Bruce I'm sure the film crew are talking about those 'enterprising' onlookers in the woods.... We'll have to start calling you by your 'code name'= The Woodsman" :) Thanks for more pix When they leave the Taunton area , do you know where they are headed next ?? I know at some pt there are supposed to be filming in Medfield at abandoned state hospital there.....is that city near to you ?

I think you're right. I may need a codename! I think they are headed to Medfield next. I wish it was close, but It's not. So my Ashecliffe location adventures will end this week. Medfield will probably be all interior shots anyway. Won't be able to get any pics of that. I went by the set today. There was no one there. I was able to get close and took some pics. They give you a view going completely around the back of the set looking out between the buildings towards the big tower with the German eagle on it. With these pics, I have taken every area of the outside location! I put them in a new folder on my homepage entitled Ashecliffe la-*test*-('") pics. It begins with this one.

Bruce Thanks for more great pix ..the one with the bodies is really creepy... Also..thanks..for replies to my other questions... It's a shame Medfield is so far away as we will surely miss all the great set info/pix you have so kindly shared with us For sure you have been our favorite "Woodsman" :)

Bruce, thanks for the la-*test*-('") pics. Are these corpses spilling out of a railway car?

Mrspeedpdq, thanks for all of the information you've provided. Have you ever considered a job in journalism or the CIA? The bodies in the box car photo is really creepy. Sounds like Taunton is very exicted about filming! Too bad they didn't decide to come to Maine to film. We've got lots of lighthouses and islands! Peanut, thanks for the photos too and I hope your friend has similar luck on her trip to Taunton. :)

Bruce, thanks so much for these la-*test*-('") photos!! 8) We will surely miss your reports once they move to Medfield. Are these corpses spilling out of a railway car? I think they are the "frozen bodies" Bruce talked about before. They look more oblong and white than they should, but perhaps because they're shown in the nightmare sequence. Maybe some cgi will be applied over them.

Yep. Them be the frozen bodies.

:) Bruce, if you go to the set today, could you please look through the actors/extras as much as you can, to see if you can spot a woman or a little girl? They should stand out a bit.

Some more Dachau pics Joke posted today on the WC board: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/cheveron595/better.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/cheveron595/lukas.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/cheveron595/ipp0149_r1.jpg

Thanks Arnzilla and Joke

Thanks Arnzilla for the last photos of extras

Thanks for these - they're great!

I don't remember these pics and blog entries of the Dachau scenes. Sorry if they're reruns. http://erincole.net/Site/Ashecliffe.html http://www.myspace.com/marksamuel March 9, 2008 - Sunday I arrived in Taunton, Massachusetts at 7:30 am. I was so nervous I didn't bring my corn muffin on the shuttle bus from Extras Parking to the set because I was terrified I would be yelled at. I chatted with the man next to me on the ride over and discovered that my crippling fear of people would remain tempered for both days of filming I have endured so far. I later discovered that I was pressed into many situations of forced socializing (as opposed to forced socialism, that would be, um, Nazis) due to the amount of lines that we had to stand in. I swear to God, Tuesday, my magical day of rehearsal, I thought I had actually enlisted for the friggin' army. From 8am through 11:30, I did nothing but stand in lines. My only break during this period was when the stunt coordinator took the SS Guards and GIs in groups of 70 or so and we rehearsed falling down and getting shot for a few minutes. We were in an old mill complex and most of it had been gutted. The inside where the extras were kept looked like Ellis Island. This is where the many lines began and remained. First, I had my sideburns removed, my hair trimmed and slicked to the side. Then I went to wardrobe and changed into my SS uniform. Then I stood in line at makeup for about a half hour before being told I didn't need any makeup. Then I stood in line at props for a couple hours to get my belt. It was intensely aggravating to know that I was standing in line for a long time for a mundane and easy task. The reason it was so bad is that, in film, everything is incredibly compartmentalized. The makeup, hair, wardrobe, props, construction, dudes who make snow, they all have their individual tasks but no really seems to report to anyone. To a theater actor like me, I'm used to thinking that the director is God, that the director has two sides, the side where they deal with the actors and the other side where they run production meetings and unite everything under one common vision. And everyone involved with the production understands what's going on, and knows the artistic vision that is guiding us. Now, maybe this is just because there are too many people involved with making a film, but it seems like everyone just has their one job to do, and then there are production assistants to run around to see how everyone's doing. Then, as soon as everyone is ready, they move to the next task. It's kind of like, imagine thirty people skiing down a mountain together. But every hundred feet, the lead person stops and waits for the other skiers to catch up. So literally, the movie progresses at the rate of the most retarded department, which in the case of this film, I believe to be the props department. So at any given moment, there are 500 extras standing around for many an hour waiting for things to get done. But hey, we get paid. But anywho, less blah blah blah and more of what I actually did. So after I finally was done standing in lines, I was headed to Extras Holding so I could sit down for the first time that morning, and they sent us all outside to the set. We walked across the parking lot, a massive column of olive green and khaki, and walked to the set to rehearse the execution scene. I felt like a smart actor having read the book because I knew that's what I would be used for. The assistant director had given a little speech to the extras before we left, telling us that we should treat what we see as a graveyard, that some of the spaces and things we see should not be laughed at, but at the same time, we were making a movie of entertainment, and so don't treat the filming like it's a documentary. We enter through this large gateway that's mostly blocked by a rail car that has been pulled into the concentration camp. We enter, walking along the tracks, and the space isn't very large, but I'm sure when they film it, it will look like a massive courtyard. We walked along the buildings on the right side to make our way around to where we get executed and we walked by another rail car that had a large pile of dummies, dummies that were of deceased prisoners, hanging out of the rail car, naked and emaciated. It was really gross. So we round the corner and come to a clearing where they have built an entrance to the camp and penned in the area with barbed wire. So they put the 300 or so SS Guards against the barbed wire fence and about 60 GIs were standing about twenty feet away with their rifles slung over their shoulders. I look behind me and see they're building one of those tracks so that the camera can pan across the shot smoothly. I look at how much track has been built, I look at how long the line of SS Guards is and I realize, we're going to be out here for a couple of hours. And just to piss me off, it turned out I was right. The gentlemen around me were very nice and we had a good time joking around and socializing while we waited. Then after a couple hours, the assistant director announced that we were going to rehearse the execution. This is how the scene works: The camera rolls on the track from left to right with the SS Guards' backs to the camera and the GIs facing the camera. As the camera rolls across, the GIs wait until the camera is directly opposite them and then they begin shooting. Now, of course, the GIs had been out for weapons training while we all stood in line, but I've got to tell ya, the first time we rehearsed it, it was scary. They passed out ear protection to the loudness of the rifles because they're firing blanks, which are just as loud and explosive as bullets, and they're still potentially fatal. So to rehearse it, first they had the soldiers just say BANG instead of load the weapons. The SS Guards were just kind of hanging out and having a good time, but then the sixty GIs raised their rifles and pointed them right at our chests. For those of you who have never had a weapon pointed at you, it's a little disconcerting. So then they loaded the rifles and said they were going to rehearse the timing. And that's when we got the news from the military advisor on set. Each rifle was receiving an 8 round clip. We were going to be bombarded by noise and it wasn't going to let up. The 60 GIs raised their weapons, the camera rolled and the shooting began. It was not hard to pretend to get shot in the head with all this noise and fear running through you. As we rehearsed, decisions were made on changing things up. The stunt coordinator came by and assigned people to do different things. I, for instance, am raising my hands in surrender, whereas the men to either side of me and one gentleman in front of me, don't get shot at all. I'm also the only person within fifty feet to either side wearing my hat, and I'm in the second of two rows, so when the movie comes out, it should be easy to find me. But then, we heard Joe, the assistant director, go, Alright let's do it one more time, the director's coming. Then fifteen seconds later, I hear Joe talk quickly into his headset saying, The director's here! Ok, he's here! And right behind me, walking on the other side of the barbed wire fence, walked Martin Scorsese. He's quite short but he's a smart dresser. He looked very distinguished as he reviewed the SS Guards from the back and we all looked over our shoulders to see him. He did make eye contact with me at one point as he told the assistant director in a purposefully loud voice that everything was very good. Then, some idiot two people to my right whips out his camera phone and without even trying to hide what he's doing, takes a picture of Mr. Scorsese. Now, keep in mind, we were told many times to not take pictures or interact with anyone famous. Mr. Scorsese saw it happen and the assistant director starts freaking out and shouting for everyone to put away their cameras and phones. Mr. Scorsese turns to Joe and tells him he should take them away if they're seen. I couldn't disagree with him. We practiced the execution scene a couple more times with the camera for Mr. Scorsese's benefit and then we were told that we were done for the day and to go on home. I didn't get in my car for another two hours because I had to wait in more lines and then wait for the shuttle bus because they had one 24 seat bus ferrying 400 extras to a parking lot two miles away. Like I said, the movie moves as fast as the slowest department. The next day was more of the same, except I knew what to expect, so I wasn't terrified and nervous like I was on Tuesday. My father drove me down and dropped me off right outside the set so I didn't have to deal with the freaking shuttle bus. I walked up to the set by myself and the cop didn't stop me, I guess I have that pompous actor walk. I got dressed and ready in record time because I got to the set early and a production assistant was telling certain SS Guards to go to the set and it didn't seem like I was one of the men chosen. So when the girl was telling certain ones to go, I kept mysteriously appearing in her sight line, and what do you know, I was picked as one of twenty or so SS Guards to report to the set. So I felt pretty fucking special, let me tell you. There are something like 400 SS Guards (I have no idea what the actual number is) and I was one of the select few who got to go to On-Set Holding. On the gloomy and overcast day, they were filming the GIs walking into the camp and discovering the corpses and remaining prisoners. At first, I waited in a paint shack, trying to stay out of the way. It was here that they made the graphic and anatomically correct corpse dummies and carried them out, two at a time, by the neck. It was a little disconcerting. Then we hung out in a room with a ton of food and just hung out and chatted amongst ourselves. We stayed there and ended up not doing anything, but a costume person came in and took all our pictures for continuity's sake. They want to make sure that the 25 SS Guards standing around doing nothing are the same ones as yesterday. We had lunch, then we went back out to the site of our executions to await filming. That's when that one really good reason to do films walked ten feet in front of me. Leonardo DiCaprio is very handsome in a GI uniform and he's about one or two inches shorter than me. He walked very slowly between the lines of soldiers and he's the GI about four men down from where I stand. He doesn't shoot at me, but we later discovered that makes me lucky. I watched him and Martin Scorsese discuss the scene and talk about what Leo was trying to do and was going to do in the scene. It was really cool watching them work, and I was especially struck by how much and how well they listened to each other. Then we ran the execution scene a few times. Mr. Scorsese had decided that he didn't want Leo standing where he was and wanted him moved up. Well, at one point, I saw Leo motion how he would maniacally shoot at us. Since he wasn't directly across from me, I wasn't too bothered by it. But then when we ran through it, I discovered what he meant. The GIs are supposed to start shooting when the camera is opposite them and there is supposed to be a 15 foot safety distance. Well, Leo started forward, then would slightly step forward and start shooting before the camera was near him. The other GIs were a little perplexed by this at the end of the day, but we don't have much to worry about, we just have to die. The crew spent an hour or so blocking the sun with a massive black screen and finally, we were able to go home. Tomorrow, I will arrive in Taunton at 7am and do it all again. And on Tuesday, I start rehearsals for Crazy For You. SS Guard one day, ensemble tap dancer the next. I have a great job. March 11, 2008 - Tuesday Ashecliffe II: The Search for More Screen Time My last blog was so epic and so grand in scope that naturally, in true Hollywood fashion, the only thing to do would be to make a sequel. The previous blog discussed my experiences on the set of the movie "Ashecliffe" on Tuesday and Wednesday, but I also had to go back on Monday, and my brother is incredibly bored at his job in Maine, so therefore I must follow up and write. I was called to report to Taunton at 7am. That means I had to get up around 4:55am and drive down to Taunton in the new and Ed Markey improved Daylight Savings state of darkness that now exists at 6am. Being a good doobie, I arrived in Taunton at 6:30am so I wouldn't have to deal with any lines from the other 499 SS Guards showing up. So I got myself dressed and discovered to my joy that when you get to the set that early, there is a big old breakfast waiting for you. So I helped myself to a large helping of scrambled eggs, some sausage, and some surprisingly delicious potatoes. I then sat on my keister for a pretty long time. Then we were ordered out to the set where we ran the execution scene again. There was a pretty amusing point where we ran the scene of us getting shot and then the assistant director comes out and stands in my general area and says, "Ok, now there was someone in the second row who's not wearing a jacket I need to speak to." We look around and discover there's only one possible candidate. Apparently, this kid, in his attempt to duck and surrender and not get shot, ended up crouching and shaking his ass at the camera as if, as Joe the AD put it, he looked like he was doing the twist. So we had to do it again. Then we went to lunch, but on the way, I found myself walking next to a GI, right next to me, I could have touched him without moving my arm, and it's Leonardo DiCaprio, so close I could almost smell him, and yeah, he's still really good-looking. For lunch, I had two corn muffins and some sausage. I ate really badly. I think I was eating my feelings, or I felt ugly after standing next to Leo. Then we were ordered outside again for the "Oh my god, I'm Leonardo DiCaprio, I'm incredibly good-looking, and everyone's playing dead." Now, Joe wanted a couple people to be still living and be struggling to live and for a couple of the GIs to go around and administer the coup de grace on them. He naturally picked the kid who had done the twist to be particularly executed. Then, the rest of us had to suffer as we watched this kid try to demonstrate being wounded. If this kid makes it into the movie, I'm going to tear my hair out because this kid was the worst fucking actor I've ever seen. Joe comes over and says, ok, you have a horrible stomach wound. Try to deal with that. So this kid sticks one arm in the air like a zombie movie and starts to rise up, seriously, like he's the friggin' undead. And Joe's like, uh, no. And they tried it two more times and I think they kept it but God he sucked. I also discovered another thing I hate about the movies. I was lying on my back dead, facing the camera. Joe asks a bunch of people to turn over, but I'm not one of them, and I get all excited. Then right before filming, Joe asks me to go facedown. And I'm all grumbly but I'm ok with it. Then they decide that 1/4 of the guards have to go so Joe says anyone with a summer birthday stand off to the side. Now I could have easily lied. I could have very easily just stayed put and literally and metaphorically, played dead. But I was a good doobie and got up and left the shot. I don't think I like a business where the only way to work is to lie about your birthday. I worked from 7am to 8pm. I got a really cute photo of Ari and myself on the set and I must say I'm a little handsome in an SS uniform. Combine the outfit with an intense loathing of the mentally retarded and I can kind of understand the appeal. But now, I must change gears. I must go from being a Nazi with a friend from high school to being a tap dancer with a friend from college. As long as I'm working and breathing and loving.... Because, isn't that what National Socialism is all about?

Arnz Thanks for blog entries :)

Thanks Arnzilla - great read - oh the joys of being an extra!