that's a wrap!

Wow, what a one-of-a-kind day Sal and I had today! We spent it on the movie set of Marley & Me, based on the book, and starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson (Marley wasn't there.....bummer!). It's being filmed here in south Florida. We were among 80 extras filming 2 scenes, from 3 vantage points, at Miami airport. That airport is quite busy as it is, so it was interesting to watch the production crew orchestrate the film shooting among all of the normal hustle and bustle that's already there. Unfortunately, no cameras were allowed, so I have no photos to share {sigh}. They were adamant about that, saying that we'd be escorted off the set immediately if we were caught taking a photo, so I didn't want to chance it and risk losing the opportunity to participate. As a scrapbooker, this was bad news for me, but I'll just have to relay the story in words this time.

Shooting started at 7:00 AM, so we were up at 4:30 AM in order to get down to Miami in time {yawn}. But it was a short day by movie set standards; we were done filming at 1:30 PM.

In all of the scenes, Sal and I were the "happy traveling couple", which is hardly a stretch for us!!! {how perfect} We were asked to bring a variety of clothes, and the first thing we had to do was meet with the wardrobe people to determine what to wear. They had me and Sal wearing jeans and shirts in all of the scenes. We brought everything in our luggage, as instructed, because our bags were to be used as props, given the airport setting. But, they decided that everyone's luggage looked "too contemporary", so they brought out older luggage, since the story is set in the early 90s.

About our scenes.....they were all shot between Terminals F and G, outside, in the passenger drop-off area.....the scenes are fairly early in the storyline......you'll have to look for us in the airport scenes! In the first shoot, Sal and I are walking along the sidewalk, pulling our 90s-style luggage, (they even gave Sal a briefcase to carry too, which was fitting since he often works while we travel, and he looked especially "professorial"), and it's raining a "fake" rain that they created with hoses and water tanks and stuff (Sal's favorite part of the day).....this is while Owen drives up in an old Toyota (with a camera mounted in the back), to pick Jennifer up after she returns from a trip, and she runs to the car in the rain while holding a newspaper over her head. We're probably just a blur in this shoot because of the rain, but oh well.

In the second shoot, which was shot repeatedly, Sal and I are holding hands walking off of the pedestrian bridge, crossing traffic and going toward the terminal. You'll see a staged pair of flight attendants standing and chatting where the bridge and street intersect. In this scene, Owen and Jen are again in their car several yards away from us.

A third shoot had me and Sal simply standing with our luggage curbside, chatting. We're in the distance beyond Jen and Owen, who are again at their car. All the people that you see around us in the scene....those walking past us, or running by us to catch flights, or flight crews, or people getting into or out of cabs, are all extras.....it was all staged. Pretty cool!

We're hoping that we'll be visible in some of the scenes, but of course all of us extras were "background". So, you'll just have to look closely for us!

It was neat to watch the production crew take care of the details to create the correct setting and feel for the story....some extras brought their 90s model cars for the shoots, and the crew put fake license plates on them so that they'd have a 90s registration sticker....and, of course, we weren't allowed to use cell phones or have them clipped to our belts because that technology wasn't available in the early 90s....cell phones were a lot bigger then, and it was beepers/pagers that were the norm! Remember?

The movie's release date is Christmas day.....see you there!

P.S. ~ Jen asked me where I get my hair done.....{kidding}

P.P.S ~ Happy 41st anniversary to my parents today! And happy Earth Day!

I have some really fun news!!!

I am busting with great news today! As promised in my February 26 post, I'm keeping you posted.....today I got a call from the casting agent for Marley & Me, the book-turned-movie that they're filming here in south Florida.....Sal and I have BOTH been chosen as EXTRAS in the movie! WOW!!! I am super-excited !!! We'll be on set with the stars of the film (Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson, and of course the main attraction, a cute pup named Marley) for a 10- or 12-hour day next week. The filming for our day will be happening at the Miami Airport. How fun will this be??? I can't wait to pull out my copy of the book tonight and go over all the specifics of the story again! I'll be sure to fill you in on all the details of this once-in-a-lifetime day....!!!

Tarzan & Jane

Recently, Dr. Jane Goodall came to FAU to speak about peace and compassion, and afterwards held a booksigning for every single one of the 1,000+ people who stayed afterwards to wait in line.....she was there patiently for hours! Someone waiting in line near me astutely concluded that it was probably that same patience that was partly responsible for Jane's success with the chimps in the African bush. Our local newspaper aptly titled an article in the next day's edition, "Famed Chimp Researcher Wows FAU". That she did! How wonderful it was to watch the audience give standing ovations to this esteemed scientist. And what a cute story she told about how, as a child, she loved reading Tarzan and how she was jealous of that "other Jane" in the stories.....almost prophetic, I think....

It was a thrill to meet her again (I had once before about 10 years ago in Indianapolis) and to personally thank her for her commitment to animal welfare and the environment. They didn't allow us to snap our own photos while we were with her, but instead had their own photographer and uploaded the digi shots to the Internet for us....unfortunately, this photo of us isn't the best....it's a bit blurry and the top of my head is cut off....but I'm smiling while Jane is signing my copy of her book Jane Goodall 40 Years at Gombe: A Tribute to Four Decades of Wildlife Research, Education and Conservation, so the photo is perfect to me.

lights, camera, action !!!

If you're a dog lover, the book Marley & Me is definitely required reading. It's a great (true) story, and will soon be made into a movie. Since the book is set, in part, in south Florida, the film company will be here in March to begin filming....how exciting! Even more exciting is that they need 1,400 people as extras. I plan to submit my name & photo to the casting company.....maybe I'll be chosen, although I'm not holding my breath.....but wouldn't it be a hoot??? I'll keep you posted....

I've been away from blogging for a few days because Sal and I were in St. Petersburg for his Mom's 70th birthday....details and pics of the party to follow in a post here soon.....