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Monday, January 29, 2007
Audition ["with"] My Name is Earl actors
I had an audition late morning this date, down at the border of Santa Monica.
To my surprise, also auditioning were My Name is Earl recurring players Dale Dickey (who plays Patty), and Bill Suplee (who plays Willie, the one-eyed mailman).
They were auditioning for the same Applebees commercial: while I didn't ask if they were aware they'd each be there, I did chat with them briefly, commending their contributions to one of my favourite shows, as well as the series in general.
I clarified to Bill how I love the comic talents of his son Ethan.
They were both very pleasant; I mentioned I'd worked featured background on two Season One episodes, and hoped I could one day work it again.
Dale assured me they'd call me: I'd heard also that they tended to use people previously used.
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Monday, February 05, 2007
Sure enough, back to Camden County...
I got booked on My Name is Earl; I found it ironic I'd been called At This Time, considering just the other day I'd met and chatted with Dale Dickey and Bill Suplee at the audition, at the time of which Dale was certain I'd "be called again" to work the show.
I didn't have with me a contact card with my name to give them.
I had a wardrobe fitting for the next day.
I was to play a teacher that over the phone Kelly Porter of wardrobe told me (according to the character breakdown), was to be "shlubby."
We were both amused at wondering what th'heck that means to the higher-ups [bg].
I looked forward to it (beyond the fact I've had almost no work in weeks); it's one of the best written and funniest shows currently on the air.
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Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Wardrobe fitting and info
I went to the My Name is Earl studio for my fitting, arriving for my noon'ish appointment by 11:30am.
The pleasant Kelly Porter, with whom I'd spoken on the phone, introduced me to wardrobe coordinator Robin Kennedy, who took one look at my suit and exclaimed, "Oh, what you have on is great...!" [bg] The two of them had me try on my other shirt I'd brought with me, then a few of their own shirts, and Robin took the digital photos for approval, whilst I got to hang out, obtaining some craft services.
It came down to being my own belt and pants and footwear, and their polo shirt.
I was tempted, as I was signed out, to partake at the lunch meal truck, but no one had suggested or invited me to do so, so I just headed out.
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Friday February 09, 2007
Night School Teacher
My third gig working on My Name is Earl was a quick but fun shoot: 4:30pm to 9'ish (I was signed out at 9:30).
In the episode GED (Season 2 episode 20), I play an instructor monitoring a class of adults taking GED tests.
As Earl and Randy take the test I'm just in the front, indifferently watching a DVD in a portable player (ignoring those taking the test).
I doubt the camera will show it in the first scene, but the DVD is showing clips of a building (from different angles), being demolished with controlled exposives.
For the second scene, they did a reverse shot (a medium shot), of my dead-pan, apathetic reaction to Randy's line to me.
Considering how hilarious is Ethan Suplee as the wonderfully innocent Randy, it was almost difficult to keep the dead-pan straight face I was directed to maintain.
Between set-ups, I was able to mention to Ethan Suplee regarding my having met his father a couple of weeks earlier.
Ethan indicated his father Bill relating having met [someone at the audition who really loved the show], as Jason Lee sauntered up, to join the conversation (or maybe to make sure if he had to rescue Ethan from some annoying chatty backgrounder [bg]).
Jason did join the brief conversation, and I had enough time to add ...
Earl being one of my top favourite shows, most likely best written currently on the air, and that I did have the Season One DVD set.
While I managed to neglect pointing out I got the DVD set the very first day it was released (having had its release date on my calendar once I learned it), they were pleased to hear of how much entertainment the show provides.
I was just able to add I worked on the episode Monkey's In Space, and in what capacity.
Ethan shuddered, remembering that late night shoot and through which he had to go. At the end of the shoot the two stars each shook my hand warmly and thanked me.
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