The Fabulous Disney Babe
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A few weeks ago, I got an e-mail asking me to help find Disney fans to work as extras on the Country Bears movie. Rebekah got the request as well, and began to gather people she knew she could trust for the project. She and I spent the next few weeks separately contacting people and giving them updates on the constantly changing filming schedule. Finally, we had something resembling a solid schedule, and they got together Rebekah's list, the NFFC list, and my list, and asked me if I'd wrangle all of these extras. I called and emailed people like crazy, racked my brain over who was missing, and tried to contact people who apparently had no email or phone, or constant busy signals. After hearing from the casting agency in charge of extras for the film, we got our information and Call Times and gathered on Thursday Evening in an unpaved parking lot somewhere just South of Valencia.
We had been told to bring outfits from the '70s, things to do during the long waits in between the scenes we would be shooting, and something to sit on, as there may not have been anywhere to sit. An AD, or assistant director, checked us in and made sure our names were on the list; we then boarded buses, which shuttled us to the Golden Oak Ranch. On the way in, we saw the famous covered bridge, which had been featured in countless films and television shows, and the sign marking Spin and Marty Lane.
We were dropped off in front of a large white tent, and went inside to sign in. We were given forms to fill out, including our tax information, as this was a paying gig. We were advised to take our forms to costuming, which was located at the back end of the tent. We went back outside and around to the far end of the tent, where a line had formed. There were about 300 regular extras working alongside our group of eight. We had 25 altogether, but people's days and hours were staggered. Inside the wardrobe area, there were racks and racks of clothes with numbers, two wardrobe mistresses, and people trying on costume pieces. Professional extras are expected to bring their own wardrobe, so wardrobe is very limited. The wardrobe mistress assisting me was very cross with me, until she discovered that I was with "The Disney group". They were expecting us, and had some, not many, costumes ready. At the time they had first expressed interest in us, they had asked for height, weight, ethnicity, hair and eye color. Now, we knew why. After I had put on the black shirt with rainbow threads scattered over it that she handed me, I put my street clothes on the hanger with my costume number above it, and headed back into the Main tent. Just inside the entrance and to the right, there were four makeup tables. The furthest two were for hair. Ana Maria was my stylist, and she gave me a kicking little Rachel number that I'm going to try to copy at home. Next, I got a makeover, which included about a ton of lip-gloss, which was long gone by the time shooting actually started for us, hours later.
Most of us had gathered together at a table at the far end of the tent, and waited there, occasionally stepping outside for a hot cocoa or tea, with occasional updates from Jodi, our AD.
By this time it was midnight, and "lunch" was served. It was a buffet, with fresh salmon, herbed chicken breasts, vegetable lasagna, saffron rice, peas, Caesar, potato, cucumber-tomato and baby lettuce salads, fresh fruit, and assorted desserts. Lemonade, coffee and spring water were also available, as were dry snacks, such as pretzels, peanuts, tortilla chips, and goldfish crackers. After dinner, cookies and mint-chip ice cream were offered.
Sometime after dinner, a small group of young adults were picked from the crowd. We found out later that they were chosen to sit in the front seat and to portray "Groupies". Some time later, at about 2:00 a.m., several of us were chosen with the question: "Hey, you, wanna work?" Unlike the bored and unenthused professionals around us, we jumped at the chance. We were led outside into the cold and placed into groups by the AD. We walked down a long dark dirt road, then around a curve, and over a small bridge. Country Bear Hall appeared in front of us, its beauty apparent even in the darkness. The structure is so beautiful that Disney has decided to keep it permanently at Golden Oak Ranch. Reminiscent of Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World, with a little bit of Pioneer Hall thrown in, there are curving natural beams holding up the eaves of the Hall, and, inside, it is a gorgeous show-palace of natural timbers. We were led to huge side doors, where we heard the puppeteers speaking the Bears' lines. (The character voices will be added in post-production.) The scene we were filming is a pivotal one near the end of the film, so I won't spoil it for you by telling you what happens.
We did get to see the bears, as they were part of the scene with us, and I have to say that they are the most amazing things I have ever seen. They don't look like the Country Bears in the Disney attraction, but rather, actual Bears with human characteristics. You see, in this world, Bears are 10 percent of the population. They work alongside us in our offices, live in our neighborhoods, and sit with us in the audience to watch our favorite Country-Rock band (hint, hint). The Country Bears are a band a la Lynrd Skynrd, the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers, and the Beach Boys. After beating a young fellow named Rand and his unusual and somewhat gross act in a talent competition, the Country Bears go on to huge success. Rand vows revenge, and when he grows up to be a New York millionaire, it looks as if he may actually get it.
The Country Bears have long broken up when a young bear, who has been adopted by a human family, is informed by his "Brother" that he is a bear, and not a human, decides to explore his roots, and, while he's doing so, reunite his favorite band.
I'll get into the technical characteristics of these amazing creatures in a later article, because they really do deserve their own article.
After the initial shoot for our group, we shivered our way back to the nice warm tent and waited for another hour or so. At that time, we are gathered together into two groups: left and right. Left was...I can't tell you. Sorry. Right was seated on benches in Country Bear Hall, where we could finally get a look around at the photos of the artists who had, in this mythology, played Country Bear Hall, including Tom Petty and Canned Heat. There is also, I'm pleased to say, a copy of Marc Davis' Bear Band painting. Some of the Country Bears' album covers are represented over the side entry doors.
We filmed a scene with Christopher Walken, who plays Rand, and he seemed to be having fun, too. We first pantomimed cheering several times, then cheered several times. I don't think I will ever look a crowd scene in a movie the same way again. After filming the scene, we were led out of the barn through the back way to the tent, passing a dive bar facade with a neon sign reading "The Swarmin' Hive" and a trailer where someone was editing what appeared to be an episode of VH1: Behind the Music with Gloria Steinem.
We were dismissed, which meant we'd be there at least another hour. We stood in line at wardrobe after dropping off our costumes and got our work papers back. We then stood in line and got them signed, got our call times for the next working day, which changed three times between then and now, and boarded the bus which took us back to our cars. We drove back to our hotel in the morning light, just as traffic was starting to get hairy, had some of the continental breakfast being offered, swapped notes with the Nascar Team that was also staying there over the night's adventures (they'd been testing some cool new cars) and collapsed in bed.
As you read this, I'm back in the tent, waiting to be called for another scene. I'll let you know what happens today in my Friday column. Thanks to Toon Kirby for covering my ... missing column last Friday. You rock, Kirb!
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-- Michelle Smith
Michelle Smith can be reached using the Talkback form below or by emailing her at [email protected].
The Fabulous Disney Babe's column is posted every Friday and when ever else she has something to say. For more on Michelle's background, see her first column. She also offers The Fabulous Tour: Disneyland Secrets and Stories. Click here for more information.
The opinions expressed by our Michelle Smith, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted April 30, 2001