Close Encounters of the Krasinski Kind
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 | 75 commentsIt turns out that some of the sound guys that were working this film are sound guys from The Office. I talked to them for awhile and they were really cool guys. I think they were geeking out about the show as much as I was. You could tell they really love working on the show.
I was on-call from Thursday to Sunday and I finally got the call to go in on Sunday. I had such a fan-freakin-tastic time! I got to shoot all day … and I wasn’t even an extra. We were the people they were shooting. Now, I had no idea what we were going to do when we arrived.
At first, I thought we were going to be stand-ins where we just sit there while they figure out lighting so the real actors don’t have to stand in the sun or light while they do that, but you’re never on camera. When I got there, I found out that we were, in fact, their “photo doubles”. So, then, I thought they were just going to take pictures of us. In reality, what we did was we actually shot scenes as them.
It was pretty cool. All of our scenes were car scenes. The car that the couple is driving in Phoenix is an orange Aveo. So, we were shooting scenes, as the actors, driving this car around downtown Phoenix and the Biltmore area. It was pretty cool because we had police escorts and they were blocking off the streets while we roamed around. I got to run red lights and go down one-way streets going the wrong way. It was exciting. I felt like a real actor.
We had a walkie talkie with us, so when we were on our marks the director would yell “Aaaaaaaaaction” over the talkie and we would go. Downtown was empty, as you would imagine it would be early on a Sunday morning. That’s what they were going for.
By 9am or so, people started filling the streets, so the PA’s and the police were trying to keep people from walking in our shots. We were still allowed to run red lights but they said, “Run the red lights while we’re filming but if you see pedestrian walking across, don’t hit them.” … Uh, yeah, I think we had that covered. We shot about seven scenes in seven different locations around Phoenix. I kind of felt like a celebrity because they drove us around to every location.
I thought that was the end of my stint on the set. The following Monday, I did have to go to set to fill out some paperwork. As I walked on set, the agent called my name and was excited to see me. I thought that was odd but she ran up to me and told me she was getting ready to call me. It turns out that filming had been pushed out for another day and the girl who had been Maya’s stand-in couldn’t do the extra day, so the agent asked if I could do it. There’s no way I was turning that down.
The agent had to go find my paperwork, so I just hung around in the background watching John and Maya film some scenes. When the agent returned with my paperwork, I figured I should be getting back to work to my real job, so I sat in the back and filled out my paperwork.
This Week
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That is simply amazing! And you just thought you were going to be an extra! Holy crap!
Wow, that whole experience sounds incredible! I’ve dreamed so much of what I’d say to John Krasinski if I had the chance, besides “Will you marry me?” which would be a little foward. I always imagined him as a person that you could talk to and be cool with. You got to talk to him a few times, with time for some cool conversation. I’m jealous! It’s so nice to hear that one of my dream men is a normal down to earth guy. Can’t wait for the movie.
PS- has the title changed from “Farlanders?” I think I saw a title change on the imdb website.
PPS-John, do a movie in Cincinnati PLEASE! : )
Oh. My. God. I am SO jealous! Go you for not stuttering like an idiot around John, as I’m positive I would have done! I am so glad to know that he is just as nice in real life as he is in the show. It just makes me love him even more! *swoon*
that is so amazing! thanks for sharing :)
Un. Be. Liev. A. B. Le.
Wow, how amazing! Thanks for the awesome account. And you do look a little like Maya, you know!
You are so lucky! I am so jealous!
high fives from John?! a Really good week?!?
there are no words to describe my jealousy :)
thanks for this awesome report!
I’m pretty darn happy that we get more John in theaters :D
Congrats, lemonade! I think it is fantastic that you were chosen as a stand-in… Your account is fantastic! I can’t wait to see your part in the film.
Can I just say that John has a great mountain man look? Seriously. It’s just. Awesome.
I’m going to prove that I’m a total geek by saying that I would’ve been more excited to talk to Sam Mendes than John Krasinski only because American Beauty is one of the best movies I’ve ever seen and would love to talk to him about it.
Talking to John would’ve been awesome too!
Great report! I’m a little jealous though! :)
Thanks for “taking us along” on your awesome experience! I would have been totally tongue tied trying to converse with John. You did it! Congratulations on what must have been an amazing week.
sexxy.
Wow! You are one majorly lucky girl. I really don’t know what else to say.
I’m so glad you had such a great experience!!! Thanks for sharing :o)
Congrats! I would have just geeked out and fainted or something! Thanks for sharing in detail, this really helps when we are months away from seeing him on TV again :)
Out of control awesome. I kept looking at the photo, and wondering if it was the real Maya–so it’s no doubt you made the B team. And time with John and his sweet self. Way to go for staying cool. I could have talked Celtics with him in my best “one of the guys” attitudes, but after that, I would have Kelly Kapoor-ed all over him.
Maybe there is more Maya stand-in work in your future?!? How exciting.
That is so cool!
How awesome! My fantasy life goes something like that (with a few extra scenes thrown in). ;)
Thanks so much for sharing that with us!
Wow! That is like a dream come true!!!! What a great experience! Congrats!! When I see this movie I am so going to nerd out to my friends when the driving scenes in Phoenix show up and tell them how I read your blog about it!!