How to make it in America

Got an email from casting for this HBO show. Have no idea on what the show is about and had to do an IMDB search. Luckily I did not have to do too much on the wardrobe as it's exterior work and ND (non descript). Subway rider and possible work clothing, probably not much to carry, thankfully. Plus they're providing transportation, always a good thing.

Will fill this in when I get back. Early AM call to meet the bus, and even then, I'm always nervous before a gig and don't get a lot of sleep. Bathroom calls me. Later.

L&O SVU

Played a homeless person. This was interesting, because I was to stand in a food line, and then another scene I was to just walk on the sidewalk, past the 'bad guy' the 'cops' were following and past the cop car. So that was great.

Walking past the camera, I just quietly got into the whole idea of being homeless or hungry. I know what it's like to go hungry and I know what it's like to be without. Thankfully never homeless, but recalled some close calls. Mostly I could relate to hunger. My mind engaged, my body naturally followed. I hunched my shoulders, hugged my stomach, twirled a piece of my clothing in one hand, as if nervous. I wanted to hide, not be seen, felt the shame and the hunger.

And then I noticed that the camera noticed, and I was being slowed down for the camera work by the crew, being cued, and shuffling along, pantomining my "God bless you," nodding to the 'charity worker' who was handing out 'lunch tickets' by the church food entrance for us homeless people to get a plate of food to eat. It was funny because the first time we shot the scene, the woman seemed at a loss on how to deal with me, and she couldn't 'pretend' to hand me a ticket. Turns out she didn't have any and couldn't pretend, or wasn't sure if I wasn't truly a homeless person! Either way, we shot it again, she had the ticket, and I pantomined again, and this time she was ready with a ticket, and I shuffled along with it. We shot it a couple of more times, and they changed things around, this time with the Stabler character within earshot stating his lines 'investigating' about a man visiting the shelter to the 'church director'. That was pretty cool, getting to hear things live and be that close.

After shooting the two scenes, I felt a little lightheaded but didn't think anything of it, and walked back to set, and thinking perhaps I just needed to eat something and I'd be fine.

It was the first major warm day, the sun was beaming, and I was layered with clothing, including a fleece sweater, and I got a bit nauseous with a blazing headache and had to lie down. I was turning white as a sheet and trying not to shake as I went to the rest room to splash some water on my face.

I tried to rest and asked for some ibru. The headache moved from my head to stomach and I was queasy. The medic came back after one of the BG'ers noticed my color didn't look right, and I went to rest on the stage in holding, quietly, for twenty minutes. I kept apologizing to the PA's and hoped I didn't mess up their shot, but the PA said it was OK and not to worry and if I couldn't stay that was OK. The medic came back with some Gatorade which I mixed with regular water to sip, then when I felt better, signed some paperwork the medic said I had to fill out for him to record the incident, and then I was allowed to go home. I got a cab pretty quick and when I got home, I took a quick shower and crawled into bed with some ibru and after a little bit of food took a nap.

What a day! My first time ever being sick on set. Sigh.

Damages...now on DirectTV

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.

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.

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!

A Late Quartet

Worked an overnight BG gig as part of an audience attending "the last quartet" -- the scene including Christopher Walken, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener. I'm a bit hyped as I type this because I got to see THE Christopher Walken, doing a walkthru of the scene, and his character's goodbye speech, a part of it, anyway. We filmed at the Met Museum which was awesome and my favorite museum. My night, as far as I was concerned, couldn't get any better. I wore a dark blue cocktail dress, had my hair on stunningly coiffed, and simple jewelry, along with a ring my grandmother gave me with nylons and black simple heeled shoes. It was just very interesting, to see this man act, and to see he looks very much like he does on t.v. and in the movies. So did Phillip and Catherine. But I was there for Mr. Walken. This is an intense actor, who can do this acting in his sleep. Other people make it so complex and operatic and it doesn't need to be, not every time, not in everything. Tonight's Oscar night, and it was, sadly, boring. James Franco didn't win, Social Network didn't win, and elder Hollywood still holds the balls. For now.

Met up with some BG'ers who are still doing this, which is surprising considering how long it's been since I've been out of the game, over a year, and yet here they were. It was a relief to see some familiar faces, and catch up over a bag lunch while SAG ate their catered hot food and drank their hot coffee.

As time went on, I was fighting falling asleep, as I was told Mr. Walken was looking my way, which I found hard to believe. But I think I might have seen him. Dunno. I was in a sea of people so I can't take it entirely seriously.

Was caught in the middle of a religious born again vs. esoteric discussion and got a headache listening to the drama. Never a dull moment in non-union holding.

Back to the Oscars. The ending had the chorus from a public school in Staten Island, sang Over the Rainbow. It was the most diverse moment I had ever seen, and a thought crossed my mind. Would these kids become the people who are the ticket buyers or ticket takers, not the ones who get to make it big in Hollywood.

Yesterday was playing music I hadn't heard in a while, and I still felt a little sad listening to it. But it was a reminder, a call to why I'm back to where I'm at, and why I need to pick myself up and dust myself off and start...all over again. It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life, like the song by Muse goes.

In six hours I need to be getting ready or be on the train to head to the next gig. Blue Bloods. We'll see how this goes. Putting in for Gossip Girl. Will fill you in as things come along.

things are looking up

And here I was thinking, "so much for doing any BG work lately." Working a day job for over a year had sucked the joy, time and energy of seeking out such work.

Just got the nod for a BG gig! It's an overnight gig, so I'm hoping I'm out by 6 am or 8 am, because I have an appointment at 10 am for the career counselor that I can't really afford to miss.

So exciting! It's going to be a gala at the museum scene, so I am pulling out my trusty dark blue cocktail dress, some jewelry, a change of clothing in case wardrobe hates the dress (don't think they will, it looks great on me and is perfect for a museum party scene) and some shoes. The shoes will be trickiest, as I tend to have what some call "school marm" shoes than strappy hot mama shoes. The hot mama ones aren't comfortable to stand in for 8 to 12 hours. I've tried, and it's not pretty.

Got an email inquiry for another BG gig, this one for later in the week and will shoot over several days, so that is exciting in itself. Things are starting to line up nicely. Will fill you in once things actually happen...