and “COATS OFF!!
--NOW!!!” Again, the royal treatment still left me feeling guilty, as the
dancers and background huddled in front of an outdoor heater while we were
brought coats and coffee. Yet they did most of the work!!
No one seemed to mind though. We had all kinds of people coming to watch us,
the set was sheer magic and “Come Together” was blasting all over the
neighborhood, AND the entire block smelled like MAPLE SYRUP!!! (Did anyone else
smell this mysterious smell which according to NY 1 News people were smelling
ALL OVER Manhattan AND New Jersey?? I frankly find this a little creepy. But
that’s a different kind of journal for my conspiracy theory mind!)
MTV News came down to interview the six of us. (One at a time.) My interview
was done right in front of my Sadie and The Po Boys Poster. I don’t remember
much of what I said. I know I rambled. Found out later that my cast mates felt
the same way about their interview. MTV News seemed most excited about
unveiling the mysterious identity of “The 10Spot Lady.” (I will let you know
when this will be aired.)
It was wild to know that after all the years of being the anonymous 10Spot
voice on MTV, I’m now being interviewed as one of the stars of what’s turning
out to be a pretty talked about film. What a trip!
Even better was the “trip” I took down memory lane, as I snuck down to my very
first apartment in NYC:
There I stood only blocks away from the most amazing thing I’ve ever been part
of, yet WORLDS away from that lost and messed up little girl who once wandered
these blocks aimlessly, handing out $20 bills to junkies named Billy, and drug
dealers named “Popo”. In fact, my 2 biggest drug suppliers (each disguised at
the time as a ratty deli) had both completely transformed:
The first skanky deli on B & 10th became a high end French
restaurant. (I shudder to think). This place holds a special memory for me. It’s
where I once gave the deli-owning-drug-dealer my TV (deciding he could use it
more than I, and I could use the drugs more than it), and later that afternoon
he was shot (hopefully not for the TV). I actually woke up from a nap to the
sound of the gun going off. Turns out he was shot, but survived, then shot and killed
the burglar!
The second place, was my dark-home-away-from-dark-home. It was run by Popo my
drug dealer friend (??) (who, funny enough, my dear friend and DFB
guitarist/co-writer, Jon Diamond, has been nicknamed after ever since. I still
call him that---a long story, but a very sweet and innocent one---COMPLETELY
antithetical to it’s origin)
This particular rat infested, deli fronted drug joint, (where I once hid under
the floor boards during a police raid and short shoot out!), interestingly (and
movingly) enough, became an all-vegan health cafe called, “Live Life Good”.
That one really hit me. “Live Life Good”.
Man. I’ll be damned if I ain’t tryin’.
.... In Red Hook Brooklyn even??
A very long and interesting day in a very interesting part of NYC, with quite a
storied past - Red Hook, Brooklyn.
Pick up was at 7am. Nice and late again. Hallelujah.
Today we were shooting Sadie’s first performance scene in the film at “Cafe
Huh?” (again, a takeoff on the once very hip and infamous, but now very cheesy
night club, Cafe Wha?).
Upon first glance Red Hook looks almost dismal and post-apocolyptic. However,
in doing a little research on the area, it’s a rather colorful place both
historically and as far as some of the current trends and ambitions to revive
this centuries old shipping neighborhood, which had its “heyday”, shipping
grain, from the mid 1800’s to the mid 1900’s.
A few fun facts:
1. Al Capone got his start (AND his nickname “Scarface” after he was wounded on
the docks) as a petty criminal in Red Hook before moving on to Chicago in the
20’s where he took it to the next level.
2. The famous 1954 film starring Marlon Brando, “On The Waterfront” was a
dramatization of the dark side of life on the docks of Red Hook.
After the decline in it’s shipping industry in the late 50’s/early 60’s (humans
were replaced by containers and cranes---of course) and also due to the fact
that Red Hook is completely isolated from the rest of NYC (thanks to the
Gowanus Expressway built in 1946 and the Brooklyn Battery Park Tunnel whose
entrance sits at the tip and further isolates the neighborhood---hmmm, sounds
like a Real Estate boom in the making!) the neighborhood, largely deserted by
it’s line of shipping families, fell into decades of crime and obscurity.
Interestingly enough, it’s having a resurgence thanks to farming (??) and glass
blowing (???!). That’s NYC for you. Land of opportunity indeed!
Well, this was MY opportunity in NY to strut my stuff as a Rocker, and boy was
I going to seize the moment!
So, I brilliantly decided at 8:30 in the morning, to take a part of the song “Why
Don’t We Do It In The Road” and let out a GUTTURAL scream, while doing a FULL
ON backbend, WHILE holding the mike stand and microphone straight up in the air
over my head. I was caffeinated as hell and on fire!!!
Julie of course approved of this move, which meant I would be repeating it over
and over and over and over again, for 14 more hours. HOLY F*CK!!!
Okay, so I learned a good lesson about filming---never do ANYTHING you can’t or
don’t want to have to do A THOUSAND MORE TIMES for MANY more hours. In a row.
Without a break. On the first day of your period. Stuffed into tight leather
pants.
Here’s the best part! By 2:30 in the afternoon, having nothing in my body since
7am but caffeine, egg whites, and a very full tampon---sorry guys) I started to
get a little “woozy”. I was asked if we could just get the last shots at this
particular camera angle before lunch break. I said “of course” and prayed.
At this point, the only sound that was allowed was my vocals. We (the band, the
100+ extras, the crew, etc.) all had ear wigs in so as to hear the song). In
other words, I’m singing, but the audience has to pantomime the yelling,
cheering and clapping.
When I got to the part where I do my best Robert Plant (back bend/gutteral
scream) I looked out at the crowd, (which at this point they looked more like a
special ed class as they did the pantomime clapping) and being punchy, woozy,
hungry and WAY in need of a tampon change, I lost all control (of EVERYTHING)
and fell right on my ASS!! The microphone went flying from the stand and across
the room!
The assistant director bellowed out: “Keep Rolling!!!!” then more quietly, “Dana,
you okay?”
In a desperate attempt to save some of the scene and the vintage microphone
(which was about to be crushed by the giant roaming camera on what looks like a
mini trolley car), I pulled myself off the floor, and began to wildly reel the
mic in by the chord.
The retarded looking crowd was still silently cheering and clapping until Julie
finally yelled, “Cut!”
Then the entire place just EXPLODED with laughter, which must have lasted for a
solid 5 minutes!
After they saw that I wasn’t hurt (other than my pride!) they began to reset.
During the 15 or so minutes of down time, I could hear from the stage my
guttural scream for the back bend shot coming from the monitor, followed by
hysterical laughter coming from Julie, crew and anyone standing close enough to
the monitor to see. They were watching the playback of my wipe out over and
over!!
Finally I yelled “okay, that’ll be enough”. Then Julie said, “Well, here’s our
first great out take for the film”.
I then I replied that I want extra pay for that!
After we broke for lunch, I watched my moment of humiliation. And while it WAS
quite ridiculous, it was also quite funny.
So, I donated it to the out takes.
The rest of the day was spent getting this scene at different angles, including
shots of the action going on with my cast mates who are in the audience, and
their reaction to this Sadie character they’ve all just met.
Needless to say, we got some good reaction shots from the wipe out.
Needless to say, I had a GREAT time in Red Hook.
Today we shot my first big moment of drama in the film....
At this point in the movie, Sadie is on her way to fame and is headlining the
Filmore East. She’s also on her way out the door as far as her band AND
guitarist/boyfriend are concerned. Seduced by the powerful record label exec,
she’s decided to move on. Unbeknownst to JoJo, her lover and guitarist. At
least that what she thinks, but JoJo’s a perceptive guy and will make it clear
to her on stage, that he’s Hip to her Hypocrisy. As in, what’s really going on
between them, juxtaposed, if you will, to the words she’s singing in this
beautiful Beatles song “Oh Darling”.......
Pick up was originally supposed to be 6am, however, due to strict union rules
for the crew (they have to have a certain amount of hours to sleep—how dare
they??) who had pulled an 18 hour day the day before (wimps!), I received word
at midnight that my call time was now 11am. Thank you Jesus, Mary AND Joseph!
I arrived to set fully rested (and caffeinated) for the first time since I
started this project. It almost didn’t feel right being completely awake.
Having full faculty of my senses and motor skills while singing/dancing/acting
in front of cameras, crews, cast mates, extras and all under GLARING lights,
gives me way too sharp a sense of awareness. This can only lead one to bouts of
severe neurosis. Speaking of which....
Got to wardrobe only to find out that my favorite outfit in the film had been
replaced by something Julie considered “darker” (figuratively speaking) and
more dramatically suited for the scene. Bummer, but hey, choose your battles,
right? Well, I chose to battle this one. (But only in my tortured, neurotic
mind, I do have SOME control.)
So, I got into the 1920s vintage-store black slip, which had been beautifully
butchered by the wardrobe elves in an effort to fit my so-very-NOT-1920’s size!
In other words, what should have been an awesome and sexy cleavage revealing
cut, was, on me, (someone twice the average size of most homo sapiens from that
time) something a nun could have pulled off in Mass.
”The right beads will make it simply fabulous, Sadie, Honey.” The hillarious
Chris Peterson, Albert Wolksy’s wardrobe assistant assured me. “Throw it on
with those brown (men’s) cowboy boots and that green velvet robe and you’ll be
rocking the Sexy Sadie vibe!” he cheered.
I had my doubts.
But, time was of essence. We were already starting to shoot 5 hours later than
planned, which meant we’d go 5 hours later than usual. (Usual is about 11pm.
You can do the math. Oh boy.)
So, I threw on my costume, a smile, TONS of jewelry and got to the set. Which
was awesome! Hundreds of extras standing in front of the stage anxiously
awaiting my arrival!! --(Okay, Sadie’s arrival. Yes, they were acting.) All the
same, it definitely got me pumped up and I was able to forget for a moment that
I felt as though I looked like a cross between Maud and Mrs. Roper!
It was time to rehearse the big scene. Which I’d done countless times since I
auditioned for this film; since I came in again and again and again to help
them find my on screen boyfriend for this film; since my first on screen
boyfriend got fired from this film (after days and days of killing my vocal
chords because he just couldn’t get Julie’s direction AT ALL for the big
Sadie/JoJo moment in this film); and until they finally found the right man for
this film, the amazing Martin Luther—who nailed both the song AND the stage
fight, first try! Yippie.
God, am I SICK of this song.
The pressure was on today. I had 3 big scenes to shoot and it was already 1:00.
Julie was not only nervous about the time, but she was nervous about how the
scene was going to work. (the fighting on stage through song, perfectly timed
to the track, perfectly lip syncing as I perfectly unplug JoJo in the middle of
his OBNOXIOUS solo!) The on stage fight she wanted both believable and musical.
And NOT like a “musical.” Thank Goodness.
Fortunately I’ve had some experience with the whole “battle of the egos between
Diva and guitarist/boyfriend!”
We began to rehearse the scene and I felt ready (as long as I remembered to
force out the images of Mrs. Roper and Maud.)
I had to do a combination of lip sync and live singing. I’d spent the entire
day and night before practicing my “lip sync” and live fighting/singing in my
apartment, with “Oh Darling” BLASTING on my speakers. If my daily vocal
exercises haven’t already convinced them, surely now my neighbors believe I’m
insane.
It was time to “Roll Camera.” Martin stepped on to the stage looking SMASHING!
I was immediately jealous that he showed more cleavage than I did! (Mrs. Roper
BE GONE!---Please!)
Then I heard: “Camera’s up! Rolling! Playback (which refers to the prerecorded
song) and ACTION!” I let out the first “Oh Darlin’” and the crowd went wild
(Man that’s an addictive feeling!) Just as I opened my mouth to fake the next
line, I heard “CUT”!
Julie hopped on stage, looked me over and said: “Wait a minute, can’t we get
this dress ANY lower? This isn’t sexy!!” I wanted to say: “I KNEW IT!!” but
instead, I just said: “Well, I guess people just weren’t this giant in the
1920s”.
Based on her very puzzled expression, she clearly had NO CLUE as to what in the
hell I was talking about (Julie doesn’t know where wardrobe people get the
stuff!) She just shook her head and sent me back to wardrobe to put on the
original “Filmore East” outfit. Yey---I Won!!
I was RUSHED into my trailer, followed by a host of wardrobe elves, (male and
female) and putting all modesty aside, I did the fastest outfit change (which
included boob taping as the dress doesn’t allow for bra and I didn’t want to be
flopping around while I’m stomping around”) in front of the whole lot of them!
In fact, one of the wardrobe gals, taught me a trick Raquel Welch used to “Tape
her giant girls up”. This required bending completely forward so your “utters”
can dangle as you put the band-aid like tape underneath them. (This is where my
dark past as a stripper proved to be somewhat useful. At least for the lack of
modesty part! (And no, I never “dangled my girls” upside down while taping them
on stage!)
I made it back to set in a flash, and we started the scene. It felt SO REAL! I
really imagined being at the Filmore East back in the day, in front of
thousands of screaming fans, with Jon playing way too loud and totally pissing
me off!
We got a GREAT take on the FIRST take! Everyone was thrilled and relieved!
(Especially me, Julie and Martin, who knew we could FINALLY move on from this
scene that had been beaten TO DEATH since rehearsals last spring!) I think
Martin and I scored some points with the crew as well. Moving through it and
nailing it this quickly, we were really able to make up for lost time and maybe
some sleep that night was in store for us all after all.
In the end, we got the scene to a place that far exceeded all of our expectations.
The other scenes were a breeze. And lots of fun. I got to be drunk and ornery.
Drunk and sad. Sad and angry. The latter for the final scene of they day, where
I had to run out into the street in the rain (real rain) at 1am crying as my
sleazy new label picked me up in his awesome 1960s ride.
A crowd of people stood and stared (they’d seen his face before, know that he
was really showing he was from the house of Lords....) Sorry, I digressed into
a Beatles Lyric from “Day In the Life”.
A crowd of people did stand and stare. I ran into the cold, wet, late
night/early morning street a few more times, crying, then we called it a day.
I call THAT a “Day in (this strange) Life” for sure.
... And some hot pastrami with mustard and a bowl of
matzoh ball soup wouldn’t suck too bad either. And it Didn’t!!
(Hope the subject line of this E-mail doesn’t land me in the spam folder with
those ads offering giant hard penises to all who are lacking.)
If you haven’t been to Katz’s Deli, you ain’t a New Yorker! And if you AIN’T a
New Yorker, (well, you should consider becoming one) then you’re excused.
Katz’s Deli was started in 1888 by a Russian immigrant family in the Lower East
Side of Manhattan, a place that, at the time, was quickly becoming home to many
millions of newly emigrated families. The success was (and still is) attributed
to Katz’s recreation of “Old World” flavors using the real deal traditional
methods (smoking, pickling, etc.) which predated refrigeration.
During WW2, the owner of Katz’s had 3 sons in the armed forces serving overseas
and the family tradition of sending food over began and sealed the slogan “Send
A Salami to your boy in the Army.” The original poster is still there.
There is also the never-ending wall of fame where the owner has a picture of
himself with infamous politicians/crooks, celebrities and foreign dignitaries.
Now I will be on that wall. I don’t know what category I’d fall under unless
they create one for binge eating actresses (and we know there’s more out
there!!)
You see, I got busted eating the props and when the owner saw me, he groaned
and a look of panic seem to wash over his face. I was certain it was sheer
annoyance at having to dole out more free pastrami and matzoh ball soup for the
shoot, but he was really just incredibly concerned that my first taste of his
pastrami (and actually pastrami in general) was not fresh! Well, since lunch
was pushed back to 7pm and I’d only had egg whites at 9:30 and it was now 3, I
was ready to let him lavish me in cured meets. I can’t believe I was EVER a
vegetarian. Then again, hours later when that dearly departed cow, possessed
like the devil my gastrointestinal make-up, I was wishing I still was.
Anyway, I suppose my enthusiasm for his deli delights won his heart, and when I
asked if the picture we’d all just taken with him could go on the wall of fame,
he said, “Of course!” Hope he remembers.
By the way, the famous Meg Ryan fake orgasm scene from “When Harry Met Sally”
was shot here as well as the Katz’s scene in “Donnie Brasco” with Johnny Depp
and Al Pacino. We are the 3rd film to shoot and keep it “Katz’s.”
Very cool. Each film portrays a different decade as well.
This was, I think, my favorite scene yet. It was the six of us having a late
night snack after Sadie’s gig (first one with JoJo) at the Cafe Wha?
In this scene, Lucy (Evan) has just handed her brother Max (Joe, aka the
blond-blue-eyed-brit who can do anything, and with an American accent to boot)
a draft letter she brought from home (Massachusetts).
Knowing Max is desperate to dodge the Vietnam draft, we start coming up with
all kinds of crazy ideas as to how he might do so.
The great thing was that Julie just let us riff on this. As we’ve all seen each
other just about every day since June and it’s now October, it wasn’t hard to
keep the banter and the silliness rolling.
This short little scene took about 8 hours to shoot. (That’s nothing, believe
me!) This was the first of many scenes relating to Max’s draft. Most of which
will be done to the “I Want You”. However there is one part in Sadie’s loft
where I’m seducing JoJo (singing the line “I Want You”) for our first night
together and our dear Prudence is sitting out on the fire escape singing the
line to herself about Sadie! (to be shot and journaled soon). The bulk of the
tune is sung by sergeants with giant square-jawed faces (made of latex), young
soldiers and new recruits, all surrounding Max as he goes through the
induction. Whew!
We are all often wondering which of the many incredible, incredibly weird, incredibly
powerful and all-at-incredibly-varied-angles, scenes will actually make it on
the screen. (And which of those, will be ours—okay, mine!)
It almost doesn’t matter (almost). This whole crazy experience will be with me
always (and hopefully in many people’s DVD collection for years to come).
Here’s hoping...
... No, this is not a twisted porn flick, nor is it a silly dance.
The last few days have been a haze. Really. (Lots of smoking.) But also, 15-18
hour days. Including Sunday.
We had Bono again, and AGAIN I had make-up with him! Both at 8am AND for our
after lunch “touchups”. Crazy.
I played it much cooler this time and only stuttered once or twice before I
could just thank him for the tickets he gave us all in October as well as the
Beatles medley he sung from the stage after hearing us yell to him “hey Dr.
Robert!!” Then I went on to tell him how hard I tried to get to the stage to
help him remember the lyrics to a very old U2 song, (which was ONLY from a live
import and not a song they ever recorded in the studio) called “Party Girl”.
Some fan yelled it out when Bono told the crowd to pick an old one. He was
caught off guard, but being a man of his word, he went for it, admitting that
he couldn’t remember the lyrics. Well, you betcha I knew EVERY last one of them
and I’d be damned if I wasn’t going to sing that song! So, after trampling a
number of small teenagers (hmmm, reminds me of a particular whale watching trip
I once took) to get up front, I stopped myself and decided that I’d feel really
uncool (and more importantly I’d LOOK reeeeeally uncool) charging my way any
further. Hey, I had a movie with him and all, right? So, I settled for
SCREAMING EVERY LYRIC OUT AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS from a bit further back in the
crowd and to the obvious dismay (and pain) of fellow concert go-ers.
Sometimes being so tall at concerts is a blessing AND a curse.
Well, when I relayed the story to Bono he said: “Ah, Sadie Darlin’, had I seen
you out there I woulda pulled ya on stage to sing it”.
FUCK.
Never again will I let shameful looks from strangers who make me feel like a
complete and utter pathetic loser, deter me from a childhood dream.
FUUUUCK!
Okay. Moving on. We then had a great conversation about the Dylan documentary
and shared what inspired each of us. Once I just started rapping to him about
music, I started to feel in better command of my tongue and jaw, and began to
sound less like a deaf mute trying to speak, and more like a confident young
woman who might know a little bit about music.
It was time to go to set. What a set. I feel like I keep saying this, but Julie
just keeps surprising us!
Set for the last couple of days was a loft apartment on 1st and 1st,
which we had to enter by way of some rusted out old auto parts store.
Upon passing through the garage, there is a large courtyard which offers 3
separate floor-to-ceiling glass doors (which all lead into the same gargantuan
home) surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass walls.
Inside was another galaxy entirely. Not another world, not another planet, but
another galaxy. I guess “Across the Universe” IS truly an appropriate title for
this film.
Our incredibly unique, brilliant, and monstrously creative director and art
department, (led by designer, Mark Friedberg ) had turned this place into
a Mod 60’s Party Palace! There was the “bubble room”: a large red room with
nothing but GIANT balloons—each the size of a truck---where gorgeous people
wearing dresses and/or beehive hairdos that light up, rolled over, under,
around and then some; there was the dining room: a long multicolored
room---maybe 100 feet----with a long wooden dining table that had to be at
least 70 feet, covered with colorful, but unappetizing, appetizers (too weird
to describe. Really.) and BIZARRE blown-glass art. Turns out the owner is a
famous and wealthy glass blower. All righty then. Then there was the “main room”
where Dr. Robert (Bono) performs his speech and promotes his book, before
launching into the first half of “I Am The Walrus” (remember, we did the second
half on the magic bus) as all the party go-ers, merry pranksters, I and my cast
mates danced, smoked, tripped, tripped, tripped. Tripped. In fact, a few of my
mates actually took the opportunity to trip on mushrooms. Brave. I didn’t need
anything. I had Bono and the engaging company of Bill, the sleazy record label
guy who brings us to this party, which is being hosted by Dr. Robert’s
publisher, Luna Park.
Bill is played by the wonderful actor (he was Robert Crumb in “American
Splendor”—great film!) and a funny funny man, James Urbaniak James does
the best Tom Cruise impersonation there could ever be. His interpretive dance
to any song I throw at him rocks too! There was a lot of standing around to get
the right shots of Bono, us getting high, Bill and I making JoJo jealous, and
worried looking GOGO girls hanging upside down from gravity boots or swinging
in giant white bubble seats that hung from the ceiling beams. It was a pleasure
to stand next to James for 12 hours (with one break only) and get some good
laughs, good film recommendations AND good acting tips!
Luna Park was played by a 50 something asian actress who wore huge false
eyelashes, a light-up dress, and an eternal, ever so creepy, giant smile, as
she kept accidentally calling us all by our real names. (Fortunately the boom
mic wasn’t always close enough to hear our “background party chatter” and her
gaffs.) By the way, one of the things I learned from James (Bill) is that when
you have to fake background conversation (which means it will only be seen and
not heard) and you have to do it for many hours, you simply say “peas and
carrots” a number of times, occasionally throwing in a “rhubarb”. This makes
the mouth move in all the right ways for believable dialogue.
It really does. Try it at home!
I also learned from James (after Julie told me to “lose the huffing”) that
there is a thing known as “The Hollywood Huff” which is basically a “huff” to
show frustration or surrender or whatever. Anyway, it’s an economical way of
showing an emotion that should otherwise be expressed in a more creative way.
Apparently many young and amateur actors rely on this. (So do many of our older
not-so-good actors out there). Think about it. You KNOW you’ve seen the Huff!
Now I know to never do the huff again. Very cool. Thanks, James!
The rest of the rooms were filled with super models, REAL 1960s rejects, and
more strange blown glass.
I spent the day standing or sitting for various scenes in various rooms at
various times of the party. My favorite was when I was perched up about 8 feet
to sit in the middle of a giant white wall, dangling my feet and pretending to
look troubled as Bill continues to try to sell me on signing with his label and
gets a bit too pushy while JoJo watches from afar. (Actually this is when the
huff went down. But fortunately you’ll never see it.)
By the time we got to the part where Bono gives us his speech and sings, (after
shooting his mere entrance to the party for 5 straight hours) he was tired and
again could not remember his lines. After the first few flubs he yelled: “Hey,
I’m really going to need my line shouter today”. We didn’t really know there
was such a thing. But I guess Bono did.
Julie gave the lines to that same PA. Poor guy also had to hold up giant 6 foot
cue cards with lyrics to the song.
What could we say? This was the man who persuaded our president to relieve a 3rd
world nation’s debt, was 2 days away from completing his millionth grueling,
nonstop world tour, unrelentingly still fighting the AIDS epidemic in Africa
and now currently in the midst of press junkets for the new U2 album and tour,
as well as meetings with world leaders about human rights matters, and here he
was shooting a film on his only days off! (Whew. I’m exhausted.)
Tired, cranky and clearly on a tight schedule, he managed to completely blow us
all away again. And he wasn’t even really singing this time!
Once the scene was nailed. He said his good-byes, told us he’d see us at the “wrap
party” and took off.
We stuck around for a while to finish the “trip."
When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the
slide, where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride, til I get to the bottom and
I vomit again......yeah yeah yeah.... Helter Skelter, Helter Skelter..... And
that was pretty much how it went!
After being in bed puking for 2 days straight, it was time to shoot my most
physically demanding scene in the whole film. So much so, that they even hired
a stunt double because they were concerned about the state of my neck after
hours and hours of what our choreographer, Daniel Ezralow, referred to as “tribal
head thrashing”. In light of this and the fact that the next few days, I’d be
singing another song with the whole cast at double speed in a tank of water,
they hired a professional dancer with hair like mine.
I got to set, my pride took over (not a healthy pride one has when running a
101 fever and fresh off the cool tiles of a bathroom floor only hours after
pulling my head out of the toilet) but this pride of mine took over and I
demanded they send the stunt double home. I’d do my own tribal neck thrashing
and body gyrating, thank you.
So, nauseas and wobbly, with racoon-like eyes (Julie insists Sadie is NOT into
lipstick, but LOVES her eyeliner) and a dress that looked more like a spider
web I’d stumbled upon (In the coolest way. The dress ROCKED and Julie’s assured
me she’ll see to it that I keep it for press interviews) I climbed the ladder
to this very high makeshift stage where one giant spot light burned behind me.
I was so blinded by the light, I had to feel around with my feet to determine
how much falling room I had in front of, and behind me. There wasn’t much. The
knowledge of this made me that much more wobbly. And Nauseas.
Sensing my shakiness, our A.D. (Geoff Hansen) asked if I needed them to add an
additional platform in front of the stage. Pride did not prevail this time (in
retrospect, I thank god for this) and I said yes, PLEASE.
So, they put another stage in front of me and now I had 4 feet of frontward
falling room as opposed to about 6 inches. What were they thinking???? Not only
did I have to jump and thrash around to perform the song, but I also had to do
it at 48 frames. This means, the song was sped up by 4 times it’s normal speed
and I had to thrash, gyrate, dance AND lipsync at this pace.
It was only after a few normal takes that they broke this news of the 48 frames
business to me, and seeing as how I was already about to puke on everyone’s
head, my neck felt like I had just had a major car accident, and my knees were
already bleeding, (because I decided Sadie should go down at the end of the
song and fall back—Which of course, again, meant a repeat of this stunt over
and over, because Julie realized after I did it, that at this point of the film
EVERY cast member will be seen falling: Max in the fields of Vietnam; Lucy in
the middle of the Columbia University riots; Jude, after trying to rescue Lucy
from the cops at the riots: and Prudence falling into peace and harmony (and a
lake) with the Hare Krishna she’s run away with) I figured, hey, let’s have a
go at this 48 frames thing and see what else there is left to gush out of me.
First they had to see if I could lip sync to something this fast. They called
me to the monitors (where crowds of people stand around viewing everything you’re
doing) and on command I had to sit there (in front of everyone) and lip sync to
what sounded like an Alvin and The Chipmunks demonic Christmas song. It took a
second for them to convince me that this was not just for the sake of great out
takes and their amusement. So, like a freak and much to everyone’s surprise
(but not my own, I was ALWAYS challenging the kids in school to speedy tongue
twisters, obsessively so, in fact), I sang right along with the chipmunks and
everyone laughed their asses off and applauded. Then I was asked to go on stage
and do it again, only this time adding the sped up gyrating and thrashing
about.
See, the whole idea behind this sped up thing is that once they get it at 48
frames, they then slow it down to normal speed and the result is pretty
amazing. Especially for the whole hair movement thing. It both captures and
creates movement with the hair and body that would otherwise not be possible.
After the first sped up take, I was soooooo much more dizzy and nauseas.
However, my neck actually stopped hurting because I think my head just
completely fell off of it. No such luck.
Everyone was laughing and clapping when I “came to” from the intentional fall
(which turned out to be a welcome rest every time I did it—bloody knees and
all) and Julie wisely asked me to come see how cool it all looked before
telling me she needed it a few more times at various profiles.
I must admit that after seeing it, the torture was well worth it, and my
devilish pride and all the attention pumped me up for another 5 or 6 takes. I
truly lost count at this point. In fact, the only thing I remember cogniting on
was someone asking if I needed anything and I said: “I could really use some
ginger ale and saltines.” Next thing I knew about 10 people were on walkie
talkies demanding: “We need to get Sadie some ginger ale and saltines, pronto!”
followed by, “Copy that”. followed by: “Can someone please see who’s on the
saltines for Sadie?” followed by: “Not sure if we have saltines, will Ritz do?”
followed by: “Uh, can we find Saltines?” “Copy that”. This went on a bit longer
and I finally intervened to say that any salty cracker would do. Next thing I
knew, there was a big plate of crackers and a few cans of ginger ale. (God, I’ll
miss this part when the film is over!)
I quickly scarfed some crackers, gulped some ginger ale, and like a bloody
warrior, said “Let’s do it!”
I then climbed back up the ladder, felt the burning light behind me and
proceeded to thrash about for another few takes. After the final fall, I stayed
down, letting them all laugh and applaud some more, while smiling to myself and
thinking “I’m so fucking sick, and this is SO FUCKING AWESOME."
... the love you take, is equal to the love you make” (from the Beatles’ song “The
End”).
We said it felt more like the end of an era than just a film. After 8 months of
experiencing together the biggest thing that’s ever happened to any of us, that’s
almost how it felt.
The last 2 days were a completion of the first 2 days (which were shot up state
in the woods if you recall). Only now there was no way we were going to fake “summer”
in upstate New York, running around in skirts, tanks, shirtless, etc.,
pretending that the bare trees were ripe and lush or that the water wasn’t ice.
So everything was done on what they call “blue screen” which, again is really
all green walls, floors & ceilings on the set around us, so they can later
computer generate the scenery. (Hmm. Now that you know this, let’s see if you’ll
be able to tell once you see the movie which shots were really done outside and
which were not!)
First was the “tank” scene. After wandering through the woods where Dr. Robert
(Bono) has dumped us on his way back to California, we stumble into Mr. Kite’s
(Eddie Izzard) circus, where we find Prudence (who’s been missing) playing “Henry
The Horse”!
Now we are all together again for the last time before the film takes its dark
turn.
The “tank” is the lake we come across and decide to take a rest at as the LSD
begins to wear off. We all end up in the water.
This was supposed to be the big nude scene, but in PG-13 movies you can’t show
any nipple, but crack, nothing! So only a few of us had to bear it all because
Julie decided that our colorful clothes floating around would look much more
interesting than a bunch of organless barbie dolls. However, Max, (who’s about
to go to Vietnam and is starting to lose it) rips all of his clothes off so we
have him floating about all naked and crazy looking; then Jude and Lucy get
naked for some underwater love play. (They are able to beautifully hide their
private parts by wrapping around each other. It’s an UNBELIEVABLY exquisite
shot where they do a John and Yoko like wrap and kiss underwater for a very
long time).
The rest of us had to twirl around under the water singing, and let me tell
you, having spent my entire childhood pretending to be a mermaid in any body of
water I could get into, I thought this would be a piece of cake! Oh no. I had
to twirl about in my clothes, dance around JoJo AND sing the song “Because” all
under water WITHOUT making any bubbles AND while staying exactly in the middle
of the water’s depth!! Oh and again the whole 48 frames (song sped up) thing.
(Which at least made it easier to stay under water for the whole verse because
it wasn’t as long!)
Turns out I’m incredibly buoyant (maybe it’s the boobs) and JoJo sinks like a
giant boulder! We tried to balance each other out because it was imperative
that we stay in the middle of the water, not too close to the surface or to the
bottom, so we remain in the right camera frame for the whole blue screen thing.
Once we’d go under water and hear “action” then the beginning of the song, I’d
start my singing & twirling only to go bobbing straight to the top. After a
number of takes trying to stay down long enough to sing with no bubbles, and
while trying to twirl and look sexy, floaty and peaceful, they finally thought
to put an ankle weight ...around my thigh). After that, I was Sadie the f**ing
Mermaid!! I flipped and twirled and wrapped around JoJo, singing and seducing.
It was a BLAST! My ears were filled with water; my nose, (having drunk almost
as much water as my mouth forced me to gulp down—yuck), was burning like mad;
AND, in the last take, (once I figured out how to REALLY make the ankle weights
work for me even more) I did this diving down flip thing, and my pants
completely split open. Bearing all! The wardrobe department said I’d start a
trend of velvet chaps. Another tortuously wonderful scene indeed!
The last scene left to shoot (except for Jude who finishes the beginning of the
film in Liverpool this month) was us at the circus tripping on Mr. Kite, the
Blue Meanies, the Hendersons, and each other.
Most of all, I think we were all just tripping on the whole crazy, amazing,
bizarre, exciting, confusing, challenging, dream-making, trip of it all.
We were all reduced to tears as we were officially “wrapped” one at a time.
I wonder if I will ever again work with such beautiful, and uniquely talent
people.
Thank you, Julie Taymor.
Thanks all of YOU for letting me share with you the most amazing thing I’ve
ever been a part of.
Hope to have many of you at the premiere next Thanksgiving!!
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