POTCjedi

I always liked Kansas but it took moving to another state for me to see just what a wonderful, magical place it really is. Learning to appreciate Kansas was not worth doing in my case. I dream of moving back but a dream is all it is. I don’t think it will ever be a reality.

For those living in Kansas – please be thankful for what you have while you still have it!

I was an extra in National Treasure: Book of Secrets and got to meet Mr. Cage twice! He was the nicest guy I have ever met!

The first time I met him, I was not cast as an extra yet. I read they were going to be filming at the Lincoln Memorial. I got there at 5:00 AM to watch them because I wanted to watch a movie being made to learn more about directing/filmmaking and I am also a Nicolas Cage fan. I hadn’t got any sleep the night before since I was getting my makeup, nails, hair done all night while watching the first National Treasure plus it took an hour to drive there. It was still dark when I arrived and the parking spot was far away. I was running as fast as I could to the Lincoln Memorial because I didn’t want to miss anything. While I was running, I tripped and ripped my new jeans. I was so worried that I’d break the gift I had for Mr. Cage, I didn’t even noticed that I cut my knee until I felt the blood. When I was finally there, the first person I ask for a Band-Aid happened to be the on-set nurse. While they were preparing the equipment, a man came up to me and introduced himself. He was very nice and told me he was Mr. Cage’s stand-in. I hadn’t even realized he looked somewhat like him. After they were done filming at the Lincoln Memorial, I got to meet Nicolas Cage. He was so nice! I gave him a gift and he ask “what is it?” His eyes were very blue. A while later, in front of the reflecting pool, they were filming a scene where the mayor was briefing reporters. As soon as they were done, I ran to the Capitol where they would film the next scene. I figured that I could get there faster by foot then car with the traffic and parking. I got there about the time Nicolas Cage and Harvey Kritel arrived. It became very crowded with snotty teens pushing and shoving. Have of the people there couldn’t even recognize Nicolas. Every time people would see his stand in, they would scream “Nick”, “Nicolas” or “Nicky”. When the real Nicolas left, he walked past the crowd of spectators who surrounded him.

The second time I met him, I was at the George Washington Masonic Temple in Alexandria with a family member who was an extra in the scene. I still had not been cast as an extra yet and was rather annoyed when everyone else (the extras) got to enter the room with Nicolas Cage and then I had to wait around outside. Later in the day, they allowed me in the auditorium. I sat on the steps and saw myself in the movie! It’s in the scene where Jon Voight and Nicolas Cage are arguing with Ed Harris. I’m the second person from the bottom of the stairs on the left of the screen. It’s ironic that I’m seen in that scene since I wasn’t show on screen in the scene I was an actual paid extra in. Once Nicolas Cage was done filming that day, I ran out of the room and down the stairs to catch up with him. He was talking to a crew member so I followed, not wanting to interrupt. I overheard the crew guy say something about Nicolas being very tired. They walked a while before noticing that I was there. Nicolas turned around and I gave him another gift. He ask “what is it” just like he did the first time. I told him I had so much fun buying the first gift that I went and bought another! He was very grateful. He hugged me! Needless to say, I have not washed the jacket I was wearing. This was the best day of my life! My mother even bought me a shirt that said “Nicolas Cage Hugged Me.” The George Washington Masonic Temple is now my favourite building! Whenever I drive past Alexandria, I look for it in the skyline.

I also got to see him from a distance the day I was an extra on a collage campus in Maryland. This is the 2 second scene that you see in the movie right before we meet Helen Mirren’s character.

The picture I attached is one I found on flickr.com of the first day I saw Mr. Cage. You can see my arm at the top of the picture. I’m wearing the green jacket he hugged and holding my camera. Whoever took this photo has a good camera because I was farther away then I look.

In the next few weeks, they are going to be filming National Treasure: The Book Of Secrets near where I live. I went to the casting call to be an extra but I have not got a call back about it yet. I really want to meet Nicolas Cage!