Volume 3 Number 09
Copyright 2007 Phillip Moon
Show: Studio 60
Date: February 14, 2007
Episode: Episode 17
Location: Warner Brothers
The show is shooting on a different set today, and it is one I've been on before. They have borrowed the set of ER to shoot some hospital scenes. That both are WB shows makes that easier to do I guess, and the walk from one stage to the other only takes a few minutes.
Tim Bussfield is the Director, and he was really verbal today. The actors were far enough away that he spent much of his time hollering, but never in a bad way. He would yell at the actors to do it, whatever it was this take, again and suggest that they try putting more into the scene. At one point, the actors had messed up the take, and he yelled to them, “Can we back it up, Great Actors? Back it up!” Background were rolling on the floor laughing.
Stephanie Pease rides her bike to set whenever she can. She lives a few blocks from where I do, and on this day, had ridden her bike to Warner Brothers lot, 16 miles. She never complains, even when the ride home is at 3:00 AM.
During one shot today, a crew member was standing near set holding an I.V. Bottle rack. He picked it up during the take, and the bottom half fell off rattling down the hall while he held the top half. When the scene finished, he assembled the two parts and wondered off mumbling, “I'll be leaving now.” It's great to have so much entertainment on set when working.
Show: Jericho
Date: February 15, 2007
Episode: AKA
Location: Universal Studios
You remember Stephanie Pease from Studio 60 above? She is on set today, another 16 mile ride behind her. She noticed that she and I had the same color scheme going, so when Dustin (an AD from Close to Home I've worked with before) came over to see who should sit in the warmer restaurant, Stephanie pointed out how well we matched and how he should put us inside. Dustin obliged, and we spent part of the scene inside the restaurant near the big window, keeping warmer than the folks on the street outside.
You won't often see me on Jericho I was on one of the first episodes, (and visible for a few seconds) but the show takes place after what appears to be a nuclear war, and as time goes on, they are asking for more and more scruffy looking people. I, alas, continue to look like the well groomed doctor or lawyer I pretend to be. This episode includes a flash back, and that is all I am in this episode. A memory.
Show: Bones
Date: February 16, 2007
Episode: ?
Location: 20th Century Fox
If I didn't know better, I would think I was being stalked. Stephanie Pease is on Bones with me today, but she is a pedestrian, and I am a diner patron (again). So this time, I sit inside and keep warm and she walks the streets alone. Hmmm. That didn't sound right. Anyway, not all down time on set is filled with reading, viewing DVD's and idle chit chat. Sometimes you get to do other things like color. That is Pease's doing. She pulled out a bunch of pages and a box of crayons (and along with another box provided by another background actor) several people joined her in coloring pictures. Did you know that adults make almost as many strange color choices as children?
Show: Drive
Date:February 21, 2007
Episode: Partners (Ep#: 102)
Location: San Fernando Valley
Today I played both a race participant and a shuttle launch enthusiast. The first shots of the day were in a flea bag motel, and they chose a flea bag motel to shoot it in. This is the kind of place were people go right after getting out of prison, or right before returning. Holding was in the lobby right next to rolls of carpet that were waiting for the fumigators.
The second location of the day was in the parking structure just outside of what used to be the Northridge Hospital, where once upon a time, Paul (my brother) worked and where both his children were born. It wasn't until we were shooting the Shuttle Launch scenes (where we are seen rushing to watch the launch) that I realized that one of the actors working that day was Nathan Fillion of Firefly/Serenity/Buffy. Geek moment. Ahhh.
