Arrow vs. Jigsaw: My SAW 2 stint.

Last Updated on November 18, 2024

SAW was one of my fav films of 2004 (Haute Tension beat it for the top spot by an inch), so you can imagine how stoked I was to have locked a small part in the sequel (hitting the big screen in October 2005).

Although small, the role wound up sporting some weight to it where my feeble presence acted as a key plot turn in solving (to some degree) Jigsaw’s shenanigans…yes…I was honored. This journal will chronicle my 3 Days on the SAW 2 set.

DAY 1: PLAYING WITH MY PILLOW

I drove from Montreal to Toronto (6 hours) to be in this film (Thanks for the ride and the company Deko!). On my first day on set, my call-time was at 11 AM but I started shooting at 5PM. So what did I do with all that free time to kill? Well, I snooped around fervently. Jigsaw’s Lair was looking macabre sweet! He’s got some great toys!

I also did some glad-handing (met the film’s producers, the lovely Dina Meyer and the short on words Donnie Walhberg). I also bumped into Antonio Banderas (who was shooting Take the Lead in the lot next door) and mucho smoked cigarettes by the water front (The studio was right on the river). Having said that, my prominent occupation on that day was…SLEEPING!

I caught up on like 2 years of “Zzzzs” right there! Somebody told me a great analogy on that day (that belongs to Lee Majors of all people); “On set you get paid to wait…the acting is for free.” Well I got paid to sleep. I was finally woken up in the evening to do part of my scene; me walking in Jigsaw’s pad with my equipment filled briefcase and a team of two “techies” as back-up. We were called in to crack Jigsaw’s deadly game.

The bit of scene went well, not much to it really. I walked in with determination and an intense look on my face and that was that on that! Eat your heart out Johnny Depp! All jokes aside, I had a good time with it. It should be said that a shoot is always fun when you’re surrounded by good people and for the most part this gang was tops.

Random thoughts of the day:

Donnie Walhberg has a lot of emotional scenes in this film. I bought his shtick while watching him “hang tough” at it. Good stuff man!

This sequel is broader and bigger than the original in terms of plot.

The kills in this film go much further concept and atrociousness wise then the ones in the first. I can’t say anything else (they won’t let me) but gore hounds will be happy (unless the MPAA goes Bonzai on the film that is).

We will learn A LOT more about Jigsaw “the man” in this sequel…maybe too much for my liking. The mystery behind the lad was one of the things that made the first film so compelling. We’ll see…

I’ve been more conscious of the hierarchy heavy nature of a film set since my “Pain Killer” experience. Freaking fascinating to witness!

DAY 2: GAMING MORE LINES

Day 2 started earlier than Day 1, my call was at 10:30 AM. I get at the Studio, slap on my wardrobe and within an hour, I’m on set doing more of my thing. NO SLEEP FOR ME! Director Darren Bousman in all of his wisdom gave me more lines on the spot. They were: “Its coming, its coming” (I didn’t have to research those much, I know them well!). I must give props to actress Dina Meyer (who’s expanding her cameo from the first SAW into a lead in this sequel) with whom I was doing the scene. Dina waited a couple of beats on purpose for the camera to be on me when I said my lines, all in the name of giving me more screen time. She didn’t have to do that, class act I say…class act! THANKS HUN! NOTE: I found out that Dina is a big fan of the band The Killers (great band). So she’s the one that was blaring that stuff full blast from her lodge. Crazy kid I tell ya!

Moreover, the groovy James Wan (Director of the original SAW) dropped by the set to say hello today. He was next door working on pre-prod for SILENCE. It was slick to see the duder again…he hasn’t changed a bit! I’m looking forward to see as to how his next film will come out. SAW
is a tough act to follow! Knock them dead bro! So after all that jive I squeezed in some sleep time, got to take some on set “for my memory book” pictures (that you see in this story…thanks for letting me take them Hoffman!) and hung out with the two fun loving actors that played my “team”. We were affectionately called “Johnny and the Techies” by the AD and it’s stuck throughout the shoot. I’m enjoying acting in this! Nothing equals the excitement that fuels me every time I step on set. Man I love this shit!

Random thoughts of the day:

I learned that some people were hesitant about me getting this part because I’m also a journalist…damn conflict of interest I tell you!

A couple of people eventually made the JoBlo/AITH connection and approached me to prop the work I do on the site; I appreciated that. Always nice to hear!

I have never seen so many active cell phones and palm pilots buzzing in one location. NUTS!

Director Darren has his own way of doing things, often bringing in his music video background into the mix; I think it might make for a visually interesting
result. Time will tell…

I learned a new term today “whip outs”. I knew the technique (where you whip out the camera) but didn’t know it was actually called that. Live and learn baby!

Man I must have gained 10 pounds on this freaking shoot. So much waiting and ample “junk food” to keep me occupied as I wait. Result; me gorging my fat face left, right and center. Today we shot my most extensive bit in the film where I actually manage to get “something” on Jigsaw. The exchange was again with the lovely Dina Meyer (yes I’m a lucky man) and it went fairly well (we did three takes and I nailed it at take 3 in my opinion). I always find it harder to say like two lines in a film as opposed to pages of text. You really have to know where you’re coming from or you look like a buffoon (although I look like one every day by just by being me).

Personally, I always play limited text DOWN. Its safer that way. If the director wants it bigger, he’ll tell ya! So we shot the end of my scene last, capping off a VERY long day. I was out of there at 12:30 AM. Before leaving the set, I went around, shook some hands and thanked everybody. To my surprise, Dina Meyer gave me a big hug and a wet kiss! Hey I wasn’t complaining, that lady is a genuine hottie! When I got back to my Hotel room, I poured myself a stiff drink, then another and then another until I fell asleep and dreamt of my unpaid Visa bills. My SAW 2 experience was done.

Random Thoughts of the day:

I ruined the film for myself while being on set where I bared witness to two potent key twists being shot before my eyes. Badass twists but now I know them…dammit!

It’s very hard to NOT hum “Hanging Tough” or “Cover Girl” when Donnie Walhberg is around. Like REALLY FREAKING HARD!

When doing my bit with Dina Meyer, I had a one second thought “Shit I’m sharing a scene with Dizzy of “Starship Troopers”. Yup I’ve always had a hard on for Dizzy. Shower scene baby, shower scene!

A film set is my favorite place to be. Strip clubs are a close second.

CONCLUSION:

Producer Gregg Hoffman and I cutting up my Ex-Gf.

Needless to say that I had a lot of fun on the SAW 2 set. A big THANK YOU to everybody who contributed in making this a gnarly experience. The people were kool and the ambiance was magic! I could’ve stayed there for another 3 weeks! Now, will SAW 2 be any good? It looks promising from my end! The acting was “on”, the kills were creative and the twists that i witnessed whooped my arse! But at the same time; I had also felt mucho positive after my Alone in the Dark jamboree and it wound up disappointing me when I saw the finished film. So you never know! Like they always say; you make a flick twice… once on set and then in the editing room. Lets pray that this Jigsaw comes together to mucho own like the first one did when out of the oven. KICK THAT ASS DARREN! WE’RE COUNTING ON YOU!

Arrow signing out! Back to my mundane life I go! Mr. Computer! I did NOT miss you!