SC5 Return To Sleepaway Camp Set Report
By Dan
My entire life I’ve had a passion for film, especially horror movies.
I am not a violent person. I don’t support nor am I entertained by
murder, but I can recognize talent and look past what most people view as
garbage and find true genius. So when I was offered a small role in a sequel
to one of my all time favorite films ever - Sleepaway Camp.
I could not turn such an opportunity down. When I found they were filming
The Return To Sleepaway Camp within an hour in a half of my home and were
casting male actors for a small role in the film I knew that this was calling
out to me. I went directly to my mom in anticipation that she would recognize
the passion burning my eyes and be willing to take me out of school for
a few days and take a few days off from her busy work schedule so I could
appear in theaters to entertain thousands of viewers all across the country.
Of course my mom was willing. How could she deny me such an opportunity?
So I called up the office, scheduled an interview and off we went. The interview
was uneventful. They explained to me that I would be given some speaking
roles but the majority of what they wanted from me was acting as an extra.
I agreed with everything they told me and then they had me and my mom sign
about a 100 documents that gave them legal permission to be put in a film
that was going to be given an R rating. Then they gave me a schedule of
times that I was to appear on set, and then we were free to go.
We stayed at the Starlight Lake Inn, in Starlight Pennsylvania, where the
movie was being filmed. It was a very nice historic hotel with a huge lake
out in front and hiking trials going every way you looked. I spent most
of my first day sleeping because I was scheduled to appear on set at 6 P.M.
and not be let out until 5:30 A.M. My mom got me up at 4 and we went out
for dinner. We were rushed to leave the restaurant because of their slow
service. I certainly didn’t want to be late the first day. We boxed
our food and got to the set right on time.
First they sat me in room with a bunch of other kids watching old-fashion
horror movies on a big screen TV surrounded by tables filled with different
foods. I sat for little over an hour. I guess that day something technical
happened that put them slightly behind schedule. Eventually, some guy came
in the room with a list in his hand and called out a bunch of names and
told everyone he called to follow him. My name was called. We followed him
out into the middle of the night, everything was pitch black, and the moon
was full, a perfect setting for a horror movie. I remember thinking to myself
that I was actually at Camp Arawak from the first film and that night I
was going to fight off serial killer Angela Baker or fall victim to her
knife. I followed the crowd and eventually we got to this huge building
but weren’t allowed in just yet because I guess they were busy filming
a scene and the director didn’t want any distractions.
While I was standing there I noticed two familiar faces, it was Deron Miller
and Jess Margera, from the popular rock band CKY. Both of which have appeared
in films such as Haggard, as well as episodes of MTV’s Viva La Bam
and Jackass. I was star struck. Somehow I had enough courage to go up and
say hi. They were really nice guys and eventually it got to the point that
it didn’t even feel like they were celebrities. I was able to talk
to them as if they were just another one of my friends. Finally, we were
told to enter the building. It was filled with huge lights, a massive camera
and about a hundred crew guys running cussing each other out over problems
that they had been facing throughout the day. I was told take a seat on
some bleachers set aside from the filming until our scene got started. Once
again more sitting, while the crew argued.
Finally the same guy that took us in came over and told us each where to
go. For that night I was just an extra. The scene consisted of nothing more
than the camp nerd getting picked on by a few bullies while the camp counselors
sat around and did nothing but flirt with one another, kind of like a high
school. My mom came to the filming area at 5:30 AM to get me. They didn’t
let me out until 6.
The next night consisted of pretty much the same thing. However, this time
they gave me a very small speaking role which consisted of me trying to
hit on a group of girls with some cheesy pick-up line while they openly
rejected me with insults. Total camera time, well probably no more than
10 seconds. Other than that I was an extra as I was the night before. I
got out at 6 AM again, went back to the hotel, slept awhile and then woke
up at about 8 or 9 and headed home that Sunday to get my homework done and
prepare for a week of school. School lasted forever and a day that week.
On Friday I headed back up to Camp Starlight for another weekend of filming.
Once I got there I ran into another celebrity, famous singer, and the voice
of the character Chief from the TV show South Park Isaac Hayes. He was a
nice guy and he did some Chief impersonations for me to keep me entertained
while I was sitting. I remember getting a few speaking roles that night
although I know it wasn’t much, and I can’t remember exactly
what I had to say.
The next day I was asked
to be there early in the morning to take part in a completely different
scene. I didn’t get any speaking parts in this scene I was just
an extra. At one, all the actors and crew broke for lunch. The roles
were real simple anyone who was anyone went into one room where they
got first class dishes everyone else got Hot Dogs, Cheeseburgers, and
French Fries. I didn’t really mind as a matter of fact for whatever
reason the CKY guys were sitting in the extra’s holding so I went
over talked to them for a bit. Then some guys I met the other weekend
came over and found me. After that I was scheduled to appear on set
until the next morning, so my mom came and got me. We spent the rest
of they day together, went shopping, boating, and went and had dinner.
It was a good experience for the both of us.
The next morning I got there at 6 A.M. This scene was going to be a
huge food fight and I got a seat right next to Vincent Pastore from
The Sopranos. Everyone got a plate of food placed in front of them the
Director announced across the dinning hall that actress Felissa Rose
would say a few lines then Adam Wylie who plays camp stoner “Weed”
(who has appeared in films such as Kindergarten Cop, and TV shows such
as Seinfeld, Home Improvement, and 7th Heaven) would then interrupt
her we would all laugh and then throw our food in every which way.
This was my favorite scene
I did out of all of them. After that I headed back for another week
of school. Unfortunately, I only had one more day left to shoot and
then from that point on the main actors would carry the rest of the
weight. It was a Sunday, me and mom left Binghamton wicked early and
arrived at about 8. I had breakfast with the cast, and hung out with
friends in the extra’s holding until it was time to go to work.
Back to the dinning hall, we finished the food fight scene and headed
home. As I was leaving I remember being really sad, this was one of
the best experiences I’ve ever had in my life and I recognized
that. That was back in late 2003, and the film has still yet to come
out.
Many
people call the director Robert Hiltzik a con artist, because I guess
he ripped a bunch of actors off by promising them money and never paying
them. I really don’t know what’s happening with them or
if it’s even happening. Even if the film doesn’t come out,
I don’t regret any of it. Meeting the actors from my all time
favorite movie Sleepaway Camp was worth all the money and time invested.
I frequently talk with the web master from the film’s official
web site and he keeps telling me different stories about why it hasn’t
come out yet. Who really knows, I just know that this was a great experience
that I doubt I’ll ever forget and no matter what happens I don’t
regret any second of it.
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