Sassica Francis-Bruce recalls a memorable experience involving Jack Nicholson during her childhood on a film set. At seven years old, she was an extra in the movie The Witches of Eastwick, which starred Jack Nicholson, Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Susan Sarandon. The film was being shot near Boston, and Nicholson played the devil in one of the film’s most dramatic scenes.
Jack Nicholson’s On-Set Antics
During the filming of a church scene, Nicholson burst through the doors and launched into a profanity-filled tirade as part of his character’s performance. When he reached the front row where Sassica was seated, he deliberately threw up cherry juice on her as part of the scene. Sassica describes Nicholson’s wild appearance, with uncombed hair and saliva dripping, which added to the intensity of the moment. After the director called “cut,” Nicholson smiled and playfully tapped her nose before walking away.
The costume department quickly cleaned the cherry juice “vomit” from the extras’ clothes to reset the scene. Sassica was warned about the vomit beforehand but was excited to be part of the experience, especially since she was paid $100 for the day. For a young Australian girl visiting the US for the first time, the day on set was far more enjoyable than staying in a hotel room doing schoolwork.
Life on Set and Early Film Industry Exposure
Sassica’s father was a film editor, and she often accompanied him to sets and the editing room. Over time, she grew fascinated with the filmmaking process, including the long waits for shots to be prepared and reset. One highlight for her was the craft service table, stocked with a variety of snacks and sodas, which was a treat compared to her usual school lunches.
As she grew older, Sassica spent more time off set in the editing room, helping her father prepare footage. She visited various film locations, including sets for Dead Calm, Air Force One, The Perfect Storm, and The Shawshank Redemption. She also observed composers directing orchestras for soundtracks and watched raw footage before it was edited.
Her early exposure to the film industry influenced her career path. After university, Sassica worked as a production assistant on Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, returning to the film set environment she had known since childhood.