She Sang, She Did the Curtain Call, The Fat Lady Has Left the Building

It's OVER!!

Pilot season is over!!

I am so relieved.  So thankful.  So much more relaxed.

There is ONE issue I would LOVE to talk about, but can't.  Let's just say that if you are sick, apparently don't take Sudafed and decide to go work a day as a background artist on one of my sets.  And when you are arrested, don't fight the cops.  And when your lawyer calls me to ask about my legal council, just remember, it wasn't ME who didn't want you back on set.  To quote "Basic Instinct:"  "Why would I need an attorney?"  I'm really hoping it goes away.  Fast.  I've been through enough arbitrations.

I still have another week and a half of "Alias," but that's not work to me.  I'm in the office right now, going through people for the shooting work for tomorrow, but I don't mind it at all.  I've been very selective about who works the last episode.

We had our last production meeting yesterday at 6 PM.  It was a small group, since most of the crew was on location.  When it was all over, it was very quiet.  Tucker Gates, the director, looked up and said, "and that's it for the end of "Alias." And everyone was very quiet.  We all got up and left, going our separate ways.  Granted, everyone was exhausted and had a ton of work to get to for today's shoot, but it was really sad.  No fan fare before the meeting started and none when it was over.

After the meeting I headed to iCandy to meet up with a bunch of friends and bloggers that I've read for a long time.  It was great to see and meet everyone.  And it was even better seeing Van, Nick, Peter, Jason and Jaron - who I feel like I haven't seen in a lifetime since pilot season started.  Why I didn't just leave with them... will remain a mystery.

After that, I headed down the MTA station where we were filming.

Jennifer bought an In and Out truck for the crew.  The APO peeps were shooting when I arrived.  We all sat around and talked about the end of the show and what was next for everyone.  My APO regulars... I'm so proud of all of them.  They've been there since our gang moved into the APO set last season.  They are talented working actors.  Justin, who stands-in for Kevin Weisman is going to be shooting an independent film next month.  Nikki Flux, who you've seen as the short-haired spiky blond has been busy with commercial and pilot work.  Jeff Grays has gone from SD-6, to CIA, to APO.  Joe Davis is a big bear of a man who always says, "God Bless You."  Freddy Hernandez has been busy with commercial work as well.  Jillian Fontaine will be in "Mission Impossible: Three" as an agent.  When JJ saw her, he said, "you'll be my cross over!  The fans will totally recognize you!"  Dave Shannon and Julian Reyes have been there for two years.  Carrie Astin (Jennifer's hand double for the first four season, and one of our regular stand-ins), I've already talked about.  Darryle Canyon, Amanda Mason, Kumiko Nagano, Bart Noggle (who also went SD-6, CIA and APO), Lita Fice (who was Mia's stand-in), Tony Malanga, Jeff Green - I know I'm missing a few - each week, they become very much a part of the cast.  Jon Fleming is in Canada shooting "Dante's Cove."  Marci Levine, my dear Marci, when you see the finale, I'll tell you about her.  "Crossing Jordan" fans know her as the receptionist in the morgue, and this season I cast her as Jack Bristow's secretary. 

Later that night, Carl Lumbly and I talked for what seemed like an hour about the past five years and how proud we were to be a part of a show that really changed television.  "Alias" raised the bar for quality television.  Each week, we turned out feature film quality episodes.  And whether the audience got lost along the way and stopped watching, it will always live on in syndication and DVD box sets.

I'm so happy that the last show I will cast as a casting director is "Alias."  There was a short period of time a few weeks ago when I was considering going to New Mexico in May to cast a film based on "Transformers."  It would have been fun being on location, but a) I HAVE TO GET OUT OF CASTING b) the shoot is going to be tough  c) May is staffing season for writers in Los Angeles, so I would be an idiot to leave when everyone is meeting new writers.

I've said it before, I'll say it again.  I've learned more about writing and story telling being on "Alias" than I could have learned in 100 years in college.  It's sad now, going into the last few days.  Remembering that when I first got the word that was I to meet with the assistant director staff in an hour (I had just come from meeting the producers on "Crossing Jordan") and being told, "the producers are very particular.  Please be on your best behavior.  They don't want to use us to cast the show."  And an hour later walking in and seeing Brian O'Kelly who I had worked with on "Remember the Titans" in Atlanta.  He turned to Noga, the 1st AD and said, "this is Chad!  He's going to be our casting director!"

When Carl and I were talking about our memories over the past five years, and about what we'll remember, there are a very distinct moments I will never forget. 

I'll write about them in the next few days.