Spent After 8 Weeks of a Film Shoot

Do you ever feel so exhausted after a long project that the first day of freedom all you want to do is watch movies and eat ice-cream? It's like the first day of summer after a really hard school year all you want to do is sleep in and do all your favorite things that you had no time to do during the school year.

So today after 8 long hard weeks on "The Hustle" Deon Taylor's new comedy, all I did today was watch movies, hit Jamba Juice and breathed a huge sigh of relief that I made it through another one! This is that golden period right after a film before you've had too much time to think about all the negative shoulda, coulda, woulda stuff, that you feel truly blessed and privileged to be apart of film making.

I had many movie magic moments on this one. Ross Pruden had posted a production assistant manual on his outstanding film blog (it's like super condensed film school on steroids) I had given it to the production coordinator for no particular reason but sure enough he made copies and handed it out to all the newbie PA's (which was two/thirds of them) not sure if it helped but it felt good to contribute to these kids film education in such a simple way. Props to Ross his enthusiasm and giving spirit is such a great example of just how good this business can be. The short time I've known him, (in May he tutored me in script supervising on the beautiful film noir short he directed "In Dutch") he's contributed greatly to my career.

My amazing friend and talented Production Designer Erika Rice got accepted into the Director's Guild of America which is such a honor in itself but also opens up many doors for her. This was truly a magical moment when she got that DGA packet in the mail! If we hadn't been in the middle of a working day we would of popped off champagne from the rooftops...we did later for joint celebrations of all the Virgo crew members birthdays (Sept. babies). No one deserves this more than Erika who has worked tirelessly, giving all she's got to these projects. We are all so fortunate to have had her on two of Deon Taylor's movies and I will forever be grateful to the opportunities she's given me and for her friendship.

So enough gushing let's get down and dirty and dish about "The Hustle" so interesting in it's own special way... The very first day one of the principal actors wouldn't come out of his trailer because he thought his bug uniform (the two main characters work as bug exterminators) shorts were too tiny...Brigette Nielsen's robe was definitely size challenged which prompted the director to yell in between takes "more cleavage Brigette!" She spoke only Italian to her cute very young new husband. Tiny Lister was back who was just a joy on the set of "Nite Tales" but of course I missed seeing him because I was off shopping for the new props team who had to come in blindly after the original team got fired after nearly getting in a rumble with the transpo guys. Later through the grapevine I heard that the transp guys got mad because props was taking to long to load the 5 ton truck.

The art dept team Erika assembled from the Bay Area was truly extraordinary! If anyone is ever looking for a strong set decorator and lead man give me a call. Cindy and Doni have worked on some major Hollywood pictures and it shows in the quality of their work.

But the best and most magical moment of all was being back "in the Hood" my home away from home. The stage is what we call it (film studio that use to be a fruit packing plant). Being there working on yet another film warmed my heart. Thanks Dan Whaley and John Ibarra for being the best family a girl in film land could ever have...hold on to my keys and don't change the combination to the gate lock and save my favorite hiding parking place for the next one. You are the real stars of this show!

Love you Erika by now you are yelling at the South rim of the Grand Canyon, hoooaaahhh!