On the set of the Call Cutter Trailer

I've acted a bit in the past, but only stuff I've scripted and "on stage" at an anime convention, mostly it's been about the costume and "getting a laugh". This time however it was serious, as I was going to be in front of a video camera, with a crew and acting out a scene I had to get perfect. And most importantly I had to look serious and natural, and not scared rigid like I do usually.

I was vastly helped by the fact I only had to act alongside Nomi and I could ad lib my part as much as I liked as long as I got the general import of it right, I wont go into details spoil it for anyone as I want everyone to see the final cut (watch this space). Suffice to say I was surprised at how I managed to totally block out the fact there was the director, a camera, a sound guy, a makeup girl and possibly a whole host of other people in the room with us and totally focus on the acting. I've never felt a buzz quite like it, and was sad when after several takes the director had got what he wanted.

There was more fun to come though, as we then had to go and get more makeup applied in the form of grisly wounds and copious amounts of blood, the director was thrilled when I said to the makeup girl "yeah just cover me in it I've got a change of clothes with me". Hence the fact I'm covered in blood from having my throat cut :-)

The next scene I thought was going to be far easier to act as all I had to do was lie there and pretend to be dead... wrong, I had to remain perfectly still with eyes open propped up uncomfortably. But it was such fun being covered in all the fake stage blood (which is actually corn syrup and tastes really nice!).

And that was our scenes done... and I must say that was the most fun I've ever had with my trousers up :-) And I can't wait to see the results, and perhaps reprise my role in the film proper and or take up any other offers for parts in other films.

On a side note whilst waiting for my makeup to be done I twittered what I was doing and got a few quizzical "what're you up to?" responses, of which I replied "I'm an extra in a film". That evening after we got home the lead in the film (a good friend of Nomis) told me what a good job he thought I'd done and that I wasn't an extra, but "an ACTOR". I can think of no higher praise than to receive that comment from Rob as he is a superb actor both on stage and on screen, and for him to consider me as such really touched me and made me feel really emotional.