So there’s this movie called The Post that’s been released over holiday break to generally widespread critical acclaim. Directed by (Mr.)Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, The Post tells the story of how The Washington Post (along with the New York Times) broke the Pentagon Papers Scandal in the early 1970’s.

And this summer, I was lucky enough to be on the set for two-and-a-half weeks.

I was cast as a background Washington Post reporter- 7 different costume changes consisting of mixing and matching the two outfits I was actually fitted for. Hair overgrown to an uncomfortable length, fake aviator eye-glasses assigned (look around in the Washington Post-set scenes, everyone is wearing glasses), I was the spitting image of a 1970’s journalist crossed with a good helping of Jeffrey Dahmer.

But this isn’t a “The Movie is Good Go See It I’m In It” plea- I honestly haven’t seen it yet, so I personally can’t give a recommendation.

What I can tell you is this; the set was incredible- a true recreation of 1971 Washington Post in-action. Each desk was detailed with a name placard, family photos, newspaper clippings, photo negatives strewn about of Vietnam, Richard Nixon, the War Room, etc. Hidden in all the drawers were matches and packs of herbal cigarettes- the smell of the burning plants would stay in my clothes and hair all the way home to my apartment and back. And on each of the dozens and dozens of desks were their very own vintage typewriters. Smith and Coronas, grey and chrome Royals, some you had to turn on and the motor inside whirred and squeaked like a bicycle in need of oil and lube, most that worked just as well as the day they were pumped out of the factory. Though the majority of them were out of ink.