Well, as noted in the comments of my last blog post, my time on the NBC hospital drama "Mercy" was a bust if you look at things only on the surface. There were only five of us needed for a scene and none of use got used. Actually, I think one guy got used but there was too many of us to fit in the crowed lobby set so we sat in the hall and listened to the filming.
Background Actress: They're shooting the scene without us!!
On the van ride back into the city (the show is filmed in New Jersey) the small group of background talent was clearly upset. I turned around and observed sulking, sad stares out the window, and numbness. I'm not saying I had all of their emotional displays figured out but I think I was close. However, there was one person who was not feeling any of this and had a big smile on his face.....ME!!!!
Why? Because I just worked for 4 hours and got paid for 8 and I have divorced myself from taking these kind of things personally. It's the business and I realize that it happens and that's that. I know of people who had speaking roles in major films that were edited out of the final cut, not a trace of them left. So what am I left with after today? Easy money baby! Easy money!!
First Big Offer Made
And speaking of money, I told you how Yale University was doing a video on health and nutrition for English as a second language students. This production would have me in a lead role (where I speak) playing Ernesto, a husband and father from Costa Rica who is not eating well nor are his wife, child or mother. I've been reading the script and going over terms with the producers. While I heard nothing back from them for awhile, finally an offer was made.
Let's just say that in 3-4 days work I will have made about the same or more than what I made in 2 weeks of "real work" at my past jobs. Obviously my answer was yes.
So I didn't get on "Mercy" this time around, but I am getting paid to do what I love to do. While it's still not "sustainable," it's better than nothing. And maybe one day it will be.
But for now, my bottom line went from terminally ill to alive and kicking.
Here's to living the dream......
