One of our readers, Travis, was an extra on the set of Contraband last week and sent us a full report about what it was like to be an extra and what type of scene they were filming. Check out his full report below:
Friday, Feb. 4 was my first day on the set of the upcoming 2012 suspense/thriller, “Contraband” starring Mark Walberg, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, and Lukas Haas. The scene was shot in Algiers Point in New Orleans, LA.
When I initially arrived to Extras Holding, I had to fill out paperwork and then they told us that there was some catered food in the back if we wanted to grab some stuff before going onto the actual set. After an hour, wardrobe called people up in groups to check to see if what we were wearing matched the atmosphere they had set up.
The scenes we were shooting focused on Lukas Haas (“Inception”) character’s wedding reception in a local pub.
[During the scene] some extras were standing up by the bar and we had to pretend to order drinks while others were sitting on bar stools at the bar. The bride and groom, had to mingle and dance and walk around while everyone congratulated them on their marriage. So, for the first few hours that was how it was: people at the bar were dancing and moving around and the other extras sitting at tables on the other side of the pub were talkingamongst themselves, just as you would see at any wedding reception.
Lukas Haas came by me and hugged me and shook my hand about 6 times for one scene while the extras at the bar were congratulating him on getting married!
Ben Foster, Mark Wahlberg, and Kate Beckinsale joined in on the dancing after the 4th take and Ben Foster was hilarious as can be! He was moving around and shaking his butt all over the place with beer in his hand (the beverages we were drinking were Ginger Ale in champagne glasses and water in beer long neck bottles).
Throughout the night we were all instructed to go get back on the bus while the crew adjusted the cameras and was getting set up for another scene and we would be warm on the bus until then and they did have coffee, tea, coco, king cake, and snacks for us until dinner time which was around 9-9:30 p.m.
Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, and Lukas Haas chatted with almost everyone [on set] and they were all very kind. I showed Mark Wahlberg the photo that we took together (above) a few weeks ago (on my Credit Card) and he said that it was beautiful and asked when I was going to buy him something! I told him that I would buy him anything because I am a HUGE fan of his and I told him that I hope “The Fighter” wins for the Oscar for Best Picture. He said, “Thank you man, I appreciate that!”
I also told Mark that I loved his work in “Max Payne”, “The Departed”, “Shooter”, and “The Italian Job”, and that I have almost all his films and his eyes opened up & then he told me that I needed to get Ben [Foster]’s films and he asked what movies do I have for Ben? I told him that I have “Alpha Dog” and I just saw “The Mechanic” in the theater and Ben [who was also there] said, “Well you know Travis—things go poof in the big screen, things blow up bro!” Ben and Mark were talking to me like we have been friends for years. I was so nervous, but excited at the same time!
I did not recognize Kate Beckinsale at first because she is now a blond! I did not get to talk to her for very long; all I got to tell her was that she is a beautiful actress and that she was amazing in “Underworld” and “Vacancy”. She said, “Hi there…thank you so much and thanks for being here to help us tonight.” I then went on to tell her that my friend, Brandon, is a huge fan and she said to tell him thanks for his support. She was extremely sweet!
I chatted with Lukas Haas too and I told him that I loved him in “Inception” and that I would make my comment quick because we were instructed not to talk to the celebs and he tapped me on my knee and said, “Don’t worry about them-let’s talk bro!”
At about 1 A.M., there was a scene involving Mark & Ben where they would get on stage and sing a song to the bride and groom and it was funny, that was the last scene of the night.
All in all, it was a spectacular night and I feel really blessed to have worked with Mark Wahlberg, Ben Foster, Kate Beckinsale, and Lukas Haas!
Contraband is expected to shoot in New Orleans through March, though Kate Beckensale will only be in town for a couple more weeks as she begins Underworld 4: New Dawn in Vancouver on Feb. 24.
If you have an experience with the cast or crew of Contraband in NOLA, let us know about it at olv@onlocationvacations.com!
You are so lucky to have talked to Kate.
I was an extra in the reception scene also. Me and this girl Rebecca I had met on set snuck over to the bar across the street an took shots with Dave O’Hara. Other than meeting Mark, Ben and Kate, that was the highlight of the night.
I was an extra in the reception scene also. Me and this girl Rebecca I had met on set snuck over to the bar across the street an took shots with Dave O’Hara. that was the highlight of the night.
I was an extra in the reception scene also. Me and this girl Rebecca I had met on set snuck over to the bar across the street an took shots with Dave O’Hara.