A CONCUBINE???

I just got asked to play a "concubine" (1 of 7 "polygamist wives") in a movie being directed by Jared Hess (Director of Napoleon Dynamite). How could I resist?

 hit the road around 4:30-5:00 a.m. and arrived in BFE NOWHERE at 6:30 a.m. in the pitch dark! Our first stop was wardrobe where we were dressed (ugh) as "concubines." According to Jared, "the cheesier, the better!" Then we were sent to hair and makeup where they did our "hair" but no make up! We ended up putting our own on later! Glad I brought some! When we got on the set, Jared didn't like the "headresses" and wanted them all removed. Some of the ladies who had short hair were given long, blonde wigs instead! We had to walk around the gravel (and desert/salt flats) in high heels (I had brought some flat sandals to switch into ...YAY!) ... and our very last scene was running off into the "mud" (in the heels) and basically being "shot" and having to fall to the ground. On about the 4th take, one of the ladies working with us hit the ground unintentionally ... having tripped ... and broke her arm. She was taken to a nearby hospital (hmmm ... not sure how close it was since we were in the middle of nowhere) and had to have surgery. Who knew working as a concubine would involve Workman's Comp?

My favorite pic is with Jared Hess, the Director. How could I not be in awe of the genius behind "Napoleon Dynamite?"

It FINALLY happened! "Meeting Mitchel Musso!"

Isn't he ADORABLE??? As it would happen, Tori and I were seated right behind him in the "bleachers" while filming a scene in the movie. He kept bumping my leg (we were crammed in pretty tight) and apologizing! The third time, he turned around and said, "I'm so sorry! I owe you!" I said, "Okay, I'll take you up on it! My daughter has been working for two weeks on this movie and is dying to meet you and have her picture taken with you!" He shook Tori's hand ... said, "Nice to meet you" ... then obliged us a picture inbetween takes! He also gave her his autograph, along with a little "hug" after the pic. Tori is now "Sleepless in Orem!" (By the way, he plays the friend to Mylie Cyrus' "Hannah Montana" ...Oliver ... on the Disney Channel).

LOOK who's DRIVING!!!

Yup ... the time has come! My "babygirl" is driving. She is actually VERY GOOD at it, too! I figure if she can handle my truck, she'll do just fine in driver's training in her smaller car. Mom's motto: "Driving is a JOB, NOT a SOCIAL EVENT!"

Working on a Disney Channel Movie!

Because Tori is a minor, the person in charge of casting the extras asked me if I would like to work WITH her! I jumped at the chance! I got to work on "American Mall" as a "shopper" and now we are both working on a Disney Channel movie being filmed at Hillcrest High School. (I'll give more info as allowed, but right now, it's a "secret!"). Tori was THRILLED to be in a few scenes with Mitchel Musso (Hannah Montana and Secondhand Lions), and also got to have her picture taken with Jason Dolley (Minutemen and Cory in the House). Some of you might recognize Brian Stepanek (also known as "Dex")! He has been so much fun to work with. He has MANY credits to his name, including "Transformers" ... and the Advil commercial. If you look him up on his IMDb page, you will see how BUSY of an actor he is. Everyone has been friendly and personable.

I'm in the blue blazer, inbetween takes ...in the High School gym! Tori took a black and white of me waiting it out in the "Extras" tent!

The other pic is just to show the technical aspects of filming. We are quickly learning the theme of being an extra is "Hurry up and wait!" You basically have to have the patience of Job!!!

Lights, Camera, BACKGROUND!

Tori in wardrobe .... and on the set (in pink)

Tori and I were driving to Provo Towne Centre Mall one Sunday night in January to exchange something. On the way, out of the blue, Tori said to me, "Mom, can we go to Hollywood this summer?" I said, "Hollywood? WHY Hollywood?" She said ... "You know ... so I can get noticed!" I said, "Noticed as an actress?" She said, "YES!" I said, "You and a million other people who are waiting tables and living in their cars!" She said, "Thanks for killing my dream!"

Low and behold, at that precise moment, we round the bend into the mall parking lot, and there are white trailers everywhere! I said, "Tori ... this looks like a MOVIE is being filmed here!" She was ecstatic! As we entered the mall, we noticed many changes had been made. As we were looking around, we heard one of the "set builders" telling a girl to be there at 5:30 the next morning and she could sign up to be an "extra" on "American Mall" being filmed for the next month for MTV. Well, Tori went to talk to him, too ... so, we were up bright and early the next day, and showed up at the mall around 6:00 a.m. Not many were around. Finally some "official-looking" people started to show up, and we asked them where to sign up to be an "extra." They said, "Oh ... we're so sorry. Extras were all chosen last Saturday." Well, we hung around anyway, asked more questions of more people, until we eventually found the "right" person. It was a HUGE snowstorm that day, and many of the "extras" were coming from Salt Lake. Tori was told to "hang out for a bit" ... so we did! As fate would have it, one of the extras couldn't make it, so he told Tori to head out to wardrobe and get ready! THAT WAS IT!!! She worked a 14 hour day that day, and had the time of her life! She'd been bitten by the "acting" bug!!! Talk about the power of manifesting!!!

Gorgeous Girl!!