August 2010 – The Mentalist filming Episode 3.01 in Sacramento

 

 

Summary

I am lucky enough to have met Simon. I basically stalked him all day long during a shoot on the street. It was a hot long day for him (he had been on set for hours when I arrived at 9am) and was finally off duty at 4:30 pm. He was gracious to all, goofed off with the staff, was respectful and attentive to the director and all staff, patient and gracious to all who approached him. Low key, quiet, but observing everything that was going on. When extras came to him at the end of the day and asked him if they could take pictures with him, he immediately was warm, friendly and welcomed them with big smiles, hugs and "of course I will pose with you! Thanks for your efforts today!" He also gave me a big hug without my asking him - just a very nice man who is very masculine while at the same time gentle and warm. He easily switches from take charge masculinity to warm and gentle - I can see how he easily melds into so many environments and situations as he reads his environment and people very well and gives everyone equal respect.

 

I arrived at the California state Capitol Building shortly after 9am...and there was SIMON! on the steps. He had already finished shooting the first scene. He was animated, friendly and busy talking with a person I did not recognize. Oh my!! He shortly left for a tent on the lawn - his work was done. It was fun - everyone was in a good mood - camera crew were all about and Simon and Robin were watching the scenes as shot. I learned the cameras have a direct feed into this tent and all can watch exactly what the camera sees - Simon appeared to be watching what had just been shot. Robin was in a very fun mood - there was 60s music playing loudly from the tent and she was up and dancing with whomever she could find - she got Simon up to dance but ended up with another partner to a slow dance - very cute! Simon later was doing a little jig of his own and obviously having a great day - it was Friday and they were all going home later that night after shooting for 3 days!

 

I watched the crew break down and move to the street level - ooohh - there's Simon and Robin again!! Now doing shots of coming out of a building across the street. It was interesting - they do the whole shot without actors but with their stand-ins. The stand-ins wear the same clothes etc, as Simon and Robin. They were shooting more than one episode so all were wearing different clothes throughout the day. Simon was studying his script and I watched them problem solve issues with different lighting (shade and sun in the same shot). At one time, there was a problem as Robin and Simon were in/out of the sun. The camera exposures were wreaking havoc for the film crew - they solved it by diffusing the sun over Robin's head with a white screen. They kept moving the car - pull forward 18"; back up 24" to try to get the sun filtering in/out just right.

 

I watched as Simon and Robin walked by on their way to a shoot. A woman softly asked Robin if she could pose for a picture with her and Robin politely replied that she couldn't - she was needed for a shoot. Then the woman politely asked Simon's body guard Don (a nice, huge man) if she could pose with Simon - same reply from Don "No - no time right now". Simon had obviously heard the conversation - he very gently laid his hand on the woman’s torso as he walked by - sort of a "sorry, mate" but acknowledged her. She, of course, vowed to never wash that blouse again! He was so sweet about it and she said the gesture was so much more than just a picture with him!

 

Simon and Robin eventually headed back to their tent, and I saw a young girl from a local SEE's candy store with a 5lb box of their premium chocolates heading for Simon's tent - AHA - I can offer to take her picture with him as she presents the chocolates! She is ushered in and Simon very graciously accepts. When she left, he took one piece and set the rest down to share with all the crew. Then a wonderful crew-member asks me "Would you also like to have a picture with him? Now's a good time!" Oh man!! Yeah...He and Robin are eating a snack and I get ushered into the tent - just the 4 of us as the crew member cheerfully takes my camera and starts clicking away. Oh my...what am I gonna say???

 

Simon cheerfully, casually puts his arm about me and he is very playfully rubbing my arm - what a nice guy!! I had a VERY tough time making eye contact - He was very much trying to maintain mine! And rubbing my arm the entire time (I got the feeling he must do this with his kids) - two shy people trying to communicate. He succeeded, I had the difficult time. He smells luscious - like a freshly bathed damp baby even after working all day in extreme heat. Amazing....I don't think even Givenchy could bottle that. Robin is truly a gorgeous woman. She was backing away when I curled up to Simon; seems she thought she would not be appreciated in the picture. "Oh no, Please join! You are very much a part of the Mentalist!" I said as Simon also encouraged her. She was also very kind but maybe a bit shyer than Simon with fans.

 

I thanked him profusely for his time (and mumble something about all the hours of joy he has brought people all over the world), gather my camera, try to gather my dignity and thank god I did not drool as I stumble out to leave Robin and he to enjoy their lunch.

 

After a chilled latte, I head back – it’s a stunning day 84 degrees F - much better than the 95 degree F the day before! but still warm enough...especially if one is in a 3 piece suit with a vest and long sleeves such as Simon is wearing. Oh my - there is SIMON - they have been filming without me! He snuck out of his trailer - doing repeats of the same shot (they repeat the shots from different camera angles - they move the cameras and do the same scene over again and again.) I got curious, looked into the "dailies" tent where they were getting direct camera feed and asked if that was what they were seeing? Comment -"we watch the same scene over and over and over and over and over...." too funny...

 

There is a break for the crew as Simon and Robin do chase scenes in the park with her car. Then the crew gets busy setting up inside the Capitol building - very efficient - everyone knows their job. I asked about lighting - they have very powerful bright lights but then put black screens in front of them. This incredibly nice guy - he is the grip - explains very patiently that the light is not actually being blocked but sculpted to add light where they want to soften while creating shadows on the actors. He actually searched me out to show me the changes that had been made between scenes, to show the difference in how they had sculpted the light for a different scene.

 

Back to Simon - after lots of prep work, they are ready for the shoot. There he is...Simon, Robin and actor rehearse then shoot scene...again and again and again....The directors decide to shoot around the rotunda, down one hall then down the other hall. In between the shoots, I enjoyed mixing with the crew - NICE PEOPLE! - and they tolerated my presence. Others were a little more nervous with me there but they had that right. The entire crew was so well organized, well oiled and seamless. Everyone had a job, they knew what they were doing (some had been doing their work for 20 yrs) and they went about it quickly.

 

Simon is very animated when he talks - lots of hand movements and gestures. He’s also playful (he did a few jig steps about the rotunda - very cute) and was playful with the crew. He would watch people in the crew and seemed to sense when someone needed a hand hold or pat on the back. There is a take-charge aura about him without it being spoken. There is maturity and masculinity about him that is not shown in the character of PJ. I was surprised at how masculine I found him, I guess I just wasn't expecting it.

 

Then, Simon wanders over near where I am. There are important people here - an obviously important senator with wife and kids who introduced himself to Simon and Chris Long - he may have been the gent that got them permission to film. Simon made sure to take his picture with the Senator and his family and to thank the senator and shake his hand before leaving. OK - I took the picture with the Senator's camera - I am having FUN! Standing 3-4 feet from Simon et al, and his eyes are definitely green - a very nice hue of medium green.

 

Then one of the crew asks if I would like a picture with Simon - he would take my camera. Simon glances up at me, says "She's already had a picture taken earlier, right?" Of course - he remembered me. It was running through my mind that I wished I was one of Simon’s younger slimmer more attractive fans. I honestly think Simon picked up on this - that is why I think I got a second wonderful hug from him - it was a comforting hug - he slides his arm over my shoulder, pulled me into him and tucked me under his arm and gives me a wonderful heartfelt genuine hug. He was very trim and musculature - I had my arm about his waist and could just feel the solid muscle. Not an ounce of fat on him. And what a sweet, wonderful, sensitive man with incredible warmth and gentleness.

 

One never knows who one might meet if given the right opportunity; I certainly never thought I'd meet the man let alone get a very warm, sincere hug. Just a really nice human that practices what he preaches-"let a smile be your umbrella". He is instantly likable and unassuming yet was very much the "go-to" person on the set. He obviously has authority on the set but chooses not to use it. Crew members both male and female interacted casually with him all day long and all of the staff treated each other with respect (mirroring the way Simon "the star" treated everyone); crew had fun, enjoyed what they were doing and worked like a well oiled machine, problem solving all the while in the unique outdoor environment. The regular crew treated fans with respect and answered questions about lighting, production, sound systems, etc.

 

I truly fell in love with this man that day. Liked him before, loved him after. I wish there were a way to clone the man - I would want to be first in line but am sure others would be there before me. What a great hubby, dad, brother, son, friend, co-worker he is...I am sure he has faults but I have not seen any. A very nice, normal, laid back individual who seemed to look out for everyone on the set and liked by all.