Read on Twitter
So I took a bit of a personal break at the beginning of the year, with so much going on I needed to focus on my home and loved ones. With that being said I also took the time to think on my initial comment to @LittleNashyYup , and my wish to add my voice to @TheNamesQ's thread.
Even after taking this time, there are still many details I either pushed out of the experience, or have just overall been lost to the time between, but I will do my best to explain this as chronologically and concisely as I can.
To open this up, I guess I should state how I came across this casting call. Growing up I had actually spent several years in theatre, both in acting and as production crew (set design), my aim being to hopefully get into acting in my future.
At this point in time (2006), I was attending high school in the small town of Bastrop, outside of Austin, Tx. I had been a bit isolated, not being from the area, when my mother came across a casting call for extras in an upcoming film, using my school as one of the on-site sets.
So I of course hop on the opportunity, thinking anything would be a good foot in the door, and I had a few friends at the time who were also interested so it wouldn't be too anxiety filled. Fast forward to production, we were separated out into our roles in the film.
Myself and a few others were given more important roles, mine as the 'best friend' of the character Red (played by Aaron Himelstein), and so we had a little bit more up close screen time and interaction with the cast than most of the extras. Cue my experiences with Amber Heard.
Initially I was very excited, talking to cast members (personal favorite being Michael Welch, stellar human being), and trying to gain better understandings of acting. Amber herself was immediately dismissive, effectively walling herself off as 'too good' to be bothered.
I personally didn't take offense to this, but my ongoing experiences on set reaffirmed her as being what I had witnessed a lot already in high school; a self-absorbed person who had no desire to interact with anyone she couldn't see a use for.
Moving forward, due to the weather not playing very nicely (98-100°) there were a lot of retakes. The extras would spend some time sitting in for the actors while cameras were being positioned, something we joked about while sitting in the middle of the sunlight.
Aaron actually ended up having to several takes of the track scene (smoking fake joints/unfiltered cigarettes), and he got sick in the middle of the field. Having to sit on aluminum bleachers for 3 hours, it was probably my least favorite scene to shoot and very taxing on him.
While overall it wasn't unbearable weather, Amber decided to use this 'inconvenience' to make requests of the male extras, requesting snack runs, and at one point a back rub from one of them (not named as I have not gotten verification of his comfort in coming forward).
This in of itself was kind of odd, but more-so was the 'payment' they were offered touted as a kiss from her. I did not witness the latter directly as I was a bit bothered and avoidant, but heard several instances of the same payment being offered.
There was a circling rumor that one actor was released from the production, and while in a couple interactions I could see he was adamant in not playing Amber's games , the official reason for him not being there for the remainder of production never was publicly released.
While I was avoidant of Amber, the rest of production went well enough, aside from one small bit of drama due to the on-site locker scene being a bit revealing, and having to get signatures from the girl extras' parents. They afterward packed up to shoot the rest of the film.
We didn't hear back on this for quite some time, the next year (2007) it had gone to a film festival in Toronto, and years later Netflix. I was excited to watch, though was a bit irked that we were not credited in any way (contrary to what was stated at the time of production).
I put it and acting out of mind, focusing more on costuming and prop design for photographers and cosplayers. The news of her and Depp getting involved crossed my feed, and my thoughts being fueled by my experiences I had hopes that she had grown into a more considerate person.
And from what we have all seen, I couldn't have been more upset to see that the same person I had avoided then, the one Id seen manipulating my underage friends, had not bettered herself, but rather dove head-long into her manipulative nature.
While I might not have been personally affected outside of my distaste of the acting world, seeing all the stories and the half-truths were heart sinking. Knowing that what was once something that people just didn't acknowledge was now effectively destroying a man's life.
I don't have any real plans with this story, but it is something Ive held onto for a few years now, only really using it as a self-motivator to do and BE better for those around me. To keep my eyes open, and to not just sit idly by while others are hurt and manipulated.
I appreciate the kind words everyone put forward, and the affirmations that others had had such similar stories gave the perspective I needed to know it wasn't just some teenager's skewed perspective and that what happened there WAS wrong.
I hope we are all able to see this to the end, and that hopefully there can be some good to come of all of this. Thank you all, and please, stay safe.
