I'm playing a small role in an Eddie Murphy movie called
Nowhereland. I play Rose ? his secretary. The excitement of being in the movie has gotten in the way of me developing the character of 'ROSE' so much so that whenever anyone calls me by my character name ? like in the middle of a scene ? I just assume they're not talking about me. Today is my last day "on the set." Which is fine. The first day I was there I didn't want it ever to end and now... I'm ready.
Big Hollywood films like this are new to me so I spend a lot of time not working and studying lines but making my way around the set talking to the background people and eating. One of the background guys came all the way from New Jersey ? leaving his car dealership to run itself ? to be a blue blur in the background. He told me he doesn't regret any of it ? and when he got off the plane, hopped in a taxi, and pulled into Paramount, he thought, "This is it. This is a dream."
Which helped me get excited about being in the movie and stop complaining that my part isn't big enough. It's like how I live by the ocean and I've gotten to the point that when I jog past it ? I glance at it and think, "Ech ? the ocean... it's so endless..." and it gives me death anxiety. But when I pass a family that has just rounded the corner from the beach parking lot and they all scream and run towards it ? immediately snapping pictures and so happy ? I am reminded, "Oh, that's right ? the ocean is lovely."
On the first day of shooting, I saw Eddie walking towards me and I made this giant resolve to go up to him and be brave and introduce myself... and I did. I held out my hand and was like, "Eddie, I'll be working with you soon and I look forward to it. I'm Lauren... how are ya?" And he looked at me like he already didn't like me. Which reminded me of many first moments on a comedy set... but he shook my hand and said, "Oh... okay. Good. I'm Virgil." And walked away, looking upset. I found out later that I'd introduced myself to Eddie's stand-in, Virgil.
Until I found that out, I told myself that maybe Eddie goes by "Virgil" on the set ? and he was letting me 'in' already.
Virgil gets paid to look like Eddie... that's what I'm told myself as well.
But now, whenever I tell a story about Eddie to one of my friends, they ask me if I'm sure I don't mean Virgil...