Crew Diaries:
TERI BEASLEY
Stand-In

what toes are for

You have come to the right place if you want the scoop on the making of "Still Breathing". My name is Teri and I was the stand-in for the lead actress, the supporting actress, and just about anyone else on the film you can think of. My job was to be there at least 5 hours before any of the filming actually began. Then there was the impossible task of trying to keep out of everyone's way while remaining close to the set in case they needed me. Many times I heard my name being screamed over walkie talkies everywhere.

When you work with people everyday for 12 to 14 hours for weeks on end, you become a living soap opera. Everyone is comfortable with everyone, you're part of the family. Well, this has its pros and cons. While filming the bathtub scene (Joanna Going's character Roz is taking a bubble bath while talking to her friend on the phone), this theory was proven correct. The bathroom was extremely small, about enough room for a bathtub and a toilet, no more. Well, we had the camera, lights, and about 5 people crammed in this room. It was about one in the morning, and after being out in the sun all day we were a bit "fresh". I was lying fully clothed in the bathtub thinking "this isn't so bad... at least I get to sit down". When someone in this tight little room seemed to be having intestinal problems. Either that, or the burrito casserole we had for lunch was turning on him. The wallpaper started to peel, and the room fogged up. Well let me tell you, none of us wasted any time getting out of THAT room.

We were also filming down at the San Antonio river one day. The river, while beautiful, was also murky, filmy and warm. No one wanted to get in. We had about 25 extras for the background. Some of the more unluckier ones were put in wading boots and told to act like they were fishing in the water. While others were strategically placed along the waters edge. There were two elderly men placed on this tree that had grown over the river. They were supposed to be fishing. We did this scene over and over and OVER, with all the extras doing their thing every time. On about our 12th take, pretty far along into the scene, one of the elderly men slipped on the tree, fought for his balance and fell head first into the water. I still think it would have been cute to leave that part in the film.

I have to tell you that I have never laughed as much as I did while working on this movie. I used to come home with sore ribs from laughing so much. There was always something happening. Like the chalkboards in the men and women's bathrooms. Someone started by asking questions on these boards, such as who is the most attractive on the set, who would you most like to "date"... etc. It became an honor to be placed on these boards. Men would come up to me and ask "Is my name on the women's board?", "Am I on the list?". A lot of the time I didn't have the heart to tell them NO their name wasn't, so I would lie (sorry guys).

We would also get into stupid discussions that would last for hours. For example, someone asked the question "What are toes for?". Everyone put in their two cents, of course. Some said for muscular reasons, some said for balance, I said for sucking. Let me tell you, I was pretty popular after that. That cinched my placement on the men's room chalkboard.

Although it was hard work, and long hours working on this movie. I learned a lot, made a lot of friends, and sweated off about 5 pounds. But what can I say... I'm Still Breathing.

...Teri Beasley - Stand-In

Director's notes: Not only did Teri have fun doing her job -- she kept all of us laughing too. The crew went into mourning when she left us the week before we went to LA. And yes -- she was at the top of the men's room list!

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