Around the time we saw the first scary x-ray of Son’s scoliosis, he wanted to audition for a scary movie that was being directed and produced by a guy whose acting classes he’d attended during various Summer holidays.
“No problem,” I said, when Son told me excitedly that he’d been invited to come up to the movie ‘shoot’ (is that what you call it?) to be an ‘extra’.
So, on the designated day, we set off for the Perth Hills and, for the usual two hours it takes to get to the city, Son and I were happily listening to music, discussing his inevitable fame and fortune, and munching corn chips.
It wasn’t until I got past Perth, had to stop the car to read the map, and discovered that the setting for this movie was a lot farther than anticipated, that things became somewhat tense between Son and me. I will spare you the details of our conversation as I drove up and up and around curves and into forests and valleys and FINALLY, found the campsite where the movie was being filmed. It was, indeed, a very scary site.
One of the directors was very interested in seeing Son’s x-ray, because he thought it might be useful for advertising the movie. I guess that should have given me an inkling into the genre of the movie but I just blithely agreed to bring the x-ray with us. But after we arrived, this director said the producer wasn’t so keen on using real horror to promote fictional horror. And that’s when I understood what kind of movie this was – whoops!
In the hours and hours and hours of waiting for Son, and various other aspiring actors, to do the ‘extra’ thing – like running through the bush, running through the bush and running through the bush, I got VERY bored so, eventually, I went up to the parking lot (a fair way from the movie set, where you’re not allowed to even whisper, let alone talk) and chatted to two guys who I assumed were actors in the movie because they looked like psychos.
“So what’s the movie about?” I asked one of them.
“Not supposed to talk about it,” he said, his greenish teeth catching the sunlight.
“It’s a full-on horror movie about kids in a camp who are locked in cages and tortured. It’s R-rated,” said the other guy, biting into his sandwich nonchalantly.
“WHAT?” I said as calmly as I could. “So are you two the guards in the movie, or the prisoners?”
Greenteeth smiled and said, “We’re not in the movie – we’re just here to cook the food for everyone.”
“Oh,” I said, wondering if I had entered a parallel universe.
HOURS later, Son and I made the loooong journey home, with his x-ray safely in the back seat.
I can’t believe he is an extra in a movie I will never let him see. R-rated! Arghh! But when we were nearly home, he said this:
“That was one of the best days of my life, Mum – thanks!”
SCARY!
jmgoyder 
I understand your trepidation, but it is inherently a guy thing. Glad you let him go… glad you were there with him! 😉
~ Lynda
Well I knew it must be some sort of thriller but a full-on horror movie – yikes!
………and I bet Son will remember that ‘Best Day of His Life’ for ever, especially as you drove him there and enabled him to participate.
He will also remember that you, his Mother, gave him that (by spending all that time driving there and home).
He better! Also it just occurred to me that I can’t ‘not let him’ watch the movie when it comes out because he’s 18!!!!
Scary, but worth it, haha
I guess!