ITW day 2

We were out at Ford Ranch for my second day of being in ITW. That’s a well-known movie site for Westerns. “Wild, Wild West” and “Silverado” were shot there, among others.

It was brutally cold all day with moderately strong wind, but especially at sunrise when we started setting up. Then, shortly after most of us were in our places, it began to snow hard. I don’t think the word “blizzard” is too far off from the true conditions. It was bad enough for me, but I really felt sorry for the women who were dressed as bar girls/prostitutes. Many of them were wearing low-cut, off the shoulder dresses, standing out there in the blizzard. Some wardrobe people and P.A.s gave them jackets, but it was still freezing. Fortunately the snow didn’t go on for very long.

Then, not long after the snow stopped, the train whistle spooked a team of mules pulling a wagon, and they took off running through the middle of town with actors and techies scattering ahead of them. I admire the wranglers working on the film. They did a good job of stopping the mules – and of taking care of all the horses and mules. There were LOTS of horses for these scenes.

I was supposed to be an immigrant for this day of filming, but they turned out to use me as a regular townsperson instead. Or maybe I was an immigrant who was now a townsperson. I spent the day doing crossings and then watching Custer and his cavalry ride up to the saloon and then ride away again with some deserters in tow. No big deal, but I may be seen.

I saw an example of the improvisational quality that can occur in filming. A woman who was playing a prostitute was doing a crossing directly in front of one of the cameras in one of the scenes. She accidentally tripped and fell. Well, Michael Watkins, the Director, liked it and asked her to do it again for every take. So they outfitted her with knee and other padding, and she fell down over and over for probably 20 takes. For that, they bumped her pay up to $125 for the day. I'll fall down, Michael!

Lance Henricksen, Warren Blosjo, and Glen Powell, Jr., were in these scenes – all actors Antoinette knows from the hotel where they’re staying. She’s a concierge there. I had the opportunity to talk briefly with Glen and to tell him that I'm Antoinette’s boyfriend. He’s a young man of about 17 who’s playing one of Lance’s sons.

I enjoyed the day again. I love this filmmaking business.

MJG