The film is a romantic comedy called "Not That Funny" - it's a delightful script. I am Mary, owner of Mary's Market, a kitchy coffee house/sandwich shop/sundry market set in Sierra Madre and I am part of the local flavor that the lead characters interact with. I have a number of conversations in the film - they are brief, but they entail me coming back for a few days of shooting in August.
My arrival at the production office prior to being driven to the location was a sign of things to come: lots of lovely people introducing themselves and genuinely glad to be there. It was not only my first day of shooting, but the first day for the movie, so it was nice to meet everyone fresh and all in the mood to get to know each other.
After grabbing a water, I am whisked away in a van to the location and for a review of what I will be wearing. I've brought a few choices and I'm hoping they go for my idea of farmer shorts with a t-shirt or something underneath. Lauralee, the director and Lori, the costumer love the idea, so we are set.
Then, it's on to - lunch! Yep. How nice is that. I sit with three of the lead actors and have a nice time talking about movies, and what we have done recently. Tony Hale (the lead in the film) brings up WIT, and that prompts lots of questions. It's interesting to have the perspective of time and I tell them that it was a life-changing experience in three ways: 1) as an artist - the mask is gone when your head is shaved and you are in direct confrontation with the audience for 90 minutes. I have climbed the mountain of fear and made it to the top; 2) as a woman - vanity be gone. No more hiding behind my blonde mane, it's all right here - who I am, what I look like and that's that. 3) as a human being - direct interaction with people; the mask is gone, removed. And, every encounter with everyone person is somehow different and more real (most of the time).
Lunch over, it's on to make-up with the lovely make-up artist Ashley, who for the first time all day actually has more than five minutes to spend on make-up and how blessed am I that she is spending time on me.
And then, it's into my work duds as Mary and on to shooting. I admit a tad of butterflies as we begin, but once the first rehearsal is over and then the first take (and I realize I forgot to specifically choose a point to enter and exit frame - have to remember about continuity), I am feeling right at home. It's play, and I love it.
I have access to the lovely director and the luxury to ask questions, so that the conversation can be tweaked, if need be. I am also afforded the luxury of a close-up at the end - something the editor requests for cutting purposes. I admit a little more butterflies when the camera was turned on me, but still, playing and enjoying it all.
The whole day I felt centered and grounded in myself. There is a lot that I attribute this to, but I really do go back to WIT and the work with Diana. I know that preparation is what has brought me to a place of centeredness, not only in storytelling, but in life.
I want that muscle to continue to grow.
