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TV is weird.
Aug. 3rd, 2010 02:37 pmToday was the big day. I got up ridiculously early, considering I wasn't on until 10:30 am. BUT I had to drop Mason and mama off at school and get all the way out to KARE-11's studios to do the whole hair and make-up thing at 8:30 am.
First thing I had to do this morning was dial-up to the internet to find out what Bonnie (the hair and make-up artist) said in answer to my last minute question of -- what should I wear? Specifically, were they going to show my legs? Could I get away with jeans or did I have to dig through my closet for my slacks? She said they MIGHT pan back, so I should probably be prepared to have leg showing, as it were. In the far back of my closet I found a fairly decent pair of black slacks. (Slacks is a funny word to say, isn't it?) Anyway, Shawn had to loan me a pair of black socks and I found a pair of fairly decent black shoes. Then I had to decide on which of my million button-down silk shirts I should wear. My parents have been collecting silk shirts in every color under the rainbow for me when they go down to the Ropa in Mexico. The FAQ suggested "jewel tones," so I left the house wearing a gold shirt, but had a maroon-y/red one as a spare.
*FINDING* KARE-11 was actually much harder than it should have been. It's on Hwy 55 and General Mills Blvd. I thought I knew where that was, but I didn't trust my instincts and got really turned around by the fact that they listed their address as Minneapolis. They're actually in Golden Valley or one of those suburbs (which is what I first thought), and thankfully a nice man getting ready for a walk in Theodore Wirth Parkway explained to me that zip codes are deceiving.
The studio is impressive as heck from the outside. It's large and spaceous. Inside, it's like a weird rabbit warren... or some kind of Hollywood metaphor, because the public bits are shiny and clean and the back rooms are concrete floors, metal lockers and cables.
Bonnie, however, was awesome. She's been doing hair and make-up for twenty years and she was very much what you might expect. She chatted industry gossip about local celebrities and, if I actually watched television on a regular basis, I would totally have the inside scoop on who's the drunk, who's in the closet and all that. Alas, I had NO IDEA who she was talking about. I did, however, notice that Conen O'Brien had signed the wall of her room, which, I was really excited to see _actually_ had a star on the door.
She airbrushed me.
That part was weird. Having make-up sprayed onto my face with an airbrush was very surreal.
Of course, as I never wear make-up. I thought I looked pretty alien by the time she was done, but in a way that helped. It reminded me a lot of high school theatre, and, now, suddenly, I had a mask on... I could just go out an ad-lib.
Because despite the efforts of my publicist, they were really unwilling to tell me ahead of time what we might talk about. I suppose they wanted things to be fresh, but it was very nerve-making for me.
Anyway, after Bonnie airbrushed my face, she showed me around. The studio was empty, so she walked me into there. I'm sure you kind of have an idea of what that might look like... there's a LOT of empty space for the cameras to roll around in and these weird little alcoves that look like the IKEA show room of a kitchen, living room, and and office spaced around at different intervals. The cameras roll around on cables, so there isn't a big crew like I sort of expected from movies about TV shows. There was also no guy who said, "LIVE in 5, 4, 3..."
In the green room was the musical act, the Okee Dokee Brothers. They were super-cool. They were like 20-something slacker boys (straggly beards and slouchy postures), and I liked them tremendously. Neither of the two them own a TV, so they were pretty fascinated by the one in the room which showed everything happening on KARE-11. We laughed about all sorts of stuff and, honestly, they totally put me at ease. They play bluegrass music for kids, and I'm going to buy their album ASAP.
I went off to the bathroom because I thought I had a lot of time before I was supposed to be on (in the 4th segment,) but when I came back the intern was waiting anxiously. They wanted me micked and settled into the weird, empty living room while the third segment was running. So I sat there on a fluffy chair afraid to cough watching the host talk about back to school supplies in a different corner.
That part was where it got weird... by some silent signal everyone seemed to know when they were at commerical break (earpieces?) and the hostess suddenly appeared at my side. She barked advice at me, "Sit up! You'll like yourself better if you sit up!" and then "Look at me. Don't look at the camera!" and then suddenly like a multiple personality she shifted into hostess mode and started talking to the camera about me.... and we were ON! I was really hoping for a bigger clue, but I stuck to the things that everyone told me: let the hostess lead the interview and smile! I smiled a LOT! I never looked at the camera, and I tried to be coherent, which is all I think anyone can do.
Then suddenly it was over. And I was ushered out quickly and quietly.... and then I found myself blinking in the bright sunlight and crushing heat of the parking lot.
Very weird.
Apparently, by tonight, the show ("Showcase Minnesota") will have an archived link of the show. Actually, it looks like its already there: Sixteen Ain't So Sweet in Tate Hallaway's Almost to Die For...
First thing I had to do this morning was dial-up to the internet to find out what Bonnie (the hair and make-up artist) said in answer to my last minute question of -- what should I wear? Specifically, were they going to show my legs? Could I get away with jeans or did I have to dig through my closet for my slacks? She said they MIGHT pan back, so I should probably be prepared to have leg showing, as it were. In the far back of my closet I found a fairly decent pair of black slacks. (Slacks is a funny word to say, isn't it?) Anyway, Shawn had to loan me a pair of black socks and I found a pair of fairly decent black shoes. Then I had to decide on which of my million button-down silk shirts I should wear. My parents have been collecting silk shirts in every color under the rainbow for me when they go down to the Ropa in Mexico. The FAQ suggested "jewel tones," so I left the house wearing a gold shirt, but had a maroon-y/red one as a spare.
*FINDING* KARE-11 was actually much harder than it should have been. It's on Hwy 55 and General Mills Blvd. I thought I knew where that was, but I didn't trust my instincts and got really turned around by the fact that they listed their address as Minneapolis. They're actually in Golden Valley or one of those suburbs (which is what I first thought), and thankfully a nice man getting ready for a walk in Theodore Wirth Parkway explained to me that zip codes are deceiving.
The studio is impressive as heck from the outside. It's large and spaceous. Inside, it's like a weird rabbit warren... or some kind of Hollywood metaphor, because the public bits are shiny and clean and the back rooms are concrete floors, metal lockers and cables.
Bonnie, however, was awesome. She's been doing hair and make-up for twenty years and she was very much what you might expect. She chatted industry gossip about local celebrities and, if I actually watched television on a regular basis, I would totally have the inside scoop on who's the drunk, who's in the closet and all that. Alas, I had NO IDEA who she was talking about. I did, however, notice that Conen O'Brien had signed the wall of her room, which, I was really excited to see _actually_ had a star on the door.
She airbrushed me.
That part was weird. Having make-up sprayed onto my face with an airbrush was very surreal.
Of course, as I never wear make-up. I thought I looked pretty alien by the time she was done, but in a way that helped. It reminded me a lot of high school theatre, and, now, suddenly, I had a mask on... I could just go out an ad-lib.
Because despite the efforts of my publicist, they were really unwilling to tell me ahead of time what we might talk about. I suppose they wanted things to be fresh, but it was very nerve-making for me.
Anyway, after Bonnie airbrushed my face, she showed me around. The studio was empty, so she walked me into there. I'm sure you kind of have an idea of what that might look like... there's a LOT of empty space for the cameras to roll around in and these weird little alcoves that look like the IKEA show room of a kitchen, living room, and and office spaced around at different intervals. The cameras roll around on cables, so there isn't a big crew like I sort of expected from movies about TV shows. There was also no guy who said, "LIVE in 5, 4, 3..."
In the green room was the musical act, the Okee Dokee Brothers. They were super-cool. They were like 20-something slacker boys (straggly beards and slouchy postures), and I liked them tremendously. Neither of the two them own a TV, so they were pretty fascinated by the one in the room which showed everything happening on KARE-11. We laughed about all sorts of stuff and, honestly, they totally put me at ease. They play bluegrass music for kids, and I'm going to buy their album ASAP.
I went off to the bathroom because I thought I had a lot of time before I was supposed to be on (in the 4th segment,) but when I came back the intern was waiting anxiously. They wanted me micked and settled into the weird, empty living room while the third segment was running. So I sat there on a fluffy chair afraid to cough watching the host talk about back to school supplies in a different corner.
That part was where it got weird... by some silent signal everyone seemed to know when they were at commerical break (earpieces?) and the hostess suddenly appeared at my side. She barked advice at me, "Sit up! You'll like yourself better if you sit up!" and then "Look at me. Don't look at the camera!" and then suddenly like a multiple personality she shifted into hostess mode and started talking to the camera about me.... and we were ON! I was really hoping for a bigger clue, but I stuck to the things that everyone told me: let the hostess lead the interview and smile! I smiled a LOT! I never looked at the camera, and I tried to be coherent, which is all I think anyone can do.
Then suddenly it was over. And I was ushered out quickly and quietly.... and then I found myself blinking in the bright sunlight and crushing heat of the parking lot.
Very weird.
Apparently, by tonight, the show ("Showcase Minnesota") will have an archived link of the show. Actually, it looks like its already there: Sixteen Ain't So Sweet in Tate Hallaway's Almost to Die For...