In 2007 I was cast as a thief to promote the uses of SmartWater.
SmartWater is invisible to the eye but when put through UV, really stands out. As this film was to show how affective the dye is, I was coated in the stuff. I actually borrowed the clothes from a friend as I had nothing vaguely “street” enough. The hoody, trainers, jeans and even my face and hands were covered in SmartWater. Can you imagine if I or my friend were stopped by the police and scanned. (However unlikely that scenario may be.) How would I explain that one? “I’m actually an actor, no honest!”
Luckily, the holding agent in the dye was removed for the film and the officers there did say it should be gone after one or two washes… They went through three cycles before I returned them to my friend. I totally forgot about his trainers though and it wasn’t until a few weeks later when we noticed them glowing in a nightclub!
I was actually in Gran Canaria when I was offered the job. When I was on location, I was informed by the G4S team that when they saw my picture they said “That’s the one, he looks like a thug.” That’s one of the great things about being an actor, you can assume characters and roles that are so different from your natural persona. I enjoy playing the bad guy from time-to-time as it’s so far removed from who I really am.
The hardest part of this job was the ‘snatch and grab’ from the G4S van. Sure it looks quick and easier in the video used by BBC News, but that shot was taken more than twenty times from several angels. That black case is extremely heavy and when running with it, it kept banging into my leg. I was battered and bruised for weeks afterwards. Crime really doesn’t pay!
But even with my injured legs and fluorescent clothes, I really enjoyed this shoot. As an actor, you are regularly just a body or voice for hire and you never know what to expect before the day. Luckily the team at G4S were great fun and I was really pleased with the end result. I make quite the convincing criminal. See for yourself in the video below.
#TerryGee