Movie Extras, What To Do At The Film Set

Working on the Som Tam Movie set again this week I was reminded of my previous encounters with movie Extras.

Movie Extras are entry level actors or hobbyists who work as crowds and background people in movies. They do not get any lines, they get no camera focus, and they are uncredited (names not shown at the end of the movie) and they don't get to put the movie onto their CV (unless they are lying).

There are several official classifications of movie Extras but the biggest classifiaction differences are in the way each movie Extra acts on set and what he/she does... 

Working As A Stuntman In Thailand

I get quiet a few emails from Stuntmen, Actors and Martial Artists from around the world interested in coming to work as a stuntman in Thailand in the movies.

Though it does have some major advantages here like they make about 30 local movies a year, it is an emerging player on the world scene, working on the islands and beaches is fun, this is the new center of action movies for Asia, and the low cost of living here, if you can take advantage of the exchange rate.

There are some major disadvantages and difficulties too, more so if you are a stuntman... 

SFX Cinemas Publicity Show

Last night I was invited to the SFX cinema's publicity show at Siam Paragon, when I arrived the center of the huge shopping mall was full of movie and TV celebrities and reporters of all varieties.

I arrived just in time to be ushered into a photo with the other guys and shareholders of the Bangkok Adrenaline movie, we got our photos taken, some of the organisers were staring at me worriedly... 

Called Today To Fill In On Indian Movie

I recieved a call today at 8.30am (Sunday) to go into a movie set from an acting agent I have not heard from for a while. She wanted me to help her out by working on a Indian movie today.

Apparently one of the actors already cast in the Indian movie had a motorbike accident and could not make it, they desperately needed someone to fill in. 

After a brief discussion I rejected the offer to help... why?

Conan Stevens And Nathan Jones To Battle It Out In The New Thai Movie Som Tam - Pattaya Papaya

That's right, I have signed with Baa Ram Ewe to act in their upcoming made for International release movie called Som Tam (pronounced Som Tum alternatively titled Pattaya Papaya). In the final scene I will be battling it out against the only other muscle giant actor that I have so far met - Nathan Jones.

Billed As Tom Yum Gung 2 Som Tam Is Hoped To Be As Big A Success As Nathan Jones 1st Thai Movie

Like the smash hit movie Tom Yum Gung (or Tom Yam Goong or a variety of other spellings) the name is derived from a well known Thai food dish. In this case Som Tam is an EXTREMELY hot salad made with crushed up green papaya, chillies, prawns (shrimps), tomato, dried chilli powder, fish sauce, etc.

It is always fun to watch a tourist being fed his first bite of Som Tam (Som Tum).... 

Filming Movies - My Week As An Actor

As an actor you often chase around for auditions and movie roles continually - BUT there is one time when you will always get tons of work... ...when you already have a movie to act in.

This week has been no exception. In the middle of a tight filming schedule for Bangkok Adrenaline I was called in for the Hanuman movie we did an initial casting for about 6 months ago. 

Bangkok Adrenaline - Mansion, Bad Guys And Kidnappers And How I Almost Quit - UPDATED

This weeks shooting of Bangkok Adrenaline was rather strenuous and fun.

As the story line goes we four out-of-luck (loser) foreigners kidnap a rich Entrepreneurs daughter, there was a couple of scenes that had the crew in fits of laughter and the investors puckering their sphincters. 

Ninja Conan Steals A Chicken

This week also saw more than it's fair share of dramas....

7.5 Foot Tall Actor Required For Ser Gregor Clegane "The Mountain That Rides" For HBO TV Series

A 7.5 Foot Tall Actor is needed to play Ser Gregor Clegane "The Mountain That Rides" in the TV adaption of the fantasy book series "A Song Of Ice And Fire" by George R. R. Martin.

HBO has purchased the rights to the series as the books are too long and too indepth to be made into a 3 hour movie. Rumour is that it is to be written and exec produced by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss

Gregor Clegane is a huge knight a result of experiments by Qyburn who was working on a master project to build an "undefeatable champion" . He ordered a massive suit of armor, too huge to be worn by any human, for this purpose. His extended experiments on Gregor Clegane seem to factor into the size of his final creation. Gregor Clegane is a demented, sadistic, calculating killer. (Incorrect, see what I get from summarising others websites - see correction in the article)

Now where are they going to find someone who can play a 7.5 foot tall knight?

(UPDATE: This is the article that sparked interest amongst the fans and ended up with me actually playing Ser Gregor Clegane in the HBO hit series "Game of Thrones", I wrote this on a very, very long shot. i could not have done it without the help of the fans).

Hot And Sweaty With A Real GTO In Bangkok Adrenaline

Shooting today was something to look forward to - being an old V8 buff I was happy when I was told the original modern BMW for this scene had been replaced with an original GTO. GREAT!

Pontiac GTO V8 Muscle Car On The Film Trailer

Great until they squeezed seven (7) guys into it, one all bloody and wounded, in the Bangkok heat, with hot vinyl seats.... urrghhhh.....