"Fifteen
Days in Hollywood"
The personal experiences of actor, Jon Baas, on the set
of the Hollywood film, "Mr. 3000".
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Film
Release - September
24, 2004 (Wide)
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During my fifteen (15) days on the set of "Mr. 3000",
I decided to keep a personal journal of my experiences -- both for my
own reference, and others. I kept a few notes, and wrote them here in
my weblog.
This is that journal.
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"Mr. 3000"
was filmed in both Miller Park -- home of the Milwaukee Brewers
-- in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as well as down in the state of Louisiana. I was
heavily involved in the filming in Milwaukee.
For those fifteen days on-set, I assumed the role of a
Brewers basebll fan (of which I am one in real life anyway). I will be
featured on-screen when the film is released, so keep your eyes open.
You'll have to read the journals to find out the details though... But
it's a good story if I may say so myself!
While on-set, I also I got to work with such stars as Bernie Mac
and Michael Rispoli, as well as a number of the crew,
including head camera man, Charles
Papert. It was a wonderful experience, and one I'm thrilled to be
able to share with you!
So, sit back, and feel free to puruse the journal entries,
as collected
below. You can click on the titles to be taken directly to each
individual
entry, or you can start with the first one, and read upwards
in the archived entries.
Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by!
On the Set: Day One (1) - (Monday, June 30,
2003)
"By the time the day of filming was done, I'd met many
people, most of them made of cardboard, I'd enjoyed a surprisingly
delicious (free) lunch, met Bernie Mac, spent my first visit inside the
spectacular Miller Park since it was built, and made my way prominantly
into some excellent shots. What more can you ask for? What better job
is there?!!"
On the Set: Day Two (2) - (Monday, July 14,
2003)
"It was interesting today though to see the 'stars' in
action. Bernie Mac again made a point of stopping by the rest of us,
shaking hands, chatting, cracking jokes(!), and generally inquiring
about our well-being. He didn't have to do that, but he seemed to want
to. I'm really starting to appreciate that guy. He really is a class
act."
On the Set: Day Three (3) - (Tuesday, July
15, 2003)
"After we all ate, and a few moves later, we ended up being
located directly above the outfield wall for a homerun scene. One of
Bernie Mac's teammates, played by Brian J. White (who I guess is a
pretty good ballplayer in real life), was the featured 'hitter'. We
were the crowd reaction shot out in dead center field...."
On the Set: Day Four (4) - (Wednesday,
July 16, 2003)
"Today actually ended up being a shorter day on-set --
shorter, at least as far as filming a Hollywood movie goes. Normally a
day of shooting lasts 12 hours on average. Today I was only there for
eight."
On the Set: Day Five (5): The Flat Ones -
(Thursday, July 17, 2003)
"Flat people (generic 'seat-filler' cardboard cutouts that
can double as fans sitting in the stands of sports stadiums), are
nearly indistinguishable from live fans sitting near them. Up close
they clearly look like multiple copies of 12 different cutouts, but
from a distance, and mixed in with live fans, they look just like
everyone else. You end up having a very hard
time distinguising the two...."
On the Set: Day Six (6): En-Masse! -
(Friday, July 18, 2003)
"Friday was perhaps the most exciting day for me on-set so
far, and for a number of reasons. It was another all-night shoot, but
also a HUGE event, involving 25,000 unpaid volunteer extras...."
On the Set: Day Seven (7) - (Monday, July
21, 2003)
"No matter what you may hear, work within the movie business
is not glamourous. Even if popular culture makes it look that way....
You
gotta experience it and make your own decisions...."
On the Set: Day Eight (8) - (Tuesday, July
22, 2003)
"I actually found it amusing though to watch this particular
scene play out over and over. Bernie Mac's character, Stan Ross, is a
pompous egotistical ballplayer at the time of this milestone 3000th hit
in 1995. For this hit, Stan taunts the pitcher, who, in turn fans him
with a close pitch, knocking him down...."
On the Set: Day Nine (9) - (Wednesday,
July 23, 2003)
"Strangely, it was cold in the stadium. Cold enough that a
jacket would have been nice. The retractable roof was open, and an
unusually cold summer breeze blew in. Isn't it supposed to be warm and
muggy at night around here, especially in the dead of summer?...."
On the Set: Day Ten (10): Meeting Some Hollywood
Notables - (Friday, July 25, 2003)
"Before the shot was up, Bernie's starting position was
right beside
me each time. So, as we all awaited the familiar order, "Rolling,
and....
ACTION...", I stood there, listening to his friendly conversation with
a
woman right across the aisle (no doubt making her day!)...."
On the Set: Day Eleven (11) - (Saturday,
July 26, 2003)
"Most of the filming on the field this evening was a very
interesting scene. Do you remember the old "hidden ball" trick in
baseball? You know, the one where the ballplayer pretends to return the
ball to the pitcher, and then returns to his respective base. When the
opposing team's runner steps off the bag to lead off, BOOM, he's tagged
out...."
On the Set: Day Twelve (12) - (Monday,
July 28, 2003)
"Today ended up being another slow day on-set. It also
appeared to be another cold one. Of course, that did make sitting in
the open-roofed Miller Park a wee bit uncomfortable most of the night...."
On the Set: Day Thirteen (13): Perseverance and
Thanks - (Tuesday, July 29, 2003)
"When I turned around to face the field again, and they were
all staring back at me, humorously in awe. "So, how are you so famous?"
one of the girls asked, quite curiously...."
On the Set: Day Fourteen (14) - (Wednesday,
July 30, 2003)
"Later, when we were sitting in the stands between takes for
the first scene of the night, I mused at the snow falling around us. Of
course it wasn't the typical wintery fluff, but rather...."
On the Set: Day Fifteen (15): The Last Day
- (Thursday, July 31, 2003)
"Now that filming could begin again, the scene would be that
of a number of very tight crowd shots during the last important game of
the 2004 season (end of the movie). At the unexpected request of one of
the crew, I found myself directly in that shot(s). Yes, it's been
confirmed, I'll
be featured in the final cut of that scene...."
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