For some of us, the fate of our own character within those episodes was also unknown.
The not-knowing-when was intriguing.
My first day onThe Walking Deadwas day three of the third episode.
‘The Walking Dead’ cast share incredible stories from their first days on set.Scott Garfield/AMC (2); Gene Page/AMC
Moreover, how could I screw that up?
“Melissa, can you move a little camera-left, we can’t see you back there.”
This would happen often.
Scott Garfield/AMC
Seeing all of those familiar faces, it was just a really warm feeling and a very nice surprise!
Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon)
I remember the first day me being really nervous.
The second scene, they gave me about a dozen squirrels on a string.
Scott Garfield/AMC
They just handed them to me last minute and I had to figure out how to throw them.
When they started to accept me, I did the same.
I was happy it went that way .
Gene Page/AMC
I’m pretty sure it was just that.
And I think my first line on the show was “Dad.
The show definitely dumps you right in.
Gene Page/AMC
It puts you right in the zone and was all very tangible.
We land, and I see this big fist reach across the aisle.
He wants to, as the kids say, bump fists!
It was the day after Labor Day, and I decided to wear a white sweater.
I get cold on planes.
I took one step outside into the Atlanta swamp, and wasn’t I the fool?
Gene Page/AMC
I remember after about 30 seconds my sweater was dripping wet and weighed like 20 lbs.
“No” was her response.
I guess these Georgia folk ain’t ready for my dumb sense of humor.
Gene Page/AMC
Cudlitz kind of laughed.
The first thing I remember saying to Cudlitz was asking if he liked football.
“I like hockey,” he said with an authority that cut off any followup questions.
Gene Page/AMC
Are you an owner like me?”
I mean, he’s not Canadian.
That one didn’t make sense to me.
Gene Page/AMC
We rolled into the basecamp where they were set up filming for that day.
He was there just to meet us and give us the lay of the land.
But he didn’t want to be a weirdo about it.
Gene Page/AMC
So he pretended he was there for some other reason.
He did that for everybody.
What a swell guy.
Gene Page/AMC
I sat in the hair and makeup chair to figure out what to do with my hair.
Taylor Knight ran our hair department and I told her I was so excited to be there.
How could you say that to someone?
Jackson Lee Davis/AMC
I kind of chuckled and said, “Well, hopefully not me.”
She snorted again and under her breath said, “Honey,pleeeeeeeease.”
Everyone had an impersonation, their version of Taylor.
Paola Lázaro on ‘The Walking Dead’.Josh Stringer/AMC
Within moments, Cudlitz,Christian Serratos, and I were saying “Honey hey” to each other.
So Taylor cut my hair into a mullet and I was mortified.
My beautiful blond hair was no more.
Jace Downs/AMC
I had a dark brown, flat top, baby-party-in-the-back situation going on.
I was beside myself.
She took me to a shop that sold trucker hats for $2.
Jace Downs/AMC
That night, Cudlitz, Christian, and I went to some Italian joint in Peachtree City.
I might’ve even said that out loud.
On the way home, we passed a sign on the highway for Ginger Cake Road.
Josh Stringer/AMC
I desperately tried to get Ginger Cake to be Mike’s new nickname.
Cudlitz wasn’t having any of it.
And I remember having just watched season 4 a few months prior to getting the audition for Aaron.
Laila Robins on ‘The Walking Dead’.Josh Stringer/AMC
And I was sweating like crazy.
I was so nervous to get to set.
And I thought, “Holy s—.
Josh Stringer/AMC
That’s Rick Grimes!”
And in this, it’s just Negan talking.
And it’s 17 pages of Negan talking, and a lot of stage direction.
And we were still in street clothes and I was all off-book.
It all happened that day because I was doingThe Good Wifeat the time.
And I was gonna come out.
And I remember it vividly.
Everyone in that lineup was so with me and so connected for those two nights of just brutal work.
I’ll never forget it.
Nadia Hilker (Magna)
Once behind the Stalwart Films gate, I was part ofTWDfamily.
Everyone greeted me and seemed to know who I was and which character I was about to play.
That really touched me, and that feeling until to my last day and beyond would never leave me.
I had just moved to America with my family and my 7-month-old baby.
I was so tired and nervous I completely left my body.
I think I just floated onto set, but not a relaxing float, a stressful float…
I honestly have no real memory of it or it’s hard to remember what’s real.
Lauren Ridloff (Connie)
My first day on set was alsoAndrew Lincoln’s last day.
I wasn’t actually shooting that day it was more of a tour, an introduction.
I think it was the first thing I took a photo of on set: Rick’s cake.
Angel Theory (Kelly)
I remember my first day being both excited and yet nervous.
I remember getting picked up by transpo and heading to basecamp.
right there, and then I instantly felt comfort.
I wasn’t expecting such a lovely welcome on my first day of set.
That moment felt like the smell of rain (beautifully calming).
Like am I really here?
It literally took a village to makeTWDbe the show that everyone knows and loves.
This scene was in a field and on a VERY hot and sunny day.
Cailey Fleming (Judith Grimes)
I remember my first day on set being amazing!
My first scene ever as Judith was her introduction scene.
I was super excited to be able to put on my hat and boots for the first time.
Her introduction will always hold a special place in my heart.
I felt so welcome and excited to become a part of this family!
Everyone took me in with open arms and I couldn’t have asked for a better first day.
I’ll meet him later on."
And Scott said, “No, come meet him now, he’s great!
and he walked over to us and I was for some reason terrified.
He actually turned out to be one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met on a set.
Okea Eme-Akwari (Elijah)
My first day working onTWDwas such an amazing experience.
She even gave me a run down on who is who in our crew.
Eventually, the crew was just about ready to film what would be my first scene on the show.
At this point my excitement peaked, and I let myself relax and enjoy the experience a bit more.
I couldn’t have asked for a better start to this crazy ride.
Michael James Shaw (Mercer)
I mainly remember being terrified the majority of the first week.
I think Josh McDermitt sensed that.
Between takes one day on the break, we talked about music.
Can’t remember exactly who, but that moment got me out my head and into the present.
Really grateful for Josh and the times I got to work with him.
Margot Bingham (Max)
I had bookedThe Walking Deadabout two years before I got to Atlanta.
The pandemic really stretched out the time, the whole industry was shut down, along with the world.
Thank G_dGreg Nicoterowas directing that episode.
How would they accept me joining the show?
How would I fit in?
Would I capture the right tone, style, world?
It was a very different world for the cast regulars.
A very high-functioning city with beautiful clothes, clean streets, and even ice cream!
The actors kept saying how weird it was to be in an environment like that.
I was so impressed with the town that the art department had built, including the Milton Hotel!
It was important to get that right from day one.
All the actors were so warm and welcoming.
I felt let into “the club” immediately.
I was impressed with their continued enthusiasm and dedication to the show, even after 11 years!
Together they had created a VERY special and beloved show and you could feel their pride in that.
I was also very excited to work with director Jon Amiel!
I had so admired his work inThe Singing Detectivewith Michael Gambon and felt honored to be working with him.
He was a delight.
The first scene was an outdoor festival and we had many background actors.
They were all very lively and focused.
I learned later that many of them also play the Walkers.
They clean up well, though.
:) It was a beautiful sunny day filled with a lot of fun!
It was a lovely initiation intoThe Walking Deadfamily.
Josh Hamilton (Lance Hornsby)
My very first day was doing the Commonwealth promotional video.
We ran up to set, and I hadn’t met anyone.
Okay, go!”
We literally had, like, three minutes They said, “Action!”
And I looked down, there were three cameras, and I was like, “Which camera?”
And they’re like, “Choose one.”
I was really worried, so I thought, “Oh, wait, was that it?
Is that gonna be the whole video?”
And then we went back the next day and got stuff all around the Commonwealth Square.
But luckily, we went back and got some other footage too.
