My day as a movie star!

OK, slight exaggeration with that headline... it should read 'My Day as a movie extra' but that doesn't pack quite as much punch, does it?

'Strength and Honour' has been filming in Cork for the past number of weeks, starring Michael Madsen, Vinnie Jones, Richard Chamberlain and Patrick Bergin - and directed by Cork native Mark Mahon. Now yours truly has also got involved! As an extra, I play one of four journalists outside a courthouse waiting for a major verdict to be announced. Vinnie Jones plays the bad guy emerging from the court, where he has been charged with murder. As you can see from this photo, he really dressed up for the occasion! Yeah, playing a journalist was a real stretch (ahem!) but I rose to the challenge.....

The first few hours were spent waiting around for something to happen... not in my own trailer with white lillies, evian mineral water and dark chocolate... but rather in an old bus, converted to accomodate tea and coffee-making facilities. We got fed a decent lunch later before being ferried up to St. Mary's Church which was the location for our scene. Viewers of RTE's Saturday morning TV show 'Sattitude' might recognise these two below posing as camera crew... it's presenters, Liam and Sinead. Very convincing in their roles, I thought, despite the fact that they are usually seen in front of the camera.

Several takes later, it was in the can...When the film is eventually released it will probably be a case of 'blink and you miss me', but so what... I met some great people on that day. We all agreed that it was an interesting experience, not your normal run of the mill day by any means. It was a long day (even if the film bosses called it a half day and paid us accordingly). I can't afford that Hollywood mansion just yet... but hey, baby steps, right? Now, when are they going to have a Best Extra gong at the Oscars.....