This past Thursday I was on set for the Travel Channel's Monumental Mysteries.
Another basic cable reenactment show, the IMDB description is:
Monumental Mysteries scours the country for America's most extraordinary monuments and reveals the amazing mysteries hidden. From New York's iconic Chrysler Building that was once the site of a stunning display of an architectural chicanery, to a huge clock on the island of Hawaii where the hands are forever frozen in time, these are just some of the tales revealed. This series visits the statues, memorials, national parks, gravestones and sculptures which commemorate our nation's most notorious crimes, scandals, disasters and intriguing events of all time.
My section of the episode dealt with a murder/mystery during the California Goldrush of the 1850s. An innkeeper and his wife had profited immensely during the rush, most of their payments in gold. One night two cowboys come to the inn to stay the night. Around the fire pit at night the innkeeper brags about his gold to the strangers. My character steps away from the pit to gather more firewood and comes back with axe in hand to silence the innkeeper, his wife, and to take his gold, as well as his warm coat.
The production company drove us to Fort Totten, in Bayside, Queens. They shot several other sections for the show during the day. From what I could gather, other scenes involved a guilder age business deal, and a WW2 camp setting. Since most of the shots for my scene were going to be shot at nighttime, I sat in holding for hours.
Fort Totten was originally built during the Civil War to protect New York City from anything coming up the Long Island Sound. Since then, the Fort has had many incarnations and uses, which is a great setting for shows that need buildings from various ages. For my scene, one of the front porches and staircases was appropriated to be the Inn. With a bit of staging, lighting and camera angles, 21st century New York City, becomes convincingly 1850s Northern California.
Similar to the other reenactment shows I've done this past year, the crew was very enthusiastic, friendly and efficient. I even recognized a few familiar faces.
The show will air sometime in the next 6 months. Check back for more updates!
Getting my outfit from the costume department.
Actresses Carlotta Brenton and Miki Hanta. Carlotta played the wife of the innkeeper. Miki was in a different section, that focused on an event in WW2.
Carlotta modeling her Western wear.
Talking to the Director of Photography, setting up the opening shot. Actor Townsend Ambrecht to the right.
Outside trying to stay warm.
Director Sterling Milan jumping into the shot with Carlotta and actor Patrick Avella
Setting up the outside shot.
Patrick waiting for the cue.
From the cameras POV
Outside with the video assist.
Hamming it up!
Trying to stay warm... the cowboys with a future victim. Very much like McCarthy's Blood Meridian... but not as big of a budget.
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