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.

Entourage in Columbia

Okay, I should know this by now. If you can't wait to see the scene your child is in, it's sure to be cut! Ugh. Well, that's what happened on Entourage. Last Sunday night, June 17th, was the Season 4 opener. Damien did two scenes. One was filmed over and over again and was Damien stealing fruit and running past the Entourage crew. We couldn't wait to see it.

This episode of Entourage was really different compared to the usual Entourage episodes, this one was done like a documentary. I "know" when Damien steals the fruit and runs past the Entourage so I do see his head go by in a flash but nothing that anyone else would catch. Unless of course I give you exact details on where to look.

At the beginning of this episode there is writing across the screen and as this writing fades, there's Damien and another boy in a hat, kicking a soccer ball.

Photo of my tv set showing Damien in a faded red shirt.

This scene is just seconds long and there's a few times you'll see a flash of him here and there but nothing major. It's funny how we met Tony on the set of Surfer Dude (Tony is Mario's younger brother) and how we saw Tony on this episode (he cries when his father is shot) but never actually saw him on set. We believe that Damien was to have that part when he was picture picked but because Damien got bronchitis that first day, he was replaced.

We are a little disappointed that his fruit stealing scene was cut and I've heard from other parents of child actors of major scenes being cut, so now I won't get my hopes up to see Damien on Surfer Dude....okay, I'll try not too. Ugh!

Mmmm...Matthew

Wow, who knew that we'd be chatting with Matthew McConaughey just days before he is named People's Hottest Bachelor of the Year? I know if you ask my son Damien, who was the nicest actor you've met so far, it's hands down to Matthew. Damien can't say enough nice things about him. Also, if you think about it, (and this was pointed out to me by a friend), for Matthew to choose to spend time with me and my young son instead of hanging with all the hot girls sitting around on the set, says a lot about Matthew's character.

People Mag - on sale today

Along with Matthew McConaughey is Damian Lewis, who took the time to talk with my son and tell him he could join him for lunch. It wasn't a casual, "Get over here kid" but Damian Lewis squatted down, put his hand on Damien's shoulder and asked Damien what was wrong. He took the time to calm Damien down and then inviting him to eat with him was just amazing. He's a very caring man. These men are my heroes and Damien looks up to both of them.

Damien and I went to the local bookstore and were happy to see our friend Doc working. Doc was once asked to play the part of a prisoner in the movie, The Cable Guy. He changed his mind and his friend took the part instead. So we often chat about our favorite tv character, Monk (which also has a series of books) and about Damien's acting jobs. When I showed him the photos I had of Matthew McConaughey, he was surprised to hear that his black and white shorts are for the movie. He was believing the stories from the magazines about Matthew acting crazy on the beach. I was shocked to hear that people believe those stories but then I guess I've done that in the past. Just so you know, Matthew jumping, waving plants, looking warpainted, and kissing a girl in the sand are all still shots from the movie.

Matthew on the beach

When filming we can see the paparazi from all directions and by the next day we can find the photos online, often with captions that are not even close to what really happened that day. I feel proud to have my son look up to Matthew and it's my hope that Damien will work with him again someday. I am happy that Matthew was selected as bachelor of the year because with his winning personality, he deserves to be admired. Congrats Matthew!

Entourage - Season 4

Well, it's wednesday and no work so far this week. Damien and I are both sad because we had a few friends call us to let us know that they were called in to work on Everybody Hates Chris today. Damien wanted to go so badly. I'll have to mention to his manager how he'd love to work with his best friend again (who is working today).

In the next two weeks we have a funeral, a wedding, an 18th birthday, a high school graduation, my Mom's birthday, a friend's birthday and Father's Day. I'm just hoping that Damien doesn't get his dream job (working on Monk) on any of these upcoming days/events.

Damien on Entourage

I heard, but can't be absolutely sure, that the episode Damien did on Entourage will air this Sunday, June 17th. We are looking forward to it especially since Mario, the boy who worked on Surfer Dude, also has a part in Entourage. Damien can be seen playing soccer in the street with one other boy. He's wearing a faded red pullover top. In another scene he is wearing the orange and white striped shirt seen above in the photo (minus the jacket). He will run over to a fruit vender and then run past the Entourage group who are standing in the road.

Surfer Dude update

I better invest in suntan lotion! No need to wear blush here with these sunburned cheeks! ack

Damien had a 10am call to the set of Surfer Dude. Basecamp was set up at a different beach than before. I was surprised to see only a few trailers along with only a few people. Everyone we ran into remembered us and welcomed us back, even people we didn't remember! Soon there were six kids, all boys and one girl. They sent us to wardrobe where to my surprise, Damien was approved with what he wore to the set. He'd be the only boy not wearing a bathing suit. They also wanted him to wear his hat so that he would not be confused with Mario, the main boy in the movie that Damien had photo doubled for.

From basecamp they took us in a van to a house where they were filming. It was a beautiful home overlooking the ocean.

Home used in Surfer Dude. Lots of round windows.

Once we reached the home and stepped out of the van, Rod (my brother's best friend) was waiting for us! We waited on the lawn (seen in the photo above) along with about 100 other actors. There were dozens of "hot" girls in bikinis, security guards and more. Matthew McConuaghey sat with us on the lawn. He remembered Damien from the days Damien worked as a photo double a few weeks earlier. Since he sat on my red jacket (along with Damien) I am now considering NOT washing it! haha!

We never saw the filming indoors but it was interesting talking with the other actors. A small plane was circling over head, apparently hired by the paparrazi which soon showed up. They couldn't get very close though since the area was blocked off by the police. Another little boy actor showed up to be included in the autograph scene that Damien would be in, making a total of 7 kids.

When it was time to go back to homebase, where the autograph scene would be filmed, we were last in line to get in the van. There was no more room. Luckily Rod was near by and heard, so he put us in the van with the cameramen that would be filming the scene. They were really nice to us and chatted with Damien on the way down to the beach. They laughed when Damien told them about his short bus scene in Everybody Hates Chris. They told us that we were misinformed about the autograph scene and we wouldn't be asking Matthew for his autograph, but Matthew's rival surfer in the movie.

Filming the kids who are asking "Lupe" (the Rival Surfer) for his autograph.

Damien and "Lupe" Ramon Rodriguez

This will be a short scene in the movie featuring Red Bull. The cameramen said it's a "staged promo". I'm not sure what that means. We hope it doesn't get cut. It had the kids laughing and this crazy Mom (aka Me) asking Ramon for his photo!

Matthew McConaughey Fan!

Updated with a new Photo! (I'll be adding a new post with more photos soon.)

Yes, I am now an official Matthew McConaughey FAN! I have a great photo of Matthew sitting with my son and watching Damien play his PSP while chatting. I was shocked when he sat with us, as there were dozens of beautiful girls on set along with a hundred or two actors. For him to take the time to talk with my son was amazing. I so appreciate it! My son can't stop saying how nice he is.

Damien and Matthew McConaughey (my two favorite Stars! haha)

(This photo is purposely cropped and posted with bad quality.)

Here is a photo taken while they're filming a scene where several kids run up to ask Matthew's rival surfboarder, Lupe, if they can have his autograph. Damien is the only one in a hat.

Scene from Surfer Dude.

Damien is on the right wearing a hat, rusty orange shirt and brown shorts. One hot girl in blue bikini and the rival surfboarder, Lupe (played by Ramon Rodriguez), in a hot pink wetsuit!

In Memory of Michael Brophy

Michael Brophy - Singer for "The Weasels"

When tomorrow starts without me
and I'm not there to see
if the sun should rise to find your eyes
all filled with tears for me
I wish so much you wouldn't cry
the way you did today
while thinking of the many things
you didn't get to say
I know how much you love me
as much as I love you
and each time that you think of me
I know I'll miss you too
But when tomorrow starts without me
please try to understand
that an angel came and called my name
and took me by the hand
He said my place was ready
in Heaven far above
and that I'd have to leave behind
all those I dearly love
so when tomorrow starts without me
don't think we're far apart
for everytime you think of me
I'm right here in your heart

...In memory of Mike Brophy

At Heavens Door, Friday, June 8th, 2007

While on the set of Surfer Dude, I received a phone call from my brother Hiram, that his best friend Mike Brophy had passed away. Rod Bennet (also Mike's friend), who was working on the set, then drove down to basecamp to tell me he just got off the phone with Hiram.

My family sends our deepest sympathy to Mike Brophy's family.

Surfer Dude again!

I was searching online for any jobs that might suit Damien when I came across one for Surfer Dude. They wanted surfer kids. Hmmm... I was wondering where their phone number was so I could call and see if they could use Damien. Just then the phone rings!

Matthew McConaughey and Mario

It's someone calling to see if Damien can film Surfer Dude tomorrow! What? Are they kidding? YES he can film! Damien was so happy! Later he was talking about filming on Surfer Dude and said he couldn't wait to see Mario and Tony again. That's when I told him they might not be in this shot. He was disappointed but still happy to work on Surfer Dude. Everyone is so nice there. The actors, the crew, everyone. Tomorrow there will be lots of extras working on the set. I also believe it's a different beach than the last one.

With all the extras working I'm not too sure if I can ask Matthew for a photo but I'm sure going to try. Damien will be a surfer boy who runs up to Matthew to ask him for his autograph! Damien hopes he really gets his autograph and says this won't take much acting to be excited!

If we're home early tomorrow, I'll post more photos. By the way, I posted a new blog this morning but noticed it didn't show up till tonight. I'm not sure why that happened but hopefully it's been fixed. See you tomorrow!

Everybody Hates Chris and More!

Happy Anniversary to my husband David!

This episode of Everybody Hates Chris, titled Everybody Hates The Guidance Counselor, is going to be hysterical! Not only did the scenes have the parents and crew laughing, but the kids were cracking up too. I can't spill all of the details but I will mention a part that my son is in. He will be on the really short, "short bus". Everybody wanted to take the bus home! Damien will be one of the "challenged" kids wearing a green helmet on the bus. The outfits they wore were funny too. We can't wait to see that scene and hopefully it doesn't end up on the cutting room floor.

The short bus is the size of a jeep.

I won't go into much detail about these past two days but I will say that there are things you should never do on a set. I'll mention a few of them here but don't think I did these....uh, at least not all of them!


Don't take photos! Not with your camera or your cell phone. They will search you.
Don't go where you don't belong. Security will find you!
Ask where you can view your child if you want to see them filming. Otherwise STAY in holding and BE QUIET if you're held near the filming area.
Don't peek through curtains to see your child perform.
Don't go upstairs to get a better view.
Don't take another parents word as the official okay (ie: The parent tells you she has permission to be there/do that.)
Don't talk to any main actor unless they talk to you first.

These rules are general rules for all shows.


Okay, you've all guessed it. Yes, I did get into some trouble but it wasn't me with the camera. I was standing with her and yes, you can be guilty by association. Ugh.


I can't inlcude main actors in photos unless I have their permission. At least I already knew this one. So a big Thank You goes to Matthew McConaughey for letting us photograph him! What a nice guy! Oh, by the way, the first day on this set (for this episode), we saw one of the actors who played a fisherman on Surfer Dude. He was a pedestrian. We talked a little. Hi Tito! Then the second day (yesterday) we saw another actor who also was a fisherman. He played a pedestrian and a hosptial patient. Hi George! George has his own casting site for latino actors and he was nice enough to let me take his photo with Damien. (I never got a chance to ask Tito.)

George and Damien

I also met some really great Mom's on this set and I hope Damien gets to work with their kids again. Most of them have the same manager as Damien, so most likely they'll all work together on something again. It's great to make new friends.

Emails

Yesterday was a day of phone calls and emails. I just wanted to post a quick note before we leave for the set of Everybody Hates Chris to tell you about the emails I received late last night.

The first was from the Producer/Director of an independent movie Damien did over six months ago. He just wanted to check in with us and wish Damien well on his career. Damien will recieve credit for this movie on the internet movie data base website. Yay!

The next email was from Mario (and his parents). Mario is the boy in the movie Surfer Dude. He and his brother are the nicest kids we have ever met and those who have met them will know exactly what I mean. They say Hi to everyone and just seem to get along with everyone they meet. The boys want to come over and play video games with Damien but also, I was offered a copy of the script to Surfer Dude with Mario's autograph! Another Yay! I told them one page of the script would be great! (Fans of Matthew McConaughey probably think I'm nuts for not taking the whole thing!) We'll see, maybe I will get the whole script but I'm going to be happy with one page and a visit from these boys.

Off to Everybody Hates Chris. Another day of shooting outdoors! I like it when they shoot outdoors because us parents can watch them film much easier. We are now off for a long drive into Los Angeles. I'll post more when I get home if I'm not dead tired.

The Fisherman and The Manager

Today I got two important phone calls. The first was from one of the fishermen in Surfer Dude. We had exchanged info so we could swap photos. He wanted to know if Damien was interested in working in commercials. It means more than double the money but Damien is happy doing what he's doing now. So commercials will wait. This nice actor thought so much of Damien that he said he'd recommend him to an agent but for now, we're sticking with our favorite manager.

Mario and one of the Fishermen with an actress

He mentioned that Mario, the boy in Surfer Dude, would probably be filming more scenes and that Damien was going to be needed again. This was great news. He heard this on a day he worked and we were already off the set. They even told the four actors playing fishermen that they'd get used again in another scene. I can't wait to go back and hope to grab more photos of Matthew to post here. I asked the fishermen about Matt and he said he was one of the nicest guys. Not stuck up at all and just plain kind to everyone.








The second call was from Damien's manager. This gave me a chance to talk to her about Surfer Dude. She hadn't called them after all and she said if they have Mario back they are very likely to call Damien back too. (I've emailed Mario's Dad to ask if Mario will return to the set but so far no reply. I'm sure he's busy.)



Damien's manager asked if Damien could shoot another episode of Everybody Hates Chris. He will be on set for at least two days, starting tomorrow. We listened to the recording on the phone tonight which tells Damien what time to show up on set, what to wear and what to bring. It also mentions some of the kids by name. We recognized a friend's name, so Damien is excited. He has a late morning call time so we are sure to be staying later than usual. I'll update this tomorrow night if I'm not totally beat when I get home.

Done with Surfer Dude?

On Damien's last day working on Surfer Dude, we met a woman from the casting agency that had called us. She told us that Damien would be used in another scene, probably a beach scene, airport or marketplace scene. Well, since my brother's friend works on the set, I know the beach and airport scene have already been shot.

Damien on the set of Surfer Dude. All the tables and benches are

moved out of the camera's range.

Friday I saw the breakdown for the Surfer Dude marketplace scene online (a casting site) but we haven't been called to go in. So I emailed the casting company to ask if they still planned on using Damien in the scene. No reply. Now it's Sunday night and it shoots early tomarrow morning. I know this means Damien is not in the scene and we are both feeling sad about it. We were also told on the last day Damien was there that if we stuck around we could have photos taken with Matthew McConaughey. We waited till dark and knew that shooting was going to go on for a while, (plus my camera's battery was dying), so we left. I was thinking when we came back again, we'd get those photos taken. Sob! Looks like that ain't gonna happen!

Now our hope is that Damien gets called back as a photo double again. We were told by a crew member that they might need Damien for one or two more days as a double. This could also be the reason why they wouldn't use Damien in another scene. He looks an awful lot like the starring boy! Anyway, we have our fingers crossed that he makes it back on the set. If not, maybe I'll ask my brother's friend if he can get us an autographed headshot of Matthew!

Chuck & Larry Poster

Now that it's June, "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" should be hitting the theaters. We've seen the trailer and we just hope that Damien's short scene in the movie hasn't been cut. We can't wait to go to the theater to see Damien for the first time on the big screen.

Kevin James and Adam Sandler star in I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry.

Everybody Hates Earth Day

We are always given a call time change box to call. When I called it this morning, the time was changed from 7am to 8am. Ahh...more sleep!

We get a kick out of these golf carts! And on the PA's manilla envelope (which holds the boys paperwork) it says Everybody Hates Background! Hey! That's my kid!! lol

Today was a GREAT day for Damien. They shot outside and it was Damien's first time on Everybody Hates Chris shooting outdoors. It's very different from shooting indoors. Seems like there were lots more crew on set.


In this scene, Chris runs from the Corleone school doorway. Damien will be standing by the bike rack to the left of the doorway, chatting with other boys.

A restaurant scene. Damien can be seen walking in the background. You can find his shoulder length black hair and his checked blue shirt.

Damien really had to act in this scene. They placed him with a group of bullies. He gets to pummel Chris! Damien is far from a bully!

This turned out to be one of Damien's favorite days on set. He made some new friends and was used in a lot of scenes. A tour van passed us as we walked to lunch. They stopped to announce that Damien was shooting Everybody Hates Chris. Hi there people on the tour! We'd love to take that tour ourself! They get to go all over the Parmount lot but Damien needs to stay in the holding area. If you're ever on the tour and see us walking by, please say Hi, we'd love to talk with you.

Everybody Hates Actors

I called the infomation line and heard that Damien's call time would be at 7am. That's early! We would need to get up at 4am. It took us 2 hours to get to Paramount Studios. I'm always surprised to see how many cars are in the parking garage that early in the morning.

Today was a confusing day. They were shooting in Studio 17 and holding for the parents was in Studio 18 (where part of CWW was shot). That is a huge holding area and it was freezing. Damien is out of school for the summer and a few other kids were also out of school. They waited with us while all the others (about20 students) went to school. It seemed like a long wait but they finally took the kids from holding and the school to film.

Most of the productions seem to have their own golf carts to get around. I spotted the EHC carts and had a good laugh!

I went inside to check out the set but it was surrounded by walls. There would be flashback scenes so there were several different sets. Damien and the others seemed to be gone for hours. When he finally returned he was very excited because they had sat him next to Chris in the school and he knew he'd be on camera. But not much later we learned that there was a problem with lighting and the scene would be reshot. They took only half the kids this time, Damien not included.

Though Damien was called onto the set a few more times, he was always waiting by the side and never actually filmed. He was a little disappointed at the end of the day.

While sitting in holding another Mom and I began chatting with a Dad of one of the child actors. Turns out his son worked as a surfer on Surfer Dude and also the Dad himself dressed up as Madonna for a funny scene with Kevin James in I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry. That will be fun to see.

Damien's haircut for Surfer Dude.

Well, it was a long day for Damien and he really made no new friends this day. He was teased about his hair but what the boys didn't know is his hair needs to stay this way till they are done with him on Surfer Dude.


When Damien was leaving they asked him back tomarrow and he agreed. We got home at 10pm, ate dinner and now off to bed. Up at 5am for a 7am call tomorrow.

Another EHC job

Today we get a call from Damien's manager. Not only does she want to know if Damien wants to work on Everybody Hates Chris this Thursday, but also asks us who exactly is calling us for these other jobs. (Charlie Wilson's War and Surfer Dude.) I told her that I'd rather have her handle any jobs Damien gets because when someone just calls us out of the blue, things can get confusing. I gave her the casting companies name.

For instance, we were waiting in the parking lot one day for a van to take us to Surfer Dude and an hour later I finally had to call my brother. He then called his friend, who was working on the set, to get someone to send us a van. We were lucky to know someone to call or else they might believe my son was just late. With our manager involved, we can just call her and she straightens everything out for us. I believe she called the other casting company. I just hope they still want to use Damien in another scene in Surfer Dude.

So Damien accepted the job to work on Thursday. We'll need to call her hotline Wednesday night for more info.

More Matthew McConaughey Photos

Oops! I forgot to add these photos of Matthew McConaughey on "Surfer Dude."


The house and jeep used for a scene in Mexico (Surfer Dude).


Alexie Gilmore and Matthew McConaughey on the porch of the house before they run down to the beach. I found this photo on the internet which proves that I need to buy a long zoom lens for my camera!



Shooting the love scene on the beach. That's Alexie (left) chasing after Matthew (center) when they run from the house. The cameramen on are the right.


Matthew McConaughey and Alexie Gilmore kissing on the beach (left).

Matthew McConaughey on Set

I've noticed that some Matthew McConaughey fans have been visiting this site, so I've decided to post more photos. Most of these photos aren't very good and I'm sure the paparazzi has much better ones online but at least these aren't the ones you can find online or in magazines any where else.

Lunch. Damien is holding a cup in front of his face. Matthew is sitting at a table behind us and looks like he's sitting in the pitcher of fruit punch!

Setting up for a love scene on the beach with Matthew McConaughey and Alexie Gilmore.

Can you see Matthew McConaughey on the porch? He's wearing his now famous black and white striped shorts. Alexie is in the center front keeping warm in her black sweatshirt.

You can't see Matthew McConaughey in this shot. This is the love scene on the beach. I kept my son back behind the little fence. The beach slopes down so we couldn't actually see Matthew and Alexie.

This is the beach where Matthew McConaughey hangs out in Surfer Dude. One of those small dots to the left is actually him. Too bad I don't have a paparazzi camera with those super long lenses.

Taken during filming, Matthew McConaughey is carrying a log to the bonfire while his new friend (known as "The mexican boy") follows him dragging some wood for the fire.

Matthew McConaughey is in the center waving those two big plant branch things! lol They are setting up for the shot. The guy crawling on the left is erasing footprints in the sand.

I know they are shooting an airport scene and a marketplace scene. Damien should be in one or both scenes. Fingers crossed that he gets to work with Matthew McConaughey again.

Matthew McConaughey

Forgot to mention that yesterday Damien found a wallet on the beach. Luckily he saw who had left it there and ran after him. The man handed him a twenty dollar bill! Damien felt bad and was sure this man thought he gave him a dollar or possibly a five dollar bill so we had to go and hunt down this man to ask him to take the twenty dollars back. We found him and Damien asked him if he knew it was a twenty and the man said Yes, go buy yourself something. Wow! Damien was totally shocked and of course didn't return the wallet for a reward but the man was nice enough to insist and he explained how if his wallet wasn't returned, how much trouble it would have been for him to replace. We walked back to the fishermen who told us, Don't you know who that is? Gulp! No. It was the director of Surfer Dude, SR Bindler! Now Damien wants to frame his twenty dollar bill! lol

Matt walking to the set.

We spent a lot of time with the four fishermen. Only three are here in the photo. The beach was beautiful and the men were all really nice. We shared email adds so we could swap photos.

The fishermen.

We weren't needed back on Thursday but the fishermen were. They sent me this photo taken with Matthew McConaughey.

Matt and the Fishermen.

Being a photo double meant that Damien had to watch Mario's scenes. Matt was really nice to the boys and Mario and his brother have to be the nicest boys I've ever met!

Matt and Mario.

The paparrazi were everywhere! I had to take a photo of them for a change! ha!

The Paparazzi.

Surfer Dude - Day two

We left the house about 9am to make it to the set by noon. A van picked us up in the parking lot and took us to basecamp. The PA greeted us and told us that one of the big trailers was gone so two of us had lost our trailer for the day. The PA told us to hang out wherever we wanted, on the set or on the beach until they called Damien in to get his hair cut. We would just be there for 4 1/2 hours today anyway since Damien was leaving early to be in a school play (Oliver).

We mostly hung out with the fishermen again and sat with them at lunch. Lunch was great. We ordered from the menu at one window and pick it up at the next. They had a salad bar and desserts at the end of the table. Tables and chairs were set up outdoors with large pitchers of fruit punch. Before the hour lunch was up the PA came to find us. Time to cut Damien's hair!

Hair and Makeup Trailer. Getting his matching haircut.

Damien wasn't too happy because his hair wasn't long enough to donate and he knew this meant starting over to grow it again to donate to cancer victims. I sat in the "barber" chair next to my son which left two empty chairs on either end. While getting his hair cut, Matthew McConaughey came in and sat in the chair next to me, while Alexie Gilmore also came in and sat next to Damien. Both were having their hair fixed for shooting. I am starting to like hair and makeup trailers, this seems to be the place to sit next to the "stars" (see Everybody Hates Chris! lol).

Damien and Mario after the haircut.

After the haircut Damien was still sad, especially since they tried to slightly "poof" it out. They didn't match it perfectly to Mario's hair yet, they'd wait till Damien was needed for filming. We went to watch more filming on the set and heard that tonight they'd shoot the bonfire scene, which they couldn't get the fire to work quite right the night before. Before we knew it, we were told it was 4pm and time to leave for the play! Damien felt bad because they wanted to use Damien in the bonfire scene that night. Instead we drove straight from the set to the play, taking over two hours to get there and barely making it.

Dodger in Oliver.

The play went well and Damien remembered all his lines. Tomorrow's call for the set is at 11am.

Surfer Dude

Without hitting any traffic, we made it to set early in only 2 hours. When we reached the parking area we saw the usual signs that the production company put up but these didn't say "Surfer Dude". I thought maybe we were in the wrong place so I asked the security guard. He said that the paparazzi was looking for Matthew McConaughey and so they didn't want to use the actual title of the film. A van then took us to the set at a different beach about 15 minutes away.

Damien in his trailer

What a shock! Damien had his own trailer. It said "Boy Double" on the door. This was a first for him. This same trailer had rooms in this order: Matthew McConaughey, Alexie Gilmore, Scott Glenn, Damien, and the boy he'd double for, Mario Quinonez Jr.

Damien and Mario

(Mario just shot a scene "after" the fire)

It wasn't long till Damien met Mario and his little brother Tony. Turns out Tony was in an Eminem video (wearing a superman outfit and jumping on a bed). The crew on this set were so nice, along with Mario's Dad and the four fishermen. My brother's best friend, Rod, went out of his way to find us. Alexie Gilmore kept saying Hi to me every time we'd pass each other. Wow, she is absolutely beautiful and just as nice as can be. Matthew came up to us and shook our hands and introduced himself as "Mateo" (spanish for Matthew...though I speak no spanish). He is one nice looking guy!

Matthew McConaughey and the starring boy, Mario

Soon the paparazzi found Matthew anyway. I'm not sure how the stars take it with all those photographers around. They were on the beach practically in the water, climbing down cliffsides and hiding in bushes. I'm sure there will be plenty of photos of Matthew in his black and white striped shorts in magazines today!Damien was told to watch Mario in his scenes with Matthew, so that he could recreate them. They didn't cut Damien's hair and wouldn't until they absolutely needed to use him. We watched all day and would you believe it, they never used Damien. They did tell us to expect him to work tomorrow though, so looks like that haircut will be tomorrow.

Surfer Dude

Photo of the beach where "Surfer Dude" is filming.

Well, it's been about a month since Damien's last job on Charlie Wilson's War. Still his manager hasn't called us for any more jobs but late last night the same people that hired him for Charlie Wilson's War called us about a new movie, Surfer Dude. This movie stars Matthew McConaughey.

Earlier today I was thinking I should measure Damien's height because he seems to be growing. I had to buy him bigger jeans for the length. So when this agency called and asked, Are you sure he's 4 feet 7 inches and only 72 pounds? I had to tell her I didn't really know. So she asked if I could measure and weigh him and call her back. Wow, has he grown! 4 feet 10 inches and 85 pounds! Well, it turns out that is the exact height and weight they were looking for to be a photo double for a little boy in the film.

There were only two problems and I had to call the agency back again to let them know how we worked these out. This job would take a week to film and Damien's last day of school is Tuesday along with a Play he's in, Oliver. The second problem is Damien's hair is too long and they'd need to cut it so he looks just like the boy starring in the film. Damien donates his hair to help cancer victims and he really didn't want to cut it, but after some thought, he decided he would donate some money from this job to cancer research instead.

So I called the agency back and told her Damien was willing to cut his hair but he did not want to let the school down and not show up for the Play. Since the Play would be at night, she called the Assistant Director of the film to see what could be done. She called back and let us know it was all settled, Damien would have half a day off on Tuesday so he could make his Play! Yay!

I will need to call later today to get all the details and will bring you up to date.

Okay, the update. I was talking with my brother about this movie and what does he tell me? His best friend is working with the crew. This is his friend that was also working on Charlie Wilson's War. It's nice to know that we'll know someone on the set.

We were given the information for Monday's shoot. Damien will need to be there at noon. This means it will probably be a late day. Not sure if we'll stay in a hotel or make the long trip back home. From the phone information it sounds like there will be very few people filming. Four men and the two boys. Damien is getting excited and also getting worried about the haircut they'll be giving him. I'll post photos on Monday night (if we come home).

Friday

Well, it appears that Charlie Wilson's War has wrapped up. We were hoping that Damien would get recalled so he'd have more scenes in the movie. When he was on the set of CWW, they told us Damien may be used again the second week of May. So even though some say it's wrapped, we still have some hope he'll be called in again. You never know with reshoots.

People are beginning to find out that he's doing TV shows and movies. He was approached by someone in Target the other day asking if he was on TV. My little niece Kory, who happens to be adorable, is now applying for a part in a major movie (along with Damien). I think she has a better chance at it since she's younger and this is really a part for a younger child.

My neighbor may start acting too and I'll be passing him all the info I have for adults getting started. Looks like he may drag one or both of my older son's with him. I wish he would. Extra money in their pockets and hey, what job out there also feeds you breakfast and lunch at no cost to you? Can't beat that. CWW sent Damien's check and tacked on extra for gas. All of Damien's money is being saved so he can buy the car of his dreams. If he had it his way, he'd own every game system out there. Oh wait, I think he already does! ugh

Damien's manager hasn't called us in a week but we're not worried. Actually this is giving him time to catch up on school work especially since he just switched to a private Christian homeschool program. This school offers classes which works out really well for him. He can easily take a day or two off whenever he needs to be on set.

My husband took Damien to see Spiderman today! Damien said he didn't recognize any of the kids in the movie. They both gave the movie a big thumbs up! I wanted to see it but have been too busy with my work-at-home business. I'm trying to get ahead in case Damien gets called for a job. We have our fingers crossed that he is chosen for a small part in National Treasure 2.

Life - the movie

A made for TV Movie is what I was told "LIfe" was all about. Starring Damian Lewis. For you that don't know who he is, he is the redhead in Dreamcatcher. "Life" is about a cop who was wrongly imprisoned and then released to join the force again...or at least that's how I've heard the story goes.

Basecamp 1 in downtown LA

Basecamp 1 was set up in a parking lot in downtown LA. From there we were bussed to a residential street for filming. This was Damien's first time filming on a street. To our surprise the streets were not blocked off. Damien, along with 4 or 5 other kids are eating fruit they get from a fruit vending cart. Officer Damian Lewis (not sure of his name in the film) also stops at the cart for something to eat. Its a short scene and I think we were there for about an hour or so.

Damian Lewis (Life Chair)

Damian Lewis sat in a chair right next to where I was standing and when Damien was done filming he went up to Damien Lewis and shook hands. They spoke a little and talked about having the same first name but with different spellings. Damien Lewis was very nice.

We let the set teacher know that we were going to head down the long outdoor stairs that led to another residential street. Here were the tables of snacks and bathrooms. When we went back up, we discovered the set teacher and all the other parents had left in the van. We were led to another van full of actors and waited while they filmed some more before the van could leave.

Instead of taking us to where our car was parked, we were taken to basecamp 2. Here they had tents set up with lunch. We saw Damian Lewis here and again he was nice enough to bend down to Damien's level and have a long chat with him. I had no idea if were suppose to be at basecamp 2 but Damian Lewis assured us it was fine and invited Damien and myself in to eat.

Finally another van pulled up and we had our ride back to our car. We learned to expect the unexpected on these jobs and from now on if we end up at the wrong basecamp, we'll be okay with it and not in such a panic! Besides, the stars of the show can be really nice!

Independent Movie

I heard that it's a good idea to try for independent or student films mainly for the experience and to add to your resume. So I applied for Damien to be in one. It was filming close by and it was only for the part of a student. Independent and student films often don't pay. The film is called "Those Chosen" and is the story of a boy raised in a cult. I was surprised when the producer contacted us in an email and invited us to the set.

Damien had already filmed several tv shows by this time so when we showed up to the school where the filming would take place, we were surprised that no one was there. We sat in the car for a while and eventually saw a few people walking around. There was a card table with snacks, the producer and two or three other helpers. After a while a few more kids showed up but not many.

Filming on a school yard.

Even though filming an independent movie is different than a tv show or big budget movie, we had a great time on this small set. Damien was filmed quite a bit, we got to chat with other Moms and Damien made friends with the young star of the film, Kevin. In fact they hit it off so well, that Kevin and his Mom invited us to the producers house after they were done filming outdoors. Damien and Kevin played the producers new Wii system while Kevin's mom and I chatted. I took plenty of photos with permission.

Later the producer sent me a CD with all of Damien's footage and a little more! We'd gladly work on a film with him again!