What you see on screen is not what you see behind the scenes. It's only six in the morning, but the set at Beso's in Hollywood is bustling with two dozen men and women hard at work. Key grips adjust a light, making sure it reflects off my cheek in just the right way. Not too harsh, but soft, a comforting and warm glow, like a reassuring pat.
The director paces the restaurant, points every which way, a general in the mists of battle, his mind a million places all at once.
In back, the actresses prep with makeup. Two stylist for four girls. Brushes and blush and hairspray. Steam billows from a portable iron. Someones looking for eye liner.
Time to block out the video. Chart each and every step I'll take from 'Action!' to 'Cut!' There's a girl with celestial emeralds for eyes on my arm. She follows me into the restaurant. To a table. I pull out her chair.
On the second floor, catering has coffee and breakfast.
A photographer snaps another photo inches from my face.
Cameramen swarm, circling me like vultures "Can you sit up, please?" they ask. "Move a little left. A little right. Good, good."
It's almost eight and we haven't shot a single second of footage. Two hours of preparation Two hours of checking, rechecking, and checking again the cables, the angles, the continuity.
"We ready?"
"We're ready," says the director. He waits quiet. All is still. Until he puts into -- "Action!"
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