A day at church

Have had an eventful time off for the 4th – brother has been attacked not once but twice by different dogs, both who bite him pretty severely. One of the bites has become infected and it’s moving up his arm. Church is just around the corner from his place, so after a night of playing nurse, walk on over to the day’s shoot. Long day in the church, no dialogue, but some great actors there. Hanna is jumping around, I meet Germaine, who lives up to his name somehow and is reading Freud between takes. The sermon is said over and over, and even after I am off camera and my close-ups are done I get a tongue stuck out at me from “George” (Michael Auteri) who is quickly reciprocated. Joey and I walk down the isle, me dragging him by the hand, a half dozen times. What WAS this poor woman thinking bringing this kid to church?! Pollyanna denial, I suppose. My thoughts are that she’s thinking maybe if they just show up there as if it’s fine, it will be… but he places them, with a deceptively benevolent smile, in the front pew. Brutal.



One of the extras says he’s seen me on tv. It’s the hot tub commercial I think to myself… everyone seems to remember the hot tub commercial. The guaranteed 100 extras promised are less than hopes for. Tarik and Ron scrabble and make it work.

Get to see Arlene, who shares my agent. Her brother pops up and then mine follows suit, after passing out while having his dressing changed by the hand specialist. He walks confidently, if a bit wobbily, right through the scene. Sab comes to ask him what’s happened, Jimmy and Sean say hello, voice their concern and sympathy as musicians. Gian can’t get over Emily singing “Amazing Grace” – keeps looking at me during her coverage like “WHAT is she doing”. She’s absolutely hilarious! Jon is here and is his usual remarkably silly self. The boys feed on each other. Tim and I converse in whispered hushes between takes. Invite some people to the Snug after they wrap, but I’m not there long when news comes that, since I'm off tomorrow, I'll leaving town to take my grandmother in for a bib-bopsy (hey – you do a film with Louis Mandylor, it’s your duty to quote “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” in your production journal)… no rest for the weary.

Important to mention that wonderful Tim calls to make sure I’m okay everything going well with the grandmother thing on my day off.

OH I’M SAD,… this is flying by. Nice thing with theater is it seems to last forever – you don’t feel quite so much like you’re falling over a cliff.