Cold Case (1)

The following is an excerpt from an email I’d sent shortly after this shoot:

I was in a new TV show called Cold Case… playing a prostitute of all things! …in 1973 no less!

Yeah, I even got a close-up. Who knows if it’ll end up on the cutting room floor or not. I don’t care. I had fun.

I’d worked with one of the guys on that show a few times before. Let me just describe him… 30 years old, 6’2″, about 180lb., nice body from working, not weightlifting, brown hair, brown eyes. Looks menacing, but is really a sweetheart. Has a sexy sounding accent… Yeah… It wasn’t a bad day just getting to hang out with him. The kind of guy a happily married woman like myself could flirt with and he’s not gonna take it the wrong way.

Gems of my day: the first scene I was in (the one that got me the close-up) I’m leaning against a grafitti wall sort of showing my wares (I was oddly fully clothed in a t-shirt and hip-huggers even though I was supposed to be a low income hooker.) and the guy walks up to me, looks me up and down, nods his head and I put my arm around him and walk down the street.

Yeah, in the group of extras I was hanging with, that became the running joke… I was so easy he didn’t even have to say a word. And he was so suave, he didn’t have to say a word to pick me up.

Back and forth all day. It was a hoot!

The other gem was his advice on relationships to one of the other girls working with us. He told her that she had to kiss frogs in order to find her prince. He also said he didn’t know why guys are such bastards to women. Women are actually easier to please than men. Of course, myself and the other girl expressed that we thought he was nuts. He said, “Think about it… All you have to do is tell her how you feel, please her in bed, whatever she likes, and every now and then get her a little something, no matter how small, cheap or insignificant. If you give her something like that, she’ll know you were thinking about her. They’re real easy to keep happy like that.”

As I recall, that was a fifteen hour shoot over night where us car people really got along with each other. Shoots like that are hard to come by. I don’t recall pulling out my notebook very much because the conversations were all really great.

According to Jen, I was completely cut out of this episode. I never even got seen in the background let alone the close-up they did. Oh well. I still wouldn’t trade it for the world. It was the first time I got to play a prostitute!

Anchorman

I was on Anchorman about 9 times from July to September 2003. I didn’t write much about each shoot at the time.

The highlights were seeing Vince Vaughn (who’s really tall and quite handsome in person) rehearsing his lines while standing about two feet from my car. And spending an entire day scribbling down notes for Driven To Distraction and Forsaken Talisman while lounging in the back seat of my car because I wasn’t being used much. And driving my husband’s ’66 Corvette convertible while wearing a pink herringbone polyester pantsuit, but that shot didn’t make it into either the movie or the deleted scenes.

The following is an excerpt from an email I’d sent after seeing the movie:

I saw Anchorman today… Hmmm… Out of a 9 week shooting schedule where I was there 9 days, of the exterior shots, only two of them were actually in the movie. I’m thinking that during reshoots, they must have reshot half the movie or something. Even if I wasn’t in frame, I should’ve recognized more of the shots. Very strange…

My car did get a blip of camera time, though…the exact same blip that’s in the theatrical trailer. My Mustang fastback is parked out front of the bar and takes up about three quarters of the screen. Kinda odd that that was the only time one of my cars was in frame. Hopefully, the DVD will have tons of deleted scenes. There’s still hope for me yet!

Hell, I might as well talk about that one night where my car was parked outside the bar. I know that last year, I didn’t write it up. That was a little bit before I started doing these Tales.

Anyhow, that night was a Second Unit gig during one of the last weeks of filming. Absolute cake of an evening. I showed up at the location, waited around until it started to get dark. Then, we got in our cars and drove essentially about a half block, parked and walked away.

At some point after the cars were parked, we broke for lunch…errr…dinner, but they still call it lunch even when it’s about 8 or 9PM.

After that, I hung out in the real bar that they were using the exterior of. It was open for business that night. Mind you, the neighborhood wasn’t the nicest and I felt kinda odd when a guy started picking up on me despite my wedding ring. So, I looked for the biggest crew guy I could find. His name was Tim, he was 6’5″ or so and somewhere around 300 pounds. A cool transpo guy. He’d driven me back to the set after lunch. On all the big shows, they’ve got shuttle vans even when the set is less than a block from base camp.

Anyhow, I just ran right up to him, gave him a big hug and told him I might’ve left something in his van. He looked at me kinda odd and I whispered, “Weird guy picking up on me” and started leading Tim out the door. He followed with a chuckle.

Once we were outside, he inquired about the weirdo like he’d get down to business if I needed him to, but I told him it wasn’t really necessary. The weirdo was a little tipsy and it was easier to just stay out of the bar for the rest of the night. So, I hung out with Tim and one of the costumers. Oddly enough, the costumer guy was smoking a Cuban cigar. I’d thought it somewhat of a waste to be smoking a Cuban on set, but he replied something like, “Nothing is ever a waste. Life is to be enjoyed.”

So, there I sat on the curb, talking philosophy, cars (and stuff I don’t even remember anymore) at about 1AM, between Tim and a big tattooed costumer who was smoking a Cuban cigar while my pride and joy ’68 Mustang fastback was getting her big break in the movies.

Life’s weird that way. And that’s just the way I like it!

Bonus shots:

This was the night that us background people were sort of filling out the scene. The cars coming toward the camera were all stunt and precision drivers. The cars going away…well, I was in that group.

I found this next one in the deleted scenes. This day was a little odd in that I was at the very tail end of the costume line somehow and all of the other car background people had not only gone through the line, but had gotten in their cars and gone to the set. I’d gotten completely left behind, so I followed one of the shuttle vans.

When I arrived, they’d started rolling, so I got in line to drive through because I wasn’t brazen enough to go and just park my car in the scene. I knew I’d get yelled at for driving through because my car was so loud, but I also felt I was there to do a job, so I went on through. The AD, predictably, told me to park it…

And for this last one, there’s a little more story involved. My ’68 Mustang Fastback is actually hidden even though it’s in frame. The arrow is pointing to me! I can’t believe I made it into the movie after all!

However… This shoot ended at about 2AM and I was pretty tired. I stayed in my disco dress and left my hair and make-up done. Why should I care what I looked like? I was only going home…

So, I was driving a little fast on the wide-open freeway that night. So, I weaved through a little bit of traffic, too. I just wanted to get home and go to bed…But of course, at that time of morning, the cops see speed and weaving and assume the driver’s drunk.

I got pulled over, but not ticketed…I showed him my paperwork from the set to verify that I was just heading home from a period movie and he really didn’t looked fazed at all. Even though my disco dress is loud, I’d imagine he’d pulled over much crazier people in weirder outfits. All turned out well and I crept home nice and slowly.

Starsky & Hutch (2)

This was definitely a life-altering experience for me. I was earning my first two SAG vouchers, on my way to getting into the union and got waaaaaaaaay more than just that. I had zero expectations going into it and just let it unfold. It’s still one of my favorite shoots ever.

Two weekend days in downtown LA that I will never forget.

The following are excerpts from an email written shortly after the shoot:

I spent my weekend on the set of the feature film Starsky & Hutch.

Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson are playing Starsky & Hutch in the movie. I’m thinking it’s gonna be rather campy. But the original S&H do make an appearance.

I saw them very briefly this weekend. They were in one of the stunt scenes we shot. I got to watch as the lead stunt driver jumped the Torino through a driveway into the street so that it landed going backward. Then, he drove in reverse gear toward the poice station and then whipped the car around 180 degrees into a parking space. Oh yeah… It was a thrill just to watch. I was about three cars away from the action… The captain of the driving team was riding in the car in front of me so he could see everything. My, oh my… what a weekend!

Let me break it all down a little more…

I showed up at base camp and got my first SAG voucher. I was absolutely on cloud 9 at this point.

The person checking me in gave me a map of the set and told me where to park. I was already in costume because wardrobe chose an outfit from my own personal collection, so I hopped in my car and drove to where the map told me to.

I was about three cars back in the line-up and gradually the rest of the background cars rolled up eventually. I was just excited to be there. I didn’t really care about much else. I was on a show that I’d loved as a kid and was two vouchers closer to getting into SAG. Life couldn’t get much better at that point.

Oh, but it did…

During the first take, the cars in front of me took off and then I was waved through frame only to discover afterward that I’d been grouped with the precision drivers!!!!

Talk about a little dream come true for me!

Because I’m a good driver, that first take set the stage for the rest of the shoot. The precision driving coach took a liking to me and used me all day the first day.

And then on the second day, I figured I’d never get used again because my car was seen so much. But when the driving coach asked me where my car was, I told him production didn’t want to see me anymore and he talked to the 1st AD about it.

WOW!

From that point on, they considered me a precision driver! I had the time of my life! He let me drive a bunch of different cars on the driving team.

I just happened to be in the right place at the right time and know how to pay attention and drive a car such that I hit the same mark every time and I got to be on the precision driving team. Yeah, the captain of the team has been stunt driving since Mission Impossible, the TV show!

By the time that second day was through, I’d driven about five different cars. It was so amazing. I’d found a new dream…to be a stunt driver or at least a precision driver. So far, that’s my absolute favorite. I already love cars.

Also, during that fantastic second day, Jen and I got to talking on my cell phone. We were in edits on Lover’s Talisman and were discussing the book as a whole.

This was the day we decided to rewrite the end of the book.

Actually, one of the weirdest things about our decision to rearrange the end of Lover’s Talisman was that I was the one who actually noticed it was lame somehow. Usually, I’m not quite that astute and Jen points out where we suck the hardest and we fix it.

I just remember sitting with the driving team on Starsky & Hutch, calling Jen on my cell phone to check in as I usually do and of course, we got to talking about Lover’s Talisman and how we were both rereading it for the millionth time.

We sort of reminisced about writing it and I was trying to figure out how to exactly say what was on my mind… That while even on the millionth read through, Lover’s Talisman wasn’t half bad, but there was one scene…(one of Jen’s personal faves from the getgo)…that I was just tired of reading.

It was wonderfully great the first time, but after the millionth, I really paid no attention to it. And it’s a friggin’ sex scene! So, I just kinda quickly glossed over that in hopes of not pissing her off and we went on to talk about other stuff.

Then, the next time I talk to her, she has this brilliant idea to rework the end of the book mainly because the cave scene really didn’t advance the plot in the ways it should.

Boy, did I wipe the sweat from my brow. 🙂 Sure I had no idea why I didn’t like the millionth read through of the cave scene, but that’s why Jen and I work so well together.

Life altering. I tell ya, this shoot had everything. Tons and tons of adventure plus writing stuff. I got to do great research for Driven To Distraction as well as get on my way to getting into SAG.

One of my all time favorite shoots bar none. I wish they were all as awesome as this one.

Starsky & Hutch (1)

I was on this film four or five times and unfortunately didn’t write much about each experience.

The first shoot was in April of 2003. My car broke down on set, but it wasn’t a big deal. My battery was tired. The cars were only parked anyway. To get home, one of the transpo guys gave me a jump. No big deal. I got a new battery the next day.

The second and third shoots kind of blur together for me. Two different locations, but same kind of stuff in both places: driving. Lots and lots of driving around and around and around. Not bad, though. I wish I could remember more. I never did see what the scene was about.

But I did get camera time. During the cafe scene, my dark teal ’68 Mustang fastback is clearly seen going from right to left through one of the windows. I’d brought my best friend, Eddie to drive my aqua ’68 Mustang convertible. He had fun and I had a blast watching him!

Eddie and I also worked another gig in downtown LA. I recall it being 2nd Unit (ie. inserts or small shots usually without the principal actors). I tried to drive through frame, but they said my car was too pretty. Eddie got to drive through a few times…and a couple girls hopped in the car, too. He had a great time on that shoot for sure! In fact, he keeps asking me if there are any other shows that want two of my cars at the same time. I’m already looking forward to bringing him along if I ever get on another show like that. I keep hoping…And I’m sure he does, too!

Man On Fire

The bulk of the following Tale is copied from an email I’d sent to Jen after my first week as a Production Assistant on a feature film called Man On Fire. I had a great time and really loved the job after I got used to it.

This was my first foray into being a runner. I’d do it again in a heartbeat, too, because once my head stopped spinning, I had a great time, top down and listening to my radio in my convertible ’68 Mustang as I cruised LA.

The toughest parts of the job were strategically planning my route and…well…I don’t recall anything else as actually being difficult! Even LA traffic ceases most of its annoyance when there’s no need to hurry.

OK… I’ve been a PA for one full week. I’m actually not much of a Production Assistant as I am a Runner.

I drive about a hundred miles everyday. I know my way around Hollywood like it’s second nature. I’m learning Santa Monica and the West Side as well. I’m even venturing over to Glendale and East LA. My goodness! I do a lot of driving. I love it, but it does get tiring in traffic sometimes. I’m mostly glad that the the people in the office understand traffic. They don’t expect me to go 40 miles roundtrip in an hour when I leave the office after 3:30. I was really afraid of that at first. So far, there’s only been one trip I had to make with a time limit. Actually, that’s probably the best description of the kinds of things I do at my new job:

Start in the Valley at Western Costume where the Wardrobe office is located.

Go to West Hollywood and get camera from receptionist at production office.

Figure out how to advance the roll and get it out of the camera.

Go to one-hour photo place about a mile away.

Discover that the one-hour photo machine is broken and look for another place.

Have film developed. It’s gotta be done in exactly an hour or I’m not gonna make it back to the production office in time for the big design meeting.

Find a place to wait… I ended up at Starbucks. As I was sitting there being bored, Michael Vartan from Alias walked in and got his morning coffee. He really did look like he just got up!

Finish drinking my tea and eating my chocolate croissant.

Go lean on film counter ten minutes early because I need to get back to the production office.

Pay for film as one of the assistant designers calls me and asks where the hell am I because the meeting is about to start.

Inform her that the place she told me to go had a broken machine so I had to find another place.

Take deep breath as she sounds relieved.

Run to my car and get back to the production office.

Hand over the pix and the camera as the assistant designer and the head designer pretend as though they never called wondering where I was.

Go to the main production office in Santa Monica and pick up paperwork.

Go back to the production office and drop off some of the paperwork–but mostly hang around and wait for the assistant designer to remember that I’m waiting in the lobby for her.

Because she doesn’t have anywhere else for me to go, head back to the wardrobe office in the Valley.

From there, go back over to West Hollywood at the Beverly Center and return 2 suits to Hugo Boss because Denzel Washington is going to wear the beige one, not the grey ones.

Go back to the wardrobe office and drop off the receipts.

Yeah, that’s a typical day for me… Except that I usually go to at least 10 different places to either pick up, drop off or buy something. Sometimes, I even go to the same place twice!

Oh, and when the film comes out, look for the scene where Denzel is wearing a dust mask of some sort. They sent me to OSH and Home Depot to get it. That’s my claim to fame on this movie so far. yippie…

I’ve also handled and transported some of Denzel’s personal clothing. He’s got good taste. And apparently, if he likes something, he’ll wear it out!

And I’ve also learned that Hollywood accountants are really really picky. No one told me that not only was I supposed to be keeping track of my mileage, I was also supposed to be keeping track of where I was going and how far each stop was from the next. I nearly cried when the producer told me that… on Friday. I did the best I could to recreate my routes for the week, but I ended up about 70 miles short in comparison to what mapquest said and what my odometer said. I guess that’s the price I pay for experience. Oh well. I surprised the heck out of myself with what I remembered of my routes. And at least I’ll get paid for most of it.

So, that’s a week in the life of a PA. 1 down and 4 to go! I love it, but boy oh boy is it hectic and tiring. I think I could definitely do this many more times as long as I know that it’ll be about 5 weeks and then I can have a few weeks off after that.

If I ever meet Denzel, I’m sure I’ll post a story. So far, I’ve only touched his clothing.

I didn’t touch Michael Vartan, though… I know Jen was wishing she could have!

During one of my last weeks, I did get to see Denzel at the production office. He seemed very nice, but I wasn’t really supposed to be in the room at the time and, in fact, was in there accidentally. Whoops! As soon as I realized I’d goofed, I practically ran out of there. I was delivering a batch of photographs. I’d asked where everyone was and the only reply I got was a fellow pointing into a room while talking on a phone, so I just went in there, did my deer in headlights impression, handed over the photos and ran right back out again.

I do love Hollywood, though. This is absolutely where I belong!

Crossing Jordan

The following is an excerpt from an email I’d sent the day after this shoot:

They required us to bring cars and we were essentially chosen by what car we had. It didn’t really matter what we looked like. Anyway, they wanted me to bring my ’83 Trans Am.

The scene was a funeral for a Sheriff in Wisconsin (apparently that’s where the lead guy is from). They used me in nearly every take. Well, me and the guy who was playing my husband.

I actually had four husbands yesterday. First and foremost, Jason (my soulmate!!!!) but that was all before I got there! The AD (Assistant Director) first put me next to another sheriff, then a country bumkin, then finally next to a British fellow by the name of Andrew. Then, as they were shuffling people, they moved me and my “husband” closer to the priest (and casket). And they kept us there for every take so I assume we were in every shot.

Jerry O’Connell and his brother Charlie are very, very tall- like 6’3″ or so. I was really surprised. Also, their personalities are totally different. Jerry is a comedian and his brother is very low key. Both are very, very nice, though. In fact, we were kinda getting mad at Jerry because there we were, prepared to be near or in tears over the dead guy and when cameras were rolling (before the director said, “Action.”) he would crack a one-liner joke and nearly mess us up. It was fun and all, but gol’ darn it, it wasn’t easy!

I had a wonderful time, though. Like I said, me and Andrew were in nearly every take all because the AD didn’t really give us much direction so we just did our own thing and landed in the background for the next couple scenes as we walked to our cars. It was totally unintentional, but it got us a lot of camera time.

Unfortunately, I never actually saw this episode, so I have no idea if I was seen at all. I probably ended up on the cutting room floor, but at least the day was fun.

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