Gleeeek!

Ginny & I just got back from a free concert Matthew Morrison (or Will Schuester from Glee!) put on at The Grove...this outdoor shopping area with a farmers market attached to it. He has an album coming out in March so he performed one song from the album, 4 or 5 songs he performed in Glee (including Somewhere Over the Rainbow & Goldigger), and an awesome mashup of Great Balls of Fire & Saw Her Standing There (see Ginny's facebook page for videos).
He is just as beautiful in person as he is on TV (not something I can say about some other television stars I have seen) and he sounded amazing!

It was the best free event I have ever attended in my life.AHHHH! We also saw Kevin McHale (Artie! <3), Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina), Harry Shum Jr (Mike Chang), Chord Overstreet (Sam), and Iqbal Theba (Principal Figgins).

The Grove is actually a really cool place. Definitely someplace we will return to another weekend. We didn't get a chance to go into the Farmers Market (we were waiting in line to get a free lunch from Oscar Mayer, who sponsored the concert), and I feel like there are concerts there a lot because the stage didn't really seem like something easy to take down and reassemble every time they need a daytime venue for a performance.


So this week at Intuition was much more eventful than last. Monday I met the head of the company, Keri, and she took me and the other intern to a company (probably shouldn't broadcast the exact details) that she is thinking of basing a reality show off of. It was really cool to see the very beginnings of a (potential) show. She talked with the head of the company about the angle which the show could come from and other logistics. I then had to prepare an information sheet for her of all the main points of the conversation for her to send to people as the beginnings of a pitch. I also had to read a bunch of scripts that they have in various stages of development and talk to Keri and the other company head, Patrick, about what I thought their strengths and weaknesses were. That was really cool (and pretty intimidating) that they actually value what we have to say about their current scripted projects. If they actually use the changes that we suggested is another story, but it's still nice to know that they care about what we have to say.


Keri invited the female interns to this event called 'A Night of Red Carpet Fashion' but I couldn't go because I had class. :( At first I was really bummed, (I even tried to email my professor to get out of class but he said he couldn't excuse me because it was only the second meeting) but then I realized that it was primarily cocktails and appetizers, so I figured it probably wasn't good to go to an event where alcohol is being served as an intern being under 21. Good thing my birthday is next weekend! :)

Thursday on 'The Doctors' I did security for Montel Williams, his wife Tara, and their cute little dog Max. (All three of them were really friendly!) He was on the show with a girl who's brain surgery he paid for. She improved so much from the surgery I honestly couldn't believe the bubbly girl I picked up at her car was the same girl struggling to overcome her disability (can't for the life of me remember what it was called) in the videos they played before she made her appearance. It was a really emotional episode.
Friday everyone's favorite guest, 86 year old sexpert Dr. Ruth was on the show for the Valentines Day episode. She was so nice to everyone, took pictures with whoever asked for one, gave us all 'Sex for Dummies' (the book she wrote) keychains, etc. Its kinda funny given her size (under 5'), age, and nationality that she is literally the world's naughtiest grandma.
Jillian Michaels (eeekkk!) was one of the hosts for the 'C' show, 'Why Do Women...?' The audience was made up entirely of men, so it was funny to see their reactions to the 5 women hosts and the stuff that they were talking about on stage. One of the guests was actually an Ithaca alum, so it was pretty cool chatting with him and seeing how the LA program has changed since he attended it & what he has done since he graduated in 2006. After the show was over I got to drive Jillian back to her car (usually she likes to walk but she had someplace to be and I was doing runs in the cart, how lucky!). We chatted for a little about Glee (cause we passed the Glee soundstage) and when she got out she said "Thanks buddy!" Made my day. 


Tonight we are going to get pizza and see No Strings Attached on the Universal Citywalk. Exciting stuff!

Another adventure

Thursday and Friday were my first two days on the CBS show The Doctors interning in the talent department. They tape three shows a day, "A" "B" and "C" and we are in charge of picking up the talent for each show, either at their cars in the parking lot or from the car service that brings them right to the stage, getting them situated in their dressing room, and then after their segment is finished, getting them back to where they need to be in order to leave.

Thursday there were so many guests that they had to rent a trailer in order to have a dressing room for all the talent for the "B" show. My supervisors were happy I was starting on such a busy day because it really isnt going to get much busier than it was on Thursday so even though I felt a bit like I was being thrown into the fire, I was forced to learn really quickly what I needed to do and how to get everything done. Since the trailer was only being used for the second show, I shadowed one of the other girls for the first show so I could see how a normal show is run. Then for the "B" show I was in charge of the people in the trailer. I had to send them up to hair and makeup when my supervisor asked me to, I had to make sure they signed their paperwork, and I had to make sure they didnt wander off on the lot. Because the stage is on the Paramount lot, you have no idea what else is being filmed in a given day and who you might see. The guests are quick to realize this and some like to wander around looking for celebrities, especially the Glee fans because the Glee studio can be seen from the main parking lot. Thankfully no one in the trailer decided to go looking for celebrities when I was in charge of them. Though the "B" show was a little stressful, we got through it fine. Then for the "C" show I was assigned to do security for, wait for it, Jorge Posada from the NY Yankees (my dad was so jealous) because there was another guest on the show that he was going to surprise and that guest obviously couldn't see him until they were on stage. That was pretty cool. Celebrities don't come on the show on a daily basis, so it was funny to see how EVERYONE was excited that Jorge was there. Also, exciting that he was there on my first day!

I really really like my internship on The Doctors so far. Like I said before, I could see myself working in the talent department in the future and I feel like this internship is going to be the deciding factor on whether or not this is something I would like to pursue after graduating. Eeeek!

Yesterday we went to Universal Studios, with the whole ICLA group. We took our group picture there that is going to hang in the Pendelton Center until the end of time. We also did the studio tour as a group, and then we were able to go around the park as we pleased. The studio tour was a lot different than the Warner Brothers one we went on because we actually drove through the sets that were used like, Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives, the ruble from War of the Worlds, Whoville from How the Grinch Stole Christmas, stuff from Jurassic Park, and a subway station used in Bones.

I feel like the Universal in Florida is a little bigger than this one, but it was fun anyway. The Terminator show was exactly like Florida's, from what I remember, but there was also a lot of stuff here that wasn't at Florida, which is cool. Our tickets have this two day pass on them, so we can use them again another day in 2011 for free. I'm thinking of going again when my mom and Matt come to visit over Easter if they want to go, otherwise I don't know if the group of us will want to go again because we did everything together. However, there were some shows we didnt see so maybe we will go back as a group, who knows.

Today there is a barbeque at one of the clubhouses here at Oakwood so we are gonna go to that, then it's back to the grind on Monday. I am both excited and nervous for the first full week of internships and classes, ahhh!

And so it begins...

So on Sunday my roommates and I went to the Hollywood walk of fame (we figured we would get all the tourist stuff out of the way within the first couple of weeks). The stars themselves go on for blocks and blocks! We didnt even see them all! As there were many blocks that we did cover, we didn't manage to find Elvis's star, so I was pretty bummed. I'll have to find out the exact location of it and go back and look another time. All along the main stretch of Hollywood Blvd was people dressed up in different costumes, some better than others. You could literally see the guy's face through Barney's mouth in one of the crappier costumes. At first we were excited to take pictures with the better ones, until we found out they were asking for (demanding if you may) tips. That ended real quick. We wandered into the Kodak theater and discovered that they have every movie that has ever won the Oscar for 'Best Picture' and what year it one on display. Not only that, but they are just a little prepared for the future, with spaces going up until 2070 for future films to fill.

 It was pretty cool to see all the handprints. I put my hands and feet in Will Smith's prints (which were huge!) but I really liked how there were stars from all different years in the same space. Marilyn Monroe and Humphrey Bogart are right there next to the three stars of Harry Potter. It was like the different stages of Hollywood were laid out right there in one collective space. hehe

Yesterday I started my internship at Intuition. It went ok. It was realllyyyy slow, like the phone rang 6 times all day, I guess because of the holiday the day before. One guy that works there that used to be an intern says that most days aren't going to be like that, so that's good. One of the managers of the company was at studio meetings all day and apparently when she is there she will have the intern (that's right, I'm the only one, atleast on the days I am there) sit in on production meetings and do other fun things. So I'm hoping to get in on that sometime soon. Other than answer the phone I did script coverage most of the day.

I then had my first class after my internship at 7. It's supposed to go until 10 (somebody shoot me, three hour night classes! ahhhh) but he let us out two hours early. Can't expect that everytime, but it was nice. Atleast I only have to go to class twice a week, since it's kind of a hike down and back to the Pendelton Center from Oakwood. The teacher seemed nice. He kept interrupting the lecture with funny little stories, however after three hours, the stories might not seem as funny. Never in my life have I been in class that long...We'll see how the next class goes tomorrow.

Finally starting at The Doctos tomorrow as a talent assistant/escort. Eeek!

Seeing Stars

So...today was incredible, but before I get into it, I have had a serious moment. I really could see myself working with talent for my career. I enjoyed it over the summer and I sure as hell enjoyed it today. Today, I worked at the HBO Luxury Lounge for the Golden Globes. We (other talent escorts as well as a few other Ithaca students) were assigned a talent (any star/producer/writer currently involved with an HBP production as well as all Golden Globes nominees) and we had to take them to all the vendors in the lounge and introduce them to each vendor. The vendors then gave them free stuff in order to take a picture of the celeb with the stuff in order to use the pictures as endorsement. These celebs were leaving with TONS of stuff, free booze, medication (over the counter), guitar & DJ hero, digital cameras, brand sunglasses, cashmere sweaters, two night hotel stays, strollers, makeup, anything you could image.

I was assigned Natalie Morales (from the Today Show), Sherri Saum (she recently did Body of Proof but she has been in a bunch of other shows), Hayley Atwell (The Pillars of the Earth, Any Human Heart), and the creator of Boardwalk Empire, Terence Winter and his wife (he also wrote for the Sopranos). They were all really nice. Natalie and I talked about IC as well as college in general and Hayley (who's up for a Golden Globe nomination) bonded because it was her first lounge invite as well as my first time working at one. She had the cutest British accent I have ever heard.

The first famous face I saw was Christopher McDonald, (at this point I was again questioning if this was really happening) but it didnt end there. I also saw: Sarah Rue (The Big Bang Theory), Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck), Nolan Gould (Modern Family, he was so cute!), Ariel Winter (Modern Family), Nelsan Ellis (True Blood), Rutina Wesley (True Blood), Efren Ramirez (Napoleon Dynamite), Julie Benz (Dexter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), one of the Bachelorettes & the guy she picked (no idea which ones), Catherine O'Hara (Home Alone), a writer of Madmen and her dad (so cute), Aimee Teegarden (Friday Night Lights), Willam Shatner and his wife (AGAIN!), Olivia Williams (The Sixth Sense, Dollhouse), Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead), Lorraine Brocco (The Sopranos), and my two personal favorites:

LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James)

&

Melissa Joan Hart!

while waiting for valet to bring our car around we saw the idol of my teenage years again...I grew up on Sabrina and totally didnt expect to see her there, she's so cute and little and I literally could not stop starring! eek! We were standing there when valet brought her car around and we watched her drive away. Even her car is little, how awesome..haha

What a great day. I am really hoping that they ask me back to work future events. I don't see why they wouldn't because they said as long as you did a good job you were asked back, but I hope I did a good enough job to be remembered AND asked back...fingers crossed!

First day at Intuition and first class on Tuesday!

Nothing Comes Close to the Golden Coast

I am slowly becoming a little less overwhelmed with my life, but I have yet to accept that this is going to be my home for the next four months. Baby steps.

So orientation went well, learned a lot about the ICLA program and met all the staff. They are all very nice and willing to help in whatever ways they can. It's great to know they are there to go to about issues beyond the classroom.

Tuesday night the ICLA program went to a taping of 'Shit My Dad Says' starring William Shatner and Jean Smart. I felt very nostalgic watching it because it reminded me very much of my summer at 'White Collar.' Everyone was complaining about how long it took (around 4 hours to tape a 22 minute episode) and I must admit sometimes I found myself asking what was taking so long. But it took 7 full days to tape a 45 minute episode of 'White Collar' with all the field stuff, plus we didn't have to entertain a live studio audience the entire time, so I walked away surprised at how much they accomplished during our time there. They had this guy, I can't remember his name right now, who's job was to entertain the audience in between all the takes and keep up the enthusiasm so we would continue to laugh at the same jokes three and four times. He was great at his job, which I could see being just as stressful as it is fun.
Tila Tequila randomly guest starred in it too. She was the last person anyone was expecting to see, so it was kinda funny. Apparently Ashley Tisdale was there too, but I didn't see her. Her supposed scene was on the other side of the studio so I couldn't tell if it was her or not. Kinda funny how these (decently) established celebs are taking small parts in sitcoms.

Yesterday was more orientation and then the group hiked to the top of the Hollywood sign. It was a crazy view at the top. All of Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean were on one side of the lookout and the San Fernando Valley was on the other. Pretty incredible.

My internships, which I can talk about now cause they are both official, and classes start next week. I am working Mondays and Tuesdays at Intuition Production as a development intern and Thursdays and Fridays as a talent assistant on the Emmy award winning show (shameless advertising) 'The Doctors.' I'm also taking classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7-10. It's kind of crazy because everyone that I have talked to that have accepted internships have done so at really cool places as well. A friend and I were talking and we really want to go on everyone else's internships to experience everything with them. I am just now beginning to realize just how great this opportunity is that we all are about to have. Yes, everyone has said that to me before and I knew it to be true. But now I am finally figuring the depth of what that really means. Deep stuff....

I am officially working at the Golden Globes HBO Lounge on Saturday as a talent escort. Im excited that there is another girl in the program also working there so we can carpool together. She told me she expects that we will be assigned a 'celebrity' (up to your own interpretation as to who this could be) that we have to take around and introduce to all the vendors. Yes, I have worked with talent before, but they were all extras on an organized shoot so I expect this to be just a little bit different, and I am therefore nervous as hell. I mean come on, if I mess up at the Golden Globes I doubt it will go unnoticed. However, if you do well they ask you to come back to future events, so that is always a good thing because it's a paid gig.

Update after my award winning experience!

HOLY LOS ANGELES

It has been a whirlwind past few days!

In Vegas Dad wanted to visit the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop that is on the History Channel and right next to it was the Graceland Wedding Chapel where I got my picture with the best Elvis impersonator I have seen yet! Then we went to the Aria Casino and Resort to go to Viva Elvis and by some stroke of luck Dad managed to get us front row seats. It was amazing. I love stuff like that because his music the only piece of him we really have left and to see it honored in such a way was incredible.

We arrive in LA in the afternoon on Saturday and the past few days we have been putting our apartment together and getting settled in. I have an interview in 2 hours for the talk show "The Doctors" and I am really hoping to be offered an internship there. It has been my dream to work on a talk show and is definitely one area of the business I could see myself pursuing.

Tomorrow is the first day of orientation and I'm happy for that because there is still so much we need to learn about the program as well as the Los Angeles area. Dad and I stumbled upon Universal Citywalk last night and it was really cool. It was a roofless little area with places to eat, shop, and shows to see that all pertain to Universal Studios. There was an amusement park there too, and obviously the studio itself. I can't even imagine what other places like that there are around here.

Dad and I ventured to Santa Monica beach this morning as well and it was really nice. I can't wait for the weather to get warm so we can explore and actually swim at more beaches. The water was realllyyyy cold.

All for now, so much more to come!

Good thing I wore my boots the past two days...

because it has been really cold! New Mexico & Arizona border Mexico, you would think they would be warm in January. You would think wrong. We woke up to 7 degrees this morning and reached a peak of 44 for about two minutes. However, we have had almost completely clear skies during our week of travels so far so I really can't complain.

Yesterday night found us in Gallup, NM. Not necessarily a place I need to see again. At the place we ate dinner at they allowed these guys to come in and sell stuff, mostly jewelry, right out of their pockets to the people sitting down and eating. We found that to be a little annoying. But then we remembered the time when we were eating in Philly and this guy came in off the street and asked us for money, so we figured these harmless guys trying to sell stuff can't be that bad.

Today we finally got to the Grand Canyon! I tried to describe to a friend how having a fear of heights doesn't really apply to the canyon because of its enormous depth and size, and that was hard. Dad and I figured it would be nearly impossible to try to tell someone what it looks like. It is literally the most incredible thing I have ever seen.

I'm getting nervous about the whole internship process, I'm afraid I won't get the one that I would really like. However, everyone says that no one has it figured out until they get out there, so I'm not worried just yet.

I have an interview to intern as a production assistant or talent escort for the Golden Globes Jan 13-16, which would be awesome since my official internship wouldn't start until the 18th. And awesome because, IT'S THE FREAKIN GOLDEN GLOBES. And awesome because networking is so key. And awesome because if you do a good job they ask you to come back for future events. Just awesome. Hopefully that pans out and I don't look like an idiot for writing this. :)

Vegas & Viva Elvis (the Elvis themed Cirque du Soleil show) tomorrow!

Don't Mess with Texas

We have seen quite a few bumperstickers, posters, etc. with that phrase on it and after two days in Texas I can see why it is everywhere. Texans are very proud of their state and their culture, which I am having a great time experiencing.

Yesterday Dad and I landed in San Antonio after our longest day of driving yet and ate dinner at a really good local steak house called, 'The Barn Door.' Then this morning we went to The Alamo and the San Antonio Riverwalk. The river was disappointingly being drained, so a lot of the restaurants and shops along it took advantage of the construction to do some renovations of their own. I feel like we got the idea of what the riverwalk is supposed to be like, but didn't really get to experience it. Oh well. Below is the entrance of the Riverwalk, which ironically, was beautiful.

Other than that we have had a great trip so far. Warm(er) temperatures, pretty decent weather, and barely any traffic. Though we are around half way done with our trip, I'm sure the rest of our travels will be just as exciting if not more since we will be stopping at the Grand Canyon, Vegas, and San Diego. Whooo!

Update soon :)

Livin the dream

Today was the third day of our trip to LA. So far we have gone 1339 miles and have seen western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, & Oklahoma. We spent New Years in Dayton, OH as planned (what an experience that was) and last night in St. Louis.

Since we got to St. Louis with quite a bit of daylight to spare, we decided to go into Forest Park and see the Missouri History Museum. For a free exhibit we found it very nice, and educational. They had a section on the World's Fair, Charles Lindbergh, & Missouri then and now. We got there an hour and a half before they were going to close so near 5 we saw a wedding party, bride included, mulling about the lobby and taking pictures. What a wedding in a museum in Missouri on New Years Day.

This morning we had the opportunity to go to the top of the St. Louis arch, the tallest man-made monument in the country, standing at 630ft. We were among the first people to travel to the top in 2011. I say that's pretty awesome.

We also spent a little time on the historic route 66 & saw the world's largest rocking chair at a gift shop along the route. After leafing through a photo book a man put together after driving the route in its entirety from Chicago to LA I decided that I would like to travel the route myself at some point, hopefully in the not so distant future so I would be able to recognize the areas along the route that we have already seen.

Tonight we are in Tulsa, OK. We traveled an hour and a half longer today than we thought so we are hoping to make San Antonio for tomorrow night.

All for now, we'll see what the rest of our adventure has in store for us.