Plumbob Pictures Backlot
Note: The Plumbob Pictures Backlot came with the Sims 3 Nightlife EP. I have recreated it the best I could, with the Sims 4 base game. My related Sims 4 challenge is here.
Lights! Camera! Action!
These are the words that come to mind when you think of movie-making! Beautiful people, red carpets, adoring fans, and, of course, §imoleans, §imoleans, §imoleans!
A good acquaintance of mine, Mason Parsons, was lending his yacht to the making of an upcoming film and invited me and my daughter, Alexandria, to come along. We’d driven by before, but had never been inside the buildings. My heart thudded with excitement as we pulled into a parking spot.
Our guide for the day, Evelyn, looked like a star herself, but she was actually director Alan Stanley’s personal assistant.
She led us inside, where Mason checked in at the front desk. Alexandria and I looked at new movie posters set beneath a ticker displaying how the studio’s movies and TV shows were doing. I couldn’t believe that Malpractice was losing viewership! That show has been a hit since 2014!
We went upstairs, where several hopefuls were waiting with screenplays, or to give auditions. I overheard Nancy Landgraab saying some very rude things to Evelyn! Apparently Nancy thought her son should be on TV, and the studio disagreed.
Finally, the director was ready to see us! Alexandria and I shared excited glances as we listened to Mason talking to the others. Director Alan Stanley fielded questions from costars Matthew Hamming and Lola Belle, and I thought I saw Lola’s son, Jupiter, sneaking glances at Alexandria from behind his sunglasses. I hadn’t realized they were so close in age!
After the meeting, we got to see storyboards for another film Alan Stanley was directing. This one was a western, called The Old Sawhorse.
We also took a peek into post-production, where they were mixing sound for an upcoming project. We left quietly, and finally Mason had to leave us. We’d see him again later, but for now, Alexandria and I were on our own.
We stopped in the cafeteria for a quick lunch and saw all sorts of Sims, some in regular clothes and others in full costume for filming. One group was celebrating a wrap with drinks!
Evelyn found us to continue our tour, and we went down to wardrobe first. They had copies of a lot of items, even those used in only one scene, in case something happened to one, and all kinds of costumes for extras as well. I recognized a couple things from movies I'd seen, and Alexandria swore she saw a pair of ruby slippers!
The prop department was incredible! There were suits of armor, treasure chests, space creatures, crates, and even everyday things like clocks. I recognized the prop-master, who'd been upstairs hoping to give someone his screenplay on his lunch break. I wished him good luck!
Alexandria and I waited in the hall while Evelyn went to talk to someone in their dressing room. Though we didn't follow her in, we did catch a glimpse of Emmy Starr!
Some of the extras for her new sci-fi movie hadn't shown up, and we were surprised when Emmy suggested we fill in. Even if we were shadows in the back of a crowded room, this was an opportunity we couldn't pass up! We headed over to hair and makeup.
My hair is so long that I got my own team of stylists, and Alexandria's hair is so pink that she got a wig!
We were dressed in costumes which got pinned up in places to fit us perfectly, then met the others on the set. I remembered that Emmy Star is dating Alan Stanley, but the two were very professional.
That's me and my daughter on the left! It took quite a while to prepare for such a short time, but it was amazing seeing Emmy go from business to emotionally crushed by the destruction of her home planet.
Lola Belle was filming as well, and after we'd changed back into our own clothes, we got to sit in and watch.
Lola plays a young woman who is stood up on a beach date and meets a handsome beach bum who turns out to be the owner of a certain familiar yacht! In this scene, she and her mother, played by Aria Trill, sing a duet on the yacht.
Since Aria and Lola are about the same age, it took some makeup tricks to make them look like mother and daughter.
Lola’s hair got dyed to make her look sweeter, as well.
They'd created parts of the yacht in the soundstage to film some of the trickier scenes. We also got to see a dance scene set against a green screen, and part of the opening scene!
We saw a couple other films, as well! Bella Goth was in one, as an evil sorceress. I'm not sure exactly what was happening but it looked like a white knight was trying to get past Bella's henchknight to storm the castle!
There was also a low-budget western being filmed. The producers couldn't get Matthew Hamming, so they cast Devin Ashton, who actually looks quite a bit like Matthew. I heard someone call Devin the poor man's Matthew Hamming!
Whatever they call Devin, he was dashing as the sheriff! I hope this movie raises his celebrity level, as I’d love to see him in more things.
I never would have recognized his costar, Lilly-Bo Chique!
Evelyn got a text then, and took us to the back of the studio, where Matthew Hamming was resting in his trailer.
Alexandria and I waited outside, but Matthew must have recognized us from the meeting earlier. When he was ready to go to hair and makeup, he asked if we’d like to come with him, and we said yes!
This time, Matthew would be in a Roman themed film. I was sorry to see his beautiful hair get cut, but it grows back!
Before and After:
Mason found us just as filming began. I didn't recognize Matthew's costar, but Mason said her name was Babs L'Amour. Though they were filming in front of a greenscreen, apparently a beautiful Roman temple would be added to the background. This would save a lot of time and money flying cast and crew across the world.
Alexandria said that Babs and Matthew had no chemistry, and somehow it was suggested that I get up in front of the greenscreen with him. I wasn't about to say no!
Alexandria suggested later that I might end up in a love triangle with Mason and Matthew Hamming, and I laughed. "Why would you like me and Matthew together," I asked, "when you don't like Mason?"
"You and Mason don't have any chemistry," she said. "You and Matthew have a lot of it!" That was a strange thing to hear from my daughter!
She asked if we could get a picture with Matthew, who had been nothing but accommodating, and he said yes. Surely she was just teasing me!
Before we left, we got to see what they did with some of the greenscreen pictures. I know a bit about Photoshop, but this was film and some of the scenes turned out amazing!
They even put a backdrop on my picture with Matthew!
It was an unforgettable day, and we might be hearing from some of the Sims we met again. Alexandria definitely will, as she gave Jupiter Belle her cell phone number!
My PlumbobSet Challenge
Plumbob Pictures Backlot in the Sims 4 Gallery
Superstar Trailer in the Sims 4 Gallery
Sims 3 Film Career set 1
Sims 3 Film Career set 2
Yacht: Calypso in the Sims 4 Gallery
Roman Temple in the Sims 4 Gallery
(Origin ID: PhantasmKiss)