(no subject)
Well, I think it's about time for another update! What d'yall think, folks?
It's been uber-hot. It's been so hot I can't think straight or move. And that's why, even tho I was going to detail my BRILLIANT vacation in Louisiana, I have yet to get to it...
Anyway.
Here's what happened in Louisiana:
Nothing. (Well, aside from a lil drama with a txt phone and ensuing insanity...)
Don't get me wrong: it was a lovely vacation. But once I got to my uncle's house, except for a jaunt down to the bookstore to pick up The Art of War, I stayed in the house the whole time I was down there. I did my grandmother's nails (she was very happy and impressed with my manicurist skillz) I helped clean up (read: so bored out of my mind that I resorted to menial chores to keep myself occupied) I played a few video games (we came back with a buttload of Xbox games my uncle no longer had a need for...) and I watched tv. A lot of tv. More tv than I usually watch in a month. >.<
I discovered that while I can watch the fashion shows they put on channels like Bravo and E! for about 15 minutes, I soon begin to HATE the utter inanity and humiliation these shows promote. I mean, "Ambush Makeover"? If someone who was supposed to love and care for me subjected me to that kind of embarrassment and insult, I'd kill them, then dump their remains in a large body of water. (metaphorically speaking)
I watched "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," too. I can appreciate why the book became a movie. And while I could critique its various stereotypes and the subconscious messages it sends girls... it's still a pretty good movie. And, oh, I cried (I rarely cry at movies. RARELY) when Carmen was crying and yelling at her dad on the phone. That situation had a happy ending... my own won't. But then again, her father wasn't a crazy sociopath, he was just misguided.
And...
I had a shrimp po'boy for the first time in years.
I danced in the middle of the night to Latin music.
I bemoaned the fact that my uncle and his wife have never heard of vegetables.
I discovered that Xbox Guilty Gear is much harder to master than it looks.
I rediscovered why New Orleans shaved ice is the best.
I bought souvenirs that I have yet to give to people.
And that was my vacation. Pretty mundane. No flings... but I made up for that later. :D
Wednesday, the day after I came back from vacation, we went into the city.
New York
Our car was stolen!
Ok, not really, but that was my mother's first reaction when we came back from our meeting with Sena to see if she wanted to use me in her film.
When Sena (Her name's Jeanette, but everyone calls her Sena) saw me, she just kinda stared for a few moments. I couldn't tell if that was good or bad. It was good, apparently. She and my mother talked for a bit (they met each other via poetry over the internet. Like my mother, Sena seems to have her fingers in everything... film, poetry, fashion design, publishing... The list for my mother would be different, tho.) and then we left to go back to the car - we were only gone 45 minutes.
We're in the city, I don't have my atm card replacement yet, her account is overdrawn, and between the two of us, we have three dollars cash. >.< And no car. Well, she calls the police three times, and they keep telling her that "they're sending a car" but no one bothers to tell her that her car probably was TOWED. No, we don't find that out until an hour and a half later when I manage flag down a policeman on foot. He nicely tells us where our car was probably taken, and also tells us that yes, those parking signs are hard to decipher, and personally, he thinks the city keeps them that way on purpose. I mean, the city would get far less revenue if drivers could actually tell when and where they're not supposed to park.
But there was still the issue of actually 1: getting to the place our car had been towed and 2: actually getting it out of impound. Three dollars, remember? Fortunately, Mom had a friend in NYC - the son of her boss, actually. :D Rahul is 26, tall, broad, and has less of an Indian accent than his father, but he's still got a sexy one. If it weren't for the fact that 1: I'm still in college 2: he lives in NYC and 3: there'd be too much culture clash, I'd probably have auditioned for the role of girlfriend - or at least fling - long ago. Anyway, Rahul drove us there and paid CASH to get our car out of impound. I know he gave up his evening to help us out. Spent about four hours, all told, to come rescue two damsels in distress. Not to mention the money. Mom paid him back two days later, plus a gift card to Barnes and Nobles (actually, she wanted to give one from Dunkin Donuts, but they don't have one...)
I'm beginning to think NY doesn't like us. Everytime we've gone lately, something odd or nearly disastrous has happened. I mean, even on our way to Coney Island the following Saturday, we got lost and had to deal with the Goethals Bridge closing, and drove in a circle, then finally ended up going through it anyway, and paying tolls far too many times because we went in a circle, and using up gas, which is expensive, dammit, and even tho I got up at 4 in the morning and had only 2.5 hours of sleep, I still ended up getting to the shoot over three hours late...
Saturday
But, even tho I got there late, it was still a pretty good day. Sena (Jeanette) was directing her baby, a film called "Keep It Clean" about keeping the beaches clean and not trashing them.
I arrived at the beach at about the same time as this guy named Joe. He started talking to me 'cause we were both waiting for Sena to put us in a scene, and we kinda ended up talking off and on all day. Two of his friends showed up later - and I got around to talking to them, too. One was kinda quiet, shy, and I could barely get anything out of him. He had dreads, which I like, so that was a shame, but oh, well. The other guy had cornrows and was more friendly. All three of them are amateur boxers. :)
I was supposed to walk on and kick aside some trash and plop down in the sand, but the director got caught up with some other set of actresses, trying to get them to sexily put on sunscreen... apparently these girls had never seen beach flicks, or they wouldn't have had so much trouble doing what she was trying to get them to do. Just watching them was amusing. Then, beach trucks started coming under the overpass and ruining the scene, so Sena argued with them for about half an hour. Finally, everyone just picked up and moved further up the beach. After that, nothing really happened (although my brother showed up and kept dropping his keys on my head from the bridge above when he wanted to get my attention) until about 1pm, when I was standing in the tent with all the other actors/actresses. Sena turns around while she's talking, remembers me, then puts me together with this actor named Barnaby. (I wanted to make jokes about purple dinosaurs, but that wouldn't have been nice.)
The basic outline of the scene was I was supposed to be meeting him on the beach for some reason. It was mostly improv, but I was trying to talk to him about it beforehand - who we were and why we were there - but he didn't really have any ideas, just basically agreed with whatever I said and stared down at the table. I tried to chat him up to draw him out some more, but he was more interested in listening to his ipod. o.O Okay, if that's what you want to do, man. You're the one who wants to be a professional actor, not me. Anyway, I started talking to some other guy who seemed much more interested in holding up a conversation, even if he wasn't working with me. Cute, but not my type. Heh, there really wasn't anyone there who was my type (unless you count right at the end, where these buff-looking guys came out to carry a chair on poles... ;) not that I was trolling for guys... ). But he seemed intelligent. At any rate, I started reading my book, but I couldn't really concentrate between lack of sleep and trying to keep an ear out for my scene to be called. So I kept wandering off down the beach to see what was going on. I even started playing catch football with a couple of young kids. I was that bored. Everytime I came back, my chair would be taken. It was like musical chairs.
Eventually, I ended up in this lawn/camping chair, and this older guy walks in (I'd seen him earlier, but even though he stood out like an interesting character, I hadn't paid much attention) wearing a costume for the tribe scene. He's making some random comment to the room at large (I don't remember what) and because I'm looking up at his jewelry, he catches my eye and grins. Naturally I ask him about his jewelry. It was some cool stuff. He let me try on a bracelet. :) I think we talked for about an hour - we talked about the book I was reading, politics, philosophy, traveling - he's been alll over. And he's a jack of all trades, of sorts. Because he knows so many trades, he can go to any country and work anywhere, he said. 'Cause that's what he's done :) And he knows six languages. Anyway, he had to get up to go somewhere. I got bored again and started wandering around the beach, but he'd wandered out there at some point, too.
He comes up to me and says, "Guess what we have in common?" How am I supposed to guess that? There's a lot! But he says he noticed my hearing aid, and guess what, he's deaf in one ear, too. Heh, I explained I'm actually deaf in both, but one of my hearing aids is out of comission at the moment. Then we started talking about being hearing impaired and growing out of our shells... and he called me beautiful. Hah! I'm glad I'm black - I know I blushed.
He asked me about what I was doing in the film, and I told him about the scene I was supposed to have with Barnaby, but I didn't think I was going to be in the film at this rate, because it was getting late. (One guy - the intelligent actor I'd been talking to before - had got fed up and left) That's when Khalil - that was the older guy's name - announced that he'd make sure I got in the film. What?? Yeah, he says. He's Sena's friend. He's a fashion designer, too, that's how he knows her. Wow. So, he talks to Sena (I didn't know he was going to go put a word in for me right away) and she smiles at me and says "I know." ('cause she's been saying all day she's gonna get to me. Heh.) Anyway, she's filming a scene where a little boy's balloon pops. As they keep doing run-throughs, I notice that the balloon pieces are collecting. That's not good - it ruins the scene's credibility. Continuity issues and all that. So I go over to Sena and bend down and point that out, and her eyes widen and she goes, "You're right. Will you pick them up for me?" So I do, fast as I can, and go back to watching. I think that's gonna be it, but one minute later, Sena calls me over and says, "I'm tired. I need a break. Will you direct this scene for me?" I'm in shock, though I don't show it. I realize I'm going to be a co-director, because Khalil is there, too, to help, so I say sure. And Sena leaves. But I get right down to business.
Khalil explains the scene, we give it a run through, and I end up giving pointers to one of the kids, who performs excellently afterwards. We do a few more run-throughs, then the two kids nail the scene on our first filming. The camera guy says it's perfect. Khalil says it's perfect. Joe's on the side watching, thinking, "How the heck did she get to do this? We got here at the same time, and she's not an actress or anything!" Ok, I don't know that that's what he's thinking, but he and his friend Mannie are watching, and they've both got a faint look of surprise on their faces. :)
Side note:
I really thought the scene could've been done one more time - there were a few things I noticed that I thought could've been done better, but people were tired, we were running low on daylight, and all things considered, I thought I'd leave final decisions to people with more experience than me.
Khalil and I walk back to the tent, were we run into Sena coming back from her break, and he asks me what I'm wearing for my scene. I tell him I figure I'm wearing what I've got on, because I doubt Sena has anything for me (I'm a plus-size girl, after all) and I'm only meeting someone. And I look around for Barnaby, but I don't see him anywhere. I think he's left, like the other guy, and I say as much. But whatever I do, my yellow shirt and capris should be fine, right? But Khalil says he wants to dress me in something. I don't know how this is gonna work out, but I'm a go-with-the-flow girl, so I let him do what he wants. He tries to ask Sena, but she's busy... he says he's gonna put me in something anyway. He pulls out one of his costumes - he's a fashion designer, remember? - and tells me to try it on. It's a sort of dark red with dusky orange spherical designs, with a cut of African design. It's kind of a hot fabric, so I'm grateful the sun has begun to go down and the temperature has dropped. So I put it on - backwards, at first, heh - and he takes me to one of the other women, and they hem and haw a moment, then he announces I need a necklace. So he brings out this cowrie choker with flowing strands that hang down my chest, reminiscent of straw. If you've seen any documentaries or movies featuring traditional African tribal/ceremonial wear, you'd know what I mean. It's amazing what one necklace can do.
Khalil and the woman pronounced it good, and since the tribe scene was about to start, I went down with the rest of the actors in the scene, and when Sena saw me, her eyes just went wide and she said, "Yes, yes, perfect! Come on!" And suddenly, I'm in the tribe scene, just like that. Now, at least in my mind, the tribe scene is the showcase piece of the film. I won't say much about it, except that "The Tribe" picks up the trash on the beach, and after that's done, there's dancing. Now, while they're figuring out who's dancing, Khalil asks me if I can dance. I say yes, a little bit. That I used to be in an African dance troupe and I've had an African dance class, but it's been a long while since I've danced, and I only remember a little bit. "Just a little?" "Yes, just a little." So I think nothing will come of it, but this woman, a flamenco dancer, must have overheard the conversation, because after several other people have danced, she points at me and says, "She can dance!" Oh, lord! Not only have I not danced in years (except in my kitchen, when no one's watching), my leg is asleep. My right foot and leg, all the way up to the knee, do not exist. But I get up anyway. And after a false start, I'm dancing around the warrior weapon in the center of the circle. And it feels good. But I don't dance as long as some other people, because I really only remember a little. :D And while a lot of African dance is based on repetition, I don't want to be that repetitive.
And I sit. And I suddenly notice Barnaby in the background looking forlorn, reduced to just an extra (as I originally thought I was going to be). And I think, that's what you get for not being more active and being more interested in your ipod than your work. If he'd been around when I was looking for him, maybe he would've gotten something better, but I'm not his keeper. But then after some more solos, everyone gets up to dance again. It becomes a huge dance fest, with everyone just having crazy fun. And I'm sweating, and I'm tired, but I don't care. It's just fun. And then, after it all, I get compliments. Khalil calls me beautiful and wonderful, and my dancing was beautiful, several people say. I mean, I even get compliments from an African dance instructor who was in the film - she was the first dancer. She was fantastic. And she's telling me I was great, and then asking my opinion of her dance? Good Lord! I'm just blown away by all this... Heh.
So, that's the end of the day. And I put my own clothes back on and I thank Khalil - he gave me his phone and email - I must keep in touch with him - so much of the day would not have been possible without him. And I get a card from the African dance instructor - she's looking for people for her African dance troupe... what a coincidence, I've been thinking about trying to find one. But she's in NYC, and considering how much trouble it is to get there, I don't know how feasible it will be. But I will certainly check it out. I say goodbye to all the people I've met, and I go home. And between wandering around all day, playing football, and dancing, I'm sore the next morning. Heh. And still in shock. I had a solo! I co-directed a scene!
And last night, I found out that Sena thought I was "stunning" and she wants me on her team. The next shoot is August 12th. So I have to accept, and go see how this pans out. Everyone was so impressed with me - and I was just being myself. I hope I'm as much help as she thinks I will be. I don't like being put on a pedestal - it feels like I'm just waiting for someone to discover my clay feet.
Unfortunately, this means I won't be able to go to Avenue Q with Andrew. And I was looking forward to it, too. I hope he can either find someone else to go with or is able to sell his tickets somewhere and get the money back.
This has got to be my longest entry ever. :D But then again, this has been one of the biggest surprises of my life. I don't know where I'll go from here, but the future looks a little less bleak and uncertain these days.
It's been uber-hot. It's been so hot I can't think straight or move. And that's why, even tho I was going to detail my BRILLIANT vacation in Louisiana, I have yet to get to it...
Anyway.
Here's what happened in Louisiana:
Nothing. (Well, aside from a lil drama with a txt phone and ensuing insanity...)
Don't get me wrong: it was a lovely vacation. But once I got to my uncle's house, except for a jaunt down to the bookstore to pick up The Art of War, I stayed in the house the whole time I was down there. I did my grandmother's nails (she was very happy and impressed with my manicurist skillz) I helped clean up (read: so bored out of my mind that I resorted to menial chores to keep myself occupied) I played a few video games (we came back with a buttload of Xbox games my uncle no longer had a need for...) and I watched tv. A lot of tv. More tv than I usually watch in a month. >.<
I discovered that while I can watch the fashion shows they put on channels like Bravo and E! for about 15 minutes, I soon begin to HATE the utter inanity and humiliation these shows promote. I mean, "Ambush Makeover"? If someone who was supposed to love and care for me subjected me to that kind of embarrassment and insult, I'd kill them, then dump their remains in a large body of water. (metaphorically speaking)
I watched "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," too. I can appreciate why the book became a movie. And while I could critique its various stereotypes and the subconscious messages it sends girls... it's still a pretty good movie. And, oh, I cried (I rarely cry at movies. RARELY) when Carmen was crying and yelling at her dad on the phone. That situation had a happy ending... my own won't. But then again, her father wasn't a crazy sociopath, he was just misguided.
And...
I had a shrimp po'boy for the first time in years.
I danced in the middle of the night to Latin music.
I bemoaned the fact that my uncle and his wife have never heard of vegetables.
I discovered that Xbox Guilty Gear is much harder to master than it looks.
I rediscovered why New Orleans shaved ice is the best.
I bought souvenirs that I have yet to give to people.
And that was my vacation. Pretty mundane. No flings... but I made up for that later. :D
Wednesday, the day after I came back from vacation, we went into the city.
New York
Our car was stolen!
Ok, not really, but that was my mother's first reaction when we came back from our meeting with Sena to see if she wanted to use me in her film.
When Sena (Her name's Jeanette, but everyone calls her Sena) saw me, she just kinda stared for a few moments. I couldn't tell if that was good or bad. It was good, apparently. She and my mother talked for a bit (they met each other via poetry over the internet. Like my mother, Sena seems to have her fingers in everything... film, poetry, fashion design, publishing... The list for my mother would be different, tho.) and then we left to go back to the car - we were only gone 45 minutes.
We're in the city, I don't have my atm card replacement yet, her account is overdrawn, and between the two of us, we have three dollars cash. >.< And no car. Well, she calls the police three times, and they keep telling her that "they're sending a car" but no one bothers to tell her that her car probably was TOWED. No, we don't find that out until an hour and a half later when I manage flag down a policeman on foot. He nicely tells us where our car was probably taken, and also tells us that yes, those parking signs are hard to decipher, and personally, he thinks the city keeps them that way on purpose. I mean, the city would get far less revenue if drivers could actually tell when and where they're not supposed to park.
But there was still the issue of actually 1: getting to the place our car had been towed and 2: actually getting it out of impound. Three dollars, remember? Fortunately, Mom had a friend in NYC - the son of her boss, actually. :D Rahul is 26, tall, broad, and has less of an Indian accent than his father, but he's still got a sexy one. If it weren't for the fact that 1: I'm still in college 2: he lives in NYC and 3: there'd be too much culture clash, I'd probably have auditioned for the role of girlfriend - or at least fling - long ago. Anyway, Rahul drove us there and paid CASH to get our car out of impound. I know he gave up his evening to help us out. Spent about four hours, all told, to come rescue two damsels in distress. Not to mention the money. Mom paid him back two days later, plus a gift card to Barnes and Nobles (actually, she wanted to give one from Dunkin Donuts, but they don't have one...)
I'm beginning to think NY doesn't like us. Everytime we've gone lately, something odd or nearly disastrous has happened. I mean, even on our way to Coney Island the following Saturday, we got lost and had to deal with the Goethals Bridge closing, and drove in a circle, then finally ended up going through it anyway, and paying tolls far too many times because we went in a circle, and using up gas, which is expensive, dammit, and even tho I got up at 4 in the morning and had only 2.5 hours of sleep, I still ended up getting to the shoot over three hours late...
Saturday
But, even tho I got there late, it was still a pretty good day. Sena (Jeanette) was directing her baby, a film called "Keep It Clean" about keeping the beaches clean and not trashing them.
I arrived at the beach at about the same time as this guy named Joe. He started talking to me 'cause we were both waiting for Sena to put us in a scene, and we kinda ended up talking off and on all day. Two of his friends showed up later - and I got around to talking to them, too. One was kinda quiet, shy, and I could barely get anything out of him. He had dreads, which I like, so that was a shame, but oh, well. The other guy had cornrows and was more friendly. All three of them are amateur boxers. :)
I was supposed to walk on and kick aside some trash and plop down in the sand, but the director got caught up with some other set of actresses, trying to get them to sexily put on sunscreen... apparently these girls had never seen beach flicks, or they wouldn't have had so much trouble doing what she was trying to get them to do. Just watching them was amusing. Then, beach trucks started coming under the overpass and ruining the scene, so Sena argued with them for about half an hour. Finally, everyone just picked up and moved further up the beach. After that, nothing really happened (although my brother showed up and kept dropping his keys on my head from the bridge above when he wanted to get my attention) until about 1pm, when I was standing in the tent with all the other actors/actresses. Sena turns around while she's talking, remembers me, then puts me together with this actor named Barnaby. (I wanted to make jokes about purple dinosaurs, but that wouldn't have been nice.)
The basic outline of the scene was I was supposed to be meeting him on the beach for some reason. It was mostly improv, but I was trying to talk to him about it beforehand - who we were and why we were there - but he didn't really have any ideas, just basically agreed with whatever I said and stared down at the table. I tried to chat him up to draw him out some more, but he was more interested in listening to his ipod. o.O Okay, if that's what you want to do, man. You're the one who wants to be a professional actor, not me. Anyway, I started talking to some other guy who seemed much more interested in holding up a conversation, even if he wasn't working with me. Cute, but not my type. Heh, there really wasn't anyone there who was my type (unless you count right at the end, where these buff-looking guys came out to carry a chair on poles... ;) not that I was trolling for guys... ). But he seemed intelligent. At any rate, I started reading my book, but I couldn't really concentrate between lack of sleep and trying to keep an ear out for my scene to be called. So I kept wandering off down the beach to see what was going on. I even started playing catch football with a couple of young kids. I was that bored. Everytime I came back, my chair would be taken. It was like musical chairs.
Eventually, I ended up in this lawn/camping chair, and this older guy walks in (I'd seen him earlier, but even though he stood out like an interesting character, I hadn't paid much attention) wearing a costume for the tribe scene. He's making some random comment to the room at large (I don't remember what) and because I'm looking up at his jewelry, he catches my eye and grins. Naturally I ask him about his jewelry. It was some cool stuff. He let me try on a bracelet. :) I think we talked for about an hour - we talked about the book I was reading, politics, philosophy, traveling - he's been alll over. And he's a jack of all trades, of sorts. Because he knows so many trades, he can go to any country and work anywhere, he said. 'Cause that's what he's done :) And he knows six languages. Anyway, he had to get up to go somewhere. I got bored again and started wandering around the beach, but he'd wandered out there at some point, too.
He comes up to me and says, "Guess what we have in common?" How am I supposed to guess that? There's a lot! But he says he noticed my hearing aid, and guess what, he's deaf in one ear, too. Heh, I explained I'm actually deaf in both, but one of my hearing aids is out of comission at the moment. Then we started talking about being hearing impaired and growing out of our shells... and he called me beautiful. Hah! I'm glad I'm black - I know I blushed.
He asked me about what I was doing in the film, and I told him about the scene I was supposed to have with Barnaby, but I didn't think I was going to be in the film at this rate, because it was getting late. (One guy - the intelligent actor I'd been talking to before - had got fed up and left) That's when Khalil - that was the older guy's name - announced that he'd make sure I got in the film. What?? Yeah, he says. He's Sena's friend. He's a fashion designer, too, that's how he knows her. Wow. So, he talks to Sena (I didn't know he was going to go put a word in for me right away) and she smiles at me and says "I know." ('cause she's been saying all day she's gonna get to me. Heh.) Anyway, she's filming a scene where a little boy's balloon pops. As they keep doing run-throughs, I notice that the balloon pieces are collecting. That's not good - it ruins the scene's credibility. Continuity issues and all that. So I go over to Sena and bend down and point that out, and her eyes widen and she goes, "You're right. Will you pick them up for me?" So I do, fast as I can, and go back to watching. I think that's gonna be it, but one minute later, Sena calls me over and says, "I'm tired. I need a break. Will you direct this scene for me?" I'm in shock, though I don't show it. I realize I'm going to be a co-director, because Khalil is there, too, to help, so I say sure. And Sena leaves. But I get right down to business.
Khalil explains the scene, we give it a run through, and I end up giving pointers to one of the kids, who performs excellently afterwards. We do a few more run-throughs, then the two kids nail the scene on our first filming. The camera guy says it's perfect. Khalil says it's perfect. Joe's on the side watching, thinking, "How the heck did she get to do this? We got here at the same time, and she's not an actress or anything!" Ok, I don't know that that's what he's thinking, but he and his friend Mannie are watching, and they've both got a faint look of surprise on their faces. :)
Side note:
I really thought the scene could've been done one more time - there were a few things I noticed that I thought could've been done better, but people were tired, we were running low on daylight, and all things considered, I thought I'd leave final decisions to people with more experience than me.
Khalil and I walk back to the tent, were we run into Sena coming back from her break, and he asks me what I'm wearing for my scene. I tell him I figure I'm wearing what I've got on, because I doubt Sena has anything for me (I'm a plus-size girl, after all) and I'm only meeting someone. And I look around for Barnaby, but I don't see him anywhere. I think he's left, like the other guy, and I say as much. But whatever I do, my yellow shirt and capris should be fine, right? But Khalil says he wants to dress me in something. I don't know how this is gonna work out, but I'm a go-with-the-flow girl, so I let him do what he wants. He tries to ask Sena, but she's busy... he says he's gonna put me in something anyway. He pulls out one of his costumes - he's a fashion designer, remember? - and tells me to try it on. It's a sort of dark red with dusky orange spherical designs, with a cut of African design. It's kind of a hot fabric, so I'm grateful the sun has begun to go down and the temperature has dropped. So I put it on - backwards, at first, heh - and he takes me to one of the other women, and they hem and haw a moment, then he announces I need a necklace. So he brings out this cowrie choker with flowing strands that hang down my chest, reminiscent of straw. If you've seen any documentaries or movies featuring traditional African tribal/ceremonial wear, you'd know what I mean. It's amazing what one necklace can do.
Khalil and the woman pronounced it good, and since the tribe scene was about to start, I went down with the rest of the actors in the scene, and when Sena saw me, her eyes just went wide and she said, "Yes, yes, perfect! Come on!" And suddenly, I'm in the tribe scene, just like that. Now, at least in my mind, the tribe scene is the showcase piece of the film. I won't say much about it, except that "The Tribe" picks up the trash on the beach, and after that's done, there's dancing. Now, while they're figuring out who's dancing, Khalil asks me if I can dance. I say yes, a little bit. That I used to be in an African dance troupe and I've had an African dance class, but it's been a long while since I've danced, and I only remember a little bit. "Just a little?" "Yes, just a little." So I think nothing will come of it, but this woman, a flamenco dancer, must have overheard the conversation, because after several other people have danced, she points at me and says, "She can dance!" Oh, lord! Not only have I not danced in years (except in my kitchen, when no one's watching), my leg is asleep. My right foot and leg, all the way up to the knee, do not exist. But I get up anyway. And after a false start, I'm dancing around the warrior weapon in the center of the circle. And it feels good. But I don't dance as long as some other people, because I really only remember a little. :D And while a lot of African dance is based on repetition, I don't want to be that repetitive.
And I sit. And I suddenly notice Barnaby in the background looking forlorn, reduced to just an extra (as I originally thought I was going to be). And I think, that's what you get for not being more active and being more interested in your ipod than your work. If he'd been around when I was looking for him, maybe he would've gotten something better, but I'm not his keeper. But then after some more solos, everyone gets up to dance again. It becomes a huge dance fest, with everyone just having crazy fun. And I'm sweating, and I'm tired, but I don't care. It's just fun. And then, after it all, I get compliments. Khalil calls me beautiful and wonderful, and my dancing was beautiful, several people say. I mean, I even get compliments from an African dance instructor who was in the film - she was the first dancer. She was fantastic. And she's telling me I was great, and then asking my opinion of her dance? Good Lord! I'm just blown away by all this... Heh.
So, that's the end of the day. And I put my own clothes back on and I thank Khalil - he gave me his phone and email - I must keep in touch with him - so much of the day would not have been possible without him. And I get a card from the African dance instructor - she's looking for people for her African dance troupe... what a coincidence, I've been thinking about trying to find one. But she's in NYC, and considering how much trouble it is to get there, I don't know how feasible it will be. But I will certainly check it out. I say goodbye to all the people I've met, and I go home. And between wandering around all day, playing football, and dancing, I'm sore the next morning. Heh. And still in shock. I had a solo! I co-directed a scene!
And last night, I found out that Sena thought I was "stunning" and she wants me on her team. The next shoot is August 12th. So I have to accept, and go see how this pans out. Everyone was so impressed with me - and I was just being myself. I hope I'm as much help as she thinks I will be. I don't like being put on a pedestal - it feels like I'm just waiting for someone to discover my clay feet.
Unfortunately, this means I won't be able to go to Avenue Q with Andrew. And I was looking forward to it, too. I hope he can either find someone else to go with or is able to sell his tickets somewhere and get the money back.
This has got to be my longest entry ever. :D But then again, this has been one of the biggest surprises of my life. I don't know where I'll go from here, but the future looks a little less bleak and uncertain these days.