'Leatherheads' Trailer Previews April 4 Release Of New George Clooney Flick

"Leatherheads" starring Clooney and Krasinski coming April 4, 2008

Pinch me because now that it's getting closer for the theatrical release of a movie I got to be an extra in, it kinda feels like a dream. But this is no dream and the Universal Pictures film Leatherheads starring George Clooney, Renée Zellweger, and John Krasinski is officially set to come out on April 4, 2008. I CAN'T WAIT!

As regular readers of my blog know, it was almost one year ago to the day that I stood in line for several hours for a chance to be a part of the movie magic trying out to be a football player in this period movie set in the 1920's when professional football was born. When I didn't hear anything for the entire month of January and most of February, I just assumed they wouldn't need me.

But then on February 27th I got a call from the casting company for the movie asking me if I still wanted to be an extra. Uh, duh! I originally thought they wanted me to be a football-playing extra for Leatherheads, but they had something special in mind for me instead--a hotel doorman?


I got to play a special role as the doorman in "Leatherheads"

Yep, like that episode of "The Brady Bunch" where the record producer picked Greg to be a solo artist because he "fit the suit," that's how I got chosen to be the doorman. My 6'3" height and "thin body frame" (I LOVED hearing that!) got me the gig. But I almost lost the role because that cap wouldn't fit on my head. The wardrobe department had to cut a slit in the back of it and add some stretchy material to it would go on my noggin!

It was so neat with my first experience in a Hollywood movie standing in front of a makeshift hotel in downtown Greenville, South Carolina. That was a memorable day in my life because she shot a 30-45 second scene over and over about 50 times, but the neatest part was George Clooney's character speaking a line to my extra character. Sweet!

Thinking that day was going to be it for me as an extra, I was surprised to receive another phone call about a month later from the casting department again wanting me to be an extra in some football scenes as a fan in the stands. The filming was to take place in Traveler's Rest, South Carolina--about 45 minutes from my house--over several days. "Can you make it?" they asked. "Oh yeah, I'll be there!"

This time around I took lots and lots of pictures so I could have pictorial memories of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was such a blast and all of us extras were so enamored by the way a movie like this gets shot. They don't call it movie magic for nothing!

I had one more opportunity to play a football fan in some scenes in Charlotte, North Carolina about a month after that and that concluded my Leatherheads movie experience as an extra. It's a lot of waiting around for your scenes to be shot, but I'd do it all over again for a chance to be in a movie.

In fact, one of the extras named Jim Fair created a Leatherheads extras web site for people who want to learn more about the behind-the-scenes of this movie and the memories of those of us chosen to be an extra. TheLeatherheads.com gives you all the latest information on the movie now set for release on April 4, 2008.

I noticed a trailer for Leatherheads is now available at YouTube:



Here's the direct link to the video if you'd like to share it with your friends to tell them about Leatherheads. This is expected to be a summer blockbuster movie because of the powerhouse Hollywood stars in it and in anticipation of the 2008 football season. When the movie comes out in theaters, don't you know I'll be looking for that scene with me as the doorman giving Clooney's character a dirty look. It's GOTTA be in there!

I'll update you more on the movie as we get closer to April 4, 2008!

Miscellaneous Low-Carb Audio And Images

You know the old saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Well, I've got five pictures, videos, and even an audio today that will interest those of us who are livin' la vida low-carb much more than those thousand words. These run the spectrum from weight loss to science to health. Watch, listen, read and ENJOY!

1. INSPIRED: THE MOVIE HAS A NEW TRAILER



Earlier this year I blogged about a new weight loss movie by an independent filmmaker named Steve Yu. The documentary film is called INSPIRED: The Movie and is set to release in 2008. Anyone looking to be motivated and inspired in their weight loss efforts needs to see this movie! What I really enjoy about the premise of this project is that it doesn't focus on any one specific plan for losing the weight. Everything is on the table and Steve encourages people to find what works for them. I couldn't agree more! Watch this inspiring new trailer for the movie which includes some footage from the interview I did with them several months back.

2. DILBERT COMIC STRIP RIDICULES HOCUS POCUS SCIENCE


Click on the image to see full size

You gotta love go-against-the-flow comic strip writer Scott Adams, the creator of the uber-popular "Dilbert." Through his unique talents and skills, Adams made a statement about the current state of populist science that pervades our culture nowadays (much of what Gary Taubes exposes in his new book).

Although one of his interests is "vegetarian food," you can't help but love this "Dilbert" strip earlier this week where he smacks the flim-flam practices of some people in the research community right upside the head. Get ready to stand up and cheer this one because it's 100% spot on.

3. AUDIO FROM A RARE INTERVIEW WITH DR. ROBERT C. ATKINS AND DR. JOHN MCDOUGALL



I've got a real treat for you today, especially those of you who have either NEVER heard the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins or if you knew him well. One of his strongest critics while he was alive was Dr. John McDougall, a known vegan advocate and decidedly anti-low-carb. Yet in this interview with Dr. Atkins he conducted, I found it fascinating that Dr. McDougall was amazed that people could find health and weight results by following two dietary approaches that are diametrical opposites. Because I never knew Dr. Atkins when he was alive, this was fantastic to hear and recharged me to keep on livin' la vida low-carb that much more. The spirit of Dr. Atkins is still alive and well in 2007 and you'll feel it all over again after listening to this interview.

4. BILL MAHER BLASTS AWAY AT PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES



Let me just say up front that I tee-totally despise about 99.9% of what television political talk show host Bill Maher has to say about anything. But when I saw this rant from him about the abundance of pills for everything while we continue our poor health habits. It's sprinkled with irreverent humor, but there's quite a bit of truth in what he said. If you take ANY kind of prescription drug, then you REALLY need to hear what Maher has to say.

By the way, he mentions fried Coke which is sadly a reality at a fair near you. My favorite part of the segment was when Maher shares that diet and exercise does work and says "ask your doctor if getting off your ass is right for you." HA! You go boy!

5. READER'S DIGEST CARICATURE LOOKS LIKE JIMMY MOORE?



One of my longtime readers Dan said he saw that picture above in the November 2007 issue of Reader's Digest and thought it was pretty darn close to being a spittin' image of yours truly. It's a caricature by the C.F. Payne Gallery and shows a man stooping over looking inside his refrigerator. I suppose the big ear, the hair style (although mine isn't receding quite that much yet!), the thin face, and other little nuances are eerily similar to me. Even my wife Christine had to laugh when she saw this. But obviously it's NOT me because that refrigerator has milk, juice, and leftover spaghetti in it! LOL! THANKS for thinking about me, though, Dan!