Sex and the City Open Call as SAG!

So I went to the open call for Sex and the City 2. Quite frankly I didn’t even get the chance to even work once on “Sex and the City 1”, and really have no high expectations for this one. Since I just joined SAG, I thought I may as well put my membership to use. The great thing about being SAG is that you get the earlier call times. This of course can be to your advantage or not necessarily so much.

For one thing when you come earlier, you finish earlier. Sounds great but then you have the rest of the day twiddling your thumbs of boredom as there is nothing left to do with the day. Don’t get me wrong it was a wonderful experience to be able to go to the front of the line and not have to bake outside in the hot humid sun for over 5 hours.

Perhaps the fact that I am not used to the “red carpet treatment” is the reason that it was surreal to me. Having the limo drop you off is not a bad deal either! That is the "N" train limo from Astoria!

When I got to the line at about 9am, there were already over 200 Women in the line with barricades set up for TV news crews and reporters. I get there expecting to at least be in some kind of line. No line for me! I showed the gatekeeper my SAG number and immediately the doors opened into a lovely air conditioned hallway with the nice security guards greeting me and welcoming me as I walked down this red carpet until I got to the main room where there were chairs to sit down on.

I felt like a Queen who was just let out of her carriage. The Prince was there to greet me and says “No need to stand out in this yucky humidity my Queen and ruin your quaff! Please come on in to the comfortable air conditioned palace where we will pamper and treat you like the Queen you are!”

Ahh..yes this is what paying $2000.00 for a card will get you. Worth it I guess. It would be worth it so much more to actually get booked on something and make my money back.

That was it. I maybe sat down for about fifteen minutes, until the Woman came up to the microphone to let us know how the process would be conducted. Basically they took people row by row, took snapshots. We handed in out headshots and to the backdoor to be escorted out. Then out the back exit I went, not exactly Prince Charming, but better looking then Alfred E. Newman, a good friend and great fellow actor.

After that a bunch of us congregated to the nearest café in the area. It was kind of nice to see where the SAG people go and what all the secrets are. Now that I am in the “Cult” it feels good to be on the other side but a part of me still misses the suffering. How crazy is that??

After we finished our coffee, we went back to the line, not to gawk and point, but more to see where I used to be at one time and how far I have come. There were over a thousand people in the line at that point wrapped around two long Manhattan blocks. Just walking from the air-conditioned café out to the sweltering heat, made me fell yucky and gross. I have paid my dues. Now I am on the other side. I have arrived.

Still in the back of my mind I was thinking about Linda and how she would have been perfect for the lead role of Samantha in this movie. She would have come to this open call with me and taken it by storm. I miss you SO much Linda...especially times like this.

Sigh :(

Back To One!

female confused about how women are treated by casting directors

The following is a letter written by one of my fellow cohorts who also worked on "Boardwalk Empire". The letter depicts the unfair treatment by casting and discrimination against Women in their late thirties working in this business:


A certain casting agency hired me for the new Martin Scorsesse project "Boardwalk Empire" for 3 days. They fitted me in a period costume, wanted my hair to be all one color,I had to be shorter than 5'5, and of white/European decent. They paid me SAG wages for the fitting, and I was under the impression I would be paid SAG wages for the days I was asked to work.

They then proceeded to pay me non-union for the day of work, and this was a long day (16 hours) and was a 500 dollar difference (bt. the Union & non-union actors). I complained to SAG, and they told me casting could do whatever they wanted, and that they had made a mistake and only kids would be waivered.

I thought that was ironic since I have a 5 year old, and am a single parent and need to pay a babysitter 10 dollars per hour when I work. This particular project centers around women in the work place, and women getting a respectable salary. I do not believe this is Martin Scorsese's fault, nor do I believe this is the production company's fault. But is the second time this casting agency has hired me for a particular look (white/European, short, all one hair color, 30's), given me SAG wages for the fitting and then not paid me SAG wages for a day of work.

Some of these casting directors seem to have lawless business practices. They seem to be prejudice against white women in their 30's. Certain people in the film industry have told me that white women in their 30's don't get waivers! Only pretty, young girls in their 20's.
I am an attractive reasonably young woman and would like to know what percentage of white women in their 30's are actually working on a daily basis on film and television projects in New York City like I do.

I am a member of Aftra. I understand that SAG does not have an open door policy like AFTRA does. I do not understand how women can continue to be discriminated against.
If anyone has any insight or complaints about casting agencies; or the random way waivers are given out please respond.

Julia S.East Village, New York City

Please feel free to comment in your support.

Back to One!

A couple of Dicks in Prospect Park Day 1

I got booked on a 2-day shoot to work on this new Bruce Willis movie called "A couple of Dicks" with Tracy Morgan of SNL and 30 Rock fame!It's a comedy about two cops whose adventures include locating a stolen baseball card, rescuing a woman, and dealing with gangsters and their laundered money.

The call time was for 7am to be in Wollman Rink parking lot in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. Having a 7am call time is actually normal and I left Queens at 6am which should have been plenty of time to get there.

I got to the subway by 6:10 and by this time, the rats have retired for the night and there are more people on the platform waiting. At this time there are more and more people going through the turnstile and waiting. Finally after 40 minutes, the "V" train appears out of the dark tunnel.

By the time I got to the "Q" train platform, it was already ten minutes to 7am. The only good thing about the "Q" is that it runs express through Manhattan and bypasses many stops. Goes to 14th street and then to Canal, through the tunnel and out across the Manhattan bridge with a clear view of the Brooklyn bridge, clear skies and the waking of the dawn with the sun rising.

Finally got to Prospect Park station and walked out on Lincoln Avenue where there was a homeless person outside the subway camping out with all their belongings. Kind of sad and "bummified" area :( That is until you get to the side of the park :)

The entrance is gorgeous with beautiful trees and green is everywhere. There were already joggers, bikers, and people walking their dogs on the path. I went down the path to Wollman rink area and walked to up to holding which was and outdoor tent. It was the perfect weather for this and part of the tent was shaded by the trees. I was about 15 minutes late though I didn’t feel bad as there were other people coming in behind me still.

I got my voucher and headed to the tent in the back. It was really humid in the tent area where the air conditioner tubes to cool down the tents were not working yet. By the time I got there, there was already a big lineup to get hair and makeup done and of course wardrobe.

I love the wardrobe line. You can bring the best outfit and yet they will give you what they believe you should be wearing. Or they will give you accessories to wear and you have to give your voucher in for an earring or a button.

Holding true to form and my own convictions of what a waste of time wardrobe can be, I of course totally avoid the wardrobe line. This is also for Linda. Linda would not go to the wardrobe line. Not the same when you do this type of capers alone, though in memory of Linda and how we were the “A-team of background”! I succeeded in not going into that line. I figured the dress I had on was approved on the last set I was on and by my friend Charles who has exquisite taste.

I did go into the long hair and make-up line though I figure might as well get my hair done and makeup to take pictures. I get into that hair and makeup line and I wait and wait and then wait some more. Just when I think it will finally be my turn, the fag hair guy looks into the line and totally bypasses me and goes and picks the young long-haired Russian blond instead of myself. I felt so rejected.

The worst part about it was that the hairdresser was gay! I can understand that they need to take the principal actors first, but she wasn’t a principal.
At first I was offended, and then when the other hairdresser looked to see how many people were in the line, she took me. Finally! Though the thing was that I was one of the last people in line and everyone was either finished or already on set.

After being rejected so many times in the past, you look at this as happening for a reason and sometimes delays like this work in your favor. When she finally did my hair, I got up to start to walk to set, but was told that myself and 10 other background actors were not needed for this scene.

That actually worked out to our advantage as we grabbed some chairs, sat outside under the shady trees and just relaxed. Meanwhile I was getting reports via text message that my friend was standing in her heels in the hot sun. I totally got the better deal. In fact we were not needed until after lunch. I was having such a great time that I couldn’t care less if I get used or not.

Lunch was called and because we were already by catering, we were the first in line as droves of people were coming from set. Since this was Henry’s Catering, the food was outstanding. Gourmet salads, meats, pasta dishes, flank steak, sword fish and cakes..oh yes the cakes!

After getting our fill everyone was called back to set and this was the first time that I was to see it. At first I was r is over reluctant to go and was thinking oh great the fun and know I’m going to have to work. I don’t come here to work. I come to these things to eat and socialize.

So I start slowly following the rest of the crowd as I had no idea where the set was. What a long walk. Over the grassy hills, through a tunnel, through a pathway, and then finally after all that to the building which was the “bird building”.

We get directed into the building and I thought for sure this would be some scene where I would to stand in high heels, in a black cocktail dress under the blazing sun. Well it was outside under the hot blazing sun but we were actually seated in a beautifully ornate wedding scene. The chairs were wrapped in lovely white mesh covering with pearls. Her is a picture of my Russian "Brighton Beach" friend posing on set:

The floral arrangements were magnificent and absolutely charming. The wedding altar also wrapped in lovely flowers was set in the middle right by the lake. I was seated on the bride’s side which was played by Michelle Trachtenberg. This wedding was so “Rich” looking, you felt like you were at another Donald Trump wedding. So much detail and decorating went into this gorgeous set making it feel so real.

The scene itself was simple, but it was done over and over and over again. Basically the priest is about marry this couple and then asks “who here is going to give this bride away”? Pause. The bride looks over at her Father played by Bruce Willis and he does not utter a word! That was it.

The thing that got tedious was sitting there in that hot 2pm direct sun. I had a shawl on and tried to block the sun in between takes. Still it was a lovely set and what added to the beauty was this family of swans came into the scene. Don’t know if they were trained to do this but these swans were right on cue every time the director called out “action”. The director by the way is Kevin Smith. You know this will be a great comedy movie. I tell you one thing about the swans if they were just local swans that were friendly, they should all get SAG waivers.

A few hours went by and while we were sitting there the skies were getting heavy and brooding with a thunderstorm likely to come down very soon. Sure enough, the rains came down and down and down. It was heavy rainfall. We all rushed in the building.

Bridesmaids, Weddings guest running into the building to take cover from the rain. It was about 6pm at this time and we thought for sure that they would call it a wrap. Well we were highly mistaken. What the movie people will do to do a scene. We sat there around the wedding tables inside which were also decorated gorgeously.

The PA keeps telling us to be quiet even though there is nothing going on. So we are quiet, but the one person who could not keep quiet and kept going on and on was none other than Tracy Morgan. That guy is always on. He was telling jokes and stories and being really loud. I tell you that guy is not acting. He is the real deal. I mean everyone was tired and wanted to go home and here he was like a ball of fire that could not be extinguished.

Finally the rain settled and there was a clearing in the sky. Thinking we would be walking back to holding now, I was mistaken as the grips were outside re-setting lights and bringing equipment back out to the deck. I was like “You got to be kidding”! All background was called back to set, but not in the seats we had before.

This was an entirely different scene. This was a scene after the ceremony and we were to grab the “fake drinks” and act like we were enjoying the party and talking and toasting. As we did this, they had a helicopter camera drive by us to capture this moment. The helicopter came by and took and aerial shot of all of us. This took about 5 takes and then we were wrapped. The director thanked us all and we were released.

So here I am in heels getting ready for the “Big Race” back to holding. There is a pack of us, yet I am still in the lead with a few. So we get to the path and then to the tunnel. HOLY CRAP WATER!!!!!

There was so much water from the rain that the path was obstructed by this pond in front of us. It was so deep that there was NO way you could walk through it. The only way out was to climb this bench and jump over it. It’s amazing how this can be done in heels and a black cocktail dress! Mind you I almost took a wipe out. If this big broad guy wasn’t in front of me to grab his shoulder, I would have fallen for sure and probably broke my neck and teeth for sure.

I got through that obstacle to the grass obstacle. Since it was still fresh and wet from the rain, I would run a little and then the heels of my shoes would get stuck like quicksand. A couple of times I was ready to leave the shoes behind and just got for it barefoot and all! Made it through that and got to holding on dry concrete. Since I had no clothes to return, I got into the checkout line and was one of the first ones out. You would be proud of me Linda!

I quickly changed into my regular clothes and headed back to Lincoln Avenue. Back to the Q train. Back across the Manhattan bridge. Back to Queens....

Back to one!

Boardwalk Empire Blues..An Open Letter to The production people at Boardwalk

Dear Boardwalk Empire Production,

I have worked many years doing background work. I have experienced the bad,the good, and the ugly side of working on film and TV productions. Lately I have seen the more of the "ugly" in this business as of late in terms of being used for minimum wage.

It has been my understanding that if you work hard enough, that you will at least get a chance to get into one of the most sought after unions, SAG (Screen Actors Guild). Getting into a union like this one not only gives you credibility, but makes you feel like you have accomplished something. It's a dream that people like you and me aim to achieve.

I am not saying that I am aiming to be the next Julia Roberts or Nicole Kidman. What I am saying is I would like a little respect and some reward for my hard efforts in this business. Is that too much to ask?? Apparently it is and this was demonstrated on the set of "Boardwalk Empire". An HBO production with the pilot directed by the one and only, Martin Scorsese.

It was such an honor and privilege to work with Hollywood's finest directors, Martin Scorsese.The most ironic thing about this entire experience is perhaps the fact that the scene that I was in reflected upon the 1920's prohibition where Women were just given the privileges for the right to vote.

I was also involved in the Boardwalk scene itself. I have to admit that the scene itself was very impressive! It was a replica of the 1920's Atlantic city boardwalk. What was not that impressive was the catering and the fact that we worked on this set for 20 hours!

I understand that you need to get the shot completed as time is money. Though in this case I think that there should have been some kind of a raffle or a bump in pay for dealing with all those long hours. Just to show some appreciation for us background giving every little last bit of energy we have left.

Without background, you do not have a movie.


Sincerely,

Back to one.

Boardwalk Empire shoot in Brooklyn Directed by Martin Scorcesse

This is the long awaited, over a month ago, booking for this HBO production, Boardwalk Empire to be directed by Martin Scorsese. I figured our call times would be super early. so it was no surprise when I got the official call times from Casting that it would be for 5:30am. Though there was a courtesy bus pickup in Manhattan over by Church and Chambers street. So the only problem would be to get to downtown area by 5am to catch the bus. Well I missed the bus.

Now I didn't miss the bus because I couldn't get up in the morning. In my still "Zombie-like" state, I got up and dragged myself out the door to the 4am subway, worst subway time. You have your regular rats during the day, but for some reason the 4am rats are extra special and hungry.

They are not afraid of you and will come right up to your bag if you even have a crumb left over from yesterday's cookie. These 4am rats are not dumb, they never waste their time with vegans knowing they are all skin and bones and either had one of those gross tasteless nature bars or organic bird seeds in their bag.

Yet as I am always on the defensive and prepared, I have my "whacking tool", and spray to get rid of these nasty demons. Little did I know at the time how the Rats would be such an integral focus on set later on that day.

Normally I wait for the train at that time for maybe 20 minutes tops before you see the lights shining through the dark tunnel. Thought 20 minutes went by. Then another 20 minutes. Then it was coming up to 1 hour. The clock was ticking and I kept looking at the time display. It was after 5am when the announcement came on saying that the trains are delayed due to flooding from the storm overnight.

I was thinking "great, this is just my luck"! I mean how many days prior have been storm free and the trains were running fine!" Figures the ONLY day that I have to get up for 4am, the subways have a huge delay. So this was the start of an already long day to come.

Finally the train comes, and I have to figure out a "plan B" to get there as the bus would leave by the time the "E" train would make it to the world trade area. I'm on the train at 46th stop and it is not moving. At least I'm on the train, I pondered. Ten minutes elapsed and on to Steinway street stop. There out of sheer coincidence, my friend Laura who just happens to be going to the same set as myself, sees me and joins me in this despair.

We were both in the same dilemma and figured the best route would be going to Time Square and catching the "Q" train to Church avenue in Brooklyn. The train came in about 5 minutes and since it was an express train, it only went to two stops in Manhattan and then over the bridge to Brooklyn. While over the bridge, I called up my friend to notify the PA that we would be self reporting now.

We made it to Church avenue and walked 4 blocks down and started seeing the film and crew trucks and walked to the church where holding was. We got there and signed in. There were not too many people there yet as the bus which we were supposed to get on, did not arrive yet.

I got my voucher and then headed to krafty. The catering company for this was TomKats. Not exactly the best catering for film and TV in my experience. It was the usual array with trays of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage wheels, lox, and freshly squeezed juice station. Brought a couple of plates back to holding to share with other as the non-union breakfast was crap. A couple of stale bagels and coffee cakes with NO coffee!

On to the next joyous part of the day which I was dreading..the costume. There was already a huge line-up outside where the wardrobe truck was parked. Already over 3o of us standing outside of the truck waiting to get our costumes. Meanwhile, the overcast, brooding skies were promising more showers for the remainder of the day.

And Rain it did. Down , down and down came the rains....

It truly was a mess. Getting the costumes, then going into holding for another line-up to get hair and make-up done. All of that took about 4 hours until we were brought to set. With the booming thunder and lighting and buckets of rain. It was raining so hard it felt like you were in a car wash. Yet the SHOW MUST GO ON!

The PA shouts out the announcement to get to set. Walking down the streets and huddling with the umbrellas, we made it to set. We get there and of course they are still not ready to place us. So many of us are still waiting outside in the rains. Well I took the initiative and walked in with the SAG group and placed my self in the scene.

The scene was a "Temperance" Town Hall meeting. The meeting was led by an very conservative Woman. We all gathered as concerned Women in a coalition against liquor and the evil Men who drink liquor. In fact there was a sign up on the stage that said "Lips that touch Liquor Shall NOT touch ours!" The Woman gets up on the podium and begins reciting a poem about the evils of Liquor. It went something like this : "Liar, thief Vicious brute! Snake by day and sleeps with prostitutes....Demon rum...Liquor, thy name is delirium!!!!!!" I don't have the entire poem word for word, though you get the point.

She finishes up her speech and we applaud uproariously in agreement of her campaign to stop the "evil" alcohol and corruption of Atlantic City. Then we end the applause and she quickly introduces treasurer of this foundation and money powerhouse of Atlantic City, Nucky Johnson who is played by Steve Buscemi.

We all adore him because he the funding behind all of this and comes across as a gentleman who respects Women and Women's causes. Meanwhile he is a crook and being very deceptive. To win over the Women he starts going into this story about heartache and cold winters without any food for his family and of his absent Father who drank too much. He finishes his story and we all begin applauding and cheering him on as if he is our savior for this cause.

The speech was great and entertaining for the first couple of times, though he did it over and over and over again. Martin Scorsese would come out from the back room and talk to Steve and say "That was great Steve, let's do it again!"

It must have been exhausting for the actors, but even the background were dying. I was in one of the first five rows and I had on that heavy wool coat on. On top of it the coat was disintegrating and every time I would applaud, particles of the fur on the coat were coming loose and fluffing into my mouth and all over the place scattering the particles of fur. I was gagging every time and trying not to sneeze through out "That Speech"

To add to the misery, there was no air in that church as they had to shut down all venting systems to avoid any sound. Sitting there may sound like it was easy, but it was getting difficult. Our butts were getting sore, the costumes were totally uncomfortable and we all began fading and falling asleep down to our laps

It was really bad. Finally there was a break and I saw Steve Buscemi outside. You could tell he was really sick of "That Speech" and just wanted the day to end as bad as we did. Shortly after, Lunch was called. I was looking forward to it and was expecting a good lunch as it was an HBO production with Marty directing it.

Well I was wrong..Should have known with TomKats as the catering company, it wouldn't be that good. Sure enough it was an awful meal. There was only one salad bowl with wilted leaves and a pitcher of ranch dressing and no other selection. I though maybe there would be better selection down the table. Not so much. There were only 2 trays one with spaghetti and meatballs and the other was some vegetarian slop.

My dog gets better spaghetti and meatballs sauce than that! Yuck. Even the cakes/deserts were horrible.They had these "Quick Bake" do it your self frosting which crumbled as soon as you picked it up. It's the kind of cakes your 8 year old makes for a school bake sale. It was absolute garbage. First time ever on that set that I actually threw out the food!

Soon after the unsatisfying meal, the bullhorn/PA comes out to get back to one. So we head back to set. It's the same thing all over again where the "Temperance Woman" comes up first on the podium and delivers her speech.

Back to Steve Buscemi, and he begins his Speech though this time he improvs it and changes the words a bit to instead of "beating them with a stick", he goes on saying.."and then I took a brick and smashed the brains out of the them!" Much needed laughter.

Stay tuned to HBO and the release of "Boardwalk Empire" coming soon for what "That Speech was all about! "That Speech was brilliant and Steve Buscemi delivered it magnificently! Though I am not allowed to reveal it in it's entirety as I am under some contract, though I'm not sure what it is.

You see I am still non-union and I only got paid minimum wage to sit in that hall with a corset for 17 hours. Part of my internal organs have been bruised permanently as a result, yet I can't sue as I'm still a non-union nobody. I also can't post entirely my experience on this set. So much for freedom of speech.

The irony of this all is that the scene depicts Women during the Temperance movement where they just got the right to vote. Yet here we here in the year 2009, and not much has changed.

It seems to me that in this country "other" ethnic groups have more privileges and get paid

more if they speak of their grievances and scream out that they have been prejudiced against.

I apologize for this venting session as I had to re-do my blog as some people were not happy with my original piece. The point is that we should have been paid Union wages for our efforts. Enough said..moving along...

..... Back to sitting and sweating and itching until no body could take it anymore and we were wrapped! Finally back to the wardrobe truck to get out of the costumes. In fact I was stripping out of the costume and unzipping as I was walking towards the truck.

Back to get our voucher signed. Back to Church Avenue. Back on the Q train.

Back to one!

Bored To Death Boxing Scene Day 2

I got home before midnight from the long day on "Bored to Death" and was exhausted. I still had to stay up long enough to hear the call times for "Day 2". I was relieved to hear that the call times for "Day 2" was a little better for 9:45 am.

The great thing about getting a 2-day booking is that you have already gone through hair and make-up the day before and don't have to go through that again, especially when it's a continuity scene. Also you don't have to carry a suitcase full of clothes and only need to bring what you wore the day before.

So I set out to Brooklyn one more time and got to the holding area. This time there were not too many tables available. Luckily my friend Robyn saved me a seat, though it was all the way in the back where the chairs and space was SO tight that even the thinnest person had toSqueZZe by. This was really annoying and on top of it, you have inconsiderate people who put their bags on the chairs.

Around 10am the PA was screaming out to get ready and that we would be going on set in about ten minutes. An hour later, we are all called to take our original positions where we sat the day before. Slowly we get to set and the crew and everything is already set up. I walk around to the side of the ring and my seat is being occupied by TedDanson himself. The PA shouts out "Everyone take your seats and BE quiet!" I gesture to the PA and tell him"I am not going to tell TedDanson to get out of my seat!"

Eventually the Second AD comes by, acknowledges the situation and ask Ted to take his first position. Today was the BIG fight with Ted and the Boss from the other team. I took my seat where Ted had just warmed it up for me. His first position was right in front of me with him standing by the side of the boxing ring waiting to get into the ring to box.

There is a scene in the boxing ring before he gets into his fight scene. So Ted is Standing there for hours...that is Ted Danson and his psoriasis! He had the psoriasis all over the back of his legs. It wasn't horrible looking and probably not that noticeable from afar, but up close it was not lovely.

Trying to focus on something else, I moved on from his skinny legs and moved to his butt. He was that close to me. I know that if Linda was sitting with me, she would have gone up and grabbed his ass for sure! Really miss Linda, and just can't stop thinking about her and her spirit. Though I did feel her presence there, for sure.

Moving along..

On with Ted Danson's scene... It begins with him and his competitor in the boxing ring doing their dance and throwing jabs and punches and doing many prat falls. In the first round Ted is taking the lead and we are cheering and rooting for him. Over and over and over again. It was exhausting for the two actors for sure, though it was as equally exhausting having to stand up every time to root and cheer and holler in excitement.

In the next round Ted is getting really exhausted though he knocks his competitor down. Sits down in the corner to gt water and toweled down and returns to the ring to fight some more. Having the confidence and stamina, he goes into the next round all charged up. They begin their dance and jabs here and there. All of a sudden the other guy throws such a heavy punch that sends Ted down, down to the ground on the floor. The referee counts down and Ted is OUT! The fight is over. Done! However, we were far from done that day for taping the show.

Far from done indeed....

It was already 5pm from being in their for that scene when we were called to lunch. What a relief. Though I couldn't actually run to holding as I was still in those heels. Made it to holding to wait in the lunch line where there were already 50 people ahead of me. I felt like"I Linda was here, we would be in the front of the line!" Oh well I made the best of it. Though this catering service, "Henry's Catering" was so gourmet and SO good, that they kept coming out replenishing the trays of food. What food they had!

Everything from Mussels, Calamari Salad, spinach with strawberry salad, baked ziti, walnut cranberry stuffed chicken breasts, brisket, lasagna..I mean the list goes on. It was like a wedding banquet feast! Truly the best catering around. That crappy "TomKats" catering could take a lesson on how to make and serve food from Henry's catering for sure.

If all that food wasn't enough, the deserts were to die for. There were 4 different types of cheesecakes, chocolate cake, tarts, and my favorite of all time..crumbles Oreo cookie cake!YUMSTERS!!! I must have gained a few pounds just looking at it. I grabbed a small piece and it just melted. It was Orgasmic!

Well that "orgasm" was short lived as we were called back to set. I was hoping that we were half way done, well I was wrong. At that point only the people who were in the primary scene were asked back to set. The rest of us were being drained from the waiting around and waiting and more waiting back in holding. Mind you at times I rather be in holding than sit on set where you have to be quiet.

So while in holding people talk and either you get information that is valid or you just sit around talk about nothing. The only relevant bit of information was when this young Asian American girl was talking about her experiences on "Sorcerers Apprentice", that Nicolas Cage movie which IS cursed!

There was a scene in Canal Street and the scene was for some Chinese New Year. So of course they wanted Asians for this scene. Well the thing is the majority of the Chinese who live at Canal street are undocumented workers. On top of it, the ones who did get hired and had legal working papers brought their entire family to set to hoard all the food from catering. So in droves they were pilfering all the bananas, cakes, and bagels to take home. I mean Chinese don't eat bagels??

To make matters worse..hhehhehe...these Chinese who HAVE NEVER worked as background and could barely speak English..messed up the entire scene SO badly that they had to re-do the entire 4-night shoot ALL over again. Gee.. I guess that must cost money to do.

Yes..I am still angry over the fact that I DID not get the final call-back when I auditioned for this movie for the role of the Russian Woman. Though I have to admit, this bit of news made me feel better.

After that conversation, there were a few people that were asking me about what happened to Linda. So I had to re-live all that again to explain to people. Then I get some bizarre stories how this one person says she felt Linda's presence through her TV set... I was like I had enough and reallywanted to leave at this point.

But NO! There was much more torture to come...

Now everyone gets called back to set and of course we go just to stand outside in cocktail dresses and heels in the chilly winds. After an hour of that joy, we are asked to go inside. Of course they are not doing anything but blocking thescene.

Clearly we were not even needed, and the PA send us up to the dusty balcony upstairs as a holding area so we could be close by and be at their beckon call. I was getting really perturbed and noticed that several people had left already. I thought they may still need me as I was the group closest to the front.

Hours went by and know I was getting hungry as many of us were. My friend Simon and I stepped outside and saw there were over 100 boxes of pizza outside on the table. We approach the table and we are quickly halted.

Angry and frustrated, Simon and I started to walk back to holding, got changed, papers signed out and went to to catch the G train. IT was already 2am by the time I got home. Back to Queens,

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Bored to Death Boxing scene Day 1

SO it's really late Tuesday night and the call times were finally released at 11pm at night. You would think this mean a decent call time of 10 am, not so much. The call time was for 8:30 am. out in Brooklyn. I guess it could have been worse like the last time when we were out in Brighton Beach which takes an hour an a half to get to.


According to Google search, the commute to this area in Brooklyn known as "Clinton Hills" would take an hour an a half. I can see that because the "G" train which is a train that only goes crosstown through Brooklyn and Queens has been called the "Ghost train" for how long it takes to come. However, I made all my connections and got to the holding area in record time.

In fact it was as bad as I thought. I got off the train and I got around the corner and there was craft services. So I grabbed a couple of pre-made breakfast sandwiches and headed inside this church where holding was to get signed in.

I get into holding and I see my dear friend and mentor, Robyn at a table already and saving a spot for me. I sit down and there is another lovely Lady by the name of Cara sitting there and she came out all the way from Connecticut to get to this shoot! I immediately introduced myself to her and commended her for being such a trooper. Though I was shortly called away and summoned by several other cohorts who wanted to speak to me. Cara, was so impressed of how much in demand I was that she "christened" me as "The Mayor of Holding!" What a great title! I was SO honored.

With all this going on, I could not excuse the fact that where Robyn chose to sit and save a seat for me, there was a dime on the table staring at me. I recall Linda telling me that she would see these dimes in strange places all the time and it meant her friend was thinking about her. I mean normally people see pennies on the street.

Though this dime was strategically placed on that table. I asked around if that dime belonged to anyone, no one claimed it. I believe it was Linda saying "Hello" and dropping by. Soon after, the dime disappeared, yet there was no one around at the time. Strange but I felt it was her.

Moving along..

The entire morning was consumed with getting our wardrobe checked to get approved and to get hair and make-up done. I went into the wardrobe line and I knew I would be okay. I had this great cocktail dress that was recently bought to go to a wedding. I go to wardrobe and I got the "thumbs up" of approval! Great on to the make-up wardrobe line.
So I am standing in that line, behind 2o other Women to get the makeup and hair. Finally it's my turn and I get called to sit in the "make-up chair". The makeup girl actually remembered me from another shoot. That was cool. At first she was like "Well they tell you to come hair and make-up ready". I was like "well I can't do makeup as well as you do..and besides I am "The Mayor of Holding!"

So that line went well and I was about to go into the "hair line". The hair designer as they call them, glanced over at me and said "You're fine!" No I wasn't! I was really upset as my makeup looked great, yet I get rejected in the "hair line!" I couldn't believe this mockery! My hair is "Never Fine!" I have frizzy, curly , hair that always need some polishing. So to be turned down was a bit insulting and upsetting. I mean this is why I come to this gigs to get free makeup and hair-do! I mean how can you turn down the "Mayor of holding!"
At that point they were calling a "select group" or as I call them "Suckers" to go to set. This was before the "Establishing shot". In my experience I figure I would rather be sitting in a holding area and be able to talk than to be on set where you are told every second to "Be Quiet" and have to do the same thing a thousand times over.

In fact we had So much fun in holding. The best part was that my musician and dance instructor friend , Lawrence was there! I am an awful dancer. In fact I can't dance at all. Still Lawrence took it upon himself to select me from sitting down and up to the floor to do a little tango! I was a little embarrassed, being the fact I can't dance. Though Lawrence was such a great instructor that he helped me through it and I didn't make a fool of myself.

After a while I got exhausted and my friend Robyn took over on the "dance floor" in holding. Our festivities soon had to end as the catering crew were coming into bringing in tables to set up for lunch. Our dance floor and dancing session was soon shut down.

As they were setting up the tables for lunch, the PA comes into the room and asks for everyone to come to set. I was like "Oh great" does this mean I have to work now?? I didn't come here to work! The only reason I even come to these sets is to socialize and eat!"

So the PA comes in the room in this overly dramatic "Rush, Rush"! Hurry up they need you now." RUN!" Of course I take my time, go to the bathroom, get a snack, make a phone call, read War and Peace, and of course by the time I get to set, there are still people outside in the chilly air wearing dresses, waiting to be called inside. Eventually the rest of the people get called and I am not looking forward to this as I am in heels and I really don't want to be standing for 14 hours!

Once I got in there, I took it upon myself to find a chair to sit down. The PA's were still placing people around the scene which was evolved around a boxing ring. At the time I didn't know that I actually got myself prime piece of real estate of where all the action would occur.

It;'s taking forever to get everyone else situated. Finally after about an hour with nothing going on ,save for being told to "Shhh" and be quiet, the actors came on set and the scene started to come alive.

The scene was in the boxing ring. The match was between two rivalry advertising companies, "GQ and Edition". Our side of the ring where we were sitting, were rooting for "Team Edition".The other side was rooting for "Team GQ". Our Boss was "George" played by Ted Danson and his teammate, Jason Shwartzman.

Jason was first up in the ring going up against a heavier guy from "Team GQ". They start doing their "boxing dance". JaB@#! HIT% PUNCH%%! HeadLock! It looks as if the heavier guy will be taking down Jason, but in the end Jason become the winner! Rah!! We all cheer. After he is declared the winner, he goes over to his girlfriend and wants to celebrate his victory. She kisses him on the cheek and then says in a very coy sweet voice"I would love to hang out with you but I have yeast infection!" He is puzzled? She continues..."I'm going out with my friend now but promise to drink a lot of cranberry juice!!!" She steps off the stage. He is left feeling stunned and dejected.

This may seem like it was an easy, simple and quick scene..not so much. The scene was done over and over and over again. The worst part had to have been the boxing match itself. How tired those guys must have been, fake jabbing and throwing fake punches which was all choreogrpahed. Never mind them we, the spectators had to stand up every time Jason was winning. Standing in heels over and over again is not fun. More poor toes were killing me by day's end.

Sure enought it was one of those days on set that you thought would never end...then came day 2....the day that DID NOTend!

Stay tuned...

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