Tuesday May 18, 2010
Fitting
(Remember that I do not believe in providing storyline spoilers myself [such generally currently and/or eventually being readily available Elsewhere notwithstanding], I only convey indications of where I can be seen.)
Sunday I got a call from Carla regarding my availability for a Tuesday wardrobe fitting for Transformers: Dark of the Moon, which would shoot either a day or two the subsequent week, or possibly even the end of the same week.
I'd had the pleasure of working with/for director Michael Bay as the dental patient in his Pearl Harbor feature. Carla's emails indicated this is a "confidential project," which as always only makes sense regarding storyline spoilers, not the fact one is doing Background for a/the film. In the spirit of the request I kept this report strictly off my site not only until the film has major trailer became available but far closer to the film's release. Depending on what I would be doing, I chose that I may even wait until its already scheduled 01 July 2011 release.
From my day-job I bused down to Playa Del Rey for the fitting, which I knew would be 1960s, implying a probable backstory/flashback scene. The MTA did its best to make me late, to the point the bus line was doing short run and I had to walk about a mile to get to the location. Asked to sign in, thankfully I was not exhausted enough to notice the "sign in sheet" was a fabrication: it was a blanket "don't do this" sort of "contract." With zero full disclosure, I did not really bother reading all their "rules and policies" about which they weren't actually notifying me, and as always I signed it with All Rights Reserved, to protect both the production and myself. I do not waive any of my rights ever, particularly not as a condition of Non Principal work. It does no production any harm for a human to convey s/he worked background on a project, particularly when no storyline or spoilers are revealed. As I never reveal storylines or spoilers, no damage can be done. I already intended not to "publish" this page until well after trailers were available, and/or its release date. I had already chosen that while I might mention Being Booked on a project, to add I was "not allowed" to name it (yet). I think I did spot something in the list about not speaking to principals, but this is far from being my first project, they don't need a friggin' "contract" for me not to bother the principals who do not initiate a conversation.
Once my voucher was all filled out, I waited with a fellow from Tustin (he and I each were done and wrapped within ninety minutes). As we waited, I couldn't help noticing Julie White walking by us, presumeably having had a fitting herself.
Learning I was to be a "[1969] White House Press Reporter," I was donned with a grey suit with white shirt and a thin blue tie, and majorly black-rimmed glasses. The wardrobe ladies working on compiling my outfit asked if I minded having my hair cut, 1969 style. I assured them I never mind having my hair cut: what I have left has no problem growing back fast.
There was talk that the scene was to shoot Friday or Thursday, maybe even both. As I left I notified my calling service about it, so there would be no scheduling conflicts. There was an implied mutter of my "already being on hold" for something, but thankfully the mistake of getting into that was not made (that I would not be available for the Transformers: Dark of the Moon shoot about which they'd already been notified). If my calling service fails to tell me I'm on hold... then I'm not on hold: I'm still available with which to book stuff on my own when I'm not already booked on something (I've had to have That Talk with them before).
When I arrived home I learned from Carla that the scene would be shooting Friday the 21st; I clarified I was available, and began waiting for the information to arrive sometime (most likely late) Thursday.

Friday May 21, 2010
Retro Shoot
Unlike the day of the fitting, MTA was beyond cooperative, and I ended up down there slightly over an hour early. Carla had warned me not to be too early, as it tends to irritate them. I waited about and headed up to arrive at the sign-in table "only" about fifteen minutes early for my 9:0am calltime. Maryellen signed us in, and soon PA Negas brought a few of us to have our hair checked out. I was selected to have a false moustache; make-up artist Ed reconized me from working on Frost/Nixon (my scene of which was cut). He actually liked my hair as it was, and had me relay to Jennifer in hair to let it remain "character'y."
We were brought to holding where, as per normal, we waited...
The 1962 scene finished, and into holding came Rhoda Pell who'd worked playing a nun on the AFI student film Santa Croce in which I played a Sheriff Deputy. They'd "promoted" her to being the president's aide. At first she said upgraded, meaning she'd been given a Day Player contract, but eventually I realized she just meant she would be Far More Visible.
As pretty much expected, lunch was called, so those of us in our scene had not yet put on our period clothes. I was still wearing my fake moustache, and complete with perfectly attached prosthetic nose, pleasant character actor John Tobin portrayed Nixon for the 1969 scene in which I was a news reporter. As always, just before going to set for a period piece, we were lined up so hair, make-up, and production could give us the once-over. One woman came over ahd veto'd the character'y hair, insisting it be cut short. This took a few minutes, while everyone else was brought to the Oval Office set.
I got there as quick as I could, given the glasses chosen for me at the fitting, and on set, placed behind an impressively ancient 16mm camera on a static tripod.
Happily high-spirited Michael Bay arrived and looked over the set quickly, immediately having a few things shifted about. The 16mm camera I had got moved... a few times, so Michael brought me in front of the massive TV cameras and along with another fellow, I knelt on one knee (though from then to actually shooting was enough time, the other fellow and I literally just sat on the aqua coloured carpet, which thankfully was thick and soft)...
We learned this feature is being shot in 3D, and the cameramen (possibly even DP Amir Mokri), showed us the two-camera system, so I'm relieved it will be spot-on 3D, not rubbish 3D.
Michael had project still-photographer Robert Zuckerman come in and have a photo of the scene, with Michael included in, with the lined-up secretary girls (as Michael called it), "What's wrong with this picture?"
As Nixon sitting at the desk, John Tobin lip-synced to Nixon's original archived phone call, he was quietly notified that he was being upgraded to Day Player...! After a few takes, the scene was done... (Michael literally said they were all done for th'day).
We went back to holding, and after a very little while we were wrapped. I did not have to wait too long for the bus, this time changing to catch the Culver 6 up to UCLA for the 761 with which to get me to my rental box before getting home.
As I was approaching the gate to head down to the bus btw, from a white shuttle van came Julie White, this time with Kevin Dunn. As the two posed seemingly for production photos, I respectfully passed by without bothering them.
Now I wait fourteen months for the feature's release... unless I stumble across a preview screening...

Friday May 20, 2011
One year later...
A day shy of a full year after working on the film, while watching this date's Attack of the Show, during Sara Underwood's segment The Feed, its news-scroll along the bottom (annoyingly not on the archived video version: only visible during the actual airing), reported that the release date for Transformers: Dark of the Moon having been moved from July 1st to Wednesday June 29.

Wednesday June 29, 2011
And there it is....
When I went to see The Green Lantern, the AMC theatre screwed up the projection, big time. It was obvious from even the pre-movie 3D slides urging patrons to leave their glasses in the recepticles on departure. But it went well into the start of the film... about five minutes in (and I was one of those who went out to notify them), the projector was shut off, an usher apologized, and the film re-started, flawlessly. As we exited, we were each provided Re-Entry Passes, what with the Inconvenience at the start of the film.
I used that for the opening-day IMAX 3D presentation of Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon, which was even more awesome as the screwed up The Green Lantern showing was "only" 3D, not IMAX as well.
True to his word, Michael Bay helped us all but forget about Transformers 2. I enjoyed it, and was surprised at the John Tobin Nixon scene: it pans from the press corp (in which I am very visible), to John, then slowly panning back "to me," as it were. John had been unsure if he was actually screen credited. His actually going to Moscow for its premier notwithstanding, he inferred via Facebook that in fact he not yet seen it, so he was thrilled when I notified him his name is there.

Wednesday September 01, 2011
Home-media release date
John Tobin reported:
The Transformers: Dark of the Moon Blu-Ray and DVD release date was confirmed to be September 30, 2011, according to the official Transformers movie website's mobile version. That's about as official a source as you can get.