Funplex Video, Onstage

The Morning Shoot

The morning shoot was like walking into the Twilight Zone. I had NO idea what to expect. Did anyone else? We had one or two in our AM group who had done this kind of thing, but no one knew the plan. We walked into a room with a bright green floor and walls, rounded corners (between the floor and the walls) that made me reach out like Helen Keller because I had absolutely no depth perception, and sticky tape on the floor for our shoes to make sure we didn't get dirt on the green (I learned this later, after I'm sure I made footprints on the green.)  Sean, the incredibly charming and attractive First Assistant Director (oh, I will repeat that multiple times; biz-crush; he's a dude? no matter), called us out alone or in groups (the first group of 5 was still there) to stand on the mark and "act." I put it in quotes because I had no business there, act??? There were shopping bags labeled "Funplex" which we grabbed and did our best. "Look around at all the stores." "Set your bags down." "Pick your bags up again." "Your cell phone is ringing, put all your bags in one hand and answer the phone." "Turn and look behind you." "Talk to each other." "Wave at a friend." All sorts of stuff like that. ZZ Top dude was the best. I know he'll make it to final cut. He slept the entire time offstage, never spoke a word, yet shone as the unique, different person that the Bs are all about. He rocked. Then disappeared.

We had several single person shots, then several multiple person shots. "Talk to each other." "Everyone look left. No, the other left." "Look behind you." "Your cell phone is ringing." Sean still stands out as the most friendly person in the entire crew, remembering names, smiling, shouting out these random directions, shoosh-ing, yet not getting angry, energetic and adorable until 2 AM. In the end I gave him a special Funplex m&m's party favor. He was absolutely amazing.

The AM group, shopping bags and cell phones. I am SO grateful for this picture, nothing else I have seen comes close to showing the AM Group experience. Love that green!

The Boxes

The boxes that Deb and the gang warmed up as stand-ins for the band.

Sneaking a Peek

They really are filming!

The First Segway Shoot

Wow, how do I explain the RELIEF both the AM and PM groups felt to finally be in the studio, for one, but also to be in the studio with a band member. I'm guessing it was 8 PM. We were ALL called in to do a segway shot with Fred. In hind-sight I guess that there's a scene where he rides a segway through the mall crowd. We all "part the seas" as he rides into us.  We did several shots. Honestly I had no idea at the time that the camera was above us, but apparently it was - only because the 2nd PM shot that I didn't know was coming was with the camera on the floor with Fred riding towards it. So for this first shoot we were told to group together and jump aside when Fred was about to mow us down. At this point I have to say - Fred has always been an incredibly funny guy when he wants to be. And that voice. He could say "My cat died today" in that voice and people would laugh. He definitely kept us amused the entire time with his comments, total entertainer. OK, now back to the holding area people!

The 2nd Segway Shoot

Still waiting around and unsure of what was to come, they called us in again. Seems we're now going to shoot the segway scene again but with the camera in a different spot (on the floor with Fred driving towards it.) At this point I think that I have figured out the system and planted myself right in front of the camera. Sweet! Then... Sean says "You 2 in white, move to the other end of the group." What?! It's light blue and brown! Damn it! So I'm as far away from the camera as possible, yet the first person in the crowd that Fred will "hit." OK, be patient. So we did the first take, Fred is (fake) singing and riding the segway into the crowd, Brooke and I are the first potential victims, but as he rides through the crowd we all close in after him and I realize that I'm directly behind him! Will the camera see me? Still remains to be seen... When will the video be released? Everyone back outside...

Final Performance Scene

This was THE COOLEST thing ever. We had thinned out, so they moved us around every few takes depending on the camera angle so it looked like there was a big crowd. And of course positioned by wardrobe... We were chatting with the band between takes (to the chagrin of the AD) and there was no acting involved, we were watching the Bs in concert!!! Roll tape, roll sound, then we watched them perform for the cameras just like a concert. Over and over. I kept saying "No, that could be done better, AGAIN!" What an absolutely unique experience.

The last 2 hours were the bomb. Had I known what was going to happen, I would have waited in the parking lot another day for it. About 30 takes of the last 30 seconds of the song, never-ending mini concerts with us standing as close as Cindy's hair guy. In fact I stood in that spot for many takes. Sweeeeeeet.