Sassica Francis-Bruce recalls her childhood experiences on film sets with her father and Jack Nicholson

Sassica Francis-Bruce recounts a memorable experience from her childhood when, at seven years old, she was an extra on the 1986 film ‘The Witches of Eastwick’. During a scene, Jack Nicholson, playing the devil, deliberately vomited cherry juice on her as part of his performance. While shocking for a child, Sassica found the experience preferable to doing schoolwork in a hotel room. Her father, a film editor, often took her along to sets, giving her early exposure to the world of filmmaking. She fondly recalls the craft service tables as a child, and as a teenager, she spent time learning the editing process alongside her father, developing a deep appreciation for the craft. Sassica’s experiences included visits to sets for films such as ‘Dead Calm’, ‘Air Force One’, ‘The Perfect Storm’, and ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, and she later pursued a career in film herself, beginning as a production assistant on ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’. Her story highlights the blend of childhood wonder, hands-on learning, and the formative influence of growing up close to the film industry.