We are all actors…
In many aspects of life, the ability to ”rise above” our consuming troubles, and so present an image so real that it becomes, indeed, real is a major key to success. A true story, with an important message to those who would be the stars of our industry…
BY MR. DOUG HIGLEY
It was near the end of his life. Though we didn’t know that for sure. But as Sammy Davis Jr. was helped into the studio and to a waiting chair, it was obvious he was in a bad way. Sammy looked…well, old. And very weak.
I was setting up the cameras for a commercial shoot I was directing for The Jewelry Factory at South Lake Tahoe. Sammy…the great Sammy…fiddled with his jewelry on the table before him, laying it out into individual dazzlers (and they were), his head was down and he wasn’t speaking to anyone.
As I rolled the big monitor over so he could see the script I had written, I began to get nervous. What the hell were we going to do! There was no way this shadow of a former star would be able to do the commercial without making everyone who saw it sad. I called his attention to the monitor and he read the script to himself and said ok…lets go.
No changes! He accepted my words that would be his personal testimonial without question or discussion. That really scared me.
I cued Vince in the control room, where Mike and Elain (owners of the studio) were also ‘housed’ at monitors etc.
I stared the count down for Sammy 5…4…3…2… (we always stop at two for the talent to mentaly fill in the number 1 and begin).
At the number 4…Sammy’s demeanor started to change. it was a physical change.
Drooping shoulders straightened…the head came up and looked directly into the camera. The face which was drawn and aged (without makeup!) TRANSFORMED from a sick almost unrecognizable old man to:
SAMMY DAVIS JR! The one we knew! The one who had to do a commercial for a life long friend, Bob Lindner. (The Jeweler). He was ON! Sammy Davis Jr. did the commercial in ONE take. The delivery was dynamic. The voice strong and sure. The smile compelling
As soon as I yelled “CUT”…the shoulders drooped…the weary wrinkled face returned and the reverse transformation took place. Sammy was helped from the chair and basically carried out to the waiting car to return to Harrah’s a few blocks away.
We were stunned…almost to silence. We had witnessed the persona…the epitome of ‘The Show Must Go On’ by a trooper of the old school.
And it was ALL on tape. It played back exactly as we all witnessed it.
No Hollywood FX wizard or makeup genius could have improved on the transformation scene. Shortly after by weeks, Sammy passed away. I still get chills.
