Look Mom!! We are in the Movies!

Movie-making has been going strong in Grand Rapids,

Michigan this summer.  We have been on a movie set

as extras in a major motion picture filming here in

Grand Rapids and Lowell.

The generous tax incentives that Michigan has offered the

film industry to make their films here is starting to pay off.

Local caterers, local actors, and local crew are being hired

for the filming of The Genesis Code, a hockey themed

movie starring Academy Award winners, Ernest Borgnine

& Louise Fletcher ( Nurse Ratched fame), and former

 Presidential candidate, Fred Thompson.

 

 

The production company needed a hundred + extras for

a scene in a church.  We are in the pews, singing (actually

 miming the words only) and listening to the sermon. 

Not tough work, for sure, although it was a warm summer

 day, no air-conditioning, a church full of people & lights,

and we  were dressed in winter clothes for a Christmas scene.

The magic of movies.  We noted fake snow around the

small pond, too, when we walked out for lunch.

 

The whole production was fascinating to observe.  We were

made comfortable in a nearby lounge at Calvin College,

until we were lined up and put in the chapel pews.  The art

of film was evident at close inspection.  Stained glass windows

were in the front to the chapel.  The art dept had made paper

 to fit the side windows that matched the stained glass up front,

mainly to control the amount of light coming in.

 

The crew and production staff were always busy and

bustling around.  Everyone seemed to have a walkie-talkie

and an ear-bud to keep connected and keep the production

flowing smoothly.  They all seemed to possess the talent of

listening and talking to more than 1 person at a time.

 

About an hour of filming the same scene each time, from

different angles, and 10 hours later, we were done!  Our

scene will probably be about 3-4 minutes in length.  I have

 a whole new appreciation for a film crew and what it takes

to make a full length feature.

We were given a box lunch and treats in between.  No pay

but we might just make it through editing and be in a major

 motion picture.

Here are a few pictures from our seat in the "extra" spot. 

I don't imagine the film crew gets their picture taken very often.

 

 

  

 

We might be going to one of the hockey arena shoots this

weekend.  It is nearby but they are filming from 5pm to 5am.

Not sure we can make it through that time frame - even if

we sleep in our seats!!

 

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