Today was one of the strangest days of my admittedly strange career. I suppose that being an extra in a big film or television production is always kind of weird. But it’s a truly bizarre thing to reenact events that one has experienced firsthand.
So it was for me today as I did my bit as an extra for HBO’s Treme. I expect I’ll have more thoughts on this later, and maybe even some photos. For now, I’ll just offer this one tidbit.
When reenacting the march in Mid-City, we were instructed to chant:
1 – 2 – 3 – 4
Jordan Riley out the door
5 – 6 – 7 – 8
hey C Ray you’re much too late
Only the guy imparting these directions to my segment was obviously not familiar with the New Orleans brand. He told us to say, “Hasty Ray you’re much too late.”
We corrected him, hastily. But I thought it was funny.
To make this weird day even weirder, there was a rally in solidarity with the people of Egypt this afternoon. A real rally, here in New Orleans. I wanted to participate, but I couldn’t, because I was busy with this fake rally. And at the real rally they were chanting: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 get Mubarak out the door….
Photo by Derek Bridges
While you were playing unity in ‘Treme’ and missing the opportunity to show a kind of unity with the people of Egypt, the Ladies & Men of Unity Social & Pleasure Club paraded nearby.
I followed your tweets, and couldn’t help but think it must have been strange and possibly in a painful way. You were in my thoughts.
@DSB: Yeah, we saw ’em pass by, and they occasioned some interesting dialog which I hope to report eventually if I can pull it together.
@Sophmom: If it was painful it was only in a good way, I think. I didn’t used to believe there was any good pain but now I’m not so sure.
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[…] And yes this photo was taken at dawn. I was riding my bike down Canal Street in New Orleans at 6:30 AM in February, on my way to do a little extra work. […]
Reminds me of when Abbie Hoffman was about come out from hiding in 1979 and he saw a huge crowd of anti-war hippies. Only they were actually enacting a scene from the movie Hair.
[…] I said back in February: I suppose that being an extra in a big film or television production is always kind of weird. But […]