Read You Like A Book The Movie: Shaun Landry Remembers

Read You Like a Book Day Thirteen: Last Day and Goodbye

2005-07-30T07:53:00.000-07:00

Call Time: 5:30am

The only saving grace about having the French Hotel is the fact that I can sleep in. Got to the hotel at around 9:30pm on Wednesday. Got some juice, tuned the radio to KFOG and watched the Daily Show and read the San Francisco Bay Guardian "best of the bay"

This year there was no category for Best Improv Ensemble. No category for Best Comedy Show. Just best comedian and Best Theater. ACT (as always) got it. The closet any comedy group got anything was 18 Mountain Warriors guys for Best Sketch Writers.

Head over to the set in the morn. The scene is Tony (Dante) being found on the ground by myself, Karen Black and Ricardo Gil. It is tense. I don't really know what is going on. All I know is it is tense on the set. At one point there is a tense moment with Bob and Tony...and I just look around and finally say "Well, I'm running away" and went outside to have a smoke.

I do my last and final line "Looks like you got the shit kicked out of you"

It is a looking down shot of Dante POV from Dante. They have stuck me in the middle of this shot and I'm a pretty tall person compared to Karen Black and Ricardo (who happens to be a Dwarf)

They tell me to bend down some. I do. They shoot it. Then they finally put me down on one knee on the same level as Karen and Ricardo. The floor is hard tile. I ask for something to put under my knees, because I'm wearing a dress. They get me a knee pad. We walk into the scene and Ricardo accidentally runs into it. Bob goes "Can we get that out of there??"

Karen gets peeved "SHE NEEDS SOMETHING FOR HER KNEES!!" she says as she has her blanket under her. She looks at me and says "Good god. Like you don't deserve kneepads for your stockings!!" It was incredibly super sweet of her...but at that point I just wanted the scene done. I said "Thank you Karen...but lets just do this."

Four takes later it is done. Other takes of picking up Tony off the floor later...there is the scene with Gina, Tony and Karen. Lord knows why they asked Ricardo and I to stay in there...but they wanted shadow of us fixing the place up. Fine. I don't remember how many takes we did...between tense stuff going on...and some store guy in the back talking really loud and walking in camera shot trying to set up the store for real for 10am...but it was what it was.

We were released to see if we were needed. I knew we were done. We have lunch...they go back in...I lay down on the bed. It is 12:30. I fall asleep.
Around 3:15 I wake up. I ask what is going on.

They tell me I'm released.

"Really? When did this happen"
'Around 1:00pm"
"...why didn't anyone wake me up"
"You looked so comfortable"

I put on my regular clothes. and chill some more. The wrap party is at four. I get all my original stuff from Marianna packed up (my remaining makeup, my earrings an leather wristband, my buckle shoes)...and I donate to Marianna my mesh shirt with is now just ripped to shit. She gives me the lace top that I wore to match the dress she gave me a few weeks ago. Sweet! A new negro outfit.

I head to find Ricardo at Cesar's He is already gone, so I walk up to Bob's house for the wrap party. Ricardo is just pulling up in his car with his wife.
We are the first ones there.

Lots of food and a crap load of wine. everyone shows up. I hang out a lot with Sophia and the tech crew. I get an Angel of luck from Barbara to bring more money into my pocket. I drink a lot of wine. I joke around. One of the grip guys worked with Biafra and a lot of the punk bands here in San Francisco. he is pretty damn choice and hung with him a lot. We were talking about hitting Zeitgeist, but I started getting tired.

Bob does a speech. I don't know Bob comes off...well..not particularly nice when he speaks in public. He is the kind of guy, where you look at the person sitting next to you and say "Wow...he really thought that was funny?" But, people were appreciative.

The party starts breaking up and Judi gives me a ride home. Before I go...I find Karen Black.

"Karen. I never do this. I really don't. But like I said, I have been watching you perform for years. May I have your autograph?" She seemed really happy about this and was super sweet in grabbing a pen. I got out a part plate and had her sign the back:

Shaun -
Best Wishes to a wonderful talent
Karen Black.

It is now pinned to my corkboard. Next to my SAG pin.

Judi and I end up side tracking to my fave bar Rich's and have a nightcap and talk about everything girl and love and film. She is a great lady.

I head home and lay down. I got to get up early to be in Santa Cruz. I tell Tony Amendola "I would see him around" He is such a nice, dear sweet man. We both know we will probably never see each other again. At least until preview.

I'm laying down. I turn on Seinfeld. It is the episode where Elaine is in the sauna and trips and lands into Jerry's current girlfriend's breasts. It is also the episode where Kramer thinks they guy in the sauna is Rushdie. His name is Sal Bass. I have watched this episode a million times. This time I sit upright from the couch.

Great god. Sal Bass is Tony Amendola. I guess I will see him more than what he thinks.

This film was possibly one of the most incredible experiences of my life. It might be the worse thing I have ever done in my life caught on film...but the process of making it was a wonderful one and something I will always remember.

2005-07-29T08:33:00.000-07:00

Shaun Landry with Danny Glover. Michael Chin on Camera

2005-07-29T08:32:00.000-07:00

Lorenzo Pisoni

2005-07-29T08:28:00.000-07:00

Danny Glover and Grandson

2005-07-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

Marianna and Shaun in First Fitting

2005-07-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

Ricardo Gil and Shaun Landry From Read You Like A Book

Read You Like a Book Day Twelve: Mouth Full of leafs.

2005-07-26T07:51:00.000-07:00

Call Time: 8:30pm

Another late night shoot. After being so out of it the last couple of days...I could not remember exactly when I was supposed to show up. And, I was just plain dumb not to call the production office. All I knew...it was a late shoot. I arrive at 7pm. The Production staff is there and is setting up Andronico's (the place where the view of the French Hotel Room is their parking lot). They look busy, so I grab an éclair and an ice tea and head over to the hotel. I still have the keys and Lorenzo has not taken residence there for almost a week. I lay down and nap a bit and watch television for about an hour.

Back over into costume and makeup. The Foundation that I bought is almost gone. Before I started working on that movie...my liquid and powder foundation was barely used. time for a new supply.

First shot is all of the principals after Benny (Joe Bellan's) Heart Attack sitting down looking stunned and sad. Tony is pacing in the background on the phone talking with the hospital. I call it a "That 70's Show" shot. A shot of all of our reactions going around finally stopping at me.

I have decided to take one shoe off and message my feet looking sad. My line is "Well, That was certainly "A Night To Remember"...and I shoot a glance at Ricardo seeing if he gets the reference, which of course, he does.

The Bookstore floor is made of brick tile...so after laying down a carpet...then planks to get a smooth roll of the dolly...they did a few takes. And an insert take of Ricardo's reaction to me.

Next was Dante's announcement of Benny being in intensive care and another reaction spin ending at Lorenzo explaining he did not want to get the store or anybody in trouble. that was also a few takes.

Then there was the odd scene of Dr. Ortiz being introduced to Gina by Kate (Lorenzo, Catalina and Karen Black). It just was an odd scene. All of us were "What odd lines for people after a person just had a heart attack" It was kind of weird pick up esque lines.

They do the first take and after Bob yelled cut Tony says "WHORE" It made us all laugh.

Cat goes: "The Dr. and I have so much in common"
Lorenzo: I have the wedding band of my dead wife!
Cat: Yeah! I have the locket of my dead mother!
Black: I got a dead scab on my leg!
Me: Shit. I got a Dead Kennedy's CD.

After some misc walking towards the door shots they set up outside for the wind machine...and we head to lunch. lunch is at midnight. I make a phone call to Hans and wake him up. Today is his birthday.

Really cool talk of all these wonderful places these actors have been to. Rome. Tuscany, Milan. Just these wonderful places and talk of food. At one point Karen says "You know, we are so blessed. Some people have never been to these places" There is a pause. I smile and say "I've been to New Jersey Once."

Then covered with England, Scotland and Amsterdam. Three places with notoriously crappy food.

Back to set. Shot of me and Ricardo struggling with the door. The wind machine is smaller than what I thought it would be in my mind. But it makes one hella amount of noise. And the little sucker knows how to blow leafs around.

We do a few MOS (without sound) shots of us peering out of the door at the wind and the dead leaves blowing in our face. At one point (I guess) there was a great shot of us peering out...until I got a shit load of friggin foliage in my mouth. I ended up spitting them out.

Bob tells me it was a great shot until I spit out the leaves. I said "Would you have preferred I just ate the things?" Yes sir. Eating dead plants. That will be extra.

They get shots of the gang leaving also. Poor Tony ended up getting AN EYEFUL of leaves. Cat got the stuff out and thank god visine was on set.

Final shot of Ricardo and I walking back in and saying our major final lines of the movie:

Me: The Perfect Storm
Him: Twister
Me: Written on the Wind
Him: Gone with the Wind.

I tried to get in The Mighty Wind at the end...but they basically did not want that...bucking the rule of 3-5-7 in comedy. But that is fine by me not my movie. Cover shot of these lines. CU shots of both of us saying the lines. Six takes of the entire thing. Two a piece.

And we are released. Time? 3:30. The rest of the cast is still there shooting...and poor Tony and Barbara is in for a long night. She arrived at lunch. (midnight) and has a morning shoot for a romantic comedy shooting in town.

I sign out...grab a soda and some milk and head over to the French Hotel. After washing my face for a retarded amount of time...I hope into bed. I awake around 11:30 and head back to San Francisco. Because we have finished so much stuff earlier (possibly due to us really bearing down and getting scenes that fell behind) I do not have to be back on set until Thursday. The rest of the shoots for today and Wednesday are night time stuff with Dante and being beat up in the store.

Our wrap party is Thursday Afternoon. even though I have to be on set on Friday...super early to do some final scenes...then carted off to Santa Cruz to do a show.

Long days indeed.

Read You Like a Book Day Eleven: The Peace Cafe Causes Havoc.

2005-07-23T07:49:00.000-07:00

Call Time: 8:00pm

I woke up around noonish. The French Hotel is a nice little joynt with some wacky "White metal" Furniture. Its like you went to Crate and Barrel and bought a bunch of wire drawers and put glass on top of them. There is a balcony the overlooks a big old store on Shattuck Avenue. I wake up naked...and it is just disconcerting to see people with shopping carts passing by your window.

I also look down at my pillow. I did not remove my makeup before I fell out and went to sleep...and saw my face in the pillow. Literally. A full makeup outline of my face. God. I fucking hate makeup.

I head back to SF and hang with friends who are here from Memphis. We talk and joke around and eat a lot of food. Then we head across the street to Coppola's joynt (how lucky can we get them picking the place across the street to eat) and have wine and mohitos. We get the waiter to take our pictures. It is getting late. I got to get back to Berkley. I hug them both goodbye and let them search for some Dim Sum.

I get back (trying to convince Hans to come with me on the phone with me...which he refuses to do) to the hotel and shower and relax a bit. I go to Cesar's and have a drink and some strawberries and cream. To the production office next door. First one there.

The whole night was just weird. A weird vibe night. People are now familiar...and now a little cranky...I know I am.

Bob also is giving odd direction that all the principals are just not understanding: "The audience is not in on the conspiracy...you should not be directing your lines to them"

(us as an ensemble) "Then why the hell would we do this in a public forum?"

There is also a lot of testosterone going on. At one point I was so angry That I just sat angry and quiet while White Men were haggling over action. Just clamed up and angry.

We eat at Cafe De La Paz. I have been there before for a Birthday party before. I dunno. Beans and Rice and corn like lasagna is not what you would call the best mixture of food to have at midnight for a long shoot. It made my stomach go nuts about 30 minutes later. Cafe of Peace. My ass. Literally.

We were on set and I sat down, my stomach feels like it is being stabbed with knives. He says "Are you ready to do the bean shoot?" Karen is righteously disgusted.

I get through that take and can't stand it. I go to the bathroom and I'm bowled over in pain. I head to the Asst Director and say...Am I needed at all in this side shot. I feel like I'm going to hurl. I'm not needed. I run back to the production house and lay down. I pop a shit load of Tums and start rubbing my sides and stomach to release pressure.

This works. Too well. I go running to the bathroom. I get to the door and Don is in there. Marianna is saying it is an emergency. I hear the toilet flush. Then he is dinking around in the bathroom. I cry out. My GOD Let me IN THERE! I make it just in time. Sufficed to say it was not pretty...but it sure got rid of the pain.

Laying down and taking more tums later...they call me back to set. Bob goes "I'm sorry Shaun we just need a close-up of your hand with the disk".

Later he says "Did you yell at me before"
"Yes"
"Shaun don't take it personally"
"I do"
"I'm sorry"
"Apology Accepted"

And that was that.

The rest of the night was long. The final shot was of Benny (Joe) having a heart attack and all of us gathered around while Lorenzo (Dr. Ortiz) is giving him CPR. Cool angle shot going up to the sky. Starting off with Benny and Dr. Ortiz hands giving CPR...and pulling up to Tony, Catalina in the shot around him. Ricardo checking it out...and me coming in to hold Benny's Hand. A neat overhead shot. A nice way to end the night. For me...it was less about being really worried about Benny having a heart attack.... My motivation was quiet and sincere love of all these actors I have worked with for a month.

Time done? 5:45. By the time I get all my makeup off to not leave a "Face Impression" of myself", pop more tums and in the bed...the sun is just appearing and the birds are out. And so am I. Out. like a light

Read You Like a Book Day Ten: Are you Ready Mothafuckaas'!!

2005-07-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

Call Time: 8:00pm

The day was spent sleeping. Just to be awake for this long night. I have already worked out a ride with Judi to get home at four so I feel good about this.

I get to set early. The way I figure it is this: All the principals have roughly the same call time. The thirty plus extras are coming about thirty minutes after our call. It's going to be a madhouse. I want to get in...get into costume and into makeup early. Pisoni also had the right idea too. He shows up early.
He knows I'm a BART girl. He also is from here and has a friend who has given him his place for him and his lady to stay over the weekend....he gives me his hotel keys to the French Hotel across the street for me to stay.

He is the best guy. EVAH

Our decision to show up early was a wise one. I get there and Victoria is out sick for both night shoots. Marianna is the only person there and she is sort of freaking out waiting for her replacement...and if the replacement was going to be any good.

Ms S. (her name is so long...I just shortened it to Ms. S) arrives with an incredible makeup kit. She is currently on set with another movie and again...the girl is TIGHT. She took a look at the pictures and did me up great. She is also about turning you into a diva. I swear to god she is like...I'm here to please you...She is totally choice.

The extras show up. A lot of friends of friends and actors in town from my email blast I sent out. One of my Tuesday Drop in Students showed up.
I guess in this movie...only black women attend book readings.

They send the extras over to set and the principals hang out in the production office. They call us over and the podium is set up with the mic, cord and fake copies of the book The Desert Cure. They call me and Ricardo over to do scenes we did not get a chance to do the other day.

Me: Best Conspiracy Movie?
Him: The Parallax View
Me: Great choice...but my favorite will always be the original Manchurian Candidate.

I then just added some extra crap at the end.

We start shooting the extras are hanging out watching. My bit of biz is trying to untangle the Mic Cord (it was honestly all knotted up, and as a former tech person...that just irks me.)

I say my lines...I add in "I love me some Sinatra...then try to untangle the cord...look at Ricardo and say "Did you try to wrap this thing" and other misc what the hell lines.

At one point Zagone asks me between reloading camera: So Love me some Sinatra...Is that African American Verbiage?

....god. the guy is so Berkeley.

I say "Naw man...it's BLACK THING YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND" The whole place goes up.

After a scene of pushing a table out of the way with some misc lines...they set up for the book reading. We get there and the extras are all in their seats..JJ McTeague (Louis) is there. God. Louis is choice. I think he has a handsome Hispanic Cowboy thing going on. He is really attractive. He is also an incredible actor.

It is about 11:30 at this point and they are setting up shots. Myself and Bob Sarlatte now have an audience. And a trapped audience at that. He does standup. I do improv. It is the first time I think in the universe improv and standup combined to entertain an audience. I stand up in front of the podium to get the crowd pumped up. I go into preacher mode.

Are we here to make a movie brotha's and sistas!! I can I get an Amen from you mothafucka's!

People are laughing. Amen's are forthcoming. Reggie in the background is screaming laughing...he stops me later and says 'Girl, I think you and my reverend are the only two people who would say motherfucka in a sermon!"

We finally roll and we start shooting the introduction to JJ. The base lines are simple:

May I have your attention please? Thank you. I have the pleasure of introducing to you JJ McTeague who is making his 7th lucking appearance here at Black Oak (applause)

Now, we are running a little late, so sufficed to say that JJ's latest novel The Desert Cure...which you can buy signed copies at the front desk when you leave...sums up both his previous thematic concerns...and cast a jaundiced eye on the current climate of fear and paranoia.

We do a few takes. I'm now officially comfortable with this.

It is odd being on a set for me. I really realized how much of a theater person I am. I need response from an audience. Immediate response. Before this night I have been pensive because I really don't know how I'm doing for real. This night. I know. I can see the faces of the extra who is my audience responding.

I have always been a really good host. This was easy. I add in stuff to make the audience laugh and to get them to applaud on cue per the script:

Give the man some Berkeley Love...
You might not have noticed but we are currently on BP Time..That's right. Berkley People Time...(pointing to my Tuesday night student) You thought I was going to say something else weren't you?

Good times. The crew, cast and Bob is loving it. The night goes up to Tony (Dante) confronting the Artemis Brown people who have come to the bookstore to find the disk from Dr. Ortega (Pisoni) and... It just starts getting complicated. There is a fight scene...a heart attack lots of fake disks and a semi audience bru ha ha.

Tonight we get as far as the bru ha ha.

Lots of different angles of everything. Everyone is in pretty good spirits. We break for Lunch (at 2:00) and the announcement goes: We would like to have our principals back into the production house. Extras we have all your food set up outside. Please let our principals out first and then we put you guys in line. I sat in my seat for a second. Then I realized THAT I WAS A PRINCIPAL.

I will never get used to this. Never.

We go back and there is Quiche Lorraine and veggie Quiche with a salad. A salad that was not yet put together. I was one of the first folks to make it back. the crew is sort of running around trying to get things set up. What the hell. I aint doing nothing. And I like to prepare food. "So I go up and say...I got the salad" The crew is stunned. I put the salad together while people are walking in. Just dumped the cucumbers, cabbage, and carrots in the salad and tossed it. Left the tomatoes out for a side dish. No big deal.

I thought Judi was going to cry. We finish eating...and head back to set. Judi walks up to me and hugs me and thanks me profusely for making the salad. "No its really okay. It is really, really nothing" But she wanted to make a deal out of it. Poor wounded bird.

I get in and one of the extras asked me what we had.

"Quiche and Salad. You?"
"Same"
"Did you have desert?"
"Yeah...we had cookies...you guys"
"Extras had cookies too"

(pause)

Extra: So what was so different from us than you guys?"
Me: (thinking) I dunno. We got seats and you guys sat on the sidewalk in front of the bookstore?

By the end of the night and numerous takes...I saw a lot of extras buying the new Harry Potter book. Late night sales that I'm sure was making the bookstore happy.

Wrap time? 4:25

I'm pretty wired. But damn it is awesome I can just walk across the street and crash. One of the PA's (Seth...who is 19) was told to WALK ME OVER TO THE HOTEL. The boy weighs about 12 pounds. On a totally empty Berkley street. Walking a big black woman to the hotel. I could have rolled this child. Makes me laugh.

Read You Like a Book Day Nine: Naw. The lone brother aint my husband.

2005-07-20T07:45:00.000-07:00

Call Time: 10:00am

I leave the house and the first person I run into is a brother how used to attend the Monday Jams all the time. We joke around on the street...and realize I'm running late. I get to Berkeley at 9:50. The latest I have been for a call.

We start off with scenes that we did not get to the other day: The First Election fraud shot...The parody Five Easy Pieces scene...and the scene with myself...Ricardo and Karen Black.

First scene is simple. Ricardo's Character is a conspiracy theorist...and we are hanging out not doing too much work in the store talking about computer touch screen computers. Simple stuff. A few takes from my POV and his POV.

Then we shoot the parody of Five Easy Pieces. The lines from the movie with Nicholson and Black:

Me: Do you looove me Bobby?
Ricardo: What do you think?

It was getting laughs on set. A few takes. Simple.

Then there was the scene with myself, Black and Ricardo. We are still head deep into election conspiracy and Karen walks in and asks where Dante (Tony) is:

Me: Castle Freak? Drank an empty cup of coffee...make a right at the last house on the left and (Horror sound) was never heard from again.
Black: Well, if you see the Creature...tell him I'm looking for him.

The great thing about Karen is her intense eye contact. She is very Actor Studio method. Her downfall? She is very Actor Studio method. I guess for me...there are just some lines you don't have to put so much thought on. That is old school James Cagney. Stand on your mark. Say the lines like you mean it. But she was in good form. Great form actually. It took less time than what I thought.

I head back to the space and hang around. I'm given the camera again...and this time I do some more serious stuff. I get Sophia (who was just hanging out on set) and she is so super into being on camera. What a shockingly smart eleven year old.

We are literally on the couch quoting Young Frankenstein lines and other Mel Brooks films. I forget the girl was eleven. We are having a hard core discussion on Mel Brooks films. She is so amazing.

around 3ish...and me taking a power nap for about an hour or so...they call me in to shoot a the scene with Dante..Gina and the FBI agent. My role is really all about either wacky bits...or introducing characters or progressing the story plot.

My line is simple: Dante, you need to talk to this guy...I think he has seen more movies than I have.

I step out of frame...the FBI comes in.

The guy who is playing the FBI agent is really not talking to me at all. I try to be friendly but he is really not giving me the time of the day. He is talking though...to Tony and the director and talking about "The old days". It seems like he has been around a while...and one of the conversations he ended up having with Joe was talking about being a part of the Committee...I just saw Joe looked at him like "Who ARE you?"...because HE was part of the Committee

"Oh...I was in the first cast...but I got called away to go into the Army...and did not do any shows"

Nice cover, dude. Then he tried to do an up to Joe asking if he stilled lived in the Bay. When he lived in LA. Ew. Some stuff does not change. even with age.

So we are doing the scene and Tony, Gina and I are on a nice clip. Then the FBI agent came in. He was not memorized in any way shape or form. It was frustrating as hell. At one point on the reverse...they just pinned his paper up on the bookshelf. And he still could not get it.

At this point...I better never, EVER hear any more slack when any of us flub a line after that display.

Off to lunch. We head to a Chinese restaurant down the street. The stretch of land in Berkeley is just CHOCK full of great eateries. One of the gossip columnist from the Chronicle wrote about the movie in her column and all the eateries we have been going to.

A very lovely man named Reggie Steele is on set. Fine looking African American Brother. Dark Chocolate Brother. A man *who I met at the Festival when SPF7 performed* I stood next to the man talking to him and the owner of The Comedy College that Sammy Wegent runs.

Brother could not remember me until I took my braids down. He is wearing a bad ass black shirt with a big ass picture of Redd Foxx. Choice. We have lunch together and we are joking around. Really cool ass brother.

Great food. I love sweet and sour pork chops. LOVE THEM. they were GOOOD...

Pork chops do not like me. Ten minutes after digesting ...my stomach went...NO BITCH..>FUCK YOU. Back to the production office and some quality time with the bathroom facilities. They by me Tums. This works.

I lay down and rest for a bit. Victoria comes over and does my makeup on the bed...she whispers to me. "So the guy sitting next to you at lunch. Is that your husband?"

I just started screaming laughing. "Sister I wish that chocolate boy was my man!!" I then informed Victoria that my man was about three thousand shades lighter.

I head to set. Reggie has changed into his outfit. Marianna has put him in a shirt that forms fits around that muscular frame and monster arms he has.

"Can this shirt be any smaller" He laughs.
"Yes child. yes it can be" I laugh. "And your pants. They could be smaller too"

I tell him what Victoria asked me and he laughs. I said my man was a thousand shades lighter than he was.

"Oh...he's a light skinned brotha"

I just start screaming laughing.

"naw man...is a WHITE Skinned Brotha!" I had to show the man also my ID to prove to him that I was forty. He just would not stop talking about how much I was lying.

We redo my take on reverse with Mr. FBI agent. There are still scenes scheduled me an Ricardo have to do. It is past six. They are not getting to this. I head back to production and start taking off my clothes. I bet Marianna a dollar that they will release me. and if they don't and I have to go back. it will take three mins to get back into costume.

Sure as hell...as soon as I put on my sneakers...I'm released. I was going to go out drinking...but I called Hans...and decided to come home and spend time with him.

My call tomorrow? 8:00pm. I'm there from 8-4am tomorrow. I don't know how the hell I'm going to get home at four in the am...but I see myself packing a bag and staying either in the production house...or at the French Hotel.

As of this writing...I just got a phone call from Leah Abrams from Custom Made. I will be playing Jesus Christ in Mac Wellman's Sincerity Forever!

Hurray! I'm officially booked out until November.

Read You Like a Book Day Eight: One Scene girl. Tie me to the Whipping Post.

2005-07-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

Call Time: 9:00am

And thank god for that. Last night I went to a second call back for the Mac Wellman play Sincerity Forever at the Off Market.

I got there at 8:15. I left at 10:30. I love the Custom Made folks. God, they have long auditions. Group auditions. Of people watching other people do their auditions. I'm not a big fan of this at all...but hey.

I crashed out around 11:00 to be awaken by Rosa crashing at my place around one in the morn. I wish I could have had a conversation...but I was just too exhausted.

I get up and there is something wrong with Hans. He is experiencing pain around his kidneys and is having muscle spasms. I freak out. He won't go to the hospital...and he is giving me all sorts of static about other misc. shit. Between him bitching and being stubborn not wanting to go to the hospital and other strff I don't want to listen to at 7:30 in the morning.

I'm not in a good mood when I leave.

I get on BART...and it is nice that there are actually people awake. 7th Street and Market is in a particularly rambunctious atmosphere today with a crowded street of homeless and other street dwellers hanging out in what seems to be a Drug Rehab place screaming at each other. Get to Berkeley at 8:45 and get dressed in costume and to set at 9:10. When I get to set Karen Black and Tony are there.

It was a weird vibe on that set this morn. With all respect and love in the world, Karen was being...I don't even know how to explain it....surreal.
And this was making Bob deflect anger to other people. And I got hit.

I was sitting in a seat waiting for them to do their scenes...and I just stood up. Bob turns around and yells "MARCIA DON'T GO ANYWHERE". I pretty much ignored it because I just stood up to stretch my legs...so I sat back down.

One of the folks from crew comes and does my lips. I stand up to stretch...and Bob starts yelling at me. Loud.

"MARCIA DIDN'T I TELL YOU TO..." I finally was through. Serious. I was through.

"WHAT THE FUCK!! I'M STANDING UP TO STRETCH GOD DAMNIT" I look at the crew. They are all smiling at me like "Thank god someone said something"

I don't know what the hell had transgressed before I got on set... All I know is this: I'm happy to be on this set. But sure as shit I'm not being a whipping post for misdirected anger. Bob stops dead in his tracks and apologizes. A lot. Rubs my back. Starts joking with me. Good. After spending an entire day on set doing nothing but shooting my cell phone and messing around yesterday because of whatever was going on with other scenes...please don't take this out on me. Who has been taking BART in.

I read my lines to Tony and Karen for eye contact. They are reacting to them. It was a longer process than what I could ever humanly imagine. It was, well...weird. Then they do a reverse shot of me walking to them. I do my takes in four shots. There seems to be a major relief from the entire crew.

I was done. Time out of the bookstore? 10:30. Minutes physically spent on camera? 30 Minutes. Karen Black very nicely says: "Shaun, you were very, very funny"

Thank you Karen.

Bob released me and said "But you can stay for lunch" I really did not want to stay. The vibe was just too weird. I said "Naw...I'm going on to deal with my husband" as I walked off mumbling "Who yelled at me for no reason this morning too".

Collective men in my life. On the Rag.

I get back and get dressed. The crew in the office was stunned that I was done. I call up Hans and he asks me to bring home some Allieve. It turns out his sinuses are also acting up to.

"You are just falling the fuck apart aren't you" He apologizes for being a dick this morning. I think mostly...to assure I brought him home some Allieve.

Sign out? 11:30.

One hell of a hard hour forty five minutes of work.

Read You Like a Book Day Seven: Pictures and Videos

2005-07-18T07:34:00.000-07:00

Call Time: 6:00

Left at 4:45. Got on BART...got on the wrong bus....walked to the right bus in Berkeley still got there at 5:45. Under any circumstance this would be a real misery.

It's not. It rocks. It still rocks hard.

Into costume and Makeup by Victoria. I hang for a bit and chit chat with everyone. At one point Judi (the associate producer) asks me what I want. I, of course needing nothing tell her I want a pony.

Zagone comes over in makeup. What a dirty ole' coot. He rubs my back and coos "So...did you dream of me this weekend"

'Funny you should ask. I dreamt of this quick flash of your face...then all of a sudden I saw a train going into a tunnel. What does that mean?"

I get on set around 7:00 and do the "Coffee cup" scene with Tony, Ricardo, and the coffee cup lady. Lines are pretty simple for me.

Ricardo and I are doing fine. A large majority of the stuff going on was placement and all the rest with Tony and the lady. Bob says "Aren't you lucky...that it is not you guys today?"

I went "What is this? A competition?" I just thought it was just a weird thing to say to all the actors standing there.

We finish shooting and Karen Black and Tony go in. And we hang around. I play solitaire. I mess around with the crew.

And there is nothing going on. Karen Black and Bob are in "deep discussion" about a scene in the movie. At one point the entire crew took a break because shooting had stopped over this scene.

We head to lunch. Karen decides she does not want to join us and they bring her lunch to the production office. I sit with Jonathan, Chris, and Victoria. They are killing me. I really dig the Production staff. A LOT.

I get back from lunch and Judi walks in. She has a present for me. A Pony. A Pony Pen. A fuzzy pen with a pony body on the top. HURRAY! I GOT A PONY!! Laughing

I lay on the couch for a while. Butt nothing is going on. Marianna gives me pictures from last week. I ask to scan in two of them:

Me in Second Day Outfit.

Danny Glover. And his grandson.

So I'm bored out of my mind and Judi comes over with a DVD camera.

"So...you want to shoot some wacky behind the scenes stuff"

WEEEEEEeeeeeEEEEEeeeeeEEEEEeee!!! An Improviser with a FUCKING VIDEO CAMERA! This is the best thing. EVAHHH!

So I start shooting shit. Stupid interviews with everyone in the crew. Camera shots turned on me doing an Academy Award Speech that will *never happen* At one point no one was around. I put my cell phone on the table and hold an interview on a stilted shot of my cell phone.

It then grew to people putting two other cell phones, two quarters and my pony pen in for an interview. This went on for a good ten minutes. Just plain stupid! At one point I say "If you have this DVD and you are still watching this stilted shot of Three Cell phones, two quarters and a pony pen...you are way more of a freak than I am. Really. Go hit a chapter in the movie will you?"

Good times! And I'm getting paid!! They finally release me at 3:00. I did only one scene. The scenes they were supposed to shoot today...they will have to do super early on Wednesday...which means I'm seeing golden time in my future. I will have to be on set all day. AND all night.

Generally this would be miserable. Nope. It's not. It rocks. It still rocks hard.

Read You Like a Book Day Six: Here is your pizza...and here is your sausage!

2005-07-13T07:29:00.000-07:00

Call Time: 5:30

I got to bed so late last night. After teaching a class last night at The Darkroom and heading back home...I relax. The doorbell rings and it is Mark from Chuckle Sandwich. He and his brother are doing the tour up and down through California and dropped back in to say hey. What a dear man.

I try to go to bed and can't. I'm all restless. I finally lay down and wonder off around one in the morning only to wake up at 3:30.

Onto BART and to the space. I arrive at 5:00am. People are there this time getting ready for the days shoot. I get into wardrobe and lay on the bed until I'm called.

They got a bunch of extras there today. Most of them I know one way or another from The Alliance Email blast that I sent out. That makes the Talent Coordinator Jonathan supa happy.

It is me and Ricardo Gil and the Thief scene. The Thief is a man named Leonard Pitt (who taught choreography and movement for the dinos in Jurassic Park). He is a nice enough fellow and has been on set for most of the time taking still shots.

I guess I was not in the right frame of mind when he came over to the Food Service Table at 5:30 and keep asking me where everything was. "LORDY CHILE...I DON'T KNOW..."

..
..

So sleepy. Why is he asking me where the Sweet and Low is?

We get to set and they set myself and Ricardo up behind the bookstore counter. My lines are pretty simple:

Me: What I love about this book is how he evokes the texture and fell of Pre-War Europe. The Cafes, the Street, the lights...oh and the SPIES!
Ricardo: I guess nowadays they would just send an email.
Me: I suppose so.
Ricardo then spots the thief, who is brazenly stuffing books into his jumpsuit.

POV of Ricardo to me. goes well. Bob seems to dig how I'm doing it. I walk into the shot with Ricardo to watch this guy steal books

POV of Me to Ricardo. Me taking a couple of steps to match the first shot.

CU of me and Ricardo following this guy out the door to hear the alarm go off. and following him back to put all the books neatly back in order.

Looks of stunned reaction shots. One shot Bob asked me to improvise about what was going on as we were watching. I turn to Ricardo in one take after he puts the books back on the table and say "That's fucking ballsy...but you got to respect it."

Cut...crew laughs. I think I'm the class clown on the set now.

They shoot the shots of Pitt doing his quasi drunk guy stuffing books into his jumpsuit. He started making these faces that (on a stack of bibles) are the exact same mugging faces that HANS does when he plays drunk. He was killing me. Shame Hans did not get considered.

We were done really early. This is when Bob decided to re-shoot mine and Ricardo's first scenes, much to our sheer joy. The first day was a nightmare for me...and I just wanted to get into a groove.

After shooting Ricardo again. They set up my shot. At this point the extras have assembled in the back and Lorenzo and Sophia are also there. They have set up my shot with this light white scrim. I guess they call it a "Soft Scrim" to make me look all sexy.

This time I get to play around with the lines. Bob stands in for the main character to give me a human focus point.

People are loving it. The extras applaud every take. It is really nice of them.

At one point they were doing a sound check and I just was fucking around with the camera guy and looked into the camera and said "Here is the pizza...now where is the Sausage! WONT CHICK WONT WAAA....then I grabbed one side of my cheek and moved it around making a nasty squishy sound.

The whole place went up. Bob asked me to do a take OF THAT. Laughing

Call time 5:30. On set at 6:00 All the combined takes of everything took till 8:30. We were FLYING LIKE THE WIND IN THERE.

I get out of the bookstore and head back. There are a lot of extras floating around the set. I'm exhausted. I come in and get stopped by some lady who is going on and on about how great my acting ability is...and then she keep glowing over a show *I was never in*

I keep telling her "That was not me, I swear*...and she keep INSISTING that it was me. I finally gave up and thanked her.

I went into costuming and laid down and fell asleep. I was out. The ultimate power nap. I slept for an hour and Marianna came over and woke me up so sweetly and gently.

"Baby...they just need you really quick on set." I grabbed up my shoes and headed over. They did a quick take of me fixing some books and peering into the direction of where Lorenzo was standing.

...and I'm Release.

Time? 11:30.

Most of the main players are coming to the last day of the festival on Saturday so I say goodbye to them till then. (Jonathan the talent coordinator lives TWO Blocks from the Next Stage and hangs out at Route 101! NOW I know where I know him from!)

I'm officially "On Call" for any extra shots that need to be done for the rest of the week. My next official shoot date is Monday. I was told not to leave town. Very Old Boiled Cop.

It is now 1:00pm. I feel like I have been up a full twenty four hours. How the hell do Security Guards do it?

Read You Like a Book Day Five: Pictures and Improv

2005-07-12T07:22:00.000-07:00

My call time today was 8:00am. A hell of a lot nicer considering I can actually catch a bus from the BART station to the joint. Makes life a little easier.

I get there at 7:45. I get into clothes (which were thankfully cleaned over the weekend) and apply my own makeup (Victoria was already in the bookstore taking care of actors on set...so I'm cool with that)

I decided to bring my digital camera onto the set today...so while I was waiting, I decided to take shots of others waiting

This is Lorenzo Pisoni. He plays the role of the Scientist with a child who has a disk of secrets from Artemis Brown. He just got back from NY
doing physical teaching with Whose Afraid of Virginia Wolf with Bill Irwin (who happens to be related to him). I very nicely asked him "Next time you see him just pass along that he is a really good actor" Super sweet man. And apparently his gene pool is to die for.

This is little Sophia. She plays Lorenzo's daughter in the movie. She is super smart and fun. I spent a good part of the morning joking with her. I really think she likes to hang around me...because I talk to her like I'm eleven years old. Not that condescending eleven years old...but an overgrown child who could pass for eleven. We sat and talked about movies...and camp...and boys. It was as the jibber jabbers would say "AWESOME"

This is Ophira. She is Sophia's Grand mom and has a little bit role. She was put down on the call sheet as "Elderly Woman" to much eye rolling from her. She has a very heavy accent...but I'm too afraid to ask here where she is from...because I can't personally pin it. She asks a lot of personal questions.

This is a shot of the production office from the top of the stairs to the lounge area. The folks sitting is our very hard working production crew. The man standing by the windows is our producer Larry. he is wicked awesome.

We finally get around to my stuff with Tony. His "Devastated by his girlfriend moment"

The lines are simple:

Me: You get hit by a truck?
Him: Runaway girlfriend to be exact
Me: Honey, truck would have been a whole lot easier.
Him: Thing is I have not seen her in years and...
Me: Yeah...and of all the bookstores in all the towns in all the world she walks into mine...right?
Him: ...something like that..
Me: Man, that's Casablanca...Outrageous coincidence...second chance at love, fate...letters of transit in a piano...
Him...(not listening) what did you say?
Me...You see I was giving a point of reference...(he leaves..) HEY! I wasn't critiquing your lack of film knowledge!

...

So we set up the scene. We end up pulling a very nice woman who was browsing in the store to work with me in the scene. Her name was Jane. She had a bad day with some weird fire in her kitchen. She wanted to just get out and bookshop...and it seemed to make her day.

I walk her to books...Tony (Dante) walks by devastated....I see him... I walk to him and we do our lines.

We did six takes (two because Bob did not like the angle of the camera)...

Take four I flubbed a line Bob goes "Get down on your lines" I shoot him a look and went "I was down on my lines three takes ago"...

That I think sort of stunned him. Yipes. So the final take...I say my last line and he gave me the direction to shrug.

Dante walks out of scene...I say:

HEY! I wasn't critiquing your lack of film knowledge...oh man...I'M SO DAMN SORRY (turns back to book and nervous) "la de da...please don't fire me...la..de...da...I so need this job...la..de daaa...

They say cut...and the entire crew starts screaming laughing

Bob: (to sound guy) You got that right!!

I do a cover shot of another guy we pulled out of the store (who happens to work at Berkeley Rep) and did an MOS shot (without Sound) of me showing him the photography section and walking out of frame.

I got back to the production office...chat with the crew...head to a Japanese restaurant for lunch...head back. Bob kicks around the idea of me improvising a scene with fellow improviser/comedian Bob Sarlatte (Late Night with David Lettermen guy)...and decided that there was so much to do...and to do it later.

I was released at 1:30pm. I'm loving this.

Call time tomorrow.. 5:30. The thief scene.

Read You Like a Book Day Four: Glover and SAG

2005-07-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

I get to the production office at 5:10. *I'm the first one there*

I'm greeted by Judy and Jonathan. They think I'm a trooper at this point taking BART in and getting there so early. I lay down on the bed and rest. Another AD comes in later and asks me if I want breakfast....and he BRINGS IT TO ME IN BED.

Marianna and Victoria arrive and I get into costume. This day is the second day in the store for me in a new outfit. They put together a change of clothes and Victoria puts me in a litter color makeup that makes me look...well...Fucking cute. I fountain my hair up and pin it up with a red lace bow on top.

And Danny Glover shows up with his niece and his grandson.

He is possibly The Nicest Man On The Planet. He comes into costuming and they just powder him down (his skin is perfect. That smile of his is bright. His eyes are just full of joy and love).

He Comes in. I say "Hey Danny"

He says "Hey Shaun...how you doing baby" and gives me the most sweetest kiss ever.

*I can't believe I'm about to work with the man who had me in tears when he was on The Actors Studio.*

He talks of his family and all sorts of wonderful conversation. He is just so easygoing and lovely.

We get ready and I hang for a bit. He does his first shooting with Tony. I hang in production and deal with Bank and SAG stuff. My check has cleared to write a cashier's check and Fatna is coming to the office to say hey.

They call me on set. They take pictures of me for continuity and I hang while they finish the last few angle takes with Tony and Glover.

I really like the makeup artist Victoria. She has been making me look awesome. She shows me my pictures for continuity and the one I had just taken did not EVEN LOOK LIKE ME. I just laugh and say "I just want you to follow me the hell around"

I love looking at pictures and ask to see some of the other shots. Sometimes even the most gorgeous men and women actors can produce some really bad pictures. Thank god they are just continuity shots.

They stand me behind the counter and I'm introduced to the "Magic Book"...and great mock up front cover that is old and cryptic that says "The Illustrated Book of Failure"

First they shoot from my POV towards Glover. He gives me direct eye contact...he has that voice. He is such a giving scene partner. And that beautiful smile. We do one scene and Bob Z tells Danny to give that smile and smile and slide out of camera shot.

The tape rolls...he says his line perfectly...and he gives the biggest smile in the world. Since it was shot over my shoulder I let out the biggest smile in the world it just tickled me so much...and he slid out of camera with that big old cheese eating smile and we just started busted up laughing.

Now its my turn for his POV. I did really super well. It did not take much...because Glover made me feel we were the only ones in that bookstore.

At one point Bob says to Danny:

Zagone: So. Dontcha think she is beautiful?
Danny: (Smiles) She is indeed a beautiful girl (looks at me) I'm sorry. A beautiful young woman
Me: (so hot red blushing...about to fall out) Well Danny...you sure aint shabby yourself.

Take on Glover: Six. Takes on me: Six. We evened out. Just great, unbelievable surreal, wonderful times. I'm still glowing warm writing now.

As long as I live. If I never do another film again. If something happened where I could never perform again...I will always have this one day to recount.

This is one of the happiest days of my life. Glover wraps. That's right. He had one day of shooting. He piles up an incredible collection of books and buys them. He says goodbye to me.

We finish shooting. Bob asks if I would like to shoot scene nine from the last shoot again. I say yes...but we are running low on time before the store has to open at ten. I would like to do that if he has the time. I want to show him that I can do that scene. I think Bob has regained a lot of confidence back into my abilities.

I go across the street to my bank during break and before lunch to pull out a CRAP load of money. 1,440.00 to be exact. A cashiers check to The Screen Actors Guild. I fill out all the paperwork. I call up Fatna (who was in the production and onset for a bit during the Glover scene and said a fast hello).

Lunch was at an Italian Restaurant (two days of Pasta) and afterwards? I was released. I love it! Shoot some shit with Danny Glover...eat some incredible food...then go home.

Can this feeling never go away. Please never let this current feeling go away.

I head out and stop downtown to the SAG office with my stuff. I hear of news of more movies coming in. I meet the milkman who does the "Got Milk" commercials. The receptionist works at one of fave restaurants in the mission when she is not there.

Fatna is being all cool. Mary Ann takes my stuff...fixes my social security number...and comes back. With a monster package. Full of SAG stuff.
A receipt with Screen Actors Guild Card Number....

And blue pin with theater masks. That says Screen Actors Guild. Fatna proclaims "Welcome to SAG. You have arrived"

Wee. Sure.

I don't want this feeling to stop.

Read You Like a Book Day Three: Argento, Bava, Fulci

2005-07-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

I go to bed at 10 to be awaken at midnight to tell me that BART has not come to a decision on what they want to do regarding striking. I'm really pissy. I don't want to take a chance on if these people are going to strike or not...so I call up Desoto Cab. I make an appt for a cab to pick me up and take me to Berkeley at 4:45 to get there at 5:30.

I wake up at 4:00. I get online to see that BART is indeed not on strike. But at this point I'm too exhausted to even care and just want to make sure I get there. I get dressed, pack my makeup and some stockings, and the cab picks me up at 4:45 on the dot.

There is literally no traffic. I get to Berkeley at 5:15. Cab Ride? Forty Bucks. Me asking for this money back? With all the SAG stuff going on...No friggin way.

The main players are there (Bob, Larry and crew). I'm the first actor there. I'm there before Makeup and Wardrobe. I'm just too wound tight right now.

I grab coffee and Marianna arrives with a wonderful new makeup artist fresh from The Art School of San Francisco. I get in gear...and sit down for makeup. She is awesome. She makes me look really super good. I look really, really...

Pretty. I have to admit. I looked really pretty. In all this Goth stuff.

I sit in the back and wait. And wait and wait. They bring Ricardo in the store first to shoot his first lines of dialogue. I was going on lines for a while...then settled into joking with staff and actors.

By the time I was up...I had relaxed myself to the point where I was on an actors computer figuring out how to fix her server pop to jive with the internet connection in the place trying 110 instead of 25.

Bad move.

I get to the set and everyone in there seems a touch on edge. It turns out the reason for the early call is because the store opens at 10am and they got to get these front shots done before the store opens. Bob is trying to keep all the shots down to a minimum.

I just really did not realize what sort of "Minimum" he was talking about. He is looking for two takes.

I did mine in seven. I feel like a motherless child. I do a take and Bob would tell me to slow it down...I slow it down...its too theatrical. I speed it up...and its too fast.

I get so frustrated I just do a completely different take on the whole thing and get angry at the main character. A "Jesus Christ. I give you all these Euro Trash DVD's...and you watched NONE of them?"

From frustration comes a take Bob seems to like. Motherless Talent less Child.

We get shots of the two shot with Dante and me. He explains he tried to watch Argento but got turned off after the second decapitation.

Four takes facing him. Two redo's because they could not get the shot of the poster in...

Final cutaways facing me. I just have the line "You're no fun"

Two takes. Thank God.

I leave pretty dejected with Ricardo. We are pretty stunned to quiet.

"Oy."
"Yeah"
"Yeah"
"I feel like a Motherless Child"
"Yeah"

That is all we could muster.

I get phone calls while I wait from the SAG office. It has now just become a big dramatic mess. The SF office it seems has been taken over by the LA office and no one really seems to know what is going on. Meanwhile, I'm waiting for Hans to see if he can advance me some money from his job so I don't start incurring fees to the producers on this set.

I have become the damn problem child of this set. A Motherless Talentless child with SAG drama issues. Just great.

We break for lunch and we head to Saul's Deli. This GREAT Jewish Restaurant with album covers of Stiller Anne Meara and Brooks and the 2000 year old Man...and Gildna Radner album (which I play the song If you Look Close/Gimme Mick before I go to a show)

I get there and most of the actors are at the other table. I sit with the Office crew and have nice non actors conversations on what you want to do with your lives. It was pretty nice.

I go back over and chill out. Bob wants to do cover shots of me and Ricardo. Ricardo carrying books and placing them. Me on the phone with a customer.

Now this is something I can do. Just talk crap on the phone about books and taking orders. *I know this* I USED TO OWN A COMIC BOOK STORE.

So they go to my set up and he asks me to say something along the lines of "We have three copies f that book left"

Cool. They roll Camera. I start to improviser

"Yes we have three copies left of Art Spiegleman's Maus. yes. One First Edition and Two Second Edition copies are left. Uh hun. Sure...let me get your name and number and we can hold the first edition at the front desk for you...

I hear CUT! Bob comes up to me and says "Did you mention A BOOK BY NAME?"

I said...yes...Art Spiegleman's Maus.

He seems really frustrated with me. "Shaun, you can't mention any names of books."

(Feeling sick) I'm really sorry.

Just do it again without the names, okay.

So I did it again...without the names. I take a piece of paper and start writing down a pretend name on the sheet. I think I wrote. Sum Won Kill Me.

After the shot, I'm standing behind the counter and Bob does not seem to look happy. I think "My god...I can't even play a good customer service person well..."

Until a *real customer* (some preppy stuck up woman) walks right up to me and says:

"Excuse me, thank you for getting off the phone. I have a question on where I can find a book?"

I smile and say "Well actually I would love to help you, but I don't work here...(pointing to the real desk people out of shot)...but you can ask these two lovely ladies and they will be more than happy to help you. She grimaces at me like I have done something wrong for her mistake. I just cannot win today.

The counter ladies go "You are really good at this! Maybe we should hire you!"

I'm in full on Goth. I got on all this lace stuff, a big red bobble necklace and a (in my mind) a LOT of makeup. I guess I really do look like a Berkeley Bookstore employee. Or maybe it was a reference to first edition books.

Funny. She even waited for me to get off the phone to speak to me.

I sit down in a seat. The Pastrami and homemade pickles are now taking a hold of me and making my stomach churn. I feel a little queasy.

Just in time to do one more shot. The cover shot (aka in the style of classic Warner Brothers title openings) of me with a book reading it...then looking into the camera.

Look up. Smile. And. I'm released.

I get my real coat out of the back room...take off the buckle shoes and walk in my bare feet out of the store. Bob says goodbye. I cannot even muster up a decent goodbye.

I get out of clothes and speak with Larry the producer about a bunch of stuff. They will call me about shooting on Friday. I have the day off tomorrow.

I get home...and find the SAG info they sent me. It is more than what I expected originally. They also included the membership fee and the first annual due.

I. Just. Can't. Win. But Fatna has been MORE than wonderful trying to work this out for me. The idea o being in the hole on the set just is too much for me right now. They have to deal with my SAG distraction on top of my acting woes.

Hans tried to make me feel better by saying the first day is always hard and it will only get better.

Great. I wonder if he will think the same thing when I ask him for 400 bucks tonight.

Read You Like a Book Day Two: Final Reading, Meet and Greet... and Blocking

2005-07-05T06:57:00.000-07:00

I finally got to sleep around midnight. I awake at 7 all fidgety and nervous. I don't want to fuck this up. I so don't want to fuck this day up.

I leave with Hans around 7:45 and I ride with him all the way to 12th Street in Oakland to get on the Richmond Train to Berkeley. The train is right there. My call is 9:30.

I get to Downtown Berkley at 8:20. I got a shit load of time.

So I get some coffee at Tully's and decide to just wait for the number 9 bus instead of taking a cab "Just in Case".

I arrive in front of the production office at 8:40. Fuck it. I start walking to Bob's place up the street. I realize I hear my voice. It is Patrick and another crew member who are putting up signs to lead incoming car actors to Bob's Place. Big signs that say "RYLAB"

I joke with them and say "I can't wait for some Berkeley Science student to accidentally pull into here.

I get to Bob's place and actors are already there at 9am. A lot of them from Los Angeles, who are either staying at the French Hotel, or with friends...or just used to live here and staying with family. Karen Black is there Tony Amendola is there. Ricardo Gil, and my wonderful Joe Bellan who lives here and just likes to be places early. (who was part of The MOTHER FUCKING COMMITTEE)

There is a monster spread of incredible food, coffee, fruit, bagels, brioche, muffins and everything that looks like you are the most important actor in the world. Many more new faces are there. Lots of tech staff. The guy with the video camera doing behind the scenes is there.

We start after all the talking and laughing and crowding into Bob's spacious home to read at around 10:30.

Danny Glover is running a little behind. He is bringing is grandson with him.

So we start reading. Black is in the middle of the table and all the energy is flowing from her and around the table. At one point Bob starts talking about the idea of the behind the scenes stuff and he says "I hate the kissy 'Oh the director is so great' bullshit. So, I want you guys to be real. I mean if the camera is there and you are PISSED...SAY IT"

I shrug and say "I'm I the only one here who thinks Bob Zagone sucks?"

Big laugh. Yeah. I have set myself up for the class clown.

The reading starts. It is running smooth. Tony Amendola (who plays Dante) is fucking amazing. Joe Bellan is killing me with his hard Jewish accent. Ricardo Gil is one hell of a great actor.

I say my first lines and I feel off my game. I'm feeling neurotic and paranoid for the first time in my entire life of performing. I'm really feeling out of my league. This is in my mind. I just feel way out of my league here.

And roughly around that point...I hear the door open and a baby crying. Danny Glover is here. With his Grandson.

*great fucking god*

So yeah. I start reeling. He is such an incredible influence on me. I think I want to cry. In the middle of this reading. There he is. He looks relaxed and dressed like just your normal guy. He goes around and shakes everyone's hand. He gets to me and I just say "Hey, my name is Shaun". He smiles and winks at me.

So there is one seat left. And this seat is next to ME. He sits down and I get him to the right page and in less than a minute he reads with Tony (who plays Dante)

Glover only has two scenes in the movie: The scene with Tony....and the final scene with me.

He blows the room away. I just want to just stare at this man for days he is SUCH A FUCKING INCREDIBLE ACTOR.

I feel small. And it is a wonderful small. It makes me want to work harder just to keep up.

We read through. The scenes with The Character Dante and Zoe went particularly well, along with the Scenes with Kate and Dante. Laughs where they are supposed to be. Thought provoking scenes where they are supposed to be...

I feel. Small.

The end of the movie (when Dante finally goes out of the Bookstore into the real world) there is the final scene with myself, Glover and the magical book.

Glover: Excuse me, I'd like to purchase this book.

Me: (After holding the book and being sucked into a void) Whoa, what a ride. this is...really fantastic.

Glover: Yes it is.

Me: Where'd you find this?

Glover: (looks me right in the face with the most sincere eyes in the world) I would have to say, young lady, that I was simply drawn to it. Books have that power...wouldn't you agree?

I thought I was going to cry. He gave me the most sincere and heartfelt eye contact that I have ever received from an actor past, present to right now. I had to break contact at the end.

If I was not a fan of this man's work now....This just made it even more incredible.

We break for lunch. During the whole thing I played a lot of peek-a-boo with Glovers Grandson. He has seemed to have taken a liken to me...and we ended up also playing outside on the patio. I told Danny if he ever wanted to dump him for any reason...to please dump his grandchild at my house.

The rest of the day was spent signing SAG and Contractual paperwork, heading over to the bookstore and checking that out. (I see myself losing A LOT of money in this store. I have already hidden the 1st edition book "Grapefruit" by Yoko Ono and John Lennon from 1964 for only friggin 20 BUCKS to buy tomorrow)

We head to the production office and we get the tour...Then we head back to Bob's house to go over specific scenes. I settled in with my prodom scene partner Ricardo Gil...and read though, we also go through tomorrows shooting and blocking options. I get the Call Sheet for the 6th:

5:30 in the morn. Fab. There are many things going on with a 5:30 in the morn call:

1) Please I hope BART is running
2) Please god I don't hope BART Strikes.

Either way, I'm too neurotic to worry about this. If it means a damn cab...I will take a damn cab...pack a bag and stay in the production office.

I get a ride from Joe Bellan (The Committee Guy) and he regales me of fucked up Del Close stories and every single improviser who did stuff there. He loved it. He just hated the drug use.

Then he goes "So I did this play with Paul Sills and Storybox Theater"

Good Grief. This is just too much. I have been wanting to get the Committee to open for a reunion for Next Years Festival.

Me: So, you would be interested?
Him: Jesus. Who else is friggin ALIVE?

He kills me.

I get home and I have a call from The Screen Actors Guild.

They tell me I have five days (instead of the month I was told in SF) to pay up ALL OF MY DUES...or the production company will get fined.

I REALLY WISH THEY TOLD ME THAT BEFORE I WENT ON VACATION.

But it seems my saving grace producer is all over it. God love him.

Screen Actors Guild has put me in debt...before I even start shooting. Nice they are working *for me*