Well, dear readers, yesterday we wrapped filming for SAMI, except for Cindy Williams’ song and phone calls, which we’ll hopefully do next week. We convened at Vitello’s at nine. We had about sixteen people for the audience shots, but because of the way we framed the shot, it totally looks like a full house. I got reactions from the crowd – laughing, woo-hooing and clapping, and then Sami, seated at a table, gets up and goes to the stage when she’s announced as the next singer at the open-mic night. After we got those shots, we went behind the audience and shot Jason Graae coming onstage – it’s really just a geography shot, so he only did the first two lines of his introduction. Then in a separate take we had him announce Sami and she gets up, comes onstage, says her first line and Jason leaves. Then we let everyone but Jason and Sami go and we shot Jason’s introduction, which was very funny, then Sami coming on and Jason leaving. Then Jason was done and went home to hubby, whose birthday it was. Then we did Sami’s song – one wider shot, one closer shot. The final take was the one – subtle and not too much sauce on the song – I always feel singers sometimes put too much sauce on a song, rather than letting the song do its job, and then just adding the personal touch. And that was a wrap. I gave a big hug and thanks to Martin, our cameraman, and thanked Tim, our sound guy. And I gave Sami a big hug, too.
Then I came right home. I’d only gotten about five hours of sleep, so I just answered some e-mails and forwarded a few orders, sped through the Darrell Brooks trial – he’s presenting his case and it is completely excruciating because he hasn’t a clew as to what he’s doing, his questioning is endless, and it ends up not helping him at all – in fact, it’s making it worse. The most surprising thing of the day was the information that he’s thinking about making a counteroffer to the State’s initial plea deal. If they accept, then he pleads guilty and the whole farce is done. Whatever his counteroffer is, he’d still go to jail for the rest of his life – I think he knows that’s the inevitable ending for this.
Then I left at four-twenty to go to Ruth’s Chris for our five o’clock celebratory meal. I decided to take surface streets, but the traffic was still horrible. Once I finally came onto Ventura Blvd. in Tarzana, then it was fine. I got there right at five, as did the Staitman clan. The last time we ate there it was really not very good, but I’m happy to say that it was superb. I had a salad and the New York steak. We shared a side of lobster mac-and-cheese. And it was very loose and fun, which was just what we needed. I gave Sami a little end of show gift for her completely empty walls in NY – two show posters – Chicago and Pippin. Then I came right home and thankfully, traffic was very light, which was surprising.
Once back home, I answered more e-mails and then watched The Watcher – I only have to Watch one more episode. I know it’s based on true events, but most of the film is pure fiction. I find it poorly written, averagely directed, and with the usual rotten score – which seems to be what Ryan Murphy likes. I’d brought home the bit of mac-and-cheese that was left, and I ate that.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, by the time I arise, I should have the videos from Sami’s side of the Sami/Grandma phone calls, which I’ll put on a flash drive along with the Kerry/Sami phone calls, and I should have the footage from yesterday in a Dropbox, so I’ll download that and see if it fits on the thumb drive. If not, I’ll stick it on another drive I have that has a lot of room. Marshall Harvey will come get the drives and then his assistant has cleared the next few days to get it all organized by episode number. I’ll go to the mail place – haven’t been there in a week – and hopefully pick up some packages, I’ll eat, and then I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow, she of the Evil Eye comes and I’ll go have breakfast somewhere. But the weekend is for resting and relaxing, forwarding orders, and catching up on stuff. Then next week, I’m hoping we can get Cindy’s stuff done, and then I’ll plan the Kritzerland show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up when I’m up, put videos on a thumb drive, put yesterday’s footage on a drive and then give Marshall Harvey all that stuff, I’ll eat, hopefully pick up packages, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray player? I’ll start – CD, who knows? Blu-ray, who knows? Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, feeling good that we got through just about everything and that we wrapped all but two things.