My call time is moved from 6:30 to 7AM meaning that I could've gotten up at 4:30AM instead of 4AM. The drive to the set is easy enough and I find myself getting breakfast with a burn out looking of a women and another women who is talking to herself. The food is good.

The wardrobe people give us our clothes. We always hear everyone say how the executives at studios are sharks but I'll bet the wardrobe people could give them a run for their money. They are always in bad mood, always rude and furthermore they listen to bad music as they dish out the clothes. There is one in particular that seems to have it in for me... I start talking to people and everyone seems alright. Some have other jobs, some only do background work and others have been doing this stuff for years.

We go to the set and Steven Spielberg is dressed like a skateboarding raver. He won't make eye contact with anyone, is terse and short to everyone but when the FOREIGN PRESS show up the man lights up like the Christmas tree he undoubtedly has in his home every year. Tom Hanks is just like you imagine he would be. He is funny but like all the other stars he doesn't want to be bothered. This point is made clear when the other extra I am working with tries to talk with him. Hanks does a 180 and walks in the other direction.

Leonardo DiCaprio is fine, I guess. He just walks around doing whatever it is that keeps getting him more work. I talk a bit with the girl that plays Tom Hanks secretary and she is really nice. She probably hasn't been told yet that she doesn't have to talk with me. We shoot different shots of the office and we end with me being part of a group of people that hand Leonardo files. A few times in other scenes the extra I am working with tries to direct me by saying "Here is where the camera is gonna be," and whatnot. Then they call lunch... I eat 2 helpings of beef stroganoff and some peach cobbler and I am happy as a clam.

I then proceed to spend the next 6 hours reading my magazines, working on a new script and listening to other extras call their calling services and talk about ordering cable modems and black boxes. We are finally called back to do a scene and by this point I have really bad gas. I try and negotiate my flatulence saved for when Hanks, Leonardo or Spielberg walk by me. I have nothing against these guys at all, I just think that doing this is funny. We shoot a long crane shot scene and then the day is wrapped at 10:15PM That's almost 15 hours at UNION wages, folks.

3/15/02

My call this day is at 12PM. I get to set early and eat. The crew is supposed to eat first but I eat before them as there aren't many of them around. I start talking to a PA who directed me around the set yesterday. He asks what I am doing on the movie and when I remind him that he was directing me around the set yesterday, he abruptly stops talking with me. We start to get ready for our scenes and the wardrobe people are being their usual 3RD REICH-selfs.

We do our scenes. They are basically as filler, trying to make the FBI office look busy. We go back to the holding area and are then informed that certain extras have been hitting Mr. Hanks and Mr. DiCaprio up for pictures and autographs. In order to stop this, new doors have been built so that they can get on the set that much quicker without having to be around us anymore then is necessary.

We are then told that we're all professionals. These guys are just making $20 million and we're all making $105 for the 8 hour day. You would think for the money they're getting they would "put up" with us lowly background actors just a little more. Now whose not being professional? We go back to the set, do a quick scene and as I walk out, a man in his 60's slides a small camera out of his sleeve and takes a picture of the set. He sees me and knows that I've seen him take this picture. I make eye contact with him very quickly and just say, "Awesome." At this point we are wrapped and it's time to go home. We only work 6 hours on this day...

That's it so far. Stay tuned...

A source at DarkHorizons told them that CHOI 98.1 radio station in Quebec City said that there will be three different locations for 'Catch Me If You Can' filming in May in Montreal and Quebec City

TOP GUN: Montreal film fans will have an almost divine opportunity to be close to the almighty STEVEN SPIELBERG, arguably the most innovative and certainly the most financially successful film director of our time.

Spielberg will spend FIVE DAYS IN MAY around Montreal and Quebec city shooting a movie called CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, which stars LEONARDO DICAPRIO in the true story of Frank Abagnale, a fraud artist who fabricated phony U.S. Government cheques during the 1970's. The star studded cast includes Tom Hanks and Martin Sheen. The culprit (DiCaprio) hides out with family members in France and Spielberg's mandate here is to recreate the French countryside and a typical French farmhouse. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Spielberg created some of Hollywood's and the world's - top grossing films, including JURASSIC PARK, ET, JAWS and RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, so you gotta figure that he can afford air fare to Europe. But he's reported to want to stay in North America because of security issues after Sept. 11. Still Dreamworks SKG, the movie company Spielberg founded with Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen, could have its choice of any ersatz "French countryside." Why Quebec??
"We have been trying for a long time to convince L.A. producers that we can do FRANCE here in QUEBEC", a film industry source said, "We have wonderful French architecture...stone houses, everything."

It won't be Spielberg's first vist to our neck of the woods. About 3 years ago, he stopped at Saint-Hubert airport (now a movie studio) and tried to buy it for a location because it was cheaper to buy than rent. But it wasn't for sale and Spielberg jetted back to LA LA LAND after 2 precious hours on our turf.

In addition, if you are in L.A. or close by for that matter be sure to attend the filming at Scarff street Los Angeles between Adams and 23rd.

"Catch Me If You Can," which began shooting yesterday in Los Angeles, stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks under the direction of Steven Spielberg.

DiCaprio stars as Frank Abagnale Jr., the youngest man ever to be listed as one of the FBI's Most Wanted, and Hanks as the agent on his trail.

The film also stars Oscar-winner Christopher Walken.

Martin Sheen and Amy Adams have joined Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks and Christopher Walken in the Steven Spielberg-helmed cat-and-mouse story "Catch Me If You Can" for DreamWorks Pictures. Shooting started Monday in Los Angeles.

The project centers on Frank Abagnale Jr. (DiCaprio), who worked as a doctor, lawyer and co-pilot for a major airline -- all before his 18th birthday. A master of deception, he also was a brilliant forger, leading him to become the most successful bank robber in the history of the United States and the youngest person to land on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.

Sheen will play the father of DiCaprio's main love interest in the film, played by Adams ("Pumpkin"). Hanks stars as an FBI agent on the hunt for Abagnale, and Walken plays Frank Abagnale Sr.

Spielberg is directing from a script by Jeff Nathanson based on the autobiographical book of the same name by Frank Abagnale Jr. and Stan Redding.

Spielberg and DreamWorks head Walter F. Parkes are producing, with Barry Kemp, Laurie MacDonald, Michel Shane and Tony Romano executive producing. Daniel Lupi is co-producing.

Behind the scenes, Spielberg is using a list of longtime collaborators, including cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, editor Michael Kahn and composer John Williams. Working with Spielberg for the first time are production designer Jeannine Oppewall and costume designer Mary Zophres.

Sheen is repped by the Liberty Co. Adams is repped by Endeavor, the Firm and the law firm Hansen, Jacobson, Teller and Hoberman.

LOS ANGELES - PRNewswire -- Filming on DreamWorks Pictures' "Catch Me If You Can" will begin on Monday, February 11, under the direction of three-time Oscar(R) winner Steven Spielberg ("Saving Private Ryan," "Schindler's List"). Oscar(R) nominee Leonardo DiCaprio ("What's Eating Gilbert Grape," "Titanic") and two-time Academy Award(R) winner Tom Hanks ("Philadelphia," "Forrest Gump") engage in a game of cat and mouse in the story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., the youngest man ever to be listed as one of the FBI's Most Wanted.

Frank Abagnale, Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) worked as a doctor, a lawyer, and as a co-pilot for a major airline -- all before his 18th birthday. A master of deception, he was also a brilliant forger, whose skill gave him his first real claim to fame: At the age of 17, Frank Abagnale, Jr. became the most successful bank robber in the history of the United States. FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) had made it his prime mission to capture Frank and bring him to justice, but Frank is always one step ahead of him, baiting him to continue the chase.

The film also stars Academy Award(R) winner Christopher Walken ("The Deer Hunter," "America's Sweethearts") as Frank Abagnale, Sr.

Steven Spielberg will direct "Catch Me If You Can," from a screenplay by Jeff Nathanson, based on the autobiographical book of the same name by Frank Abagnale, Jr. and Stan Redding. The film is being produced by Steven Spielberg and Walter F. Parkes ("Gladiator"), with Barry Kemp, Laurie MacDonald, Michel Shane and Tony Romano executive producing, and Daniel Lupi co-producing.

Spielberg's behind-the-scenes creative team includes his longtime collaborators: two-time Academy Award(R)-winning cinematographer Janusz Kaminski ("Schindler's List," "Saving Private Ryan"), three-time Academy Award(R)-winning editor Michael Kahn ("Schindler's List," "Saving Private Ryan," "Raiders of the Lost Ark") and five-time Academy Award(R)-winning composer John Williams ("Schindler's List," "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial," "Jaws," "Star Wars," "Fiddler On the Roof"). Working for the first time with the director are two-time Oscar(R)-nominated production designer Jeannine Oppewall ("Pleasantville," "L.A. Confidential") and costume designer Mary Zophres ("Ghost World," "The Man Who Wasn't There").

Shooting gets underway in Los Angeles, with future location filming to take place in New York and Canada.

DreamWorks SKG was formed in October 1994, by its three principal partners -- Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen -- to produce live-action motion pictures; animated feature films; network and cable television programming; home video entertainment; records; books; toys; and consumer products.

Oscar Nominee Leonardo DiCaprio ("What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" and "Titanic") and two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks ("Philadelphia" and "Forrest Gump") engage in a game of cat and mouse in the real life drama, "Catch Me If You Can", under the direction of three-time Oscar winner Steven Spielberg ("Saving Private Ryan" and "Schindler's List").
Frank Abagnale, Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) worked as a doctor, a lawyer, and a co-pilot for a major airline all before his 18th birthday. A master of deception, he was also a brilliant forger, whose skill gave him his first claim to fame: at the age of 17, Frank Abagnale, Jr. became the most successful bank robber in the history of the United States. FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Hanks) had made it his prime mission to capture Frank and bring him to justice but Frank is always one step ahead of him, baiting him to continue the chase.
Steven Spielberg will direct "Catch Me If You Can" from a screenplay by Jeff Nathanson, based on the autobiographical book of the same name by Frank Abagnale, Jr. and Stan Redding. The film is being produced by Steven Spielberg, and Walter E Parkes, ("Gladiator"), with Barry Kemp, Laurie MacDonald, Michael Shane and Tony Romano executive producing.