Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in East and Central London & Beaconsfield Bucks (The NEXT Chapter).
Week 119 Saturday 24th September until Friday 30th September 2016.
I’ve been on many film/TV sets over the year, I know how they feel, look and what you can and can’t do. When I worked at the BBC I spent more time in the observation rooms watching through the large windows trying to see what was going on past the rows and rows of lights hanging over the studio floor than actually working in an office.
High tea with SAZ and Anaia.
I have wanted to have a go at acting for a long time but I never thought I would actually get the chance. This new chapter of my Mid-Life crisis has allowed me to branch out and experiment. I am having a go at the biz they call show, in recent weeks I have been to an audition and got a part in a film shooting early next years. And this week I had my first opportunity of be a supporting artist in a TV show.
Took less that half an hour to travel from Marylebone.
The location was a nightclub about 20 minutes north of London, the scenes were supposed to be at night but where filmed in the afternoon. I was showed my place and introduced to my pretend date Robin. During the shots we had to mime conversation while drinking fizzy apple juice in place of champagne and nibbling pastries that could have come out of the Bake Off tent. We had to do this time and time again, as the real actors spoke there lines. Miming a conversation is not as easy as it sounds; I challenge you to have a go for a couple of minutes.
Robin my pretend date for the afternoon.
Later came dancing to pretend music, a track was played for a couple of minutes so that everyone knew the rhythm. Then music was removed and we continued dancing to nothing while looking like we were having a great evening. You soon lose any embarrassment you might have about such an unusual situation like this; in fact it became normal. Film and TV sets are strange places, there is a lot of fevered activity while props are set, lights adjusted and make up is brushed and patted on shiny foreheads. The director who is the boss of this platoon will suddenly shout out above everyone’s heads what their vision is. When they open there mouth everything stops the room becomes silent, a director pretty much gets what they ask for. During the take you try your best to do what you have been told, no one wants to be responsible for everyone having to stop and start again. Being a supporting artist is a little like wallpaper, the job is to be in the background but not be noticed. I may not even be seen in the finished product, I’ll know that I was there.
Pizza, pizza everywhere. Careful don’t spill it down a white top……oops.
It is said that an army marches on its stomach, and a film crew is definitely an army. This particular brigade were fed huge amounts of pizza and butternut squash chips. I wasn’t wearing a costume given to me, I had taken clothes which the director liked, a white top and fake leather skirt. Being a fan of TV and film I know the importance of continuity, so smearing pizza on a white top is really not a great idea. Note to self; do not to eat the messiest pizza for lunch when on set in future. I was able to hide the fresh smudge by holding the strap of my party handbag over it. Of course if I am caught on screen no one will actually see the mess on my top.
That’s a wrap, lets toast this with fizzy Apple juice instead of Champagne.
I had such a great day, met lovely people who were telling me all about the films and TV shows they have and were working on. Who knows maybe I will be able to tell a newbie one day about the productions that I have I taken part in slightly boastful way. I traveled home with a huge grin on my face (I haven’t felt like that since I took part in the naked DIVA cover shoot years ago). I did feel special; maybe this is what a star feels like, even if no one else knows about it.
In other news…..
Hired a car again last weekend, took MOZ and Ian to see there lovely Aunty Ann and Uncle Derek.
Mozzies in Essex!!!! They have found me. At Kings Cross and St Pancreas station I heard an announcement for a cleaner because of a Code 4 & 6, the mind boggles at what this means. Had a horrible messy Cappuccino in deepest darkest Essex.
That’s not a Cappuccino, it’s almost mud.
The Mid Life Crisis Conts……
This week I have mainly been watching: “Avatar”, (2009). “Cleverman”, (Season 1, ep 4). “Damned”, (Season 1, ep 1). “Josh”, (Season 1, ep 6)(Season 2, ep 1 &2). “National Treasure”, (ep 1). “Red Dwarf”, (Season XI, ep 3). “Ripper Street”, (Season 4, ep 5). “Storyville: Russia’s Toughest Prison: The Condemned”, (2013/14, ep 29). “The Great British Bake Off”, (Season 7, ep 6). “The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice”, (Season 3, ep 6). “Travelman, 48hrs In…”, (Season 3, ep 1).
This week I have mainly been listening to: “Iain Lee: TalkRADIO (Bonus)”, (23/09, 26/09, 28/09/16). “Iain Lee: TalkRADIO (Highlights)”, (23/09, 26/09, 27/09, 28/09/16). “Iain Lee: TalkRADIO (Live)”, (26/09, 28/09, 29/09, 30/09/16). “LBC Podcast: Mystery Hour”, (29/09/18). “LBC Podcast: Nick Abbot (Mid-Week)”, (28/09/16). ”LBC Podcast: Nick Abbot (Whole Show)”, (24/09/16). “The Adam Buxton Podcast”, (ep 30, 21/09/16). “The Angelos And Barry Podcast”, (27/09/16). ”The Barry From Watford Podcast”, (29/11, 30/11/10) (07/12, 08/12, 10/12, 17/12/10) (06/01 pt 1&2, 10/01,11/01, 13/01, 21/01, 26/01, 28/01/11) (02/02, 07/02, 16/02, 17/02, 21/02, 28/02/11) (01/03 ,02/03, 11/03, 29/03, 30/03/11 pt 1&2) (01/04, 04/04, 11/04, 13/04, 15/04, 19/04, 25/04, 26/04, 27/04, 29/04/11) (11/05, 13/05, 17/05, 18/05, 19/05, 20/05, 25/05/11)(01/06, 07/06, 09/06, 10/06, 14/06, 16/06, 22/06, 23/06, 29/06/11). “Toby Hadoke’s Who’s Round”,(ep 28, ep 29 08/13)(ep 30, ep 31, ep 32, ep 33, ep 34, 09/13)(ep 35, ep 36, 10/13) (ep 37, ep 38, 11/13) (ep 40, 01/14) (ep 41, ep 42, ep 43, 02/14) (ep 186, ep 187, 08/16). “Morrissey”, “Pink Floyd”, The Dandy Warhols”, “Ash”, “Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds”, “Len”, “K.T Tunstall”, “Tatu”, “Louis Armstrong”.
Misfits Mid-Life Crisis........ 