The Patriot

1. I die, I comeback, I save Mel, I fall, and am congratulated, I act with the stunt men,
I hurt.
This is a Diary that I kept after each long day of acting. It was published in the
Charlotte Magazine for which I was paid $350.
As a result of these efforts I got to see the movie Gods and Generals or the prequel to
Gettysburg about 8 months before it was released. I met with Ron Maxwell the director
for about 20 minutes after the movie providing him with my evaluation.
The “Patriot” by Gary Burgess
Day 1 & 2
A star is born. October 28, 1999
I acted today with Mel Gibson in the movie Patriot due out June 30, 2000.
I ran along side of Mel up the “hill”. The camera was 15 feet from Mel, and I was 5 to 15
ft from him with no one between us depending on the take.
Next I chased Mel up a flight of stairs from a few different angles and different takes. I
was with 8 Militia and/or Continental soldiers behind him and in close quarter combat.
Two cameras were about 8 feet from me. I am sure you should get a great shot of my
butt.
You should also get to see me running up the hill with 175 other Militia and Continentals
attaching a 100 plus Redcoats. You should have a long distance shot of my back clashing
Redcoats with my musket.
Being a Militia I got lucky and got a carbine musket, much lighter than a long barrel
musket. The 1-2 pounds add up after 12 plus hours.
I will tell you more, but I need to get to bed. Many of us 40, 50 and 60 year olds left,
longing for a hot shower, Ben Gay, Motrin, etc. Running up and down a hill 20 times in
a day and running over and around dead soldiers and horses is tiring. Especially so on a
full stomach, as you do not lack for eating. Full breakfast, great lunch, and any snack
you could think of mid morning and late afternoon. Late today we had Buffalo wings,
pork barbecue, fresh fruit and 30 more items. Some of this is to keep people coming
back.
Left home at 4:10 am and got to the site a little late at 5:00 am and got home at 7:30 PM.
Well, there is so much to say and tell but will have to come at a later day.

2. Day 3 - I die, I comeback, I save Mel, I fall, and am congratulated, I act with the stunt
men, I hurt.
I did get to stand 3 ft back of Mel. Mel runs 3 ft, I run 6 ft and in a single clash of
muskets I knock a Redcoat down coming at us and save Mel so he can charge the hill. In
the same scene, I did take a slight tap in the head with a musket barrel. I hate to think of
real war as it hurt.
We cannot talk to Mel or the directors, so as not to disturb their concentration. Mel
smokes, and is funny. It is hard work as in another scene Mel has to remember moves to
take out 4 Redcoat stunt men, flips, etc.
I am there always looking to get my face on screen for you all to enjoy this summer.
Often we work with Mel's double to develop scenes. They had the stunt men pair off for
a big hand-to-hand fight...Mel needed a reason to stop at a point and although we are not
to talk - I said how about a dead Militia, i.e. me. They bought into it, started it with me,
but replaced me with a real dummy.
I do make the scene and am 30, 40 and 50 feet from the three cameras; I am to die at the
hands of the last Redcoat, whom Mel flips over the dummy (my job that I was replaced
from).
Now the day before I watched Mel throw a Redcoat stunt man down 10 flights of real
concrete stairs and over a few real bricks about 4 - 5 times as Mel slipped in one take.
Every one was amazed at the stunt man that never showed any pain and did not have any
real padding. The edges of the steps were rounded like they do in most fancy buildings,
but still concrete is hard.
I am half down at the start of the scene so I do not have far to fall, and I have nice soft
long field grass to fall on. On the first rehearsal, my musket pouch buckle turns sideways
and I land on it between two of my ribs with it faced on its edge, the pain shot through
my side. I could not figure out why it hurt so much until I put two and two together. I
rolled in pain, gathering all my strength to say I was OK, as I was not going to miss
having my face looking into the camera, (I am writing with Ben Gay)
Remember you all should have a good shot of my butt going up the stairs stepping over
the fallen Redcoat stunt man. If they show the pan shot, you will not see my face and a
month of pain will be of no avail. Being a stunt man is not my calling, as I cannot take a
two-foot fall on soft grass.
Early in the morning, I did fall by mistake and was praised for it. I may have looked like
Walter Payton falling, running and making it 7 yards over the goal line. With a 13 # long
musket, instead of my short 10 # carbine musket I had the first two days, I made what
seemed like 6 yards before I hit the ground somewhat like Bambi on ice. Some how I
think I tumbled too, as I amazed my self, as I did not even lose my hat. I look bad enough
with the hat and terrible in my black wig. They said it was great ad-libbing and you may

3. get to see it. When you are really running for your life milliseconds seem like minutes,
but I could not say for sure that I tumbled. Hopefully they will show it in slow motion.
We do film at different camera speeds. A faster speed will project as slow motion.
This scene we did about 6 takes at two or three angles. I went across the screen some
times in the first wave of Militia, or the second and initially the third. I want you to see
me and was hauling butt so I could beat them saying, “Cut, Cut”. I was somewhat
blinded by the smoke you almost always have to run through, then a mortar going off in
front of me, and had to make a quick turn down hill so as not to catch the butt of a horse
backing up and missing writing my adventures. Blinded and with my life in danger, I
tried to be Walter Payton but came up a little short of the goal line but lived to tell about
it.
Tonight I could have almost passed for a black person as I ran through my share of
mortars today. This is a whole other story, along with staying alive from 5 am to 5 PM in
30 - 40 degree weather with a breeze that furled our flags,
Hair, make up, craft, war and death...and it is way past my bedtime
Militia Man....
Day 4 - Blood and Sweat
We fired our guns and the British kept coming
We fired once more and they began to run
They ran through the briars
They ran through the bushes
They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch em
Today it started out at 28 degrees but thank goodness we did not have the wind that we
had yesterday. We can wear anything we can fit under our costumes. I have knickers
with long socks, a blouse shirt, a long vest, a coat and three-corner hat. I can only fit my
long johns under, as my costume did not have much extra room.
Some poor fellows that have been filming a while may only have a shirt or a shirt and
vest. Through campaigns shoots we have to wear the same thing. Having just a shirt is
not bad as they are loose and you can wear something easily under it. But the vests are
tight, so some of those fellows have to be very cold.
My first day I mistakenly got a pretty black bow in my pony tale, since then I have had a
piece of leather. The Militia is a motley crew, my clothing is not torn but many of us
have patched and carefully torn clothing to look the part.
The Redcoats and the Continentals except for being dirty are dressed smartly. We all
have to be dirty whether we like it or not. Each day one Makeup Artist covers our

4. fingernails and hands with dirt. Another does our ears and neck. Then we go to another
area to get our face done depending on the script for that day. Heavy dirt meant heavy
fighting that day. They love us with about 4-6 days growth of beard, which I have.
Next we get our wigs put on, leave the make up tent to get our clothes dusted with dirt.
We then draw our props and weapons and are taken by bus about a half-mile to the
bottom of the battlefield. We then walk about a half-mile up the hill to the battlefield and
ruins.
I did well today as you hopefully you will get to see my profile.
Mel is running out the main ruin, which is a 3 story bombed out building with 10 steps
stairs on one side and 8 step stairs on the other side. What we call the ruins is a building.
The ends of the building, most of the columns and about 20% of the building remain.
The base is real brick about 3 feet up, the next 30 plus feet is rubber brick walls that look
real. This was done, as the walls are about 4 feet thick. Real bricks are scattered inside
and all away around the ruin.
At first I intended to get behind Mel and the stunt men and go through the center of the
building. In the first practice I realized how hazardous it was, especially with my sore
ribs, so I opted to take a path around the building and away from the bricks. This turned
out to be where the cameras set up. We shot about three angles and ways of us running
and fighting past the building. The first one, I and others have a musket clash with a few
Redcoats and they take off running and when we reach the other side we face the main
Redcoat force where we form ranks to exchange a volley of shot and then charge.
The next take we are to kill a few Redcoats found at the ruins and then run into the line of
the main force. The last take was largely a big hand-to-hand combat with the main force.
Most scenes we run through 2-3 rehearsals and then two or more takes. If it is involved,
we do half speeds, full half speeds and then maybe a rehearsal before the take.
In the first shot some of the Militia ran passed the retreating Redcoats, rather
embarrassing and “Cut! - Cut! – Cut!”
In most scenes they say kill or be killed. If your musket does not go off when it is
supposed to then you are to die (as it would look funning firing without smoke). With
stuntmen bodies flying, we cannot predict that what we practiced works out. This is
especially true with mortars, horses and stunt men misdirecting you. Actually we had
one stunt lady. When dressed, she could pass as a woman or a man. Yes, women fought
in the war.
On the second scene where we are to take out the Redcoats, I take out my Redcoat only
to find a Redcoat needing to be killed by the expression on his face. I assumed his
partner missed him in one of the explosions. So I take him out and get passed by the

5. second and main wave of Militia. I doubt if the camera was on me or could even see me,
but in the confusion catching up with our main force fighting the Redcoat main force I
blew a bubble with my bubble gum, instantaneously realizing my mistake. Craft provides
such a variety of food and snacks you would think that would be one of the last things
they offer. The food is another story.
Most scenes are very short so it is easy to keep your battle face on, as much as you
sometimes want to laugh.
On the third scene, make up comes out and puts sweat on my face and a little blood on
my hand before we do the take. Some times we stop in our half speed positions, so the
camera and directors can see our positions. Since I am generally within 10 to 15 feet of
the camera I hope I make the picture. I hope the sweat and blood was a good sign. The
camera is moving with us on a rail, so depending on events I may or may not be position
with the camera.
I did want to touch on what I have been calling mortars which are cannon shells. We
have 3 different types. They are set off in thick steel pans about the size of a
wheelbarrow. They fill them with peat moss and a 1 to 4 inch thick piece of dark
corkboard, which breaks into big hunks to look like pieces of dirt when the mortar is set
off. If these are in the direct view of the camera they are covered with straw.
The next, have white bentonite clay and I assume gunpowder in them, when they go off
they shoot sparks and what appears to be smoke from the clay. These are the worst to run
through as you choke on the smoke and the dust burns.
The next is the big ones that shake the earth. In one scene we shot near the camera
trucks, they rolled the windows down so as not to blow them out from the concussion.
I wish I had time to do this justice, but again it is way past my bedtime.
Day 5 - We filmed the closing scene and I may have rewrote the ending, get inches from
Mel and scare Lord Tavington - Jason Issacs.
Contrary to the write up I sent you taken form the web ... we start at 4:30 to 5:00 AM and
the food is great.
I am in the closing scene as a dead Militia on the steps of the ruins. I am laying over a
broken 3' diameter and 3' high column, dead, while the stunt men do flips, etc., on the
concrete steps. You may get a great view of my butt again.
At the same time, Lord Tavington - Jason does a flip off his horse. Jason and Mel -
Benjamin Martin, then have the final scene where Mel kills Jason. Jason, the Redcoat
Commander, had killed Mel's son and wife so this was the touching semisweet revenge
and somewhat ending scene of the movie.

6. This scene was made in three sequences. First Jason’s stunt double is on the front of a 4
wheel Kawasaki ATV. He is driven towards the building at near full speed, then the
driver steps on the brakes and Jason's stunt man goes flying through the air and does a
flip. This gets him in the scene with me with my butt hanging over the column.
Next Jason's double is on a horse mannequin on railroad type tracks. The horse is shot
down the tracks, where the end of the tracks stops the horse precisely as a mortar goes off
in front of it. The horse, which once was a real horse, is designed to do a tuck and roll
while again Jason flies through the air and tumbles while Mel's stunt man is there at the
end of the tracks. When they recover from the fall and mortar shell they can begin the
fight to the death.
Since I was held over for lunch, I got to eat with the crew. Wonderful spiced jumbo
shrimp cocktail all you wanted and a nice piece of salmon covered with cappers. I turned
down filet of red snapper that looked great, sort of beef kabob, and a chicken dish. I also
had salad and some cooked vegetables.
Having done this, I initially missed the third view or scene where Mel and Jason go at it.
Doing so, I had an opportunity to be near the director’s tent and watch the three camera
monitors recording what the three cameras were shooting. From here they make the
decision when the scene becomes a take or rap. It was interesting to see and hear Mel,
Jason and the director’s talk about the scene and make improvements.
Since this is the final scene, but not our final day of shooting, everyone wanted it to be
perfect. All of us except a few others and I were in the scene fighting as a background.
They may have did the scene a dozen times to get us positioned right, for Mel and Jason
to have it perfect, and for the directors to try different effects.
I saw they needed me, as the directors had some of the soldiers running across and then
back across the screen primarily as blurs and/or wipes for the Mel and Jason fight. So I
go stand with a group of guys that I have done several scenes with, hoping to get into the
next take and our director puts me in the scene. Now I run across the screen for three
takes with no problems.
The forth time, the director changes my angle slightly. We are going in waves of 2 or 3
at his cue. I take off on cue. I have to be fast, as it is a quick 75 feet dash with no real
space to accelerate my 250# butt.
As I turn to look forward, having watched for my cue, I see Jason on the ground in front
of me. I am somewhat running into the setting sun, have some peat moss in my left eye
and no glasses. I was real lucky to see him, as previously I only had to worry about other
soldiers being sent in from 4 angles running across the this area.
With a single long stride and jump I cleared Jason, whom may have thought it was over
(Jason and Mel are not big men). I did not see Mel, but I knew the scene and a few of my

7. buddies told me, had Mel not seen me and held up his attack with his pistol to beat Jason,
I would have took Mel out.
Although this maybe my first blooper, (well ignoring the bubble gum) I am eager to see if
they use it as Jason surely had the fear of God on his face. Unfortunately in the heat of
the battle I did not see Mel's face and am lucky I did not put Mel in the hospital with the
end of my musket barrel. I had my short musket today and really think had I had the long
musket I would have had the length to take out Mel. (In the scene that I am always three
feet or less from Mel clashing with the Redcoat coming at Mel someone did loose his two
front teeth and if you remember I got hit on the back of the head. Fortunately injuries of
this type are extremely rare, but we have had numerous broken and bruise ribs, which I
am one along with cut hands, etc.)
Needless to say we did another take with less of us running across, about 8 others and I
were removed from the scene.
Earlier in the day we had a big battle scene with all of us. Two rows of us clash, the back
row of Militia is to shoot the gap and take out the Redcoats second line. Well, I because
of numbers and position always take out two of them and sometimes a third Redcoat or
get taken out by the third by a sword from a Redcoat General or a Dragoon who has the
angle on me. Most of the Redcoats are size 40, and I am, 46. It is natural that I win
musket clashes with someone 100 # +/- less and sometimes 6 inches shorter than me.
Especially, in this scene where we are to kill all the Redcoats except those that run from
battle.
We rehearse some, but with all of us tight together and most of the Redcoats falling many
things can change -- hence we have scenes where we are told kill or be killed. So if you
slip or have the wrong angle on someone and even though you were to kill him you are
killed and someone else will kill the one who killed you. The sword from the floating
Redcoat General was a surprise and fortunately I landed with only part of my hand in the
left overs of a previously scooped up pile of horseshit. Fortunately they have people on
horses constantly scooping it up, I assume you are not supposed to have horseshit in a
battle.
Going down with sore ribs was not easy but I was able to because of the angles and dead
s somewhat tripping me. You will have to see the movie.
I cannot wait to tell you more...but now it is way past my bedtime.
(Day 6 I took an HTML class so I can have my own website - most stars do.)
(Day 7 - Saturday, is our off day for people to catch up on life.)

8. Day 8 Sunday
Surprisingly we worked almost all day again on the ending. Originally Mel was to kill
Jason with the tip of the flag - Old Glory. They decided against that, so now it is a longer
more involved fight. Mel has a pistol, Tommy hawk and a knife. Jason has a sword.
Luck was not for me today. We had to do long hand to hand combat. Unfortunate after
about 6 takes, my partner, Pat, fell on his canteen and bruised his ribs and left for the day.
Pat is an up and coming, soap actor. He has had a few small parts in several movies and
the biggest was in Carie II. This film is an important thing for his resume. After filming
here he has a contract to go to New York to do soap operas. We have a few other such
actors.
Since I was in the scene I had to return as a dead Militia for another 6 takes.
Unfortunately I was in the back with 4 mortars around 180 degrees of me.
In next scene I was down wind of a mortar. When I saw myself in a mirror in make up at
the end of the day, I looked black. I looked like I had worked the whole day in a
coalmine.
In this next scene I was used as a wipe. I run across in front of two of the three cameras
filming Jason and Mel's final scene. You will see me as a blur across the screen. We
also film at different speeds so Mel and Jason can go at 3/4 speed and the film later will
be "sped up" making it look very fast and natural.
You have to move fast in this scene and at the end jump a set of camera tracks, as the
third camera was a moving camera. We did lose one extra, when he did not clear the
track and did a belly flop.
Our final scene was only practice of us chasing the Redcoats in the sunset and celebrating
our victory.
I do want to tell you about the reanactors. These are the guys that do this for fun on
holidays, etc. Many of them work weekends at historical sites, write books, etc. They
are from all over, Alaska, Texas, California, Wyoming, Montana and almost all the
states. Some have been in a dozen films. I would guess only half are from North and
South Carolina. Almost all come with there own clothes and props in hopes of getting
seen in the movie and to have something to talk about between takes.
One fellow sewed his own clothes from hand made, naturally dyed fabric. He was a nice
fellow and slept primitive at the sites campgrounds. When I say primitive this was
between two small blankets and maybe a tent. Many of the guys do camp from primitive
to tents that are maintained at 65 deg F when it is 25 degrees out.
Our horses came from Montana. These horses have been trained not react to the mortars.
They do well, but all of us jump a little sometimes when they go off. Horses are a heard

9. animal. I am surprised they do not act sad to all the dead horses we have. Again these
are foam filled complete hides of once live horses.
This was a long day, and I am beat. Wish I had time to tell you more.
Militia Man
Day 9 - This film is supposed to be a big success. Robert Rodat who also wrote
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN writes the script.
We have spent $100 million so far and still have a month or more of filming down in
Charleston, SC. (I ate two packages of cashews, about a half a dozen beef jerky strips,
cookies, a granny smith apple, 3 oranges, a bag of fritos, a couple of cokes, a piece of
cheese and a banana as part of today snacks. I do not eat dinner when I come home, as I
am full.)
Today was an early start; we filmed at a site about 5 miles away. Again a big field
largely surrounded with woods. The site had a 300 to 400 plus old oak tree.
It was a good day; I do not think anyone got hurt. The Redcoats have taken a beating and
are sensitive to too much roughness. We were set well before sunrise and rehearsed
under a 12,000-watt lamp behind a light blue semi reflective cloth screen. They use these
to reflect the sun on us or to put lights of various wattage behind them depending on the
time of day, scene, etc. The scene was our camp. It was impressive to drive up to the site
in the dark and see all these tents, many with lights in them. Soon we had campfires, a
combination of real wood, corkboard (I think for smoke) and a propane ring.
Smoke was hard on the eyes. They love smoke, very few if any shots are shot without it.
They have four plus ways of making smoke. Also, you cannot buy peat moss in the local
area as we bought out everyone. They like that too.
I got lucky again. I am starting to think they like the way I look and/or act. I thought I
was just going to sit on a barrel in direct line with the camera -- of course I grabbed that
position. An aspiring actor and I got to walk on camera about 50 feet on camera. This
could be my longest time on camera as most of our shots are 10 seconds. We cross right
behind Tcheky Karyo or Major Jean Villeneuve - the French Commander.
In another take of the same scene I am a blur or a wipe walking 7 feet in front of the
camera. This was a scene before we were to go to battle in much of the fighting I
previously described.
We then went to another site, which was a farm. Only to be pulled back to our main site
where we waited for several hours, had an early lunch and returned to the site of the ruins
where we filmed a volley clash with the Redcoats. With a lot of luck you may see my
back and side again.

10. In the volley we kill their General that causes confusion with the Redcoats, as no one was
readily available to give the word to fire. He takes a musket ball in the skull, complete
with blood exploding from his head. You get squib pay for this and automatic induction
into SAG, the Screen Actors Guild. Movie people have a lot of unusual names for things.
The stunt guys are amazing. You could hear the explosion go off and we did at least
three takes. I am sure his head is ringing tonight.
Most of the Militia had to stay over and we filmed a training exercise of us all firing our
muskets in a tight pack of two lines as part of our training by the French Commander.
Cinders and smoke blanket us. After the French General told us how well we did, we got
to celebrate in front of the camera. I was at one point directly across from the General
but I doubt you will be able to see me. It turned cold as we filmed this in the setting sun.
I held my musket barrel for warmth after each firing.
Cannot wait to tell you about the union, make up, hair, wardrobe, etc.
Day 10 - It was a good day, I really hope that you really get to see and recognize me.
Today we filmed two more angles of the fight scene with Mel and Jason. We almost
always do 8 to 10 takes so this should be a good one. Now Mel takes a bayonet. Jason
has a collapsible one that looks real. Next you see Mel with the bayonet through his side
about 3 to 4 inches from the edge of his body. It goes directly in the front and out the
back. I assume it is somewhat like the Steve Martin arrows.
I start the scene again running by Mel and Jason. After two takes I am taken out and put
in the ruins. Not knowing what to think, I soon was pleased to find myself coming out of
the ruins and standing on the 4th step from the top, 175 feet from the camera. There are 7
other Continentals. As Mel, kills Jason the camera is to zoom up to us where we
celebrate defeating the Redcoats as they run away.
We did about 6 or more takes with everyone. We have three groups come out each of the
3 front doors chasing after the turned Redcoats. The second wave comes out 8 beats later
with one of the Continentals waving the flag in celebration. I am to his left and in front
of part of the flag as he waves it, as we have near entanglements with my musket raised.
Needless to say I was thinking of you. We then did about 4 takes with just the final 8 of
us. A large peat moss mortar goes off in the building just as the 8 of us scramble to step
up about 12 inches and come out of the building. These mortars add realism sometimes
naturally as you scramble for safety. Taking my shower tonight I notices a light 2-inch
diameter black and blue mark on my biceps. Although I never felt it, I am almost certain
it was a musket barrel from a Continental escaping the mortar blast. In the walk through
I am the 3rd/4th man out with 4 behind me who are all nearer the mortar and serve as a
buffer for me. The Continentals consisted of 1 teacher and 6 ROTC High School kids.

11. We worked through lunch filming the shot alone, as it was a 200 plus man battle scene.
The director then wanted the flagman to run back and forth on the top of the steps. The
flag caught a little on me and I was removed from the scene and told I could go to lunch.
Well you have to take rejection. I left sad, walking alone down to the hill for lunch.
When I got back, I found they never filmed the scene, only rehearsed. If they use the
scene, and I am not digitally removed you will see my face or at least musket and hand
for several seconds. In movie time, several seconds is a long time in this film.
Some shots like this, they take 35mm and Polaroids of us, so if they want to repeat the
shot they can pull the same people back in. With ROTC gone, they will have to
completely refilm this scene. I am hoping that you do get to see me in the closing
minutes of the movie.
In the afternoon we shot another angle. Now I am running 20 to 30 feet behind Mel and
Jason chasing the Redcoats and getting to celebrate with my back to the camera as they
run off into the setting sun. (Filming with the low sun angle of winter makes the whole
day seem like the same time.) In the initial 5 takes or so I had to run into the sunset
behind the Redcoats. Needless to say, my legs are sore and tired. Running across an
uneven field is tiring.
If all goes well you could see me in the Mel and Jason fight scene from the front the back
and side.
The scene was a little hard as we had to be excited and yell without making a sound as
Mel and Jason has dialogue 100 ft away.
Last Thursday I lost my hat. Thursday in particular my hair was a mess from all the
mortars. Being in several scenes the hair and make up people are on set watching - one
in particularly with binoculars. I have been touched up several times. When I had my
hat, 4 or 5 bobby pins held my hair in. Today I had about 12, got special treatment with
some of my real hair brought out and sprayed black. When I got out of the chair and
could really see myself. I sung to myself, I feel pretty, I feel pretty (with 10 days growth
of beard). Sunday they did trim up my beard a little so as not to have a distinct line at the
face and the start of the beard.
Day 11 - A Day of cheering and chasing the Redcoats out of town and on the horses
they road in on.
We started the day filming the scene on the steps. Instead of 8 there was 80. The
Continentals took center stage. This upset a lot of us Militia as we fought as hard and felt
we were the ones the audience would relate most to.
The Militia primarily ran towards the camera from the sides of the ruins. They did fire 10
mortars simultaneously -- fortunately they were all behind us.

12. We do not know if this will be in part of the final scene or to celebrate the battle we won
last week.
Next Mel and Jason go at it to the death. Again I run behind Mel and Jason about 12 to
15 feet. We are all eager to play the film in slow motion and see how many places we
can be at one time. Some of these will flow, some will not. But since we will be seen in
seconds, only we would notice.
You can see that Mel, Jason and the Directors want this to be perfect. I can kill 3
Redcoats in 12 - 15 seconds with single musket blows or kill 2 and be killed in the same
time. Mel is like Rocky and just won't die.
Mel is about dead, gathers all his strength and stops Jason by raising a musket. The
musket is at a 45-degree angle wedged in the ground to stop Jason’s charge and sword.
Mel then pulls the bayonet out of his side and runs it through Jason.
In the next scene we chase the Redcoats and the horse mounted Green Dragoons down
the hill. We run way down the hill or half ways depending on the month of our birthdays
then stop and cheer. Fortunately being lucky for those that know me, on two calls of
months I only had to run half way down the hill. (I will add that to my list of winnings
and by the way at the Panthers - Falcons game I was two for two throwing the football
through the hole again and won dinner for two at The Spaghetti Warehouse.) Some of
our cheering is real, some we have to pantomime. Celebrating is easier if you can really
yell, but this is all part of being an actor.
We did three scenes running down the hill -- different angles, etc., with the French
Commander cheering. Some takes we had 10 plus mortars go off in front of us. Some
we had to reset before the dust cleared, running both the old and young in the ground.
We had to work through lunch doing this until 3:15 or so.
Some times we split the groups and have two scenes filming simultaneously in different
areas. It was our half that did not get lunch. I went down where the actors and crew eat
and got a steak and piece of barbecue chicken.
They have a chef with a very nice barbecue/stove/oven maybe 8’ wide x 16’ long and can
feed a small army. It is towed behind a custom step type van, which is a
kitchen/refrigerator on wheels.
Quickly between shots I had a very small piece of pecan pie and a handful of shelled
pistachios. I did miss one take eating the steak but they really ran our butts off today. A
few of the guys had to sit out a few of the scenes as they were worn out.
Tomorrow we have to be in a half-hour early as we are going to Fort Carolina about 10
miles away in Chester, SC. This is welcomed by all, as many of us could not run by Mel
and Jason again. Unless I sign on to go to Charleston, my career should end Friday.
Every thing is day to day, and no one really knows. We are really treated well, but

13. sometimes we feel like animals not being told anything and specially today with the Bull
Horns yelling reset, reset.
There is so much to tell, but my butt will be dragging tomorrow. I apologize for my
grammar, but best to send something then nothing.
Militia Man
Day 12- We walk into Fort Carolina and celebrate the British White Flag and get to
see George Washington.
For those of us that had not been to Fort Carolina it was a field day of picture taking.
You could see almost a hundred 30, 40 and 50 year olds turn into kids in this neat Fort
and encampment. The Fort was again on a hill again with a dry moat around it. It was
constructed of earthen embankments made from 4 ft plus high 2 plus feet wide woven
baskets filled with earth. It had log spikes sticking out and a Battlefield of scorched earth
and props.
Early most of us had to be wounded, something new to some of us. Freshly wounded we
take pictures of our buddies and us with the Fort as the background. I requested a head
wound, hoping to get a close up on my face. A leg or arm wound you might not
recognize, but my face would be cool. All the wounded had Polaroid's taken to present to
the director, hopefully he will select me and you will have another chance to see me.
Our first scene was to walk into Fort Carolina. Since we filming only one location and
we are winding down we had a surplus of PA's and AD's. Production Assistants and
Associate Directors for you who are not movie stars, just kidding. One of our PA's that
directs the Militia is barely capable for the job. Directions sometimes are conflicting and
we often save his butt by doing what we know is best. He then says, that is how he
wanted it.
Not to pick on females, but we have a few PA's that are "know it all's." All the PA's and
AD's have earphones, microphones and radio's taking their keys from Roland or David.
The whole Fort was busy with a surgery table, people at tents and campfires, mollies
(very friendly female camp followers), the French Army and the Continental's - firing the
cannons, moving things about, marching, etc.
They line us up and we rehearsed a couple of times. They then "re" line us up. We were
told to bunch up, lengthen out, tighten up, and flare out, etc. - all conflicting things. After
being run into the ground yesterday and knowing tomorrow is most likely our last we
could not help busting out laughing. We were the core group of Militia that had largely
fought, shot and run together. Since we are often dismissed for lunch and the end of the
day together, we know what it is like to walk a half-mile to lunch and a mile back to
camp together.

14. When we walked in, we were to pretend we were talking to each other and surprised to
see the French Army in their powder blue uniforms, things in the Fort, etc. Sometimes
they record us, some times we have to pantomime. We knew that we were not being
recorded and what they wanted, so 40 or so of us walked in, saying bunch up, flare out,
tighten up, lengthen out and had to gather all our acting abilities and strength not to
laugh. On the second rehearsal we repeated it and could not help cracking up. A couple
of the troublesome AD's learned a little lesson and took it well as they joked back their
instructions and of course some of the confusion was not their fault but the fault of the
Director running the show from the video monitors. Hopefully we taught Roland
something too. After a few more takes the Director was satisfied with us walking in.
Today's rumor mill had us at $170 million and with all the takes of some of the simplest
things I can understand. Someday we get $15 extra for smoke pay, and $15 for other
things as I have several $15 smoke days and one of the day I got $30 extra but not sure
for what. Maybe it was for my legendary fall.
Today was not a smoke day even though we had to walk past the biggest cannon firing.
They do issue us flesh colored earplugs if we so wish.
In the next scene we get to watch from the walls of the Fort, a battle just as George
Washington and 6 officers ride in to meet Mel. The battle was a pretend battle as we
were primarily shooting Mel and George. The Redcoats surrender right after George and
Mel exchange greetings. There is a chance you will see my head wound in this scene as I
am next to one of George's Officers horse.
Tomorrow it could rain, so it could a short day, or a wet day that we regret or have fun in
depending on temperature and wind.
Today I had some sunflower seeds. Often I pet one horse somewhat at random sometime
during the day. Well, this one was sucking the salt off my hands. At first I was worried
it was going to bite me, but he/she was content at just sucking the salt off them along
with my coat.
Well, up again 30 minutes early as we have to be bleed and be bandaged.
Militia Man
Day 13 - Movie Star out of Work.
It was a bittersweet day with this perhaps my first and only movie. Mel did talk to
another fellow and me. We were near him and he commented on all the peat moss from a
mortar going off and blowing on the three of us after a scene.
Did you know Mel was apparently once a chiropractor? He often works on people on the
set, his stunt man and the female crew.

15. This morning we shot George Washington's entrance from a different angle. This time
the camera was on tracks rolling by us. George, rather than being actually on his horse as
yesterday is staged to walk up and meet Mel. We see him as a dollar bill on a board
being carried by a DA, a few feet behind and above the camera. We were to look at the
dollar bill or "George Washington." If the others and I did our part of being excited,
well, you may get to see my face again for a second or two.
Next we had two hours of rain. I was able to escape to one of the two partially bombed
and burned buildings in the Fort. I assume many others took refuge in tents or got wet
getting down the hill to the main tents.
The Redcoats really had some great scenes as we had two units shooting. Approaching
from the South and East you would see an American/French Fort. Approaching from
North and West you would see a British Fort. "Both" Forts were being used
simultaneously. We had a lot of cannon fire from "both" Forts. The British even burned
some of the tents and had stuntmen flip out of the Fort from mortar shells going off. It
was very impressive.
We again celebrate a defeat of the British after we fire off three cannons almost
simultaneously. For safety all of us could not be near the cannons. Firing into the wind
we had a lot of cinders and burnt/burning wadding coming back on us. This and the
mortars made for an impressive scene. I ran in with the stunt men to climb on top of the
earthen Fort walls to fight then celebrate the British Defeat.
It was a matter of who was crazy enough to run in after the cannons sprayed their burning
waste material and the smoke blowing back at you. I suffered a few minor coat burns and
perhaps a wig burn. Another fellow did have his wig catch on fire. I then pretend to fire
and reload my musket (they do not like us to run and climb with a loaded muskets) from
there until we get the signal to celebrate the British defeat.
You should see me on the "camera left", firing, reloading waving, celebrating and being
joined by two Continentals. During some takes I was quick to get to my position and
they set off a mortar. The wind, elevation and timing was right such that it seemed like
all of the four cubic feet peat moss charge rained down on me. I had to tuck down as a
natural reaction to this. If the camera could see me through the rain of peat moss it could
be a cool shot. Between this and my "fall" I am hoping for an Oscar for my stunt acting.
The late morning rain messed up lunch. We had to be taken by van down to the bottom
of the hill and across the road to a site for lunch. Being our last day in Chester, the
"crew" had an extra special lunch. The extras and reanactors had to wait for a lunch.
Well, a few of us got tired of waiting and moved into the crew's food tent. I had about 6
to 8 oz. of lobster and 4 to 6 oz. of scallops, a somewhat oriental chicken vegetable dish,
cooked fresh green and yellow beans, a little bit of Caesar Salad, fresh pineapple and a
piece of raspberry pie.

16. Fort Carolina was set up with more electrical power and along with the two relative
complete somewhat water proof buildings they could do more for "on set" "crew" snacks
and meals. The building I took refuge in during the rain, was complete with an
espresso/cappuccino/latte machine.
In the afternoon I got two pockets full of carrots and made myself popular with a couple
of the horses. One was named Cochise.
Ex Militia Man - My last day. Will write an epilogue on make up, hair, wardrobe soon as
promised. The Charlotte Magazine may even publish my diary -- wow, from Actor to
Writer.
Epilogue
The Patriot will be released June 30, 2000. The writer wrote Private Ryan. Mel Gibson
received $25 plus million for the film. It is anticipated to surpass Private Ryan and
maybe Titanic. Although I can see Private Ryan, it is hard to surpass a love story like
Titanic.
The Charlotte Magazine Current Issue, a very nice magazine, is doing an article on The
Patriot and they will use some or part of my diary.
I am writing some of the things I wanted to write but did not have time for because of the
long days of filming.
My first time on film.
The first day on set I joined other Militia in front of the cameras, wanting so much to be
seen in on film. They had rehearsed the day before and were largely reanactors. We
formed ranks for a volley with the Red Coats as the morning sun was rising. Everyone
knew who was to fall on the exchange of volley.
Not all of us are issued gunpowder to fire. As much as they love smoke you would not
be able to see if we were to all fired our muskets and/or rifles in close quarters. When the
volley went off, I heard the dropping of men. Twenty per cent of those standing by me
fell and hit the ground. I could feel the vibration in the ground and I just realized what
this and other wars must have been like. I realized that death and destruction can occur in
seconds and was so immediate. It is a feeling I will not forget. All of you that have
fought in a real war, my hat goes off to you. Hopefully, next 4th of July you will think of
me and say a little pray for all the men that were so courageous in facing death for our
freedom.

17. The Reanactors
The reanactors were very interesting. Many worked part time for pay or free in our
historical places. Many spent a lot of time reading, learning and acting the part. The one
fellow that made his clothes also had the fabric hand woven and dyed with natural roots,
etc., from the period.
He showed me his hand stitching. It was as evenly spaced as any machine. He spoke
with such pride and with such detail there was no question that he did it. I wish we
would have seen more of him but I think we lost him to the cold as he camped primitive
according to the period while I was in my bed with a heating pad.
Wardrobe
We had two young attractive women, an older seamstress, a young gay fellow, and two
other men. It was a little bit of an excitement to dress in front of the attractive women.
They wandered amongst us, largely tying ties for the Continentals and Red Coats in the
morning and at night making sure we had hung our wardrobe in an exact order and way
on the racks, in exchange for a coupon. Believe me, we were looked over to be correct in
our dress, no T-shirts showing, etc.
Coupons are used for issuing and returning wigs, weapons, props, wardrobe, etc. You
would start the day getting your coupons and end the day turning in your coupons as a
condition of being paid.
After a few days the novelty wore off as soreness set in. We were given clean socks
daily. Shirts were washed weekly, plus. Pants and jackets were not washed. This was a
subtle way in getting us to act the part.
Wardrobe was set up as was make up and breakfast/check in/out in a circus type tents
with some portable heaters. They were reasonable warm, although some times we were
so cold it was hard to tell.
Make up
I was the second from the last hired and somewhat lucky to be hired in perhaps a group of
75 to 100 that had previously been qualified/selected. Most of us had to adjust to going
to bed 2 to 3 hours early and get up the same. Needless to say the body does not adjust to
time that quickly. So the first few days were rough.
You woke up in Make up as they played loud party, hip -- hop and rap music. The first
few days many of us were a little crazy, dancing and partially singing to the music. This
would warm you up and help get the body in gear as you soon maybe running across
some field.

18. Antibacterial waterless soap was issued as a sanitary precaution. Sunscreen was issued
(non-period), as they did not want us to suddenly have red faces.
Next a very smiling attractive woman would put wet Makeup clay on your hands, making
sure your fingernails were filled. Then an older man would do your neck. Depending on
that day's filming, we got more or less dirt.
Next we would get our wigs and then back to make up to have your face done. With a
few attractive make up artists, I developed a relationship with a young guy named Jason.
It was just a timing thing, of him being available and then it became tradition.
Hair
We had a dozen or more hairdressers. This was your time to have some real human
contact as they worked on your hair, made little tufts so you looked like Buckwheat. The
tufts would be used to secure your wig. They all had their ways of doing things and some
were better than others, in securing your wig comfortably. Since the wig process was
time consuming and we were always in a rush to get through, you would hope that your
hairdresser was good.
Exiting the Makeup tent you next got dusted with movie dirt or very fine powdered clay.
They actually had a few different types depending on your uniform. They loved us to be
dirty and during filming we could get redusted.
One of my first days of returning my wig, a woman was going to help me remove it but
was yelled at, as it was not her job. It was a union set so we dared not cross union lines.
Often we could remove most of our wig waiting in line. It was a matter of searching for
all the pins. Removing the rubber bans was difficult but could be done. Some times I did
in the drive back home as I carried a baseball cap -- something I only reserve for golf.
The better option was to have them cut out at the cost of a few hairs.
Props
These were in two tractor-trailers. We were allowed to walk through picking up a
canteen, Haber sack, magazine cartridge and if you had rank, a sword or were special a
drum, etc. Having just come from make up you were careful to accessorize. But often it
was a trade off for functionality. Wearing glasses it was good to have good fasteners to
take your glasses off put them in the magazine cartridge and close. Since you had to do
this frequently, occasionally you would take a black case instead of a well matching
brown case to my brown coat and vest. I never thought that I had black shoes and 90% of
the time I had a brown case. Oh, well, what is a girl to do when she has a brown outfit?

19. We were allowed British Haber sacks as the Militia could strip the bodies, etc. They had
GR on one side and one corner. The secret was to get a fairly clean one, with good
buttons and a good flap, as you would be carrying gloves, camera, and snacks in these.
Weapons
We somewhat got the same weapon each day. I was fortunate in getting a short carbine
musket. It was easier to carry on the bus and I did not have to carry a bayonet. It was
also about 2 pounds lighter. You could fight better and run across fields with it easier.
After injuring my ribs I did get a rubber musket for 2 days. Believe me a 1-2 pound
rubber musket was a welcome relief to an 11-13 pound one. On cold days a rubber
musket does not take the heat away as a wood and steel musket.
We would frequently have to ping the barrels so to prove we did not have powder in
them. At night we would have to oil our weapons with transmission oil before turning
them in. These muskets were authentic and would rust in a heartbeat.
Check Out
Check out was often a slow process. Generally we would have water, lemon aid and
gator aid available to drink. Of course this was a smoking tent, and after breathing peat
moss all-day and carrying your share of dust, it was a difficult time for some of us
sensitive to smoke, etc. At check out we would find out if the Director elected to give
bonuses such as smoke pay. I never completely understood as I took my share of smoke
every day but only got smoke pay a third of the time.
Each day we arrived in the dark and left in the dark. The drive home was one often with
the heater on high and one where you tried not to put a lot of effort in driving as it was
nice to sit on a comfortable seat and moving was difficult.
This was all done out of fun. I doubt if I will ever do again. It was a learning experience
on how to handle people. I did talk to a variety of people, some very religious, and many
were construction or seasonal workers. All had different stories, some were easy to talk
to, and some did not have too much to say. The cowboys seemed to stick together. Some
were interesting in talking to; some cared not to talk. We had people from more than half
the states, I am sure we had all the western states. It was amazing the people that traveled
so far to be in this film, to make money, to reenact, and/or to be part of the experience.
Ex Militiaman - I do hope that you can see the movie and read the book, well magazine.
It has been fun. I do hope I have given you a little insight to the movie business and life.
I am now a professional author as I am the feature article in the June 2000 issue of the
Charlotte Magazine and was paid $350 for it. The magazine is a lot like a flight
magazine focused on Charlotte. They have a picture of me and 2 ½ pages of my Diary.
Except for cutting things out, they did little editing.

20. Militia Man
From this experience I had chance to see the movie Gods and Generals about 8 months
before it came out. Gods and Generals is the prequel to Gettysburg.
I had chance to speak with the director Ron Maxwell for 20 minutes after the viewing
along with filling out an evaluation.
I saw essentially the released version and missed seeing the almost 4 hour version and
talking to Robert Duval whom I think would have been more interesting.
Gary