Flights of fancy

Sunday was not a filming day for me. Scott and Jack, as well as several other actors, would be shooting so we ended up at the set around 11:00, I believe. My intention was to get some behind the scenes pics and videos to put on Scott’s website. But as things progressed there was just other, more important things to do to help.

The crew was getting everything setup and Jack, Scott, and the camera guys worked on some blocking and figuring out how the first scene would go. I started taking some pictures but had to leave so the crew could get their lighting and everything set up. So I tried to get pictures through the open wall. Camera wasn’t cooperating too well so I kind of gave up, LOL! The few pics I did get are waiting for approval from Jack to put on Scott’s website.

With the general blocking down, it was off to make up and wardrobe for the guys. Still amazing the effects make up that those ladies did!  Especially at the end of the shoot. No spoilers 😉 But man, so cool looking!

Before the guys got into makeup and wardrobe, Scott, Lesli, Jack, and a couple others were standing around chatting. I let Jack know that if there was something he needed done to let me know because I was there to help. And as conversations do among those who know each other, things got a little dirty. Now, seriously, it’s nothing I hadn’t heard or said before. I’ve been know to dive into the deep of the gutter quite frequently. But I was just being my usual reserved self, seeing where the boundaries are. Jack then warned me that things might get X-rated. I shook my head saying I had no problem with it. Now, I don’t know if it was what he said next, because for some reason I don’t remember it, or what I was thinking and not sure if I should say out loud, but I started blushing. Jack happily pointed that out which made me blush even worse and laugh 😀 Don’t know if you’ll read this, Jack, but just know you only get one time to make me blush so easily and that’s was it. Have to work for it harder next time 😉

I worked with a couple of the actors to make sure they got their wardrobe on and got to set along with making sure Scott got dressed and to make up. Herding actors, is a lot like herding cats some times, LOL! Knowing know the scene was going to be, Jack had gotten long soccer pants for both and Scott with padding in them. Scott and I spent a few minutes trying to decide which size camo pants to go with over them. He tried on the larger size but said they felt too big. He switched to a smaller size and let me fuss a bit over whether the padding from the soccer pants would show through the pants or not. It didn’t look like they would so I gave them my stamp of approval such as it was 🙂

Felt bad having to interrupt Scott’s phone call (sorry but Bossman said to get you in makeup 😀 ). Then some back and forth to makeup and the wardrobe room to Jack’s approval on one of the actor’s outfit. Shuttled him off to set and to make sure the other 2 actors playing our baddies were good to go. Then back up to the house to make sure Scott was still coming long okay. Caught up with Jack to grab some props and gear we might need. Eventually everyone was herded over to the set so filming could begin.

Along with just watching how everything was done and trying to absorb every scrap of knowledge I could, I also did a lot of wrangling of props and weapons, playing gopher (no, not the varmint type but the “go for this, go for that” type), making sure people had water if they needed it, just whatever needed to be done that I could do. Though, I will admit one of my favorite things was getting to tie Jack & Scott up… well just their hands anyway 😉

In between takes, there was lots of good fun and camaraderie, playful teasing, and even some literal ass kissing, LOL! It was so cool how a group of people, some of whom did not even know each other, had such a great rapport with each other. And that goes for every day on set, not just Sunday.

That’s not to say there weren’t tense moments each day, because there was. Some times it was because there was too much discussion going on, sometimes too much goofing off. It was taking longer the film the scenes because of that. One of the cool things that I really appreciated from Jack was that he’d listen to my suggestions. There was one certain issue that we were dealing with due to filming running late and had to figured out how to handle it. He and I went back and forth with different ideas and backup plans. While our plan to “hope for a miracle” didn’t quite work out, we had options in place that worked out well, I think, thanks mostly to the awesomeness of Lesli Kay!

I even got to do some “special effects” that night. Okay maybe not that “special” but it were crucial to the scene. I still say my debris distribution was better than Scott’s stick lighting but I guess we having to wait until we see the final product to know for sure 🙂

We wrapped probably right around midnight. Once everything was brought back over to Jack’s and people got out of wardrobe and cleaned up, we toasted the wrapping of the film with champagne, sparkling cider, and a variety of other beverages. It was a bittersweet moment for me because I knew this meant my adventure was coming to a close.

I did get to bend Jack’s ear some more before it was all over to ask about the premiere, after party, editing, and just generally had about 15-20 minute conversation about the industry as a whole. He has so much knowledge and cool stories, I could have chatted all night with him. I did learn some amazing things, like how much it costs to rent places to film! Holy moly, Batman! Crazy, crazy money. I also learned that some people backed out of this project for either stupid reasons or giving no reason at all. I was floored. I mean here they have this opportunity I would just die for and they threw it away. Anyway, I felt like I was monopolizing Jack’s time and I knew Scott, Lesli, and I had to get back. My flight left at 10:00, I needed to pack, and to try and get a little sleep. So I hugged everyone goodbye and told Jack if there was anything else I could do to help with the project to please let me know. I have not idea what kind of look I had on my face but whatever it was Jack said I needed another hug. Far be if from me to pass up that 😀

Back at Scott & Lesli’s, we had one last short chat. Scott had an audition at noon and I had to be up in a few hours to drop the car off and get to the airport. I hugged them both good by and thanked them once again for their incredible hospitality in letting me stay with them. It made the experience all the more incredible and unforgettable.

It’s hard to believe this all happened not quite 2 weeks ago. In some ways it seems like it never happened, like it was a surreal dream. But I would do it all over again in heart beat! The next adventure will the red carpet premiere and after party. The movie is in the hands of the editor and should be done by Thanksgiving. So hopefully, those 2 things will by Christmas present to myself 🙂