American Horror Story: Asylum
Episodes 203: Nor'Easter and Unholy Night

Wednesday July 11, 2012
"Interview"
The day before my Calling Service inquired as to Just How UnAvailable was I the next day (I had an afternoon audition), as they could send me out on a morning Interview for season two of American Horror Story. As I could do both, I accepted, and got to Paramount about 45 minutes early. By the time the 10am calltime came, there was quite a number of us, and the room at which we were to meet Those We Were To Meet were not yet there. Just past ten they came, provided us with our vouchers and such.
The concept was they'd take photos of each of us to be part of the Core Group (the director's favourites), below which would be a secondary tier of the first A.D.'s favourites.
It was set up that our paperwork was Complete: once the photo was taken we were on our own; I was fortunately to remain first, having actually arrived first, and I headed down to Santa Monica for the other audition.

Thursday August 23, 2012
Fitting
Two days before, I got a call directly from Sande Alessi Casting for a fitting on this date, indicating a Monday shoot (possible Tuesday recall). I had had a commercial callback, the shoot dates of which would be Tuesday and Wednesday (I prayed towards that, with the Tuesday TV gig to remain "possible" should I get booked on the commercial, and thereby not be needed).
I'd already known that my friend Maria Olsen was working the same gig, as she and I had both posted it on Facebook. I got to Paramount about thirty minutes early and was first. As it was common knowledge in entertainment news and such, we were all already aware that season two would be different than/from season one, taking place in a mental hospital in the 1960s.
I was given my outfit, they just needed to change the pants and I was set; all that was missing were my own socks that somehow disappeared.
Maria scooted me home, and we looked forward to Monday's shoot. We signed an NDA, the spirit to which I always adhere, to wit:

(I do not believe in providing storyline spoilers myself [such generally already readily available Elsewhere notwithstanding], in my report/s I only convey indications of and implications as to where I can be seen.)

Monday August 27, 2012
Shoot, Day 1
I arrived at 5:25am for the 6am calltime. Wardrobe showed up early enough that we agree to start being given our outfits before our official sign-in time. Maria arrived, as did Gary-7. Gary had been one of the Top Tier, so he's been working each episode. We met our wonderful wrangler Sally signed us in, and had us get our breakfast. Both physically and enthusiastically Sally closely resembled a combination of actress Blake Lively and writer/director Ali Scher, and who also told us the episode 203 was titled Nor'Easter
In holding, we were told much of what most of us already knew, already being public knowledge, that season two is a different storyline that season one, and that some of the actors from the first season would return as new, different characters.
The sets are fantastic, which understandably I cannot describe (prior to the episodes' airing/s), other than their being jaw-droppingly detailed and accurate.
Maria and I sat "next" to each other in the common room, in that Maria sat directly ahead of me. Without giving away any storyline (despite my Not Publishing this report until after the episode aired), essentially (as far as Maria, Gary, the patients and I are concerned), we're being shown Cecil B. Demille film Sign of the Cross, and as previously indicated, Maria and I interact with some ADD-esque behaviour.
We were wrapped at 9:42pm, so some nice overtime and three meal penalties. Craft services and catering were both awesome, the latter at least with breakfast and a late break: for lunch it was walkaway. I utilized crafty so as not to lose money eating at the commissary.

Tuesday August 28, 2012
Shoot, Day 2
I arrived at 8:20am; the night before half of us were released shortly before the rest; my calltime was 9am, which is intriguing as, with a 9:42pm sign-out, creates what's called a Twelve Hour Turnaround. It would be interesting if that's noticed and reflected on one of the paychecks.
Sally indicated we could get breakfast before signing in. With my breakfast in hand, I got my voucher and wardrobe, and headed over to holding. On the way, across from our sound stage new honeywagons and trailers were parked. As I walked by, my on-hangers wardrobe in one hand and filled-breakfast plate in the other, I noticed some people lining up at the new trailers for their production, going their own wardrobe. On the steps of one of the trailers was a fellow eating his own breakfast as we happened to espy each other and exhanged smiled a silent greeting as it occurred to me I recognized him. Zachary Knighton who plays Dave on the very funny ensemble ABC sitcom Happy Endings, the production offices of which I'd noticed there the day before. Ironically, when I was queued up for Hair, many of my fellow actors were unaware of that series, currently filming for its third season.
We were brought to set relatively quickly this morning so once we got going, the rest of the scene was filmed; the first day had shot about 90-95% of the scene, and throughout the morning was the rest, mostly for tighter coverage. The scene itself in the episode likely will cutaway [e.g., other] scenes "within" the scene we shot. That's not a spoiler; it's easy deduction as to how episodics look.
Who I presume was Ron Rapiel (one of the two male 1st ADs), conveyed the director's directions to us. More movement was requested, as much of the audience was seeming rather placid at one point. I had already created some substantial business to do throughout the scene, and I was remaining consistent with that, and at one point as Ron was describing the Sort Of business he wanted, he mentioned "one of" us was being Very Creative, at which point he began to imitate the business I had been doing; even the guy sitting next to me instantly realized Ron was imitating my actions. So I know at least I was doing it right, if they considered my business as setting the bar for the tone of the group's suggestion of action/s.
A few hours later, about half of us were released, signed out at 3:30pm, as our section would be off screen; the rest remained. Sally assured us as there would be "recurring" (background) roles; as I signed out Sally took my card, and I conveyed my living within walking distance, which she noted with widened eyes of having received good news, replying that was good to know, in case of the occasional Rush Call.