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 Title:
Leatherheads,
feature film
Cast: George Clooney, Renee Zellweger
Extra: Sarah Bradley
Producers: Grant Heslov, George Clooney, Casey Silver
Director: George Clooney
Script: George Clooney, Stephen Schiff, Duncan Brantley,
Rick Reilly
About
Sarah
Native: North Carolina and lives in Winston.
Small town girl: “I love New York City and feed off
the energy there. But I love it here in North Carolina.”
Degree: Associates Degree in Advertising and Graphic Design.
Ideal acting job: “If I could act without singing that
would be great,” Sarah said. “Every year I was so ready
for our high school plays. I have a dance background so I could
handle that. But when I was asked to sing for auditions, I froze.”
The circus beckoned: “I had once considered joining
the Ringling Brothers circus. I had gone as far as auditioning for
their Clown College. I often wonder how different my life would
be if I had joined the circus!”
Business:.Sarah has her own business, “Sarah Catherine
Designs”. Sarah is a graphic artist and jewelry designer. Her
portfolio includes apparel, children's toys, gift wrap and handmade
jewelry. She describes her jewelry line as whimsical yet sophisticated.
Visit Sarah’s Web site at www.SarahCatherineDesigns.com
The undelivered gift:Sarah took a piece of her jewelry to
give to Renee, but there wasn’t a chance to give it to her
there. "Her agent told me to send it to her and she would make
sure Renee would get it. I want to get into the celebrity market
and hopefully will have the chance to give Renee a piece of jewelry.”
The Apprentice: Sarah, while working at Hanes Brands Inc.,
was part of “The Apprentice” during the Season 3 episode:
“The Hanes T-Shirt Challenge” for the Net Worth Team.
She met Donald Trump and got her first taste of working in front
of the camera. "I also went to the season-finale and met the
entire Apprentice cast and Donald Trump and his people. It was very
exciting!”
Home town advantage: By living near where filming took place,
Sarah got to enjoy an evening out with some of the extras, crew
and football players in the movie. “It was surreal, is the
best way to describe it,” Sarah said. "This is something
I will look back on and tell my kids and grandchldren."
Actors will be actors: “We had a lot of fun. We were
in the Millennium Center and to pass time some of us would go in
a side room and begin dancing and posing for our own pictures!”
Agents galore: Sarah said the biggest surprise she encountered
was the number of extras/would-be actors who had agents. “But
I learned from them what Web sites and production companies listed
their projects and what they needed. As a free-lancer in my business
I am in a perfect position to pursue some jobs if they come up.”
It’s not whiskey I’m sipping through a dozen takes!
Sarah Bradley was excited she was one among around 20 girls chosen
for a speakeasy scene during the filming of “Leatherheads”.
That meant the odds of appearing on camera with George Clooney were
much better than sitting in the football stands. But it didn’t
take long for Sarah to understand the difference between good whiskey
and “movie” whiskey used as a prop.
Sarah’s part in one scene was sitting at a table near the bar
sipping colored water that looked like whiskey. “It sure didn’t
taste like whiskey,” said Sarah. “It was a little gross.
We went over that scene a lot and I had to take a drink every time.
Before the next take the crew would come back and fill the class
again!
“They also wanted smoke in the bar scene. They would direct
the smokers to light up and create a smoky room atmosphere just
before the cameras rolled. Sometimes when it got too smoky the crew
would take fans and thin it out. Some times George would take a
fan himself to thin the smoke. I felt kind of bad for the people
in the room that were non-smokers.”
During the bar scene Sarah and the extras were being prepared for
a band to perform. A boom box was used to play music while the extras
were told to learn the beat. “When George and Renee were talking
in the scene the music was turned off completely and we had to remember
that music would still be playing in the scene. We had to pretend
we were listening to the band.”
Sarah participated in a walk-through scene another time.
‘Gorgeous George’
It was all worth it, the waiting, long days and the taste of colored
water to see George Clooney close up. “At first I found myself
starring at them. After all it is George Clooney and Renee Zellweger.
And George is gorgeous! It was fun to watch him as a director, actor
and talking with the people on the set. Sometimes he would be playful
and other times he was watching intently what was going on.
“The entire process impressed me. I couldn’t imagine how
long it took to make those scenes.”
Renee impressed Sarah with her friendliness to the cast, crew and
extras. “Renee was super friendly. We were sitting beside her
at one table and she looked over at us and told us how great we
looked. She is tiny. I knew she was small. It seemed like I was
towering over her and so many people on the set!”
Welcome to the movies!
Sarah dressed for the part during the casting call. She lives in
Winston and the call was to report to downtown Winston-Salem.
“I tried to have the flapper flair in my outfit that day,”
Sarah said. “I love the 1920's style anyway. I looked on line
to see what ‘Leatherheads’ needed. I realized I might
have had to get my hair cut. But when I showed up for the casting
call I got a positive response to my look and felt my hair would
not have to be cut too drastically.
“I had just about given up being called for the movie when
I received a call to get my hair done and get fitted in Statesville.
“It was amazing to be on the set. The days started early but
it was exciting the moment I arrived. Women had to be there by 5
a.m. the first day for all of us to go through hair and makeup.
The studio had an amazing group of stylists in hair and makeup.”
Sarah would have preferred to wear more colors during the speakeasy
scene. My dress had plenty of sparkle but you would think the flappers
would be the flashiest person of that time. At least I got to wear
gold tights and gold shoes. I was fortunate not to have to wear
a hat. Some of the girls had to wear them for the entire day –
about 16 hours. Some others had to wear headbands and when the girls
would finally take them off at the end of the day they would have
indentations in their foreheads from the jewels.
“I had a tough time with my hair one day. I'll be the first
to say I have big hair! The humidity was thick outside and found
its way inside, too. A stylist had to tend to my hair frequently
that day.”
And would Sarah do it all over again? “Definitely,” she
said.
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