Ever wonder what goes on during the filming of a motion picture, or at the wrap party once filming is complete? Then read on for this exclusive account from "The WB" about his experiences working as a PA (Production Assistant) on The Ring 2.

Day 1

It was a lucky break getting the job. I'd bothered them and bothered them until they gave me a chance. It was a cool job, too--I mean, it was on a movie set! You can't go wrong with that (and the pay wasn't half bad, either).

From the first day on the set it was really busy. One of my first tasks was to watch for locals trying to sneak their way past the barrier. That was fun, too. I mean, you see a cute girl and they're curious as to why you're the only one on the other side of the barrier, and you've got a headset and walkie-talkie. The thing I had a lot of fun with was talking to local girls and then stopping, putting my hand up to say, "Quiet on the set," or "Rolling." That seemed to make 'em melt. But then they'd realize that there was a better-looking Assistant Director standing 30 yards away. Damn you Zac Jackson, you and your super calves!

But back to the movie. They had me do various tasks around the set. By the time I had the job I already knew a lot of people just because of the fact that I would show up to the locations and bug them to give me work. Sadly there was a lot of running involved, and I'm not a fit dude. I would jog for about 20 seconds, stop to die, then do it again. And just my luck, there was a lot of hills to run up and cones to move out of shot. All that was just in the first day. Ha.

Day 2

Same as day one (even the whole girl thing). But today I got to meet Aidan. Not David Dorfman, but his photo double, Robert. He was a wee man (that's what I'll call it because I hate being politically correct), and when he introduced himself he seemed to have a sense of humor. So I said, "Can I call ya Bob for short?" He laughed but promised to pay me back someday. He did.

Then I got to see Naomi Watts (omg hottie!) for the first time. She makes me want to move to Australia, get an accent, travel back in time to the present and go up to her and say "G'day." I didn't really talk to her because i was told/warned by others not to irritate the stars because I would be gone like that. So I waited for the perfect moment... (read later in the story)

Next up we have Simon Baker [playing character David Rourke]. Now he is a cool guy. I got to talk to him a bit before I started working, a casual "Great job" or "Likin' the rain?" You know, small talk. It's hard to talk to those guys--they're always moving. But I did have the chance to do some "drive-by" convos with him, cracking jokes or whatever, more that a few times.

And now back to the story. Did I mention that Day 2 ended about half-way into this paragraph?

Day 3

Today I really met David Dorfman. I was thinking he was a creepy little Satan kid (though because of the first movie, I thought he was a good actor), but he's really a very nice kid. I mean, I sat down and ate dinner with him. It was one of those long days on set. And he talked about the fish. Ohh, how he loves the fish--not the food, but those fish in the ocean. He went to the aquarium with his mom and teacher and he got to see them and he otters. I was so surprised to see he was really just a carefree little kid. Then he can go straight into acting mode and do his stuff. He was a pro from what I saw. I got to talk to David's mom more then any actor on set. She's also very nice. She seems very concerned that people not bother her son. She always made sure he was happy.

Fast forward. The days fly past, with me working and going home and going back to the set. Now we're at the day before shooting is over.

D-Day

Everyone was real tense because of the weather. They were afraid the shots wouldn't come out right--you know, the usual movie set stuff you hear about. As for me, I made a huge boo-boo. We were filming a scene that deals with Rachel and Aidan [edited for "saving my ass from a lawsuit" purposes]. It was a great scene. I can't wait to see it on film! Anyway, for this scene I had to give some radios to some extras so they could know when their cue was. The scene took hours to set up and finally got it done, but there was one problem--the extras left with the radios! So I had four missing radios on my head. If anyone knows how much these things cost, keep it to yourself. It's a big number I don't want to hear again. Things worked out, but I was destroyed by "the man" for that one. A real good chewing.

Before I talk about the big wrap party, there are a few good people I want to mention.

First off, there's O'Dell. He was the set medic, and a i>funny guy, funnier than life itself. From day one (and before) he was supportive of getting me work. I think if it wasn't for him talking to the AD that hired me, I wouldn't be telling this story. He always gave me tips about the industry, some of which I can't say because they're great and I don't want anyone to know. One of them, though, I didn't quite understand 'til it was too late--don't talk your ass off! Everyone is busy with their own job.

Next on the list is Eric Y, another PA. The two of us had almost like a partnership on the movie. I learned that everyone is competing for the love of someone else on the set, but he and I had a kind of truce. He plans on being a director someday, when he finishes school, and he'll be great.

Next, we have Joe. He didn't even seem happy to be on the set. He wanted to leave, quit, whatever you want to call it. But he helped in getting me the job.

And last we have Zac Jackson. He was the 2nd AD and the first person I met on set. Before that I met a guy named Craig van Gundy (I don't want to get into it about that guy--just kidding. He's a great kid). Anyway I was on set early. It was second unit and I went to watch filming. It was about 2:00 when me and my friends got there. I sat around and watched them do their magic 'till 7 am. I didn't get the chance to talk to anyone, so I was sad, but as I was leaving I saw a local bringing this other guy coffee. So I thought I'd say hi to him and ask how long he'd been watching. When I approached him I can't remember what I said but all I know is I found out he worked for the movie fast because he was talking to people with a radio. To make a short story short (I meant to say that), I told him my situation and told him I would die to work on the movie. So I got the gig and did everything I mentioned. BTW, he was one of those guys you see on set wearing fashion magazine-guy clothes (you know, the stuff you wish you could afford, let alone look good in). He was a chick magnet.

OK, now we get to the big (well, fun) part of the story--the wrap party.

The wrap party

The night started off like as work as usual, but when everything was done we all went to Baked Alaska, a cool little restaurant on the pier. I sat with the special FX guys because they had alcohol (actually, like me, were the first ones there). DreamWorks was covering the tab, so I got the most expensive meal I have ever had in my life, a $50 steak. Damn, it was good. To make things better, it turned out the SFX guys were all wine experts (here comes the fun part) so they ordered tons of wine. I am serious when I say that just between the eight people at our tables, we drank over eight hundred dollars in wine.

I was wasted. I can barely remember anything that went on at that table. The only real convo I remember was with Ray, another SFX guy. His wife is working on the Superman movie (she's designing the costume!) He talked about how he had costume samples all over the house. I know for a fact that if that was at my house, I would totally be wearing that stuff. I am a huge Superman fan, so that tidbit stuck in my liquored-up head.

Later that night, we headed outside. We took over a wedding party that had kicked off earlier and stole their DJ (actually, they were all done and we asked the DJ if he wanted to stay). By then everyone was liquored up, and DreamWorks had the tab for the whole bar! People were pouring in from different clubs down the street. I can't confirm this number, but I was told the total tab for the night was over $20,000 in food, liquor and expensive wines.

Anyway. Everyone moved outside to dance. I saw David spinning on a tentpole and singing. It was something I'll never forget, this tiny child actor on a caffeine high flying around the place. I talked with David and asked him if he was having a great time, but then his mom approached me, yelling, squishing me with words. She thought I was talking to David about movies. Ha.

It was really fun when I got to talk with Naomi watts for the first time. I'm pretty sure she was buzzed--not sure if she was drunk, but she sure was cutting a rug. She had the DJ eating out of the palm of her hand. She went up to get a song played, and he would stop what he was doing to complete that for her. He was even calling her "DJ Naomi" on the mic.

Something else that was cool was that David Dorfman was doing karaoke and making up his own words. He was going 'til like 2 am. And did I mention the chair dance?! For those of you who just became slack-jawed, I'm talking about him putting a folding chair around himself like a hula hoop and doing a dance with it. He even did the push-up dance, then he flipped right-side up and did the reverse push-up dance, i'm pretty sure he didn't know / care what he was doing, but it made a good laugh.

I walked home that night sloshed out of my mind. I won't say who went home with whom because I don't want this turning up in a tabloid, ha!

Well folks, that's pretty much all I can write about my Ring 2 experience. All I can say is maybe I'll be working for the sequel / prequel in the works (but don't quote me on that--it was just talk around the set).

Have a happy life, and maybe you'll hear from me again.


The WB