(Originally from August 7, 2008)
The biggest highlight or career thrill that I have had lately had to have been working on this Verizon Fios promo.
This wasn't the usual Verizon commercial where we sit around for 6 hours doing nothing and then they bring us 
to set. "Spock! What -is -this -FIOS??"
This guy is such a phenomenon and actually made an independent movie on handing out fliers. He is from Toronto and his real name is Mark Vistorino. I knew this guy when I was really young before I left Toronto to come to New York. I got my very first headshots done by him. Also one of my first sexual experiences. I also recall that he is someone who was SO out there, and eccentric, VERY interesting, and VERY hard to EVER forget. He was also the most self-destructive and mis-understood soul I ever came across. Though his relentless passion to become famous is perhaps something in my early influence that pushed me to come to New York in the first place to follow my dreams, which is why I am mentioning this at all. His energy and enthusiasm to hand out fliers was truly a sight. To think he made a successful career at handing out fliers. Guess anythings possible. Good for him. check out more on him go to:http://www.flyerman.com/pk2.html
...Back to Fios.... After about an hour of distributing the fliers, we get called back to our "command station" which was the holding area in Union Square area. We had lunch, which was a box lunch of sandwiches and wraps. Not a bad lunch considering how cheap Verizon commercials are these days for non-union.
Once lunch was done, all 300 of us were commissioned to go to the heart of Union Square to
demonstrate the Fios product. The demonstration was a success as we pretty much took over Union Square.
The way they had it set up was that they had two people hold up this wooden
frame with a hole in the middle to represent a TV Flat screen. So we were the background to represent the change of channels. There was this BIG guy (not as big as the remote) on the side pressing the buttons to indicate channel changes.
For instance if the guy pressed a button for Football we would start cheering, if they pressed another button for movies, we put our hands on our faces
to do the "home alone" look. Basically we were the TV and we were HDNY, with REAL digital effects! It was kind of cool. I tell you he should have changed the channel to the “O” channel for “Orgasm” b/c every time I was looking at that remote, I was feeling great! Again, who needs the Man, when you got the remote!
Our demonstration was interesting and I guess you could not have missed it being a passerby with all the people in one group doing Karate Chops simultaneously. However there was another demonstration just behind us which resulted in an NYPD arrest of this black guy trying to steal this salt and pepper shakers designed for drug use.
The rest of the day was a total wash-up, at least for the blue team. I was then sent to Bryant Park with my group. There was nothing to do or no point of handing out fliers there as there was a huge line wrapped around Bryant Park with kids and their families stationed and camping out for the Jonas Brothers Concert overnight for the next day.
I have to tell you this is the first time that I have even heard of the "Jonas Brothers".
Yet here were kids, ranging from age 8-14, all girls, with their parents waiting for this big event. I guess these "Jonas brothers" are similar to the group Menudo back in the days!
Since we had a cool group leader, we were told just to make ourselves scarce and be back by 7pm. So a couple of friends of mine went to this hair salon on 5th avenue. It was one of these hair salons where they really treat you like a princess and pamper you. We sat down and were offered drinks and used the internet. After all we needed a break. That remote can really wear you out.
Once we got our fill of the salon, it was time to move on to our next venture which was doing Yoga stretches on the 
lawn of Bryant Park. Yes, what better way to end an over-exerting day then to do a couple of Yoga stretches for the road.
As the day was winding down, we headed back to our command center at Union square and signed out. Now the fascination of the BIG remote was just merely a memory, a dream.
Sigh :(
The biggest highlight or career thrill that I have had lately had to have been working on this Verizon Fios promo.
This wasn't the usual Verizon commercial where we sit around for 6 hours doing nothing and then they bring us 
to set. "Spock! What -is -this -FIOS??" This was a promo and we were hired by a marketing company called "Two-dots" in California. 
The work was distributed thorough Barbra McNamara casting. As this was not a typical Verizon commercial, we had to do more paper work than usual. Drag! We had to join this agency and fill out "profile" forms on-line.
If that wasn't bad enough for computer illiterates, (insert computers for dummies) we had to print out and fax out W-9's (independent Contractor forms) out to California! Since I never fax anything, I kind of don't have a fax machine at home. I never fax anything these days. I felt like I needed an administrative assistant!
We started at 9am on Thursday morning. There were over 300 people lining up to find their name on their list and get situated. After I signed in as many of us do, we gravitate towards the side of the room where they had a breakfast of consisting mini-bagels,
mini muffins, and a big urn of coffee on the side. It was decent food, though the portions were small. I guess they don’t want too many “fatties” to represent their product!
After we feasted, we were then divided into groups with color coded wrist bands. The “Orange
group” 
was commissioned to wear the jumpsuits. I was assigned to the “Blue Team” and got the long sleeves cotton shirt which was great to wear in 90 degree day with humidity. I was ready willing and able to SWEAT!
The best "outfit" had to have been the humongous Remote
control with all these buttons on it.
The work was distributed thorough Barbra McNamara casting. As this was not a typical Verizon commercial, we had to do more paper work than usual. Drag! We had to join this agency and fill out "profile" forms on-line.If that wasn't bad enough for computer illiterates, (insert computers for dummies) we had to print out and fax out W-9's (independent Contractor forms) out to California! Since I never fax anything, I kind of don't have a fax machine at home. I never fax anything these days. I felt like I needed an administrative assistant!
We started at 9am on Thursday morning. There were over 300 people lining up to find their name on their list and get situated. After I signed in as many of us do, we gravitate towards the side of the room where they had a breakfast of consisting mini-bagels,
mini muffins, and a big urn of coffee on the side. It was decent food, though the portions were small. I guess they don’t want too many “fatties” to represent their product! After we feasted, we were then divided into groups with color coded wrist bands. The “Orange
group” 
was commissioned to wear the jumpsuits. I was assigned to the “Blue Team” and got the long sleeves cotton shirt which was great to wear in 90 degree day with humidity. I was ready willing and able to SWEAT!The best "outfit" had to have been the humongous Remote
control with all these buttons on it. In fact that remote should have been the winning prize for females who performed their duties the best. Who needs a Man when you got the remote? 
So many of us began fondling and stroking this beast of a remote. It was VERY fulfilling.
So many of us began fondling and stroking this beast of a remote. It was VERY fulfilling. I tell you that behemoth remote was my motivator. YES! OHH YES!!!
(Insert a few orgasms here) !!!
Once we got into our groups, we were quickly delegated throughout the city to various locations to distribute these fliers which advertised the promotion. You would think it is easy to hand out fliers though it gets exceedingly difficult with humidity and restless people
(especially around Wall Street) dodging you to avoid getting the flier.
Of course you get your overly ambitious people who want to hand out these fliers to everyone passing by and literally make you look bad for still having your first stack of fliers and they just went through 4 packs. Some people were just obnoxious placing these fliers on people’s tables that were sitting down and really couldn’t care less for any kind of flier as I’m sure they get fliers shoved in their face on a daily basis.
(Insert a few orgasms here) !!!
Once we got into our groups, we were quickly delegated throughout the city to various locations to distribute these fliers which advertised the promotion. You would think it is easy to hand out fliers though it gets exceedingly difficult with humidity and restless people
(especially around Wall Street) dodging you to avoid getting the flier.Of course you get your overly ambitious people who want to hand out these fliers to everyone passing by and literally make you look bad for still having your first stack of fliers and they just went through 4 packs. Some people were just obnoxious placing these fliers on people’s tables that were sitting down and really couldn’t care less for any kind of flier as I’m sure they get fliers shoved in their face on a daily basis.
Some guys were being a smart ass and put a stack of fliers in the postman's bag. Others offered 
the fliers to anyone including a homeless strolling by with their cart.
the fliers to anyone including a homeless strolling by with their cart. 
This guy is such a phenomenon and actually made an independent movie on handing out fliers. He is from Toronto and his real name is Mark Vistorino. I knew this guy when I was really young before I left Toronto to come to New York. I got my very first headshots done by him. Also one of my first sexual experiences. I also recall that he is someone who was SO out there, and eccentric, VERY interesting, and VERY hard to EVER forget. He was also the most self-destructive and mis-understood soul I ever came across. Though his relentless passion to become famous is perhaps something in my early influence that pushed me to come to New York in the first place to follow my dreams, which is why I am mentioning this at all. His energy and enthusiasm to hand out fliers was truly a sight. To think he made a successful career at handing out fliers. Guess anythings possible. Good for him. check out more on him go to:http://www.flyerman.com/pk2.html...Back to Fios.... After about an hour of distributing the fliers, we get called back to our "command station" which was the holding area in Union Square area. We had lunch, which was a box lunch of sandwiches and wraps. Not a bad lunch considering how cheap Verizon commercials are these days for non-union.
Once lunch was done, all 300 of us were commissioned to go to the heart of Union Square to
demonstrate the Fios product. The demonstration was a success as we pretty much took over Union Square.The way they had it set up was that they had two people hold up this wooden
frame with a hole in the middle to represent a TV Flat screen. So we were the background to represent the change of channels. There was this BIG guy (not as big as the remote) on the side pressing the buttons to indicate channel changes.For instance if the guy pressed a button for Football we would start cheering, if they pressed another button for movies, we put our hands on our faces
to do the "home alone" look. Basically we were the TV and we were HDNY, with REAL digital effects! It was kind of cool. I tell you he should have changed the channel to the “O” channel for “Orgasm” b/c every time I was looking at that remote, I was feeling great! Again, who needs the Man, when you got the remote!Our demonstration was interesting and I guess you could not have missed it being a passerby with all the people in one group doing Karate Chops simultaneously. However there was another demonstration just behind us which resulted in an NYPD arrest of this black guy trying to steal this salt and pepper shakers designed for drug use.
The rest of the day was a total wash-up, at least for the blue team. I was then sent to Bryant Park with my group. There was nothing to do or no point of handing out fliers there as there was a huge line wrapped around Bryant Park with kids and their families stationed and camping out for the Jonas Brothers Concert overnight for the next day.
I have to tell you this is the first time that I have even heard of the "Jonas Brothers".
Yet here were kids, ranging from age 8-14, all girls, with their parents waiting for this big event. I guess these "Jonas brothers" are similar to the group Menudo back in the days!Since we had a cool group leader, we were told just to make ourselves scarce and be back by 7pm. So a couple of friends of mine went to this hair salon on 5th avenue. It was one of these hair salons where they really treat you like a princess and pamper you. We sat down and were offered drinks and used the internet. After all we needed a break. That remote can really wear you out.
Once we got our fill of the salon, it was time to move on to our next venture which was doing Yoga stretches on the 
lawn of Bryant Park. Yes, what better way to end an over-exerting day then to do a couple of Yoga stretches for the road.As the day was winding down, we headed back to our command center at Union square and signed out. Now the fascination of the BIG remote was just merely a memory, a dream.
Sigh :(
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 
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.
Not kidding. It's like I understand if you want to guard the buffet lunch line, though to guard chips. It was amazing.
