This probably would have been slightly more appropriate to post last week as the Walking Dead hysteria was still at a fevered pitch, but we've only seen Negan on screen for about 15 minutes, so I'm sure I still have some mileage I can get out of this story.
I live in a very old building in Atlanta. In fact it is the oldest condo building left standing in the city that's known for tearing down old buildings. A few years ago the Board of our condo received a call from a film scout wanting to know if they could scout our building for a few upcoming movies.
I was on the board at that time and I jumped at the opportunity to meet the scout and see if we'd be a good fit for his project. I don't know if any of you have ever dealt with a film scout before but it's an interesting profession, you basically just go around trying to find places that you think will match the director's vision that already exist in the real world. Theoretically the more real locations that can be found the less has to be spent building sets.
The scout was incredibly cool and explained to me that he was scouting for an upcoming movie called "Solace." The movie starred, among others, Anthony Hopkins, Colin Ferrell, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Of course when I heard him say that, I thought, "The Comedian, Odin, and Bullseye may be coming to my building!"
The scouting process is the relationship equivalent to a first date, if filming at the location is the wedding, so I didn't get my hopes up too high. On top of that, even if they chose us, it's not like JDM, Hopkins, and Ferrell would be going door to door in my building introducing themselves. But as Lloyd Christmas once famously said, "so you're telling me there's a chance."
A few weeks went by and we didn't hear anything back from the scout so I kind of figured, "oh well, we didn't get picked." But there wouldn't be a story if that was the end now would there. I finally got an email back from the scout saying they wanted to bring the director by for a second look.
Long story short, we got picked. They actually decided to shoot a bunch at our building doing some shots outside, in our lobby, and in a residential unit. The day filming began was kind of crazy, If you've ever been on a movie set you know what I'm talking about, there are people, trucks, lights, ramps, and cables EVERYWHERE.
We obviously weren't given a sheet with call times on it of who would be where, so there was little to no chance that I'd actually be able to meet any of the actors, but best I could tell, Odin, Bullseye, and The Comedian were going to be in and out of my building for a couple of days, so I figured "maybe".
I will say this, I was a lot better about taking my dog out while the filming was happening. I usually take her out about 3 times a day (she's an old bulldog with a two-gallon drum for a bladder). But we upped it to about 5-6 times when the movie crew was in the building.
Towards the end of the last day of filming I had come up totally empty, I did manage to meet one of the supporting characters. Who happened to be in The Walking Dead, he was one of the Governor's goons on the show and very nice in person. But no A-listers.
Well, as fate would have it, as I was coming inside from taking out the pup for the last time that day, and I'm waiting in front of the elevator, it opens up and there's Jeffrey Dean Morgan. He was with co-star Abbie Cornish (Sucker Punch, Robocop), but I have to confess I kind of didn't even recognize her. *Sidenote TONS of geek cred in that "Solace" cast.
I'm a huge Watchmen fan, and for me, JDM IS the Comedian. I wouldn't say I was starstruck, as I know he's just a guy, but I was definitely surprised. Luckily for me though, Mr. Morgan kind of loved my dog. So we just hung out in front of the elevator lobby for about 5 minutes talking Watchmen, The Losers, and English Bulldogs.
He was absolutely the nicest guy, and it's always refreshing when you meet someone that you have a high opinion of and they're not a jerk. I have had the pleasure of meeting a few celebrities over the years and they've all been nice for the most part, but Mr. Morgan was the best.
To say I was thrilled when I heard he was also going to be portraying Negan would be an understatement, then to see he'd also cameo-ed as Thomas Wayne in BVS, I now realize that I may have met the most decorated comic book movie/tv star to date.
Just imagine if "Flashpoint Paradox" the Movie ever happens with JDM as Batman, I may pee my pants, well maybe not, but I'll certainly wish I had a picture. Oh well, in the meantime I just have a cool story, which is still pretty awesome.
-Jeff///ACC