Funplex Video, Offstage

I got dressed, slapped on a little makeup and hit the road at 6:00 armed with a Slim-Fast, a Red Bull and a camera. I was really lucky with traffic, it only slowed down the last half hour or so and I pulled up to the studio at 8:45. I sat and collected my thoughts but needed to use the restroom. I walked in the gates and could see Studio 15 immediately. So that won’t be a problem. I asked the security guard if I could use the restroom, and passed by all the crew working on setting up for the shoot. After going back to the car for a bit longer to kill time I returned to the studio and an assistant said I should wait across the street in the parking lot in the holding area and that they would be bringing us some food soon.  She was very nice and had a cool Janet Jackson hip-hop vibe going on. I mentioned something about nerves and she said "You'll do fine, all you have to do is walk." "Oh cool, I can do that. I'm practicing that right now!" Well I guess I just got my first hint at what would happen today. I had absolutely no idea!

I walked across the street and found one person sitting under the tent eager to chat, Don. His shirt read "If you can read this, make me a sandwich." People slowly started showing up and Scott, our liaison, had us sign waivers and told us to sit tight. The group seemed to really get along well quickly and we shared stories like when was the first Bs concert we saw, how many times have we seen them in concert, all the normal stuff that goes on when you get a bunch of us fanatics together. We were under a double shade tent in a fenced off parking lot and there were about 15 in our group. I learned that there were 2 groups scheduled and a second wave was coming at 3:30.

Finally Scott came over to get us and said we’d be going in groups. He took 5 with him as we looked longingly after them while they walked away. About 45 minutes later he returned to get 5 more of us and he based it on when we arrived, so I was on my way. We waited just outside the studio for a couple minutes and I really started to get nervous. I hate that, because I know I don’t need to be nervous and that it will only make it worse, but it happens anyway!

Click here to read all about the happenings on Stage 15 for the morning shoot.

After shooting, the 10 of us walked back to our pen across the street and sat back and chatted some more since we were still on call - they may need us again. Believe me, I wasn’t going anywhere until they made me! Still no sightings of the band yet. The last 4 in the group were brought inside finally to do some filming.

This was a nice period of time in "the pen"; we chatted and got to know each other, had some laughs and found out some very interesting things about each other. The small group consisted of among other things a writer for NBC news, a DJ, a student, someone in Pickup Stix corporate, people who played instruments and were in bands. People were mostly from the area but also Orange County. I thought I had come the farthest until we discovered Keith had come from Seattle. Darn, I didn’t win that contest!

After some time we started to get pretty hungry and finally a crew member was nearby and pointed out that there was a cooler with drinks for us. Whew! Well, it was just water, but it was a start. At least we’d die of hunger slowly rather than dehydration quickly. And then there was the helado. Someone (someone who was very hungry) heard the tinkle-tinkle of an ice cream truck. Turns out it was our very popular helado hombre with his cart, and I'm not sure even a band member would have been received better. Ice cream sandwiches, cones, and Justin's favorite red swollen thing with the white inside that I don't even want to describe, it left him with rosy red lips.

After quite a while (Deb will tell you it was an hour and a half) the last group returned. Turns out they didn’t do any filming! They spent the entire time standing on boxes while the crew worked with lighting and things like that, standing in for the band. Well that’s disappointing! But we were still on call and the band had arrived, so that was good news. You never know how the shots are going to be edited, so we still weren’t sure that any of us would end up in the video, and the last group knew they weren’t for sure!

During this time there had been “Fred Sightings.” Fortunately they didn’t give us a port-a-potty in the parking lot, so we could still cross the street and use the bathroom (the one designated for us of course. Deb had accidentally walked into the one the hired extras and other talent used and after an indignant greeting she said, "Hey, OK, whatever, just tell me where I can pee!") It was during those trips that people had seen Fred and that we had the chance to look at the huge spread of food laid out for the important people. But we pretty much tried to behave and didn’t sneak food or bug Fred for a conversation or a photo.

Also during this time Deb decided she would faint from hunger so went off looking for sustenance and returned with a bag of Lays potato chips for the group which was passed around and received like a steak dinner.

At about 2:00 Scott returned to tell us that we could go. Apparently the band was recording now and there would be a break in the action. Fortunately he did add that if we wanted to we could get lunch and return at 3:30 to be part of the afternoon group in case they needed us. Well you didn’t have to ask me twice, I wasn’t going to leave when there was still a possibility of doing more filming and of seeing the band!  In retrospect Scott may not have understood the entire plan. At around midnight they needed everyone who showed up all day, so both sides were lucky most of us decided to hang out just in case we got another chance.

So Caitlin, Deb, Justin and I drove over to Amoeba, a famous used record store, to shop a little and finally find some food. We ate at Baja Fresh, tacos of course! In honor of the Taco Tiki Hut mentioned in the song! They should have been filming us!

We returned to find the 3:30 group. They had as little information as we had, but we had the experience, so we told them what had happened to us, but we were still guessing about what was to come. We did a little mixing - the morning group had bonded so much that we segregated without meaning to, so I cruised to the "other side" to meet some new people. One guy had been a fan since the beginning also and was telling his story of meeting the band and hanging out with them to a young, newer fan and it just reminded me of how timeless the Bs are.  A guy in his 20s hanging on every word of a guy in his 40s. I can't WAIT to see the next generation of fans generated by Funplex.

(Soap box warning)

I hate to see the word "diva" tossed around. Especially if self-declared. If you call yourself a diva you ain't. You're a prima donna. And to qualify, in my opinion, you have to stand the test of time. 3 decades at a minimum, 4 makes me comfortable. Barbra, Bette, Aretha, Cher, Michael, Janet, Madonna, Tina... When I first heard Celine called a diva it did NOT sit right, what had she been around at the time, 10 years? And I started to think about the requirements. Then they're calling Britney and J-Lo divas??? PUH-LEEZ.

This is what makes me so much more excited about this new release. The average listener says "Are they back together?" They never split! It was just the big question... Will there be another album? We knew it was all still cohesive; concerts, individual projects, Cindy has been back for... is it a decade now? This album is not just new music. Sure, we need it... BAD. But it establishes the band as DIVA. This will be their 4th decade of hits; 70s, 80s, 90s and now Funplex. Never went away. Still making hits. Not an "80s Reunion" (God I hate it when they call them an 80s band.)

(Soap box done)

This is where things got a little, um, interesting. 4:00 no word. 5:00 no word. But wait. I see a tall bald black man dressed in bright colors and someone else walking towards the studio. I jokingly say, "Hey, it's RuPaul!" Everyone looks and of course they walk behind a parked truck. "Wait for it... Wait for it..." There! Hey that does look like him! As they walk into the studio Deb shouts "Pickle Surprise!" and swears that he looked although I didn't see it. Then I put it together - he was in the Love Shack video, of course that's him! So we're all excited because this is the best sighting yet. A while later we see them leave, start cheering and he gave us a big smile and wave. Sweet! "But I'm a Cheerleader!"

Time continues to pass. I feel for the PM group because they have seen absolutely no action, hours after their scheduled time.  Fortunately Justin can't sit still for very long and went for beer. Well, he went for a 6 pack. I have to say that seemed almost a waste of time since I knew it would be 25 people and a sixer of lite beer, but I wasn't making it happen, so I kept quiet. At least I'd get one. Of course we have exchanged cell phone numbers. "If anything happens CALL ME!" Cut to 30 minutes later and twice as many thirsty people as beers...  So we took up a collection and they went off again. It was SO redneck. In fact, we were hanging out at the back of an old Ford truck, yet it had flat tires and the tailgate wouldn't come down, so is it really a tailgate party? We met the owner eventually, he wants to sell it, so if you're interested... There was talk of burning tires for heat...

It's dark now and cold. Don has donned his faux coyote wookiee jacket, we're talking about wookiee corn porn, pink yetis, and I think Caitlin and I have exhausted most of the Will and Grace references possible in 10 hours. Justin has driven his car up and the speakers are blaring... um... what was it? Oh, THE B-52S OF COURSE! We listen to Funplex, and Deb brings out her great mix of Ain't it a Shame. Good stuff! But it's not 100% ghetto. It's not loud enough to distort...

We're of course buzzed and giddy at this point. Will the day amount to a moment in the video? No one knows. A few have decided to hang out across the street next to the stage. No one is there... But us AM people were scolded many times, so we're waiting for permission. On a bathroom run we discover the rebels in our group talking to Cindy.  Nice. FINALLY Scott comes over to the parking lot. They will set us up with chairs over on the studio side. Whew.

It turns out they have also gotten tired of shutting one of the stage doors, it's open about a foot, so we can peek in, at just the right angle, looking over each others' head, and see a tiny bit of the band recording scenes. I'm guessing this is about 8 PM? We see Cindy singing, looking joyously to the heavens. Finally! I have seen inside the stage, seen some action. OK, check that off my list. Remember, we haven't seen any live action inside, and it's been 10 hours! Then a bit later a shot of Kate and Cindy singing back-to-back. Very nice. Then Fred gets to do a million shots with a soda cup at the Taco Tiki Hut. He didn't seem to mind too much being in front of the camera =)

Then the action starts to slow down, one by one the band heads to the Green Room and we quickly say "Hi." Colin, who writes for NBC news, says this is where the director looks over all the shots to see what's missing. Sure enough, band is called back to do some more, and eventually they all trickle back to the Green Room except for Fred who does some more shots.

Suddenly... "We need you!" They take 10 people, and those of us in the AM crowd make sure the PM crowd goes. We waited for a while and BOOM, they ask for the rest of us.

Click here to read all about the happenings on Stage 15 for the segway shoot.

After the seqway shoot was the really strange time. Lots of waiting. Are they done? Should we be going? Are they not telling us to GTHO just because we're fans? But there are rumors of a final performance scene on a stage? Will they tell us it's over, or will it be like the rest of the day where we're just forgotten?

I decided to tell Scott that we appreciated his kindness and patience. And that I wondered if they decided "Enough with fans! Hired professionals from now on!" He said "No, they're glad you're here!" And the best part, "We still need you!" Great! So the rumors about the final performance scene on a stage are true. Instant energy! To which he replied, "Great! We'll need that energy!" Yeah, after 12 hours I'd guess they would hope we still had it. But no problem, watching our heroes perform in close quarters? Please.

Then suddenly we were ushered back in for another segway shoot from a different angle!

Click here to read all about the happenings on Stage 15 for the 2nd segway shoot.

Then came the long wait while they set up the performance stage. Pizza we weren't invited to eat. Well, for a half an hour anyway! Then we SCARFED! The band was changing and relaxing in the Green Room. We were trying to stay energetic. Then at about midnight we were sent back in!

Click here to read all about the happenings on Stage 15 for the final performance shoot.

More details to come, I'm not done!

Justin at the redneck tailgate party. Need I say more?

Faux Coyote and news dude Colin.

Peeking into the studio as Fred chats with the director.

The food we never enjoyed and tons of other junk.

If you look closely to the right of the bumble bee pole you'll see a computer monitor and behind it a technical dude freezing his butt off under a blanket and hat. Several cables connect him to the action inside.

The "9 AM Group"

Replace photographer

The Bearded Club

Sleepy, yet steps away from the Green Room and the talent as they prepare for the final performance and the crew constructs the stage inside.