living the dream

One day quite soon I will wake up in the morning, drive to set, and spend the day truly "living the dream" as the lead of a hit TV Series.

Or, as my Aunt says, Plan A was to win the lottery.  It isn't working out so well, so we're doing Plan B: get a job, pay the mortgage, ...

Well, Plan A (see: my TV Series above) is still in the works, so for now, I work Plan B: get a job, pay the mortgage, and try like hell to get acting work.

One day last week I get a call from Central Casting asking if I want to work on a hit TV show, and that I have been "picture-picked" by production.  What this means is out of all the tens of thousands of people in Central's databanks, they chose me.  Hmmm, normally I don't do background work, but maybe I'll be the only extra on set and be treated like an actor? That's happened before.  Maybe I'll even get upgraded to principle and have lines! That's happened too!!! Maybe I could even become recurring on multiple episodes!!! It hasn't happened to me, but I've seen it happen.  OMG this is going to be HUGE! My BIG BREAK!! YES of COURSE I will work background /slash/ principle /slash/ recurring!

I arrive on set Tuesday and to my dismay, there are about 10 other people there who were also "picture-picked." ...That's ok, they could still like me best, and give me a line.  Hair and makeup give us the once-over and the hair guy asks if I can tie my hair back halfway.  Sure, no prob.  He gives me a thick ponytail holder meant for a whole head of hair.  uhhh... I don't have a mirror... He swiftly ganks some of my hair back and presto, I look like a lumpy frumpy maybe slightly balding woman.  My dreams of getting picked to be upgraded are fading quickly.

my hair was kinda like this but NOT AS CUTE. 

Luckily I had time to go to the bathroom before shooting and fix it as best as I could.  So my beautifully blown out hair is now kinda janky looking, but better than when Mr Hair put his grubby hands on it. We all are escorted to set and told to stand here or there.  Would you believe I am stuck so far back in the background that I might as well be anyone??? Why did they even bother picture-picking us? You can't even see any of the "picture-picked" BG with any sort of clarity.  Stupid stupid stupid.  The only silver lining: we were only there for three hours and paid for a whole day.  Ahh Hollywood, you little minx.  You tease me with the hope of a little "break" and yank it away just as my fingers graze the fringe.