Going in circles, starring Will Ferrell
By Wade Kwon
As long as we’re playing dress-up …
It occurred to me that I haven’t given the lowdown on the Will Ferrell movie. We start with the learning objectives.
Important lessons of Hollywood:
- Your latte isn’t coming. It never was. Dammit.
- Talldega during race weekend? Traffic jams and pileups. Talladega during movie shoot? Andy Richter and deafening silence.
- Mr. Ferrell, most recently of “Bewitched” and “Kicking and Screaming,” owes us. With change.
[More exclusive photos from the set after the jump.]
I recently worked as an extra on the Will Ferrell NASCAR comedy shooting on location in Talladega. Naturally, the Hollywood crowd regards me as something of a homegrown talent, having seen me as Chinese Soldier No. 176 in “Big Fish.”
My pivotal scene in ‘Big Fish’
Steve had already worked the previous two days, and he and I shared the ride for my sole day on set.
Our morning began at 5:30. (It really began at 4:30, in time for the bleary-eyed stumble to the car, followed by the bleary-eyed drive to ‘Dega.) So early is the shoot that I can barely get words out, much less full sentences, during “breakfast.”
“How man- many. ex.tras. (pause) do. doya. do you. think. wil- are. here?” I mutter.
Steve knows the drill. Sit, eat, wait. Sleep if you can, chat up the others, snap a few photos.
Unlike “Big Fish,” we had the comfort of waiting indoors while the crew prepared for the day’s shoot. Outside was overcast with threatening rain, much like “The Amazing Race” shoot.
Because of the dicey weather, the crew brought the racecars into the garage where we were hanging out. They would test the engines at full throttle. If you think they’re loud out on the track, try being 10 feet away from them in an enclosed space as they let ‘er rip.
Yee haw.
Shattered eardrums aside, we spent seven hours killing time along with the other 100-plus extras. Steve almost nabbed a sweet role as a sheriff, but was demoted to race fan at the last minute. I, with my sole wardrobe piece, a cap, also played a race fan (don’t fret, I was wearing clothes, too).
Look sharp: lining up for our wardrobe.
A garage full of racecars …
… and extras.
About half past noon, we were called to the set. We were basically human set dressing, rearranged as needed for each shot. I even earned a name, “Guy in Tan,” as in, “Hey, Guy in Tan, move to the left about a foot.” (Better than Lone Asian Redneck.)
While rolling, we cheered and waved in silence, an eerie pantomime of NASCAR Nation. We really couldn’t hear the dialogue, though in each take, a few lines were improvised. And in another take, one character was swapped for another.
So much for the integrity of the script.
At least the extras were prettier (unlike the 200 or so Asian dudes of various ages at “Big Fish”). And just like real race fans, willing to bare a lot for pretend drivers.
The long shoot paused once for a brief rain shower, but was pretty smooth, though we never got to the crash scene that day.
Talk talk: Andy Richter and Sacha Baron Cohen
Before the green mile: Michael Clarke Duncan
Stay classy, Talladega: Will Ferrell
What else did we learn?
- The ending of the movie. We’d spoil it, but we’re not Ain’t It Cool nerds.
- On the extras applause-o-meter: Andy Richter, so-so. Sacha Baron Cohen (a k a Ali G), so-so. Leslie Bibb: hoots and whistles. Michael Clarke Duncan: a little more. Will Ferrell: standing O.
- Never get between crew members (possible the assistant director and technical director) having a shouting match over craft services. But damn, it was funny.
- Even the PAs were hot. Bitchy, but hot.
- Not only will it make a great comedy, it would also make a great cartoon. Too late.
The fast and the furious: A racing scene shot from a helicopter.
My big break: Guy in Tan getting into character
