Though it isn't necessarily my first time behind a television set, it never ceases to amaze me just how many people are involved behind the scenes in a sequence that wouldn't in the end amount to 5 mins on-screen time. An early morning call near Bryant Park would take me to a photographer on the 40th floor of a nearby building, who'd take pictures of me that'd feature me in a 'recall' sequence that the star of the show (who has photographic memory) played by Poppy Montgomery, will flashback to. Then it was off to my "honeywagon" for a costume change (John Varvatos for those interested), some waiting time, and then hair, makeup, costume check before being ushered once again to the 43rd floor of the building to rehearse. And there's a hive of activity. The director Nick Gomez, the 1st AD Jamie Sheridan, on-set writer Spencer Hudnut, dozens of background extras, still more dozens of stand-ins, producers, gaffers, boom operators, camera operators, props people, DP. At one point I was ushered in to a meeting room with stars Troy Garity and Dylan Walsh against a breathtaking Manhattan skyline. Both nodded kind acknowledgement, and then went back to their reading material. The room was palpably silent. I wanted to say how much I'd appreciated Garity's work in A Soldier's Girl but refrained from doing so. Didn't want to come across tacky in a work environment. And then it was rehearsal time and the bustle began again. Here's your spot, here's your mark, we're at rehearsal and action! And then Poppy Montgomery strolls casually up to me and flirts in our scene. I'll leave the details to the episode itself, but the sequence, with its many setups but relatively brisk takes, took almost 5 hours and alot of waiting in what would probably amount to less than 2 minutes of screen time. I am in awe of the people who do this on a daily basis. It is sheer collaboration and a trust that everyone will do their job on cue. I hope I delivered.
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