Grey Matter_01.The Arrival
Blogging about my adventures as an actor on the set of the horror film, Grey Skies.
I haven’t been able to blog at all since leaving for Michigan because, not only have I been experiencing a whirlwind of activity since I arrived, but the internet connection here in the middle of nowhere has been sporadic at best. Go figure. This has made Twittering ideal (Twitter.com/jefbot) since I can do it from my phone, but blogging and e-mailing difficult. Sorry to my JEFbot mailing list peeps as I won’t be able to send the normal email reminders until I get back (click here to join). Here’s a quick rundown of what’s been happening with me for the past few days:
After excitedly spending the entire night last Friday packing for the three week movie shoot, I left for the airport at 4:30am on Saturday, August 12, and went on a hell raising, 80 mph taxi ride from West Hollywood to LAX, during which time I believe the driver nodded off at least twice and almost got in no less than two accidents (after both of which the driver yelled out “Stupeed BEETCH!” repeatedly). Needless to say, the flight from California to Michigan seemed rather uneventful after this.
ME, WRITER/PRODUCER MARK REILLY, AND FRIEND.
Once I landed in Detroit, I took a quick transfer to Flint, and while waiting for my luggage around the baggage carousel, met a couple of the actresses (Anne Griffin and Shelley Dennis) who had also flown in for the movie, and the P.A., Josh Ensink, who got us all packed into a truck and on our way for the hour and forty-five minute drive to Clare County, where we’d be filming for the next few weeks. A highlight of this drive was Josh pulling over to a Sonic’s burger joint, where we picked up some food since we were all starving after the flight. (They always play Sonic ads in L.A., but I’ve never actually been able to find one, so it was nice to finally see what I’ve been missing.) The cheeseburger, fries, and vanilla Dr. Pepper I had were pretty tasty, actually, and the carhop on rollerblades that brought the food to our car was a nice touch. Food procured, we were on our way.
CAMP CORNACCHIA
After getting settled in the cabin (which I’m sharing with three other guys, including Michael Cornacchia, who christened it “Camp Cornacchia” before any of us had a say) and taking a tour of the main house (retrofitted for the movie with a variety of stuffed wildlife including a bear, cougar, fox, beaver and deer, among others), we were stuffed full of pulled-pork sandwiches, salad, fruit and pudding prepared by our amazing craft service chefs, Dede and Greg. Delicious.
About an hour or so after dinner, a huge party was thrown for the cast, crew and investors outside of the house, where an enormous bonfire was lit and the drinks flowed freely. There was literally over a hundred people at the party that night, under the trees and illuminated by the light of the fire, which made for a wonderful, almost mystical, and most definitely memorable night and a great start to what I’m sure will be a fantastic experience making Grey Skies.
More to come as filming begins!
Sounds like an adventure! Can’t wait to hear more.
Why do I have the slight impression that your taxi driver was from Puerto Rico?!! (If you can survive Puerto Rico’s roads and it’s drivers you can survive anything else life throws at you dear, jef!)
*evil laugh of DOOM*
Awww, me love kitty that was gonna eat you and Mr. Reilly
The cabin looks pretty in the light of day, but there’s no way in hell and beyond I’ll be ever stuck in a cabin in the middle of nowhere when the sun is nowhere to be seen!!! (when will humanity learn that a cabin in the middle of nowhere during the middle of the night is when all BAD THINGS HAPPEN?!!!!!)
Thanks for sharing your adventures with us, jeffy. We wub you
Have fun adn remember to sleep with your lights on (or at least have a flashlight with you 24/7!!). The monsters usually keep at bay when there’s some light around.
Ha ha, what is that in front of Camp Cornacchia, a puddle? Hope that’s not where the mosquitoes are coming from. Enjoy your “lake front” property, dude. XDD
Wow. Quite an adventure to be had already! Loving the pics, blog and tweets you’ve been sharing with us all! Looking forward to hearing more about what’s going on with shooting and whatever other adventures come from your stay in MI!
Sounds pretty awesome.
I’m the same way with Sonic – so many commercials, so few actual restaurants. I know of like, one, in the entire county, and it’s way too far away to contemplate visiting. Way to go, poorly-targeted advertising.
Man I was so excited the first time I went to Sonic! …But then I realized my parents had tricked me. The restaurant had nothing to do with Sonic the Hedgehog… Now I use wikipedia to double check whatever my parents tell me! Oh well, the food was still good.
Sounds like you’re having quite the experience! Hope you’re all having fun (which it sounds like you are) and that the movie goes very smoothy!
I love your little cabins!! Maybe I am a bit partial because my husband built them along with your Host Greg’s help
Great blog post, bot. You really summed it up. I love the picture of Camp Cornacchia!