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!