Making a long story shorter!

Ran out of steam on that last blog entry and realized that all the details and minutiae are probably putting anyone reading this to sleep. So to cut to the chase, Willy did not get the part in the Abrams film, but he did sign with Brinda Bhatt at Innovative and met 10-12 other agents in her offices and upon returning to Michigan, we also agreed to work with a manager in NY, Sue Leibman at Barking Dog Enterprises and the entertainmanet attorneys that she and Brinda recommended, Jodi Peikoff and Michael Mahan. So, now Willy has a team of people looking out for opportunities for him who are prepared and experienced in  negotiating in his best interests.

The pressure is now off mom to figure out how to do all the industry related things that I know nothing about! I can now focus on making sure Willy gets enough food and sleep...high priorities in his life, and that he gets all his schoolwork done not to mention brushing his teeth before he goes on set! He still has his braces!

So now for the more interesting details of actually working on a movie! It can get pretty boring, although Willy doesn't think so and is having a great time! I've brought along books, knitting, my laptop and fun games on my Iphone to help pass the time. There are several younger actors on the set and Willy enjoys hanging with them and playing cards and word games while they wait. He is also spending a few hours each day with the on set teacher/tutor although since school just started yesterday, we don't have much for him to do yet.

Our first morning here, we pulled into the base camp parking lot and saw Ellen Barkin in her silver dress and high heels preparing to go on-set. There are several trailers at base camp where the actors with the bigger parts hang out until it's time for them to go on the set. I heard one of the crew members say that Ellen and Demi wanted their trailers moved closer to the set. There is a bit of a hill to walk up to get to the restaurant where the scene is being shot, and locals and on-lookers gather along the way so I can see how trekking up the hill in high heels would be an issue for them.

Because of the number of extras and cast in the first scenes, I have not gone on-set to watch the filming but hang out either in the holding area for the first team or at the craft area where there is always something to eat and drink right behind the set. Thomas Haden Church (the sand man in Spiderman and co-star in Sideways), Kate Bosworth and Siobhan Fallon (the redheaded wife of Edgar in Men in Black-the dude in overalls who becomes an alien) and several of the other cast members wander around outside the set and sign autographs etc. Ellen Barkin pops out occasionally for a cigarette. Willy was shocked at how many of the people smoke.

We didn't see Demi Moore until the morning of the second day. She and her assistant were walking right towards us and I smiled and said hello. It wasn't until she smiled and responded that I recognized her. Willy says that both she and Ellen B. are extremely nice to him on set and talk to him alot. His character has to flirt with Demi so I think he thoroughly enjoyed that! This is not a children's movie btw! The story is based on events from the life of the screenwriter/director, Sam Levinson, son of Barry Levinson. The protagonist is a 16 year old boy (who looks alot like Sam) who is a drug addict. Ellen B. portrays his mom. There is alot of swearing in the movie and although Willy does not have alot of lines, the ones he does have are not things any mom would want to hear her child say! I'll leave it at that and let you find out for yourselves!

Lunch is usually served around 6 pm and Willy sits with a big group of the younger actors (mostly in their early 20's). Their is one 13 year old girl and one 13 year old boy in the cast as well. I have had lunch the first two days with Kate Bosworth, her assistant and an assortment of other crew and production members. She is incredibly sweet and down to earth. Willy was very impressed that on the first day, she walked up and introduced herself to him. One of the gilrs in the cast, a 19 year old from Brooklyn, is the daughter of a former band member with Bad Company! Kiss is in town on Sat. night so her dad called Paul Stanley and got tickets and backstage passes for the cast to come to the concert. Willy has to work on Saturday night so he will not be able to go. He was really disappointed! He's also missing the first freshman dance of the year at Cranbrook, but Kiss was a much bigger disappointment! I'm actually relieved as I'm not so sure that going to a Kiss concert with this big group is really such a great thing for my 14 year old! But they have been very inclusive and caring towards him.

The movie has been picked up by Mandalay Films for distribution so hopefully that means that we will actually get to see it. The script is quite good and very powerful. At this point, I'm going to head over to the set to see what is happening!