Verizon SeaCliff, L.I.

(originally from July 2nd, 2008)

I got home really late from the Verizon last night out in SeaCliff, Long Island. We didn't wrap until 8pm and by the time we got back in the city, it was already a quarter after nine. The day itself wasn't bad in terms of our holding area and set. Though it was the usual waiting around and NON-Sag treatment making you feel like you are in prison, especially with the box lunches.

I thought the box lunches on Sunday were atrocious, though yesterdays' box lunches (if you want to call that crap lunch) was the worst yet. At least the boxes on Sunday were emblazoned in designer "Gucci" boxes that some people saved to bring home to be used as book ends.

On Sunday's "box O' Lunch" we at least had the illusion that we were getting a "bistro beef" sandwich which included a gourmet cookie wrapped specially in plastic with a cute little bow to seal it.

Yesterday's lunch was a white box and was basically we felt like we were having a"Conway/Rikers Island prison lunch!

Put it to you this way, I really felt like putting on one of those orange jumpsuits that we wore on the SVU episode to really get the feel of being in a prison cell.

Here is a picture of Linda demonstrating the Quality of the non-SAG food:

To make matters worse, there was one huge table in the front with simple hand snacks like chips, crackers with hummus, and some cheese with veggies.



Would you believe that they had a "SAG Food Nazi" guy guarding that table all day long just so NO NO-SAG person would touch it. This guy called "Sag Food security guy" was simply hired to stand by this table and guard it with his life all day!
Not kidding. It's like I understand if you want to guard the buffet lunch line, though to guard chips. It was amazing.

Our deluxe "Rikers Island" box had your choice of "Terrible Turkey or Tuna" and they did have some "V" boxes for those VERY annoying Vegetarians! Actually Vegetarians are one thing, it's really the "VEEgans" who are the most pickiest eaters.



Some people just got completely delirious and in absolute shock when opening up the box to discover the contents inside. Some grew extra arms! In fact here is Sloan demonstrating this phenomenon!








I was fortunate enough to get the "T" for Turkey. It consisted of a whole wheat wrap, a smashed up piece of coffee cake hand wrapped in saran wrap, an apple with a expiry date and yes of course our treats were Halloween "cement" candies from ten years ago. Looks like some Verizon employees contributed their fingers for desert! "Can you eat me now!"
The set itself, when we finally got there after being in holding for 7 hours was actually nice. From where we were in holding at this Catholic church/elementary school.

We all had to get on to the buses for less than a ten minute drive down the street to this beautiful tree-lined suburban residential area.

It was indeed a very quaint, very green, picturesque town of Sea Cliff L.I.

Then we stood there in the Verizon formation for about 45 minutes and were done. Linda did her own version of the "V" formation.






The trees gave us welcome shade to keep us out of the hot sun.


Also the humidity was low, so it wasn't that bad. Instead of sweating immediately, the "beading" of sweat was gradual and started at our feet due to the fact we were all wearing those heavy black Verizon boots. By the time we really felt the summer heat, we were wrapped.

The line for people to get on the bus and stupid people were saving seats for their SAG friends which was absolutely absurd considering the bus was going to take us back down the hill and around the corner back to holding.

When we got back to holding the real mess with returning stuff came. They have this new system now where you have to "Surrender" your license or federal state issued I.D. to get a Verizon shirt from this huge rack from wardrobe.



The reason they are doing this now is b/c the morons on Sunday's shoot weren't organized and people probably took off with their shirts still on in the rains. Still "Can you steal it now"??


What would one possibly do with a Verizon shirt, other than wear it??
I'm sure people take the shirts and climb up telephone poles
or knock on people doors to impersonate a Verizon employee!


For the money we get now and with the cheap lunch, they may as well hire the squirrels and pay them nuts!


A ;)

To view all the picutres taken on that day click the following link:

http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc165/Canada_Anne/Verizon_%20SeaCliff_Long_Island_%20June%202_2008/?albumview=slideshow&start=60

Verizon Under Construction

(Originally from June 29,2008)

I was booked on Verizon for Sunday. It has been a while since I have even been on a Verizon. The casting specifically asked for men to be completely clean shaven and NO earrings to be worn at all! This was great because those two factors automatically eliminated, the “UNI-Tooth” Rock Star wannabe/stuck in the 70’s hairdo, Gene Roberts. Gee what a shame!

Our holding area was outdoors by the science building on 26th and1st. The actual location for the shoot was at this construction site. After the rains, it was really muddy terrain. Everyone’s shoes were immersed in mud and one girl almost slipped down the slope/hill where we were to stand to be networkers.

Tension arose when the clouds were getting darker and the clap of Thunder was getting closer for the inevitable second blast of pouring rain. Amazingly enough we wrapped it up by the time the first droplet hit the ground. Then the real terror began....

The signing out process was perhaps the worst part of the day. Due to the rains, the sign out area became the lobby of this building. The maximum capacity was probably 50, not 200 people. The real chaos began when all these people were shoving to get signed out and THEN they announce that you have to give the shirts back to the truck before you sign out.

Luckily I beat the line and was out in seconds. Also luckily I got out of the line of fire where this fight between an extra and one of the P.A.s started heating up. What a mess.

Oh and did I mention that they had this industrial kitchen length grill outside with hamburgers, hotdogs, corn, and you name it grilling on a BBQ. The smells were amazing!

Something to look forward to..... Then Lunch came and the other P.A. was gracious enough to escort us behind this "green water fountain" !

The boxed lunches were secretly stashed behind some bushes in obscurity.

Yes that's right gourmet boxes for everyone! At least non-union. Meanwhile the Sag were already finishing up their BBQ spare Ribs and already using a toothpick to pick out the juicy meat stuck between their teeth.

Meanhwile us non-SAG had to deal with Our wonderful "Puke in a boX" which is demonstrated here:

It wasn’t a terrible time, being the fact that I had my friends to joke around with, though it is clear that the Verizon commercials budget are getting cheaper to serve us box lunches as opposed to gourmet buffet lines as they have in the past. Oh well.

Maybe we got spoiled in the past and now seeing that we get our lunch in a box, it’s not only demeaning though a reminder that you are non-union and are really nothing.


One day I will be in the union. I can’t wait to be in the union so I can complain and someone will actually listen!

A.
Sigh ;(