Day 1: Wednesday, September 3, 2003- the beginning

Here I am in LA to be in the biggest movie I have yet had the honour of being a part of so far, and it’s quite overwhelming actually. I feel very small. Still not sure how I lucked into it and landed the part, but who am I to say, right? So I arrived in LA at about 10 this morning and was greeted at the airport by Lynda (who is an absolute doll) and we were soon on our way over to Total Fabrication (Ken’s company that makes costumes and props and the such) to meet some of the others, see one of the sets they built, and to see the monster. The basement/dungeon set they created is absolutely amazing. They took styrofoam and painted it all up and it looks like real rock/stone/brick walls, very medieval and creepy. Then I got to see the monster. Holy crap, is it big! Kinda scary, yet sorta cute in a weird I’m- gonna-try-to-kill-you-and-eat-you-later way. I think once the eye is done and in, I’ll change my mind on its appeal. After that, we just hung out and waited for the others to arrive. So many people and I suck with names. I got to meet the actors playing Sheila (Tomi), Lutkus (Cleve), Officer Sheen (Shawn), the Sergeant (Mike), Larissa (Janet), Father Fogerty (Joseph), and Sister Cecilia (Mary Woronov, whose movies I really need to get off my ass and see). I met Lynda’s daughter (Arianna, who will also be in the movie) and Lynda’s super cute granddaughter (Katy). I also got to meet lots of others (Vicky who’s doing wardrobe, Ed the producer, Josephine the production manager, Sam the publicist, Brad the behind the scenes/documentary person, Allison the makeup person…..) who are so busy working trying to get everything ready for our first day (well, night) of shooting in two days. Everyone has been so nice and so sweet so far, not that I expect that to change. This is gonna be even more fun than I had hoped for. Any worries I may have come out here with, have disappeared. So then we got into makeup and wardrobe and had a little photo shoot. First time we got to be in character and have fun with it. I got to be Cherry Pie, the character I play in the film. Then they brought over the stunt guys and we watched as a few people got to learn how to fall. Well, how to do it safely and make it look real. They had this huge blow up mat that they got to fall onto. Looked like fun but I’m not a stunt person. After that it was on to pizza and a read-through, which was hella fun, even though we joked around quite a bit. It really helped everyone get to know each other a little. Then, all too soon the day was over and it was time to head back to Ken and Lynda’s place for the night (because they are dears and have offered to put me up for the next 2 weeks). Maybe I should change that to, put up with me for the next 2 weeks. We got to their place and watched a movie (Mary Woronov in ROCK N' ROLL HIGH SCHOOL). I quite liked it. Maybe I’ll get to see another sometime soon. But then it was late and like all good little boys and girls it was time for bed. So I crashed, and hard. What a first day.

Day 2: Thursday, September 4, 2003

The word of the day is preparation. So many things to do to get ready for the first day of shooting tomorrow and sooo little time. I helped out by answering phones and whatever other little things I could do to be of service over at Total Fab. I got to pack up “skins," strange foam squares that are going to be used for some medical training type stuff. Sorta creepy and they smell like sulfur. YUCK. And I got to be the “bondage” model for the sacrificial altar. It was like “Hey, could we get you to lie down spread-eagle so we can see where to place the rings to tie you all down with?” How could a girl say no to that? And then, like all nights, lateness sneaks up on you all too quickly, so it was off to bed to get ready for another busy day and the first day of shooting. I am sooo excited! Can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds.

Day 3: Friday, September 5, 2003

Got to the office/set/main hub of operations early to get things going. Still amazed that it all starts tonight. More phone-answering and preparations and some other stuff that needed to get done to make way for a busy hectic evening. Then it was 5 pm and call time was upon us. Everyone started to arrive and a movie was finally being made. Makeup, wardrobe, grips and electrics, and on and on the list goes of people arriving to help out or be a part of all of this. This is really different from the other things I’ve been a part of up until now. Normally, we did everything, Jack-of-all-trades type stuff, doing our own lighting and well, everything else for that matter, but it’s neat to watch how things go when others do it. Then it was time to shoot the first scene (All of the sacrifices are being filmed first.). Then it was for real. No questions, it was happening. Super neat to watch them at work and see what everyone was doing and how they all worked together. I am amazed that many people seem to just know what to do and how to stay out of each other’s way. There’s so much I hope to learn and get out of this, but I wonder if I can take it all in. I almost forgot. They finished the dungeon/basement set, now super-creepified and covered with cobwebs and a gritty floor. The monster has even taken up residence in his new home, complete with an eye and a huge set of teeth. And as I suspected, not so cuddly anymore. Can’t wait to watch him eat the girls with his tentacles and massive jaws of death. It’s gonna be a long night. Call is 5 pm to 8 am - an all-nighter! So I’ll finish the tale tomorrow. We’re making a movie!!!!!

So, if this makes no sense, it’s because I’m beat. That was definitely a long night (and I wasn’t even working). Two girls got sacrificed to the monster, another person was decapitated in the back of a convertible. You know, your normal every day type stuff. It all looks so amazing. This is gonna kick ass! As for me, I’m up tomorrow, so just an observer last night. I have to admit, I fell asleep for a few hours out in the parking lot curled up against one of those yellow concrete stop blocks for cars. Not the most cozy thing to use as a pillow but I was too tired to care. It’s weird how as the night goes on and exhausted delirium sets in, how people get a bit crazy. I remember having a race with Tomi from one end of the parking lot to the other, just to try to get the blood flowing and wake the hell up. It’s strange how quickly the sun rises. All of a sudden you realize you can see and the sky is turning blue. But off to bed, call is from 5pm to 8 am again so we’re all going to be back pretty soon.

Day 4: Saturday, September 6, 2003

Well, today was my first day of shooting - the day where I get tied up on the sacrificial altar to be fed to the future ruler of the world (the monster). They had me tied up/down for quite awhile (mostly naked). The set is even more incredible from that perspective, with the torches and the spider-webs. They shot stuff with Lutkus (the creepy handyman/ janitor) and Sheen (the detective) and Larissa (the heroine). Got to watch the effects guys put on Sheen’s machete appliance, now that was neat. Again, another night shoot and boy, has my little internal clock gone haywire. Mary Woronov is amazing, I have to say. Just watching her has been such a treat. And tonight she and I had a few lines together. Not noticing how tired I am yet since I’ve been busy all night but I know I’m going to feel it later. Oh, my first tale to tell. It involves me and one of my most favorite critters in the world, a spider. So I’m tied down on the altar, can’t move more than a few inches in any direction. And as they call action, guess what happens? A spider begins to crawl up my arm and over my naked skin. EWWWW! Now I know all about method acting but that was going to far. I mean I was truly afraid. But once they called cut Mary Woronov came to my aide and squashed it. I love her now. She is my savior. And the other strange/interesting thing I remember, is at one point as I was still tied down, I looked up and there I am surrounded by like 15 people. No one else found that strange or unnerving. You know, just standing around with a girl bound to the floor. Maybe this happens to them every day but it was a new experience for me.

Day 6: Sunday, September 7, 2003

A day off. Two night shoots in a row and wow, do I need a break. I can only imagine how tired some of the others are though I am sooooo thrilled to be here. Makes everything worthwhile. Well, tomorrow is a new day and a new location. Ken and Lynda are the greatest. I can’t thank them enough for everything and so many others I’ve met. Must sleep.

Day 7: Monday, September 8, 2003

We have a halfway house. We are starting a few days of shooting at the new location. It's this really neat old church but very creepy at the same time. (Makes me wonder if it’s haunted,) It looks just like a place you’d use to lose a bunch of troubled girls. Feels kinda naughty to be shooting at this location. It is a church, remember? Thank God, they don’t know exactly what we’re shooting. They know it’s a “horror” (for lack of a better word) movie but not the exact subject matter. Got to see the lineup of halfway housers (the other girls who will be residents there alongside us) and I think we do a damn good job. We shot inside the actual sanctuary of the church. It has all these great stained glass windows and lots of ants to keep us entertained but damn, was it hot in there. The look of utter weariness was not just a look, took a lot out of us being in their for so long. Though Mary had it worse than all of us with her nun garb on and Joseph in his priest get-up. And here’s something we learned. When singing a song you don’t know the words to. Just mouth “watermelon” or “God save the Queen” or “hippopotamus” slowly and it will almost make it look like you know what you're doing. You’ll see what I mean.

Day 8: Tuesday, September 9, 2003

I think I need to start out today saying I don’t know how half of these people do what they do. I watch so many people running around all day keeping things organized and moving and on track and I get flustered. But they don’t. They just keep plugging along. So, it’s day 2 at the church and there’s a whole lot to cover today. I’ve just been spending a bit of time talking with everyone when I’m not shooting (which today will be a lot, only 1 scene I have to do today). So I get to talk to everyone (and I do). And thanks have to go out to the caterers (Ken and Alex) for keeping me hopped up on Diet Coke and Mountain Dew and for putting up with me being a veggie (even though they still offered me a burger today).

Day 9: Wednesday, September 10, 2003

Back to church we go. Another couple of days left here and then we’re all off to the next location. Another full day of stuff to cover. I’m amazed at how much they can get done. And for the record, Cherry Pie (that would be my character) is quite the crybaby. I think I have to cry 4 times in the movie (not to sound like a crybaby myself).

Day 10: Thursday, September 11, 2003

Well, back to night shoots. And tonight is my fullest day. I am in every scene tonight. Hope I can stay awake.

I did make it through the night. Towards the end, even I began to nod off. Think I fell asleep in the hall curled up in a tiny ball for a while. Ok, I know I did ’cause Todd (one of the PA’s) had to come and wake me up. Shot some “interesting” stuff last night. All I can say is mum and dad will be proud. If there was ever any doubt of which way I was going, my place has now been sealed in hell. Not to be a “spoiler” but we shot the love scene between Edwina and Cherry. Yes folks, a lesbian scene, but it gets better than just that (but you’ll have to see the movie to know the rest). It was a closed set. Well, I think the way I need to phrase this is the set got closed, but after everyone was already in the room. Funny how everyone shows up for the nudie stuff and the girl-on-girl action. And we got to shoot my favorite scene - the one that made me definitely know I wanted the part. Sacrilege does not cover it. Actually, yes, it does. Then there was more nudity along with a catfight in which Janet and Athena really went at it. When they would call cut, they would just sit there and pant from exhaustion. They are such troopers. Tomi and Saye got to hold me down for a few hours. And all I can say is, "Damn, are they strong." They left a few marks. Oh, and really I hate Vaseline now though watching the art department clean it off the statues after every take was way too amusing.

Day 11: Friday, September 12, 2003

Another night shoot so we got to sleep in a bit. Even though I’ll be on set for a few hours, I’m not in anything tonight. I get a few days off that I’m gonna use to go explore LA and the surroundings since this is only my second time here. (My first time to California was back in January for the Monsters Among Us convention, where I met Ken and Lynda.) Tonight one of the PA’s is taking me along to the premiere of a movie he helped produce, NOSFERATU 02’, so I get to go out for a while. Well, I wound up being in a shot anyway. They were doing the stunt where Eddie is trying to escape on her homemade rope of sheets (and damn is Monica braver than I am) and they had me do my part up in the window. Due to all the rigging, they had to tape my belly button rings to my skin, that way there was no chance of them getting caught and yanked out. Damn, did that hurt to pull off the tape. Not expecting that I would be in the shot, but I was there and was more than happy to help out. Then it was off to the premiere but first, a stop at the Tiki bar. Nothing like going to the movies with your buzz on. The movie was a very cool short and very funny. Then, off on the town to the “Cat and the Fiddle” bar, where I had a wee bit too much to drink. It was home and to bed after that. More like watching stupid movies and passing out on the couch.

Day 12: Saturday, September 13, 2003

We all have today off. We get a chance to sleep in and rest up for the next days coming up. Then we’re off to the next location. But no sleeping for me. I’m in LA, dammit! So it was off exploring. Called some of my friends who live in town and did the tourist thing. Went to the Getty (some neat paintings and other artsy stuff to see), the beach in Santa Monica (which would have been better if it weren’t so cold, but I love the ocean), drove around and saw Hollywood (Sunset Blvd.and some other places I can’t remember) went up Mulholland Drive (which had a great sign saying you shouldn’t be there after dark but screw it, the view was amazing). Then it was time to go home and rest up.

Day 13: Sunday, September 14, 2003

Yet another day off set for me though the crew are all headed off to the Lincoln Heights Jail to start shooting. They get to work in the same boiler room that they used in NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET but I’ll see it tomorrow. Today, my buddy Michael (who I know from Jersey) is gonna show me more of the sights. We went to the Guinness Museum (not the beer but the record-keeping people), the Hollywood Wax Museum (my first time in a wax museum), and the Ripley’s (believe it or not… yeah I know, ha, ha). We went and saw all the stars on the sidewalk and the handprints (Sad though to see John Ritter’s star with all the flowers on it and Johnny Cash’s also). After a nap, it was on to City Walk at Universal. I got to eat at the Hard Rock Café and then we wandered around for a while and went into all the shops. My mallrat side came out and I had to do some shopping, of course. I got the greatest jacket from Hot Topic along with a few new bracelets. Yet again, it started to get late and back home for me.

Day 14: Monday, September 15, 2003

My parents said I’d end up in jail but I don’t think this is what they had in mind. This place is huge and abandoned and creepy. I was afraid to do much exploring, fearing I would get lost and be locked in somewhere. Since it’s been unused for so long it became a place to throw raves and the walls are all painted with interesting pictures. The boiler room is just frightening. Not just because of the way it looks and how dirty and dusty it is, but you can just imagine something lurking around down there waiting to jump out and kill you. Well, it was either that or the asbestos. Everyone who was working down there had to wear masks, except for the actors when they were doing their thing. A white dust mask isn’t all that attractive. At the end of the day it’s even worse, as it has turned black. Oh, and I got to do my little interview with Brad, who has been documenting the whole shebang. Shawn came in and joined me and we fucked around little bit... you know, hamming it up for the camera. And the porta-potty was too fun. With no running water at the jail, we tried to see if we could avoid using it but nature calls and eventually you have to give in... but very quickly.

Day 15: Tuesday, September 16, 2003

My last day of shooting. Today we are all at the Francis Polytechnic High School. We’ll be using their senior courtyard, which looks like a park with water fountains and stuff and their locker rooms for some other scenes. So I have to say I think this was the hardest night. By the time we got to the shower scene, we were all a bit tired and edgy. We were shooting in the boys' locker room and we had to wait till all the football players got changed and left, though you could tell they didn’t want to. And after 10 takes, we were all water-logged and pruney not to mention dodging mice and roaches as we waited for setups and trying not to step on the tons of electrical cable running down the hall. That would be bad with our soaking wet feet. Electrocution is not on my list of things to experience while I’m out here. And then it was a wrap for me. The others have more things to shoot but, for me, it’s done. I’m sad to say that. I’ve had so much fun.

Day 16: Wednesday, September 17, 2003

Tonight as a special treat. Ken and Lynda are taking me to my first 3-D movie ever, THE PHANTOM OF THE RUE MORGUE. After that, it’s on to karaoke and the practice wrap party (as I’m going to miss the real thing next week). As usual, I drank a lot and managed to get up and sing for everyone. I really hope they listened to my warning when I said I couldn’t sing if I had to. I butchered “Criminal” by Fiona Apple quite well before I sloshed back home. Tomorrow, I head back to New Mexico. I’m ready but I’m not at the same time. This has been quite the experience and adventure. Now, I get to go home with some cool stories and I’ll get to see the fruits of everyone’s labor hopefully early next year.

Day 17: Thursday, September 18, 2003

Sadly, it’s time for me to get on a plane. Hope the others have fun as they continue shooting. Wish I could stay and see it all, but it’ll be neat to have some of it be a surprise when I see the finished product.

THE END... for now!