Francis Ford Coppola

Today I had Chinese food with Francis Ford Coppola. Well, actually I ate craft services with Francis Ford Coppola, but we filmed in a Chinese Restaurant in Barrio Chino. You know, I've never seen one of his movies. No, not even The Godfather. (Oh, wait, I have seen Peggy Sue Got Married.) But I adore his daughter's work. He's a very hands-on director. Didn't really give me any direction, but he was examining all the props, giving the actors their back-stories... My scene was a flashback to 1978 New York so wardrobe dressed me in hideous blue polyester, but let me wear my hair natural. Ay, que pelo liso... Coppola directed in English, and the script (which he wrote) is in English, but all other instruction was given in Spanish. I've been told my hair will definitely be in the shot. I sat facing away from the camera sipping fake coffee with a girl named Laurel who has been an extra in several television shows because she did quite a bit of extra work when she was in school in Los Angeles and London. She was really fun to whisper with, and she'd save funny stories for when the camera was rolling so our reactions were normal and not so forced. Juliano also sat at our table, and his birthday is the exact same day (and year!) as mine.

Yo: "¿Cuantos años tenés?"
Él: "22 pero el domingo que viene tendré 23."
Yo: "¿En serio? Yo también, ¡que raro!"

Davin from AK, Anna from CA, Alan from CA, Jenny from NM, and Michelle from NJ

But the Americans who were extras were really cool. From all over. Some just passing through like me, some that have been here for a while... There were quite a few Argentine extras as well, either chinos or those who had blue eyes (but to me still looked very foreign for a scene set in New York.) One of the extras was a 6'7" black man who claims he played basketball for the Boston Celtics in 1984 with Larry Bird. I already forgot his name. Another extra decided to dress as Mr. T. When they shot the scene from another angle I got to walk past the window in a loop, three or four times per shot. So although I doubt I got any face time, I think you'll be able to see me in the movie somehow... But if anything else, it was cool to see Coppola at work. And he still owes me $50 bucks. In USD.

post-wardrobe/make-up with Mr. T, whose real name is Walter

with the Argentine NYPD and a member of the 1984 Boston Celtics in the green room

Kurt, the guy who contacted me about being an extra, met Francis Ford Coppola at Shoeless Joe's Alamo, which is now officially shut down. Kurt claims Coppola approached him first.