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,

Back To One

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...

Back To One

Bored to Death in Brighton Beach Day 2

So this was the second day booked on this show in Brighton Beach. After yesterday's experience I was dreading coming back. Though I got this booking from one of my favorite casting people, and I wasn't going to cancel if I was still on the list.

The voice mail message was released at midnight when I got home from "day 1". I thought for sure that my number was going to be called on the list to "not return" as I was NOT used at all the day before. As the message went on and he was reading the numbers that should not return, I barely made the cut for the numbers they needed, though I was IN! This meant I had to immediately get to bed so I could get up early and get there on time.

I woke up at a decent time to leave Queens and to get to Brooklyn. I did not want to be late and sent home.I gave myself much more extra time to get down to the area. In fact I got there too early. The doors to the restaurant where holding was located, was gated and locked and shut down.

I thought that I slept in and I was an entire day late as there was no sight of anybody there. No crew, no PA's, nobody. It felt like one of those Twilight Zone Episodes where there was some nuclear explosion the day before, this man was in a safe bomb shelter avoiding the explosion. He wakes up the next day to go outside only to find everything is shut down, and he is the only person alive.

Finally after about 15 minutes, someone came and opened the gates. I was relieved and was actually one of the first few people there to check in. So we checked in, and went to the breakfast truck to get some personalized omelette's at the "omelet station". Yes Thank-you HBO!


We returned to holding, sat down had our breakfast and went to wardrobe to get the dresses we were assgiend to wear the day before. I thought, "Great, another day of just sitting around and being treated like I'm in kindergarten class and be told what to do by a power hungry PA!" Well I was wrong..it turned out to be classic background day with much fun and surprises.....


After we got dressed, there was no time to wait around and we quickly got rushed to set. So we get to the set which was inside the Russian restaurant and of course we rush to get there only to wait outside in our dresses and heels on the boardwalk platform, where it was really chilly and overcast. Still at this point I was thinking " I will get through this!"

Finally we get directed to get on set and quietly proceed. We finally get into the restaurant and the tables were arranged differently. At first the PA is placing people, and then she gets called to do something else. We are just standing there feeling stupid and decide to "place ourselves" and sit down at this table which at the time we did not know that it would be the main shot for the day.


So my friend and I sat down and didn't expect anything and the PA didn't come around to throw us out of our seats. Shortly after we get situated, they bring out the principal actor, Jason. He ends up sitting directly across the table from where we are sitting! Nobody says anything about us sitting there and they begin the scene.

The scene was at this Russian restaurant. There are ten of us at this table eating, drinking, saluting, and just having a grand 'ol time. We are pretending to clink glasses and everyone is drunk and full of life. Jason's character is drunk and he is getting along with everyone and getting real chummy. This cute Russian waitress approaches the table to offer a plate of deserts.

He gestures to the waitress and asks her a question about a certain lady that sings there at the club to see if she is available for him to date. The waitress nods she will be here tomorrow night. Jason's' character is a happy drunk and of hearing this news, he gathers everyone at the table to raise their glasses and salute in Russian. So we all raise our glasses and cheer "Nazdrovje"!

What a great comic actor he is. IT was so much fun. From the get go, he is cracking jokes and making everyone feel important being there.The funniest part was that this much older woman was sitting right beside him and did not get any of the jokes or gestures he was making. Most of the jokes were the fact that this woman was clueless to what was going on.

On with the next scene.....

As if that wasn't enough fun, the best time was really yet to come. This time everyone was called to go to the middle of the dance floor of the restaurant. I was like oh great a dance scene. "Well Canada Anne doesn't dance!" While the crew took a break the AD was figuring out the scene. They were on the side, so my friend and I thought this was the opportune time to get up on that stage and get some poses!

The cool thing was that the microphone was one of those 1950's style they used for radio back in the day. I went up and did a quick few bars of the song "fever" and in my Marilyn Monroe pose. It felt great! Though it was for only a few moments. Even the bitchy "PMS PA" saw me up on the stage and didn't even say a word and just let me have my moment.

It was a short moment and it was done when the Director called everyone to the dance floor. We were instructed to form a circle after we dance a little and Jason would be in the center. In the circle Jason and his drunk Russian male partner would dance. And they danced. they danced Wildly, kicking their legs up. Doing the Russian dance.

Then it got even wilder. They got two chairs and they both sat down and were lifted up into the circle. It was just like going to a Jewish wedding. While the two guys were being lifted up we are all cheering and roaring and applauding.They had a bottle of vodka and were toasting each other while it was spilling all over the place. A couple of wild rounds of this and WOW what a day.

I was exhausted just being a part of it. Then we were told to go back to holding. I thought for sure that meant lunch and then we would have another 10 hours to go. Well I was gladly mistaken. Got to holding and "it was a wrap!" Yippee.


Got changed in my street clothes and went back to the "B" Train.

Back to one.