It was a typical day at work, pixels being pushed, type being aligned when I see some co-workers putting on their coats. In an exciting fashion I glanced over to my clock hoping that somehow the remaining hours of the day had passed in mere minutes. Unfortunately this was not the case. Brandon, who was leading the office exodus approaches my desk and asks me if I am busy.
Honestly, who is ever too busy to take part in some mysterious adventure? I downplay my business in reply and he asks me if I want to go to the nearby park to help out with something. I have my coat on even before he finishes his sentence. I inquire where we’re going, and he tells me that Adam’s wife is shooting an internal video for London Drugs and needs some people to say some lines. He is quick to add that there is fifty dollars in it for me at the end. “Oh, okay.” I say, unsuccessfully hiding my eagerness.
A short walk later, Erin, Wendy, Nick, Brandon and I arrive at the shooting locale. We meet a lady and the director, who also happen to be the camera man. The lady gives the girls their personas, and indicates that one of the three of us guys has to be a computer geek, to which Nick and Brandon simultaneously jab my shoulder.
To my credit, the lady thought that Nick looked more like and computer geek than me, and I was relegated to being the “camera enthusiast”. We take turns signing model release forms and are given our lines to speak. One at a time, we step in front of the giant camera which was very intimidating.
It is my turn, and I nail my line in two takes:
“I take my camera everywhere. So I’m looking for a case that looks good but also keeps my camera safe.”
Hurrah! I will be taking my acting spoils and likely buying myself a scarf or a messenger bag or both. Unfortunately, as this shoot was for an internal production, no one will ever see my Brando-esque performance, unless you happen to move to the west coast and work for London Drugs. In which case, please tell me if that thing that was stuck between my teeth was noticeable.