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.