On June 24, I was slogging through my thrice-weekly check of all the platforms on which someone could need something from me.
Slack. Nothing. Outlook. Ghost town. Except for the plethora of spam emails that I will maybe someday go through. YouTube. Why was I even checking that? Discord. A white notification dot appeared next to the channel for last quarter’s documentary class.
I opened it to find a message from my professor Warren Etheredge.
This means opportunity.
The message detailed a forwarded casting call for extras to be in a Seattle-based film called CRYSTAL BALL.
I wanted to see if you had any students that might be interested in appearing in the film. They would be portraying concert attendees on New Year’s Eve, on their way to see the band MYSTICS OF DISCORD on the final leg of an international tour. We’re hustling to get a big group of people.
Signed, Safiye Senturk. Dr. Clean Productions.
Sounded fun and new. And I am a huge fan of fun and new things. After making sure there were no prior obligations I had forgotten about, I sent an email to Safiye.
I reached out to a few friends to see if they were planning to go as well. Not only was this an opportunity to meet new folks in the Seattle art world, but it was also a place to connect with some of my recently-graduated Cinema and Media Studies friends.
Plus, it’s always more fun to try new things with people you care about. On June 27, I hopped into my friend’s car, and we were off.
Upon our arrival, Volunteer Park was covered in a beautiful glowy evening haze. Despite the questionable weather beforehand, it seemed like it was turning into a beautiful night to shoot. There was a bustling but peaceful atmosphere in the park. People milled about, tourists took photos of the sun-struck Space Needle, dogs strayed from their owners, and a group of excited filmmakers stood in front of the Seattle Asian Art Museum.
Looking at the crowd surprised me. There were some folks – both on the cast and crew – that I had met before.
I had seen them in past classes, on sets, or at gatherings with mutual friends. It was a pleasant surprise to see other people in the Seattle film community where I didn’t expect them to be.
Experiences like these help me realize that Seattle isn’t such a big, daunting, and isolating city that it sometimes seems to be. Artists and filmmakers always find ways to help each other out and build community along the way.
Written by CMS student Erin Gardner.