Racing Women

Text: People wanted to play passengers at an airport. Initially this was to be at Heathrow and although I responded to the text, I soon began to regret it as it was to be filmed at Heathrow on the first weekend of the school holidays. I was devising ways of recalling my affirmative response when the venue was suddenly changed to Kempton Racecourse. Much better!

I turned up clutching my pink M&S flight bag early of course, and just in time for breakfast (what can I say, I love my food!)  and just in time for 'Wardrobe' to grab me.

"We're thinking of putting you in uniform to be a check in girl." Fabulous! Always lovely to be given unexpected roles. Another person joined me, Kirsty, also playing a check in girl. (Isn't it funny how it is always a check in girl, never lady or woman!) Kirsty mentioned that most people on a check in desk would usually have their hair up. Kirsty had long hair so no problem but what would they make of my shortish bob?!

We were put to work behind sheets of glass looking every inch like a pair of check in girls . The lovely Olympic athletes were there plus the lovely Noel Clarke and Lenora Crinchlow, whose ticket I had to sort out. Suddenly, I was descended on by the make up man.

"Thank God, somebody that knows  how to do make up! We can use that time to spend on your hair instead!" People actually turned round and stared as he started working on my hair. I was fluffed out, back combed and swept up! He was totally brilliant!

I seemed to have far more hair than I started with and yet it was all mine!

Filming began and we quickly got into our roles.

"Did you pack your bag yourself? Have you left your luggage unattended at any time?

Any liquids, gels, sharp instruments?" as we handed out boarding passes. We smiled, gestured (towards the 'boarding gate) and checked  information on our computers. Actually we didn't have computers so made do with a couple of old screens and merrily tapped on those. Suddenly, the word 'wrap' was mentioned. We were taken in to the side room and peoples names were called out. Were they the people that were staying or going? Everyone gets the same rate of pay which ever way. It was a wrap for me and Kirsty - a very short, very enjoyable day!

Newspaper business

Text: Can you be a business person for a newspaper ad? 

Well, seeing as I seem to spend half my time wearing a suit (I obviously look the office type)

and appearing as an Executive /Business woman, it seemed an easy task. Off I went with my trusty pink back pack with the usual several changes of clothes for the 'just in case they don't like what I'm wearing' scenario. I was very early so I just sat on a nearby wall and waited for the cast and crew. I had only been there a couple of minutes when round the corner came a lovely girl, Jo,  that I had met previously on Lee Nelson.  It always makes the shoot extra special when there is someone you know working on it too. Crew arrived and as nobody really knew where we should go we were ushered in to a nearby coffee place. As we entered, the Director shook our hands, kissed Jo very enthusiastically and greeted her like a long lost friend. I assumed they had met before. We chose our coffees and chocolate croissants and sat down at a table. Jo looked a bit puzzled. It turned out she had no idea who the man was and couldn't remember having worked with him before. We tucked in to our free breakfast, which, it has to be said, we weren't expecting as we had been previously warned that  no food would be available. Suddenly the A.D. (I don't know if he was the second or third A.D) rushed over.

"Don't tell anyone else  that you've been given breakfast!" 

Aha! They thought Jo was the main leading actress! 

Shortly after that we were ushered into a very smart looking restaurant. By the look of it, the restaurant had no idea of the chaos that 30 - 40 extras can create, each with their own bags of yet more stuff.  Having filled the downstairs of the restaurant we were then led outside in to the freezing cold. It was being filmed in a shopping mall but we were outside not  inside. 

"None of you will be seen. You will all be blurred in the background!" Totally the wrong thing for the Director to say.

After we had walked about in front of the camera for a short time we were taken back to the restaurant. No coffee, no food. We all started chatting away to each other when in came the A.D wanting volunteers. People ducked their heads down or wouldn't meet his eye, some people suddenly developed a curious interest in their shoes...Well, who wants to be a volunteer to freeze their butts off outside when they're just going to be a grey blur? Eventually he managed to persuade people to leave the nice warm restaurant but tapping people on the shoulder and telling them to get outside. More walking about, left to right, backwards and forwards. Finally lunch was called. We were each given £10 in an envelope to pay for food - very unusual. Off we went to the nearest place, M&S for their soup & roll deal. Everyone went for the cheapest option possible as the change from lunch could be used for transport home! The day didn't get any better. There was a flight of concrete stairs that we had to walk up and down over and over again. I thought my leg muscles were going to burst at one point! I began to wish I'd had more than soup and a roll for my lunch...still, there's always a positive side and at least I wasn't cold any more!