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A Story

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Before the heat advisory hits. Over 90 degrees today and 98 degrees tomorrow.

What fun.

A story to share with you:

Last year, I worked on the film Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies, based on the book written by Michael Ausiello and starring my dear Jim Parsons and Ben Aldridge, the actor I coached. You know all about this, of course.

At one point we were filming on location in a county that was halfway between NYC and my home, so I decided to come home for that week and drive to the set myself. We were filming a lot of hospital scenes there. One day on the set, as we were waiting for another scene to be set up, I walked downstairs to get something to snack on from Craft Services. Then I came back upstairs – I was gone about 5 minutes.

Picture the hallways where we were filming filled with crew members; wardrobe, props, camera crew, etc. You had to weave your way through a sea of people. As I was doing just that, Todd, one of the producers came up to me and said “Oh, there you are! Come with me.” I asked him what was going on and he said that the director wanted to talk to me. My first thought: I’m being fired. But when I asked Todd if it was good news or bad news, he said “Good news.”

So I walked into one of the many hospital rooms and there, waiting for me, was Mike S. (the director,) the First Assistant Director, and Michael Ausiello, as well as some production staff. And Todd. The director said that they had had to make a quick switch in the casting of one of the nurses. Mike S. said that he wondered if I would be willing to play the nurse.

I stood there, frankly dumbfounded. It took me a couple of beats to process what he had just said. He assured me that they thought I would be perfect for the scene – my response was “I haven’t done any acting in years!” He ignored that and said there was absolutely no pressure on me and if I didn’t want to do it, they would come up with another solution. But I knew they were in a pinch. Mike S. said they’d give me a few minutes to think about it. When he left, Michael Ausiello and Todd and Mika (assistant to Mike S.) stood there and urged me to do it. Mika ran lines with me. Michael A. said they needed someone with compassion and I had that in spades. Finally, I agreed. Then I was promptly whisked into wardrobe and makeup. Suddenly, I had been made up, my hair was braided in the back and I was wearing scrubs, a lanyard, and a stethoscope.

Honestly, I only had a couple of lines, but the scene was/is pivotal. It took place in Ben’s hospital room. So I would be acting with Ben, Jim, Bill Irwin, and Sally Field. Gulp.

That it happened so quickly was a blessing. I didn’t have time to stress about it.

I found out later that when Todd went to fill Jim and Ben in on what was happening, Jim teared up. What were the chances that his former teacher and Ben’s dialect coach would act in a scene with them? There was a lovely symmetry to the whole thing.

Filming was relatively stress-free. Michael S. is a fantastic director and he helped enormously. Sally and Bill and Jim were incredibly supportive. Michael Ausiello took a screen shot of the monitor while I was filming, which I eventually sent to Don. Very grateful for that. Can’t post that, though.

And then it was over and I went back to being a coach. Sally called me ‘my nurse’ when she saw me the next day.

The sound guys, the First Assistant Director, and every person on the set had my back. They were incredibly supportive.

I’ve held off telling you this because one never knows if the scene will end up on the cutting room floor. It’s happened to Don a few times. Plus, I couldn’t talk about it during filming. But along the way, Jim assured me that I was still in the movie. The final version of the movie – the final cut – was just shown to the producers and Jim told me it’s really wonderful. And I’m still in it. So I guess it’s a done deal!

I had two lines, and my appearance in the scene is brief, but I’m with people I adore and admire and that’s pretty darned great.

I couldn’t wait to tell Don. As soon as I could, I stole away to call him. He was stunned! Wanted to know every detail. He said “This never happens!”  And of course, he’s my biggest supporter, so when I came back home late that night there were flowers waiting for me.

So there you go. Double duty on this job!

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Comments

  5. How exciting is that! Congratulations on having the nerve and talent you needed that day! Way to go, Claudia!

  8. ….Also, Three Cheers to the people of Kansas..for standing up for women! I lived in KS for two years…
    Kaye

  9. So special on so many levels! “Whenever you share the goodness in your heart, you always end up winning because life is an echo. ”

    Brava!
    Anne V

  10. How marvelous & extraordinary!!!
    Brava, Claudia, brava!

    Thanks for sharing such a wonderful and uplifting story.
    Stay safe & well.

  12. Claudia the movie star! I can imagine how exciting that was. You are just full of talents! Would love to watch that. Have a great day!

  13. dear Claudia/Don — how great was that ??? WOW!!! best wishes to you all. stay healthy/safe. wx here is like a sauna out of control.

  16. Wow, that is so exciting! I’ll be watching for the release.

    I’m also in New England and not looking forward to this heat wave. I got up early today to walk before it got too hot.

  17. congratulations, claudia!!! i am very happy for you!!! :)

    your story is a great reminder for me about several things: that talent, hard work and courage to take risks win; the importance of relationships and of trusting ourselves; the twists and turns that life can take and that good things still happen …

    i look forward to watching your movie (but should i read the book first?).

    glad you could finally tell this story. thanks for sharing it with us, dear movie star!

    kathy

  18. Congrats Claudia! I’m so happy you got that experience. I teared up reading it. I am really looking forward to seeing this movie.
    Take care

  21. Oh, I can’t wait to see the movie! What a wonderful story and I’m so glad this happened for you.

  22. WOW!!! I knew you could do it! Wow. Jim Parsons and Sally Field, and Claudia Hill. Sounds perfect!

  23. Fantastic! So happy for you. Sounds like the perfect setting in which to start your ‘movie star’ career! ;)

  26. How absolutely cool is that. You working with that dream team is fabulous. A memory forever

  28. Perfect!! Yay for you, Nurse Claudia.!
    A film credit with 2 lines – not just atmosphere. Wowee!
    Hope your day goes really well despite the heat.

  29. This is super exciting! I was already looking forward to the movie (big Jim Parsons fan) and now my favorite blogger is in the film also. So proud of you.

  33. How exciting! I’m sure you are thrilled to act with your former student and Sally Field as well. Can’t wait to see the movie. Congratulations!

  34. How exciting for you, Claudia! I’m so looking forward to seeing this movie. I read the book and love the story.

  35. Crazy, but just yesterday I remembered you telling us that somethig amazing had happened but you weren’t able to share it with us yet. When you were able, you would do so. I wondered when that would be………………… !!!!!!!!!!!! Pretty amazing, indeed!!!!!!! ♡

  36. Oh my goodness – how exciting for you!!!! Now I’m really excited to see the movie! Congratulations on your movie debut, Claudia🌷

  37. I love good stories. I especially love this story! How wonderful, Claudia! I can’t wait to see the movie.

  39. Boy, you skip reading for a day and then someone posts something so fun and cool it makes you mad you didn’t see it earlier! That’s just so much fun, Claudia — and delightful. That alone would get me to see the movie! (Not that I wasn’t already planning to!)

  40. What a great post! Congratulations Son happy I found this today.For some reason your blogs do not always appear in my email. Typo up there!xo

  41. I agree with Jeanie–you miss one day and miss the best story/experience ever! I know you said you hadn’t acted in years, but you have acted. On stages! So they totally picked the right person. Do you know who told them you had experience? Doesn’t really matter–they saw you and knew you could do it. Going to the big theater to see this one! Wouldn’t miss it for the world. You go girl!

    • The director knew I was a former actor, as did Todd, one of the producers, who is Jim’s husband. But I don’t know who came up with the idea of me doing it.

      Thanks, Becky.

  42. What a great experience! The best kind when you aren’t expecting it. I can’t wait to see this movie now. That must have been a hard secret to keep.

    My husband had a similar experience 2 years ago when our grandson was in his first major film role (at the ripe old age of 10!). Dh was driving him to the set and the day before filming began after a couple of days of rehearsals, the director came over to dh and asked if he’d consider coming on board to replace an actor who was not able to cross the border from the U.S. in to Canada. So of course, dh said yes, and dh and grandson ended up in the same film. Grandson did get top billing on all the ads and posters, etc. He loved teasing his grandpa about that!

    Hope the heat lets us soon!

    X Chy

  43. Congratulations on having that special moment, returning to acting with people whom you respect.

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