It's a wrap! Mercury retro, PMS and the pitfalls of being PP WOMAN

Well the day started quite early for me.  The location for the shoot was in SF  but I was to be there at 7am.  Because I was sick I didn't sleep much last night and of course when I was taking my nightly meds I discovered how PMS  I actually was all day. (Ladies gimme a holla on that one) but I made sure I was there before the crew.  So THERE ya big mean UNIVERSE!  I got you back! 

We were at an eatery called Park Chow on 9th at Irving and EVERYONE I told about this place was happy to tell me how incredibly good the food was there.  Nice , maybe  they will cater for us.  HA.  I met some of the same actors I worked with before and a couple of new ones too.  And  BAM  we are filming.  I did about an hour's work and they said I was wrapped.  I was shocked, I had to ask again.  Suddenly, I was the recipient of spontaneous appluase .  The crew seemed to clap for a long time... for me! I kinda figured they were thinking " Oh thank God  she's done we don't have to deal with her anymore."  But  it was still nice to be clapped off the set  ;-)  I stayed a bit longer  because I knew I wanted to say goodbye and thank  each crew member and, of course the director.  Maybe apologize again.  While I was waiting and watching I was chatting with the other actors and we talked about getting a copy of this for each of us.  One of the guys got a copy from the last one he did and is going to take us through this crazy process of finding the airdate  then having this tiny Video store in Japantown record it for us.  (nice little idea they have going there- hope it doesn't cost an arm and a leg for a homemade DVD.) Two of the guys, James and Elias,  have worked alot around the City and were too cool to hang out with and chat.  They played the detectives in the story and they looked so LAW AND ORDER  SVU  it was funny.   VEry nice professional guys.  At an appropriate break I had my chance to say thank you to each crew member.  I had stayed in the restaurant and ordered breakfast. ( Hey people kept saying how good the damned place was  Don't judge me! and yes it was fantastic!) As I made the rounds with each person i worked with I was happily surprised to enjoy a hug or two from these quiet serious guys.  So sweet.  Such a great crew of professionals.   Sigh,  I'm still stressed that they might hold the craziness of being late against me and if they do, oh well, what can I do? But what a fantastic first experience. I was treated very well on this set.  I would do it again in a heartbeat.  I'm told this isn't a normal experience-The level of professionalism coupled with the polite friendliness of the people involved.  Actors were telling me horror stories of being yelled at and embarrassed by control freak directors.  So it looks like I've been spoiled on my very first professional gig.  I'll take it!  I'm big into signs and I wondered on such a short day would I see one.  I shouldn't have worried.  As I was carting all my crap up the street to find a cab home (yes a cab , you have no idea how heavy all that luggage was)  I walked by a window that had all sorts of kitchy stuff from plastic robots and silly hats to t-shirts, metal lunchboxes and mugs with LUCY on them.  As I scanned the window A big white square of writing caught my eye.  And I do mean Big.  It was plain and simple.  No plastic, metal or kitch  I'm not even sure what it was  but it was LITERALLY a SIGN

It read:  "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler." -Thoreau  

 I was and am rendered speechless.

Day three comedy of errors driving school

Ok  Now I'm convinced the universe is putting the squeeze on me to get my license.  I left my house in a cab bound for FAIRFAX at 7am.  My call was at 8am..I thought I'd even be early  since yesterday was so embarrassing to be late.  Mercury is definitely in retrograde because the angels sent me a sweet but stoopid cabbie for the experience from HELL.   First he was all chatty.. now that's nice and all but it's 7am.  At leaset he says he knows where Fairfax is  sO i don't bother navigating  with my google print out just yet.  Then after a half hour I realize I think he has gone to far  so I tell him he needs to turn around.  He is very apologetic and He does so... THEN  he decides I was WRONG and promises me he knows the way and gets us back on the freeway going north towards petaluma.  At this point I'm confused I think it's wrong but he knows better, right?  He even tries to show me on a map but it made no sense to me.  Finally As I'm starting to see cows on the side of the road...he sheepishly and apologetically says  yes  oh we missed it.."WE???"  then drives another 3 miles before we exit off near FREAKIN Petaluma  back to central San Rafael.  My heart is racing ....the time is short and Boom we hit morning traffic going into the city.. TRAFFIC????!!!!!  Holy crap I have to call again to say I'll be late.. the cabbie is all smiles  "aww don't worry...it's ok it's ok"  Like somehow *I* am over reacting.  We get to the place where I know how to find my way to Fairfax.. I direct him to go, now taking more control.  As I take control  I feel sick with stress.  Stress has really affected me in the past.  Today was not gonna be different.  There is a BIG FREAKIN SIGN that says FAIRFAX RIGHT  he decides to get in the LEFT Lane...and even says  "it's to the left  right?  Now I remember." I'm shocked  "no no no  STAY RIGHT!!!!!!!..now we finally get to the house....the crew is trying to get me inside but  the cabbie, sweet and with no sense of urgency says  ok  now you pay me. Over 100 dollars was on the meter...I was furious.. I don't yell but I do stand my ground and I knew I had to do something quick.  I refused to pay that  made him call his manager  and since he refused to give me my luggage in the back seat I CALLED THE FLIPPIN POLICE!  AS he was talking to his manager, he left out the part where he blatantly took me for a RIDE to COW TOWN!!!  So I called my Dad too and I have never had to call in that kind of favor before..But Buddy you got on my last nerve!! Honestly  I think he was a nice enough guy  but he pushed a very bad button in me....So I talked with the manager, myself.  Told my side.  they he got more understanding realizing both stories do not match and I'm calling the police over fraud  not just a missed exit!  Anyhoo, the short of it is, the pricegot  knocked down to where it would have been had he gotten me there on time and they took 10 bucks off for the inconvenience.  Whatever.. I didn't have time to tell him that holding up a TV crew  for a half hour was ultimately more than a 10 inconvenience discount.  Of course  MY worst fear NOW is that they never want to work with me again because they think I can't be on time...HOW COULD I have this new reputation of being late?  (twice in 2 days!!!!  BOTH TIMES NOT MY FAULT)....so  I get in and just start.  They hadn't set up for the scene yet.. I just tried to hold it together and not cry..But i was close to tears.  "Pull it together, Annalisa, Don't Bitch anymore , Let it go and Just Do IT!" So from then on things went very smoothly.

Oh Did I mention I became sick?  I mean, I felt it coming on all day yesterday.   That nagging sore throat, the sneezing itchy watery eyes.. Holy crap my internal monologue is becoming an allergy commercial. (could be worse..could be one of those KY Jelly commercials)  Today I woke up nose and throat congested and sniffly.. Go figure. Like My life could actually be blissful for more than two days in a row before some crap has to challenge that bliss.  Ce La ViE.  All day I was doing the one take thing.  I hope that counts for something!

But because I was feeling so ill I don't even know if I was acting well.  I fear I might have been phoning it in alot today.   When I got home I realized I actually had a fever too.. no wonder i was a wreck.

 "And now  phoning in her performance from Alaska!  Ms  Annalisa Bastiani...."

Oh well The director seemed pleased enough.  and I did catch the director stopping other actors from doing things that were over the top or just not connected.  So I was hoping he just didn't give up on me.  The fabulous Lisa Zomer was back to give me a hideous scar.  That was the sweet spot in my day.  I worked with a lovely older gentleman they cast as my husband.  and a sweet young girl they cast as the daughter who is getting married soon.  (ok THAT WAS SURREAL )  they were both very nice .  The good thing is most of this day my character had a fever and was sick with infection from her surgery.  So I'm thinking that helped my acting a little as I wasn't really acting in those scenes.  WE shot a few bedroom scenes too.  "hi how are you, nice to meet ya.  get in bed and be married."   All in all it was a great tie with everyone again.  But life has a way of teaching  you some tough lessons.. Mine seems to be about letting go of control.  Haha Even when I tried to get control back I felt Sick and stressed.. I remember that feeling well from the past and Oh  I never want to go back to those days again.  This week has been filled with spiritual signs.. yesterday I was so happy fet so on the path and at home  I saw the number 444 everywhere.  For me, that is the number I always see when I'm on the right magical path!!   Today I was waiting in the kitchen to hear "action" before I walked into the living room for the next scene and on the refrigerator was a fortune cookie fortune.  It read   "distressing things happen to make us become better not bitter".  AMEN to THAT!  PP WOMAN Peace Out!

Day 2 a comedy of driving errors.

Ok so as most you may already know I am allergic to the driver's test.  I have been with out wheels all my life "relying on the kindness of strangers" .  Well you heard it here first  I think I'm ready to get it done and over with now.. Seriously, I love that I might be doing more of this work but clearly I'm gonna need to drive outta the damn city to do it.  Today we carpooled to San Jose.  As if getting that set up wasn't stressful enough,  (IE: setting up multiple back up plans),  My partner in crime and I got LOST. I'm 45 minutes LOST.. oh crap... but everyone was totally cool and we were forgiven especially when we wrapped at that place an hour and a half earlier than planned for.  (I am now making it my goal to do it in one take as much as possible)  So  Now w are at this tiny airport.  Cool small planes everywhere.  We get to film in one and I get to look happy  and excited then turn around in the next take and be angry and sad... it's so wild to do this all out of order.  Then  we wrap there and drive all the way back to SF to film scenes with detectives and lawyers  ike a Law and order episode.. THat was a kick  because again it's ME  and thre Very good looking men in suits being cop like and lawyer like.. and I have to be all vicimy and damsel in distress... How fun to flirt ..and or scre these new men on set  wooohahahaha.  They were a blast and we all started giggling we were so punchy by that time.   I got let off early so i will be catching some ZZZZZ's tonight to be ready for tomorrow's adventure.. Hey  at least I wasn't naked today!...until tomorrow.  PP WOman. Peace out.

Baby's first filming experience

PP woman here again.  OMG  What an incredible first day of filming.  Everyone was so great.  I knew I was the main character  but I had no idea I would be in it so much.  I literally filmed 10 hours. When we broke for lunch I still had scenes to do..so eating was in speed mode.  Then we needed to be in San Francisco for the Hospital scenes!  BUT First, we were at this INCREDIBLE mansion in Marin.  A beautiful Julia Morgan Mission revival from 1909.  The couple who owned it were so wonderful and friendly.  I met the other actors as they arrived and we hung out in a bedrooom and then I never saw them again unless I had a scene with them.. I mean I was on camera all day.  Gee, and me so secure with how I look HA .. oyvey  (yes, that was sarcasm).  My first scenes were with The BAD Dr.  He was a great guy named Mike who really creeped me out good as the evil plastic surgeon.   This whole thing reminded me of how silent films must have been done.  Ususally I had improv'd things to say  but sometimes the director just wanted me to look sad...look in pain....be angry.  Omg  this was wild.  I was actually trying to be realistic but we went so fast(no such thing as watching the dailies)  I had no idea if I was doing good or looking obnoxiously false.  In anycase, they complimented me on doing things right in one take.  Now that was a cool thing to hear.   I was in a sumer dress... then PJ's ...then summer shorts... It may have been Marin  but it was FREAKIN FREEZING that day and I'm pretending to be in sunny Cancun with a painfulm bad, boob job... Speaking of bad boob jobs, I had to wear a bigger bra and stuff it with face towels.  HA  I know it was subconscious but suddenly all the men on set weren't looking at my eyes.  ;-)  Moving right along...we went on to the hospital scenes in an actual office of a plastic surgeon.  And as I walk in I meet the actor playing the Good doctor and actresses playing nurses etc...then BOOm I was whisked away to put on a night gown for surgery scenes.  Here's where it gets surreal for me.  They realized the gown wasn't going to work.... hmmmm guess where this is going.  Ok  Again I'm a good sport and off comes the gown , I'm under covers...Mike is over my breasts in bloody gloves , Omar his adorable Igor to his Dr Frankenstein.. (that's Frankenshteen)  Did I mention I'm the only woman in the room with ten strange men over my chest? AND  it turns out this nutcase DR  Duct taped her to the operating table...Yup  That's right...laugh it up, Paul,  it is sounding like a porn..isn't it?   Ok  again we have Dr Frankenshteen,  Igor the cute assistant, a camera guy, the Director , translating AD and 5 other crew men deciding something that feels suspiciously like.. "how do we shoot his face while her enormous naked belly is blocking the view."  But what do I know,  I do not speak Japanese.  Let's just say I felt a bit... well,  naked and vulnerable.  BECAUSE , oh I dunno, I WAS, MAYBE????  (in some sick way I was very cool with it.. I mean, Who the hell is ever gonna ask me to be naked on film?  This was still a cool professional experience , just not cool in the leather g string kinda way)  I think I was laying on this hard operating table for 2-3 hours.. My body ached so much today I felt like I worked out... hahahaha   ME  working out?   hahahahha.    But I digress.  I was to be unconscious while a fake bloody implant was removed from me.  That was cool but i didn't see any of it as I actually did doze off a bit.  then I was asked to look like i was falling asleep... then look like I was coming to.. then feel trapped in restraints.  heehee this was totally fun!  Ok then they tell me to take a break.. Which meant go to the make up room and have a puss ridden scar with stitches placed on the side of your breast.  YAY I get to work with the fabulous Lisa Zomer who was the makeup artist that last shoot. she and i had so much fun gossiping about  a psycho crazy celebrity she worked for.. hehehe bet you wanna know who it was...So  whilei was doing that the other people I met shot their scenes and left before I even saw them again.. Then I'm up again.  This time  My scene is with the Good doctor.  A lovely gentleman who saw way more of me than he wasnted to , I'm sure.  I need to remember that when they say No Nudity, they mean the camera doesn't record it  BUT EVERYONE ELSE THERE SEES IT....Sheesh, poor guy.   He was trying so hard to be cool about it  but I could tell he was sooo nervous.  he has to look at my scar... my arm is covering my breasts.. Not very well, I might add.  So  he does his scene a couple of times and each time he makes damn sure he is looking at my eyes when we are not filming.  He seemed like a  nice guy  but we didn't really speak.. after that scene, he was gone. (probably hoping the eternal sunshine of the spotless mind was real and available on Craig's List  or EBAY for purchase. )  Well that was that  we Wrapped for the night.  I'm off to San Jose tomorrow to do it all over again.. Gee wonder who gets to see my breasts tomorrow?  Yes, C'Anne  my exhibitionistic ways at SDSU have apparently come in handy...Until tomorrow, fair readers....You sick fucks..... I am PP WOMAN!

More adventures with the Traveling Purple Panties

PP woman here.  The audition was remarkable.. sooo many women ..one lead role.  We chatted and had fun waiting.. clearly they were not sure what they wanted as there were women of all ages, sizes and hair colors.  And  in various states of mental stability.  Wow, the general public can be scary.  I sat with PAt a 72 year old smoking voiced, bowling, firecracker who would not appreciate me saying her age since she lies about it to the people she auditions for.. I'm told I need to do the same thing.  Not a bad idea now.  She was a hoot and we had a great time joking around. We saw some medical miracles walk by us to audition.. We saw realy bad wigs and facial surgeries and a couple of huge boob jobs.  DID i mention she was a wicked firecracker of a lady.. what a blast! I also saw two of the guys from the first time I worked with these folks and they remembered me right off the bat and I didn't have to show said panties to remind them.. That's a good sign.   After a good hour of kibitzing in the hall I was called into the audition.  Ok this marks the strangest but coolest audition ever for me.  There is no script as we are completely overdubbed for the show anyway.  They give you an approximate line to say .

So  this means it's all oral....Ok  I SUCK at remembering orally  I have a photographic memory so as easy as it sounds I was a bit nervous.  There was no need . i remembered my lines and didthe scene with the guy I knew from the last time. and it was straight forward and short.  THEN  he said look at the camera.  O why not... My next challenge was to give them facial expressions....one right after the other... he said ok  ANGRY....now HAPPY  ...now SAD...Now SHOCKED!  And that my friends, was that.  he went so fast I dont think I ever had to switch emotions that fast before.. and I was trying to be a good little actress and evoke honestly.  HA

What a circus!  BUT  I got the call this morning  thinking they would offer me an extra role  which is what i submitted for in the first place  and To my utter SHOCK  (cue camera)  I got THe LEAD... now to google MS Angie Paquette.  Hmmm  more to come...Oy Vey

Japan and it's quirky humor

I just got back from a day of filming a Japanese TV show called World's Most Astonishing News.

Got the call to report to set yesterday and today I did my 15 minutes of filming and left with a nice amount of cash.  BUT  even though i was there for 6 hours for 15 minutes of being a body double, I was fine...The crew was great  the Director efficient, the cast  a joy to hang out with for the hours of waiting...BUT even though we had two full paid for meals,an endless supply of snacks and sodas and a beautiful private residence to kick back in... THERE is still a BIG BUT.  And apparently that big but  is my own... I was told "no nudity" which was not a concern for me. I mean, really who is gonna hire me for a nude scene?  Alas.. I was unaware of the Japanese humor factor  where fat is so incredibly funny... 

      I was hired as a body double.. my face is not shown.  there is another actor in a fat suit playing the role because she transforms into a thin plastic surgery miracle at the end.  Well actually it's a bit more creepy as she got all this surgery specifically to look like her own daughter.  OKSo here I am as the before body.  I was to do a scene ( which I was fully aware of), in which I am trying to put on a black dress that is way too small for me....mind you Hearing it described to you and doing it are two different things.   Then they wanted countless shots of me trying to button a blouse too small for me.  This was a humorous event simply because the blouse I was wearing was my own and did fit.  So they had a Japanese man 

(I had just met) scrunch down behind me and pull the blouse tightly from behind while I fought him to get it buttoned....hmmm ok  Back to the dress... I was asked to take off my pants so I could try to put on this dress.  um  Ok  I am the only woman in the room except for the director  WHO ISN'T HELPING ME WITH MY CLOTHES so much as TAKING THEM AWAY FROM ME.  She tells the AD to translate and gets another crew guy to check out my panties while the camera guy is scrutinizing me a little closely.  Now I know damn well they were NOT being lecherous.. in fact, it was pretty clear they were not enjoying this anymore than I was. It was business as usual for them BUT  and heres a BIG BUTT  ....I WAS NOT EXPECTING ANY OF THIS.  And to have the AD translate while they are all staring at my ASS  was a bit,  shall we say, intimidating.  The dress was so small I couldn't get it up my legs  hence showing alot more of my underwear and butt than I expected.  But I made that choice on the spot to just do it.  No one to blame but me and my Butt (purple full size granny pants and all)..If I had known I might have gotten better panties out for the show!  Oh well.. what's done is done.  BUT

I'm hoping no one sees this and recognizes me.  It will NOT be on my show reel and I will not order copies of it for my scrap book.  BUT  and this is my second to last but for this blog...I just want you all to know that You may not know me now  but I will soon be big in Japan!

MAY in the time space continuum

Seriously?  MAY ALREADY?  Didn't I just get back from London?  Ah Time.  How much faster can it go..?  Wait ... don't answer that.  I might get motion sickness.   I suppose the opposite would be more maddening.  if Time were crawling at a snails pace I'd be climbing the walls.  Funny, this illusion we all collectively agree on.  Perception is  key , I guess.  But like Einstein said, "Imagination is everything".   HMMMM So why is manifesting what you want so damned tricky?

Oh yea.. the subconscious... Oh well that's a whole other Blog....just musing here.