As an actor, my fans often ask, “What’s it really like to spend a day in your shoes?” I’ve decided to keep a blog diary to describe a work day. Here goes.
Today is January twenty-second. It’s four-thirty a.m., we’re filming in Hawaii, and I can’t start the day without my morning coffee. Today we’re filming some big scenes, so I have to be in hair and make-up by five o’clock. I’m tired but ready for the day ahead.
At six o’clock, I’m ready to go on set. Sometimes, there are long breaks between scenes, so I can practice lines in my mobile van, which is where I sleep, or chat with the other cast members.
At seven o’clock, the cameras are rolling. We have waited for the light to be just right on set. Hawaii is beautiful and we’re shooting a movie about a lost civilization here. I can’t give too much information, but I’m sure everyone will love it!
By nine-thirty a.m., we have shot the scenes we want, and there’s a small break before the next part I’m in, which requires a stunt double. A stunt double is a person who performs the dangerous actions for me, like jumping off buildings. I think the stunt people are the real heroes in movies. They do all the hard work. There’s a bit in the movie where I jump off a high cliff into a lake – awesome but frightening. Luckily, I’m not the one jumping.
We have lunch at noon, and there are lots of options. Today it’s tacos, fried rice, or Hawaiian buns filled with vegetables and beans.
In the afternoon, I have a costume change and we film some scenes for the end of the movie. Each of these scenes is made up of several shots. The movie editor puts everything together once the shots are in, but we don’t necessarily shoot everything in order.
After dinner, I have a little time to digest my food before I’m on set once again. I’m starting to get really tired because my role is so physical, but I’m used to long days, so I concentrate, and we get it right after the fifth attempt!
By ten o’clock in the evening, I’m still on set because we need to wait for the light to change again. After we finish for the day, I’m finally back in my van for a hot drink and then bed. I’m asleep before my head hits the pillow.
