info on Baaria

Hi,

We got to hang out on the set for a day, my two kids were extras in a train station scene where one of the characters leaves for Rome. My wife and I could have been in as well (and with possibly a speaking part too...) but I chickened out. One scene that they were looking for native American English speakers had several American soldiers (WWII) sitting at a cafe and trying to order a sandwich, one soldier has to pantomime cutting an onion (and crying). They ended up finding some tourists somewhere and got them to do it.

The scene my kids were on was set in the early 1980s, in January (I think anyway, according to a train schedule that was posted on the platform). We got to hang out on the set and rub elbows with the cast and crew...didn't get to talk to any of them though, it was pretty busy but it was really awesome to watch for the day. We were on set in June at the main Tunis train station, it was about 100 degrees out but all the actors had to be in cold weather gear, knit hats, gloves and the whole thing. My daughter (8 years old) started to cry because it was too hot, the cameraman complemented her good acting though: "it's a goodbye scene, it's good to cry!" She was then very proud of herself.

I got to walk around the town set, very impressive, lots of costumes, extras... all kinds of people milling about. I have a new appreciation for everything that goes into filming a big movie like this. It was a lot of fun. I'm a huge Cinema Paradiso fan, so I can't wait to see this one, obviously the personal connection is huge too.