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Anyone else here who worked on this project?

posted 18 years ago by swborderer
11 replies | jump to latest

Hey, all!

As an avid IMDb'er - as well as someone who worked on this project as a historical reenactor - I was happy to see "The American Revolution" listed here on the IMDb message boards.

I didn't have a huge role - I was involved in the location shooting at the Herkimer Home State Historic site in central New York in early December, 2005 - but I was very impressed with both cast and crew.

I just wanted to publicly thank Russ Richards, Jim Choate and Kathryn Coombs and all the fine people at Historical Entertainment - it was a pleasure working with you all. Russ is a great guy - he takes care of his people and is true to his word. I would enjoy an opportunity to work with them again in the future.

The production crew was very professional as well - from the director to Justine, who was our "reenactor wrangler" so to speak...lol. She did her job well and kept all of us in line.

Anyway - anyone else here have any experiences to relate from working on this project?

"I'm going to find the shark that ate my friend and destroy it. Probably with dynamite."

[–] ncbarber 18 years ago

I was forunate enough to get the role of Lord North through Partisan Pictures . I auditioned in New Paltz, NY.

I met some great people. Jim Archer gave me fencing lessons during "wait time."
There was agreat write up in the Albany Times-Union with Jim's photo ,(in color). ( He makes his own swords).

I'd like to get it to him if anyone knows how to contact him.

Jim Choate was a true professional and a great guy. I met him by chance in the Costumer theatrical store on Central Avenue in Albany, N.Y. Hw was working on a Sunday, (getting make up supplies).

Thanks to Justine from Partisan Pictures.

As a member of the Schenectady Film Alliance, we'd love to see the History Channel consider a documentary in Schenectady County. We have original 300 yr. old houses in our Stockade District. The Stockade was attacked and burned by the French & Indians in 1690. There are some great, well kept stories about Schenectady, "Scanecthade", (an indian name for "the land beyond the pines".)

I took photos of some of the other actors in the holding area. Some came out, some didn't, (including mine). If anyone knows who the still photographers were, please let me know. If the production company so approves , I'd like some professional still photos.

So, enough already. I'm go back to continue my search for Episode #6 of "Conviction", (Friday nights at 10:00 PM, NBC). I was in the Restaraunt, engage ment party scene with Stephanie March. Look for the strikingly handsome fellow with silver hair. (Also quite modest & humble, I should say.) I guess it's July for the American Revolution premiere.

[–] swborderer 18 years ago

Hey, ncbarber...

Lord North, eh? Very cool. Did you get to see Mark Collins - the guy who plays Washington? He was great to work with too - as a matter of fact, I had a scene with him, where I Play the justice of the peace who swears him in as the first President. I guess it is supposed to be the final scene of the entire series...

"I'm going to find the shark that ate my friend and destroy it. Probably with dynamite."

[–] jessicabruce 18 years ago

Ahh, don't say that... Final scene? Bummer!

But on the whole, the guy that played Washington (I guess Mark Collins), became my favorite out of the characters. He assumed the role of Washington perfectly, and so, Collins... er Washington became my favorite in the series.

I also liked the people that played Tarleton, Morgan and Greene. Pretty awesome stuff but on the whole, all of the actors did an amazing job. So, from a history buff who loves the American Revolution, you all did an outstanding job! Congrats! :)

[–] swborderer 18 years ago

Thanks, Jessica! I'm glad the series is doing its' job" in piqueing your interest in the subject matter!

As a Rev. War reenactor, we strive to bring history to life in a way which all people can relate to the period on a personal level (as in..'what would I have done?'). That, along with series like the Revolution, can draw more people into their own history in a greater way than reading pablum American History textbooks, in my opinion...

"I'm going to find the shark that ate my friend and destroy it. Probably with dynamite."

[–] jessicabruce 18 years ago

Oh, you're very welcome! I've been into the Revolution since I was eleven, but only recently in the last nine months, I'm reeducating myself. But I think it's really awesome that you've gotten the chance to reenact history. Now, wait until March fifth, wouldn't that be fun to reenact? :)

One of my favorite things about colonial America was their speech. It was unique and all around, interesting. ;)

Who's your favorite figures from this era swborderer? My most favorite is Samuel Adams, but Hancock, Revere, and Henry all fall dead second. :) Hancock's vanity made the era very amusing, especially when the roll of Commander and Chief went to Washington, and not him, as Hancock had automatically assumed. You know, just because you were President of the Second Continental Congress doesn't mean you get free grabs. ;)

This is cool, and I'm glad I'm getting the chance to talk to someone from the show as well as another history buff.

[–] swborderer 18 years ago

Hi again, Jessica!

It is funny that you should ask me this question - especially since I may have somewhat of a biased viewpoint from the perspective of the Crown Forces (being a member of HM 24th Reg't. of Foot, recreated).

As such, some of my favorite personalities of the era include the following:

• King George III - Yes, it's true! Most Americans have a rather ill view of the British Regent due to the lopsided portrayal he receives in most American textbooks. BUT - if you look at his life from an unbiased view, he was hardly the raving tyrant he has often been made out to be. He was, in fact, by most accounts a very genteel, personable monarch who was greatly concerned about the welfare of his subjects, taking care to establish what would later become the National Library and the Royal Academy of the Arts.

Here is an excerpt from the official British Monarchy website:

George III was the most attractive of the Hanoverian monarchs. He was a good family man (there were 15 children) and devoted to his wife, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, for whom he bought the Queen's House (later enlarged to become Buckingham Palace).
However, his sons disappointed him and, after his brothers made unsuitable secret marriages, the Royal Marriages Act of 1772 was passed at George's insistence. (Under this Act, the Sovereign must give consent to the marriage of any lineal descendant of George II, with certain exceptions.)
Being extremely conscientious, George read all government papers and sometimes annoyed his ministers by taking such a prominent interest in government and policy.
His political influence could be decisive. In 1801, he forced Pitt the Younger to resign when the two men disagreed about whether Roman Catholics should have full civil rights. George III, because of his coronation oath to maintain the rights and privileges of the Church of England, was against the proposed measure.
One of the most cultured of monarchs, George started a new royal collection of books (65,000 of his books were later given to the British Museum, as the nucleus of a national library) and opened his library to scholars.
In 1768, George founded and paid the initial costs of the Royal Academy of Arts (now famous for its exhibitions).
He was the first king to study science as part of his education (he had his own astronomical observatory), and examples of his collection of scientific instruments can now be seen in the Science Museum.
George III also took a keen interest in agriculture, particularly on the crown estates at Richmond and Windsor, being known as 'Farmer George'.
In his last years, physical as well as mental powers deserted him and he became blind.
He died at Windsor Castle on 29 January 1820, after a reign of almost 60 years - the second longest in British history.

To this day, I believe GRIII remains one of the most popular Monarchs in British history.

• General Thomas Gage - Was sacked as commander of Crown Forces in North America by 1776 for his costly and grossly inefficient handling of the British victory in the battle of "Bunker," or Breed's Hill. Still, Gage was, at heart, conscientious of the Colonists' greivances, having taken an American-born woman as his wife. Was sacked, in part, due to his reluctance to carry out an aggressive campaign against Colonial insurgents.

• General William Howe - Was, in my opinion, Britain's best battlefield tactician. Named as successor to Gage as overall commander of British forces in North America, Howe was responsible for all of the Crown's early battlefield victories - Long Island, White Plains, the capture of New York and Philadelphia, and the battles of Brandywine and Germantown. Still, he chose to resign his command in 1778 when he could not persuade Prime Minister, Lord North, to send the number of troops he believed would be needed to achieve ultimate victory.

And Yes, there are some Patriot figures whom I have great respect for:

• George Washington - Although his record as a battlefield commander was spotty, at best, his talents as the administrator of the Continental Army were nothing less than brilliant, given the generally poor equipment, provisions and troops he was supplied with by Congress throughout much of the war. His steadfast personality was the rock upon which the success of the American Revolution was built.

• John Adams - As brilliant a legal mind as ever was produced in our history, John Adams was perhaps my favorite amongst the original Framers of the Constitution. Was legally fair-minded enough, in fact, to have volunteered to represent the British soldiers who were charged with murder at the "Boston Massacre" of 1770 - actually getting an aquittal for his clients! Adams, in my mind, was the legal heart of the American Revolution, without which, the entire uprising would have degenerated into an unorganized rabble (See: the French Revolution).

UNFORTUNATELY, Jessica, I have to respectfully disagree with your choice as favorite, Samuel Adams. Here is the explanation I gave in response to one of your other posts on these borads:

I do, unfortunately, have to take issue with your defence of Sam Adams, however. Most people do not realise how truly vile his actions were during the early days of the uprisings around Boston, as they have been swept under the rugs, so to speak, in whitewashed American history texts.
He personally accounted for the personal ruination of several lawful businesses and careers during this time, wontonly destroying property and livelihoods of those who had showed even slight favoritism to British rule - and, at a time when all "Americans" were still legally and ostensibly British subjects.
There are also noted accounts of his "reign of terror" against the peaceful citizenry of the Massachusetts Colony - not the least of which was his personal vendetta against Hutchinson (inspired by an old family slight when Adams' father was denied access to a business venture by Hutchinson years earlier, for which Sam Adams always blamed him).
Then there is the account of Adams and his band of hooligans (terrorists, as we call them today), who dragged some minor official - who had written a letter of support for the Crown in a local newspaper - and his family out of their home in the middle of a freezing winter night, stripped them, poured hot tar over him (imagine the intense pain caused by those burns!), then tied them up, placed them in a shallow launch (boat), then sent them drifting into Boston Harbor!

Sorry to be so long-winded. But I hope you see what an interesting phenomenon occurrs when you become personally involved in history as I do!!

Cheers!

"I'm going to find the shark that ate my friend and destroy it. Probably with dynamite."

[–] jessicabruce 18 years ago

Howdy, again! :)

A member of His Majesty's 24th Reg't of Foot? That's awesome!! You're really lucky, and I bet you're having the time of your life! I've been doing some reading about the 51st Foot (or Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry), which the regiment was in the Seven Years War, and secured a Battle Honor in Minden. I just think the light infantries were interesting and unique.

Biased? I wouldn't say that all. Perhaps, I'm the one that's biased. ;) However, your choices of people are deserved, and honestly, I do think George was an amazing man. I didn't list him as a favorite because I actually know very little about George's background, and so it would be wrong of me to list someone I don't have a grasp on. I do apperciate suppling that article about George. Some of the things I was aware of, such as George having fifteen children and his parenting abilities, as well as his devotion to his wife. I knew of his interest in science, but I was unaware that he was the first king to study it. I was also aware of his keen interest in agriculture but didn't know about the Richmon and Windsor estates. The rest of the information in the article is new to me, and so, thank you! For some reason, I cannot locate George's history, only his roles in the war. I guess I'm not looking in the right places.

As for Gage, Howe, Washington, and John Adams, I do like your picks but honestly I have to brush up more on Howe. I'm familier with Gage but I've only recently started reeduactiong myself, and so I'll have to take a harder look at Howe and read more in depth. ;)

Washington was an interesting man, one that seemed to be shrouded in mystery in some respects. If I'm wrong, plese correct me. ;) Still, I find it amusing that Americans have Washington on this high pedistal but what many don't realize is the continuous (as you know already) failures. With Washington, the one thing that I constantly run in with debates is technically he was not the US's first "President", right? Under the Articles of Confederation I believe Payton Randolf was the first guiding the US, but Washington was the first President under the Consitution.

John Adams wasn't brilliant. There simply isn't a word to describe all of his achievments, and so 'brilliant' can't hold a candle to a great leader. And I agree; I too think it was amazing (and bold) to represent the soldiers. I could only wonder; here we had an upstanding citizan, and one that was very involved with public affairs with the Continental Congress (and elsewhere, as you know), represent His Majesty's men. I always wondered what exactly went through John Adam's mind in the court room, where Tories and Patriots intermixed. Though Adams wrote about his representation in his journal, and assumed his role to be a great honor, I often wondered about the tension Adams had to have felt. Can you imagine?

UNFORTUNATELY, Jessica, I have to respectfully disagree with your choice as favorite, Samuel Adams. Here is the explanation I gave in response to one of your other posts on these borads:

Oh, you're most entitled to express your opinions, and in truth, I had half expected the response. I encounter it a lot, but I'm sure you're wondering why I chose the 'trouble maker' as a favorite. ;) I saw your explination, and unfortunately for me, I had to leave in haste but I'll try and offer my own reasoning for my choice since we all love debates. :) I hope you don't mind:

Most people do not realise how truly vile his actions were during the early days of the uprisings around Boston, as they have been swept under the rugs, so to speak, in whitewashed American history texts.

Let's unsweep some of those vile actions. ;)

Quite a few have expressed, and pointed fingers at Samuel Adams that I've talked too, so you're not alone by any means.

In public, Adams loved propaganda, he adored stirring people's minds with his speeches, both verbally and with newspapers. Adams was a hothead by all accounts, but then again, so was Henry. They say the two; it's hardpressed to determine which had the 'temper,' so to speak - Samuel Adams or Patrick Henry?

Certaintly, the most extream was Adams. To name a few, Adams used propaganda (again) to display the 'Massacre' in a more pronouced light, with the able assistance of Revere. Adams and Revere made the Massacre (as you know) more vile then it really was. If we jump two years earlier in sixty-eight, it was Adams's Circular Letter that provoked, and soon 4,000 British Regulars came to assist and stop the chaos in Boston's streets. It was because of the Circular Letter that Regulars arrived, and thus creating a further hotbed, which two years in time, led to the 'Massacre.' So, in respects, Adams was undoubtly responsible for the 'Massacre' when Americans stop turning a blind eye, and read in between the lines.

It was Samuel Adams, to quote, "If Governor Hutchinson will not send tea back to England, perhaps we can brew a pot of it especially for him!" While the Mohawks rowed out to the three ships, awaiting to dock, Adams also is quoted in saying, "No violence, or you'll hurt the cause!" Adams, and the handful, including Revere, were responsible hurling 342 cases of tea into Boston Harbor, and this Parliament lost a decent amount of currency.

Of course, Adam did many other acts in the public eye, but I'd like to move on to something else, if I may. ;) Now, many do not know of Adam's personal life. Why? Because Adams is a 'hard egg to crack.' While, I won't bore you with the details of his early childhood (unless you're interested), what is known about Samuel Adams is he became engrossed in politics, so much that some records point to that Adams house on Purchase Street nearly fell into ruins. He had no job or source of income (none that I'm aware of), except the minor wages Adams inquired as stamp collector, and in some regards, he didn't pay enough attention to his second wife and two children as much as Adams probably should have. When he was selected to the Continental Congress, John supplied his cousin with a horse, and Adams's friends assisted with a new wig, and clothes.

So, I've briefly touched base and stomped Samuel Adams into the ground but why do I respect him? Regardless of Adams unorthadox, and harsh measures, like all the 'Rebals,' if you ponder a bit about it, Adams did what he thought to be true and right within his mind. Whether it was his role with the Sons of Liberty, and their regular meetings held in the Green Dragon Tavern, or his countless personal failures, his personal opposition againt Hutchinson (and possibly responsible for the burning of his mansion), etc. Adams rash behavior in my opinion, is a lesson that if you strongly believe in a cause, sometimes a person has to follow their beliefs no matter the risks involved.

However, Samuel Adams had a different side to him as well, and many are unaware of it. Here's one letter that Adams wrote to his second wife, Elizabeth. I hope you find it as interesting as I did.

Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume 1 AUGUST 1774 - AUGUST 1775
Samuel Adams to Elizabeth Adams
(First Continental Congress)

My dearest Betsy Philada June 28 1775
Yesterday I received Letters from some of our Friends at the Camp informing me of the Engagement between the American Troops and the Rebel Army, in Charles town. I cannot but be greatly rejoyced at the tryed Valor of our Countrymen, who by all Accounts behavd with an Intrepidity becoming those who fought for their Liberties against the mercenary Soldiers of a Tyrant. It is painful to me to reflect upon the Terror I must suppose you were under on hearing the Noise of War so near you. Favor me, my dear, with an Account of your Apprehensions at that time, under your own hand. I pray God to cover the heads of our Countrymen in every day of Battle, and ever to protect you from Injury in these distracted Times. The Death of our truly amiable and worthy Friend Dr Warren is greatly afflicting. The Language of Friendship is, how shall we resign him! But it is our Duty to submit to the Dispensations of Heaven, "Whose Ways are ever gracious, ever just." He fell in the glorious Struggle for the publick Liberty.

Mr Pitts and Dr. Church inform me that my dear Son has at length escapd from the Prison of Boston. I have inclosd a Letter to him, which I desire you would seal and deliver to him, or send it to him if he is not with you.

Remember me to my dear Hannah and Sister Polly and to all Friends. Let me know where good old Surry is.

Gage has made me respectable by naming me first among those who are to receive no favor from him.

I thoroughly despise him and his Proclamation. It is the Subject of Ridicule here, as you may see by the inclosd which I have taken from this days paper. I am in good health and Spirits. Pray my dear let me have your Letters more frequently--by every Opportunity. The Clock is now striking twelve. I therefore wish you a good Night. Yours most affectionately S Adams

Though Adams wasn't too happy with Gage (and rightfully so in some respects when Hancock and him were fleeing for their lives before the early battles of Lexington and Concord), I found it interesting that while Samuel Adams still has a negative profile, and shares his thoughts about Joseph Warren's death at Breed's Hill. (Adams's son, Samuel became a physican, and served under Warren, so the death was that much more personal. It's a shame that his son was killed in war... but now I'm going off track, and I apologize.) Not to mention, when I was reading, that Adams showed concern for his son's escape.

So, I'll just say, and I apologize for repeating, despite the multitude of faults Adams possesed, and his untimely decesions; Samuel Adams did what he did because he believe them to be the only course Adams saw fit to support the cause.

and his family out of their home in the middle of a freezing winter night, stripped them, poured hot tar over him (imagine the intense pain caused by those burns!), then tied them up, placed them in a shallow launch (boat), then sent them drifting into Boston Harbor!

This last bit intrigued me, mostly because I never read or heard of Adams performing such a stunt but surely, I won't dismiss it either. I would be curious to know if this was some type of a religious act by Adams. He did come from a strict, religious background, his father (Samuel) being a Deacon, and his mother (Mary) supremely religious. It just sounds like, from the little I've read, and knowing Adams fairly well, I could see him tarring, and sending his children away in a boat but for protection purposes, and possibly for a relgious factor too. I'm by no means positive if that was the case, I'm just making assummptions, trying to piece together this quote.

Sorry to be so long-winded. But I hope you see what an interesting phenomenon occurrs when you become personally involved in history as I do!!

Oh, I'm more at fault than you! I'm very long-winded, as you can see. I love history, and I'm grateful that you're taking the time to debate and help further educate me.

I also apologize for any spelling errors. I tried writing this before my comp froze. ;)

The letters were taken from the Continental Congress: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/continental/

Much appericated, and I look foreward talking with you again.

Cheers!
Jessica

PS - What's your name? ;)

[–] lissteadman 18 years ago

I was involved in the production: I played the role of Sarah Hodgkins.

It was my first professional acting gig and also my first screen gig, so kudos to everyone who was there to guide me through that.

Acting on screen is so different from acting on stage!

And huge kudos to Justine, who was infinintly paitient with me and was amazing enough to get me a hotel room last minute!

(It's very early in the morning--I haven't got much else but mush going on upstairs, so I apologize for this post being so idiotic).

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jessicabruce 17 years ago

I agree 100%. Everyone did an outstanding job. I was glad that the casting crew found someone tall enough to resemble Washington's height. I thought it was odd though that the "Father of the Revolution" was mentioned once. But those who know Sam Adams's character very well; he's not always a popular figure, but he's my favorite. :D

I live in a historical area too em1183. I'm near Lake Champlain in Vermont. Her waters have seen their fair share of bloodshed from the Revolution, Civil, and War of 1812. It's estimated that there are over 1,000 unmarked graves by the waterfront alone, and predicted that number is mostly from the Revolution and the Civil War. About 3 years ago, some construction work was being done be the water's edge, and without a historian, the crew found buttons and a femer bone. I guess the construction crew contacted a musuem, and later in the newspaper the butons were identified from a regiment from the Revolution, and another crew dug around further, and found more bones of the body... I beleive the body was from either the War of 1812 or the Civil but of course I didn't save the newspaper clipping. Anyway, now there is no construction work done near Champlain without a historian on hand. Oh, and we can't forget Samuel de Champlain. : P There's a nice marble statue of him in Isle la Motte and carved, front and center on a lighthouse in Crown Point, NY.

Remember the past; the past often repeats itself -Me

[–] kim-1018 16 years ago

Hello!

I was on this project for a day. I had just moved in down the road from Eastfield Village and stumbled upon the set. Having never been an extra before, I wrote down all I could remember while things were still fresh. Then I sent this to everyone I knew. Complete geek, I know. But it was all so fascinating!

A Day in the Life of an Extra
October 12, 2005

Friday of last week, winding my way home through the hills, fluorescent green, handwritten signs reading "TO SET" were mounted to telephone poles at every intersection. I followed the beacons a surprisingly short distance to Mud Pond Road, one road past my own dead end. I was less than a mile from home.

When I reached the last sign, I had stumbled upon much more than what I assumed to be some amateur project. There were 15 Port-O-Potties, a camper, a wedding-sized food tent, rental vans, trailers, and a row of small, yellowed military camp tents. Men with ponytails carried muskets and were dressed in triangular hats, wool coats with brass buttons, and knee-high tights. The crew had radios attached to their ears and drove golf carts from field to field. Troups of actors milled about digesting lunch and awaiting their next scene.

Satisfying my curiosity, I turned toward home. That afternoon I told my fiancé and his folks in from Colorado about the set. While doing construction on our house that weekend, we heard gunshots all afternoon. On Monday, we drove by so Tim could see too. A woman walked by carrying a clipboard so we rolled down the window and asked what was up. In observance of Columbus Day, the fields were quiet with few people milling about.

"We're filming a 13 part series on the American Revolution for the History Channel."

I leaned toward Tim's window from the passenger seat and blurted, "Do you need any extras?" I left my name and number and we drove off.

Tuesday morning, I thought of making vegetable risotto for Tim's brother and sister-in-law visiting from Seattle. I jumped in the car at noon, heading for the grocery store, but at the end of our road I made a right instead of the usual left.

What was I thinking? I pulled up behind the first trailer I saw. Exiting the car, I was met by a young man carrying a clipboard and a radio. The Gate Keeper. I was feeling rather shy but mentioned their need for extras the day before.

"Sure thing. Justine, the casting director, will be down for lunch shortly."

I stood at the edge of a mile-long long driveway. A handmade sign read, "No vehicles beyond this point - without permission." I couldn't see beyond the trees as I stood there, but roughly 15 people trickled from behind that sign down the hill and greeted me with friendly nods and hellos.

The man with the radio pointed out Justine, "See the woman with the striped knit hat." She had to be in her early thirties wearing many layers on top and a pair of sopping wet jeans, the water mark reaching about halfway up her leg.

"Are you Amy?"

Apparently Amy was an extra they were "expecting.” I was merely a curious local. Justine's interest was piqued. "She's lovely! Thanks for bringing her to me!"

I was invited to walk about 1000 feet down the main road, past the pond to the adjoining field where I had seen the second cluster of tents and trailers. On our walk I learned that Justine and much of the film crew were from New York City and that many of the actors were actually professional "re-enactors" who owned their own costumes, had extensive knowledge of early American history, and were used repeatedly for projects such as this.

That was it for small talk. Justine excused herself to make a call as we continued to walk side by side. "Yeah, Dad, I'm soaked to the knees. I've been standing in a field all morning after it rained all week, freezing my ass off... Yeah, I called the shipping company and the order hadn't been properly placed, but I straightened things out and your birthday present is now on its way."

*beep* Her cell connection was dropped.

All I could offer was, "Yeah, I don't even own one of those out here."

At the next field I was introduced to Kathryn in her costume trailer. She owned and rented the clothes, as well as her expertise, to the film crew. Another trailer was parked alongside and filled with racks of blue and red coats manned by a younger man. Once instructed as to how I would be dressed, Justine pointed me toward the food tent. "Grab something to eat and immediately after lunch we'll get you ready for a village scene."

Having already eaten, I poured a cup of hot cocoa and found an empty seat at one of the 6 large round tables. A line of costumed actors holding plates swarmed the banquet tables in the tent. A weather-worn white man gave a firm and very black handshake introducing himself as a make-up artist. The discoloration was movie soot from fires and explosions. Another costume coordinator wore a baseball cap that read Band of Brothers. Three dirty soldiers joined our table making a young, clean blonde in street clothes look completely foreign to the time, as did I. She closed her book to join the conversation.

The blonde was Elizabeth, another extra I would be working with. She too was a local and had been there since 6 a.m. Her parents owned the high-end antique shop in Nassau, a bastion for movie set rentals in the area. That's how she learned about the project. We all heard about how Elizabeth had been living in Japan with her Japanese fiancé but had broken off the engagement after feeling the brunt of national disregard toward women. She was temporarily back with her parents to regroup.

The costume designer, Kathryn, shared her life as an American military brat in Japan, hearing the first official radio call of the Vietnam War and understanding that the first shots had been fired. She recounted the conversation word for word. To whether America should return fire, the reply was "Yes! And then hightail your asses OUT of there!"

I tossed in some of my ex-flight attendant Japanese layover stories about karaoke clubs and Australian pilots, and we all had a good laugh about how I accidentally wore one of the passengers blazers, mistaking it for my own, to serve his dinner.

The soldiers then moved on to the topic of whether a British soldier's neck stock was made of horsehair or leather, whether they were buckled or laced, which versions were more uncomfortable and how much they cost commercially vs. hand made by a re-enactor

One asked me where I had come from. "Really? You just walked in off the street? You've never done this before? No kidding! Good for you! You'll have a lot of fun. Its nothing more than a lot of hurry up and wait, but you get to wear silly clothes and be someone else for a little while. Just walk in whatever direction they point you in and you'll be fine. So, what do you do? Where did you just move back from?"

I told him it was a long story and got several stares from around the table. In this moment I learned that we we’d have a lot of time to kill and long stories are a welcomed and expected passtime.

(Funny. As I type this, I can hear the "poof" of muskets firing in the distance.)

After lunch, Elizabeth and I were introduced to Ruth, another extra from the neighboring farm. Ruth pointed out a barn filled with cows. "We sold the Carpentier's these cows a few months ago." She had her 6 month old baby with her, as well as her in-laws, all of whome were friends of the man who owned the property, Don Carpentier.

"Have you ever seen Don's Eastfield Village?" I hadn't. I thought we were filming with tents and wide open nature, but I was in for quite a surprise.

Carpentier and his wife are avid collectors of early American heritage, and not just furniture. One by one Don has purchased, moved to his property, and restored many historical buildings and their contents, all the while instructing paying students how to do the hands-on work. Now built, he leases the space to film crews. It’s a brilliant example of capitalism. The east field is part of the farm his father left to him in the early 70s, thus, "Eastfield Village."

Outside the tent, as "extra" soldiers were adjusting their costumes, a safety ambassador was firmly giving instruction. "Do NOT carry your musket pointed toward the ground. If you accidentally tap the barrel into the mud and fire it, you're going to kill somebody. If I see you mishandling this musket in ANY way, you will NEVER set foot on THIS set, or any other, EVER again!"

When done reprimanding the actors, the man marched in our direction. Surprisingly, his gruff nature turned from grizzly bear to Teddy as he coddled and coohed Ruth's baby girl.

We made our way to the back of the costume trailer, where Kathryn told us to hide behind the racks as best we could, get out of our street clothes and strip down to just our underwear, no bras. I wished I had worn more than a thong. I felt like a fatted calf in a refrigeration truck. Holding my arms over my head, Kathryn dropped over me a crisp, full, white cotton slip. I watched as Elizabeth's and then Ruth's corsets were tightly laced over their own slips. Kathryn explained that this time period was a particular chore to recreate as the lacing up the back is much more difficult than up the front. At first, I desperately wanted my corset for an added layer of heat, but once tied in, I wished I hadn't been so eager. I fully expected Kathryn to place her foot on my ass and pull the laces. We all found ourselves yawning for oxygen, unable to take in full breaths.

Not only did our corsets need lacing, but so did our overshirts, bustles, skirts, shoes and bonnets. A second costume designer noted, "This must be where the tradition of women going to the bathroom in pairs came from." It took us an hour to get in gear.

Over the radio they were calling for "women on set," but there was just no hurrying. Our thigh high socks somewhat warmed our gooseflesh legs as a man wrestled with tying each of our authentic black-healed period shoes with ribbon and a touch of modern Velcro. British wool redcoats were draped over our shoulders for warmth. Everything we wore stuck out over the HUGE bustle tied around our hips. (Picture one of those neck pillows doubled in size.) Man, we looked FAT.

One by one we were run down to the make-up tent. Erika, our make-up artist, literally grabbed my hand and dragged me running behind her until she sat me on a stool and whipped my hair into submission. Then came a sponging of foundation. Erica might have looked like a farm hand with her cargo pants, but she transformed us into "proper" women quite skillfully. She thanked me for not wearing make-up, as if I had planned on being there and was ever so thoughtful. Then her nose crinkled into a wretched expression and mine soon followed. The maintenance truck had arrive to pump the Port-O-Potties. I was never so grateful for aerosol hairspray. Erika covered my whole head to create an herbal yet toxic curtain of protection.

Annie, the baby, was stripped from her vibrantly colored fleece, gilded in a fine peach linen gown and wrapped in blankets. They placed a "pudding cap" on her head, protecting the brain from turning to pudding if jostled or bumped.

On that note, donning our underbonnets and tying our overhats in place, we were off and, well, not running. "Step delicately so your shoes don't come unlaced."

I needed the restroom but the layers would never fit in a Port-O-Potty. A van was radioed to pick us up and drive us to the set, but all that rushing just left us standing around for another hour. "Hurry up and wait" is right. We shivered on the sidelines watching a soldier nailing a proclamation to the door and others coming up to read it... shot after shot to infinity.

The cold, damp winds howled up my middle class colonial skirt for 6 hours. I hung onto those little shake and bake hand warmers to stop my trembling. We were told they last 9 hours but I think I froze them before they had a chance. My blue lips became the butt of a joke as it was SUPPOSED to be summer in the South. With all the leaves at a peak, it was amazing that there was a green patch left at all.

Finally, somebody called for us. We were paired with husbands and placed as a crowd of town people. We were to listen intently as a man perched on a bench outside a building demanded liberty or death. He rotated side to side making eye contact as he scanned the crowd, arms outstretched.

The camera dolly had been laid out behind us to pan the Liberty Guy gesturing grandly from between our heads. The smell of baby powder on the camera's tracks wafted through the air, mixed with smoke from a bucket of coals fanned for effect. We “extra” gals made eye contact, unable to speak after a "QUIET ON THE SET." We were all surely thinking, after hours of preparation, the most that would be seen was the back of our necks??

Being the professionals that we had recently become, we played along as directed. Liberty Guy spouted off a rather long and famous political speech as the camera moved back and forth behind us for 5 to 6 passes. When he ran out of speech lines, he ad libbed while continuing his grand gestures.

"...And the fish I caught was THIS BIG."

"Here, here! No body part comes THAT large!" A towny raised a defiant fist. Everyone joined in.

"That's not a fish! It's a newt!"

"It's a Gingrich!"

"To Newt or not to Newt! That is the question!"

"Neuter that Newt!"

With Liberty Guy still pivoting above us, someone called out, "Excuse me, Sir. Did you ever work in Macy's Christmas window?"

Liberty Guy lost all composure... which set me off. The camera ceased panning and the director yelled "CUT!" Never refering to the comments or the laughter, the only criticism was that the man to my left had looked down. Here we go again... New positions. New husbands.

So that’s how I learned that this was a documentary and visual clips, many in slow motion, would be used in conjunction with a narrative voiceover. We could say whatever we wanted as long as we gave "good face." I pondered this for a moment and asked my second husband, "What happens if a lip reader watches?" There was no time to answer.

"ACTION!"

The payoff came when the camera track was repositioned in front of us. Now our faces, reacting to the options of liberty or death, were filmed at close range. We were supposed to look hopeful. Some of us were told to nod. Mr. Liberty stepped down to rest his arms but we were to continue as if he were still there. I stared at a window pane where his head had been and tried to be enthused. It wasn't inspiring, but this is acting.

As the film was rolling, I was directed to shake a fist in the air in support, but failed. Had I done so, the hand warmers would have been visible. My engagement ring, initially twisted front to back, had twisted back to front again. The all too modern stone would have shown. This had all sounded so easy!

I did get another chance, and another, and yet another. The remedy, while having no pockets, was to discretely lift my overshirt and place the hand warmers on the topside of my bustle which, by design, created a sturdy shelf above my hips. My third husband laughed as someone behind me said "Madame, you have a rather large ass... if I may comment."

It was getting dark. Large cans were extended up on posts and diffusers were put in place. It was suddenly day. A frustrated voice called from the shadows, "This is the first sun I've seen all week!"

Smoke was heavily fanned at us until the guy with the coals heard the baby cough. "We have a REAL baby?" I'm SO sorry!" Ethan, the assistant director added, "You mean that's not a stunt baby?"

Mr. Make-up grabbed the abandonned coal pail's handle with a towel and brought it toward Elizabeth and me. "Hold your hands over this." It wasn't smoking without the fanning and the heat was heavenly. They were quite kind to us, complete with servings of hot cocoa delivered from the pimp-go-cart.

It suddenly occurred to me that I had no time to shop for my house guests. I borrowed a phone to leave a message. "I'm still on the set. I've been cast as a colonial woman and can't leave. Can someone get pizza?" Tim was still on a train from NYC. No time to worry. The dolly was repositioned and we were called back to position one.

My fifth husband and I chose a field rock as first position, a home plate of sorts where we returned for each reshoot. At one point we gals swapped some clothes and added some homely shawls to create new women from towns of less means. The men changed out of their high status coats into our class equivalent clothing with sooty, knee length, long sleeved undershirts. One guy had no alternate clothes but, dressed in black, gray, and white, suggested we switch genres to fifties TV.

We were told to converge around a tree where another proclamation had been nailed by a Redcoat (played by my former second husband). It declared that the townspeople were to report to active war duty, no matter their position or circumstances. We were to look either enthusiastic or disgusted, our choice. My newest husband whispered, as we walked toward the tree with film rolling, that he liked to be woken by 7 a.m. and preferred eggs and toast for breakfast. I told him I'd get right on that after I delivered our seventh child.

And again. "ACTION!" Walk, walk, turn toward the proclamation, gawk, look filled with disgust. I nearly lost my bonnet twice as I got knocked about by my fifth husband's triangular hat trying to read the stupid tree. We were to look and move on, trying not to walk into the other actors crossing our paths through town. Once my husband and I walked so far before "cut" that we didn’t hear it and kept on going.

We eventually stopped when the director, assistant director and camera man came down the hill shouting, "I need one of the women to volunteer to read a line." I gestured for Elizabeth since she had been there 12 hours and deserved the spot. This was going to be the only place they would use actual sound. Expounding on the original thought, they alternated lines between TWO women and two men... the other woman being me. We got our lines and rehearsed. I won the tongue twister... and my tongue was as useless as when I eat too much ice cream. I pushed out the five or six words including "obedient adherence." All the guy next to me had to say was "under the King."

"Are you all set?"

Distracted by the talking around me, I asked for a refresher. They offered to write it out but it didn't matter. By then someone with a modicum of historical knowledge reminded everyone that women would never have spoken these words. We were thanked and told we could leave for the day.

There went my SAG award.

We scurried back to take some photos, return to our modern day attire, and pick rubber bands and bobby pins from our cemented hair. I jumped in my car and FLEW home to find our dinner guests had let themselves into our dark and empty home at 5:00. It was now 6:40. I felt terrible but explained my lateness with the excitement of a kid at Christmas. I also REALLY had to pee. Thankfully, our guests seemed as excited as I was. We ate mounds of pasta with jar sauce and had a lot more to talk about than if I hadn't been late at all.