By Antony Teofilo
Sunny In The Rain
An interview with Sunny Antrim - Talent Production Assistant
One could tell that Sunny Antrim was quite under the weather. She had one of those nagging winter illnesses that refuses to release its grip until your body finally gives up the ghost and collapses in exhaustion. Yet if one were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of her busy body zipping from one trailer to the next, she was always possessed of a confident smile that was, well, undeniably sunny.
I spoke to Ms. Antrim while taking shelter under a large oak tree during a very chilly night shoot in Paulsboro, NJ. A frigid rain fell doggedly on and off all night, which would have sent most mere mortals in her condition running and whining home to hot tea and a warm bed. Not Sunny. There she was, cheery as always and ready for action, if a bit pale and sniffling. It's a spirit reflected in JERSEY GIRL's crew over and over again. Leave this movie? "Never." "I'm not sick. Just a little tired." "I'll recover over the weekend." The crew likes what's happening on this set. (But it's not all good...that mode of thought put Assistant Director Michael Lerman in the hospital before he'd take a day off.)
Sunny Antrim is a talent P.A. who found herself in a rather unique position on the set of JERSEY GIRL: Her work was pretty much done in the early morning, leaving her with the rest of her day wide open. Like any smart film professional would, Sunny decided to learn more about the job she so loves by offering to assist other members of the crew in whatever capacity was needed. It was a choice that paid off in spades. Not only did she create a constant extra hand for crewmembers, she also makes a cameo appearance in JERSEY GIRL beside another prominent cameo actor.
Antony Teofilo: What are the major duties associated with being a talent P.A?
Sunny Antrim: My responsibilities are unique because they waver. It depends on the day. Specifically for JERSEY GIRL, I take care of Jen[nifer Lopez] and Ben [Affleck]'s trailers. I set them up in the morning, give them what they need and make sure their fridges are stocked and their trailers look nice. Once Jen wrapped, for the next month, I've just been doing Ben's trailer, so I've had a lot of time on my hands. I've been helping the first team guy, who's also the 2nd 2nd Assistant Director. I help him with talent when he needs help.
AT: Can you explain for the benefit of the reader what the "first team" is?
SA: First team is made up of the principle actors. Second team is the extras. When you work with first team, that means you're taking care of principle talent, making sure they get through hair and makeup. I don't do much hair and wardrobe stuff. I assist taking the talent to the set, making sure they're happy, making sure they have anything that they need.
AT: How long have you been doing this?
SA: I've been doing this for almost three years.
AT: Is this your first time as a talent P.A.?
SA: Yes, it is, although I don't know if there's a talent P.A. on every set.
AT: What did you do before this?
SA: I did casting for MTV. I ran first team on another movie. I do enjoy being around the actors on a movie, and having my own duties. On this movie, I like to be there for the extra help that people need, to make everyone else's jobs easier. If I can do that at all, that makes me happy. But it's nice to have your own responsibilities, too. No one likes to stand around.
AT: What was your first job in the film industry?
SA: My very first job was doing craft service on a small movie in Westchester, Pennsylvania. That was probably the hardest job I've ever had. It was an hour commute back and forth from work. Every day, I was the first one there with the coffee and doughnuts. It was hard. I've never done it since.
AT: What time does your day start in your current job?
SA: It depends on call time. It doesn't matter what time we shoot, day or night, we're here an hour before the rest of the cast and crew.
AT: What's the most challenging thing about your job?
SA: JERSEY GIRL has been the most laid back job I've ever had. But in general, I'd say it's the hours, and the time you spend away from home. When I was with MTV, I was away for four months, then I had a week off, and then I came straight onto this set. And I'm sick for the second time in two weeks. That's another thing: if you don't take care of yourself in this business, you can really get run down easily.
AT: How do you keep going when you're ill, and you simply have to be on set?
SA: If you get enough sleep, and you have a good mindset, you're alright. Everyone does this because they love to travel and they love being on a set, and being with different people in different locations. None of us could ever be in an office. That's a lot of the reason why everyone is here. But that's why I'll never complain...unless you're on your nineteenth hour, and you're outside in the freezing rain, I think anyone can say that they aren't loving their job that day. [Laughs] For the most part, I wouldn't change it, though.
AT: What's the best part of doing film work?
SA: The cheesy answer would be all the great people I've met. I feel blessed in a lot of the people I've worked with, a lot of the great characters I've met. They're unique people, and some of them are legends I respect and admire.
Sometimes people can get jaded because they see this lifestyle every day. At the same time, you always have to give yourself a reality check. That happens especially when my friends who work at home in an office come and visit me on set; when we were shooting in Philly, and we were at the Hard Rock Cafˇ', my friends would come on set over their lunch breaks, and they were in shock. They thought it was so cool, and it makes you stop and think, 'Yeah, this is pretty cool.'
AT: You make a brief appearance in JERSEY GIRL. How did that come about?
SA: Kevin had told the 2nd 2nd assistant director that he wanted me to be in it, so it came from Kevin. You know, I never actually spoke to Kevin about that, and I want to thank him for giving me the opportunity. Basically, a position needed to be filled, and I was there to fill it. I was glad to do my little scene.
