really really long post!

Good morning! As I begin this blog it is 4:30 AM Friday morning. There is nothing better for me to do other than sleep and that is just not happening today, so here I am. Yes, this really is the only time I can do this! And yes, I have been interrupted by kids three times already!!!

We were chosen to be in the movie called "Waiting for Forever" on Tuesday. I didn't want to post anything about the auditions in case nothing panned out from them. Anyway, it was a great day! I didn’t want to short change the blog, but I am going to summarize a bit anyway.

In the movie biz they trade kids out for the parts of children. Kids get tired and grumpy; they can't work them as long because of labor laws and stuff. Therefore, they take views from a distance or different angles to make similar kids look like the same kid. That is why we were all going to be in this movie. Our boys look enough alike to do the trick.

When we first got there, they said stuff like, "Let's have one of the triplets." And, "It's time for another one of the boys." Evan was closest to the door, and he kept trying to escape our little waiting room. I thought he would enjoy it the best so he went out first, and second, and then they started asking for him. "It's time for Evan again"

The day started around 9 in the morning. My sister Lacey went with me. I told her it would be at least 6 hours. She was not able to stay the entire day, but she was there for most of it. We waited for long periods of time while they did other scenes, practiced with the adult parts, changed the camera angle and lighting, and other stuff. They would take Evan for a while and bring him back, take him again, then bring him back.

The suspense was killing us! What were they doing with Evan? What was he doing? After the first couple of times, we started talking about watching. So I asked the people, Rachel was the name of the person who came for Evan most of the time. She let Lacey watch the next time. When she returned, she reported that Evan was so good! So Cute! They are moving the camera because the sun keeps moving, some of the people are really rude, but Evan is so good!

Around noon, I took a turn to watch. I thought the people were really nice though. The director let me sit in a corner where Evan couldn't see me. I watched him on two screens and listened on a head set. He was SOOOO CUTE!!! He was really good at this and he was having so much fun! They would repeat the scene over and over. Lacey said I was out there watching him for about an hour! The director would tell the actors something like, "That was good. This time do it more like______" and they would repeat the scene. The person next to me asked how long he had been taking acting lessons. Ha ha ha ha! This was our first of anything like this!

At this point, remember this is around noon, they were asking me how I chose him and what he was like at home. This is Evan, what you see is what you get. They told me that by this time they usually had to switch kids 2-3 times. Evan was the best kid they had ever worked with, and "I've worked with a lot of kids."

Long summary, I know. When I was watching Evan, they were interacting with him. He was responding exactly the way he should. I thought we were going to be background while the adults acted in the front. I was so wrong. Evan was center attention. The lead actor was asking him questions and he was nodding his head or saying things to him. He was so adorable! (Sorry I don't do well with celebrity names. I know I am an oblivion. More on this topic in a minute.)

The other boys meanwhile were getting grumpy. Marek kept wanting a turn to "play." We went outside a few times. There was nowhere for us to go really, just a parking lot that was kind of roped off. They had a food trailer with chairs outside. Marek and Brenden lined up three chairs like a train. They kept asking where Evan was and said he had a spot there. They put a bag of chips in the chair for him. They are so cute too! They spent some time going around the barricades. They pretended it was a hot dog stand.

Rachel came out and asked us how we were doing after Lacey left. I told her I thought we were getting really tired. I knew I was done! She went in and talked to the director. When she came back she said, "I'm sorry. I tried to tell them but he just really loves Evan. He wants him to be in another scene." Long story a little shorter, Evan went in again and again. The last scene they brought him out and said he needed a diaper change. Rachel stayed with Marek and Brenden while I went in. I was able to watch a little more. I watched three takes and decided I needed to check on the other two. I wish I had stayed a little longer. Evan did the entire part by himself! They only thing the other two got to do was for a bonus feature. They were interviewed with Nikki Blonskey. Brenden called for his mommy and picked his nose. Marek tried to get away and Evan was adorable and talked with her. They tried to sing a song, but the boys just sat there and smiled. They are so cute. I know I already said that.

One of the directors came out soon after me and asked if I had seen what Evan did. Apparently, they all gave him a round of applause. He looked around at everyone and threw his arm in the air, "YEAH!" Turns out the director gave him a speaking part! He was asked to say a line and he did, at the right time! I wasn't sure what this meant, but all the people there were so excited for him! It means he is now eligible for SAG, the screen actors guild. I am told that is what all actors live for and some wait nearly their whole lives to be given a line. It also meant he would get more $ for the day. Other than that, they told me I would be getting a lot of mail from them in a few weeks about it. IF ANYONE KNOWS ABOUT THIS PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW!

While I was inside that last time, someone went out with a camera taking still shots. Marek started posing for him. They are just so cute I can hardly stand it! All three boys were happy the entire day, except when Marek wanted his turn. They were so tired that Evan was falling asleep before I was able to get him in his car seat to go home. They did not nap at all the whole day. We left around 7:30PM. However, some of that time was spent trying to get our own clothes back on again. I was alone at that point and my kids get a little more active when they are tired. I think they try to convince themselves they are not tired when they are.

We had lunch "with" all the actors. I asked for autographs for Shelly. She would be so upset with me if I spent the entire day surrounded by celebrities and didn't! They said yes, but I did not have a pen or paper on me. Yeah, here is the duh moments. I was not prepared at all on my part. We were late getting there, of course. They told us we could leave our things in our trailer. They just wanted to see us on the set and we would be right back. Well, that minute turned into the whole day! After a few hours, I asked Rachel if we could get the diaper bag. She sent someone for it! I had no wipes, don't ask how they ended up next to the diaper bag instead of in it. I had no book for myself to read, no camera, not even my cell phone! It did not help Lacey be less bored either. They loaded us into a van and took us to a place set up for lunch – not at all delicious; the boys did not want to eat. Probably because they just wanted to run and not be in that little waiting room and they had been snacking like crazy all morning. The lunch lady was so nice. She kept coming and asking if we would like anything else. They had a table set up near the back door with snacks. Every time we would pass by Brenden would grab another couple bags of chips. And lunch was not until 2!

Anyway, the moral of this story is NEVER, I repeat NEVER leave the diaper bag when you go somewhere, keep the phone in your pocket, take the camera with you where ever you go, a lunch for yourself and do not be late!

Here is a copy of our invitation. I hope the pictures transfer okay. Sorry this story has no names in it. Not my greatest strength.

PROJECT: WAITING FOR FOREVER
PROJECT TYPE: Feature Film
CASTING DIRECTOR: Cate Praggastis
SHOOT DATES: Filming begins September 29, 2008 – October 30, 2008
SYNOPSIS: It is a cute - romantic story. Being produced and directed by James Keach (Blind Dating and Walk the Line) - starring Rachel Bilson and Tom Sturridge
CHARACTER: GABE - but the baby needs to be a part of twins or triplets. There will be some flexibility with the age.. 1 - 2 or so... the babies will be part of Nikki Blonskey's family... (Hairspray)

Nikki Blonskey

Nelson Franklin

These are pix of mom and dad to baby GABE

Oh, I guess the pictures won't go here. You can look them up by their names if you want. Sorry. Have a great day!!!!!