I had a really great time yesterday! While I can’t tell you a bunch of details, I can tell you this…..Brad Pitt was there and I got to stare at his butt for at least an hour. Yummy.
For those who have no idea what I’m talking about, the boyfriend, his sister and I spent the afternoon/evening at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, CA as extra’s for Brad Pitt’s now-filming movie, Moneyball (see info links below).
We arrived about 4:00pm in our Oakland A’s gear and stood in line with all the other volunteer extras. Once inside the Coliseum, we were directed to sit in a particular section.
After about an hour, the real fun began.
We were directed on how to act and react, and told not to look at the camera. Which, by the way, is harder than it sounds – especially since the guy telling us what to do was standing right next to the camera and we were all looking at him to better understand what he was saying.
After a few takes they got the shot they wanted and told us all to move to a different section of the Coliseum. This happened at least a half dozen times.
At one point buzz got around that Philip Seymour Hoffman had showed up and that he was there to film a scene or two.
As the sun began to set and the moon came out, the boyfriend’s sister sniffed something out. Rather, someone.
Yup, it was Brad Pitt.
The large film crew stood on the field between us, so he wasn’t always really easy to see, but it was clearly Mr. Pitt. Oh yes…..it certainly was. Thank goodness I had my step-dad’s awesome binoculars!
Brad Pitt basically appeared out of nowhere and nobody really noticed him until the boyfriend’s sister spotted him and we started to talk about it. Then my binoculars got passed around like the head cheerleader at a frat party.
At one point I was using the binoculars to admire Brad’s backside, and apparently was talking out loud, as I soon heard the man behind me say, “I love this play-by-play of Brad’s butt.”
People around us were asking if it was really Brad; to which I said, “Yes. I can tell by the way he is standing and has his hands in his pockets.” I believe there was laughter around me at that point. I mean, really, who notices that sort of thing?
Um…Hilary Shepherd does!!
Eventually Brad Pitt walked to the far outfield towards a car waiting for him. When he was way far away, he finally turned to look at all of us in the stands and waved.
Filming continued with Philip Seymour Hoffman until about 11:00pm when our group was dismissed.
It was a really long evening, but it was totally and completely 1,000% worth every second!
Directed by Bennett Miller
The story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget, by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.
Starring:
Brad Pitt as Billy Beane
Philip Seymour Hoffman as Art Howe
Jonah Hill as Paul De Podesta
Moneyball – Wikipedia
Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game … is a book by Michael M. Lewis, published in 2003, about the Oakland Athletics baseball team and its general manager Billy Beane. Its focus is the team’s modernized, analytical, sabermetric approach to assembling a competitive baseball team, despite Oakland’s disadvantaged revenue situation.
I don’t have any pictures because we weren’t allowed to take any (I’m also not allowed to talk specifics about any of the scenes filmed), so you’ll just have to settle for this drool-worthy picture of Brad Pitt.
Hilary,
Long time, no see/read! Wish we’d stayed in touch and I’d known you were coming – I’m working on this all week. Shame you didn’t choose last night to attend – Pitt was around a lot longer, Jonah Hill was there to film some of his scenes and spoke to the crowd a lot, and we filmed the thrilling climax of the movie.
Hope all’s well in your world.
Dang it JCW!! So close, yet so far away. LOL. Lucky you, getting to be there all week. How friggin’ cool!! I’m truly jealous.
I was an extra last night. They made us wait for over 2 hours outside the Stadium because they were doing something and we couldn’t get in. Lots of waiting around but… Brad was on the set the entire time. And… as they got ready to take a break around 11:30pm, Angelina came onto the field. She and Brad talked to the real Billy Beane for about ten minutes. They both waved to all us extras and left. It was really cool and worth the long wait!!
Angelina was there Thursday night? How awesome!!