Rescue ME- "Lesbian Fighting scene" Day One

(from 3-17-09)
I was booked on the set of "Rescue Me" by Barbara McNamara casting for a 2-day shoot. The original casting was for "Butch" types. When I submitted to this I sent a picture of myself that I had of myself when I did a gig for biker commercial last year, where I was wearing a leather vest and a slutty, revealing top.

Really not my style, though of course I am not going to refuse a gig that pays. Also being that fact that this was "Rescue Me", and a Dennis Leary production, I knew that the food was going to be amazing!

I got the information and call times and was delighted to find out that this was going to be in Long Island City area, in Queens, which means walking distance for me! Finally something close by for me to get too. However the holding area was actually in Sunnyside Queens;the set was in L.I.C.

Actually I should rephrase that, the holding area where we were to brunch and lunch in was located over by the reform church in Sunnsyside. Our "holding" area for the entire rest of the day was on a bus.

We were stationed in Long Island City right off of Northern Blvd and 49th streets by Newtown road. I live on 49th st between 30 and 31st avenues, which was three blocks away from where the set was.

The actual set was indoors in this once functional mechanics garage. It was dirty, dusty, musty, oily and greasy with garbage on the sides, a couple of broken down old taxis, some on a lift, some just on the side. In the middle of the space, which was to be the centerpiece of the show, was of course the boxing ring.

The story line was how this "Lesbian Boxer" gets into the rink with a male boxer. We don't exactly know what occurred before this, though you get the impression that the male boxer was challenged by the female boxer to engage in this fight.

This premise made for an exciting day and this is one of the few times that I was actually eager to get on set. AS soon as we got off the bus, we wanted to be part of the action and got the "good folding chair VIP seats" in the center stage to view the fight.

So we sat their watched about ten minutes of the Lesbian fighting the male boxer and getting some good jabs in, as we the"Butch gals" cheered on for her. That was it! We were told to go back to the bus! At the time I was thinking that they would call us back shortly, so we should hang closely by.

Well would you believe that we ended up sitting on that bus for longer than anticipated. You can imagine how I felt considering ALL this time went by and I was staring down the road with the fact that I could be home in ten minutes! Yet I kept thinking to myself, as you always do, "Well What if they need us for the scene?" Yes.."What If" six hours later. Figures my luck the minute I cross the road, we will be called back, though that NEVER happened.

To make matters even worse, while we were sitting in the back of the bus and engaging in some decent conversation, and relaxing, a foul smell suddenly was being released from the bathroom of the bus. Yes that's right, someone did a number "2"!! Can you believe that??

First of all that is rude, and I personally would be mortified of embarrassment to even consider to do a "Number 2" on a confined space like a bus. So the person opens the door and starts laughing, to my surprise it was a female that produced this odor.

The smell was SO bad that we quickly evacuated off the bus. Luckily it was a really nice spring like day and we could hang outside. After several hours, and many bottles of febreeze, we went back into the bus, to get even more disturbing news.

We get a call from Barbra McNamara's casting office to tell us that since we were in the first scene for the "establishing shot" that they will not be needing us back tomorrow. I was like "HOLD EVERYTHING," getting angry, "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!"

I tried to be as diplomatic and calm as I possibly could, though I was really pissed. I mean I booked this and confirmed two weeks ago, and let go a day to work on "SALT" for this, to be told that because I DID my job, I am going to be punished for it. UN-believable!!!


After I vented severely, Lunch was called. The buses drove us back to the reform church where an amazing spread of food awaited us. I was still beyond angry, but I thought at least they have great food and I can stock up and bring some food home in the Tupperware I brought.

At least the food did not let us down, There was an array of salads, which included hot peppers with olives and wax bean salad which I really like. Then the main course has buffet servings of roasted potatoes, rice, Salmon, and beef sliced fresh from the slab of beef by the chef himself. The deserts were okay and they had banana cake and some cherry rhubarb pie.

I admit that the lunch made me feel better, but still I was not happy. For one thing I can't afford to lose a day of money. So we get back on the bus and my phone rings. It's Barbra McNamara casting's office. I was like "oh great, maybe it's Barbra herself calling because I was a little to rough on her employee. Answering the phone, I was preparing a "I'm sorry speech". To my surprise, it was the other employee calling me and basically told me that "Some of us were back on", and very secretly "Don't advertise this to anyone!"

I hung up the phone and did not say a word. We got back to the set location and the bus parked. With the "new" knowledge that we were not going to be used for the rest of the day, I quickly got my food in the Tupperware, and headed home, 3 blocks away, to put the food in the fridge.

I dropped the food off and headed back as I didn't want to get reprimanded. I got back and nothing changed. I could have gone shopping, seen a movie, knitted a sweater, in the time that we sat on the bus.

I was getting really "antsy" especially around 5pm when I was getting texts from my friend who was already at the local bar celebrating St. Patricks day. Then I thought to myself "Well Dennis Leary is Irish, he can't let us down on this day of all days!"

About an hour later, out P.A. came on the bus and said "All Non-Aftra is wrapped!" Alright Dennis! You Rock!!! I guess it was the "luck O' the Irish after all. I got signed out on the bus and immediately headed to the pub to join my friend.

All in a good days work.

Tomorrow, "Back to One".

A.