On the set of "CUPID" as Homeless patron (day 2)

(from Monday, January 19th)

I got my second day out of Cupid playing a homeless person. Either I'm really good at my role, or my picture up on casting networks is really that bad! The only good thing about playing the role of a homeless is that you don't have to get up too early to "pretty " yourself up.

Only a handful of people from Friday were selected to return on Monday. Still the message on Central Casting was even longer than Friday's. It was exactly 17 minutes long explaining how they wanted colors that "popped"!

The message went on and on how "Disney Homeless" are "Classy Homeless" and as should not have any holes in their wardrobe. Also they wanted colors that "POP". I can't stress this enough as it was SO ridiculous how many times she mentioned the word "Pop" on the hot line message line. I counted how many times she said the word "POP" in the 17 minute span. The count was 34 times!

So while we were in holding we had some fun and went through a list of things that POP! We toiled with everything from "Pop tarts to getting your Cherry Popped!" This game went on for a while and as we were amusing ourselves in our little circle of friends at our able, others were also mildly amused at our game.

You need something to pass time, and when it involves a good laugh, it's even better. In fact we did have a great time in holding that we couldn't stop laughing and took many silly pictures.

The few kids that were on set took it upon themselves to entertain and these three 10 year old girls spent over and hour doing charades with TV and movies as the topic. Those kids were really talented! As usual with all this stuff going on, I barely got through one page of my book and didn't even really listen to my ipod.

When things finally settled down, I talked to one of my favorite Pa's, Ellen. She is training to become first AD. She said HI to me immediately when I arrived that day. She knows me by name which is impressive b/c Anne is not a really unique name to remember.

She asked me how many waivers I still needed? I replied that I was embarrassed that I only have one. I really was and still am embarrassed. Truly. Some people do way less and get the SAG waivers for just breathing. I have done everything possible to get one to no avail. It's really depressing at this point. I am ready to give it all up.

So the way she asked me about the waiver felt as if she may help me out and give me a waiver. I have never asked her for one and I know how she hates people asking her for one. I was humble and didn't anticipate a thing, though I really thought I would have a breakthrough.

After already being in holding for over 8 hours, finally we were called up to set. It was the same soup kitchen we were in on Friday. This time we sat at different tables. I was directed by the AD to walk into the scene behind the main actress, who by the way kept flubbing up her lines. All I was thinking to myself was "And this is who gets the BIG bucks, amazing!"

Finally after she got her lines right, we got wrapped. I went downstairs and took my time returning wardrobe to make sure I was the last non-SAG person on line to sign out. I really thought I was going to get a waiver......I watched her write down the time and the lunch period, and then she signed it off for No -Union.. I WAS SO F'kin devastated, I have to tell you.

The way she asked me earlier about how many waivers I needed, I thought for sure that was leading to something. Obviously I was wrong. Even up on set my SAG friend Andi said I may get a waiver for where they placed me close to the principals.

Apparently not! If I was 20 years old and a size 2 barbie doll, I would have got that waiver NO questions asked. It really can be a cruel business, especially when you don't get ANY rewards for your efforts. It really blows. Times like this I wonder if I will EVER get into SAG.

Sigh ;(

On set of Cupid as Homeless Patron (day 1)

(from Friday January 16th)

I got called by Central Casting to work on the Disney/ABC show
"Cupid". I haven't worked on this show since December 1st of last year. This is the first job for me this year. I have submitted to SO many bookings to be in a fashion show, upper east siders, elite roles, etc..I can't get booked on any of these. What do I get booked as?? I got booked as a homeless person! Yes that's right when you think of a homeless look, give Canada Anne a call. What an insult! Since I really need the money, and am going crazy from not working consistently,I took the job, reluctantly.

Since this was Disney, they didn't want us homeless to look "Homeless". The production hot line insisted that we don't look like raggedy homeless and no obscenities as this is Disney. Also they kept insisting that they wanted bright colors that "popped" like pinks, greens and yellows.

So we had to be clean respectable looking homeless. This message from Central casting went on for 14minutes repeating over and over again the wardrobe criteria. You would think you were dressing for the Oscars how specific and how many changes they wanted for a homeless look. ..and the Oscars goes to.. the best dressed Homeless person!

It actually turned out to be a better day than expected. The best part was that we were indoors. Though I was prepared for the worst and was going to make friends with a SAG player because they always get the heated cardboard boxes!

Though even being indoors didn't protect us from the frigid icy cold of a day where it went down to 5F. Every time the crew and grips were rolling equipment through the church doors, you felt the frigid blast of frosty air zip through your bones and numb you instantly.Our scene was taking place in a soup kitchen.We were all really thrilled to be indoors and to be served the best "Food Kitchen Slop" ever. The trays they gave us with food got increasingly more putrid with each passing hour of food sitting out in room temperature and growing bacteria every moment.

Though we all stayed in character and held our trays and nose up high knowing that this was all for a paycheck. It sure is fun portraying a homeless when you know you have home to go back to. Some background really got a good "Whiff" of the rotting food:

Though with the little amount of work I have been getting lately, I have to wonder where I'm going to be a month from now. Where will any of us be?

On set of Cupid @ HellSGATE Studios, Queens

Rush calls and crappy shows that will bomb is all that seems to be coming in these days. What pisses me off the most is that you submit for all of these shows and say you are available and they don't call you.

Then in the morning in a panic attack with BOLD CAPS, they have ***RUSH CALL*** Must report immediately!!!! So you call these bitches at Central Casting and they are like "WHO told you to call!!!!" I tell her " I am calling about the Rush call..." (pause) Then she says.. "Well Jon doesn't do the Cupid Rush Call!!!!!!" (breath) "Give Shaniqua a call!" Meanwhile Shaniqua is right there in the office as I hear in the background someone calling her name.

I Interrupt and say bluntly "Do you need people or not!" Then she holds the phone to her chest and I could hear her whispering to Shaniqua! Finally I get transferred to Joanie who gives me a check in number and asks how long it will take me to get there. I tell her 15 minutes. Meanwhile I deliberately took over an hour getting ready on purpose.

So I finally get to the set and its filming here in Queens, though it's not Kaufman or Silver Cup Studios. Instead it's at "HELLGATE" studios all the way down by the east river by the Triboro bridge. The only good thing about this was that I could take the Q18 bus around the corner from here.

That bus ride was about 20 minutes. When I got on the bus, I asked the bus driver "Are you going to 2nd street???" He replied, "Oh you're going to CUPID." He said this in a way that he knew all about CUPID and the evil of it all, secretly thinking : "I know all about Cupid and you ARE going to have a Excruciatingly LONG day on set! Good Luck, thank God my shift is ending soon! ha ha Sucker!"

Turns out that Mr. Bus Driver was right! The original call time was at 6am and they went until 11pm! I'm not kidding. The only good thing about being on a RUSH call was that I got there at 10am, and that was still a long day.

The worst part about this was that this scene they were doing was actually a re-shoot of the show that they taped back in July over at Silver Cup Studios. The reason I remember this SO well was that they had a Mariachi Band on set. Well guess what?? The exact same Mariachi members were back and playing the same damn tune. IT was like an unwanted dejavu!

This is why this show IS going to bomb and be canceled within the first week of it's release. Too many re-shoots and plus it's already a re-make of the show back in the 90's starring Jeremy Piven that only lasted a week. Why even make a new version of this show?? It's called NO originality anymore. It's ALL CRAP!

On top of all this I am really getting tired about these guys bragging that they have nine waivers. So why don't they join SAG?? Probably lying. Through ALL this I am still stuck at one lousy SAG waiver. I hope they go on Strike. I will be the biggest SCAB!

A ;)

Cupid Coney Island Times Square Winter Scene

(originally from July 31, 2008)
I have not got too much work from Extra Mile this past month. In fact I haven’t heard from them since the beginning of July and then, finally I get a call from them. I was excited to hear from them and was expected to be booked on something good.

So I get ready with my pen and paper to take down my check in number and information. First I get my check in number and then I get told that I am being booked for the show Cupid, again.

Though this time it was going to be filmed at Coney Island for a New Year’s winter scene! They told us to bring winter hats, scarves, parkas, thermal etc in the 90 degrees ( 40 degrees Celsius)heat! I love it. It was SO crazy.

People came with suitcases full of big HUGE wool winter coats, scarves and hats! This one person brought winter hats and 4 heavy coats they lugged all the way from Jersey! My good Russian friend Natasha looked the best in her coat!

All I brought was a small bag with a leather jacket, the wool hat, and a small scarf. I can understand the outer layer has to look like a winter coat, though this does not mean you have to wear a thermal sweater underneath. I had to help some people out and tell them they didn't have to wear a long sleeve shirt underneath! These Newbies really need to be taught what you can get away with.

The reason they were doing the Time SQ scene there in the Key span parking lot of Coney Island was b/c they were shooting another scene simultaneously over by the Wonder wheel.

So they split half of us into groups for the scenes. I of course get the Times Square scene where they gave us New Years Eve balloons, noise makers, funky 2009 eye glasses, and other accessories to make the scene feel real.

There were also these two crazy gals who really got into character and wanted more accessories. I think they got escorted off set and joined the Coney Island Circus of Freaks!

It was actually fun as we did the countdown and when we got down to one, the ticker tape went off and all this confetti exploded in front of us covering everything up with all the rainbow of colors. I swear after doing the countdown over a hundred times, it was actually starting to get chilly and I felt I needed to put my shawl on!

It was not a bad night at all and the food was outstanding! They had these "Frenched" pork chops that were SO tender and juicy. It was mouth watering. It was So good that I jumped right in a sliced a big slab of it myself! This production was definitely not cheap and had one of the best spreads for food that I have had since Gossip Girls.

The first group that went to the Wonder wheel wrapped at 1am. The Times Square group were there until 3am. Still not bad considering we started at 7pm!

I honestly thought that at least a few people would be "passing out" wearing the winter coats. Only one person to my knowledge had to be taken off set to see the on-set medic. I tell you though for a SAG waiver I would have wore the heaviest parka and walk into a blazing fire! No one got the waivers on this set. Shame :(

The only thing that was horrible was the F train ride home which took one hour and 45 minutes at 4am! At least I can’t say it was a boring ride time went by fast watching the rats on the platform and witnessing a homeless man penetrating himself. Ewwwww.. It was SO gross. At least it was safe. This is why NYC has the "See something , Say something" campaign in effect! Though I don't think it works!

I got home and had to immediately take off my sweaty clothes and jump into the shower. Plus the dirty germs of the late night subway cars. If anything, at least on sets like these where you have to wear winter coats in July, you loose some weight!.

Amazing.
CA ;)

On the set of Cupid at Silver Cup Studios

(originally from July 30th, 2008)

This past week has been really busy. I was booked on this new pilot called "Cupid". This was a show back in the 90's that failed, so I have no idea why they are bringing it back. It originally debuted on September 26, 1998 on ABC. This is now a "new" version of Cupid and supposed to be better. http://tvseriesfinale.com/articles/cupid-abc-gives-second-chance-to-jeremy-piven-series/

I was already booked to work on Cupid for this Times Square scene with Winter wardrobe for Thursday night. I lucked out on Wednesday as my friend was on set and called me up to let me know that there were several people who didn't show up and to call up Central Casting.

The best part was that they were shooting at Silver Cup studios here in Queens!I call up Central Casting and at first she tells me that they can't use me. I basically pleaded with her and told her I can make it to the studio in 10 minutes. She was only going to offer me Thursday night Winter scene, which I was already booked on by another agency. I was like no thanks.

After 20 minutes go by, my phone rings and she tells me that they can use me after all and to get to Silver Cup Studios right away. So I got there in about half an hour and of course you get there and it really is no "rush" call and I ended up going to the crafty and getting some food before I was even needed in the scene.

It turned out to be a decent day. They had this bar set up and a stage where they had karaoke and a mariachi band set up. Being the fact it was a bar meant that it was indoors, air conditioned and places to sit down.

Also the food was amazing! Really one of the best catering that I've had in a while. So we went to holding and had our delicious meal and were pleasantly entertained by the mariachi band playing for us! I guess these Guys were "itching" to play as they couldn't play at all on set. On set they have to "fake" playing it and they put the sound in later. What a great treat that was!

After Lunch, we were on set for about a an hour and then we wrapped. The best part was that it only took me 15 minutes to get home from 23 st. Ely Ave on the V train!

Amazing! CA ;)

CA ;)