So you want to be in the movies, eh? Um, yes please.

I've been acting for ten years now. Mostly on stage or for training with some police or military group. I've even been an extra for TV shows and the movies, but I never got to say anything. At the end of June, I got a call from a local movie production gang, and they asked me to audition for one of the lead roles in a horror film called Rotgut that they were shooting in three weeks. I auditioned for the role of Tom, an alcoholic who just fell off the wagon after six years sober. Even though I never put it on my resume, I'm a pretty good drunk. Years of experience.

I auditioned like I had for other movie roles, and they said they would let me know. A week and a half later just as I had given up hope, they called and offered me the role. There would be no pay and two weeks of commitment on my part. I was working for free, but it would cost me living expenses for my family for a fortnight. I decided to bite the financial bullet and accepted the role. Jungle goes to movie camp.

The gist of the story of Rotgut is that the bartender/manager buys cheap mescal from Mexico with worms in the bottom. A handful of depressing bar flies hang out until one of them unknowingly drinks a worm. The worms come alive and attack our scooby-doo gang of drunks and bar employees.

Tom is a mystery man because he just shows up at the bar for the first time in a tuxedo. The crew called me Mr. Bond half the time. Tom is slow to explain himself and concentrates on getting drunk. To make matters worse, a meth head couple come in and try to rob the bar, and everyone gets locked in to deal with the maggot worms. While other characters get infected or bitten, Tom slides through the movie with just a minor scratch. There's nothing better than being a survivor of a horror flick. Rotgut II?

Of course, most people in the audience have no idea how much time and patience is needed to make a film, even a low budget horror flick. I knew how much time was required, but I had never been on set of any movie for more than three days. Out of the 16-day shoot, I was there for twelve of them. Most of them at least ten hours, and two for them lasted over fifteen. Some days they used me frequently, and others I sat around quietly with only a scene or two to shoot.

With the long hours, tensions by the director, producer, writer, cameramen, crew and actors got frayed. The director occasionally became maniacal. Other times, he was the source of entertainment and inspiration. You had to deal with all sides of him.

If you're wondering what actors do on set, they stay quiet and out of the way until they are called. Then, you better be ready with your lines and do what they say. Do NOT offer suggestions. Do NOT offer help or advice. Do NOT do anything unless they tell you to do so. I caught on to this quickly and avoided confrontations with pretty much everyone. Not an easy task, but I did it.

I didn't look at myself in the camera much (no dailies), but I could tell they were getting some good shots and plenty of coverage. A scene with five people could take up to 100 takes with different angles, lenses, reaction shots, coverage shots, connecting shots and more types of shots than I knew possible. Of course, when a scene is done, it's done. Set up for the next one, or sit down and shut up.

If all goes well, the movie will be finished in a year. I don't even want to think about all the post-production that goes into making a film. I'm sure I'll have to go in and redo some lines, but as of 10:30 this morning I am wrapped. These movies are not easy to make, but I am proud to say I was up to the challenge.

Would I do it again? For money, of course. For free, maybe. Okay probably. If the window of time seems doable, I would go for another round acting and torture. Because, you know, I still want to be in the movies.

Chris Jungle expects no nominations for his performance, but he played a good drunk.