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Tuesday November 18, 2008
Bumps, fittings, and the Amazing Race against time
I arrived at Culver City Studios at 9am for my 10am interview calltime.
The security at the front gate were utterly baffled and completely in the dark as to any interviews for any film.
Eventually I did get passed through, and I was able to find those with whom I was to check in.
It turned out the paperwork would not be provided until 10am, which would take more time filling them out as opposed to having them and having them ready.
Shortly before 10am I got a call from my calling service to learn
(surprise surprise),
my Eli Stone Burbank calltime had been pushed to 12:30pm.
Fortunately as I was first, I was seen quickly.
Instead of an actual interview, it was more of a
Let's See If This Outfit Fits You
wardrobe fitting.
Understandably, Tim Burton was busy filming on set, and never came to meet with any of us, and the crew seemed surprised any of us might think Burton would have actually met with us prior to a shoot date.
Finally finding a wardrobe combination that would fit me, photos were taken, and I figured if booked it'd be from being selected from that.
I managed to get a hold of my best friend in the Valley who, having no meetings of her own until later that afternoon, agreed to take me to Disney Studios upon my arrival at the Universal Red Line stop, where it became a major race against time.
Thankfully the gods were smiling and I made hairs-breadth connections that normally would not have been the case,
my friend retrieved me at the Universal Red Line Station and she dropped me off at the Disney gates at 12:25pm.
As those in production were made aware by my calling service that I was en route, and as I was but a few moments late
(and, predictably, not used until about 2:45pm),
there was no problem.
I received my outfit, and sat in the holding area with the rest of the background.
While I was waiting, I was not aware that, without an announcement, lunch had been called,
and that it was a walk-away lunch
(and there was I without funds on me).
When I worked on the Disney lot for
Pearl Harbor
our meal was catered.
Here with a walk-away lunch, I had no idea where to forage for food beyond craft services.
It turned out that the Disney Commissary is right by where was our sound stage, albeit hidden by some distance and by hedges.
Unfortunately, the signage of Where's What on one wall was either upside down or backwards, as where it claimed was the restaurant, wasn't.
By the time I had been able to track down where I could procure food, it was far too late to obtain anything.
At least I know For Next Time the location of the commissary, that it has a good selection of food, and it takes plastic.
Once everyone was back from lunch, PA Andrew Kent retrieved me from the holding area: it was my time to be up.
(Remember that I do not believe in providing actual storyline spoilers myself [such generally currently and/or eventually being readily available Elsewhere notwithstanding], I generally only convey indications of where I can be seen).
First AD
Marty Jedlicka
and episode director
Bethany Rooney
set me up for the Day Four scene.
I was allowed to set up my own business/what to do.
While Patti complains to Eli about me, I can be seen in the kitchen, leveling sugar on a spoon, and testing a clearly repulsive cup of coffee.
Even for shots in which I would not be seen by the camera, I remained and did my business, so when the respective characters glanced towards me, they would see me.
The scene was shot with their coverage, and then a single One Take Wonder take, simply of me doing my entire business, for a cutaway shot.
I was changed out into the Day Two outfit, which in the episode would be the first time I would be seen.
For that I simply went through papers in banker's boxes, while in the kitchen in the foreground, Patti reports to Eli about my annoyances.
At one point
Jonny Lee Miller
(who plays Eli Stone),
came up to me to say hi, shake my hand and introduce himself, and related he thought my kitchen coffee business was awesomely funny.
He seemed pleased to know I actually watch the series as well.
He was off to relax so I didn't bother him
(e.g., telling him that I've also happened across and seen a few of his
[little known]
movies as well...).
Again (for shots in which I would not be seen by the camera), I stood by so when the respective characters glanced towards me, they would see what I was doing.
Bethany complimented my work more and more throughout the day, and at one point told me she had directed a lot, including
(though obviously not limited to),
Desperate Housewives
and such.
(I was correct in suspecting she was being modest: later at home I
looked up her filmography
and found she'd also directed tons of episodes for numerous TV series:
Boston Public,
Ally McBeal,
twenty-two episodes of
St. Elsewhere,
and seven episodes of one of my favourite HBO series,
Dream On,
and many many more)
When the day was wrapped a little after 6:30pm, Andrew signed me out, I was given a li'l bump
$40 extra to my
private-sector compensation for labour
base rate in thanks for my work.
Sadly the series Eli Stone ended with this second season without renewal, which is a massive shame, and strongly implying the Suits don't like well written and/or uplifting shows.
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