Harmony's ordeal

My Granddaughter Harmony

On Saturday, March 8th, my granddaughter Harmony (age 3) was attacked by her pet Lab. She lost so much blood they weren't sure if she'd make it. It literally looked as if the right side of her face had been torn off. We rushed out from Calif to Utah with our boys and my Mom. She had 15 surgeons work on her during the night and it's amazing what they can do. Though swollen, black and blue and all stitched up, she looked much better than we thought. With facial fractures, crushed cheekbone and part of her upper jaw along with teeth pulled out, it only took her days to begin talking again.

Harmony loves hats!

Once released from the hospital the doctors suggested she be surrounded by family while she recooperates. So for now Harmony, my daughter and her husband are staying with us.

Trauma Unit - Primary Children's Hospital, Utah

After surgery

Harmony continues to get better each day! Thanks everyone for your prayers and support!

MONK, Tony Shalhoub

MONK, Tony Shalhoub

Damien's favorite tv shows are Monk, Psych and House. I think Scrubs is in there too. He'd love to work on any of these shows but especially would like to work on Monk. We've looked on the set and stood by the open door, but no such luck catching a glimpse of Tony Shalhoub. We did see Emmy ("Julie") one day while on the set of Everybody Hates Chris. Wow, has she grown!

We are still waiting for Damien's work permit to come in the mail. He can't work without it. Since nothing new has been going on lately, here are a few photos taken from different projects Damien has worked on.

Charlie Wilson's War - Afghan Refugee

Everybody Hates Chris - Damien is in the center (Green hat) with Greg (Vincent) to the left and Chris (Tyler) to the right. This is a tv screen shot.

Wizards Of Waverly Place - Quincenera Family Member

Olvidado (Forgotten)

Olvidado (Forgotten)

Well, today was a really interesting day. First, we get a phone call from a casting company that wants Damien to play as an Indian today, in Hollywood. Well, Damien's entertainment work permit has expired so he couldn't accept the part. I think this would have been a great part since they were only looking for one child. Ugh! Still waiting for his permit to come back in the mail.

So tonight I call the Director of Olvidado, Henry, to ask if they've put our copy of the movie in the mail yet. Nope. He's really busy but invites us over to his place to watch it with him and a friend. So out we go for the long drive.

Henry has to be one of our favorite people to work with! He said some really nice things about Damien being a true professional, well behaved, following directions and a "one take" kind of kid! So we watch the movie on a big screen tv and I have to say, it's totally strange to watch a movie starring your own child. Especially since I was there for all of the filming. I couldn't help but make comments like, Oh, it starts with this scene? Or....Wow, great shot! Or I'm thinking why is that other actor looking over there? And...I forgot all about this scene.

I definately did not watch it like I'd watch any other movie. Henry and Andru did a great job on filming, directing and editing and I love this movie but I think I need to watch it again. I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to watch it and not be thinking about our days in the desert, or what happened to the soccer ball scene. Little things like that. I can't wait to show it to my parents and see what they think.

It's going to the Biola Film Festival and we're invited. I think it will be more fun to see the audience's reactions since they don't know my son. I hope Andru and Henry ask my son into other projects! They are the best to work with!!

Update on TV Shows and Movies

Thought I'd bring you up to date on the latest tv shows and movies that Damien has worked on. So I'm starting off with a list, the latest project is listed first.

Four Christmases starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon
Olvidado (Forgotten) starring Damien Perez (Biola U student film)
Child Under The Sink starring Damien Perez (SAG Student film)
Everybody Hates Chris (numerous episodes)
iCarly
Out of Jimmy's Head (a few episodes)
Wizards of Waverly Place

Damien was picture picked for an auditon for Horton Hears A Who starring Jim Carey. Things have been slow during the writers strike but should be picking up shortly.

The Child Under The Sink can be seen on www.youtube.com Just type in: child under the sink and that's Damien, the boy under the sink! ha!

I'll gather up some photos, and post some older ones too now that the movies and tv shows have aired.

I'm back!

Hi Everyone!

Took a long break while deciding if I should continue blogging about my son. There's some that say I shouldn't be giving out too much info about the background industry but I've decided to continue. When my son was first starting, I know that we would have enjoyed finding another background actor who wrote about their experience as an extra.

By the way, Stephon Fuller writes one of my favorite blogs on his career as an actor. The link to his site is off to the right. He has some great info and I've watched him on many shows!

It will take me some time to bring you all up to date so for now, you can see a video of my son if you go to www.youtube.com and type in: Child Under The Sink
It's sort of a spoof of MAD TV. It was a SAG job and a great crew! Lots of fun and laughs that day! Oh, by the way, that's my son, the kid under the sink! Don't worry though, he's happy and healthy! lol

Everybody Hates Kwanzaa (Everybody Hates Chris)

Thursday was an 11:30am call time with only 6 kids and probably 60 adults or more. Filming took place on the street and holding was inside an empty building. We knew this was a Christmas/Kwanzaa episode that will air next December. They had many of the background actors dressed in red or green (or both). There was "snow" on the ground and everyone was wearing jackets, mittens and scarves. Damien wasn't used much at all. He might be seen walking down the street and again in front of Chris's apartment but he also may have been too far out of the scene. It was a long day on set and we couldn't wait to grab something to eat on the way home.

Friday he was called back in to be a Corleone student. Only 20 kids were on set yesterday. It was a 9:30am call. This time filming took place inside Corelone Jr High. First 10 kids were called in to film and Damien was not one of them. About 40 minutes later the second set of kids were asked to join them. Damien tells me he was sitting in the classroom while they filmed but soon they took him out and refilmed the same scene. Not long after they took out more kids and filmed it over again. Which one they'll actually use is anyone's guess.

I'm not surprised any more when scenes get cut out. Damien loves doing this and is saving his money, so he was happy to hear he's now considered a regular on the show!

Two Days on Everybody Hates Chris

Got another call from Damien's manager for two days of work on Everybody Hates Chris. Damien is excited about this call since they asked for a hispanic boy. This usually means he'll get to do something special and be seen on camera. Also, we feel very comfortable on the set of Everybody Hates Chris. We know our way around the studio and the crew is beginning to recognize Damien and myself. Unfortunately they don't like photos taken on set so I won't be taking any photos UNLESS we happen to spot Adrian Monk (Tony Shaloub), then we'd have to be brave and ask for a photo. "Monk" is Damien's favorite show.

Last night we were channel surfing when we came across a movie called, "You, Me and Dupree". It was funny though later I noticed it wasn't a movie aimed at kids, oops!, but Kate Hudson plays a teacher and when they show her classroom, who sitting there but Mario, the actor from Surfer Dude! He was too cute when this was filmed. If you watch it, that's him sleeping in class and later yawning! lol

Damien has a late call tomorrow for EHC so we could be there late. Not sure I'll have time to update you tomorrow but if I have the energy, I'll do my best.

While typing I just received another phone call from the same people who sent us on Surfer Dude. They want to know if Damien can do a commercial this Saturday for WalMart. Wow. When it rains, it pours.

~My sympathy goes to my brother, his ex-wife and their three kids in the loss of Rick yesterday. Keep your chin up Tami. We love you.