ROMAN EMPIRE: REIGN OF BLOOD
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In December 2015, the members of Imperium-Romana worked as Roman film-extras on the Netflix docu-drama Roman Empire: Reign of Blood which was released in November 2016 as six episodes:
1. Born in the Purple: The emperor Marcus Aurelius fights in deepest darkest Germania, and tries to train his decadent son Commodus to succeed him. 2. The Making of an Emperor: The German tribes attack as Marcus Aurelius dies, leaving Commodus to abandon the war for the pleasures of Rome. 3. Enemy of the Senate: Commodus rises to power as Rome's new emperor, but there are plots against him, including his older sister Lucilla. 4. Rome Is Burning: Commodus defeats his sister's coup but withdraws from governing, allowing others to amass power while he engages in an affair and banishes his wife. 5. Fight for Glory: A disastrous grain shortage reveals Cleander's treachery and leaves Commodus isolated, inspiring him to train as a gladiator in a bid to unite Rome. 6. 14 Days of Blood: Lavish imperial games at the Colosseum are highlighted by the emperor's bloody victories, but his paranoid abuses of power lead to a final betrayal. |
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Brett was invited on set as a guest of Mike Edward (who plays the gladiator Narcissus) to meet the director, cast and film crew, and watch the filming of the big finale where Narcissus kills the mad emperor Commodus. This required a lot of input from the stunt-fighting instructor to get the bloody dramatic death scene just right. A week later, all Imperium-Romana members that wanted a job as Romans were out on site at Bethells Beach where the battle scenes in deepest, darkest Germania were filmed on location using the forest backdrop and smoke-machines for that eerie misty feel. Ben and Mitch, as big strapping lads, got the plum roles of playing Praetorian guards. The rest of us were covered in dirt as camp followers where our jobs consisted of providing background activity when the Roman army camp scenes were filmed. In between takes the make-up girls would hustle onto set to touch up our costumes by adding ever more dirt to us. We also provided Roman ballistas that were used as background props in the camp.
One funny incident on set occurred as we scruffy extras were all mulling about, waiting while the film crew conferred, when the director suddenly pointed at Dave and in a loud voice cried, "What about him?!" Dave was quickly grabbed and whisked off, only to return all scrubbed-up and looking resplendent as the Greek Doctor Galen, personal physician to the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. He really did look the part too, having the natural dignitas of a longtime schoolteacher, and got to schmooze with the starring cast, strutting like a peacock, and now sort of looking down his nose at us lowly dirty filthy background extras. Nah, only kidding, but we sure did rib him about it.
It was a great experience, and a lot of fun watching the completed series, while playing a game of who could we spot for the briefest of fleeting seconds on film as background extras with much laughter. Dave has a great scene as Doctor Galen mopping the emperor's brow, although he tells us that the jug was actually empty. Ben and Mitch do a lot of striding about behind the emperor as his personal bodyguards, gripping their sword hilts and looking fierce. The rest of us are usually carrying various objects - there's a great shot of Jason lugging a long barrel - or bowing as the imperial party passes by. Below are the pics that we have permission to share, and I highly recommend that you watch Netflix Roman Empire: Reign of Blood, narrated by Sean Bean, it's a wonderful show.
One funny incident on set occurred as we scruffy extras were all mulling about, waiting while the film crew conferred, when the director suddenly pointed at Dave and in a loud voice cried, "What about him?!" Dave was quickly grabbed and whisked off, only to return all scrubbed-up and looking resplendent as the Greek Doctor Galen, personal physician to the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. He really did look the part too, having the natural dignitas of a longtime schoolteacher, and got to schmooze with the starring cast, strutting like a peacock, and now sort of looking down his nose at us lowly dirty filthy background extras. Nah, only kidding, but we sure did rib him about it.
It was a great experience, and a lot of fun watching the completed series, while playing a game of who could we spot for the briefest of fleeting seconds on film as background extras with much laughter. Dave has a great scene as Doctor Galen mopping the emperor's brow, although he tells us that the jug was actually empty. Ben and Mitch do a lot of striding about behind the emperor as his personal bodyguards, gripping their sword hilts and looking fierce. The rest of us are usually carrying various objects - there's a great shot of Jason lugging a long barrel - or bowing as the imperial party passes by. Below are the pics that we have permission to share, and I highly recommend that you watch Netflix Roman Empire: Reign of Blood, narrated by Sean Bean, it's a wonderful show.
