Monday, June 19, 2006
Crossing new horizons.
Today's shoot marked my debut as a more flexible talent as I venture into a foreign world called "commercial modeling". Despite having sunburnt legs and irritated eyes after four hours of shooting in a red Nova Chevy which just had to be under Sun Mode, I still find great fulfillment and contentment knowing how this experience has helped me grow.
I had to sleep at around 11 last night because of all the preparations, which gave me only three hours of sleep. Call time was at 3:00 AM. Ate Pam and I actually arrived 30 minutes early. While waiting for others, I tried sleeping on a wooden bench/sofa. Fonsi then arrived and later on the rest of the crew were there. Dyan and Marvin would be waiting for us at the location so our makeup artist Ate Norms worked on Fonsi and I to save time while waiting for the rest to set up.
One interesting thing happened before Ate Norms did my makeup. While she and her assistant Rochelle(sp?) were setting up, I went out of the room to get chairs. Tess noticed and asked Ate Norms...
"Ate Norms, assistant mo ba siya?"
"Hindi noh, talent yan. Mabait lang talaga siya!"
"Nakuuu, sana lahat sila ganyan din!"
That's what I get for being used to helping out while modeling at Ate Biancs' shoots! :)
We started shooting around 8:30 AM, five and a half hours after call time. We had to ride this red Nova Chevy, top down, and we finished after four hours. Imagine how many takes there were. The car conked out on us a couple of times but Fonsi remained patient (he was driving). After every take we had to wipe a lot of sweat off. I also noticed that after the shoot, since I was wearing a mini skirt the whole time, the exposed part of my thighs were burnt red! (Actually, they still are burning red until now!) We were all so delighted as the shoot ended. We were dead tired with the scorching hot sun draining the energy from all of us--talents and crew.
Even if commercials are completely different from print, you still have the same privilege of meeting new people. The crew were very accommodating. They made sure all of us talents were taken care of. They were sweaty and tired themselves but they made sure we had enough tissue and drinks. Ate Cristy, who represented TheAgencie, made sure I had a seat and that I was able to eat breakfast and lunch, etc.
My co-models and I had the chance to bond both during breaks and during takes since we were required to look happy. Dyan initiated teasing Marvin about his Mossimo Bikini stint until Fonsi and I joined in. And then there were talks about school, how each one started with modeling, showbiz (Fonsi!), etc.
Marvin was so kind to offer a ride to UP since he was going to Ateneo anyway. On the way, we talked about a lot of other stuff and he actually absorbed my expression, "Ah, talaga?" He also gave me tips on TVC modeling. Marvin's a really nice guy. To think I initially got starstruck when I first met him during the final casting. And that I started thinking he was mayabang, but I found out how down-to-earth he really is. :)
Thinking back on how many VTRs I've attended, I feel lucky to finally be part of a TVC. And then I also think back on how today went--how happy I felt, how everyone was so fun and easy to work with, how we bonded and got to know each other more than just by first names. Suddenly I feel luckier than I can ever be.
Karir na 'to! ;)
