Starbucks Coffee has always been treated as the "enemy" where I am from. I always made it a point to support the local mom and pop java shops, even if it meant driving a little out of the way. Well, this is Los Angeles...and much like the mentally strange, you don't have to drive far to find one. Fortunately for me, there was one open at 5am.
I ordered my triple shot ice coffee, and proceeded to run home for a quick shower, as I mentioned...rather than sleeping, my day was merely beginning. The short film I booked was scheduled to begin production at 8:00am that morning, down in Orange County (which is roughly 45 minutes south of where we live).
Which meant, I had just enough time to shower, brush my teeth, wake Sherri up to start her day, and get back on the road. It's a strange feeling being up for 24 hours, your body gets it's 5th and 6th wind, then wants to shut down, then somehow says "okay, okay, here's your 7th" and so on and so forth.
The film is entitled 'Shades of Grey', and is a film noir piece...which also meant that my character in this film smokes. This helped me get through the drive down there, as I figured I would light up to help stay focused. I used to be a full time smoker, a pack a day since I was 17...but have since quit and haven't picked up a cigarette in 3 years, 5 months, 4 days, well...you get the idea, it's not something you forget about.
So, when I went to light up...I was a little apprehensive, but knowing that these were stage cigarettes that didn't contain any tobacco or nicotine...coupled with the fact that I was veering from lane to lane, I thought I'd better indulge and avoid killing anyone, including myself.
I arrived on location a few minutes early, met the crew, and mainlined another coffee. About an hour after our call time, my co-star was listed as MIA. We tried calling his home phone several times, the director had scouts outside looking for him, everything short of bringing in the bloodhounds. I thought about taking a nap, but realized that would more than likely be my downfall, and proceeded to go outside for some air. The director apologized profusely, and I just nodded...I wasn't a happy camper at this point.
The actor finally arrived another hour later, and explained his situation and that he overshot the exit, doesn't own a cell phone, etc...I was ready to have my 'Christian Bale' freak out moment, but after hearing him out...he seemed pretty genuine and apologetic. We rehearsed for another hour or so, and got to know each other, and finally we were ready to shoot!
I won't bore you with all the details of the long shooting process. Just know that we were there for 12 hours, and the entire short is less than 5 minutes long. That's the beauty of this business, it takes time to set up the lighting, different camera angles, checking playback, etc...
Either way, I told him I needed to be OUT of there by 5:30pm, and NOOOOOOO later, as I had my Vampire show tonight in Hollywood. They were very accommodating, and we worked most of my close up scenes right away to ensure that if I was somehow still alive / coherent by 5pm, they would send me on my way.
5:25pm - recorded a couple voiceover pieces for some earlier shots we did, and that was it. I officially wrapped my first professional short film production!
...aaaaand goodnight...zzzz...huh, wha'? Ohhh, 5 more minutes Ma'...pleeeease?
No sir. Time to get on the road, as I have yet another show to do ladies and gentlemen! The Vampires Masquerade, a theatrical piece about a stage owned and run by vampires. All though at this point, I was feeling more like a zombie.
I fought my way through an hour and a half of rush hour traffic into Los Angeles and made it to the theatre by 7:30, a half an hour before we went on stage. I had just enough time to change into my wardrobe, suck down my umpteenth cup of caffeine, and get out there for the "places" call.
That night was an incredible show...I don't know if it was because I was punch-drunk and hallucinating, or if it was because it was our 2nd to last show...but we were having so much fun that night, improvising scenes, and every actor was just spot on.
Of course, after a night like this...it would be a crime to not celebrate, and so everyone went next door to the other stage and had a mini-cast party...I stayed for as long as I could, but ended up calling it a night "early".
I made one last attempt at driving, and this time...36+ hours later, with a huge smile on my face, feeling accomplished...I was headed home. I slept for a week.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Where to begin...?? Part 1
FADE IN: INTERIOR. MORNING.
Rob sleeping soundly in his bed. Sun is shining through the window, a bottle of aspirin and a "half-full" glass of water sits atop headshots, scattered across nightstand. Alarm clock reads 10:26...10:27 (beep, beep, beep!) ...close up shot of "snooze" button...Thud! Rob's hand crashes down on clock as he catches a few more winks...
DREAM SEQUENCE. MULTIPLE VOICES/FACES.
"What have you been up to?" Why haven't you updated your blog?" "Are you ever going to write more?" "I can't belieeeeve it's not butter" "Robby, I am so proud of you" ...end with shot of Mr. T driving a forklift..."Update this thing foo!"
END DREAM SEQUENCE.
...beep, beep, beep...(cut to alarm clock being knocked off the table)
ROB (waking suddenly)
"Woh." (pans room for laptop) "I need to blog!"
CUT TO BLACK.
I realize I have been asleep at the wheel when it comes to updating my blog lately, my apologies! So, before I begin I would like to give a sincere thank you to those of you keeping me on my toes and asking for updates, if it wasn't for you...there is a good chance this blog would more than likely..."fade to black".
I believe I last left you in Greece, working CSI: NY, and I had just landed a role in a short film called "Shades of Grey".
Ahhh...what a day...err, (couple of days) those were!
Thursday night I was worked the show 'Entourage' for the upcoming season. I know how much some of you LOVE this show, so I'll try and refrain from too many spoilers. I was called in to start work at 6:00pm that evening, and base camp was located in the parking lot across from Grauman's Chinese Theatre and right next door to Jimmy Kimmel Live, they needed this huge parking lot to hold the amount of extras working this shot tonight, as we would be creating one of the biggest Hollywood movie premiere's since the Golden Era.
Fortunately I was booked as Press and not a fan, which meant I would be doing actual "work" (and I use that term loosely) as opposed to yelling and screaming all night.
The line to receive our camera equipment, easily took over an hour and a half to get through...fortunately, being that we were next door to Jimmy Kimmel, we were at least entertained with his musical guest for the night (Peter Bjorn & John) who performed on the outdoor stage. Fast forward about 4 hours, and finally the shops were closed up, and we took to the streets (Hollywood Blvd). They called all the Press up to the red carpet, in front of the Chinese Theatre*.
*Side note - For those of you who haven't been to LA, or familiar with Grauman's Chinese Theatre, it has been home to many movie premiere's and once was a home for the Academy Awards. Today you can find many o' tourist taking pictures of the hand and footprints from actual famed celebrities, or you can get your picture taken with the various nutjobs posing as those celebrities, or superheroes. Like these two...probably arguing over a dollar!
Back to the story...
Once the scene had been established, the red carpet rolled out, the screaming fans tucked behind the barricade, the premiere lights swaying in the sky, it was time for the limousine to pull up and out came the faux-celebrities...there were a couple look-a-likes who arrived there before Vinny Chase and his said, 'Entourage'.
Scar-Jo was there, a Brangelina couple...or Brad-Jo, in fact there was even a Billy-Jo walking by himself, or some other d-bag from a crappy pop-punk band...but ohhh yes, all the "Jo's" were out that night.
Vinny's limo arrived and out came the posse (I refuse to spell out Entourage every time) Johnny Drama, Eric, his girfriend Sloan, Ari and his wife, then Turtle and Jamie Lynn Sigler. (apparently he and Meadow Soprano are dating in real life now)
The whole night was us taking photos while they walked up and down the red carpet for Vinny's new movie, ...**SPOILER ALERT** ...'Gatsby' directed by Martin Scorsese. Being that I was press and it was my job to take pictures, I took it upon myself to attach my iPhone camera to the lens, so that I could sneak a couple shots for you fine folks at home.
This continued into the morning hours, shooting a bunch of different angles...when finally at 5:00am, we were all done. Somehow my eyes were still open, I was still on two feet...completely exhausted, and realized that while everyone else was going home to enjoy the comforts of their own beds, my day was just getting started...
Stay tuned for Part 2
Rob sleeping soundly in his bed. Sun is shining through the window, a bottle of aspirin and a "half-full" glass of water sits atop headshots, scattered across nightstand. Alarm clock reads 10:26...10:27 (beep, beep, beep!) ...close up shot of "snooze" button...Thud! Rob's hand crashes down on clock as he catches a few more winks...
DREAM SEQUENCE. MULTIPLE VOICES/FACES.
"What have you been up to?" Why haven't you updated your blog?" "Are you ever going to write more?" "I can't belieeeeve it's not butter" "Robby, I am so proud of you" ...end with shot of Mr. T driving a forklift..."Update this thing foo!"
END DREAM SEQUENCE.
...beep, beep, beep...(cut to alarm clock being knocked off the table)
ROB (waking suddenly)
"Woh." (pans room for laptop) "I need to blog!"
CUT TO BLACK.
I realize I have been asleep at the wheel when it comes to updating my blog lately, my apologies! So, before I begin I would like to give a sincere thank you to those of you keeping me on my toes and asking for updates, if it wasn't for you...there is a good chance this blog would more than likely..."fade to black".
I believe I last left you in Greece, working CSI: NY, and I had just landed a role in a short film called "Shades of Grey".
Ahhh...what a day...err, (couple of days) those were!
Thursday night I was worked the show 'Entourage' for the upcoming season. I know how much some of you LOVE this show, so I'll try and refrain from too many spoilers. I was called in to start work at 6:00pm that evening, and base camp was located in the parking lot across from Grauman's Chinese Theatre and right next door to Jimmy Kimmel Live, they needed this huge parking lot to hold the amount of extras working this shot tonight, as we would be creating one of the biggest Hollywood movie premiere's since the Golden Era.
Fortunately I was booked as Press and not a fan, which meant I would be doing actual "work" (and I use that term loosely) as opposed to yelling and screaming all night.
The line to receive our camera equipment, easily took over an hour and a half to get through...fortunately, being that we were next door to Jimmy Kimmel, we were at least entertained with his musical guest for the night (Peter Bjorn & John) who performed on the outdoor stage. Fast forward about 4 hours, and finally the shops were closed up, and we took to the streets (Hollywood Blvd). They called all the Press up to the red carpet, in front of the Chinese Theatre*.
*Side note - For those of you who haven't been to LA, or familiar with Grauman's Chinese Theatre, it has been home to many movie premiere's and once was a home for the Academy Awards. Today you can find many o' tourist taking pictures of the hand and footprints from actual famed celebrities, or you can get your picture taken with the various nutjobs posing as those celebrities, or superheroes. Like these two...probably arguing over a dollar!
Back to the story...
Once the scene had been established, the red carpet rolled out, the screaming fans tucked behind the barricade, the premiere lights swaying in the sky, it was time for the limousine to pull up and out came the faux-celebrities...there were a couple look-a-likes who arrived there before Vinny Chase and his said, 'Entourage'.
Scar-Jo was there, a Brangelina couple...or Brad-Jo, in fact there was even a Billy-Jo walking by himself, or some other d-bag from a crappy pop-punk band...but ohhh yes, all the "Jo's" were out that night.
Vinny's limo arrived and out came the posse (I refuse to spell out Entourage every time) Johnny Drama, Eric, his girfriend Sloan, Ari and his wife, then Turtle and Jamie Lynn Sigler. (apparently he and Meadow Soprano are dating in real life now)
The whole night was us taking photos while they walked up and down the red carpet for Vinny's new movie, ...**SPOILER ALERT** ...'Gatsby' directed by Martin Scorsese. Being that I was press and it was my job to take pictures, I took it upon myself to attach my iPhone camera to the lens, so that I could sneak a couple shots for you fine folks at home.
This continued into the morning hours, shooting a bunch of different angles...when finally at 5:00am, we were all done. Somehow my eyes were still open, I was still on two feet...completely exhausted, and realized that while everyone else was going home to enjoy the comforts of their own beds, my day was just getting started...
Stay tuned for Part 2
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