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 11th. (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!
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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.
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- 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
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