Before I forget ... Postcards from the Edge shooting day!

Yesterday we shot Postcards from the Edge or was that today? Well, truth be told, we shot it yesterday but only a few hours ago I went to bed hoping that I'd awaken to the actual scene up on youtube. Whew, sometimes editing can take forever but in this case, not for the reasons you might expect.

The shoot was awesome. Jay and I went to the site which, btw, was mere perfection. Our contact, Maria was awaiting us with our PA, Lee Johnson who would be helping us with the production ... duh, Production assistant will be helping us with the production. Did I really write that? Sheesh ... mama needs her rest. Marje was also already there and had every prop, all makeup and costume accents that any one character could need. What I'm constantly amazed by is how much people prepare and dedicate to these performances. Uh oh, I'm about to gush ... but I'll hold off for now.

We were getting all set up. Marje was covering up her eyebrows (integral to the scene), I was fixing my side pony tail (why again did I wear my hair like that?) and we were discussing the real life relationship of Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. While this was happening, Jay and Lee were setting up for the shoot. Marje and I decided to run lines and work on the many logistics of the scene when Jay called me into the other room to say "Had an issue but it's already taken care of (great lead-in by the way). My 10,000 dollar camera just broke but we already called the Tri-C Metro campus and they are loaning us one of theirs. Lee and I just need to drive over there to get it." I knew that Jay possibly losing his camera was not great news but I also knew that having an immediate replacement was a godsend. While Jay and Lee went on their retrieval, Marje and I rehearsed. This was our first time performing together, we figured it all out and there was a lot to figure. I really didn't want to imitate Meryl and Shirley Maclaine who originally played our roles so we had to work out our own chemistry, one that I felt was most reflective of the real chemistry between Carrie Fisher and her Mom, Debbie Reynolds.

By the time we were done with all of that, the boys returned with the camera! All set up and ready to go I was loving the timing. Meanwhile, Maria, our sweet contact at the Tri-C East Campus, was outside the room fielding calls on my cell phone just in case the press called. OK, that might sound like I'm getting full of myself but I actually had an appointment, set up by the wonderful Liz, to meet with a reporter and photographer from The Willoughby Herald. So, we began shooting. It was going wonderfully well and the photographer came. He shot in between camera set ups right when we were about to shoot my half of the scene. He took several stills of Marje and I and off he went ... um, timing again? PERFECTION! So we shot my half and right at the end, Jay walked in with a cake, lit with 6 candles, singing with all in the room, Happy Birthday to me! Didn't I say yesterday there would be no cake? Wrong.

As we were having our cake and eating it too, the reporter showed up to interview me. He recorded it ... bonus! He typed it also and shot a tiny video of me for their online stuff. He said the article would be in the paper a week from Sunday. You know Terri will post it for all to see and I think it will be a good one! Yay, more press!!!!

As if all that weren't enough, Jay spoiled me with presents, I got flowers and cupcakes delivered and Marje was amazing. Sheesh! Am I fill in the blank or what? Clue, it's more than blessed and lucky!!!! Didn't I say no presents? Wrong.

Then came the dilemma of how do we get the footage to the editing system which we had yet to pick up since we don't have the actual camera with us. OK, without completely boring you let's just say, Jay and I split up to get all of the necessary gadgets to edit this puppy. The edit itself went very quickly but I'm afraid cupcakes and cake were dinner. At 4:05 AM I went to bed leaving poor Jay behind to tie up the loose ends. Again, Happy Birthday to me.

I love the scene. That's always the bottom line, isn't it? Another wonderful A to Z experience, at least for me. I'll ask Jay in a few days after he has rested ;-)