Volume 3 Number 01

Copyright 2007 Phillip Moon

Show: Bones
Date: Nov. 20, 2006
Episode: The Woman in the Gator
Location: 20th Century Fox

This is my second time in Stage 6, and on the set of the “Jeffersonion”, the home of shows main character. This time though, I actually get to work on the set. Last time I was a lawyer, and if you watched the show, you could have seen me on the news clip shown as part of the episode. Very brief moment of my head showing, and gone. This time I am on the set for one scene, and there is always the chance I'll be seen again.

Nice cast. I passed by T.J. Thyne who plays Dr. Jack Hodgins during dinner break. He was on his cell phone, and yet still nodded at me and said hello. During the scene we were shooting, my start mark was close to Michaela Conlin (who plays Angela Montenegro) who also said hello and asked how I was. It's nice when members of the cast acknowledge a background actor who is standing close by. Just a tip of the head, or smile or a simple hi, is usually enough to let you know that you are, even in a small way, part of the show.

I never saw the “woman in the gator”, but I did see the gator. It was on its back, up on the center work station that takes up such a large part of the set. Looked real enough, though clearly not living.

Also, during my time in Stage 6, I finished reading Ibsin's “Ghost”, that Jessica and I are doing a scene from for our acting class. Ibsin, if his writing is any indication, was a gloomy Gus. No Mary Poppins fantasy for him, no siree. He likes his stories dark and with endings that can be either dark or not so dark, depending on your mental health at the moment. Still, I had to get through it so that we could perform this in class, and that mission is accomplished. Next up, learning the lines.

I'll keep you informed, and let you know how the scene goes.

Show: 24
Date: Nov. 21, 2006
Episode: Hours 8 and 9
Location: Chatsworth Studios (20th Century Fox)

This show has no episode names, only the current hour. I believe we are in hour eight.

It has been six weeks since my last visit to the set of “24”, and I was planning on getting my hair cut during the week end, but now that is not a problem. As soon as I was in uniform, I went to the hair and make-up trailer and got a nice trim. I hope I get on another show next season that provides a barber every month or so. And I get paid to sit in the chair.

One of the actors on set today was James Morrison who plays Bill Buchanan on the show this season. James is an actor that you would likely recognize because he has appeared in quite a few shows. He is a filmmaker, playwright, and yoga teacher, and started out as a clown and wire walker in the Carson and Barnes Wild Animal Circus.

During the shoot today, one scene was shot where the Secretary of Defense was talking to the Vice President, one being in Washington, and the other in Air Force One. They were having a video conference, and the funny part was, they were indeed in two different locations. The Sec. of Defense was located in Stage A, and on the same set I was on, and the V.P. was in Stage B (just down the street from Stage A) in the Air Force One set. The signal was sent by microwave from one Stage to the other, and the actors could really see each other via the video cameras that were kept off camera, and projected their images onto screens on each set.

When they were done filming the scene in Stage A, the Director and film crew went over to Stage B, and filmed the V.P. over the shoulder to get his Point of View of his monitor. This show seems to like to use real time video footage, rather than green screen, or taped footage, when they have people chatting.

By the way, if you are a regular viewer of “24”, you will likely see me at some point next season (the show starts in January, 2007), and you will know when to look for me, because I am in the same location as the President. If you are not a “24” viewer, I will try to put together a collection of my appearances on the show. We can hope they are many.

Show: The Nine
Date: Nov. 28, 2006
Episode: Legacy
Location: LA

I've worked this show before. Before it was a series and before it had a name. It was referred to as the Untitled Steinberg Pilot, and I filmed on the pilot back on March 14 and 15. Today, I was doing the show again, and rumors were that this was to be the last episode filmed.

Holding was in a tent set up in a grocery store parking lot (in the shade of a few trees) and would have been great on a warm day, but this was not a warm day. My wardrobe was a pair of slacks and a short sleeve shirt, my jacket was back in my car, and the temperature was down in the low 60's. And to top it off, I was playing a grocery store manager.

This episode takes place in front of, and inside, the store, and to make filming more challenging, the store was open for business. PA's were posted at strategic spots to manage whatever traffic would allow itself to be managed, and all in all, it was well under control.

After sitting for the lions share of the day in holding, the last few hours, I got smart and went inside where I stayed near the set. John Billingsly was working today, and at one point, I was near his trailer, waiting for wardrobe to check us in, and he said a cheery hello. He was in a bouncy mood, and was whistling a happy little tune as he was looking for someone, giving the impression that he enjoys what he does. Having seen him work on more that one occasion, I can believe he does.