As the weekend of
48 hours draws near, it reminds me of a time long ago (last year) working on a production out in the middle of nowhere. The looong days on set, the crew and the coffee runners. And all I have to say from that experience is...
You best be bringing your gratitude to set mate!
I am speaking of a lesson I learned while on set (without being in the actual crossfire) just by observation.
It was day two of shooting on location. I had been in the wardrobe and make-up van for about 3 hours getting transformed into acid dropping hippy. Yeah that's right.

The bulk of the crew was getting the shot set up about 100 meters up the road.
My assistant came to get me and take me to the food station so I could have some breakfast. (I know, I just giggle at the thought of saying 'my assistant' hehe!). And as I went up I chose the food I wanted, piled it into my paper bowl and grabbed my cutlery.
A lady came over to me and asked me what beverage I would like. She was obviously the coffee runner. A little startled because I just assumed I would make it myself I said "Oh, yes please! I would love a coffee!" and off she went to brew it up. (7am, Oh my god, yesssssss!)
I made my way over to the lady with my assistant (teehee!) holding an umbrella over me at all times so my makeup didn't run and had a quick chat with her. She said she had been up since 4am making coffees for the director, producers and the assistants. I said to her she was doing a fantastic job.

My coffee was just about made when a girl (in crew I think) came over looking a bit tired and possibly annoyed she was awake and said "Can I have three coffees?". The coffee lady (I still regret I didn't get her name!) literally transformed into a different person and said in a very bitter tone towards this girl "I'm not doing shit for you until you can say please and ask me nicely."
The girl was stunned, I was stunned. I felt like I had just accidentally fell into the lion pit! My assistant started tugging my arm as if to insinuate "Okay.. time to get the hell out of here". The lady gave me my coffee, I said thank you and turned to leave.
I heard the crew girl say "What? I did say please" and the coffee lady snapped back "No you didn't, so say it" (talk about a 'Oh no you didn't' moment!) and the girl eventually asked nicely and she got her three coffees.
This fascinated me and I thought about it for days afterwards. If that girl had just said 'please' their mornings would have gone a lot more cheerily.
So there I learned (thank god from a distance) how you should always treat people on set and in life!
Mum and I were talking the other day while out on one of our forest walks about Hugh Jackman. She told me she had read an interview with him in a magazine and he was talking about working on set with a crew and other actors and he said that he makes a point to talk to
everyone on set. Establish a connection, acknowledge their work and just talk about anything really. He said it's because
"We're all the same. We work together and live together for periods at a time, but at the end of the day we're all the same and I don't see why people should be divided or hierarchies. I just make friends with everyone".
Isn't that lovely? I am definitely going to make a point to make friends with as many people as I can on set, are you?
So guys, my moral of the story is: No matter if you're having an average day, the make-up lady is talking too much, the director is an absolute douche, the producer
keeps yelling at everyone or you're just too damn shy to talk to anyone - at least be grateful and appreciative of
where you are. Cause that alone can make miracles happen!