Wednesday, November 15, 2006

My life as an actor, continued

Posted by PicasaMake sure you read yesterday's post before you move on to this one: I told you I would take you backstage, well this is the courtyard where we spent our breaks in between filming sequences. It appears empty because I took the photo at 9am but at lunch time the lawn was full of people basking in the sun. Our meals were also served here, a copious breakfast at ten, lunch at 2:30 pm and afternoon tea at six (the shooting finished at 9pm). Interestingly enough, there were two buffet tables: one for the crew and actors and one for the extras - pros don't mingle with the crowd I suppose (but the food was the same) !
The set was located in the next courtyard, left of this photo. Sydneysiders know this building as the old mental hospital in Rozelle. After a long history (check it out here) it is now home to the Sydney College of the Arts. The park around the building, which extends right to the water's edge, is open to the public and offers a wonderful cycling itinerary.

Lisez mon texte d'hier avant de commencer celui-ci. Je vous avais dit que je vous emmènerais en coulisse, eh bien voici la cour où nous nous reposions entre deux prises. Elle est vide parce que j'ai pris la photo à 9h du matin mais à l'heure du déjeuner elle était pleine de gens assis dans l'herbe au soleil. C'est aussi ici qu'on nous a servi nos repas : petit déjeuner à 10h, déjeuner à 14h30, puis thé et soupe à 18h car on a fini à 21h ! Fait intéressant, il y avait deux buffets différents, l'un pour les figurants, l'autre pour l'équipe pro - on ne mélange pas les torchons et les serviettes ! Mais le menu (copieux) était le même...
Le décor, lui, était monté dans une autre cour juste à gauche de celle-ci. Pour beaucoup de vieux habitants de Sydney, ce bâtiment est l'ancien hôpital psychiatrique de Rozelle (voir son
histoire ici) mais il héberge à présent le Sydney College of the Arts. Le parc qui s'étend tout autour jusqu'au bord de l'eau est ouvert au public et offre un superbe itinéraire cycliste.

14 comments:

Kate said...

There's a certain irony in the fact that the building was a former mental hospital! A world of illusions!

Mountainboy said...

The old mental hospital... and they let you out? :)

How long before you see yourself on screen?

Annie said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Annie said...

I bungled that comment above so will try again.

I like the term Sydneysiders - very colorful.

Thanks for taking me behind the camera today.

Anonymous said...

9 to 9! Did I read that right? Very nice behind the scenes action for this post. Thanks for sharing it (and sorry you had to read my entire thing...posted more as a record, not nec. to be read). Cheers!

Anonymous said...

nice, comfy place you got here :)..

Olivier said...

je pourrais dire maintenant que je connais une star ;o) cela doit etre interressant à faire . ta photo est tres belle, ce petit coté sepia, bravo.


I could say now that I know a star ;O) that must be interressant to make. your photograph is very beautiful, this small with dimensions sepia, cheer

Anonymous said...

Yes Mountainboy, they let me out of this world of illusions... only I know they shouldn't have! LOL

Yes James, the hours were 9am to 9pm but, as Lynn pointed out yesterday, with a LOT OF TIME SPENT W A I T I N G - for them to move the camera, arrange the lighting, etc etc etc.
There was time for a lot of chatting with my fellow extras!

And yes Olivier, I thought it was interesting to turn into old-time sepia a photo that has such a strong present-time resonance for me.

alice said...

De la folie aux arts...transition intéressante et non dépouvue de sens!

Meg said...

Geepers, I'm glad you had fun! And imagine, same food as the stars! What is it with mental hospital and colleges? I believe Auckland's Unitec has its art department in the old Kerrington mental hospital, too, from memory; both beautiful buildings!

JaamZIN said...

the building its more nice then former mental hospitals/asylums in Europe. But I am afraid it was not a paradise for the users in this hospital...

Sally said...

So funny, especially the bit about the catering.

In May this year I sat and watched something being filmed in that little square bewteen the church (St Merry?) and the Stravinsky Fountain near the Pompidou Centre, and , apart from a bunch of extras walking(and cycling) back and forth, being typically Parisian!" they ATE from the loaded up catering tables.

Did you watch the Ricky Gervais series, "Extras". Maybe that can be your next gig?????

Kris said...

good fun!
has the experience inspired you to become an actress?

Cergie said...

Intéressant toujours de vivre les coulisses
Le coup de ne pas mélanger est édifiant aussi: cela marque la reconnaissance de ceux qui font partie du sérail / les autres qui n'y sont pas admis
Et une photo dit des choses différentes bien sûr suivant s'il y a du monde ou non
parfois, il suffit d'attendre un peu qu'il n'y ait personne, quand il y a foule, c'est plus difficile