Little Movie Part, Tiny Residual...story of my life..

And then there was the day director Sidney Lumet came to the Channel 11 studios. I couldn’t believe he wanted to use Jack Cafferty and me in one of the scenes of his new movie Night Falls on Manhattan. The man is a god. Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, 12 Angry Men, Network.

Turns out he and Jack were friendly from way back, and being a New Yorker, he thought of US when he thought anchor team. (The other anchor teams probably wanted to be paid. Just kidding.) We got paid. In fact, I just got a residual check for Night Falls… After taxes, it comes to $0.32.

His appearance at our studios really got the place all jazzed up. During our taping, there was a small army of people jammed into that room, trying to see what was going on. It got to the point that Jack had had enough. He couldn’t concentrate on his lines, I guess. And one person in particular was really bugging the hell out of him. So, in true Cafferty fashion, he threw the guy out! Of the studio. Maybe the building! I am not naming names.

Lumet didn’t have any kind of script for us. He simply outlined the scene he was looking for....Jack and I doing live election coverage as the results come in for mayor of NYC or was it the DA, I honestly can’t remember. The important part is that Andy Garcia had the lead. And that was about all I could think about. What a handsome man. I’d just seen him in the Untouchables, and was smitten. Told this to Lumet, who laughed and said, can you kind of work that into your ad lib?

I said, sure, if I can meet the guy! But you know what. I never get to meet “the guy.” For those of you who’ve seen me in movies like WOLF with Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer, or Lost Souls with Winona Ryder, or The People I know with Al Pacino, or Night Falls on Manhattan with Andy….just let me tell you, the closest I came to meeting ANY of these stars was the production assistant who carried the videotape into the control room while my coanchor and I read our lines into the camera in our regular studio as though we were doing a real newscast.

The tape then leaves the building and we eventually show up on the big screen, the scene usually some actor watching the news on tv and making snarky comments. Or else staring unhappily at the screen as we deliver, in our best anchor voice, some bad news that advances the plot. You get the idea.

The only movie I ever did where I actually had SCENES with the star was Moscow on the Hudson. Robin Williams and I were like THIS. Well, maybe not like THIS. But I did have a couple of scenes chasing him around Bloomingdales, shoving a mike into his face. But he stayed in character the entire shoot....a Russian musician who defects to the States and speaks almost no English. Never broke character. You could be stuck with Williams in an elevator for 10 hours and he still would not be able to carry on a conversation in English. God, he was dedicated!

Anyway, one of our reporters Stacey Santos Miles did a piece the night the great Lumet came to personally direct Jack and me in our big scene. It's part of our PIX Day in History!

Comments: 17

Posted by Nash at September 16, 2009 11:26 PM

26. Hi Kaity,
I am stunned. Didn't even know when you came back because i turned off the tv after i saw....and never tuned in back. Oh darn and i missed all those blogs :-O

Well the only Sidney Lumet film i ever saw was "Find Me Guilty" starring Vin Diesel. It wasn't received well at the box office but i thought the directing was brilliant. However, there could be a possibility of me directing a film in the future and i may be storming into the Channel 11 studios as well. And i am coming for Jim and Kaity.

I am late on this one but Good to have you back. Plus the Jay Leno Show is on at the same time. Ohh my!!

Posted by Lee at September 17, 2009 9:25 AM

Sounds like fun Kaity. Are you ready for a new career? Movie stars, directors, producers, can't help but love them. I see Ron Howard quite often in restaurants, and he played ball with my son-in-law. I just love OPIE! He is a very nice down to earth regular guy. I have to admiit that I am a big fan of the ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW.

I guess your "set" was all aglow when the seemingly out of reach people came to your station. Glad you had a good time.

Gotta say this - you guys do have a following, so I am sure the big wigs of the movie world follow the news from time to time, when they aren't making their own "news".

Posted by chuck at September 17, 2009 5:14 PM

Wow, Kaity! I never knew you were in so many movies! This all so inspiring! (Except for that $0.32 residual check. What's up with that?).Just goes to show that these director's have real taste in casting by choosing you so much. Sidney Lumet's "Network" is one of my top 10 movies of all time.Hope you have a SAG card with all that film work you've done! You might make me have to renew my Netflix account, so I can rent all those films you were in & check you out!

Posted by Lee at September 17, 2009 5:43 PM

Kaity, if you ever decide to do another movie, name your price. You must get at least more than 33 cents after taxes.....Lee I suggest you hang this money on the wall and don't cash it, you will have fond memories to tell your friends.

Posted by mc in pa at September 17, 2009 9:12 PM

Let's have a movie about 2 New York TV (ch11 ) anchors and all their stories !! That would be really interesting !! Good luck with the new 6:30 PM "gig" :)

Posted by Kaity Fan at September 17, 2009 10:26 PM

Loved you in Moscow on the Hudson. But what I love even more is seeing "more" of you on local news these days. You look amazing and I really enjoy your off-beat comments. Very funny. A reason to watch TV news. Thank you!

Posted by Anonymous at September 17, 2009 10:59 PM

Yo Nash,
26, 27... what's that all about. Read hundreds of blogs, thousands of comments and have never seen that before. sorta like putting a knotch in your headboard, no? Wazzup with that? Oh, and Kaity has to compete with Jay for your attention...hmmm...

Posted by Z-man at September 18, 2009 11:00 AM

"Lost Souls", what a disappointment as a horror movie. I only watched it a couple of times because Winona Ryder's in it, never looked better!

Posted by Lee at September 19, 2009 5:33 AM

I'll watch any movie that Pacino is in. Be still my heart. I like when he teams up with his fellow Godfather pals, like DiNiro. Out of the Godfather series, came so many good actors.

I know Godfather 3 didn't get rave reviews,however, I love Andy Garcia. He is adorable.

Sorry, I got off topic. Maybe you can make a movie about Channel 11 news and what really goes on BEHIND THE SCENES...YOU SEEM TO BE HAVING TOO MUCH FUN!!!

lol, Lee

Posted by Lori at September 19, 2009 7:00 PM

Kaity, So much fun to learn about the
behind the scenes stories of your movies.

My husband and I really enjoyed seeing Moscow on the Hudson and you in it. I bought it
for him years ago for his b'day.
When you interviewed Robin Williams who played
a Russian defector, you showed so much empathy for him--a moving, poignant scene.
The camera just loves you!
And so do we!
Hope to see you in more movies, but will
settle for the small screen for now!
Lori

Posted by Stu at September 22, 2009 5:49 PM

Kaity, You must have found the fountain of youth.
You look as beautiful as ever.

Posted by diedonce at September 22, 2009 7:00 PM

Kaity,
It is always a pleasure to see you in a movie. Additionally, the spot on the 6:30 where you are in front of the camera is stunning. You are beautiful. Your Looks cause many dreams, Please keep them coming.

Posted by diedonce at September 22, 2009 7:00 PM