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Taylor Pack |
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See photos of Taylor modeling And she can say that blondes do have more fun – at least around the “Leatherheads” set. Taylor was encouraged by a modeling agency to try out for co-star Renee Zellweger’s stand-in during a casting call in January. Taylor’s heart sank when she saw about 100 mirror images of Zellweger. “There were all blondes at the casting call,” said Taylor. “I was tanned and my skin tone was different than what they wanted. I was turned down. I felt a little rejection. My agency, at the time, made me feel like I was going to get it and that I was going to meet Renee. None of that happened the way they said it would.” But that’s just the beginning of Taylor’s story that made many of her family, friends and extras envious. Haywood Mall was Taylor’s next stop for “Leatherheads” as she went with a friend. “One of the casting agents talked with me and said I looked just like Renee. I was sent to the set off Batesburg Road. A guy told me he was going to put my name on an ‘extras’ list. After about two months I didn’t receive a phone call and was getting a little concerned. Within the next week I was called and told to get a wardrobe fitting. While I was there Renee was in the building and walked right past my boyfriend, Reese. I was getting fitted so I didn’t see her. When I returned he said, ‘Guess who I saw?’” I’ll
be Renee’s stand-in but don’t cut or dye my hair Taylor, by virtue of her becoming a stand-in, had within a day become a key part of the “Leatherheads” casting people. “I got to eat with the cast and crew and be around them most of the time. The food was great. They would have beef tenderloin one day, five veggies and fresh fruit all the time. There was a variety each day and plenty of food was also on ice. We ate at a trailer. I was invited out with them and got to know some of the assistants and production crew well. I was always told to remain in the shade when I wasn’t standing in for Renee. Sometimes I would be watching Renee being filmed and I was reminded to get in the shade. Renee, during the entire shoot, was shielded by an umbrella and her makeup was being continuously refreshed.” It didn’t take long for Taylor to be called to action. “About 10 minutes into eating breakfast they called me to the stadium set. The entire football crew was already there and dew was still on the grass. I was told Renee’s character was called Lexie and I was asked to sit on the wall separating the playing field from the stands.” And
here comes George! "I spent more time with George than Renee. She had to stay in the shade or would go back to her trailer. I thought it was so great when George called me to the set by my name! "We had a scene together where he was teaching me how to walk in sync with him. George would say, 'Taylor, walk heel to toe together slowly. Our arms need to be side by side.' He would count out the cadence, 'one-two-three-four' George and I would be walking together. I will never forget that scene!" “I had the same body size as Renee and they placed me exactly where they wanted me and told me not to move. Everything had to be perfect. When Renee was on the set we had some nice conversations. She’s a beautiful and sweet lady. We talked about Texas and I told her I loved her southern Texas accent. I had family from Waco and Renee said she drive through Waco to get to some of the agencies she had work with. Renee talked about her new apartment in New York and her landlord.” Taylor got to enjoy the same privileges of the stars because of her role as a stand-in and being needed at an instant’s notice. "I never had to go to makeup. They were always on set and Renee’s makeup artist would always do mine, too. I got to sit by George and literally saw the movie produced before my eyes. I was awestruck!” Taylor also got to be friends with Michael, a stand-in for Clooney. “Michael had been around longer than me. He showed me how things worked and we became pretty good friends. I have been interested in going to California and was asking what it would be like. I told a professional who was a football player I just didn't want to be another pretty girl among a lot of them. Michael told me it didn't matter about looks. It's determination and attitude. He told me 'You have to go out there and be strong. Shake your fist and say this is what I want to do!'" Clooney made a lasting impression on Taylor. “George has a great sense of humor. When he was with us he would make jokes all the time. He shows he cares about each person and he believes in having fun while working.” “I only saw one time that George and Renee disagreed on a scene, although it wasn’t confrontational. George saw it one way and Renee saw it another. George asked Renee to do something a particular way and Renee said ‘No’. They talked back and forth for a while, discussing how each saw the part being performed. Renee walked toward George with her arms crossed shaking her head back and forth and saying she wasn’t going to do it the way George wanted. She and George talked a bit and eventually did the scene – Renee’s way! “Renee always was complimentary to the cast and extras. When Renee first saw me she complimented me on how I looked and said I was going to make her look bad. Another time she started chatting by asking me how my day was. I am so happy I stayed with it. I had a great time.” Taylor didn't take forgranted her good fortune being around a group of actors with star-quality credentials. "Since I was Renee's stand-in and was on the set a lot I got to talk to a lot of professional actors. One of them told me about his role in the movie 'Dukes of Hazzards'. The entire movie was shot in Louisiana. It just made me more interested in my modeling career and looking into acting." Taylor certainly couldn't get a much better head-start than to be cast in a role with Clooney and at the same time be a stand-in for Renee Zellweger -- both Oscar winners!
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Title:
Leatherheads, feature film
