Standing up for long periods of time is not good for you. I learned this the hard way. Now outside again, I was positioned next to my canon, ready to lurk in the background as the next scene filmed. As I explained last time, a small tent had been erected over a low stage, next to a red carpet, where a crowd of Dickensian extras were gathered.
As I stared out at the Leicestershire countryside (later to be transformed into glistening water with the power of CGI), other extras were being talked through their parts. Five men, dressed as "undertakers" were on-stage, together with other gentry and the town's Mayor. Miranda Richardson, Emily Blunt and a few other "real actors" were on-stage with them, being positioned by assistants and having chats.
After standing for ages, the scene began filming in earnest once a coach and horses had pulled up beside the red carpet, to provide Queen Victoria with her exit. Then, filming began. Unfortunately, I was facing the other way, but could get sneaky glances between takes...
As with all the filming that morning, it's infuriatingly slow and tends to consist of people doing things silently as a "mime", then will full chatter, before redoing the whole thing because someone's elbow masked someone's face, an extra moved too quickly, or the angle just wasn't perfect on something.
It's easy to see why such care and precision goes into making films, however. I mean, they've rented Belvoir Castle, four horses, a coach, about fifty extras have turned up, numerous costumers and make-up people have been busy preparing for weeks... so you've only really got one day to make the most of it. You'll never have this group together again!
Anyway, time began to pass by and my back began to ache. Not to mention my cripplingly tight helmet was cutting into my forehead now, and some annoying braces were tugging at my shoulders. I have no idea how real soldiers ever cope with this, particularly in Victorian uniforms!
The other extras seemed to be having more fun -- although they were also standing for long periods, their costumes looked snug and comfortable. Miranda Richardson seemed nice, occasionally smiling and sharing a joke some of the extras on-stage, while Emily Blunt frequently stopped between takes to chat with the crowd extras -- particularly any little kids looking cute in their tiny waist-coats and waving flags on sticks.
Anyway, it was time for lunch. Everyone headed back inside, with the extras in the dingy cafeteria. I was just glad to be sitting down, waiting for my grub. The main cast and crew were being fed first, us lowly extras had to wait our turn. Unfortunately, after an hour, we were told we had to be out working in 30 minutes, so there was no time to eat properly! Various plates of "tuna, or sausage?" arrived on paper plates and we scoffed it down, a little annoyed. The Belvoir Castle head chef came in later to apologize, explaining it wasn't his decision to rush our lunch ... it was those pesky filmmakers. Grrrr.
Back outside. The crew were already filming a scene that didn't require any extras. Emily was sat inside a coach, being filmed through its window by a camera on a dolly-track. A few of us gathered around the monitor, watching it being shot. For the first time you could really imagine what the finished product might look our, via a TV screen. Interestingly, the coach never moved off in reality, but the camera slid along on its track -- making it look like it was. Once they add some sound-effects of horses hooves, it should look great.
Anyway, after that, it was time for more back background work. Fortunately, this scene required me to be standing the other way, actually facing the stage! It was a coach scene, where Victoria leaves the gathered crowd. It quickly became the most annoying thing to watch being filmed. Ever. It seemed simple enough: Victoria (Blunt) had to leave the stage, after thanking the townsfolk there, walk down the steps, walk along the red carpet... the crowd cheer, and she just gets into the coach, followed by Miranda and some others. Easy! What could be simpler?!
Three hours later...
Emily's still walking up that bloody red carpet and ducking into her coach! I mean, it seems like madness. I'm in Groundhog Day. It was was done perfectly hours ago, surely! Oh well. I'm standing quite close to the coach, but still not convinced I'm in shot -- so I begin to shuffle to my right, very slowly. Just enough to be able to see the camera. Hopefully I'm now in view for the moment Victoria leaves in the film...
It had begun to rain, producing a massive rainbow at one point, so things seem to be moving faster now. Finally, the coach scene is done and there's a sense of things coming to an end. By now it was about 3:30 pm. Someone starts singing Happy Birthday, and Emily Blunt joins in whilst fussing a little girl -- who's apparently just turned one today. Awww.
After that, the main actors leave for the day...
So now it's just the extras. My fellow artillerymen aren't needed, but we watch the final shots of the day being filmed. More movie magic -- the crowd scene isn't very big and impressive, so they ask the extras to mix themselves around into different positions, slowly edging back on themselves. In post-production, the computer whizzes will mix all these shots together, making it look like there was one, huge crowd -- when in fact it's the same 50 people jumbled up. Ooh, clever.
After that, the day is definitely over. We wander around Belvoir Castle to our waiting minibus, grabbing some Birthday Cake before heading back to the make-up/costume tents. Once there, everyone is relieved to be pulling off their uncomfortable uniforms and slipping back into 21st-Century gear. My shirt and trousers seem amazingly comfortable and baggy!
A few photos, taken by the costume crew, are bluetoothed around to our phones as a little memento... my sideburns are taken off by special solution... I have my payment chit signed by an Assistant Director... and I'm free to go!
It's 4 pm. It seems much later. Mind you, I've been up 12 hours. So there we go. A day in the life of a supporting artiste. It was a lot of waiting around and standing up for hours on end, but it's interesting to see how things are filmed; with everything fussed over, and such care and attention invested into the implest of things. I'm sure it will all look suitably glossy and swish in the finished movie.
But, to be honest, I have a sneaking suspicion this scene will last about a minute, at the most. Maybe even less than that! Or not even make the edit! It didn't seem particularly important to the film --but we'll see what happens. The production crew were preparing to leave for Lincoln Cathedral that evening, for the rest of the week's filming... and I found myself disappointed I wasn't needed, really.
Oh well. It was tiring, but fun while it lasted...
The Young Victoria is scheduled for release in 2008.
