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 ;)

Gloomy Gossip Girls

I got booked on that CW show, “Gossip Girls” for 2 days last week.

I was really happy and excited to get the call as I have been trying to get on this show forever as background, and I know they give SAG waivers out like candy. The other great news was that they shoot over by the Silver Cup Studios in Queens which takes me 15 minutes to get there.

I get there on Thursday, sign in with the PA to get my voucher, and grab a table where a few of my background friends were already occupying a table. We all had that look of “Yes finally our day has come!” That is to get a SAG waiver.

Because this show is under a SAG contract with AFTRA wages, waivers are given out like candy. We have heard from all our friends who have been on this set that they all got “waivered” for basically showing up on set.

Well wouldn’t you know it, the only time that I even get booked on “Gossip Girls” Production decides NOT to give the waivers. I was SO upset on Thursday after getting this news.

EVERYONE that has been booked on this show, and I mean everyone has received a waiver on this set just for getting out of bed! You can imagine how excited I was when I got booked for this the night before; just to be shot down like this. It was a total devastation. I thought for once I was on my way to getting into SAG and that my days of being a non-Union loser was over.

I was SO angry that I sent a nasty e-mail to Grant Wilfley Casting, mind you using a fake name, and blasting them about how they give waivers out to 20 year olds like candy, and how they can't even give us one.

Of course after hearing this news, we were trapped in holding area for 13 hours until they released us. The scene was for this Rock Concert where Lisa Loeb was the starring guest. We, the extras were cast as audience members. They used the exact same set that they use for the show “30 Rock”. So the set wasn’t bad, and I must say the food was amazing!

The spread they had has to be the ultimate best food ever. They had your typical buffet, though it was fit for a King's wedding feast. They had steak, chicken, a huge slab of pork on the cutting board. The salad station was this mountain of salads from your Caesar to Fancy roasted asparagus and peppers salad. This was gourmet to the nines.

Being the fact we were booked for the second day, and after learning that we were not getting any waivers, we decided to cash in on the food, and brought tupper wear and ziplock bags with us.

I came there to set with an empty bag, and I left with 20 pound bag loaded up with food. For one thing they were going to throw the food away, so we were doing them a favor. I thought I was being bad. This one Woman brought an empty suitcase and loaded it up!

You know I am just SO pissed about the waivers. I would rather have zero food and get the waiver. It was such a slap in the face and an embarrassment not to get waivered on the Gossip Girls.

It’s times like this that I wonder if I am wasting my time and will be in a walker wearing depends undergarments by the time I ever get one measly SAG waiver.

Sigh

CA=(