It's been a funny couple of weeks. Funny being the key word.
About a month ago I was offered to work as Jonah Hill's stand-in for Judd Apatow's new film,
Funny People. The gig came out of nowhere due to the right people seeing
Destroying Jonah Hill and I must say it was an amazing feat. It felt so good to know that the film was being seen and that something so bazaar and so unexpected might come from it. After persuading a polite casting assistant into passing along my contact info and after several emails and phone calls I was set up with an interview. It was an early morning meet and greet on set in Malibu. I felt like Vinny Chase. I spent majority of the interview sitting along side extras and other stand-ins waiting and starring. Starring into the window that sat across from me. Starring at the reflection of myself, asking "How did I get here?" After some time and a quick chat with Adam Sandler about my canny looks I was brought in. It was like a car accident, it all happened so fast. There was an AD and lot's of lights. A giant jib and
Janusz Kaminski. I couldn't believe it. He made a joke, gave a nod and they walked me out. As I left the set I was brought back for one last look. This ended with a handshake, a smile and a "Pleasure to meet you, I'm Judd."
The two weeks that followed consist of headaches, serious mental issues and a lot of celebration. It was rough. I had to not only figure out what to do about my job at
WOW but I also had to balance the excitement of having a check book that loved to dance right above the red. It sucked. But with some positive thinking and an unexpected moon change things came together better than perfect. World of Wonder worked out a deal that allowed me work on the film and return comfortably home to WOW. It was perfect, I had my cake and I was eating it too. And it was yummy.
I really didn't know what to expect next. I've never worked on a feature before. My mind was blown. There I was an inspiring writer/director getting paid to sit and watch. I couldn't stop thinking how many people I knew that would pay to have this opportunity. To sit and watch Apatow direct. It was amazing. Fucking amazing. My first days on set where an experience like no other. I had to look like a six year old on Christmas. I couldn't believe any of it. I kept to myself and did my job, being the best stand-in I could be. I'm not going to lie though, it wasn't easy. I felt like I should of been helping the gaffers or running to get someone coffee. It just didn't feel right to sit and watch. But that's what I did. I sat. And I watched.
But like all good things they must come to an end. Unfortunately for me, my good thing ended earlier than planned. After days of praise for being such an amazing stand-in (not because of my talents but because of my looks) by wardrobe, AD's, hairstylists, the cast and pretty much everyone else on set, I was let go. It was like being dumped at prom. It hurt so bad. But that's Hollywood. And to be honest, I'm better than a stand-in anyway. I got what I needed. An experience like no other. I'll never know the exact reason why I was let go. Something will always tell me it was due to a certain actor being jealous, but who knows. All I know is that it was fun, and that's all that really matters.
-- Steven M. Sims
Set of Funny People - Sony Lot
October 2008
