Filming Trucks!!!
Setting Up The Lights!
An actual movie set! It is all jammed up....
The Train Scene....the Director was placing us all....
Nick's Filming Chair!! Exciting, huh?
That is Nick Cage by the Gate B sign facing the door about to film and run outside!!!April 5th, 2011 marks my second time filming on the set of Nicolas Cage’s upcoming action film, Medallion. Swedish native, actress, and model, Malin Akerman’s first day of filming began on the 4th because a few friends of mine were filming with both her and Nicolas on the New Orleans ferry and got a chance to meet and talk with her briefly and told me about it. I really wished she had been filming with me on the 5th, but maybe another day because I am a huge fan of hers and I loved her in movies such as The Proposal, The Heartbreak Kid, and Couples Retreat. My call time was 8AM, but I arrived there at 7:30AM. Check in was at the Union Passenger Station (Greyhound/AMTrak Terminals). My role was a Mardi Gras Partier, but things change and all on that day I was a Medallion Cab Driver, tourist, and Mardi Gras Partier! I learned in this business, extras are always changing roles! Lol. Filming began at 9:20 and first I was given the direction to go into the bus station as a tourist, then the Assistant Director took my luggage and told me to hop into the cab and pretend to be a cab driver. I said okay, its no problem and got into the Driver’s set of the taxi. There was a lady in the backseat with luggage who was in the cab as well who of course had to get out and walk into the station on action. At the corner of my eye, I saw Nick and he had to run from the street into the bus station and as he was doing that the camera on wheels focused in on him running and captured me sitting in the cab. It was a quick shot on me, but it was still on me. Amazing! Next, there were some scenes where Nick was running towards the train trying to search for someone or something. I’m not sure, but all the extras were given direction to board the train, just talk by the train, exit the train, etc. The Assistant Director told me something again, he said as soon as I see Nick get off the train, to get on and to pretend that I heard the final boarding call and like I was going to miss the train. It was about 4 or 5 of us to had to run to the train doors and board, but I was the only one who had a cue to wait until I see Nick get off and run. As soon as I saw him get off, I ran to be beside him so I could be in the quick scene again and hopped on the train and then I was out of sight. We shot that scene about 10 times and I was happy to do it. While the 4 or 5 extras were rehearsing that scene, I saw Nick resting in a Sleeping Car on the train and I waved to him and he smiled and waved back. While we reset for that scene in between takes, I yelled to him, “Nick, you are doing great!” And he looked at me and gave me thumbs up!” Too cool! Later, there was another scene where Nick was running into the terminal and screaming at a saleslady at a cell phone kiosk because he needed a phone and the action of the extras were to just pretend to make calls on payphones and their own cells, to look busy, and make the terminal looked crowded and busy as a terminal should be. Lastly, there was a bus scene but I was not in it. My day of filming was wrapped at 7PM, but a select few of extras had to stay and film the bus scene with Nick. In short, I had a great time filming and I already got a picture with Nick. It was great to see him again and work with him. He is truly a down to Earth cool person!