Merry Christmas/ Happy Holidays to all...

Although much of Minnesota is snowless, it's currently a white Christmas in my parent's kitchen as we mix up our traditional batch of homemade Tom & Jerry's.

Egg whites have been whipped and powered sugar is covering the walls. All in the memory of my lovely Grandma Irene. We salute her during the holidays by mixing up the rum/brandy/sugary/nutmegy adult beverage, because if you were lucky enough to know her, you'll recall her love of a good, stiff drink at  Christmas... or really during any day of the year. 

Cheers to you, Gramma.

And I wish all of you and yours a very happy holiday season. May 2012 bring you many good, great and grand things.

As a little present from me to you, take a listen to one of Judy Garland's lesser known Christmas songs..... (aka my favorite Christma song ever).

:)

With tidings and love,

B

A Funeral and a Cocktail Party

I’m now back home in the frozen tundra of Minnesota to celebrate the holidays, but before I said au revoir to NYC I worked on “Blue Bloods” and “Gossip Girl”… and then took my parents on the “New York Christmas Tree and Department Store Window Display Tour” (maybe this could be a side-job of mine!).

“Blue Bloods” was great. I was a “mourner” at a funeral that was shot in Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral down near Little Italy. This church is absolutely beautiful, and perhaps the best part? Tom Selleck. I’m far too young to remember him as the “Marlboro Man,” but it was fun to see him in person, nonetheless. I also was interested to find he loves bananas. I live for this kind of randomness….

Donnie Walberg isn’t too bad to look at either ;) And then of course there was Bridget Moynihan, who is stunning in person, and made me feel like the bags under my eyes (after 8 hours of shooting!) were offensively visible. Good thing they have a great make-up team that even cared about us backgrounders….

When my mom arrived in the City she showed me an article in USA Today about the very episode I’m in. It’s an epi for “sweeps week” (so cool!) and it centers around September 11^th. (Without giving anything away, yes, the funeral I was at was related to Sept. 11 – chilling, but amazing at the same time). It’s also the first television show allowed to shoot in the new 9/11 memorial.

This episode airs in mid-Feb. But, here’s a caveat: Trying to find me in this one will be like playing “Where’s Waldo.” I’m one of 50 “plain clothes mourners” – we’re all on one side of the church – on the other side? Uniformed NYPD!

~~~~~~~

AND THEN THERE WAS….. “Gossip Girl.”

I was so excited to get the call for this one. Not only because it’s obviously such a popular show among my generation, but also because my friend Virginia is borderline-obsessed with it, and kept telling me how much she wanted me on this show. So, I was very happy to text her the good news….

When the agency called, they asked if I’d be comfortable kissing a random actor. I’ve learned in this business that to move ahead, you have to say yes to almost EVERY opportunity that comes your way (unless it’s some obvious sketch Craigslist basement opportunity….) So, I said, “Absolutely. I’m in.”

I was also voted “Class Smoocher” in high school…. So I was qualified.

I was asked to bring three outfits: one exterior outfit, and two cocktail party changes.

Call time? 7:15am. Dear Lord……..

Good thing it was only three subway stops away from my apartment – although I definitely didn’t feel cocktail party-ready when I left my place at 6:45am…. So, THANK GOD for this show’s hair and make-up department, which did it all for us!

Now, again, I signed off on a seriously intimidating confidentiality agreement, so I’m a bit muzzled… which is killing me because I’m dying to share ALL the details with you guys. But, here are some share-able highlights:

WILL see me multiple times in this one as I was a  “featured” backgrounder. (Because of that, I got to work as a union actor for the day!! And, I received my first Screen Actors Guild voucher for this part. Two more vouchers and I can join the SAG union if I choose. Sweet.).

-       I even got a prop, which was quite flat by the end of the day…..

-       The catering for this show is amazing…. Made-to-order omelets, smoked salmon, etc. for breakfast. European hot chocolate, donuts, etc. for a snack and chef-sliced prime rib, salmon and a dessert table bigger than my entire living room for lunch. Heaven? Yes.

-       I was in heels for 13 hours.

- Our shoot location was a famous ritzy hotel.

-       In our down-time, we got to hang out here:

-       I did interior and exterior shots. The exterior shots were cold, but such a blast . I was even given marks to hit and direction from the show’s director.  Plus, I had another fun prop: a bride-worthy (no, I didn’t play a newlywed) bouquet of bright pink flowers, which I, unfortunately, had to give back.

-

- I swear to God that the same agency that casts background for this show casts “The Bachelorette” as well – a few of the guys I was working with HAD to have been on the reality-dating show. They looked SO familiar. Then again perhaps it was just the dapper suits and champagne flutes and my own embarrassing obsession with that show……

-   I saw the majority of the main characters and worked in the same scenes with them.

- In between shots, the hair and make-up people would give us all touch-ups, and once I had to have my bra taped to the inside of my dress because the strap kept popping out….. Obviously you can’t take me anywhere.

-       - And, to round-out this recap of “approved” information, a blonde female principal (who is rumored to be dating Ryan Reynolds) crashed into me at one point and apologized. She’s super nice in person. 

This show is the Valentine’s Day episode… I don’t have an exact air date, but when I do, I’ll post it here.

I’m excited for what the next gig will be when I return in January!

I hope all of you are getting in the holiday spirit – whether there is snow where you are or not – and are successful in wrapping up your last-minute shopping. ‘Tis the season!

xo,

B

Coming Soon...

I owe everyone a post detailing my time on "Blue Bloods" last Friday... and a little more info on my "Gossip Girl" stint today (well, everything I'm legally able to share, that is. That show has one hell of a confidentiality agreement we were all required to sign).

Long story short, I endured 13 hours in heels. And had an absolute blast.

Thanks for all of the excitement and well wishes :)

More to come soon!

xoxo,

B.

Next up...

On Friday, I'll be donning my black and playing a mourner on "Blue Bloods." It feels weird to be excited (for what I think will be a funeral), but I am.....

.... especially if Tom Selleck happens to be at said funeral.

Full report to follow :)

L&O:SVU

So, last Friday I got the exiting opportunity to do some background work on "Law & Order: SVU."

I got the call from the casting agent on Thursday, who asked if I was free on Friday... and I said, "Well, I sure am!" (Cue me scrambling to clear my Friday schedule...). So, she said great, you'll be playing an "upscale restaurant go-er," call so-and-so number after 10:30 tonight to get all of the info, and bring two upscale dress/costume options (cue me tearing through my closet trying to find two suitable outfits).... I may of may not have made a trip to Gap that night....

So, I call the hotline number and got the info:

Call time: 9:30am

Location: A swanky steakhouse in the meatpacking district

Costume: Fall upscale attire with outer wear and all of the accessories

Cool. So, the next morning, here I am, ready to roll:

I arrived down to the restaurant, and was placed in the "holding room" with the other background-ers (some were to play NY police officers, detectives, the "victim" (how cool would that be?), the perp and fellow diners like myself). Said "holding room" was actually the upstairs bar of the restaurant. So.... I took a seat.... here:

Fun, huh? Sadly, no free mimosas or bloody marys... but the craft services table had a great breakfast for us all ( pancakes, eggs, yogurt, bagels, POPTARTS(!) and other 'grown up' breakfast specialities...)

The wardrobe director then came around to each of us to decide which outfit she wanted us to wear... Of course, she liked the outfit I didn't put on... so to the changing room I went......

Fast forward to the "restaurant go-ers" being seated at our tables. I was seated at a table of four. My "date" and I were out dining with another couple. We had our "wine" (Welch's Grape for the ladies and Welch's White Grape for the guys...) and menus. We were to be in the "hmmm... honey, what do you think you're going to order/well, I can't decide between the grilled salmon or the filet mignon" portion of the evening.  I was a bit bummed, because when I knew I was playing a patron in a restaurant, I thought I'd actually get some food. My former boss even told me I was a perfect fit for this role, as I'm such a good eater. Yes, I love food. But sadly, no food for me. Other people had cake, half-eaten salads and bread on their plates. Oh well.

So, once all of the cameras are in place, it's time to start rolling. Mariska Hargitay and Stephanie March were seated at the table right next to mine. Then, in walked some red-headed guy with orange Crocs and a chef's apron on who was to be talking to them at the table - turns out to be Mario Batali, the celebrity chef. Pretty cool.

They ran the same scene about 12 times, all the while my "friends" and I drank our "wine," chatted with the server and decided on our entrees.

Then we were sent back to the bar (err.. holding room) for about an hour and a half.

(Waiting to be called back downstairs.... about one minute before I decided I'd visit the craft services table for a donut and coffee.....)

My table was finally called back downstairs for the "end of dinner" scene, and guess what?!? I had actual, half-eaten food on my plate! It looked like half a Caesar Salad accompanied by a mashed up piece of meatball(?), with a side of hard artichoke dip. My "date" had a beet on his plate.... random.

Anyways... they did a couple more takes and called it a day! Those playing police officers then went on over to the Law & Order set, which was just a few blocks away at Chelsea Piers. 

I had my timecard signed, and my new friend Rose and I (Rose was the other girl at my table) headed for the subway.

All in all it was a great experience. The casting company I'm registered with also casts for "Gossip Girl," "Blue Bloods" and a couple other shows/movies filmed in the city, so I'll be submitted for those when a right role comes up, too. 

I have no idea if I'll be visible in this Law & Order episode, but if you want to tune in, it airs January 11th.... Look for me in the blue sleeveless dress and gold necklace ;)

Until next time ~

B.