LIGHTS, CAMERA, wait, wait, wait...wait...ACTION!!! Part 1

Woke up incredibly excited about filming for Elliot Loves today.  I'd be playing Aunt Nani.  Not the role I had auditioned for, but I was cast and I was excited!!  I can finally say, yes, I was in a movie; not just any movie, but a GREAT, award winning one with a great cast!  We were shooting in Queens, NY, and I had no idea what to expect, therefore I expected nothing.  I had decided early on that I would show up and do whatever it took to do well and to be part of this production.

My call was 11:15am, and I was happy to arrive on time.  The first person I met was Elaine Del Valle...she would be playing Aunt Carmen, the role I had originally auditioned for.  I could tell immediatedly that she had that "thing" that people look for in a star - a confidence, an aura, a presence...it cannot be explained in words, but you see it, feel it immediately.  So I couldn't wait to see how the shoot would go.  There was an excitement in the air, and we all possessed a bit of it.  More and more of the cast arrived and we all introduced ourselves...it was refreshing!  Breakfast was served, and there was a relaxed feeling. There was absolutely NO ego in the room...it was as if everyone knew their own power, their own talent, but there were no assumptions that one was better than the other...and I couldn't help but think if the planet worked that way, how much could humankind accomplish??  Deep I know, lol, but it's there.

It was time for hair, make-up and wardrobe!  Enter, Javier Rosa, make-up man extraordinaire! His presence was comforting to my slight anxiety because I'd already worked with him for the Stay video, and I knew we would not only look great but that the atmosphere would be a happy one!  Elena Goode, playing Ma, showed up...God, she's gorgeous!!  Truly. She's one of those few people in the world who just look flawless without make up! That ain't me...I need lots!  Gary Terracino, the director to whom I am grateful for casting me, reminded me of my character.  "Remember, Aunt Nani is a blue collar worker, she's married with two children...she knows what it's like to be intimidated by Carmen...she's always believing in people...she's the only one who's happy for Ma." Sure. Got it...no problem. 

"All actors on set...I need everyone in this scene onset," Terracino exclaimed.  This is it. I was nervous, but confident it would all be fine. I didn't realize that because we were filming on location inside a house in Queens that everytime we shot, the air conditioner would need to be turned off.  Middle of August, just about, lol...thank God it wasn't humid.  But wearing a small jacket would prove to be challenging enough.  We were seated at the table, doing the kitchen scene.  It was a lot of fun, I have to admit, my character reminds me of Chrissy Snow from Three's Company, not quite as ditsy, but naive. I did a lot of smiling, and I had more fun acting while being silent than doing my actual lines.  Lesson #1: Acting seems to take place more so when you are silent than when you are actually speaking. 

Off to prepare for the next scene.  Next scene, also in the kitchen, but I like to call it "the cooking scene" because that's where the character of Carmen gets cooking.  I could tell immediately that I was in the presence of well-seasoned actors.  Elaine was on FIRE!!  Elaine played Aunt Carmen so fantastically well, that I was in awe of her...she was real, she was funny, she was a ball of fire and I was so happy that she was cast to play her.  Terracino chose PERFECTLY well!! The cast's professionalism, demeanor and just great acting was evident, and I was honored AND very humbled to be in their presence.  After all, this was all new to me, movie making and whatnot.  In fact, there was a moment when I was almost intimidated...who was I to be here amongst these professionals?  If I had been cast 10 years ago, I doubt I would've made it through.  But thanks to the experience life has thrown me in the music business, I believed in myself just enough to get me through it. You can do it, Judy, or you wouldn't have been cast in the first place!  And it was at that moment, that I believed that I could do it, and although I didn't have one line in the scene, I loved it!!  Every single moment, every single look, every single smile meant something...and God, just to be there  - it really was a dream come true!

We took a break to set up for the next scene. I was STARVING.  Wow...the time flew...It was past 2pm already.  Lesson #2:  If the lighting and scenery is not PERFECT, nothing gets done.  Wow...takes so long to perfect the set, the lighting...I think in many ways, we took more time for that than anything else.  But it has given me a newfound respect for movie-making and lighting...so important.  Did I mention I was starving??  Terracino asked us to get through this scene and we would break for lunch.  I don't know how many times we shot the scene but it was many, and each time everyone delivered...so cool One of the funny moments of the day was the food that we used in the scene.  We were all so hungry that we all ate the food props!!  Elena, who plays Ma, was wonderful & she snatced a carrot in between scenes.  I had a bowl FULL of grapes and by the time we ended the scene between myself, Dalia who plays Aunt Denise, and Quentin, who plays Elliot...we ate every single grape...best grapes I ever had.  We broke for lunch, and we still had another scene to shoot...we broke for lunch at 3:45pm!

Video Shoot - Day 1 Part 1- Getting Prepared!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Woke up at 5:15am.  This is it!  Today's the day I've been waiting for, excited for, blogging about, concerned about..it...is...here!  Didn't sleep much- you already know how I am, lol.  But woke up SO happy! Showered, dressed, packed a bag with intimates. Wouldn't you know it.  Murphy's Law:  What can go wrong, will go wrong...Murphy's Law in full effect - got my...um, ok, that time of the month...and that meant a BIG zit on the side of my nose too!  As if the monthly visitor wasn't punishment enough!

Anyway, my friend, Brenda, who doubled as my personal assistant (she's been personally assisting me, to be honest with you, for YEARS- not to mention she's my bestest friend in the whole entire universe!!), met me at my house and we got into the limo (Thank you, Sophisticated Limousines!).  She was excited for me, and I couldn't think of a better person to have been with me in the limo (well only one, David, lol).  We arrived at Bravo Studios, on 27th street, which is a green screen studio...I'll explain what that means in a future blog.  As soon as I got out of the limo, the filming of the documentary began.  God, it was exciting!  I got upstairs and there was such a buzz about the entire floor:  people running in all sorts of directions; the entire film crew wearing "Judy Torres - Stay T-shirts.  There was a spread in the main room - food was outrageously cool!  (Thank you, Tuscany Deli -yes, another shameless plug, but you have to thank people..it's the right thing to do!)  Brenda immediately brought me coffee & a bagel, and I was thinking, "ok, chica...you don't have to go THAT crazy!  I can get my own bagel and coffee, lol!"  I sat down, and as I began to eat breakfast, the director, David Miskin, (who is also my bestest bestest friend in the whole entire universe!! Yes, you can have more than one!) called a production meeting and gave out directions as to how the day would go.  As I had a big bite of bagel in mouth, I thought to myself, "this is so freaking cool! Look at everyone!"

Production meeting over...time to get my hair and make up done...time to be primped, pushed up, dolled up and diva'ed out! I walked into the wardrobe/makeup room and there was Javier Rosa, make up artist extraordinaire, makeup artist to the stars, including Tyra Banks!  "Girl, we are going to get you glamified!!!"  In an instant, I am smiling, forgetting about whatever flaws I had in that one instant!  And then, as beautiful as can be, there was a HUGE bouquet of multi-colored roses from the director, associate director, Erik Spink and the producer, Terence Osbourne...with a card, wishing me luck!  I felt like a real star, I really did...I know you're thinking "Judy, you always are treated that way..." No ttrue.  This was a bit different!  Make up was being applied, and before I could even put on my first look in wardrobe, the director came in:  "Judy, the fans are here!"  ALREADY?!?!  Wow....and then...butterflies fluttered and danced in my gut, all the way down to my whoo-haaa!!  Oh, they're early?! Suddenly, there was Candace, from Lane Bryant, wishing me luck!  Wow...this is just too awesome to have so much support!!!

I began to think about everything.  I began to worry about everything...are the fans being taken care of?  Did Melissa Nikkita (from BIG Management) greet them? Is she with them?  Did everyone eat?  What are they going to ask of me today during this shoot?  What is Javier really thinking about my face?  Is Brenda comfortable?  Is David ok?  I took a breath and realized the following:  there were a LOT of people here to help this be a success...this ain't no little video for fun...this is THE REAL DEAL!  I told myself, "Judy, you better do this like nobody's business!  You better bring it!!  Don't f...k it up!! You can do this, but whatever they ask of you, do it!  Don't complain!!  Be happy - this is a good and blessed day!"  And then the stylist, Gio Alonso, brought over the first look "Shazzamity, Judy!!!"  LOL...can't even remember what it was...I was nervous! Brenda helped me get dressed, put on my shoes, and Javier and his assistant put on the final touches, and I was onto the set!  Ooh, this is exciting!

David walks over, takes my hand, and smiles:  "Okay, first time you're going to do it however you feel it. Then we'll do it again and give you direction." Whoo.  Scary.  So many people around, just staring...I felt like an exhibit in a zoo...and everyone was just waiting for me to do something amusing...lol.  There was that slate!!!  You know, the slate they use in movies to say, "take one!"  So cool!!  So freaking cool!!  I heard 4 beeps and the song began...here goes nothing! First take is over...everyone applauds...tremendous sense of relief.  I felt like if I could get through the first one, I'd be okay for the rest of the day!  We did a few more takes, and then we surprised the fans.

The fans who were invited were the ones who won the Stay Photo Contest:  Leslie, Angel, and John...I invited Lisa too (special raffle we held because we had room for one more).  We had Melissa purposely distract them so I could go behind the window and say hello when they least expected it!  "Hello my friends!!!"  We were all clapping, laughing and smiling!  I welcomed them, thanked them for coming & told them we would have lunch later on. We did take after take, look after look - I was in it for the long haul. I told myself,  "You keep going until you can't go no more, and then, even then, you keep going! " LOL   And then I was asked to do what I had feared:  I was asked to stand on a teeny, tiny crate..I'm talking I think the width of my body was larger than this crate.  The director stood on it, and lunged back with his back leg on another crate, and I thought, "Yea, okay, sure...I'm an olympic athlete! I can do that!" NOT!!!   I stood on that little crate, and did my best, but my balance or lack thereof got the best of me....again, not sure if it was ms related or just that I'm a bit of a clutz.  And finally after hours of being in 4 inch heels, my right foot simply couldn't stand it anymore.  I confessed, "I'm sorry guys, but my foot hurts so bad, that I know I can't give you any better...all I can think about is how bad my foot is hurting."  I felt so bad, but I knew it was true.  Why drag everyone, forcing myself to feel what I am not feeling, and end up wasting everyone's time...and money?  And then the director told me what I knew he would tell me, "Just one more time, Judy, and then we can break for lunch."  I did what I could.  I think Lunch was supposed to be at 12:00pm...it was 2:30pm when I was finally taking off my clothes and changing for lunch!  And then, one of the biggest, most honoring moments of my life happened! To be continued!                                        

UNWANTED GUILT- MUCH NEEDED CELEBRATION

July 20th...
Lane Bryant GENEROUSLY decided to furnish my wardrobe for the video shoot for Stay on the 27th & 28th.  That is unbelieveable and FREAKING GREAT!!!  Myself, the director for the video and the stylist went to Lane Bryant on Fulton Street in Brooklyn. It's like stepping into plus sized Mecca heaven!  Two floors of plus sized everything!  Just great!  Spent 5 1/2 hours trying on clothes.  At first it seems fun and easy, but it does get quite exhausting, but a blessing nonetheless.

I call my father to wish him Happy Birthday. "Hi, Papi! Happy Birthday I'm sorry I won't be able to see you today but I sent you a package express.  Did you get iit?"
Silence.
"What's wrong, papi?  You're not happy."
"No...I'm not."
"Why what's wrong?"
Insert guilt-inducing comment here - here it comes:
"Well, I'm a year older and my daughter isn't coming to see me because she's got so many things to do."
Ding, ding...you are correct...tell her what she's won, Bob!
Ugh...why do I get the guilt trip?  Sometimes nothing pleases him - as bad as I try, I never succeed. 
"Sorry, papi...as soon as I get the chance, I'll take you out. I love you. Gotta go.  I had mentioned the audition and he didn't even wish me luck.  Oh, well.

Went to a production meeting, and exhausted.
Then went to a party for Elliot Loves hosted by Hennessy.  I had been invited the day I auditioned.  It was in a stylish and chic lounge, and the entire cast was there. Terracino, the director, was so excited to see me, and introduced me to everyone, and told me, I need to speak with you before you leave.  Great - there's hope yet!!  I mingled.  There I saw Javier, the make up artist for the movie who had initially suggested me for the role.  I thanked him, hugged him and had a great time.  As I was bidding goodbye, Terracino simply said, "Thank you for coming...I'll send you an email tomorrow. Drats - more waiting.

July 21st:
Voice is almost gone.
Received a phone call last minute about a show that SAME evening! OMG, how the heck am I going to pull it off?
Get a phone call from Terracino, explaining to me that because our schedules conflict and he needs a LOT of rehearsasl time with whomever plays Aunt Carmen - he could not offer me the part. 
By then, I had already pretty much figured I didn't get the part.  Disappointed, but I was at peace with it.  But then, to my surprise, he said, "Judy, we want you on this movie, and we think you would do a GREAT job playing Aunt Nani!"  What????  Oh, wow!  I got the part in a movie?  A real movie?    
"Oh, my God!  Thank you so much!  This is GREAT!!"
"We just felt it when you walked in....star quality..." I know he was saying great things, but my ears had gone deaf from the sheer joy I was feeling.  I'm going to be in a movie!! I can now die and say, "yes, I was in a movie once!" 
He told me he'd send me revisions of the script and welcomed me.  I called my mom and told her the news and she was ecstatic for me. Then, because of my voice being so fragile, I thougth it would be a good idea to post it on facebook to avoid having to call 25 people.  Um, boy was I wrong. I won't go into the gory details, but I think I lost a very good friend from this decision...she was angry that I had not opted to call her.  In this moment where I was so exhilarated, my joy was almost killed by one person's reacton...but take it from me...I deserve to be happy and at that moment, I did what I thought I needed to do to save my voice.
I cannot wait for the day to come (in August), when I hear, "Lights. Camera. Action...take one!!!"  Yeah, baby!!!                         

A NEW DOOR - UNEXPECTED EMAIL

Thursday, July 15th:
I was really anticipating the day because it was the day we auditioned the actors for the Stay Video.  You already know we chose a woman to play the wife, and a man to play the husband...remember I called hmi "Best Guy?"  LOL.  It was shortly after the auditioning, that I was asked for my email address by the director of the Stay Video.  It was an exhausting day because we auditioned everyone; did a screen test, had dinner and debated for almost 3 hours who would be best to play the boyfriend.  I got home late.  It was close to 1am.  I cleaned up a little around the house, and was going to bed...but I checked my email on a whim.  Here is an excerpt:

Dear Judy Torres

My good friend Javier Rosa just passed your info on to me. Javier is working on my feature, "Elliot Loves" and suggested you to us for the role of "Aunt Carmen."


The script for "Elliot Loves" has won several awards. The film stars Elena Goode ("As the World Turns") and two-time Tony Award nominee Robin de Jesus ("In the Heights" and "La Cage Aux Folles"). Kerry Barden -- who cast "Pineapple Express", "Boys Don't Cry" and the TV series "Sex and the City" -- is our casting director. We are now half-done with the movie....to recast the role of "Aunt Carmen." When Javier suggested you, we all thought it was a great idea - and would love to meet with you to discuss.  Please look through the script above. "Aunt Carmen" first appears on page 34. If you are interested, you can come in and meet with me informally at our offices...Terracino.

OH, MY GOD!  All that exhaustion I had felt went on immediate vacation.  I read the 97 pages of script and when I read Aunt Carmen, her character was GREAT!!  She was funny, strong, vibrant, reminding me of so many latina relatives and friends I've come across in life. I HAD to have that part!!  I emailed back around 2:30 in the morning, expressing my joy & interest.  The writer/director. Gary Terracino, emailed me immediately and a date for a reading/audition was made for Monday, July 19th. Less than a week away...less than a week to read, and re-read, to study her character, to decide who she is, etc...all while still preparing for the video, answering fan mail, working at KTU AND performing.  No problem, I can do this...I HAVE to do this.  I used a quote on Facebook not too long ago, stating that it's not just about the opportunity that shows up, but more about whether or not you're ready. I thought, I will be ready.

In high school, I was in all the musicals - I LOVE musical theater, and in college, I studied acting for 2 1/2 years...begain auditioning and always got called back, but never quite landed the parts I wanted.  So, here I am now, probably almost 15 years since I've auditioned for anything.  Thank God I was kind to all the people who auditioned that day, because karma does show up when you least expect it.

Wow...I could be in a movie; a REAL movie - with accomplished actors and award winning script!  This could be the beginning of GREAT things to come!  I might even get a SAG card, allowing me to audition for lots of other projects!!  Yes!! Oh, yes, I emailed Javier Rosa, the make up artist, to thank him profusely for even mentioning my name - he only met me one time!  That is, pardon my french, so freaking sweet of him!!!  I am so honored by his kindness!  Be good to people you meet the first time, you never know...lol.  That is just amazing!  God is so good!!!

If you'd like info on the movie and/or would like to find out how to help fund the completion of the film, dn even get credit as a producer, please click this link. Muah!   http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1360637681/elliot-loves-keep-it-cutepapi-a-feature-film-in-pr