(From May 12, 2008)
Last night I was on a Burger King Commercial directed by Spike Lee. Guess since Obama is running for president and Farrakhan is known as a racist meanie in the media, Spike Lee decided to have some white folk in his commercial to avoid his own labels of being a racist and a short director.
Actually I have to say that working on this commercial, surprisingly turned into a very entertaining experience in more ways than one. Also pending on the way you define "Entertaining".
en·ter·tain·ing–adjective
affording entertainment; amusing; diverting:
Or my favorite....Seeing someone who is a complete fool fall apart and lose out on a great opportunity because of his own blatant stupidity. Thus I shall explain further….
The location was to shoot this commercial was over at the Burger King located in Flushing Queens off of Northern Blvd. Our holding area was approximately 6 blocks towards Roosevelt Ave. Now everyone got the same message on Leah from Extra Mile’s wonderful information line where she basically told us “You have a computer, figure out how to get there yourself”! I agree with her in many ways, however there are some “wayward souls” /idiots that don’t know how to use the computer.
Now, let’s back up a little bit…I am not a computer genius either, though I do know how to send attachments and use Google maps or hopstop.com! My seventy-year old Mother knows how to use a computer or at least call up information to figure how to get to a location. Well apparently everyone in the entire universe is able to find information and get to a call time, save for Gene Roberts and Crazy Al.
Now for those of you who don’t know Crazy Al, he is the Staten Island Patron Saint of “exacting” Menace and disturbance! I will never forget when I first saw Crazy all on the set of “Enchanted” where he acted like a “quality control” supervisor and tested all the bowls of chips and nuts on the buffet table and selectively putting it back with his grimy sweaty palms if it did not satisfy the growling beast’s palette.
After the beast finally satiates his huge appetite and calms the growls of his stomach, he then begins to regale to anyone in fear who will listen to his rants about the 911 conspiracy and how Senator Obama is on it. Some of his rants are outward nonsense, though it is again rather entertaining to listen to the verbiage of such a vile beast.
Now this beast snorted his way to set an hour after the production assistants announced that they were overbooked. To my amazement, the beast knew he did wrong, and the beast nonchalantly whimpered and walked out of the steel iron gates where the rest of us were being held captive for the night, and off he went without a sound.
The beast had now a new place in my heart. No more disdain for this foul creature from the “Island of Staten”. He is now in my good books. He has redeemed himself and his grimy palms from this fate. He was set free and now the beast is beautiful to me. Ok let’s not push it!
Let’s move over as now the fool, known as Gene Roberts, trollops in. Alas the fool who claims he was a big superstar in the 70’s and has a big record deal and will be releasing an album at best buy in the summer. Summer of what year, is still left to be determined.
So there he comes in after all of us already have received our vouchers, and hour late and prancing into the holding area as if he were a “Primed Prince” and he had the royal access to get there whatever time he wanted. Well surprise! Surprise! Oh Prince of Putrid Poo!... and absolute retarded directions probably given to you by your wife/manager known as the venemous VaL, no doubt!
I am really sorry that your horse and carriage arrived at the holding destination an hour late and you were sent home! Not! You deserve it. For the Universe pays attention to those who pay attention and can find their way without too much guidance from the planet Mars!
The universe does not take kind to Pathetic losers, who were born and raised in New York, and STILL can’t find their way to Flushing Queens! Amazing! Leave it to the foreigners, the detectives, and land surveyors to find this new land called Flushing Queens! Again, Amazing. Again, Entertaining to see this all unfold in front of me. What did he think his “UNI-tooth” would get him out of this mess. I think not! Again, entertaining and soothing in knowing the Universe does take care of things and fools.
Enough of that, the rest of the night turned out to be decent. When we arrived we were offered wraps in boxes of our choice which included Turkey, Tuna or surprise. The surprise was three day old macaroni or chick pea salad with a rock hard brownie wrapped in used saran wrap. We all thought that was going to be the meal for the night and that Spike was hoarding all the Whoppers!
Crazy Al and idiot Gene Roberts were gone by the time the darkness of the night set in. Soon there were several nine-passenger vans taking us to set in the groups that were assigned to us.
When we got to set, there were over 200 of us standing around in the parking lot of the Burger King, waiting for some action to happen. Sure enough this was just a “test run” and nothing significant happened, until later.
Basically we stood around for about an hour or so hanging out in the parking it where we felt like “teenage kids” when we hung out in Burger joints as we were too young to drink. It turned out to be a nostalgic kind of actually fun as my good friend Linda had her IPOD on her and we shared the earphones listening to “You shook me ALL night Long” by AC/DC! So there we were belting out the song as there everyone was n their group with the “Slickster” the “talkers” The guys with great cars that always showed off and got the hottest chicks.
Of course there were the lovers. In our group Shari and Mike Bell represented the fresh new lovers. They represented the days of innocence with their unconditional attachment to each other.
They were like “Siamese twins” who are con-joined by the hip. They represented something special and very deep. They told us all a story of something familiar to each and every one of us observing. Even though it was getting a little too wholesome and loving for anyone, we all feigned a tidbit of jealously while reminiscing perhaps of a place that we could re-capture a time, a place that brought us comfort and love at one time.
This was the type of reverie that really made this set stand out from most in terms of acceptance and memories and took us back to that place and time that made us feel real. Myself I was lost in the senses while listening to Linda’s’ IPod and listening to the songs, brought me to that place in time where I once felt alive, and it felt great!
After bringing all of us on the set, just to measure space, they cut for lunch at 9pm and a plethora of people braving the huge trek back to holding, marched back where a decent buffet style meal of pasta, salads and select meat was waiting for us.
The rest of the night was just as fun with the scene we had to do. The PA’s had us positioned on the side, some of us on the other side of the parking lot. Others were on the other side of the BK store in the cars were positioned awkwardly to represent a car jam.
On the mark get set go!!! Zoom!!!! Everyone dashed, sprinted, pushed shoved and screamed to get into the BK store. The acting was really good on this part, mainly because it was chilly outside and people were dashing to catch a glimpse of heat inside the store for some relief. It was pretty funny and wild.
The night didn’t turn out to be that long and considering we were all revved up every time we went “back to 1” , to charge into the store, it turned out to be a decent shoot.
The best part was when they finally called “check the gate” and we wrapped! People stormed back running to holding which was over 6 blocks away.
Linda and I dashed into one of the first vans and like the “A-Team” the van ripped and roared out of the parking lot running over anything in its path. Hey a couple of non-union extras are a dime a dozen.
The best part was actually seeing the idiot Gene Roberts leave! Hehehehe…
Ah…Karma..Thanks again. Also thanks to the Universe as it promises to do the handy work and “FIX” problems for me without me ever having to lift a finger!
A .
Monday, May 26, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
On the set of "Hancock"
(filmed on May 10, 2008)
Last night I was on another Will Smith movie titled "Hancock". This movies trailer is apparently out already and will be released in July, 08. So last night’s movie was basically a re-shoot for the very last scene of the movie.
What a HUGE production it turned out to be!!! Our Holding area was at this highschool over on 46th street btw 6th and 7th which is around the corner of Times Square!
When I got to the decent call time of 6:30 pm, already over 200 people were situated in the auditorium of the building. I went and checked in. I got to the check in line at a quarter to 7pm and there was still a huge line of non-union people checking in.
In knowing how these lines work and that people would still be in the line-up, I took my time getting there. I must make a note that this production was great to work on, though this was the absolute record slow check in and out line of all time!!!!
I may as well have shown up at 8pm, b/c they were still checking people in at that time. I at least got there in time enough for the food, which was good. They had a "Crew only" truck where they were serving hamburger and hot-dogs on an outside BBQ grill fresh!
So you know how Nazi they can be and are very territorial about their meat. I just walked by and headed to the "background only" tent where I expected to get rice and beans or the usual delicacy of skittles!
To my surprise, these Mexican caterers were grilling away burgers, sweating and flipping away burgers to your liking. A good portion of processed flesh on a fresh bun with a wide array of fresh condiments to choose from! The tomatoes were fresh as were the onions and I think the Pickles must have been kosher because the local Rabbi stopped by to bless them just to make them extra special!
Inside the holding area was way too warm to hang out, so I stayed outside by the catering by the stoops, sat down with My Polish friend Basha until we were called to go on set.
The set was right in the heart of Times Square on a Saturday night, so you can imagine what a nightmare it was just to get to the "island" in the middle by the ABC building. What even made it more challenging were the throngs of people lined up over 10 deep on both sides waiting for Will Smith to arrive.
There were so many people that you thought you were at a major event like the Macy's Day parade or at the countdown for a New Years bash. There were So many cops on set to try and keep the people back.
Still that didn't control the overly ambitious fans from sneaking behind the barricades to snap a picture of Will or to get his autograph. As soon as Will Smith's car pulled on the side by the island, he got out and these people went absolutely nuts!
One overly eager group of tourists from Arkansas actually had the nerve to pull up to the side off the island, park their car, get out and attempt to get Will Smiths autograph. These people almost made it up to Will, though the security held them back in time.
I was at the best possible spot on the island and very close to Will Smith. I was on set with my friend Julia's' Mother and her 3 year old son. Julia came by with her Mother who was already booked on this to try and get her son on it. Julia tried to get on it as well, though according to the law, if a child is booked they need someone "off" set to be able to take the child home after the time allotted for a child to work in NY state.
So I basically became "Surrogate Mom" and had to hold her Son up for every scene. Now he is a big kid (45lbs) and it got very tiring and exhausting having to lift up the kid every time they called "background action".
The bonus of having a child with me was that I got right up close in the scene with Will Smith. Since the scene called for other kids running up to him and forming a circle to get his autograph as he is depicted as a superhero in this film where he was wearing this rubber "Michael Jackson" skin tight outfit.
So I ran up to the circle while holding Julia's son and shoved my way through so the kid could "high-five" and make contact with Will Smith. I didn't have to do that much as the kid was aggressively pushing his way in the crowd to get to Will. It worked though because the kid got on camera, which means so did I!
I have to admit it was a really cool feeling being on that island with Will Smith while all these spectators were watching and wishing they could be in our spot! It was a crazy night, though well worth it and for once a good experience on a Will Smith movie, unlike "Legend" where we froze our asses off last year!
Last night I was on another Will Smith movie titled "Hancock". This movies trailer is apparently out already and will be released in July, 08. So last night’s movie was basically a re-shoot for the very last scene of the movie.
What a HUGE production it turned out to be!!! Our Holding area was at this highschool over on 46th street btw 6th and 7th which is around the corner of Times Square!
When I got to the decent call time of 6:30 pm, already over 200 people were situated in the auditorium of the building. I went and checked in. I got to the check in line at a quarter to 7pm and there was still a huge line of non-union people checking in.
In knowing how these lines work and that people would still be in the line-up, I took my time getting there. I must make a note that this production was great to work on, though this was the absolute record slow check in and out line of all time!!!!
I may as well have shown up at 8pm, b/c they were still checking people in at that time. I at least got there in time enough for the food, which was good. They had a "Crew only" truck where they were serving hamburger and hot-dogs on an outside BBQ grill fresh!
So you know how Nazi they can be and are very territorial about their meat. I just walked by and headed to the "background only" tent where I expected to get rice and beans or the usual delicacy of skittles!
To my surprise, these Mexican caterers were grilling away burgers, sweating and flipping away burgers to your liking. A good portion of processed flesh on a fresh bun with a wide array of fresh condiments to choose from! The tomatoes were fresh as were the onions and I think the Pickles must have been kosher because the local Rabbi stopped by to bless them just to make them extra special!
Inside the holding area was way too warm to hang out, so I stayed outside by the catering by the stoops, sat down with My Polish friend Basha until we were called to go on set.
The set was right in the heart of Times Square on a Saturday night, so you can imagine what a nightmare it was just to get to the "island" in the middle by the ABC building. What even made it more challenging were the throngs of people lined up over 10 deep on both sides waiting for Will Smith to arrive.
There were so many people that you thought you were at a major event like the Macy's Day parade or at the countdown for a New Years bash. There were So many cops on set to try and keep the people back.
Still that didn't control the overly ambitious fans from sneaking behind the barricades to snap a picture of Will or to get his autograph. As soon as Will Smith's car pulled on the side by the island, he got out and these people went absolutely nuts!
One overly eager group of tourists from Arkansas actually had the nerve to pull up to the side off the island, park their car, get out and attempt to get Will Smiths autograph. These people almost made it up to Will, though the security held them back in time.
I was at the best possible spot on the island and very close to Will Smith. I was on set with my friend Julia's' Mother and her 3 year old son. Julia came by with her Mother who was already booked on this to try and get her son on it. Julia tried to get on it as well, though according to the law, if a child is booked they need someone "off" set to be able to take the child home after the time allotted for a child to work in NY state.
So I basically became "Surrogate Mom" and had to hold her Son up for every scene. Now he is a big kid (45lbs) and it got very tiring and exhausting having to lift up the kid every time they called "background action".
The bonus of having a child with me was that I got right up close in the scene with Will Smith. Since the scene called for other kids running up to him and forming a circle to get his autograph as he is depicted as a superhero in this film where he was wearing this rubber "Michael Jackson" skin tight outfit.
So I ran up to the circle while holding Julia's son and shoved my way through so the kid could "high-five" and make contact with Will Smith. I didn't have to do that much as the kid was aggressively pushing his way in the crowd to get to Will. It worked though because the kid got on camera, which means so did I!
I have to admit it was a really cool feeling being on that island with Will Smith while all these spectators were watching and wishing they could be in our spot! It was a crazy night, though well worth it and for once a good experience on a Will Smith movie, unlike "Legend" where we froze our asses off last year!
Friday, May 9, 2008
My First SAG Waiver!!!!!
(originally from April 30th, 2008)
Well it FINAllY happened for me, I got my first waiver yesterday on a film shoot out in New Haven, Connecticut!!!!
It's true when they say "life is what happens when you are making plans" because I was on the set of Pelham 123 expecting to have a hellish night being trapped in Grand Central terminal all night long for the HIJack scene they were getting ready to shoot.
Then praise St. Agnes, the church where holding was, because my prayers were answered. All of a sudden, a girlfriend of mine gave me a call while I was in holding and asked "What are you doing tomorrow?" I replied, I am going to be held hostage at 
Grand Central station!" and you???
She then told me about this opportunity and I was not going to let this go. She submitted my name to Grant Wilfley Casting. Seconds later I got a call from them and was booked on this movie “Everybody's fine” starring Robert Deniro. Without knowing how I was going to work out the logistics of getting there, I told her "YES, I'll do it!"
I ditched the Pelham set. Got on the train where they were shooting the scene and kept going back to Queens to get my clothes for the next day. It turned out that the call time was at the sharp early call time of 6am. This meant that I had to be on the move and get to Newark NJ Penn station where my Friend was going to pick me up to drive to Connecticut.
I left Queens at 1am, thinking that would be enough time to get to Newark...I was highly mistaken. When I got to the Path train stop, a train was there about to pull out and I raced to get on it. Unfortunately I have never used the Path train before and didn’t realize that the machine doesn’t take an unlimited metro card.
So I had to go to the Metro card kiosk and buy a $10 dollar card. By the time I did that, the train pulled out. My mouth dropped knowing that now there was NO way I would make it to Newark Penn station by 3am.
I called up my friend who was to pick me up, and she said she couldn’t wait because she had two other people to pick up. My heart was racing, my palms were sweaty and I was panicking at this point. I thought my trip was going to end right there. Then I was thinking to myself, “I already sacrificed a paying gig for this and in NO WAY am I going to lose this opportunity!!” I am on a SAG WAIVER MISSION FROM GOD!!!!!
I went to the nearest ATM machine, and withdrew some money. Thankfully I just got my t
ax return refund in my checking. I went back out to 34th St, and hailed a cab to Connecticut!!!
Then praise St. Agnes, the church where holding was, because my prayers were answered. All of a sudden, a girlfriend of mine gave me a call while I was in holding and asked "What are you doing tomorrow?" I replied, I am going to be held hostage at 
Grand Central station!" and you???She then told me about this opportunity and I was not going to let this go. She submitted my name to Grant Wilfley Casting. Seconds later I got a call from them and was booked on this movie “Everybody's fine” starring Robert Deniro. Without knowing how I was going to work out the logistics of getting there, I told her "YES, I'll do it!"
I ditched the Pelham set. Got on the train where they were shooting the scene and kept going back to Queens to get my clothes for the next day. It turned out that the call time was at the sharp early call time of 6am. This meant that I had to be on the move and get to Newark NJ Penn station where my Friend was going to pick me up to drive to Connecticut.
I left Queens at 1am, thinking that would be enough time to get to Newark...I was highly mistaken. When I got to the Path train stop, a train was there about to pull out and I raced to get on it. Unfortunately I have never used the Path train before and didn’t realize that the machine doesn’t take an unlimited metro card.
So I had to go to the Metro card kiosk and buy a $10 dollar card. By the time I did that, the train pulled out. My mouth dropped knowing that now there was NO way I would make it to Newark Penn station by 3am.
I called up my friend who was to pick me up, and she said she couldn’t wait because she had two other people to pick up. My heart was racing, my palms were sweaty and I was panicking at this point. I thought my trip was going to end right there. Then I was thinking to myself, “I already sacrificed a paying gig for this and in NO WAY am I going to lose this opportunity!!” I am on a SAG WAIVER MISSION FROM GOD!!!!!
I went to the nearest ATM machine, and withdrew some money. Thankfully I just got my t
ax return refund in my checking. I went back out to 34th St, and hailed a cab to Connecticut!!! Yes this was a costly venture, though WELL worth it!!
Since it was really early in the morning, the commute turned out not to be that bad. It was a little scary though on the I95 Interstate with all the trucks racing really fast past you and shaking the car up a bit.
I got there at the ripe early morning time of 4:30 am. When I got there nobody was there, save for the catering truck that just pulled in the driveway to set up his station.
Eventually a guy came to open up the door where the holding area was. I grabbed myself a set inside and waited for the day to begin.
Hours later, people started coming in. We were checked in the wardrobe line and shortly after went to set.
The scene was held at the Union Station around the corner and we were cast to be commuters going to Chicago via Amtrak.
In the scene Robert Deniro is talking to his Daughter as she is 10 years old. We had to walk past them over and over and over again. Once they “Checked the Gate” on that, we thought we were finished though, we had to do the entire same scene over and over again with his Daughter now in her present age as a grown-up adult, played by Kate Beckinsale.
It was an extremely long and tiresome day, though knowing that we were getting SAG wages for this made a huge world of difference. It was nice to know that we were getting paid for lunch penalties, wardrobe, overtime, etc. Put it to you this way, it would take 3 days on a Non-union set to make what I did on that one day.
It was such an incredible feeling that I finally got the one waiver that puts me on that map. I waited SO long for this and I am SO happy that all my hard work has finally paid off. Even though I still need 2 more waivers, I have one now as opposed to having zero.
Just when I was really going to “pack it on” and give this all up, I get blessed with this opportunity.
Now I am hungry more then ever before to pursue this path. Just when I thought this dream was dead, it has revived. My SAG WAIVER MISSSION from God is here. Two MORE to go!!!!!
Since it was really early in the morning, the commute turned out not to be that bad. It was a little scary though on the I95 Interstate with all the trucks racing really fast past you and shaking the car up a bit.
I got there at the ripe early morning time of 4:30 am. When I got there nobody was there, save for the catering truck that just pulled in the driveway to set up his station.
Eventually a guy came to open up the door where the holding area was. I grabbed myself a set inside and waited for the day to begin.
Hours later, people started coming in. We were checked in the wardrobe line and shortly after went to set.
The scene was held at the Union Station around the corner and we were cast to be commuters going to Chicago via Amtrak.
In the scene Robert Deniro is talking to his Daughter as she is 10 years old. We had to walk past them over and over and over again. Once they “Checked the Gate” on that, we thought we were finished though, we had to do the entire same scene over and over again with his Daughter now in her present age as a grown-up adult, played by Kate Beckinsale.
It was an extremely long and tiresome day, though knowing that we were getting SAG wages for this made a huge world of difference. It was nice to know that we were getting paid for lunch penalties, wardrobe, overtime, etc. Put it to you this way, it would take 3 days on a Non-union set to make what I did on that one day.
It was such an incredible feeling that I finally got the one waiver that puts me on that map. I waited SO long for this and I am SO happy that all my hard work has finally paid off. Even though I still need 2 more waivers, I have one now as opposed to having zero.
Just when I was really going to “pack it on” and give this all up, I get blessed with this opportunity.
Now I am hungry more then ever before to pursue this path. Just when I thought this dream was dead, it has revived. My SAG WAIVER MISSSION from God is here. Two MORE to go!!!!!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Pelham 456
(originally from April 19,2008)
I was on the set of Pelham 123 all day on Saturday. It was an extremely early call time of 5:30 am. The worst part was that set was all the way down town by the wall street area, which is a huge drag to get to, especially when the trains go at a snails pace.
I got up at 3:30 am, barely getting any sleep as I was worried I would not hear the alarm. I forced myself out the door by 4am, walking into the dark streets and praying that I would not get attacked on the way to the subway.
The streets were desolate, save for one or two stragglers. I got to the subway and there was one guy intoxicated in the corner and another foreigner waiting for the "R" train which at that time never comes until 6am. Though he thought that the drunk guy would give him better information, then it's your problem.
After 45 minutes waiting on the subway platform, a light was coming through the tunnel and the "E" for Evil train was approaching. Late at night this "E" train goes on the local tracks and is the only way in to the city.
The reason why it is indeed "EVIL" is because this train, because it runs all night, collects all the riff-Raff's and the homeless who set up their kitchen and dining room sets in the subway cars. The more they dwell the more putrid the stench gets on these trains. This is why if you get a car that is empty, and the other one packed with people, there is a reason for it.
Anyways, when I entered the subway I was very surprised to see a fellow Background actor, this older man, on the same car. He must have come from 3 stops earlier from Roosevelt ave Stop. This was great because I sure did not want to be alone on that subway.
When your on the "E" train, something always happens. This time the train stopped for quite a while at W. 4th station in Manhattan. We looked out the doors and there was this black guy in handcuffs, pinned down with his face to the floor by an undercover officer. Probably a drug bust! It's good to know that the NYPD is working and making arrests at 4am!
We finally got off the train and at our stop at World Trade Center. It exits out to the Wall Street are. Normally this area is jam packed with people, though at this time it is a desolate ghost town. As we walked out, I saw my friend Julia talking to a security guard and asking directions. I called out to her and the three of us ventured off to the set holding area which was at a restaurant called The Mercantile Grill on 126 Pearl St.
I was thinking when I first got the address that there would not be so many people considering it's a restaurant. However this restaurant had 3 floors with over 35 seating capability on each floor.
The SAG holding was on the first two floors and of course Non-Sag was all the way on the top where we had to climb all these stairs to get to that we needed a defibrillator by the time we got to the top. Okay so it wasn't that bad. Still at 5 am, walking up any flights off stairs can be hazardous to your health!
They did have a breakfast buffet provided for both Sag and non-Sag outside though by the time we walked the food upstairs to our table, we were soon called to go to wardrobe. The wardrobe line was another adventure indeed. The line started outside on the other side of the street and "snaked" all the way inside to 3 wardrobe people.
The thing was Myself as many others were cast as business casuals, so unless you are wearing a hot pink fedora with a matching boa, I don't see why this line took 2 hours to get through. It really was a long time down there as I got into wardrobe while it was still pitch dark and it was daylight by the time I got through it.
Finally after that process was over, the P.A. s hauled us over to another holding area which was closer to set. This holding area had no food. Though they did have cases of baby Poland Spring water. Then we sat around and sat some more. This holding area was in the underground of a mall complex and I'm sure that this area is highly congested during the regular work day.
After couple of hours went by and they brought us all upstairs to set. On the list I was originally cast as a "parent" and had a low number of 10, so I thought for sure this was going to be waivered. They booked me as for this part, though I had no kids plus I got no waivers either!
When we got outside, nobody had any real parts save for being cops,spectators, journalists, paparazzis, and general non-descript "fillers" as the majority of us were. . I thought that was pretty funny. All the cops of course were SAG. In fact a friend of mine Theresa, who I used to get rides with to some sets in Jersey last year is now SAG. Many people, and friends of mine are either SAG eligible or have just begun attending "SAG University".
It's SO depressing when you see how many people have made it to "the other side" and you are still left behind. I feel at times as if I failed a grade and am being held back and I have been placed with the retarded kids on the short bus! To make you feel even worse about the waivers, you hear about these foreigner's who don't speak English, just got off the boat and get 3 waivers within starting this business! Amazing!
As for the rest of the day, it was really long with the scene they were shooting. The P.A.s had to deal with the picture cars, real traffic, and on-lookers/tourists. The scene involved having the mayor of New York driving in with his huge entourage in a line of motorcades. The cars stop by the MTA building where the driver gets out of the car and opens the door to the first car where the mayor is in. The mayor who gets out of the car is none other than James Gandolfini
He aims towards the entrance of the MTA building where he is swarmed by paparazzi, journalists and us the spectators all yelling out in outrage. He walks briskly through surrounded by his entourage walks by us all as we are all barricaded back by those "Police do not cross" lines. A couple of the journalists stop him in his tracks screaming out "what about the bomb". The mayor, makes a quick stop and shouts "There is no bomb"! and continues walking quickly to the entrance of the building to get out of this mess.
This was the main scene for the entire day. What took so long of course was shooting this from different angles. The other scene with Denzel Washington was much shorter. I didn't even know he was there. That's how short that scene was.. As for the other scene...
We ended up wrapping at 7pm. Considering we started at 5:30am, that was a really long day. They did feed us in a buffet style food line. Food was decent, though not A plus. Perhaps a C minus. I should be a food critic on these sets! LOL.
The only good thing about a day shoot is that you know they have to "wrap it up" before the sun goes down. So it was. We were there shooting this scene until they (Film people) soaked up every last inch of sun to get the shot they wanted. Some people literally soaked up the sun.
A couple of my friends who were cast as paparazzis were right in the front, all day long. This of course meant they were in the sun all day long. Getting close to the last hour, I could see my friend Owen's forehead beaming off a bright red hue. I'm so glad I stuck in the background by the shade as I can't handle the sun too well. I am pale and I want to stay that way. In fact near the late afternoon hours, this gay Irish friend of mine who also does not do the sun so well, kept inching back every time the sun would increase on our side of the street!
I was on the set of Pelham 123 all day on Saturday. It was an extremely early call time of 5:30 am. The worst part was that set was all the way down town by the wall street area, which is a huge drag to get to, especially when the trains go at a snails pace.
I got up at 3:30 am, barely getting any sleep as I was worried I would not hear the alarm. I forced myself out the door by 4am, walking into the dark streets and praying that I would not get attacked on the way to the subway.
The streets were desolate, save for one or two stragglers. I got to the subway and there was one guy intoxicated in the corner and another foreigner waiting for the "R" train which at that time never comes until 6am. Though he thought that the drunk guy would give him better information, then it's your problem.
After 45 minutes waiting on the subway platform, a light was coming through the tunnel and the "E" for Evil train was approaching. Late at night this "E" train goes on the local tracks and is the only way in to the city.
The reason why it is indeed "EVIL" is because this train, because it runs all night, collects all the riff-Raff's and the homeless who set up their kitchen and dining room sets in the subway cars. The more they dwell the more putrid the stench gets on these trains. This is why if you get a car that is empty, and the other one packed with people, there is a reason for it.
Anyways, when I entered the subway I was very surprised to see a fellow Background actor, this older man, on the same car. He must have come from 3 stops earlier from Roosevelt ave Stop. This was great because I sure did not want to be alone on that subway.
When your on the "E" train, something always happens. This time the train stopped for quite a while at W. 4th station in Manhattan. We looked out the doors and there was this black guy in handcuffs, pinned down with his face to the floor by an undercover officer. Probably a drug bust! It's good to know that the NYPD is working and making arrests at 4am!
We finally got off the train and at our stop at World Trade Center. It exits out to the Wall Street are. Normally this area is jam packed with people, though at this time it is a desolate ghost town. As we walked out, I saw my friend Julia talking to a security guard and asking directions. I called out to her and the three of us ventured off to the set holding area which was at a restaurant called The Mercantile Grill on 126 Pearl St.
I was thinking when I first got the address that there would not be so many people considering it's a restaurant. However this restaurant had 3 floors with over 35 seating capability on each floor.
The SAG holding was on the first two floors and of course Non-Sag was all the way on the top where we had to climb all these stairs to get to that we needed a defibrillator by the time we got to the top. Okay so it wasn't that bad. Still at 5 am, walking up any flights off stairs can be hazardous to your health!
They did have a breakfast buffet provided for both Sag and non-Sag outside though by the time we walked the food upstairs to our table, we were soon called to go to wardrobe. The wardrobe line was another adventure indeed. The line started outside on the other side of the street and "snaked" all the way inside to 3 wardrobe people.
The thing was Myself as many others were cast as business casuals, so unless you are wearing a hot pink fedora with a matching boa, I don't see why this line took 2 hours to get through. It really was a long time down there as I got into wardrobe while it was still pitch dark and it was daylight by the time I got through it.
Finally after that process was over, the P.A. s hauled us over to another holding area which was closer to set. This holding area had no food. Though they did have cases of baby Poland Spring water. Then we sat around and sat some more. This holding area was in the underground of a mall complex and I'm sure that this area is highly congested during the regular work day.
After couple of hours went by and they brought us all upstairs to set. On the list I was originally cast as a "parent" and had a low number of 10, so I thought for sure this was going to be waivered. They booked me as for this part, though I had no kids plus I got no waivers either!
When we got outside, nobody had any real parts save for being cops,spectators, journalists, paparazzis, and general non-descript "fillers" as the majority of us were. . I thought that was pretty funny. All the cops of course were SAG. In fact a friend of mine Theresa, who I used to get rides with to some sets in Jersey last year is now SAG. Many people, and friends of mine are either SAG eligible or have just begun attending "SAG University".
It's SO depressing when you see how many people have made it to "the other side" and you are still left behind. I feel at times as if I failed a grade and am being held back and I have been placed with the retarded kids on the short bus! To make you feel even worse about the waivers, you hear about these foreigner's who don't speak English, just got off the boat and get 3 waivers within starting this business! Amazing!
As for the rest of the day, it was really long with the scene they were shooting. The P.A.s had to deal with the picture cars, real traffic, and on-lookers/tourists. The scene involved having the mayor of New York driving in with his huge entourage in a line of motorcades. The cars stop by the MTA building where the driver gets out of the car and opens the door to the first car where the mayor is in. The mayor who gets out of the car is none other than James Gandolfini
He aims towards the entrance of the MTA building where he is swarmed by paparazzi, journalists and us the spectators all yelling out in outrage. He walks briskly through surrounded by his entourage walks by us all as we are all barricaded back by those "Police do not cross" lines. A couple of the journalists stop him in his tracks screaming out "what about the bomb". The mayor, makes a quick stop and shouts "There is no bomb"! and continues walking quickly to the entrance of the building to get out of this mess.
This was the main scene for the entire day. What took so long of course was shooting this from different angles. The other scene with Denzel Washington was much shorter. I didn't even know he was there. That's how short that scene was.. As for the other scene...
We ended up wrapping at 7pm. Considering we started at 5:30am, that was a really long day. They did feed us in a buffet style food line. Food was decent, though not A plus. Perhaps a C minus. I should be a food critic on these sets! LOL.
The only good thing about a day shoot is that you know they have to "wrap it up" before the sun goes down. So it was. We were there shooting this scene until they (Film people) soaked up every last inch of sun to get the shot they wanted. Some people literally soaked up the sun.
A couple of my friends who were cast as paparazzis were right in the front, all day long. This of course meant they were in the sun all day long. Getting close to the last hour, I could see my friend Owen's forehead beaming off a bright red hue. I'm so glad I stuck in the background by the shade as I can't handle the sun too well. I am pale and I want to stay that way. In fact near the late afternoon hours, this gay Irish friend of mine who also does not do the sun so well, kept inching back every time the sun would increase on our side of the street!
Monday, April 21, 2008
On the set of Duplicity, JFK
(from April 15th, 2008)
This week I was booked on this movie again through another agency. This is one of those bullshit movies where they say that if you have been on it once, you can't work on it again deals. So when I called up the agency, they asked if I worked on it before, of course I said no. I knew it was a cheap movie, though I need the work and money.
This time we were booked to be at JFK airport, Terminal 4 to play passengers.
On the SAG bus, you felt like you were going on tour with Bon Jovi as it was luxurious and cushiony. In fact as we were going through the mid-town tunnel through to get to Queens, it was such a smooth, clean ride it felt like you were in First class.
So it was nice to experience the nice SAG bus for a change, even though there was no "Bus Stewardess" on duty to take our orders of martinis. So we got to the airport at record time. It was the usual cavalcade of people and of course the usual segregation of Sag and Non-Sag.
However when we got there, there was No breakfast food set up at all. So me and a couple of friends went downstairs to purchase a coffee downstairs in the food courts which of course had airport prices. Even McDonald's at the airport is expensive. So I figured I may as well get
good quality and purchased a corn muffin and medium coffee at the Bon Pain which was Manhattan prices.
By the time we get back upstairs to the holding area, which by the way was so confined and tight with all those people and trying to fit these bulk suitcases, the PA calls for lunch at 11:00am. We saw the catering setting up this mini-buffet which I was thinking was in no way enough for 200 people. Sure enough the PA makes the announcement that there is not enough food for non-SAG and that we would have to purchase our own food in the expensive food court.
We were like Oh great, Non-SAG is making 75 dollars for 14 hours, while SAG clears over $200.00 with meal penalties and we are denied food.
The only good thing was that we were wrapped at a decent time of 4pm. Could have been way worse I suppose. Still No waivers after working on all these crappy movies.
I worked on the set of "Duplicity" this past week. It's a feature film starring Julia Roberts, Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti(Played 'Pig Vomit" in the Stern Movie, Private Parts).
Last week we were on this movie where they were shooting a huge auditorium scene where Paul was the CEO of this fortune 500 company and we were the shareholders.
There were 1500 extras there and NO food at all!!! The only concession they made for us was water from the Hudson river.
Last week we were on this movie where they were shooting a huge auditorium scene where Paul was the CEO of this fortune 500 company and we were the shareholders.
There were 1500 extras there and NO food at all!!! The only concession they made for us was water from the Hudson river. This week I was booked on this movie again through another agency. This is one of those bullshit movies where they say that if you have been on it once, you can't work on it again deals. So when I called up the agency, they asked if I worked on it before, of course I said no. I knew it was a cheap movie, though I need the work and money.
This time we were booked to be at JFK airport, Terminal 4 to play passengers.
We were told to bring our own suitcases and carry on luggage. Smart people brought tiny bags and purses with newspaper fillings inside the bag to make it light like Shakura did posing in this picture:
The "newbie"s to the business of course brought the biggest and heaviest suitcase imaginable, thinking of course they would get wavered for their effort. Of course that never happens, or rarely.
Our call time wasn't bad though. Surprisingly our call time was for 8:00am bus pick up in Manhattan to take us to JFK. Another nice surprise was the bus was a SAG bus with a VIP lounge in the back! This was So different form the Non-Sag bus.
On the Non-Sag bus, it's like the "Fred Flinstone" express where it's rickety and falling apart with no "stewardess" service.
Our call time wasn't bad though. Surprisingly our call time was for 8:00am bus pick up in Manhattan to take us to JFK. Another nice surprise was the bus was a SAG bus with a VIP lounge in the back! This was So different form the Non-Sag bus.
On the Non-Sag bus, it's like the "Fred Flinstone" express where it's rickety and falling apart with no "stewardess" service. 
On the SAG bus, you felt like you were going on tour with Bon Jovi as it was luxurious and cushiony. In fact as we were going through the mid-town tunnel through to get to Queens, it was such a smooth, clean ride it felt like you were in First class.So it was nice to experience the nice SAG bus for a change, even though there was no "Bus Stewardess" on duty to take our orders of martinis. So we got to the airport at record time. It was the usual cavalcade of people and of course the usual segregation of Sag and Non-Sag.
However when we got there, there was No breakfast food set up at all. So me and a couple of friends went downstairs to purchase a coffee downstairs in the food courts which of course had airport prices. Even McDonald's at the airport is expensive. So I figured I may as well get
good quality and purchased a corn muffin and medium coffee at the Bon Pain which was Manhattan prices.By the time we get back upstairs to the holding area, which by the way was so confined and tight with all those people and trying to fit these bulk suitcases, the PA calls for lunch at 11:00am. We saw the catering setting up this mini-buffet which I was thinking was in no way enough for 200 people. Sure enough the PA makes the announcement that there is not enough food for non-SAG and that we would have to purchase our own food in the expensive food court.
We were like Oh great, Non-SAG is making 75 dollars for 14 hours, while SAG clears over $200.00 with meal penalties and we are denied food.
Then the PA really makes us non-union feel like crap when he says, "This is why people join the union!" We were like "Thanks, than give us a waiver so we can get into the union.
After an hour once the SAG line went through and the food was sitting there getting cold,
the crew took pity on us and said we could take the remaining scraps of food. We were like gee thanks for letting us have a piece of macaroni to split with 200 people! How gracious of you!
Soon after wards, we were called to set which basically consisted us going up and down escalators and stairs. The Sag got the escalators and of course us non-Sag got the stairs. The only good thing about where I was positioned was that I was near the end of the rotation of people to go down the stairs, so I didn't have to go down and climb back up every time.
That was the extent of excitement that day. We saw Clive Owen and no Julia of course. She is too busy having a million dollar breakfast and manicure and can't share her scraps with the non-SAG players.
Seriously this has to be the cheapest set I have worked on in a while. I
mean I could see when there are 1500 people on set, but with a set of 200 and you can't feed us. Ya right.
After an hour once the SAG line went through and the food was sitting there getting cold,
the crew took pity on us and said we could take the remaining scraps of food. We were like gee thanks for letting us have a piece of macaroni to split with 200 people! How gracious of you!Soon after wards, we were called to set which basically consisted us going up and down escalators and stairs. The Sag got the escalators and of course us non-Sag got the stairs. The only good thing about where I was positioned was that I was near the end of the rotation of people to go down the stairs, so I didn't have to go down and climb back up every time.
That was the extent of excitement that day. We saw Clive Owen and no Julia of course. She is too busy having a million dollar breakfast and manicure and can't share her scraps with the non-SAG players.Seriously this has to be the cheapest set I have worked on in a while. I
mean I could see when there are 1500 people on set, but with a set of 200 and you can't feed us. Ya right. The only good thing was that we were wrapped at a decent time of 4pm. Could have been way worse I suppose. Still No waivers after working on all these crappy movies.
Yet I am hearing how these 20 year olds get on these sets, smile, wink their eye and get 4 waivers. I just don't get this business anymore. It's SO depressing.
Sigh :(
Monday, April 14, 2008
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=(
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=(
My Day in Prison. Law and Order SVU
(originally from March 13th, 2008)
I had an extremely early call time of 6 am to be on a bus in Manhattan for 7am to go to the Women’s Correctional facility in Westchester to tape an episode of Law and Order SVU. I managed to get there on time, because I would really hate for the bus to leave without me. I just got on the bus and I had my friend Julia saving me a seat. That was a relief because I didn’t recognize half the people on the bus and didn’t want to sit with any “butchy” lesbians. In fact, save for the bus driver and PA, the entire bus was reeking of estrogen.
Normally this would be hitting the jackpot for the male bus driver, though I really doubt half of the Women on that bus were into the male anatomy. So off we were on the way to WestChester to a real prison facility. I immediately made friends with this Woman who called herself “Poppi”, who was a very proud Lesbian. At first I was intimidated by her as she was an older Woman, and I am not into bull-dykes or Lesbians. Though she was very colorful and sociable character that really was fun and outgoing, you had to like her.
We get to the Westchester facility where the entire place is fenced and barbed wired up. Then Poppi yells out “This is your last chance to get rid of your contrabands!” We all start to laugh and then one of the guards comes on the bus to check our ID’s for security purposes. Then Pappy gets all “Shifty” and tells us that she has been in the joint for 5 years for selling a kilo (of cocaine). I’m like great of all the people I end up sitting next to. Well I guess I was lucky to have “Poppi” on my side.
We got ourselves situated up in holding and we soon gravitated to one table in holding and became "Poppi's Posse". We started posing for pictures which were funny though came rather naturally while in the “orange suits”. Poppi of course was our fearless leader. Here is a picture of “Poppi’s Crew”.
The scene was set up in the indoor basketball court/recreation room. All of us were dressed in those orange jumpsuits. Some of us were by the basketball hoops, and others were situated by the backgammon and trivia tables. They also had a Yahtzee game there. I haven’t seen that or played it since my youth.
On set, it became the usual milling around and waiting for something to happen. When you are bored you look for people or situations to amuse you. There was this one SAG player who looked really nasty. She had that really worn out look with massive ingrained wrinkles probably from over-exposure to the sun. She really did have that hard look of a convict. In fact we thought she may be an escapee! Not only did she look the part, but she acted like a convict and bitch like she owned the basketball court!
That skanky looking bitch really owed up to her title when we had finally had a break. There was one table set up with trays of Ham and turkey slices and huge slices of rye and white bread. Also on the table were grapes, and some minor snacks like skittles.
Since we were down on set for several hours, when they yelled out “break”, you can imagine this tsunami of “orange suits” all piling up the stairs to get to the food. I admit the way they had it set up was ridiculous. They had the one big table in the middle of the corridor eight by the prison cells. The SAG players were coming in from one end of the table as the Non-Sag players were coming in from the other end. It was a huge “tranny” mess.
Then the really harsh looking SAG player showed her true colors and owned up to her demeanor. She started complaining how she could not get to the food table and when she finally did she got into a huge scrap with this other over the “prison” food.
Once the fight finally settled down, I got to the table and investigated to see what the fuss was all about. They were fighting over a piece of ham. I really don’t get it. It wasn’t like it was quality ham like Boars head or something like that. It was more like a cheap PathMark sloppy and slimy slices of ham. Plus there was still an entire tray of Turkey. I personally would “kill” for a quality boars head slice of ham, Pathmark brand not so much.
Shortly after we were summoned by the drill sergeant to come back to set. A wave of Orange suits filed down back to set. I tell you they should have taped the “ham incident” as it was far more entertaining than the actual scene.
Luckily it turned out to be a decent day and the majority of us were signed out while it was still daylight. After spending a day in prison I realized that I never want to do anything wrong to be locked up in a prison cell. It’s a really dreary place. The only good thing about this prison cell was that we were released and at the end of the day. Let me tell you it is a great feeling, this thing called freedom and having a slice of ham of my choice.
A.
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