feng-shui-cafe

From the Jennifer Aniston of India to the Land of “Oz”

November 4th, 2006

Day 4 - the 5th of June, 2006.

One day to go before the big show!

My hours have been longer than I’d hoped. I was called in at 9:30am to rehearse with a ‘big’ Indian star - model, actress, winner of Miss Asia Pacific. Someone threw “Poet” into her voiceover intro but, upon discussion, we believe she may not truly be a “poet”… I believe she may be the Jennifer Aniston of India.

Of course, ‘the star’ didn’t arrive until 11:30am and then decided to work with the writers until 1pm. I essentially did nothing all morning and the minute I sat down for lunch, I was called to work. But that’s the way it ALWAYS goes!

Lunch was the usual buffet. Very good Indian food, with pasta & potatoes thrown in for good measure. The catering company at “The Tent” makes fresh “nan” in the most traditional manner (so I’m told). I’m trying just about everything (and there’s a LOT to try) but am having a daily dose of heartburn.

At any rate, back to work I went… grabbing a plate of heartburn and some nan to eat while working.

I did my 3 hours of rehearsal work and then sat, waiting for the next meal…

The Tent fluctuated temperature. I was layering, unlayering, layering, unlayering.

During my 7.5 hours of doing nothing post-rehearsal, I surfed the net.

A person I worked with recently in Vegas is also in Bangalore but working on another part of the show. He wrote some amusing stuff about his Indian experience (if you want to read his stories, go to www.themightygeek.com). My stories pale in comparison!

I showed what I considered to be his funny stories in India to a Production Assistant on my job named Srini. Srini lives in New York City but is of Indian origin and actually went to school for some time in Delhi. He’s a FABULOUS fellow and we completely hit it off.

Srini, however, was offended by my colleague’s stories and found no amusement whatsoever in them. I tried to explain that to people like myself and this guy, the way of India is an entirely foreign experience. Srini accepted that, but he didn’t quite get what was so amusing about the way people line up in India, etc.

And oh, and by the way, Srini confirmed for me that YES, the Custom’s Agent at the airport WAS trying to scam me with the 2nd laptop charge (refer back to Day 1). It appears I was supposed to counter his demand for the duty with a smaller bribe.

Clearly, the Custom’s Agent wasn’t expecting me & Cheryl. He thought we were easy targets but I guess we’re not as dumb as we appear!

Dinner was the ‘usual’ and I ate with Richie, a TD I’ve known for many years. He showed me where the video people work (not inside The Tent). It was a rather elaborate setup, yet somehow very spartan as well.

I got to see the gear that had been burnt out (see – it wasn’t just me!) and was told electrical power horror stories.

Also, today I learned something BRAND NEW….

If the show I was working on moved from “The Tent” to Cheryl’s venue, it WASN’T because of the rains beating down on the tent & the terrific noise it made (though it DID make terrific noise) or flooding of The Tent or anything of that nature…

The entire event would move locations if…there was any threat to the safety of the President of India, who was coming to speak. I learn something new every day here!

I spoke with Cheryl briefly at about 10pm. Since she doesn’t have an international cell phone, communication when we’re at the venues has been next to impossible. I have on-line access, so I tried a few times to phone from my computer to her room. I got no answer and figured she was off having fun in India.

That was not the case. She had to work at her venue until about 9pm.

I was released from The Tent finally at 10:30pm.

On the shuttle bus from Tent to hotel, I met “Oz,” a Video Engineer. Great guy who, it turns out, ‘lives’ next door to me at the hotel. He and I commiserated about the noise in the hallway at night keeping me (and him, it turns out) awake. He asked if I heard furniture moving all night long. Unfortunately, yes, I did. We both hoped they’d hold off on the furniture arranging so we could get some sleep.

Since I had an early call, I went back to my room as soon as I arrived back at the hotel, checked in with Allan & went to sleep.

I have to admit, I was a little stir crazy today, desperate to get out to the ‘real-world’ outside the confines of “The Tent.”

Yes, I do fully realize I’m being paid to work and am truly grateful, but at the same time, I cannot help that I’m itching to spend as much time outside with the locals.

Tomorrow will be my ‘big day!’

Entry Filed under: India