Donahue shares experience on Coen brother's film set

Donahue will appear as an extra in the first season of the Netflix series, “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” in the fifth episode, “The Gal Who Got Rattled.” The exact airdate has not been announced, according to Donahue. Until that time, she said she is restricted from sharing any photos of her in costume or any photos of the set. She has recorded the experience in a blog at: https://onthetrailwithbscruggs.wordpress.com/.

Donahue said the episodes in the series are unrelated and the title character Buster Scruggs, a singing cowboy, did not appear in the episode filmed in Nebraska. According to the IMDb website, the story of episode five follows a wagon train heading west and the relationship between the lead female and two trail bosses. When Donahue asked a crew member what the series was about she answered with a single word: Death.

After researching the opportunity and finding she qualified for the requirements of the casting call for women who look like an ordinary Nebraskan with long hair and no obvious highlights, Donahue attended the audition Aug. 1, 2017, at the Midwest Theatre in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The audition consisted of a photo attached to a sheet with the potential extra’s contact information, according to Donahue.

Of the 850 people who tried out, she received a text message about three weeks later saying she had been selected. Filming started Sept. 9.

Filming took place north of Scottsbluff, mostly on the west side of Highway 71. A plain yellow sign with black letters “PSP” which stands for Pan Shot Productions marked the turn off to base camp. Donahue said the temporary encampment of white semi-trailers and tents contained costumes, dressing rooms, catering facilities, lunchrooms, restrooms and filming equipment.

Of the many pleasant and helpful crew members Donahue met during the experience, she said Mary Zophres stood out.

“She’s an Academy Award nominated costume designer who has had her photo taken on the red carpet with the stars of movies like ‘True Grit’ and ‘La La Land’ and she remembered my name and that I was a teacher,” Donahue said.

Donahue was equally impressed with the attention to detail in makeup.

“The makeup artists put fake dirt under our fingernails to create a thoroughly authentic look,” Donahue said.

Donahue said a compliment from casting director Elizabeth Gabel was inspiring.

“She said we were the best extras she’s ever worked with,” Donahue said

Many hours were spent in holding, the term for extras who needed to be ready for action, but away from the main set and quiet when the cameras were rolling. Background was the main purpose of the extras. They were preparing wagons to move, making fires or cooking.

“The extras felt like family. We developed a close bond in ‘holding,’ at all times of day and night. One day it was 96 degrees and the only shade we had was the school bus we’d taken from base camp to the filming location,” Donahue said. “The cotton costume I wore was very heavy and the boots were hot, too,” Donahue said.

On the last day, the 40 or so extras drove themselves to another filming site closer to the North Platte River.

Other times, the cast filmed in the middle of the night when the weather was cold. Donahue took part in one evening dance scene around a campfire that she hopes makes the final cut.

Following each shoot, the extras were required to place their costume items in a specific order on a hanger in the costumer trailer. Donahue was identified as “Gal 112” during filming and a photo of her wearing the clothing was attached to the costume hanger.

Creature comforts for the extras were provided in the form of food trailers offering everything from energy drinks and candy bars to catered fruits, salads and grilled salmon. The restrooms were also first class with running water and other amenities of civilization, according to Donahue.

She snatched moments in the mobile cafeteria to grade papers and assigned her graphic arts students movie posters promoting “Buster Scruggs,” which were on display for the public during Donahue’s lecture.

By the time filming concluded Sept. 27, Donahue said she had gained new friendships and an increased knowledge of the film industry she was able to share with her students. She said the economic impact the production made on the Panhandle was impressive.

“It infused $1 million into the economy. That’s my pitch for the arts,” Donahue said.