Actress shows versatility with on- & off-screen work

Actress shows versatility
with on- & off-screen work

Allison Baker

It may not have been a major role, or roles, but for one area resident a production company’s visit to Freehold provided an opportunity to learn firsthand what it’s like to be in the movies.

Allison Baker, 23, of Manalapan, who was one of more than 500 hopefuls who signed up at a July casting call for a walk-on part in the movie Grownups, can now add her new role to her growing résumé.

Grownups was filmed in Freehold Borough and at other locations around Western Monmouth County this summer.

"It was a courtyard scene," Baker said. "I played the part of one of the hot chicks walking by (actors) John Stamos and Daniel London. They’re older and married and realize they’re grownups looking at these hot-looking girls walking by. It kind of just goes to their heads. Basically, they just stare. They can’t believe that (one very important part of their) life is over."

The scene took several hours to film, according to the young actress, who said she loved being in that particular scene.

"It was adorable," she added.

Looking back on her experiences to date, Baker said, "I love the theater. I did some high school plays (and) I attended Lee Strasberg Theater Institute in New York.

Baker studied basic acting techniques, received speech and voice training, and learned movement techniques at the Strasberg Institute. She also attended the institute’s theater production workshop.

"I took every single acting class there was at Rutgers University without being a (theater) major, (and) I’ve done a lot of plays and a lot of scene work."

Baker’s résumé contains several theater roles. Her film credits as an extra include For Love of the Game and Today Will Be Yesterday Tomorrow.

The young actress also attended a performing arts program at Indiana University where she studied theater and dance.

Breaking into movies, theater or television is not an easy thing to do, according to the young actress.

"I’m hoping to somehow be discovered," Baker said. "I was just an extra in a commercial recently for Power Technology Wireless phone which took 19 hours to film just the part that I was in. I’m continuing to search for extra work in commercials or whatever is available.

"When I heard that Grownups was being produced in Freehold, I obviously jumped on that," she said. "I looked at this as an amazing opportunity because I’m very interested in a career in acting."

When Baker began with Bridge and Tunnel Productions, the company producing the film, she said her thought was focused only on being an extra.

When she spoke with the principals, Susan Rodgers, producer; Doug Finelli, director and co-writer; and Mitch Galane, writer and co-producer, they asked her why she only wanted to be an extra in a film since she had her mind set on a career.

Baker said she was told, "If you want to do this for a living and learn about the industry, help us if you have some free time."

The actress said she took that advice and believes the experience she had was "amazing."

Not only was she an extra in the film, but she was able to learn firsthand what happens behind the scenes. Baker worked as a production assistant and handled many of the daily tasks which occur in a film production office.

She then added the role of "extra" casting director to her accomplishments. Someone was needed to choose, assign and schedule all of the extras needed for the scenes in the film and she took on that role.

In the future, she intends to enroll in more acting classes, get an agent, find a casting director, get her photos distributed and most of all, she hopes that somehow she will be recognized.

Baker received a bachelor’s degree in communications from Rutgers University last May and is a 1995 graduate of Marlboro High School.