Sets in the City

Whilst everybody is hyping themselves up about the final Harry Potter, I have to confess that not only have I never seen any of the movies or read any of the books, I have absolutely no desire to. Is that strange?  It is possible that when my son is older I will be forced to sit through DVD after DVD of the scarfed wizard boy and his ‘interesting’ friends but for now I am more than happy with behind the scenes stories from actors and crew members. 

Dave Legeno, who played Fenrir Greyback (above), and I were both in Rise Of The FootSoldier and Dead Cert. A lot of the stunt men on Dead Cert had come from Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows as had Legeno who features in Parts 1 and 2. I remember Legeno turning up on his first day on ROTFS with a huge shiny black eye from a cage fight he had won a few days before. He is a very thoughtful actor who also has a wonderful voice. There were days on Dead Cert when Dave, Perry Benson, Roland Manookian and Dexter Fletcher would get their guitars out and serenade us all in the green room. It was a great film to work on. Shot in a purpose built studio in Dagenham, there was a strong camaraderie and positive atmosphere that makes the long old days of movie making fly by.

Here is a still of Craig Fairbrass and me on the set of Dead Cert, which is set to premiere at the AFM in Santa Monica, California later this year!

Although I haven’t seen her work as Nymphadora Tonks in the Potter movies, I admire the actress who plays her; Natalia Tena. I have seen Natalia perform many times at festivals with her band Molotov Jukebox and they really know how to rock a dance floor or field! Here are some photos of Emma Watson in the front row of the Molotov Jukebox show at the last ever Harry Potter premiere this week…

When I see her singing and playing her accordion it is hard for me to imagine Natalia in that castle or school or whatever it is. Nat has magnetic presence and is such a turn on to watch, I am looking forward to seeing her in Bel Ami starring Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman, Christina Ricci and Kristin Scott Thomas…

Most actors do other things between gigs. It’s a well-known fact that a lot of good actors in LA also work in top restaurants. Partly we do it for the money but mostly it’s for the sanity. There is something most unsettling about just sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring and can make one quite desperate for a job (not a good look at an audition!) Amongst other things, I write and freelance in casting which keeps my finger in. The audition process is fascinating to me and I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that Casting Networks have set up a service in London.

Candid Casting, a London studio founded by Amanda Tabak (Kidulthood) in 1993, has always been at the forefront of technological development so I wasn’t fazed when at a commercial casting this week I was handed an iPad to check in online… What I was actually doing was signing up for a free account with Casting Networks. I recommend this to all actors especially if you do not have representation yet, it is a really useful tool and you can submit yourself for work while you look for an agent. The company, originally based in New York, runs LA Casting, the main directory for actors in Hollywood. In this country we have the unfailing and dependable Spotlight who are an institution and recently revamped their whole brand, building and website. I am a big fan of Spotlight and their attentive staff, I rely heavily on their hard work to nab me my next audition. I would be surprised if Casting Networks were any competition to Spotlight since they both cater for a different crowd and I welcome all new ways for actors to get more work and advice.

Another film that I believe suffered from excess hype is Bridesmaids. I went to see this film with one of my best friends who I will have as bridesmaid if I ever walk the plank aisle! I genuinely laughed out loud for a good part of the film but it wasn’t just the ‘vintage’ seats at the Coronet that made me uncomfortable. Yes, the film is amusing and well written. The actresses are incredibly clever and funny but still I left slightly disappointed. Everybody is comparing it to The Hangover but if my MR. H gets a stag like that and I get “Bridesmaids” I will not be happy! They didn’t even get to the hen party! Women can ‘have it’ too without puking and passing out, I do (or did) regularly. “Go hard or go home’ was my and said maid of (dis-)honours motto!

Please join me, Coralie Rose, for more behind the scenes stories, photos and tips for actors here… Sets in the City on The Hollywood News.