First, to quell any rumors, I am not Reese Witherspoon's new
personal trainer and I did not hang out with Owen Wilson! The fact is, I was asked to be on the set of the new movie
featuring Reese Witherspoon and Owen Wilson to ensure the running scenes looked legitimate, and that the actresses in the
scenes will actually come across as "athletes" on the big screen. It was an interesting and educational day!
I learned that dozens of people are required to make even the simplest scenes shoot flawlessly, and in that regard
I learned that it can also take 9 hours to film just 2 scenes (yes, seriously)! The latter was the result of the complexity
of the scenes, for which my "run coaching expertise" was just a small part in the grand scheme of things.
The directors pain-stakingly monitored the subtlest details in each scene, and although the reasons for their disapproval
on certain takes seemed trivial at the time, I did come out of it with a better appreciation for the movie-making process.
Therefore, any aspirations I had for taking my movie scripts to Hollywood are now buried.
Reese (first name basis
now) is very down-to-Earth, she talks to everyone on the set, and was very friendly to the passersby. She is also a
good runner, and by that I mean good mechanics and good speed, so she really didn't need any coaching from me at all.
Her co-star also turned out to be a good runner, so they made my job very easy :) I incorrectly guessed Reese's athletic
background (gymnastics), but the background showed, and I have much respect for her after working with her for a day.
And after seeing what it takes to do the same scene over and over and over again, without any hitches in speech or mannerisms,
all of the aspirations I had for taking my acting skills to Hollywood are now buried too.
As for the work I did, and
perhaps the one coaching blurb I can insert here, I was asked to select "background runners" for one of the running
scenes. So it was my job to select which girls "looked like runners." And similarly to when I work with
the runners I coach in the DC area, the most common technical error I saw on the part of auditioning runners is the improper
use of their arms while running (regardless of speed). If I could make a plug for having a running coach, that would
be one advantage at the very least--assistance in creating an efficient running stride.
In the end, I will remember
that the executive producer of probably my favorite show of all time, James L. Brooks from The Simpsons, asked for
my advice on how to shoot Reese's "throw-up scene". I will remember that Reese's body guard nearly broke every
bone in my hand when he shook it (I think I got his point). I will remember that it's a privilege to see really great
acting up-close and personal. And I will remember that the buffet-style lunch they offered us was food fit for a king
in my eyes, so all the more reason to find an excuse to take my coaching services to Hollywood!
Keep on reaching
for the stars ;)
Mike
Pic #1: Reese is in the middle, her body guard is on the right, and I'm on the left,
most likely avoiding all eye contact with the body guard.
Pic #2: Enjoying my time sitting in the Assistant
Director's chair, moments before feeling his wrath for sitting in his chair when he wasn't around!
Pic #3:
Me and James L. Brooks with our trained eyes at work at the video playback screens.
