Tomorrow I get to be myself again and return phone calls, answer emails, and return to vital projects, like book editing and project marketing.
Monday morning I packed for the LA infomercial and also appeared cool, calm, and collected, for an SF commercial audition as a grandma (Yes, this young adult at heart is now playing grandmas). My agent was darling in helping me get in and out of there so I could hit the road and drive south at a reasonable hour. I think I did well. Ironed hair, poised, and dressed in maroon and grey, months before the official Fall season starts. Young casting agent chuckled at my audition, and he was supposed to, and it felt right. Yay! Grabbed coffee from that corner cafe in South Beach and off I went, along 101 at 2 PM.
Arrived at hotel rather late because I had only a printout of this hotel address from the time I Hotwired myself there six months ago, and it was from 405, not 101. Don't ask me about Haskell Avenue.
Got to sleep by one in the morning, and every hour, on the hour, someone outside my door did a number on the ice machine! Aaaaaak! Six hours' sleep with hourly interruptions.
Easy directions next day to the house in Northridge where we'd shoot, my call being at 11 AM. I arrived an hour early, killed some time in car, made my presence known at 10:30, and was told to go have a cuppa Joe somewhere, as they were running late. (Of course, I had just done that, having observed an amazing scene between gorgeous blonde 14-year-old Scandinavian model wannabe, her dad and little cute bro, and an LA operator, followed by the arrival of a day trader cum scriptwriter dealing, wheeling, and dealing on his cell...)
They didn't need me for hours, and I parked in another neighborhood under the shade, and took some photos, on this 106-degree Valley day. Prior to this, I was able to take my 12 wardrobe items into the house, hang them out, and relax a bit. Would have loved a nap in an AC trailer. Dream on, girrl...
Came back, met other actors, watched them do their pieces in Spanish - always so instructive. Then, lunch break. Wonderful veggie and chicken wraps from craft services, and a birthday celebration with cake for one of the crew, then, make-up by fine women, then, after a wee reminder in the director's ear about the fact that I had to be back on the road by 6, latest, my on-camera time: I play a Latina woman of a certain age, in her kitchen, touting a special product. All in Spanish, using a TelePrompter, having rehearsed by cellphone on my drive down with my dear friend from Argentina, and then, getting corrected, here and there, by the lovely Peruana TelePrompter operator/script person/translator onsite.
It went well. Ending with me getting all excited about the deliciousness of a piece of pie. Sex for the aged. Meanwhile, I got a "hold-avail" by email and phone from my agent about the SF commercial. Excitement fueled my afternoon.
Drove back home to hot rock, loud blues wailing, and the occasional sounds of silence. Rare traffic on a Tuesday evening. Nice bits of a new gov't-paved 101, with single lanes not too disruptive this time. Home at 1:30 AM, famished. No dietician would recommend this: I ate the leftovers from Sunday night's Thai dinner. Another 4-hours' sleep, got it together for Part 2 of the SF social services institute shoot. Parked at city garage, showed up at 9:15 with new wardrobe, certain I was late.
Well, they didn't need me til 1 PM...If only I had read the bottom of that email on the DroidX while standing in the LA sun.
Shoot went great. I appeared in one scene, as a discombobulated Latina character, in my old, stained bathrobe, wearing curlers in my hair. Loud applause when my scenes were over: I think, as much for my improv skills and how I wove her tale, as anything else.
Checked that email once more: didn't get the commercial. The one I was praying for, the one that could have given me the visibility I seek to take this career to the next level.
Drove home in bad traffic. There was a game tonight. Stopped in Marin to chill, and walked around, putting the slow mornings and short mourning behind me.
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