My First Movie Role

Yesterday, God blessed me to fulfill yet another childhood dream, which was to act in a film. The film, entitled CHANCE 27, is a small film, and I had a small speaking role (as a minister, go figure lol), but I believe that acting is every bit as intensive as music, and I am grateful for the chance to begin studying the craft.

Because the film has not yet been edited or released, I'll refrain from sharing any of the details of the film itself..(UPDATE: the film has now been edited, released, and won the Audience Favorite Award at the 2012 48 Hour Film Festival screening in June 2012 at Studio Movie Grill. Here is the link to the movie - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t98YCwubzY&feature=youtu.be)
I'll just share my experience from my perspective. I got on set yesterday at 8 AM after 4 hours of sleep, and due to the level of excitement I felt, I was wired up as though I'd slept a full 8 hours. I came dressed in wardrobe, but forgot to eat breakfast...big mistake. Since lunch didn't come until after 2 PM, I starved the whole day on set (NOTE TO SELF: make sure you eat a big breakfast early the morning of filming days to make it thru) and devoured the Pizza Hut pizza like a starving rancor when it arrived.

When I arrived on set, the director gave me a copy of the script and explained to me more in depth the role he wanted me to play. The film is a comedy, and since I'd never acted in a comedy before, I wanted to be mindful of comedic timing, something I'd been cognizant of for as long as I'd been looking to act. Jokes only work if delivered with the right timing and right emphasis, and so as I looked over the script, I mentally worked thru inhabiting my character, and the right timing for delivering my lines. Remembering lines is much easier than I would have thought, but after all the years memorizing songs, perhaps I shouldn't have been too surprised. Before long, I knew all the lines for my scenes for both my character and those interacting with me, in case someone went off script/improvised at all.

As the other actors and crew trickled in, I introduced myself to them all, and took their measure...I was by far the least experienced actor on set. I'd figured as much, and wanted to make sure that I asked questions and paid attention to the others as they went over their lines and read with each other prior to filming their scenes so I could pick up on their preparation methods and techniques for effortless acting. When the two lead actors, Lawrence (a tall, athletic Wesley Snipes-esque guy playing the lothario) and Lee (a younger, every bit as hilarious Jim Carrey-esque character) walked in, the energy in the room changed, and everyone stepped their game up to another level. The other actors' body language subtly changed as well once Lee and Lawrence walked on set, and it was definitely interesting to see.

Filming began with the director and crew laying out each scene, and the actors falling quickly into place and into character. I observed every detail of the preparations that the director and crew undertook as well, because one day, I want to be able to create my own films. Trust me, I've seen Ice Cube's Behind The Music about the way he transitioned from NWA to Boyz In The Hood to the Friday movies and beyond...I plan to be able to make that same transition as well. I don't believe in doing anything just for the sake of doing it; if I do it, there is a purpose and thought behind it. This definitely fell under that category.

As the day progressed, I noticed two things I lacked:

1. ease of movement in front of the camera...Lawrence seemed so smooth and comfortable in front of the camera, and even was able to help the director by offering different variations on his scenes, and Lee had his sense of humor in overdrive, always seeming ready to deliver a joke, and always in control. I didn't quite feel that. As an actor, you have to be mindful of so many things; how wide the framing is on your shot so you don't step out of the frame, the direction of the camera on you and how you turn or gesture relative to that camera, the interpretation of your character as written in the script, the interaction with your fellow actors, etc...so I was working to transcend all of that and lock into the character, but at times FELT like I was "working" and not "acting"...and,

2. the ability to control my smile. I can't help it...unless I'm angry, I smile when I look at people, and when I speak to them. But in my scene, as the minister at a wake, smiling was not quite appropriate for my role. I asked a couple of the actors after the shoot what they do to control their smiling, and they said that in acting classes, there is actually a segment where the instructor and other students get in their faces for a certain period of time and do things to try to make them laugh, all while the student has to maintain a straight face. Poker face training, if you will. I will have to do that.

Having said that, I'm used to being in front of crowds, so nervousness was not a factor for me, and I am used to public speaking as well, so I was able to deliver my lines clearly and solidly, and even got in a couple of improvisational jokes with Lawrence in the last scene of the film that had everyone on set rolling with laughter when we were done. For my first ever film role, I can honestly say it wasn't bad at all, and if you know me, you know I'm an extremely rough critic, especially when it comes to myself. My performance was not good or great in my opinion, but not bad, and that was what I expected for my first acting role. My job now is to study, take courses, and  jump on every film that I can to build my acting chops and develop my own style of acting, so that I can earn the same type of respect that Lee and Lawrence and the rest of the cast had on the film. I loved the experience, and can't wait to see the movie. Stay tuned...I'll update this blog once the film is released! (Update: the movie CHANCE 27 will be screened in Houston on June 19 @ Studio Movie Grill City Centre at 7:30 PM and again at 9:00 PM. I've seen the finished movie now, and it is funny! Can't wait to see the audience response!)

God has been doing so many amazing things in my life, and this opportunity falling into my lap was but another one of them. After the shoot, the director invited me to collaborate with him on more projects to build my skills and exposure, and also wants to work with me and my team thebridge to score some of his other film works. I can't wait. To God be all the glory for yet another opportunity to grow and strive for greatness.

(For pictures from the set, follow me on instagram at billydproductions)

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