Me With My Best Celeb Friend and STAR of "Contraband!! Marky Mark!
Actress Kate Beckinsale I Worked With
Actor Mark Wahlberg I Worked With
Actor Ben Foster I Worked With
Actor Lukas Haas I Worked WithToday was my first day on the set of the upcoming 2012 suspense/thriller, “Contraband” starring Academy Award Nominee, Mark Walberg, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, & Giovanni Ribisi. The scene was shot in Algiers Point in New Orleans, LA. When I initially arrived to Extras Holding, I had to fill out paperwork and then they told us that there was some catered food in the back if we wanted to grab some stuff before going onto the actual set. After an hour, wardrobe called people up in groups to check to see if what we were wearing matched the atmosphere they had set up for us and if we had to change, etc. Also, we had to stand in a line and the wardrobe consultants did a final check to see if we all looked appropriate and they took pictures of all of us in groups of 6 before heading to the set. What I was wearing, about 4 or 5 different wardrobe consultants were complimenting me on how great I looked and that for the entire time we were filming-they told me that I did not need to be freshened up! The scenes that we were shooting were focused on Lukas Haas from Inception because it was a wedding reception @ a local pub.
It was a very small and crowded pub, but once the AP’s and other crew members started to issue certain extras some directions it worked out just perfectly. Some extras were standing up by the bar and we had to pretend to order drinks and not look too stiff and like statues and to have a good time while others were sitting on bar stools at the bar….the bride and her groom, which was Actor Luke Haas just had to mingle and dance and walk around while everyone congratulated them on their marriage. So, for the first few hours that was how it was….they had a band playing a song and the people at the bar were dancing and moving around and the other extras sitting at tables on the other side of the pub were talking quietly amongst themselves, etc. just as you would see at any wedding reception.
Now, here is the absolute astounding part: Ben Foster, Mark Wahlberg, and Kate Beckinsale joined in on the dancing after the 4th take because the 30 people who were selected to dance had to practice before they started doing it for real. I was not one of the dancers; I was assigned to be at the bar. But I was clapping as they instructed us to do and just moving around having a good time. But Ben Foster was hilarious as can be! He was moving around and shaking his butt all over the place with beer in his hand (the beverages we were drinking were Ginger Ale in champagne glasses and water in beer longneck bottles). Lol!
Throughout the night, after we shot a certain scene for about 5 or 6 times, we were all instructed to go get back on the bus while the crew adjusted the cameras and was getting set up for another scene and we would be warm on the bus until then and they did have coffee, tea, coco, king cake, and snacks for us until dinner time which was @ 9p-9:30p. We would literally be on the bus for less than 5 minutes before they called us to go back in the pub and the crew people laughed and apologized to us because they thought it was funny that by the time we got settled on the warm bus, it was time to go back into the pub again!
Something else that was remarkable to me—the 4 actors that we were filming with: Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, and Lukas Haas were mingling and chatting to almost everyone in the pub between takes and they all were so kind and funny. Here are my experiences with them and what happened: w/Mark Wahlberg-I showed him the photo that we took together a few weeks ago was on my Credit Card and he said that was beautiful and when was I going to buy him something! I told him that I would buy him anything because I am a HUGE fan of his and I also told him on a serious note that I hope “The Fighter” wins for the Best Picture at the Oscars!
He told me “thank you man, I appreciate that!” I also said that he and Christian Bale did an outstanding job and he gave me a high five and keep in mind that his co-star Ben Foster was standing right by me so I talked with him as well, and I also told Mark that I loved his work in Max Payne, The Departed, Shooter, and The Italian Job, and that I have almost all his films and his eyes opened up & then he told me that I needed to get Ben’s films and he asked what movies do I have for Ben? I told him that I have Alpha Dog and I just saw The Mechanic in theatres and Ben said, “Well you know Travis—things go poof in the big screen, things blow up bro!” Amazing, huh?
Ben is just too funny and down to Earth just as Mark and Kate. Ben and Mark were talking to me like we have been friends for years. I was so nervous, but excited at the same time! I did not recognize Kate Beckinsale at first because she is now a blonde! I did not get to talk to her for very long; all I got to tell her was that she is a beautiful actress and that she was amazing in Underworld and Vacancy. She said with her London accent, “Hi there…thank you so much and thanks for being here to help us tonight.” I then went on to tell her that my friend, Brandon is a huge fan of hers as well and she said to tell him thanks for his support! She was extremely sweet! The actor, Giovanni Ribisi was not present for the scenes we shot on Friday. Lukas Haas came by me and hugged me and shook my hand for about 6 times for one scene that will be in the movie when the extras at the bar were congratulating him and his bride on getting married!
When we were not shooting, I chatted with him & I told him that I loved him in Inception and that I would make my comment to him quick because we were instructed not to talk to the celebs and he tapped me on my knee and said, “Don’t worry about them-let’s talk bro!” I was completely speechless! Look for that scene in March of 2012! At about 1AM, there was a scene involving Mark & Ben where they would get on stage and sing a song to the Bride and Groom (Lukas Haas) and it was funny…that was the last scene of the night….All in all, Feb. 4th, 2011 was a spectacular night and I feel really blessed to have worked closely with Mark Wahlberg—Ben Foster---Kate Beckinsale---and Lukas Haas!
It was a very small and crowded pub, but once the AP’s and other crew members started to issue certain extras some directions it worked out just perfectly. Some extras were standing up by the bar and we had to pretend to order drinks and not look too stiff and like statues and to have a good time while others were sitting on bar stools at the bar….the bride and her groom, which was Actor Luke Haas just had to mingle and dance and walk around while everyone congratulated them on their marriage. So, for the first few hours that was how it was….they had a band playing a song and the people at the bar were dancing and moving around and the other extras sitting at tables on the other side of the pub were talking quietly amongst themselves, etc. just as you would see at any wedding reception.
Now, here is the absolute astounding part: Ben Foster, Mark Wahlberg, and Kate Beckinsale joined in on the dancing after the 4th take because the 30 people who were selected to dance had to practice before they started doing it for real. I was not one of the dancers; I was assigned to be at the bar. But I was clapping as they instructed us to do and just moving around having a good time. But Ben Foster was hilarious as can be! He was moving around and shaking his butt all over the place with beer in his hand (the beverages we were drinking were Ginger Ale in champagne glasses and water in beer longneck bottles). Lol!
Throughout the night, after we shot a certain scene for about 5 or 6 times, we were all instructed to go get back on the bus while the crew adjusted the cameras and was getting set up for another scene and we would be warm on the bus until then and they did have coffee, tea, coco, king cake, and snacks for us until dinner time which was @ 9p-9:30p. We would literally be on the bus for less than 5 minutes before they called us to go back in the pub and the crew people laughed and apologized to us because they thought it was funny that by the time we got settled on the warm bus, it was time to go back into the pub again!
Something else that was remarkable to me—the 4 actors that we were filming with: Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, and Lukas Haas were mingling and chatting to almost everyone in the pub between takes and they all were so kind and funny. Here are my experiences with them and what happened: w/Mark Wahlberg-I showed him the photo that we took together a few weeks ago was on my Credit Card and he said that was beautiful and when was I going to buy him something! I told him that I would buy him anything because I am a HUGE fan of his and I also told him on a serious note that I hope “The Fighter” wins for the Best Picture at the Oscars!
He told me “thank you man, I appreciate that!” I also said that he and Christian Bale did an outstanding job and he gave me a high five and keep in mind that his co-star Ben Foster was standing right by me so I talked with him as well, and I also told Mark that I loved his work in Max Payne, The Departed, Shooter, and The Italian Job, and that I have almost all his films and his eyes opened up & then he told me that I needed to get Ben’s films and he asked what movies do I have for Ben? I told him that I have Alpha Dog and I just saw The Mechanic in theatres and Ben said, “Well you know Travis—things go poof in the big screen, things blow up bro!” Amazing, huh?
Ben is just too funny and down to Earth just as Mark and Kate. Ben and Mark were talking to me like we have been friends for years. I was so nervous, but excited at the same time! I did not recognize Kate Beckinsale at first because she is now a blonde! I did not get to talk to her for very long; all I got to tell her was that she is a beautiful actress and that she was amazing in Underworld and Vacancy. She said with her London accent, “Hi there…thank you so much and thanks for being here to help us tonight.” I then went on to tell her that my friend, Brandon is a huge fan of hers as well and she said to tell him thanks for his support! She was extremely sweet! The actor, Giovanni Ribisi was not present for the scenes we shot on Friday. Lukas Haas came by me and hugged me and shook my hand for about 6 times for one scene that will be in the movie when the extras at the bar were congratulating him and his bride on getting married!
When we were not shooting, I chatted with him & I told him that I loved him in Inception and that I would make my comment to him quick because we were instructed not to talk to the celebs and he tapped me on my knee and said, “Don’t worry about them-let’s talk bro!” I was completely speechless! Look for that scene in March of 2012! At about 1AM, there was a scene involving Mark & Ben where they would get on stage and sing a song to the Bride and Groom (Lukas Haas) and it was funny…that was the last scene of the night….All in all, Feb. 4th, 2011 was a spectacular night and I feel really blessed to have worked closely with Mark Wahlberg—Ben Foster---Kate Beckinsale---and Lukas Haas!