So I started my first week for the 6 latest Power Rangers Commercials with an early morning phone call. The 1st AD (Assistant Director) had decided to pull the call-time forward at the last minute & could I be there in an hour? I wanted to impress with my professionalism and eagerness - first day and all- so...
"Of course" I lied, in what I hoped was a convincing voice and kick-bollock-scrambled out of bed! made myself presentable and shot out the front door. I had a few things to do that morning - not least of all, veeting my hands up to the wrists for the shoot!!! The things we do for our art/rent!! Seeing as how I was fresh out of Veet at the flat, I bought some at Sainsbo's and holed up in a Starbucks toilet & read the instructions:
"Leave on for 10 minutes." Typical, I was going to be late; but I figure better late and ready than on time and under-prepared ... Sadly I was neither on time nor ready. So eager was I to get going that I didn't leave the cream on the requisite time and did half a job that needed re-doing when I arrived. We live and learn! Thankfully It turned out fine and there was loads of time. I met all the crew from Origami Films and they were an uncommonly nice bunch.
The Job
Most of the action involved moving a hand into shot, removing the limb of an action figure and exiting shot. (Most sequences are filmed this way then reversed to show a very neat assembly (tricks of the trade here first.)) Bill the director works with actors rather than hand models as they get more into the action - adding sounds & movements to give the figures character - & I was happy to oblige; re-casting most of the figures as Japanese Sumo Wrestlers hell-bent on destruction.
Bill Encourages DoP (Director of Photography) to vamp up a "Whip Pan":
Disaster Strikes
It's hard to appreciate how delicate a hand-model's digits are - you just don't realise how often you paper-cut yourself or scald or burn your fingers until you need them to look pristine. One evening after a hard day's hand modelling, I was playing a 'friend' at squash - which admittedly probably wasn't a great idea as it's more of a contact sport the way we play - when he absolutely belted my left hand with his racket. Apparently it was in his way! The odds on it happening this week must be tantamount to winning the lottery but sure enough my pinky finger balloons up and turns from pink, to red, to a deep shade of blue.
Thankfully most of my action required tucking my fingers out of the way to make a neater shot and so we managed to mask it with make-up and keep it out the way. Worse things happen at sea for sure but I didn't want to miss out on a day's work. You can see how detailed the background and set was. I'll try and get my hands on a copy of the finished product to upload when it's cut together.
Nothing's For Nothing
It came up in conversation that I do voice-over work and it just so happens that they were looking (or listening) for a voice to go over the top of another set of commercials for a similar product. Would I forward my voice-reel for their consideration?
"Err, Hell Yeah"
I've since been to the lovely 'Silk Sounds' studio in Soho and re-recorded an old ad for them to put to the client. It turns out they have 4 ads coming up; and now I may be in with a shot as the voice. I did four straight reads of the commercial (typical American over-excited quick-paced spiel) and was asked to speed it up and dial up the enthusiasm. I couldn't believe the last note but obliged anyway. Again please and take it up another gear halfway through. At the last read I had to step it up until I was practically out of my seat, blaring at the mic at a hundred miles an hour, over playing it with every fibre of my being - but they loved it - & hearing it back it didn't sound like me - it sounded great, like a crazed American!
So, long story long, I posted a short clip for a hand modelling gig as a bit of fun and I've been presented with an incredible opportunity! I don't know if anything will come of it, and at the end of the day that's not really the point - I got a shot for nothing - the rest is on me. Sure, the hair growing back on my wrists itches like hell but it's all been completely worth it!
