Saturday, May 24, 2008

Universal Drops the Ball - The Columbus Seven

I typically do not write negitive things unless I really think it is necessary. I believe this is one of those times.

I'm not even going to get deep into this YET as I would like to hear from other of the Columbus Seven. The one I talked to last night was still so angry he does not want to put it on paper.
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Everyone knows that when you become an extra in a movie you are pretty low on the totem pole with respect. You go in expecting to be treated basically like a prop.

However - you still expect to be treated with kindness and respect and dignity.

From what I had seen first hand this treatment had "for the most part" taken place.

Not so on the last day of filming in Columbus, for seven extras that were all told they were to play a very important roles that night, there were only seven of them.

Again - I will only tell briefly of the low lights and save the real stories for if and when I get something in writing from any of the people involved, who rightfully so, sent letter of complaints for the complete and total ineptness Universal showed time and time again for fourteen hours.

There are MANY indiscretions I'll skip for now but some include forgetting about one woman getting her hair done that resulted in burning the hair. Blaming HER for not knowing where her outfit was. Sending all the other extras and their personal belonging back to Columbus, leaving that same woman behind even though the others extras kept insisting she was missing and still in wardrobe.

The woman found herself alone with no purse and was told that getting back to Columbus was not their problem, she was the one that had missed the boat. Luckily a friend was watching on the street and she got a ride back to . . . . THE WRONG place.

The extras were taken to a church that the drivers THOUGHT was the holding area where they waited and waited and waited.

Finally after an hour or so they were found and YELLED at "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE - YOUR MISSING LUNCH"! (It's 9:00 at night).

But the real indignities were yet to come.

How about making one guy, a wino, laying in the street not moving for three hours. Problem was they never told him the scene was over two hours ago. They just let him lay in the street in the cold rain for three hours while they shot street scenes a block away. They told him - "Lay here and DON'T move". He didn't for three hours in the rain.

Another guy was told to walk across the street. Problem was he had no glasses and he was so far away he could not hear his cue, even though he kept telling the PA he could not HEAR.

So he just walked when he THOUGHT he was suppose to, for hours. Untill someone ran up and yells "WHAT ARE YOU DOING" and he explained. Then was told rudely that scene was over hours ago and he was confusing the other actors "GET OFF THE STREET".

Or when two woman were in the holding area for four hours waiting and at 3:00 in the morning walked down the block to get coffee and were scolded at that they could not be there and to "GET BACK TO THE HOLDING AREA UNTIL YOU ARE CALLED". Two hours later and thirteen hours from the start with them see NOTHING of the movie, they were told it's a wrap, go home.

Now we all know that being an extra is a low low job but we also expect that Universal will treat the actors with SOME sort of dignity and care, but letting a guy lay in the street for three hours NOT in a scene? Forgetting people in the wrong city and saying "it's YOUR problem"? Yelling at them for following instructions? I don't care WHO you are this is NOT the way to treat people.

Not Living the Dream.

Remember - these are not Extras like in California who are hoping to MAYBE get attention for bigger roles or to supplement their income. They are there for the thrill of helping out in a movie and if they are told to jump off a cliff, they will with no questions asked.

I think Universal needs to take better care of their local assets that are there to help and to stop taking advantage of people.

I know a few of the Columbus Seven read the blog and would love to hear your stories. NOT to blast Universal but to maybe help them in seeing where they really blew it and perhaps help them in fixing these problems in the future.
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A Night At The Kurth


If the owners only knew what went on in that back room LOL

Oreo's and kittens was the theme last night as there was an exchange (not Oreo's for kittens)!

Meet Dillinger
This is Dillinger in his more awake time.


And here he is after a night of partying at the Kurth.


Tears were shed as Dillinger went to a new loving home in Oshkosh.

Have a great Saturday and talk to you tomorrow.

Rod and DJ (who over did it a little last night - not drinking but with her cold).


35 comments:

  1. Wow! Shame on Universal!! Will hold further comment for more of the story but sounds like they were treated very poorly. Like you said they were there to help and be involved not to move up in the movie making world!

    Love the Dillinger pics!! He looks so cute passed out in the popcorn bowl!!! I just love how kittens play until they drop!! too cute :)

    Until latersss....Karen

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  2. Hooray for Dillinger!! Congrats on the new Kitty Osh and Evan!!

    I wonder which kitten Kris and family took home? Very hard to decide given all the cuteness!! :)

    Have a great day everyone--off to see my Dad!!

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  3. Shakenbsis--is your computer working again?? I HOPE SO!! :)

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  4. Can't really speak for the Columbus 7, but can attest to similar happenings in Oshkosh. The area was so spread out that it was hard to hear. The howling wind didn't do much to help that. Most of the time we were all looking at each other wondering what we were supposed to do. There were a handful of people left in holding that were only told to wait there. We got yelled at a few times because we didn't know what was going on and the PA came over yelling. They'd pretty much scatter us out over the vast set and then say, "you take a couple steps this way, you go over there, you're going to look like this". And then an hour later they'd be shooting a scene and no one said whether we should be moving or not. It was still fun though. I guess it goes back to the fact that everyone had to be on the ball and at least in their spots. I know allot of extras were roaming all over the place which probably didn't make things easy. Some people panicked and couldn't follow directions. Lots of disappointment seeing people demoted from policeman to bum, or guy sitting on steps far far away. Still a good experience.

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  5. AWWWWWW! Rod those pics are soooo precious! (a little teary eyed again)

    I'm still at Suz's but heading home soon. I was too worn out (emotionally) to get momma and the remaining two pirate kitteh's in the truck to go home.

    Yes, KrisX and her three wonderful offspring finally decided on the little lady kitteh. She is getting a great home =) I'm so happy!!!

    THANK YOU Osh and Mr. Wiser and Left-Hand Louie and Krisx!!

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  6. JP..please post a link for your t-shirts I would like to buy one..

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  7. Minxie from yesterday - I think The Libertine is JD's best performance ever too...

    Count me in for the painting party! = )

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  8. Shakenbsis: Yeah, for a movie that almost didnt get made.. it was an awesome movie. And JD gave a HUGE performance!

    Sad about the treatment of the extras. I would think that at times with SO many extras/crew etc on set that communication breaks down at times. Still its no reason to be rude or disrespectful to the extras. I think its more of a shame on those who treated them badly then Universal in general.

    Rod.. the pics of Dillinger are adorable!!! Glad that the kittehs got great homes... crossing fingers that the remainder get get homes as well.

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  9. Dillinger is so cute. I like the popcorn picture.

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  10. Love the kitten in the popcorn pic it's too cute for words.

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  11. Anon 10:26ish...

    I have some t-shirts posted on my blog....

    http://jpstillshoots.blogspot.com/

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  12. Yee Haaa! Officially back on-line!

    Still have to re-load all my programs but that's for another day. Me and kittys are pooped and going to have a NAP! =)

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  13. I'm so sorry to hear of the experiences of those extras. That had to be very disappointing. I wish they all could have had as much fun as my husband. :-(
    It will be interesting to see what he thinks when he reads this.

    The kitties are SO adorable! They make my heart yearn for a kitten. But for now, 1 is enough.

    I went to the Farmer's Market this AM and it was gorgeous. Go to my blog and see my pics.

    Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

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  14. Ok so I have been reading that Friday nights shoot outside the Biograph was miserable due to drunks and obnoxious fangirls. But I read it on IMDB.
    Apparantly problems between drunks and Jerry (depp's bodyguard)does anyone know what happened or have I missed the posts on this. Hope they managed to get the scenes done that they needed.

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  15. Rod,thanks for taking the pictures of our Dillinger!

    I wish we could have stayed longer at Kurths, but you know, the kitteh...

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  16. It was not as bad people are making it out be. Where there a few drunk asshats? Of course but you are talking about the Lincoln Park area and with all the bars you are going to have this. But in the most part the fans were great and respectful.

    It was a long night and the whole set-up of Biograph, the surrounding stores and with the action of all the cars driving up the street with the extras on set it looked fantastic!!

    If you look at the old pictures from the night he was shot and compared them to the set today it is amazing the detail how the crews have re-created it, Actually almost scary.

    Johnny has a new way to get to the set new vehicle etc. It doesnt help when you see people put on their flickr acct etc pictures of his license plate.
    ( you know who you are)

    Back to the salt mines on Tuesday.

    Looks like shooting will wrap up around 6/26 and with a POSSIBLE 2 days in Miami then that is it. (but you never know do you)

    Can't say much more my lips are zipped

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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  17. Zip Lippy Anon,

    Why wasn't there a bigger police or MPI presence? And it is like Rod's blog has its very on herenothere!

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  18. Osh - Did you see my comment yesterday about WoW?

    hehe

    Love the passed out Dillinger pic!

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  19. *runs off to check yesterday*

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  20. debsmad-
    according to my son's press release

    "On the Argent Dawn server, Ally side, (Which I'm almost never on anymore...) Add Dihani. If you're on Thorium Brotherhood, Horde Side, add Odanrot."

    I have no idea about my hubby

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  21. Aha. We play on Uldum, Alliance characters. My sons have some lesser played Horde chars on other realms but I don't know which.

    :)

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  22. yeah, I have no idea what that means :)

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  23. I figured...lol
    Just a way to let your son know we don't play the same 'area' as he does.

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  24. thanks anon for biograph filming updates

    sorry Columbus extras had a bad experience...maybe all the rush to get filming completed is wreaking havoc w/planning/crew response etc.

    CUTE KITTEH DILLINGER PICS :)

    Movie star wife: I was @ Madison farmers mkt this morning too--around 10ish-I usually go earlier too crowded for me today! 7am is usually much better-maybe as news as stated people taking "staycations" instead of vacations this holiday

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  25. I was at the Biograph yesterday, and there were a few drunks here and there. However it was a Friday night and the majority of people I spoke to were polite, respectful, and sharing in on the excitement. Just by standing out there until the wee hours of the morning, we all had something in common and I made some new friends for the night.

    I would also like to add that the set was fantastic! It was amazing how much was done between the late afternoon and early evening. When we first showed up I figured there was no way they would be able to film.

    Although Johnny did not come out, John Bolger did. Passing on the message, he says he misses you guys in Columbus, and the people in Chicago have been just as nice. It was wonderful that he came out and talked to us, at least for me it was much appreciated.

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  26. Debsmad/Osh - I have absolutely no idea what language you guys are speaking, but it sounds uber cool!

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  27. It's a shame that a community that
    behaved so well for all of the filming that was done there had to have a problem like that with their extras! I'm sure the long hours, stress of finishing before a possible strike, and working conditions at times (weather especially) have put everyone on edge. But that's still no reason to treat someone like it sounds these were treated! I'll be interested to hear more from those who were involved!
    Thanks, Rod for adding my blog to your links!!

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  28. Rod, Your pictures of Dillinger are adorable!! You should blow the "sleeping in the popcorn one" up, frame it and give it to the people at Kurth's to hang up in the place. What a neat picture!!
    Sorry to hear all of the nasty stuff with the extras...
    Hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day Holiday and please remember our brave military folks!!

    Char

    Char

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  29. I am trying to find the person who posted a video taken at the 5/13 Columbus Meet & Greet. They posted it on PhotoBucket and it has great footage of me and Johnny. The file or video name is "JD - Peg #5". If that person is reading, please let me know.

    Thank you!!
    Anxious in MN.

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  30. Rod,
    The stress on the crew and the long hours are getting to all of them. In Chicago I never got breakfast, and lunch was not till 3:30. It did not bother me, but lots of people were unhappy. It seems strange it might be over, I had a great time, but I am not ready for it to end.

    Scott

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  31. I understand the NORMAL problems with handeling of extras, the late lunches and so forth but this was above and beyond the normal procedures.

    It seemed nobody was in charge of the extras or refused to take responsibility.

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  32. Anxious in MN-
    Hey, the video is posted by a lady named Peg..and yes she does post here. I would just keep trying to contact her. I have her email, but probably not at liberty to give it out.

    Nice kitty pictures! :) very cute! too bad about the extras...how terrible that they were treated with such disrespect...
    I am posting from backwater Mississippi...Vicksburg actually...limited internet, but was able to get online for a bit!
    I am here for a cousins graduation...boy...its HOT!!!!! VERY HOT!!!! like keel over and die hot!! :)

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  33. Let's keep in mind, these are Hollywood folks. They work at their own pace (slow) then they panic when it's crunch time, then they yell at everyone, then it's over and people forget it.
    Wisconsin-ites aren't used to this mentality. Seriously, they don't mean it, that's just how they are. If they had the work ethic and attitude we have, this movie wouldn't be 3 weeks over on shooting, wouldn't take 13 months to get into theatres and nobody would be complaining about treatment of anyone. These extras need to lighten up and realize they are just "props". If you want to be a "human", stay as far away from a Hollywood movie set as you can! Lesson learned, Columbus 7.

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  34. Dillenger pics are adorable! I'm allergic to cats and don't normally like them; except for black cats, which are always acceptable; but Dillenger even had me thinking...

    Don't care what was behind the bad treatment of the extras; it should NOT have happened! After all, it's not like they had enlisted in the military and expected to be treated like crap. :) Right, Shakenbsis?

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