In between working on "No Love in the City", I got work on KINGS, again. I was rather hesitant to accept the work, since my last experience on this show was horrible over in the Brooklyn Navy Yards. Though this time it was to be a little better as it was an indoor event.
I did an overnight over at the Public Library in Manhattan that Thursday night. This is just an example of what a BIG budget this show really is. To be able to get that space must have been mint. Right after we wrapped, I had to go back to "No Love in the City". So I pulled a 38 hours on set back to back with my friend Laura.
The only reason we did that was that we needed to accept this in order to get the guarantee of work for two days the following week. What a BIG week it turned out to be with the election and seeing History revealed with Barrack Obama becoming the first Black President of the United States.
That was definitely hope and something to look forward to. What was not something to look forward to was the location of Broadway stages which was in the middle of nowhere by the rail yards way past McGuiness Boulevard in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn. Luckily our call time wasn't for 6am. Still trekking all the way there was a hike.
Taking all this work is basically the only thing keeping me alive these days. When I'm at home I have nothing going on and I get bored and depressed staring at the same four walls wondering if I will ever have success or even get a SAG waiver. The quest for the almighty Sag waiver seems more like it will never happen. Some people just get the Sag waiver for waking up in the morning. I struggle through so many different elements and I am really trying, yet nothing ever seems to happen. Still I prefer to be working as it is a paycheck, as pathetic as non-union wages are.
Back to the set of Kings at the Broadway Stages and the tale of the PIG! Ah yes the 500-pound boar that was brought to the Brooklyn to be a star. The scene was in this amazing courtroom that was built for this show. Magnificent layout, including a panoramic poster of Columbus Circle in the daytime during the season of either early Spring or Summer being the fact the trees in the picture were in full green blossom.
The King Silas had his enormous desk in the front as a real judge would and he was ready to hear the cases with his Chancellor by his side. In the room there were several groups waiting to have the judge hear their case. Some of the groups were these "Goth Kids", and another was a church group.
The one case that involved the pig was a case between two farmers in the land. It was a dispute where one of the farmers blamed his neighbors pig from destroying his fence on his property. So at this time King Silas looks up to the main doors and looks up in anticipation of this pig that was supposed to come through the doors. NO sign of the pic. Nothing.
This is after of course we got the "Pig Speech" not to look at the pig, touch the pig, and just to completely ignore the boar upon his entrance. Well as it turned out, that wasn't too difficult b/c the pig got stage fright and never made it to set. They even had a "pig shrink" on set being that it was a SAG pig. Since the pig didn't fulfill his contract, the next day we had a plethora of bacon and no one saw the pig again. Makes you wonder.
A.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
No Love in the City Russian Tour bus
(Thursday October 9, 2008-November 9th 2008)
The set of "No Love in the City", a Russian movie about three young Russian guys that come to New York to have a great time with Ladies and indulge in the Wild Party lifestyle. An Angel comes down from the heavens and makes them all impotent until they realize their true loves and stop cavorting around in debauchery.This concept sounds stupid, though I have to tell you that working on this movie was by far one of the most pleasant experiences I have had in a very long time.
What made this by far the best set for this entire year were the fun experiences shared with friends and just the wonderful attitude of the cast and crew that made it memorable in a good way. I also must mention that we got paid cash on set and we had wonderful international food which I dined on for days because I took some leftovers home in Tupperware which I shared with my friend and roommate.
I worked on this set six times. From the club scene to the restaurant scene to the "get-away" Russian tour bus. Being a Russian tourist was by far the best scene and most enjoyable times on this set and perhaps all year.
Playing the part as Russian tourists we were cast to sit on top of this Double-Decker tour bus. The three young Russian guys were to be out "tour guides" taking us on a wild journey racing wildly through Manhattan down Canal Street to the cobblestone streets of Brooklyn .
The stunt driver and bus driver in the scene drove that bus wildly speeding across the Manhattan Bridge to the Promenade in Brooklyn, where the bus gets stopped and the Russians get arrested by the (fake) police. All along our tour guides are freaking out as their is a helicopter overhead trailing the bus all the way from Manhattan to the other side of the bridge.
Never have I had such an adventure on a film shoot as I did on this one. We ALL shared SO many laughs and felt free and alive. Especially when we were on the double Decker bus top level and "touched" sign posts and leaves of trees as we drove by. It became like a challenge and a silly game, though it was fun, really was.
This was one of the few sets that I really was sad to see come to an end.
A.
The set of "No Love in the City", a Russian movie about three young Russian guys that come to New York to have a great time with Ladies and indulge in the Wild Party lifestyle. An Angel comes down from the heavens and makes them all impotent until they realize their true loves and stop cavorting around in debauchery.This concept sounds stupid, though I have to tell you that working on this movie was by far one of the most pleasant experiences I have had in a very long time.
What made this by far the best set for this entire year were the fun experiences shared with friends and just the wonderful attitude of the cast and crew that made it memorable in a good way. I also must mention that we got paid cash on set and we had wonderful international food which I dined on for days because I took some leftovers home in Tupperware which I shared with my friend and roommate.
I worked on this set six times. From the club scene to the restaurant scene to the "get-away" Russian tour bus. Being a Russian tourist was by far the best scene and most enjoyable times on this set and perhaps all year.
Playing the part as Russian tourists we were cast to sit on top of this Double-Decker tour bus. The three young Russian guys were to be out "tour guides" taking us on a wild journey racing wildly through Manhattan down Canal Street to the cobblestone streets of Brooklyn .
The stunt driver and bus driver in the scene drove that bus wildly speeding across the Manhattan Bridge to the Promenade in Brooklyn, where the bus gets stopped and the Russians get arrested by the (fake) police. All along our tour guides are freaking out as their is a helicopter overhead trailing the bus all the way from Manhattan to the other side of the bridge.
Never have I had such an adventure on a film shoot as I did on this one. We ALL shared SO many laughs and felt free and alive. Especially when we were on the double Decker bus top level and "touched" sign posts and leaves of trees as we drove by. It became like a challenge and a silly game, though it was fun, really was.
This was one of the few sets that I really was sad to see come to an end.
A.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Kings Brooklyn Navy Yards
(from October 20, 2008)
I was on that NBC show KINGS which was an absolute horrible experience. The call time was for 4:30 am bus pickup in Manhattan to go to the Brooklyn Navy Yards. Our holding area was this defunct falling apart warehouse which probably had asbestos and the best part was there was NO HEAT!
It was actually a few degrees warmer outside even though we were technically outside. They did get us on set immediately after wardrobe check to a scene which involved us, the extras,portraying dockworkers who are angry and rallying to the mayor of this fictional town for taxes and losing our homes.
You would think this TV show was a feature film with the "I am Legend" demonstrations of angry people shoving , pushing and screaming in this rally. To make the effect of this rally even more real, they (production) threw not one but two or three smoke bombs into the crowd, which was us, and continued on this rant pushing against these fake police lines and choking on this thick billowing black smoke.
After finding out that the non-union are getting ZERO bump in pay or a waiver, I all of a sudden came down with asthma and me and several other ladies went to go sit away from this smoke. As if this wasn't enough aggravation, they were planning on a "Wet scene" to hose down people to bring on the effect of a rally like they had back in the 60's with the demonstrations.
We wrapped at 6pm and were told to call for 9pm for call times for Day 2 of this travesty. So I call up the GW hot line and they decided to randomly pick numbers off the list and those of us who were promised two days of work were now out of a days pay.
To make matters even worse, my friend Jeff told me that those idiots at GW were calling people desperately at 6:30am b/c a multitude of people that they did keep on the list DID NOT show up for the call time at the bus pickup. My Friend Jeff said if they waiver him he will go. They replied "NO"! Okay than Goodbye and good luck!
In a way I think I lucked out b/c in the message they told people to bring towels as the "wet" scene was to occur that day. Wonder why people didn't show up. Lets see $75.00 to get hosed down with water and another $750.00 for the hospital bill that I would have got for acquiring pneumonia! Amazing. Meanwhile SAG is getting $500.00/hr. They told non-SAG to "be a good sport"! Ya right.I am SO tired of being abused like this. It's sickening how they abuse people like this.
Despite all this, I have to say that I hope this show makes it just b/c of the BIG budget and undertaking of background on such a large scale for a NBC show. Otherwise this will be like many of the garbage shows being produced now and get cancelled within a week of it's release.
Also We really do need some decent programming to STOP the growth of this disease that is widespread named "REALITY SHOWS!"
A.
I was on that NBC show KINGS which was an absolute horrible experience. The call time was for 4:30 am bus pickup in Manhattan to go to the Brooklyn Navy Yards. Our holding area was this defunct falling apart warehouse which probably had asbestos and the best part was there was NO HEAT!
It was actually a few degrees warmer outside even though we were technically outside. They did get us on set immediately after wardrobe check to a scene which involved us, the extras,portraying dockworkers who are angry and rallying to the mayor of this fictional town for taxes and losing our homes.
You would think this TV show was a feature film with the "I am Legend" demonstrations of angry people shoving , pushing and screaming in this rally. To make the effect of this rally even more real, they (production) threw not one but two or three smoke bombs into the crowd, which was us, and continued on this rant pushing against these fake police lines and choking on this thick billowing black smoke.
After finding out that the non-union are getting ZERO bump in pay or a waiver, I all of a sudden came down with asthma and me and several other ladies went to go sit away from this smoke. As if this wasn't enough aggravation, they were planning on a "Wet scene" to hose down people to bring on the effect of a rally like they had back in the 60's with the demonstrations.
We wrapped at 6pm and were told to call for 9pm for call times for Day 2 of this travesty. So I call up the GW hot line and they decided to randomly pick numbers off the list and those of us who were promised two days of work were now out of a days pay.
To make matters even worse, my friend Jeff told me that those idiots at GW were calling people desperately at 6:30am b/c a multitude of people that they did keep on the list DID NOT show up for the call time at the bus pickup. My Friend Jeff said if they waiver him he will go. They replied "NO"! Okay than Goodbye and good luck!
In a way I think I lucked out b/c in the message they told people to bring towels as the "wet" scene was to occur that day. Wonder why people didn't show up. Lets see $75.00 to get hosed down with water and another $750.00 for the hospital bill that I would have got for acquiring pneumonia! Amazing. Meanwhile SAG is getting $500.00/hr. They told non-SAG to "be a good sport"! Ya right.I am SO tired of being abused like this. It's sickening how they abuse people like this.
Despite all this, I have to say that I hope this show makes it just b/c of the BIG budget and undertaking of background on such a large scale for a NBC show. Otherwise this will be like many of the garbage shows being produced now and get cancelled within a week of it's release.
Also We really do need some decent programming to STOP the growth of this disease that is widespread named "REALITY SHOWS!"
A.
Damages in DA Bronx!
(from October 15 and 16)
It's amazing how they are shooting "Ugly Betty" down the block from where I live here in Queens, and yet I get shipped to the Bronx for 6am call time for that boring show "Damages". You can't even begin to imagine how upset I was when I went to the office of those idiots at Extra Mile, told them that I want to be booked on Ugly Betty, and yet they have the nerve to ship me to the Bronx.
Normally I would have tried to get on the set of Ugly Betty, though since the bullshit call time of 6am was slated for Damages, that screwed up any chance as the call time down the block was for 8am. So it was a choice to "suck it up" and take a guaranteed paycheck or to take a chance to see if I could get on Ugly Betty.
Like a dedicated good soldier, actually a stupid solider, I went to the Bronx. Mind you this wasn't in a good location. Then again is any part, save for Riverdale a good part of the Bronx?? To make matters even worse, the idiots at Grant Wilfley gave the WRONG information to get to the holding loaction.
The information offered to us told us to take the number "4" train or the "D" to 181st stop. That would have been fine IF the holding was a block away, NOT a 45 minute hike at 6am through unknown territory in the Bronx!
I recall leaving my house in Queens at about 4:40 am ann of course walking by all the permit signs that were posted up for Ugly Betty. That was an extra kick in my crotch to see that. Anyways when I finally arrived in the Bronx, I had to transfer at 165 st stop which was Yankee stadium stop on the 4 line. There are police commnad stations and cops on patrol there 24/7 for areason.
Just in passing, I saw a couple of arrests being made at 5am! I knew how bad this day was already going to be, and every minute that passed I became more depressed knowing that just down the block they are shooting Ugly Betty, and here I am on a 2-hour roadtrip trying to get to my miserable destination.
So I get out of the 181 st stop and I start walkin and keep walking, and then walk some more. The sun is in the vast distance and not ready to rise for at least another hour or so. In the pitch darkness of the early morning, I look ahead to see this elderly white Woman, in heels and a suitcase, dressed nicely. Obviously she is not from the Bronx and is a background player. The suitcase was a dead giveaway.
I caught up with her and introduce myself. Just behind us was another guy heading to set in the same direction. So the three of us begin walking, and walking and walking some more. We get to this BIG decline hill with a million stairs and look down towards the horizon to how far this place really was.
We stopped by an elementary school where they had security and the Woman said "Just keep walking, and walking, and then walk some more!" "It is a hike!" So the three of us embrace ourselves and continue down the path to nowhere.
Finally we get down the hill. It is more difficult for the elderly Woman as she has on hells and is carrying a suitcase. The sun raises up with a sneak peak of the sunny day to come, for some of us. As we walked across the main intersection, we are about to cross and almost make it until the elderly Woman, takes a trip from the curb and fell face first on the road. It looked awful seeing it happen, though when me and the guy got her up, she was shaking, scraped up, and barely fine.
From that point me and the guy had to carry the elderly Woman all the way when we eventually made it to holding. We were already 45minutes late and the PA and nobody said a word b/c they knew what a lousy deal this was and how Grant screwed up the directions. On top of it we brought in this wounded Woman.
The set itself t was 14 hours in a hospital on the mental patients floor. I would have liked to get an AFTRA waiver for this nightmare, though I got nothing. The only thing I did get was a Friend with a mental patient. I offered her a bag of cool ranch Doritos. Amazing how a bag of chips or an offering of food is an international language no matter what mental state of mind you are in.
My own personal state of mind was deteriorating. I was on the verge of committing myself to a room there in the mental ward. The asshole 2nd AD first released all the non-union, all 4 of us at about 7pm, which would have been decent. The only problem with this was that as we were walking back to the 20 minute hike from the hospital to holding, he contacts the PA for ALL of us to come back! I can't even describe to you how I badly I felt like slitting my wrists right then and there.
We were at that point held hostage, literally in this tiny one room all 20 of us 4 non-union and 16 Aftra members. Some in gowns, some dressed as Doctors. I was a visitor. I almost told of the 2nd AD for keeping us in there like caged animals. After another 3 hours, they released us and it took another 2 hours to get back home, where they were just wrapping for Ugly Betty.
Misery just got a new name and it's called "DAMAGES"!
Sigh ;(
It's amazing how they are shooting "Ugly Betty" down the block from where I live here in Queens, and yet I get shipped to the Bronx for 6am call time for that boring show "Damages". You can't even begin to imagine how upset I was when I went to the office of those idiots at Extra Mile, told them that I want to be booked on Ugly Betty, and yet they have the nerve to ship me to the Bronx.
Normally I would have tried to get on the set of Ugly Betty, though since the bullshit call time of 6am was slated for Damages, that screwed up any chance as the call time down the block was for 8am. So it was a choice to "suck it up" and take a guaranteed paycheck or to take a chance to see if I could get on Ugly Betty.
Like a dedicated good soldier, actually a stupid solider, I went to the Bronx. Mind you this wasn't in a good location. Then again is any part, save for Riverdale a good part of the Bronx?? To make matters even worse, the idiots at Grant Wilfley gave the WRONG information to get to the holding loaction.
The information offered to us told us to take the number "4" train or the "D" to 181st stop. That would have been fine IF the holding was a block away, NOT a 45 minute hike at 6am through unknown territory in the Bronx!
I recall leaving my house in Queens at about 4:40 am ann of course walking by all the permit signs that were posted up for Ugly Betty. That was an extra kick in my crotch to see that. Anyways when I finally arrived in the Bronx, I had to transfer at 165 st stop which was Yankee stadium stop on the 4 line. There are police commnad stations and cops on patrol there 24/7 for areason.
Just in passing, I saw a couple of arrests being made at 5am! I knew how bad this day was already going to be, and every minute that passed I became more depressed knowing that just down the block they are shooting Ugly Betty, and here I am on a 2-hour roadtrip trying to get to my miserable destination.
So I get out of the 181 st stop and I start walkin and keep walking, and then walk some more. The sun is in the vast distance and not ready to rise for at least another hour or so. In the pitch darkness of the early morning, I look ahead to see this elderly white Woman, in heels and a suitcase, dressed nicely. Obviously she is not from the Bronx and is a background player. The suitcase was a dead giveaway.
I caught up with her and introduce myself. Just behind us was another guy heading to set in the same direction. So the three of us begin walking, and walking and walking some more. We get to this BIG decline hill with a million stairs and look down towards the horizon to how far this place really was.
We stopped by an elementary school where they had security and the Woman said "Just keep walking, and walking, and then walk some more!" "It is a hike!" So the three of us embrace ourselves and continue down the path to nowhere.
Finally we get down the hill. It is more difficult for the elderly Woman as she has on hells and is carrying a suitcase. The sun raises up with a sneak peak of the sunny day to come, for some of us. As we walked across the main intersection, we are about to cross and almost make it until the elderly Woman, takes a trip from the curb and fell face first on the road. It looked awful seeing it happen, though when me and the guy got her up, she was shaking, scraped up, and barely fine.
From that point me and the guy had to carry the elderly Woman all the way when we eventually made it to holding. We were already 45minutes late and the PA and nobody said a word b/c they knew what a lousy deal this was and how Grant screwed up the directions. On top of it we brought in this wounded Woman.
The set itself t was 14 hours in a hospital on the mental patients floor. I would have liked to get an AFTRA waiver for this nightmare, though I got nothing. The only thing I did get was a Friend with a mental patient. I offered her a bag of cool ranch Doritos. Amazing how a bag of chips or an offering of food is an international language no matter what mental state of mind you are in.
My own personal state of mind was deteriorating. I was on the verge of committing myself to a room there in the mental ward. The asshole 2nd AD first released all the non-union, all 4 of us at about 7pm, which would have been decent. The only problem with this was that as we were walking back to the 20 minute hike from the hospital to holding, he contacts the PA for ALL of us to come back! I can't even describe to you how I badly I felt like slitting my wrists right then and there.
We were at that point held hostage, literally in this tiny one room all 20 of us 4 non-union and 16 Aftra members. Some in gowns, some dressed as Doctors. I was a visitor. I almost told of the 2nd AD for keeping us in there like caged animals. After another 3 hours, they released us and it took another 2 hours to get back home, where they were just wrapping for Ugly Betty.
Misery just got a new name and it's called "DAMAGES"!
Sigh ;(
Winning Season
October 9, 2008 (night)
"I bless the day I found you, I want to stay around you, and so I beg you, Let it be me". This is the first phrasing of the song "Let it be me" by the Everly Brothers. This song has never been such a staple or made me feel so real and gave me chills down my spine that night in the cafeteria while we were waiting to get on the set of "The Winning Circle".
After being on set of the first of many "Russian tour bus rides" on the set of the 'No Love in the City' many of us were booked on this set of Winning Circle. The only reason that I accepted this was because I knew there would be many people on it that I knew from the other set. Little did I know how wonderful the first part of that set would be, because of music.
We were sitting in the cafeteria where holding was. The French/Brazilian guy Cal who can't play the guitar save for one song "Unchained Melody" and barely, brought his crappy nylon stringed guitar to set. After he got bored of himself and didn't get the attention that he sought, he let me take a crack at the guitar.
It was such a piece of crap and SO out of tune. I tried to tune it to the best of my ability and attempted to play "You can't always get what you want by the Rolling Stones". I got through it, though I knew it wasn't my best performance with that crappy guitar.
Soon after, there he was out of the blue. Our Music saviour of the night arrived. His name was Lawrence and he was a skinny and shy kind of Man with a military kind of haircut and perhaps trained in the military of some kind at one point in his life. Though he brought passion in music and when he played the guitar, it was magical, truly.
He grabbed hold of the guitar and sat down at the table and asked me to sit down to sing with him. He started playing "Dream", "Whenever I want you, all I have to do is Dream, dream dream dream.."Then he played "Chains" by the Beatles. I sang that and all the songs he played were brilliant.
Then he played "Let it be me". Now I barely remember this song as it is not in my era. Though when Lawrence played it, he fed Dawn and I the words, and we collectively got into it and felt the song as if it were just written yesterday and were captivated back in time when this song really hit heart strings.
The way Lawrence played it and the way we sang it was simply amazing. I will never forget how enchanted and happy I was to sing and sing well and harmonize with Dawn the way we did. Everyone around us was tuned in as well and mesmerized to the sweet tune as it is.
I felt SO alive, nothing mattered, no troubles in the world, just the sweet song and music kept me in tune and made me feel alive. I wished that moment had never ended. It wasn't about the song, it was about the tune. It was about the moment, about being alive and feeling good for a change. All my troubles and worries evaporated in that moment. Nothing else mattered, save for delivering a beautiful melodic song in Harmony.
It was the kind of moment that when it ends, you feel like a part of you has died or withered away. Yet you just had such a good time, your soul is fulfilled , and you are at peace, no matter what the outcome, you will be alright.
Our ending came when we were finally called to get to set to be spectators on this basketball game. I was hoping it would be a short set, though it ended up being a long drained out set to the every last minute. The worst part was probably coming home which took me 2 hours from Bayside Queens.
Still as tired as I was that morning and when I finally got home, all I thought of and all I dreamt of was that moment. A moment I will treasure.
"So never leave me Lonely,Tell me you love me only, and that you'll always, let it be me."
A.
"I bless the day I found you, I want to stay around you, and so I beg you, Let it be me". This is the first phrasing of the song "Let it be me" by the Everly Brothers. This song has never been such a staple or made me feel so real and gave me chills down my spine that night in the cafeteria while we were waiting to get on the set of "The Winning Circle".
After being on set of the first of many "Russian tour bus rides" on the set of the 'No Love in the City' many of us were booked on this set of Winning Circle. The only reason that I accepted this was because I knew there would be many people on it that I knew from the other set. Little did I know how wonderful the first part of that set would be, because of music.
We were sitting in the cafeteria where holding was. The French/Brazilian guy Cal who can't play the guitar save for one song "Unchained Melody" and barely, brought his crappy nylon stringed guitar to set. After he got bored of himself and didn't get the attention that he sought, he let me take a crack at the guitar.
It was such a piece of crap and SO out of tune. I tried to tune it to the best of my ability and attempted to play "You can't always get what you want by the Rolling Stones". I got through it, though I knew it wasn't my best performance with that crappy guitar.
Soon after, there he was out of the blue. Our Music saviour of the night arrived. His name was Lawrence and he was a skinny and shy kind of Man with a military kind of haircut and perhaps trained in the military of some kind at one point in his life. Though he brought passion in music and when he played the guitar, it was magical, truly.
He grabbed hold of the guitar and sat down at the table and asked me to sit down to sing with him. He started playing "Dream", "Whenever I want you, all I have to do is Dream, dream dream dream.."Then he played "Chains" by the Beatles. I sang that and all the songs he played were brilliant.
Then he played "Let it be me". Now I barely remember this song as it is not in my era. Though when Lawrence played it, he fed Dawn and I the words, and we collectively got into it and felt the song as if it were just written yesterday and were captivated back in time when this song really hit heart strings.
The way Lawrence played it and the way we sang it was simply amazing. I will never forget how enchanted and happy I was to sing and sing well and harmonize with Dawn the way we did. Everyone around us was tuned in as well and mesmerized to the sweet tune as it is.
I felt SO alive, nothing mattered, no troubles in the world, just the sweet song and music kept me in tune and made me feel alive. I wished that moment had never ended. It wasn't about the song, it was about the tune. It was about the moment, about being alive and feeling good for a change. All my troubles and worries evaporated in that moment. Nothing else mattered, save for delivering a beautiful melodic song in Harmony.
It was the kind of moment that when it ends, you feel like a part of you has died or withered away. Yet you just had such a good time, your soul is fulfilled , and you are at peace, no matter what the outcome, you will be alright.
Our ending came when we were finally called to get to set to be spectators on this basketball game. I was hoping it would be a short set, though it ended up being a long drained out set to the every last minute. The worst part was probably coming home which took me 2 hours from Bayside Queens.
Still as tired as I was that morning and when I finally got home, all I thought of and all I dreamt of was that moment. A moment I will treasure.
"So never leave me Lonely,Tell me you love me only, and that you'll always, let it be me."
A.
Life on Mars in the East Village
(Originally from Tuesday October 7, 2008)
Of all the shows recently, this is one of the shows that I have been wanting to get on for a very long time. When I finally got the call to be on it, I was excited. Mind you that excitement soon turned sour when I heard what I was being booked for.
The show "life on Mars" takes place in the 1970's about a New York City homicide detective who suddenly finds himself inexplicably transported from 2008 to 1973. The attractive part to be on this show is that it takes place in the 70's, a decade of my birth and to dress up in 70's attire play a part in this role would have been fun.
No such luck. The scene that I get booked for is this funeral scene, and it is current year, 2008. I'm like "What a Bummer!" I have been trying for weeks to get on this show. Also the biggest blow to me is that normally they shoot "mars" over at Kaufman Astoria Studios. Not this time. Of course it's over by 2nd street and avenue "A" area in the East village.
The only good thing I suppose is that I didn't have to go to get a fitting and all I had to wear was a black outfit appropriate for a funeral scene. Not too difficult as the majority of my clothes are dark and depressing. Reflects my career, I suppose.
The day itself was extremely long. The easy part was having the "mourners" all 200 of us going down the line to have the "Costume designer"(that's what this midget Kathy Griffin look-alike resembles) calls herself to make her feel important. So she examines us all and gives us the "O.K." seal of approval. I mean how can you screw up black for a funeral. Unless you are a whore and wearing lace panties in mourning for the death of one of your best clients.
The only thing that had to specific was the cops uniforms and how detailed in rank they had to get the patches to match up. That did take a long time. In fact that took about 8 hours of all us mourners in holding while the Police officers were examined to perfection by the "Kathy-Griffin" Midget. Since she was a midget, it took extra long time as she had to take a stool with her or climb up a ladder for the really tall cops.
After all that, Lunch was called. It was a walk-away lunch. This meant spending about 10 dollars of our already hard earned 40 dollars, i think not! My friend Linda and I went on a scavenger hunt to see where Kraft services for the crew and SAG was. What really sucks about "walk-away" lunches is that the only real thrill of going to these sets is the social aspect of it and the FOOD! Yes, Food, Glorious Food! When the Food is not there, the thrill is gone, and you really can't survive on the sustenance of the humor of your pals on set, no matter how satiable laughter can be.
Thanks to my friend Linda's outwardly sexual friendly nature to the male species, she got directed to the "hidden" table where they had nice sandwiches and food at our disposal. We grabbed a few sandwiches and left the table before we would be questioned. Survival skills 101 baby!
Finally after lunch, we were called to set which was all the way on East 3rd street, closer to ave B. One by one we piled into the church and grabbed a seat on one of the pews. All I could think if was "It's been a while since I've been in church", and started thinking about all the times my Mother dragged me to church to repent and become a good catholic. Obviously that failed me too.
The scene itself was long with a flashback feel and a ghost that we were to pretend not to see or acknowledge. The actress made famous in the 90's on the Cosby Show was Lisa Bonet up in front with her pregnant belly and playing the part of a widower.
After hours of being told being everyone to hush and quiet down, and our butts getting really sore from sitting on those hard benches, I looked up to the Lord and said "Haven't I paid my dues already?" "All I ask for is a SAG waiver, Lord!" IS that asking for too much??
Well if anything, my Catholic Mother would be proud of how many hours I spent in church. That truly made up for lost time.
CA ;
Of all the shows recently, this is one of the shows that I have been wanting to get on for a very long time. When I finally got the call to be on it, I was excited. Mind you that excitement soon turned sour when I heard what I was being booked for.
The show "life on Mars" takes place in the 1970's about a New York City homicide detective who suddenly finds himself inexplicably transported from 2008 to 1973. The attractive part to be on this show is that it takes place in the 70's, a decade of my birth and to dress up in 70's attire play a part in this role would have been fun.
No such luck. The scene that I get booked for is this funeral scene, and it is current year, 2008. I'm like "What a Bummer!" I have been trying for weeks to get on this show. Also the biggest blow to me is that normally they shoot "mars" over at Kaufman Astoria Studios. Not this time. Of course it's over by 2nd street and avenue "A" area in the East village.
The only good thing I suppose is that I didn't have to go to get a fitting and all I had to wear was a black outfit appropriate for a funeral scene. Not too difficult as the majority of my clothes are dark and depressing. Reflects my career, I suppose.
The day itself was extremely long. The easy part was having the "mourners" all 200 of us going down the line to have the "Costume designer"(that's what this midget Kathy Griffin look-alike resembles) calls herself to make her feel important. So she examines us all and gives us the "O.K." seal of approval. I mean how can you screw up black for a funeral. Unless you are a whore and wearing lace panties in mourning for the death of one of your best clients.
The only thing that had to specific was the cops uniforms and how detailed in rank they had to get the patches to match up. That did take a long time. In fact that took about 8 hours of all us mourners in holding while the Police officers were examined to perfection by the "Kathy-Griffin" Midget. Since she was a midget, it took extra long time as she had to take a stool with her or climb up a ladder for the really tall cops.
After all that, Lunch was called. It was a walk-away lunch. This meant spending about 10 dollars of our already hard earned 40 dollars, i think not! My friend Linda and I went on a scavenger hunt to see where Kraft services for the crew and SAG was. What really sucks about "walk-away" lunches is that the only real thrill of going to these sets is the social aspect of it and the FOOD! Yes, Food, Glorious Food! When the Food is not there, the thrill is gone, and you really can't survive on the sustenance of the humor of your pals on set, no matter how satiable laughter can be.
Thanks to my friend Linda's outwardly sexual friendly nature to the male species, she got directed to the "hidden" table where they had nice sandwiches and food at our disposal. We grabbed a few sandwiches and left the table before we would be questioned. Survival skills 101 baby!
Finally after lunch, we were called to set which was all the way on East 3rd street, closer to ave B. One by one we piled into the church and grabbed a seat on one of the pews. All I could think if was "It's been a while since I've been in church", and started thinking about all the times my Mother dragged me to church to repent and become a good catholic. Obviously that failed me too.
The scene itself was long with a flashback feel and a ghost that we were to pretend not to see or acknowledge. The actress made famous in the 90's on the Cosby Show was Lisa Bonet up in front with her pregnant belly and playing the part of a widower.
After hours of being told being everyone to hush and quiet down, and our butts getting really sore from sitting on those hard benches, I looked up to the Lord and said "Haven't I paid my dues already?" "All I ask for is a SAG waiver, Lord!" IS that asking for too much??
Well if anything, my Catholic Mother would be proud of how many hours I spent in church. That truly made up for lost time.
CA ;
Lipstick Jungle in SOHO
(Originally from Monday October 6, 2008)
Every time I have been on Lipstick Jungle it has been a very long day and there is a "walk-away" lunch. Mind you they did have a decent breakfast for us with the usual buffet trays of sausages, scrambled eggs and fresh toast.
Our holding area was on Wooster street in this really old 18th century building. Wooster is really not such a popular street unless you are really familiar with the Soho area. I've never been a fan of the SOHO area , but they are trying to do a "Sex in the City" type of show here and SOHO IS fashion and art.
We didn't wait too long int the small holding area which was only designed to hole about 20 people and there weer over 80 of us. Also the fact that there was only one bathroom and no changing area, it made the lineups really long.
We got to set and started around the Prince St. area walking up and down the streets. I was in a scene and did a cross over directly in front of Brooke Shields and Lindsay Price who were just coming out of a store in the scene.
It was rather boring and time was dragging on. After about 2 hours they went to another location over by West Broadway. It was the same crossovers walking back and forth over a million times in the scene.
I rarely go to the SOHO area and didn't realize how busy the streets are with tourists and paparazzi. There were a bunch of paparazzi, who I thought at first were actors, taking shots of Brooke as she was carrying her daughter to her trailer. Normally on these sets we are not supposed to take pictures of the stars, though since the paparazzi were taking pictures, I jumped right in and got a couple of candid shots myself of Brooke walking across the street carrying her child.
That moment was probably the only exciting thing to account for. We had a walk-away Lunch and my friend and I were invited to grab some food at Krafty to go to this nice Woman's apartment over by Bleeker St. We had to be back in about an hour. When we got back to the tiny holding area, the P.A. asked everyone to get into their second changes which meant another huge lineup for the one and only bathroom available.
We all went outside to the scene by W. Broadway and the only good thing about that spot was that we had those SOHO steps where we could sit down on, as they never ended up using as anyways. What else is new? After the typical 14 hours on set for this show, we were released.
I hope this show makes it, though in my opnion it won't last long simply b/c the concept/ sotry line is just trying to hard to be like "Sex and the City", which it clearly is not.
Every time I have been on Lipstick Jungle it has been a very long day and there is a "walk-away" lunch. Mind you they did have a decent breakfast for us with the usual buffet trays of sausages, scrambled eggs and fresh toast.
Our holding area was on Wooster street in this really old 18th century building. Wooster is really not such a popular street unless you are really familiar with the Soho area. I've never been a fan of the SOHO area , but they are trying to do a "Sex in the City" type of show here and SOHO IS fashion and art.
We didn't wait too long int the small holding area which was only designed to hole about 20 people and there weer over 80 of us. Also the fact that there was only one bathroom and no changing area, it made the lineups really long.
We got to set and started around the Prince St. area walking up and down the streets. I was in a scene and did a cross over directly in front of Brooke Shields and Lindsay Price who were just coming out of a store in the scene.
It was rather boring and time was dragging on. After about 2 hours they went to another location over by West Broadway. It was the same crossovers walking back and forth over a million times in the scene.
I rarely go to the SOHO area and didn't realize how busy the streets are with tourists and paparazzi. There were a bunch of paparazzi, who I thought at first were actors, taking shots of Brooke as she was carrying her daughter to her trailer. Normally on these sets we are not supposed to take pictures of the stars, though since the paparazzi were taking pictures, I jumped right in and got a couple of candid shots myself of Brooke walking across the street carrying her child.
That moment was probably the only exciting thing to account for. We had a walk-away Lunch and my friend and I were invited to grab some food at Krafty to go to this nice Woman's apartment over by Bleeker St. We had to be back in about an hour. When we got back to the tiny holding area, the P.A. asked everyone to get into their second changes which meant another huge lineup for the one and only bathroom available.
We all went outside to the scene by W. Broadway and the only good thing about that spot was that we had those SOHO steps where we could sit down on, as they never ended up using as anyways. What else is new? After the typical 14 hours on set for this show, we were released.
I hope this show makes it, though in my opnion it won't last long simply b/c the concept/ sotry line is just trying to hard to be like "Sex and the City", which it clearly is not.
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