This is going to be interesting. I'm going to be working on Damages and I don't know anyone with DirectTV in order to get a copy of the work. Perhaps I could just search online and hope Hulu or something will carry it. Damn. That is a really good show and it's a shame it's no longer on cable tv. Annoyed, because it's a really good suspenseful, well written show.
I submitted for some work over the weekend but so far no luck. Damn. Was really hoping to get some work in. Already looking and submitting for Monday.
Went to a SAG Foundation free seminar on commercial casting work, they opened it up for some non-union to come in, and that was great. It was slightly informative, and although there was some nudging from pushy union people wanting to bitch about why the work was less for union versus non-union, overall the vibe was talkative, and the four casting people on the stage were given some tough, interesting questions. The moderator, who is from Backstage magazine, actually used two of my questions, which was great. We had to write on white oversized index cards our questions for the moderator to choose to ask the CD's.
Overall, not a waste of my time. Although the article from Backstage, which listed the event, stated it was not a casting session and to not bring headshots, people still brought anyway. I did not bring my headshots, but I did have my business card, the one with my photo on it, so that was do-able, and I quickly crossed off the old number listed and jotted my new phone, just in case, and put the card in each waiting folder, four of them, for the four CD's.
I am glad I came with something portable and that I was prepared somewhat. I'm learning the game. What I came away with from the meeting -- I am glad that I do not assume union is to get me paying jobs, to pursue some classes and just be ready and accessible, try to anticipate as best I can and learn as I go, make contacts, and keep it moving...in other words, hustle, don't rest on your laurels, always look for the next paying gig and keep those acting skills up.
Looking to make money and checking every site I can think of. Went to an audience taping for a game show and got paid after sitting through and clapping and laughing through five shows, all being taped in one day. It was tiring but I got paid at the end of the gig and that is what mattered. I will put in for other gigs, keeping in mind what the head PA told us, wear color and be energetic. OK.
It's going on 3 am and I'm wired. Have to check in about 3 hours to find out what the new call time will be for Damages. Sigh. I think, what's the point of going to sleep? But I must try. Set the alarm for 6 am and cross my fingers for luck. Still have no idea what to wear, either, had to check out a quick online search to see how certain people dress for this scene I'm going to be in.
Just happy to know I'm working.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
New Year's Eve - Garry Marshall movie
Got an email from casting asking about my working for two days next week as background for a, you guessed it, a New Year's Eve scene...in Times Square no less. Not the first time I've been involved with a Times Square film sequence as a BG'er, but I know it's going to be crazy. I've been submitting for stuff like crazy this week, got one audition, and it was in and out in a matter of five minutes. Didn't leave with a sense that I was going to get this gig. Sigh.
I see they're now asking for BG people for this. uh-huh. Meanwhile, my phone's silent. WTH?
Chase is on for more work...and back to the gym.
+++++++++++++++++++++UPDATE+++++++++++++++++++
Got the email to go. Psyched. Got to the gig, which was being held and filmed in Times Square. A LOT of extras. The first day there was some slimey element there, and some plain rude ones. One of the PA's lost it and started yelling when he saw us going to the hot food line and had to make a big show of it.
The second day of the gig went a lot better. The crowd had noticably thinned out and several of the slime element had also disappeared which was good. The other PA's had to admit and said it out loud to us that "this crowd was better than last night's" and they were pleased they were able to get stuff done a lot quicker because of it.
I know that the SAG element was called in for yesterday's filming. One of the BGers I was with sent an email that she had seen that things were set up when she went by the other day. I wrote back saying that sounds about right and about the SAG people would be filming.
Both dates were cold and the first night I suffered, because I hadn't layered properly. The second night, you better believe I layered everything. It was cold but I could handle it. A lot of standing around and repeating the New Year's countdown. Ryan Seacrest was there, so was Mayor Bloomberg and Bon Jovi playing a fictional singer named "Jensen". The Times Square New Year's ball was also utilized and dropped several times for the scene. It was pretty impressive. Both gigs were overnighters so we were out by like 3 or 4 in the morning.
There are more dates coming up. I wonder if I'll get an email. I continue to search for work.
I see they're now asking for BG people for this. uh-huh. Meanwhile, my phone's silent. WTH?
Chase is on for more work...and back to the gym.
+++++++++++++++++++++UPDATE+++++++++++++++++++
Got the email to go. Psyched. Got to the gig, which was being held and filmed in Times Square. A LOT of extras. The first day there was some slimey element there, and some plain rude ones. One of the PA's lost it and started yelling when he saw us going to the hot food line and had to make a big show of it.
The second day of the gig went a lot better. The crowd had noticably thinned out and several of the slime element had also disappeared which was good. The other PA's had to admit and said it out loud to us that "this crowd was better than last night's" and they were pleased they were able to get stuff done a lot quicker because of it.
I know that the SAG element was called in for yesterday's filming. One of the BGers I was with sent an email that she had seen that things were set up when she went by the other day. I wrote back saying that sounds about right and about the SAG people would be filming.
Both dates were cold and the first night I suffered, because I hadn't layered properly. The second night, you better believe I layered everything. It was cold but I could handle it. A lot of standing around and repeating the New Year's countdown. Ryan Seacrest was there, so was Mayor Bloomberg and Bon Jovi playing a fictional singer named "Jensen". The Times Square New Year's ball was also utilized and dropped several times for the scene. It was pretty impressive. Both gigs were overnighters so we were out by like 3 or 4 in the morning.
There are more dates coming up. I wonder if I'll get an email. I continue to search for work.
Blue Bloods in Harlem
It was a quick slightly rainy day. We got there early, we were served breakfast, which was dubious -- fiercely determined runny eggs, half cooked scalloped potatoes, oatmeal and coffee. Everything was warm, so I didn't complain. I drowned the potatoes in ketchup the catering provided, and ate what I could. After about an hour, someone brought in a crate of small bottled waters, which I was grateful for and picked up two bottles, easily downed one and kept the other one with my rollie suitcase that held my two other clothing changes -- ah, the life of a BG actor. Have the wardrobe of a rich chameleon but receive for it the pay of a pauper.
Part of the scene was playing in a barber shop. It was amusing hearing the PA's chat amongst themselves the ratio of men to women in a typical barber shop in the city. I played a 'customer' reading a paper and just sitting there, and the second was being a pedestrian. It wasn't rocket science and it only took about five or six takes, it was great.
Mark Warhlberg (sp?) was there, and so was Jennifer Esposito, who was having a hard time cuffing the 'criminal' -- at one point, the cuffs flew out of her hands and the director yelled "cut!"
By mid afternoon, we were wrapped and I took a cab home to celebrate as it was nearby and I didn't feel like walking the twenty plus blocks home. I was floating and didn't care. It was a short day and I was going to get a check for it. Back in the BG game I am!
Part of the scene was playing in a barber shop. It was amusing hearing the PA's chat amongst themselves the ratio of men to women in a typical barber shop in the city. I played a 'customer' reading a paper and just sitting there, and the second was being a pedestrian. It wasn't rocket science and it only took about five or six takes, it was great.
Mark Warhlberg (sp?) was there, and so was Jennifer Esposito, who was having a hard time cuffing the 'criminal' -- at one point, the cuffs flew out of her hands and the director yelled "cut!"
By mid afternoon, we were wrapped and I took a cab home to celebrate as it was nearby and I didn't feel like walking the twenty plus blocks home. I was floating and didn't care. It was a short day and I was going to get a check for it. Back in the BG game I am!
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