An Extra's Tale, The Bahamas, 2005-2006

Thank you to the One Eye Parrot for submitting this report and the accompanying photos exclusively to the POTCIP. The report is short and spoiler free, and meant to give you a feel for an extra's experience on the set of POTC2; the photos are not so spoiler-free.

Updates might be added periodically.

It started as a joke! I sent an awful picture of myself, a story that my great-great-grandfather was a pirate and that I also had some sailing experience (that's true!!).

About two months before the shooting took place, we got training on board the Black Pearl: ropes, sails, and all other stuff. We even had a training book.



For the Black Pearl pirates, it wasn't until October that we started. I worked as an extra for about 9 days (I had also a job to do in the Bahamas), but the other pirates were there for about twenty days . The Black Pearl is a ship that really can sail and maneuver.

The days out on the sea were the nicest ones, but with high waves a lot of the inexperienced crew (those who were not sailors) got sea sick. The whole atmosphere at sea was relaxed, even for the main characters; they would read a book, or enjoy the view and the weather.

The shooting days were from 04:30 in the morning till about 07:00 in the evening. For every pirate, it took about one hour for the make up to be done. After make up there was breakfast (the best on the whole Island!). Most of the time, being an extra meant waiting and waiting, since most of us were only used as pirates on one of the ships.

Update 20 Jan 06
Filming in the Bahamas continues through the weekend. Some scenes were re-shot, along with some new ones, too. Earlier in the month filming was done in the Exumas (the nicest part of the Bahamas!).

Update 30 Jan 06
Visit our Compass Rose forum to read the chat with One Eye Parrot. No real spoilers, just lots of good insight on the life of an extra!

Update 3 Feb 06
Shooting for POTC2 is finishing up in the Bahamas, with some done mid-week. The POTC3 Chinese Junk is at work - and was seen all decked out in lanterns.

Update 8 Feb 06
Work in the Bahamas continued over the weekend. Some night shooting has been done.

Update 21 Feb 06
From Tuesday till Friday some fighting scenes were planned between various pirate factions. There are rumours that all the ships and the set will be going to California at the end of March, but this is not known for sure - only rumor.

Update 28 Feb 06
A sad time - Saturday as evening fell, a memorial was held for make-up artist Richard Snell.
Some scenes were shot Monday and Tuesday. The last of the filming in the Bahamas will probably be Thursday. A wrap party was held over the weekend, and almost everybody was there - they even showed some bloopers and funny bits from the movie. The leads are going to be leaving mid-week, and by this Saturday, everyone will probably be gone from the island forever...

RTL (Netherlands) ran a segment about DMC, featuring One Eye Parrot. Link here!

More photos here.

       

   

   


Last update: 1 July 06

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