The Mindy Project

Last week I had the most terrific Christmas present ever.  I booked a gig on the hot new FOX sitcom, The Mindy Project.  It was answered prayer and a true blessing.

It was as if all of the stars aligned.  First, the audition went well.  I even got a parking place right in front of the casting office.  Then, within two days, I was booked and the next day I worked.  It was like magic, one of those little miracles we all pray for.

It was a small role.  Just two lines.  But as the saying goes...there are no small roles, only small actors.  I really don't care about the size of the part.  I just love to work.  And it had been a very long time since I had worked on a prime time show.  I was really excited about the gig, not to mention that I was making real money as well.

When I got my call time, I couldn't believe that it was a civilized hour.  I didn't have to show up until nine a.m.  My call times have always been of the zero dark thirty variety, so nine a.m. seemed like a real gift.  I also got a Star Wagon.  Wow, a real space with a TV and radio and bathroom.  It was absolute luxury.

The talent wrangler was warm and friendly.  The wardrobe, hair and make up people treated me with such consideration.  I felt beautiful and like I was an important part of the team.

When time came to go to the set location, I was vanned over with the rest of the regular cast.  They each introduced themselves and made me feel welcomed.  There was no pretension, no you're just a day player and I'm a star.  They were just real people and fellow actors.  Maybe that is why their show is so popular, that realness spills over into their performance.

On set, everyone seemed to know my name.  No one said, "Hey you, over here," which has happened to me as a day player on set.  They made sure I was comfortable, knew what was going on, and was able to do my best work.

I was amazed by the way the set worked.  Technology has upped the game since my last time on a TV set.  They worked with two cameras, rarely cut, and were improvisational during the takes.  It was amazing to see these talented young actors go with the flow, changing up the scene to make it funnier.  And they were terrifically funny.  It was such a pleasure to watch their work and to be a part of it.

They were also aware of my work.  I don't believe I have ever received recognition of my participation on a set before.  I can't tell you how gratified I felt when they said I was funny.  It was a high compliment indeed from this group of actors.  They liked my work enough that I was invited back for a second day.  I had been hired for only one day.  This was a total surprise.  My manager was over the moon, and so was I.

The Mindy Project was the most auspicious end to what has been a very difficult year.  I am trusting that it is the spectacular beginning to 2013.  Whatever 2013 brings, I feel blessed to have worked with The Mindy Project cast and crew.  I wish them much continued success with the show and every blessing they so richly deserve in their personal lives.

 Thank you, The Mindy Project, for the best Christmas present ever.

Ilan Rosenberg

I am theatre trained.  That means I learned to project my voice, use large gestures and facial movements so they could be seen in the audience of the large opera house I was trained in at college.  When I began working post-college, I always worked in big theatres, Oklahoma tending more to large auditoriums as opposed to the intimate store front theatres here in Los Angeles.  Consequently, I have a big, loud mouth, a rubber face and hand gestures that look like an Italian having an argument.

Needless to say, I was little prepared for the realities of acting for film and television.  The techniques of theatre acting and film acting are polar opposites.  Theatre requires you to be large, to act with your whole body.  Film wants you to be intimate, to act with your eyes and your brain.

My first day on the set at Mighty Morphin Power Rangers would probably have been my last if it hadn't been for a wonderful man by the name of Ilan Rosenberg.  Ilan was the director of photography for MMPR.  For those of you who don't know what a DP does, he is the man who decides on the lighting, helps the director frame shots, and runs the camera during filming.  A DP can make you look good or like a toad.

Having never taken an acting for the camera class, I had no idea what I was doing when I stepped foot on the MMPR set.  Things like not looking into the lens of the camera, making sure you look at the appropriate side of the camera when you are supposed to be talking to someone during a close up, hitting a mark on the floor while talking, doing an action exactly the same way while doing multiple takes of a scene, etc., were foreign to me.  Not only was I clueless, but I was very nervous on my first day of work.  Ilan saved my life and gave me an education on camera work.

From our first meeting, Ilan went out of his way to make sure I looked good on camera and didn't slow down the production.  He would have techies place sand bags at my mark so that I didn't have to look down to see the tape, which is what is used to identify a mark to hit.  Ilan would have a PA stand to the side of the camera I was supposed to be looking for my close ups, he'd remind me of how far up I held an object during a take.  He taught me how to "think" so that my face didn't overdo expression.

To this day, I am not sure why Ilan was so generous to me.  I only know that I am so very grateful for what I have come to call my film acting 101 teacher.  What I learned from Ilan Rosenberg really made it possible for me to continue with career.  I am so grateful and I hope I told him so.