“Bill, you booked the Subway commercial!”
Cut to the shot of me in the city, clenching my phone, screaming in victory at anyone who will listen (aka the pigeons on the sidewalk who quickly fly away, terrified, to a safer street). I booked it! My 27th national commercial. For Subway. Free food! (Yes, this is how I think sometimes.)
I show up on set—an actual Subway restaurant closed that day to the public—and the first department I’m sent to is hair and makeup. I befriend them immediately as they’re usually the most fun and biggest gossips, and will give you a sense of what the set will be like.
The next department is costume. “Nice black socks Bill.”
If you’re a woman working on a set you should always bring flesh colored underwear in case they dress you in something sheer. For men, you should always wear black socks. You’ll never get dressed in anything else and if you bring your own you’re making their job so much easier, a goal every actor should have.
My scene is the first shot of the day. The set is bustling with close to forty crew members, all stuffed into this small restaurant. They’re directing huge lights, setting up the sound cart, laying down
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