Ship of Dreams: Titanic Movie Diaries
You can rent this film via the links at their Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/shipofdreamsfilm/
I watched this film but was afraid to, afraid it would trigger all my acting insecurities, including how background actors are treated as the lowest of the low on set, how when actors get just 1 line in a movie, they become snobs, how (as Kate Winslet has said many times), it is a complete hierarchy on set, where the "top" actors are treated amazingly, the bit actors are treated great, but the completely unknown background actors are treated like nobodies, including by the bit actors! I also dreaded hearing actors show off about working on the same movie and being on set with the likes of Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, etc. I mean, ALL ACTORS should be recognized for their hard work, no matter who they are, no matter how many movies they've done, no matter how known or not known they are. I love acting so much so it hurts me to see any type of snooty people on set.
I have to thank L.A. Beadles of the Unsinkable podcast for encouraging me to watch this film after I told her it may be bad for my mental health. She said "The actors that are interviewed go back through set diaries they wrote in 1996 as a group project at the time. They relive what it felt like to be on the set. One of Mali Finn's assistants talks about the casting process and how important every actor is, how she wanted monologues from actors who were only in one scene. The documentary is a total love letter to background actors and actors who WORK, in small jobs, in theater." And this is what made me watch it.
I love that this film interviews some of my favorite actors / actresses from Titanic, including Liam Tuohy (the silent drinker next to Jack and Rose near the end of the film when the ship is about to go down), known as the chief baker Charles Joughin.
Mark Capri "to hell with you". Just 1 scene in the movie, but one of the most memorable. I've always loved him because he maximized his presence and character.
I enjoyed hearing from the movie fans, surprisingly. Their love of the film is so pure, and there is no snobbery related to any acting elements because they aren't actors. I enjoyed hearing from all the actors / actresses too, positively sharing their set experiences, without coming across like they're showing off that they were in this big film. It was awesome hearing how inclusive Kate Winslet was, wanting to know everyone she's working with, and this also triggered me as I haven't worked with Kate yet. So one of the cast interviews did trigger me a bit, but I did completely understand his excitement and awe (he was the dancer).
Watching Amy Gaipa tear up, talking about acting and table reads, I understood her, about how it was all just actors at the table. And how she talks about how supportive Kate was, as an actor, and talked about this without seeming "show offy" that she's working with Kate (and James). Such a fine line between a pride that is wholesome and pure, versus boasting, and Amy pulls it off.
The recollections of filming the frozen people in the water, and the memories of one of the "core extras" of her son in the film, WAS beautiful.
In the end, the film did sadly trigger me, because I love acting so so so much and I love the hard work in it so much. And my heart aches, and it wants to be a working paid actor full time. But it helped to hear that people like James Cameron were kind to all the actors on set no matter who they were (I hope he was the same to the background extras).
