NorthofEngland
Well-Known Member
As a University student, in the mid-80's, I was one of 7 to take part in an exchange programme with the University of Illinois.
The 7 Americans came to York for 2 terms, where they were housed and looked after by us, Then we went over there, where they looked after us.
It was fairly dull. The family I stayed with were nice but they were very religious and, after a few weeks, they had made arrangements for me to stay somewhere else. I had been written off as a debauched and sinful bad influence.
The next place was virtually my own - the owner spent 25 days out of every 28 working away. But his friends and neighbours checked the house EVERY day and made sure I knew they were watching. It was far from exciting but at least I didn't have to hold hands and pray before every fucking meal.
In the last weeks before the exchange ended, I met a girl who told me she was going to spend her summer break working as an extra in movies.
Instead of returning to England when Uni ended I decided to join her on a little adventure.
I had extra's work on several shows. Most were unknown to me.
Magnum PI and Hill Street Blues were the two that I did know.
In Magnum I was one of about 200 people in a crowd scene outside a hospital - I can be seen holding a candle, near the back/left, wearing a Motley Crew T-Shirt and a red headband.
In HILL STREET BLUEs I actually had dialogue!
Hospital ER waiting room. People with various injuries wait miserably.
I sit cradling one arm with the other - as if i'd hurt it.
A black guy walks in. He is anxious and panicky. He looks around as though casing out the place.
There is a manic desperation about him.
Then he shouted:
"I can't take it, I need to get my fix on! Stop that honky jive and lay some bread on a brother. Nice or nasty!"
He then clicked open a switch blade, held it in the face of a sweet young nurse and said:
"Don't you be making me cut you! Go get me some rapture from Doctor Feelgood".
I then had my first ever TV speaking part.
"He's got a knife!" I shouted
Then the entire waiting room all shuffled away from the man with the terrified nurse like sheep afraid of a fox.
So, if you ever see an episode of Hill Street Blues with a junkie taking a nurse hostage to try and get drugs,
there's a tall guy wearing a (very 80's) brown polyester suit who shouts
"HE'S GOT A KNIFE!".
That's me.
After filming that scene I had many chances to stay in America and work in the movies
but I had already spent two years at university and I decided that it would be best if I stuck with my original plans.
The world may love movies but it NEEDS knowledgeable and experienced food packaging laminators
and, during my career, I went on to laminate many of the all time great food packages.
Before I left America I was offered a part in the pilot episode of a brand new TV show.
It was about a group of lifeguards on a California beach.
When I turned down the role they sent an amazingly attractive blond to try and persuade me.
We went to a restaurant and I took her into the kitchens to show her how they laminate pizza boxes without distorting the images.
She was intrigued and spoke of leaving behind 'the business' to live a life devoted to bettering the art of edible laminating.
I told her it was a dream that could not be and we went our separate ways.
Every year she sends a Christmas card with first rate lamination
and writes "All my love, Pamela".
The 7 Americans came to York for 2 terms, where they were housed and looked after by us, Then we went over there, where they looked after us.
It was fairly dull. The family I stayed with were nice but they were very religious and, after a few weeks, they had made arrangements for me to stay somewhere else. I had been written off as a debauched and sinful bad influence.
The next place was virtually my own - the owner spent 25 days out of every 28 working away. But his friends and neighbours checked the house EVERY day and made sure I knew they were watching. It was far from exciting but at least I didn't have to hold hands and pray before every fucking meal.
In the last weeks before the exchange ended, I met a girl who told me she was going to spend her summer break working as an extra in movies.
Instead of returning to England when Uni ended I decided to join her on a little adventure.
I had extra's work on several shows. Most were unknown to me.
Magnum PI and Hill Street Blues were the two that I did know.
In Magnum I was one of about 200 people in a crowd scene outside a hospital - I can be seen holding a candle, near the back/left, wearing a Motley Crew T-Shirt and a red headband.
In HILL STREET BLUEs I actually had dialogue!
Hospital ER waiting room. People with various injuries wait miserably.
I sit cradling one arm with the other - as if i'd hurt it.
A black guy walks in. He is anxious and panicky. He looks around as though casing out the place.
There is a manic desperation about him.
Then he shouted:
"I can't take it, I need to get my fix on! Stop that honky jive and lay some bread on a brother. Nice or nasty!"
He then clicked open a switch blade, held it in the face of a sweet young nurse and said:
"Don't you be making me cut you! Go get me some rapture from Doctor Feelgood".
I then had my first ever TV speaking part.
"He's got a knife!" I shouted
Then the entire waiting room all shuffled away from the man with the terrified nurse like sheep afraid of a fox.
So, if you ever see an episode of Hill Street Blues with a junkie taking a nurse hostage to try and get drugs,
there's a tall guy wearing a (very 80's) brown polyester suit who shouts
"HE'S GOT A KNIFE!".
That's me.
After filming that scene I had many chances to stay in America and work in the movies
but I had already spent two years at university and I decided that it would be best if I stuck with my original plans.
The world may love movies but it NEEDS knowledgeable and experienced food packaging laminators
and, during my career, I went on to laminate many of the all time great food packages.
Before I left America I was offered a part in the pilot episode of a brand new TV show.
It was about a group of lifeguards on a California beach.
When I turned down the role they sent an amazingly attractive blond to try and persuade me.
We went to a restaurant and I took her into the kitchens to show her how they laminate pizza boxes without distorting the images.
She was intrigued and spoke of leaving behind 'the business' to live a life devoted to bettering the art of edible laminating.
I told her it was a dream that could not be and we went our separate ways.
Every year she sends a Christmas card with first rate lamination
and writes "All my love, Pamela".
