Monday, September 7, 2015

I swear, it's the truth

I know other people have seen this movie recently/a lot, but I haven't seen it for a looong time...

I was an extra for a couple of days during the making of Dirty Dancing (probably you have to be related to me to be able to find me in the movie). I was 17, and everything about the process was thrilling. I spoke with Patrick Swayze once, and he was as nice and good-natured as you'd hope he would be.

I actually still have the Kellerman's shirt I wore (you can see a shot of one at the beginning of the video). They let me keep it because it was stained at the bottom by my maroon shorts. I had gotten wet during filming, and the dye from my shorts came off on my shirt. That's kind of a clue about where I am in the movie, except I can't imagine it would help in the slightest. I'm also in the background of a scene with Wayne Knight (Newman from Seinfeld), whom I did chat with a bit. He talked about filming Ishtar, which would go on to become a "notorious failure," but things picked up for him after that.

Dirty Dancing:


Updated to add an old photo of me (and Ariana) for Margaret:


I am 25 in this photo, but me at 17 wasn't that different. Except that I think my hair was shorter, more Molly Ringwald-y:


Hope that helps?

4 comments:

Heidi Mordhorst said...

Good morning, Tabatha! I came by full of apologies for being soooo late for Poetry Friday and a little down about missing the National Book Festival(like I do every year somehow), and seeing this video (although I don't think you're in this clip, are you? or are you?) has readjusted my attitude nicely. Thanks for the song-and-dance!

Someday let's chat about your movie experience in depth. How cool...

Margaret Simon said...

This is hard to believe and yet so exciting. That is a movie I can watch over and over again. So sad how Patrick Swayze is gone now. Since I have no idea what you look like (and BTW, there is no image of you anywhere!), I would not be able to pick you out of a line up. Hint, please?

Margaret Simon said...

Thanks for the photo for reference. And who's that cutie playing with your hair. I had a back carrier just like that for my daughter who is now 30. Yikes!

Michelle Heidenrich Barnes said...

Such secrets you've been withholding! You're too cool for school, Ms. Tabatha. :)