The start of a new career?

*Note: If you haven't read the last blog entry you may be a little confused.*

While talking to the director, Swapan Saha, we expressed some interest in being extras in the background of a scene, but it was a bit difficult with the language barrier. He speaks Bengali and very little English where we only speak English and very few Telugu phrases. Once he realized what we wanted he took our mobile (cell) numbers and gave me his. He also called over another gentleman who did directing and choreography and explained the situation. Thankfully this new director, Sudaka, spoke English. He said he'd call his in the morning with the shoot location. 

We were really excited at the thought of being an extra in an Indian movie. So what did we three think to do? Shop for new outfits of course. We couldn't show up looking like a bunch of ruffians. In all honesty though we weren't really expecting a call Friday morning because when does that ever happen. 
-"Uh, excuse me director sir. I know you don't know us, but can we be in your movie?"
-"Of course strange American girls! Why wouldn't I want you to be in my movie!"
 That just doesn't happen in real life...or does it?

So Friday morning rolls around and we haven't heard from anyone. I try the number I was given but there was a recording saying it was an invalid number. Of course he gave us a fake number. I would've done that to get rid of pesky American girls. With one last ditch effort we ask the site director of the study abroad program if there's any trick to working Indian numbers and mobiles and there was. After making the necessary tweaks we call again. 


Ringing...ringing...ringing...and its Director Swapan Saha. We realized that we really were going to be in a Bengali movie and started freaking out a bit. We get the shoot location and ride a rickshaw out to some random village and down the dirt road. There at the end of the road is a bus full of dancers in costumes with some dancers on the roof. Yeah, it was for real.


As soon as we get there Director Swapan Saha has people bring chairs over for us and we sit with him under his personal umbrella. Of course we feel a bit awkward because none of us are actually anyone "important". We're not the lead actress. We're not dancers. We're not singers. We don't really have any special talents that would qualify us for such treatment. Our only qualifications were that we were American. At least that's the only thing I could think of. 


Throughout the day we watched as the filming went on. It was all for the dance numbers in the movie. It was really cool to see how it all works. Most of the time the lead actor/actress were just sitting around waiting for the equipment to be set up. 


After some time the crew breaks for lunch. We of course are prepared and have packed a bunch of snacks. Pistachios, dried fruit, granola bars, fruit leather, and chapati. In typical Indian fashion however, they not only invited us to eat with them, but also insisted on treating us as their "international guests". Just as I was starting to get comfortable, awkward came back. They brought out chairs for us while the crew and dancers sat on the ground. A table was provided and we were served. Again, what our qualifications are I have no clue. 


Finally it was our big moment to shine. We hopped on the bus and did a quick dance scene while sitting. We did a waving motion then rolled our hands followed by a quick succession of snaps and again with the rolling hands. The best part however was when my friend Kirsten was put on the spot. Director Sudaka pointed to her and said, "Ok, when I point at you I want you to get up and just start dancing." Um, say what? When she asked what exactly he wanted he responded with, "Just do whatever you feel. Just freak out." And that's exactly what she did. It was awesome!


So there we were, in a bus down a dirt road from a random village on the east coast of India dancing in a Bengali movie. How much more surreal can life get? Apparently there's always more room for surrealism because Director Sudaka asked us to come back the next day, Saturday, for more filming...