Employed!!!

Yesterday was my first day on a legitimate job in Hollywood...on the set of MASTER CHEF.  Now I've had little gigs here and there, but nothing on this scale...and I actually had to fill out paperwork and give my social, which is my determining factor for determining the validity of a real job.  (I did have to give my social when I did day work for MTV's company, and different I-9 forms for other companies,  but never a full packet.)

The first day was fun, and undoubtedly more relaxed than the days to come since it was a rehearsal day.  I'm a Set PA (Production Assistant) within the AD (Assistant Director) department.  I work very closely with the AD who is the sister-in-law of a very good friend of mine...more about that later. 

It was an early start...I was out the door by 5:00am for my 6:30am call time.  I googled directions to the location and it was about 40 minutes on the highway and 1 hr. on the streets.  Initially I was going to take the highways, since it was it the wee hours of the morning and would likely be very little traffic.  But, after hearing the high winds I decided to just 'street it.'   

I arrived there in plenty of time and sat in my car for a while to scope it out.  I watched people greet and hug each other...obviously they'd worked on this production before.  Finally I walked in following a group of people, since I wasn't quite sure where I was to go.  This week we are shooting at a huge warehouse and the set is really amazing.  I'd love to post pictures, but one of the first things I did was sign a confidentiality agreement...so this is probably the one and only picture I will post while on this production...well, while on set anyway. 

After filling out paperwork, getting my walkie-talkie, and meeting my group, we got to work.  Our first task was to open/clean and place out about 100 coolers for the contestants.  Then we helped the art department fill grocery bags and pass them out to the 100 contestants who arrived from the other location.   The contestants were only there for a short while to shoot the opening sequences, then they left. 

The rest of the day was filled with a lot of different meetings, watching over the 'stand ins,' being a stand in, and a bit of standing around...it was after all a rehearsal day. 

The production will shoot at this particular location for the first week while doing the initial weeding out of contestants...and where I've been given the task of opening the door.  That's right, I'm a door opener.  There's a fancy 'automatic' door that opens for the contestants to come in and out of the cooking area, and I control it.   The AD gave me the task and I will not let her down...but I've said too much already!

Speaking of the AD (which is what I will call her)...she is all business on set and it's really neat to see.  I definitely don't want to cross her on set because she looks like she will quick, fast and in a hurry put you in your place.  But seeing her in her home, with her family gives me a different perspective of her...and things can get stressful on set, so other characteristics need to come out...though knowing that will help me to be thick skinned.

So anyways, after about two hours I finally saw her and she looked cool, like Darth Vader....only because she had on all black, high black boots, and a long black coat (kinda like the one I got in NY...it was a cold morning and it was cold in the warehouse.)  She also had a black Kango pulled down low over her eyes and  when she walked the coat floated behind her like a cape.   The fact that she was running things on set only made her look cooler.  

The additional fact that she knew me and spoke with a tone of familiarity when we were in our department's meeting or when generally referring to me, was pretty amazing.  (Since she was introduced to me through a good friend as 'Angel,' that's what she calls 'me'...which is fine for her, but something I don't let just anyone call me...so I have a feeling the crew will be calling me that soon.  I still introduce myself as Angelica, so we'll see.) 

The question I heard the most during the day was "Who do you know?"  No one asked how you got the job, or what you do or anything like that...not initially anyways, but everyone asked "Who do you know?"  Which proves it is in who you know (although I've been clear on that fact for a while now.)

I will say it was neat to actually have someone to 'say I knew'...and that that person was a person whose name carries some weight on set.  When I said it was the AD, then it was "Oh, how do you know her."  I wanted to say 'None of your damn business,' but instead I went with 'Oh, a friend of a friend...' which isn't a lie.  The fact that she's married to my very dear friend's brother, and I've baby sat for her and had dinner at her house is none of any one's business.  She did seem to give me slightly preferential treatment, and I'll take it!!!

So it was a long day, but a good one...meet lots of people (all of which were really nice) and looking forward to going back on Friday.  I'm off today and will make the most of it.  There's more to this day...but like my day, this post is getting long, so I will start a new one.