Alright folks, below you will see a pic of our spy on the set of THE GREEN MILE. And below that... well, you'll find a loving and passionate expression of the pure joy one feels when working on a film. This isn't a journalistic account of what the set was like, but instead, it's what it is like to be a film geek working in their preferred environment. You can see the blush in her cheeks as she wrote this, the teary eyes as she recalls each moment. You can feel her, in this report because this is who she is. I love this sort of account. It's where you see the love one feels for film. You can see the lip stick smudges on the electronic letters, and it rocks! Have you always dreamed of running of with the film crew that visited your little burg? Well, Fiona here did just that. And she didn't regret it one bit.
I had the pleasure of working on the Green Mile during the exterior scenes in Nashville, TN. for 2 months. This was my second film.
I absolutely LOVE reading your site. I love reading your stories and reviews, you have soooo much passion. I truly admire that. I decided to give you a little story, one you may or may not enjoy. Its the story of how me, little ole me, got into the film business. I grew up in a small,very small town in Ohio. Since the age of 4 (I am now 25) I can remember watching movies. My Aunt would sit me in front of her TV when I would visit her in Florida and make me watch Halloween over and over. Many people may find this somewhat warped, but not me. She would tell me ghost stories except only until I grew older did I realize she was narrating an old film and putting me in the story, ie..The Doll. To this day I am terrified of that little shit!!!
I decided, one day, that I am not cut out for college. What in the hell am I going to do?!
I pick up the paper a few weeks later and shit...a feature film(October Sky) coming to Knoxville. I went to the open casting call, i was one of thousands.
I decided after signing up that I didn't have a chance in hell. And so, i got the production office number and starting calling. Finally got an interview, and well the rest was luck. Pure luck. But let me tell you, the first day on the set, it was a dream come true. I was never the same. The second day on the set I was smoking a cigarette w/ Chris Cooper and Natalie Canerday. I was in heaven!!!! Five or so years previously I remembered going to see Jurrasic Park at the theater. I told all of my friends, someday, I will have something to do with a movie, you just wait. But to be honest, i didn't think that the day would ever come. And so when Laura Dern walked out of her trailer and asked me to help her carry something, i almost shit my pants. Fast forward 3 months later...
I am on the set of the Green Mile. It is my first day on the set and a friend of mine, whom also worked on the film was standing with me. I have noticed that on a set everyone is so damn busy that they don't seem to pay attention to anything but what they are doing. But me and my friend, well, we were doing our job, but we were also admiring from afar. We stood there watching the shot being set up and here comes Tom Hanks.
He sits on the bleachers and begins reading through Coffee's file. Take after take after take. His posture was perfect. I looked at my friend shaking and said "Holy Shit, there is Forrest fucking Gump" He looked just like the man sitting on the bench waiting for the bus with his box of chocolates. Except this was different. It was real. I was there, 40 feet away.
Later I am in the hotel elevator and a large man enters the elevator with me. Immediately, I knew, John Coffee. And he is SUCH a great guy. I barely remember our conversation as I was in shock.
These characters coming to life, and me being right in the middle of it. And then, Graham Greene, Barry Pepper, Sam Rockwell ( my personal favorite-loved him in Lawn Dogs), Doug Hutichison, &James Cromwell. My god, pinch me or something!
Later into the first month, i am sitting in the lobby. A lady walks up to me and asks me if I am part of the crew. I said , yes. She smiled and said," I figured, you and I are the only two who do not fit in with this lobby crowd"(everyone in suits and ties, and we in jeans and sweatshirts) This was Bonnie Hunt, although with the change of hair I hardly recognized her.
Ok, so now what, my point of this story? I just wanted to thank you. You are so real to me. I have heard SO many times "Quit watching so many movies, and find something to do constructive with your time". But you know what? I am . This is my dream and no matter how tough it may get I will keep knocking on doors, i will keep calling people and someday I can tell these people, Ok screw you, I am happy and I can make a living at this. Ok, I will end this little novel.
I received some wonderful 8x10 black and white photos, one for myself, my dad , my mom and my sister- of Tom Hanks with Frank, David Morse, Bonnie and Barry Pepper. Tom signed each one for my family. And to add to what you said : Whew, Hanks is cool. I’ve always heard good things about him, but you know how sometimes image control changes the way it is. Well, Hanks is genuinely human. You hit it right on. He is part of what I love about Hollywood. I always say, if I ever make it big, never let me forget where I came from , never let me treat people like they are less than me. And Tom doesn't. He is truly a wonderful, caring , funny person. He treats everyone on the set the same. I admire that. And Harry I admire you for being real.
Call me....Fiona
By the way, I completely agree with your reaction to seeing Michael Clark Duncan in wardrobe. My god, I had goosebumps and tears !! He in his overalls that came right below his knees and his voice. He IS John Coffee. And I also agree with you that this film will win the Oscar. Oh, and I will send a picture of me with some of the extras ..Hope you like:)
