Das 100 Millionen Dollar Date
Denise Gibbs, Seattle filmmaker and Extras Coordinator
Last summer 160 local actors braved the heat, long days and a Seattle sunburn to participate in a foreign film that included their beloved city. "Das 100 Millionen Dollar Date" descended on the city of Seattle on a warm summer’s night starting off on beautiful Lake Union.
The houseboats on the lake were bathed in a romantic light from a crane suspended above, and lights from the ground, while the purr of a generator broke the silence of the Eastlake neighborhood evening. All the while the base camp at a restaurant parking lot nearby was beginning to look like a movie set back lot with crew, talent and various trailers and trucks.
Only four background actors were needed on the third day of shooting on the late July evening. After being approved by wardrobe and driven to set, the background extras snuggled next to the craft services table and watched the sun set on Lake Union. Though while these extras were comfortable, much work still lay ahead to coordinate 156 more people, including finding a gentleman that possibly resembled the head of a high tech company and numerous background extras for street scenes and other locations mapped out by the production.
A short speaking role opened up for possibly a background actor to give, though the person needed to look like a tough security type gentleman. Phone calls were made and three local actors came to set that evening to try out in front of the director and assistant director during a break.
“Everything seem to run really smooth,” said local actor Marvin Newton. “The director and 1st AD introduced themselves and were very precise about what they wanted.”
After listening to the director, Newton gave his line several times on the quiet street with passersby stopping to see what the commotion was about. Unaware of his surroundings Newton’s confidence, look and line deliverance possibly won him the role.
“I remember I wanted to be as real as possible,” Newton said. “I think I did the best I could. Along with my military experience and my recent classes at the Seattle Acting School I think those helped me get the part.”
The next big day of filming was in front of Seattle City Hall. An offset location was designated for parking and the extras were bused in and dropped off. Background was needed as passersby, security personnel, business people, photographers, journalists and a CEO and his secretary. The first hour was spent in the bottom floor community room of City Hall going through all the wardrobe pieces people had brought and to see what would work for that day. While wardrobe was approving and people were signing in and filling out their paperwork, it was noticed that there still was not enough people to make a full crowd scene because of twenty people scheduled to work that day did not show up. With panic rising for the extras coordinator, phone calls were made and eventually 10 more people showed up. Still not enough. But with the help of fellow extras calling their friends and crew members recruiting some people off the street, background numbers got at a more acceptable level.
It started out as a lovely day but soon the clouds burned off and the sun started beating down on everyone. With guidance from the set medic, crew and cast were advised to keep well hydrated and apply sunscreen. But for some of the fair-skinned Seattleites, sunscreen could not be applied quickly enough and by the end of the day some of their faces had turned pink. Being prepared like a boy scout is needed on a film set as some of the background extras unfortunately learned that day. But that doesn’t mean they lost their enthusiasm.
Local background actor, George Reyes who has been on the set of many films in Seattle kept his spirits high throughout the day. Reyes was chosen to be a security guard to defend the CEO look-a-like. With sunglasses, a suit and tie and an earpiece Reyes looked and acted the part perfectly. He also got the added bonus of spending many hours in an air-conditioned limo along with other fellow extras waiting for their cues to exit the vehicle and walk up the steps of City Hall.
When the camera was rolling the cast and crew executed the scene so well that passersby really thought a V.I.P was arriving in a limousine and stopped to stare.
“For the first time in my filming career, I felt like a star,” Reyes said.
Joanne Welty another local background actor recalled that day as well.
“One thing I remember very well is how well the day's work went when we were in downtown Seattle in front of City Hall. We had to stop traffic a few times for shooting but it did not dissolve into a massive traffic jam,” Welty said. “One lawyer was a bit upset that she had to wait a moment before she could proceed to the court house but she didn't call the police on us. And that was probably because we had a street use permit for the filming.” Which of course indeed the production had.
After the long difficult scene in front of the City Hall some extras were still needed a couple of blocks away in Pioneer Square. With the sun going down the city started to get chilly.
 Brittany Templeman
Local model and actress Brittany Templeman was offered a jacket from a fellow crew member to keep the chill away. Though even though it was getting late Templeman was still having a fun time.
“The fact that it was filmed in two different countries, and that the actors and camera crew spoke both English and German made it all the more exciting,” Templeman said. “It was wonderful to meet people from different backgrounds and exchange stories with them in between takes. You can learn a lot about movie making from being an extra, especially when the producers and directors are passionate about what they do.”
Another such packed day of filming in the week to come was a day where scenes were shot with background extras at Volunteer Park on Capital Hill in the morning and then later, back on Lake Union at the Wooden Boat Center.
“On the set [that morning] the crew were very friendly and accepting to us, they offered us food while there were breaks and we joined them for lunch as well,” said local actor Joe Downing. “To top it off it was a beautiful sunny day and the Blue Angles were flying over head.”
Local actress Janine Balla had a similar rewarding experience on set that day.
“This was my first experience being on a film set. I had always dreamed of doing it,” Balla said. “First off we got to the set which was outdoors at the Wooden Boat Center in Seattle. Everyone was scurrying about doing the movie thing and even so, the assistant came up and introduced herself. When the rest of the cast had dinner we got to have dinner as well. It was fun to see the actors and directors talking to each other and I assume discussing the scenes coming up. Since it was in German I wasn't sure,” Balla said. “Then came the time for me to do my camera bit. I walked with a young person on the dock pretending we were going on a boat. We did that about five times and then we were done. It was very fun and not even too much waiting.”
Many more similar experiences on set were had with the background extras being treated just as important as the other cast and crew members. And for most, this was the first time on set where the predominant language was not English. Many of the background actors continue to call the extras coordinator wanting to know if and when they will ever be able to see themselves on the big screen for "Das 100 Millionen Dollar Date". They enjoyed their time on set and were thrilled to be able to help showcase what a world-wide city Seattle is.
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