The Guardian Walk-on part 2004

 

On February 12 2004, I got to visit DH Productions and the Guardian sets, and once again, the production staff and crew could not have been nicer, or made me feel more welcome. Karin Gleason, Vahan Moosekian's Assistant, walked me around some of the new sets that I did not see on my visit in March of 2003. I got to walk into Nick's kitchen (woo hoo!), Burton's kitchen, and Jake's bedroom (formerly Nick's bedroom).

 

I also got the chance to be a background actor for the day. I'm one of the "business class passengers" in an airport scene from the upcoming episode "The Bachelor Party" (directed by Alan Rosenberg). I was asked to report to the set wearing a business suit and a winter coat, since we were flying out of the "Pittsburgh" airport. It was amazing to see how the production crew built an airport waiting room (complete with rows of seats, ticket counter, flight attendants, intercom with a voice announcing departing flights ) in the hallway of a building on the Sony Lot. We were even given fake tickets (for a non-existent airline) to hand to the flight attendant as we boarded. All of the tickets were printed with the name Alvin Masterson inside. I kept mine as a nice little souvenir!

 

It was such a thrill for me to actually be a part of the filming - the process is slow and tedious, but fascinating (as The Guardian Angels will attest to). It takes hours to shoot one scene - between lighting, blocking the actors, rehearsing the scene, takes, retakes, reverse takes, etc. I have to say I was nervous – I ws afraid I would walk too fast or too slow or miss my mark and mess up the scene. I play a passenger in line to board a flight, and right as I hand my ticket to the flight attendant, Alan and Nick brush past me and butt in line--well actually, Alvin does and Nick is forced to follow, but not before turning to me and saying "sorry!" We did a total of nine takes.

 

Simon looked as handsome as ever, and seemed very relaxed, laughing and joking with the crew in-between takes. It is amazing how different he is from Nick--the minute the director yells "cut", his body language, his voice (the accent comes back immediately), his mannerism, everything changes.

 

Alan was busy wearing two hats as actor and director, but very relaxed and friendly.

 

It is hard to believe that several hours of filming ended up being only 10-15 seconds of final screen time. Now I can truly understand why it takes a minimum of 8 full days to shoot one episode.

 

They shot one take where Alvin actually runs into me, Nick brushes past me, and then you see those of us in line walk through the door to the "plane", but they didn't use that footage (drats). But I can't complain. I had so much fun on the set, and having to do nine takes with Nick brushing past me and saying "sorry" was pure heaven.

 

And believe, me, in between filming, I just stood there and gazed at Simon as much as I could while he laughed and joked with the crew. He seems to have such a good rapport with everyone on the show – cast and crew.

 

I was also right off camera watching the filming of the scene where Nick and Alvin arrive back in Pittsburgh and walk down the hall toward Victoria. Once again, I was in heaven as Simon had to walk past me for 5 glorious takes!