Sessions

The other night my friend Geri and I went to see the new musical "Sessions" at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater here in NYC.

Both of us agree that this is a must see, and not just because one of the producers is a friend of mine.

The one thing that we both commented on was this was a musical where you really cared about the characters and what happened to them. There were some great funny moments and a couple moments that made each of us cry (different points I might add - more on that later) .

The music was VERY good and most of the songs though very much a part of the story telling and moving ahead the plot could be sung outside the show which is rather a rare occurance these days.

Now some details:

Matthew Shepard who played Dr. Peterson was perfect for the Psychatrist. Great voice, great timing and you really felt his dilema and CARED.

Leila played by Amy Bodnar. Well let me just say that both Geri and I would like to look like her or at least be able to wear those clothes as well as she does. Needless to say, again perfect casting.

Mrs. Murphy played by Bertilla Baker. Now I have to admit that I tried out for this role so I must admit that on this one I was particularly curious to see who got cast. Well, she gets no argument from me. She did a wonderful job and though I would love to play the role at a future date she is a great choice that I will happily follow.

The rest of the cast was also great and very distinct three dimentional characters that you cared about.

One of my teary eyed moments (no won't give away and spoilers) was between Al Bundonis as Baxter and Matthew Shepard as Dr. Peterson in the second half. George talks about an incident with his father that was a mirror image of one that I had with my own father when I was in high school. Real cudos to Scott that he played it so well that he took me right into his feelings and I FELT them too.

So I do encourage everyone who can to go see the show. This is one that really will be going places. (Well if I have anything to say about it.)

Odds and Ends.

For the last couple of days I have been working at an Investment Company in Midtown Manhattan. It's a very nice place and fortunatly I get access to a computer so that I can do some of my OWN work while I am here.

Most of the time I have been looking for places to send the Trailer for Taffy Was Born.

Also learning about the how to's of Independent Movie Distribution. Not an easy task to say the least. Quite a learning curve here. But I am bound and determined to get this baby released so that we can make a little money off of it.

The weekend was rather nice. I went to my friend David's movie party. This time he was showing the shorts "Hollywood on Parade" from 1932. Frederich March did not look like he was happy hosting this little piece of fluff and Walt Disney's "Waterbabies" which was absolutly adorable. The animation was the traditional old Disny that was just so wonderfully done and the whole thing was just too cute.

The main feature was Hitchcock's "The 39 Steps". Interesting but not the best of the Hitchcock films. Did enjoy that it supposedly took place in Scotland though. There was even a guy wearing a kilt.

On Sunday David and I went to see the stage play "The Greenhouse Effect" at the Abingdon Theater. This was a very interesting one man show. At first I was a little apprehensive since the actor was playing 4 different characters. Two female and two male. But he won me over completly after a a few minutes. The show was rather moving with some very funny moments and several very poingent ones. Well worth seeing.

Tonight my good friend Geri and I are going to see the musical "Sessions" which is being produced by a friend of mines company. I tried out for one of the roles so I am eager to see the person who actually got the part.

Tomorrow I am getting a hair cut (which I so desperatly need). I possibly could have done some background work on Glenn Closes new series but decided that the hiarcut is MUCH more important right now. It has gotten to the length that I just don't know what to do with it.

A Rant

Okay, I have a little rant for today.

The other day I worked on a commercial that was being shot on a private golf course in the small town of New Salem, NY. Until I booked the job I didn't know that there was a New Salem, NY. When the Casting Director called me I was told that the shoot would be outside and since there was a tournament happening the same day we would not be able to use the Club House so things might be a little "rustic".

Well that was all fine with me. I was just happy to get out of the city for the day and into the country. You know fresh air, trees, grass all of those little things that makes my little pagan heart go pitter pat and get PAID for it.

Unfortunatly quite a few of my fellow actors did not feel the same way that I did. One started griping about how "out in the middle of nowhere" we were before we even arrived on the set.

Then when we did arrive another person who I had worked with on other sets and who I had thought was a rather positive person started complaining about how we were outside, could not use the Club House and that she was shure she was going to get an infection from the port-a-potties that had been provided for our use. Needless to say I moved away from her as soon as possible. It was a little early for me to deal with such negativity. I mean we hadn't even really started yet.

When we did get on set I was first placed next to a guy who started in on his own rant about how "bad" everything was. When he was asked to stand on a slight incline by one of the AD's, as soon as the AD moved away started to tell me how he hoped he had an accident so that he could sue the company. I told him that if he didn't want to stand on the incline (which really wasn't THAT bad he should have said so). Oh NO he WANTED to sue the company that way he would make a lot of money and wouldn't have to do this S**T work again. By that point I had had it with this negativity so I told him that if he didn't like doing this type of work then why was he even there in the first place. Then told him if he didn't have anything nice to say to please just not talk to me. He moved off and soon found some people to spread his misery with. At this point we had been on set for a total of 30 min tops.

The AD by this point returned and asked if anyone cared to move to another area that didn't have as many people in it and I quickly volunteered. (Turned out to be a good move since I ended up right in front of the Camera lens!!!!!) Fortunatly I also ended up next too a group of people with a much more positive mind set which the the shooting of the rest of the scene more pleasent.

Later in the afternoon when the director was shooting several different takes of one of the actors saying an important "Tag" line of the commercial. One of the non speaking actors next to me started in about how the actor who was speaking couldn't seem to get the line right and was doing so many takes. Now to me it was quite obvious that what the director was doing was getting different line readings so that he had choices when he got to editting the final commercial. The director was doing his job as director and the actor was doing her job as a good actor to give him lots of choices to work with. But the thing was that this guy next to me was so loud with his "coments" that I am sure the actor trying to work could here him between takes. I give her kudo's for not turning around and bopping him one. Don't know as I would have been that kind.

So even though I tried as much as possible to stay away from my grumpier compainions throughout the day they all kept on insisting on coming over to me and update me on their complaints of the moment. Happily most of the time I was able to beat a hasty retreat and get away from them as quickly as possible when I was cornered. The funniest one was one actress came up to me at one point and asked me if the unopened bottles of Poland Spring were still safe to drink, espeically since they had been sitting out in the Sun for several hours. GADS!!!

(For the record I was actually having a good time enjoying the outdoors, free food, sunshine etc.)

So my thing is, and henceforth why this rant. After being told the conditions (since I am sure I wasn't the only one that the CD told) if you were going to hate it so much WHY would you take the job? And WHY try to ruin MY day by insisting on complaining to me at every chance you get? Especially after I ask you NOT TO!!!

So anyway I still enjoyed the day and more to the point I got PAID for it.

I'm Back

Sorry for not posting for so long.

Gosh how time does get away from a person.

Also I must admit that recently that I have been so busy reading everyone else's Blogs that I haven't written in my own. Not a good thing.

Anyway back to what I have been up to.

I recently worked on a film called "The Dinner" that filmed in Katonah, NY. Had loads of fun being the matriarch of a family with an interesting "secret".

I also have to say that this was without a doubt one of the best run sets that I have EVER been on. Everyone was so together and knew what they were doing. Crew as well as cast. If they could just all be like this.

Other than that I have been busy spreading the You Tube link to the trailer of Taffy Was Born. I am bound and determined to get that movie in release.

See the Trailer on YouTube here:



Today I was called for work on a Barklay's Commercial shooting tomorrow.

So all is right in my world today.

Talk to you soon.