THE PILOT AIRED, AND NOW THE ENTIRE WORLD GETS TO ENJOY THE FUN I GOT A CHANCE TO SEE IN PERSON AS IT WAS BEING SHOT AND I WAS JUST ONE SMALL PIECE IN A BIG PUZZLE

Funny supposedly 15.4 million people watched the pilot, so far, and most of them probably didn't even notice my work. Which means I either did a great job or maybe I didn't?   

And so the episode aired, The pilot for CBS's BULL, officially entitled: The Necklace. S1 Ep 1. Starring Michael Weatherly, premiered on Tuesday night, September 20th at 9/8 pm, and I am happy to report I made the final cut. Of course one of my cousins watched it and afterwards asked me if I was in it, cause she didn't notice me at all… hm.  

Well, as showcased here in the screen caps of the episode (which is available to watch online, the link is at the bottom of this post), I actually am in it quite a bit, mostly slightly out of focus but there are moments once you notice me, that there I am. And my dreams are one step closer to reality. 

As the top image showcases, in my one close-up yes that is obviously me drawing and that drawing is showcased above. I had a blast being cast as the Court Room Sketch Artist on the television pilot, and in focus or out, that is me actually drawing the scene as its being filmed live on camera. 

Mind you I spent 3 days on the set, as the actors rehearsed, as the scenes was blocked, and while the scenes were being shot on camera with all the extra's like myself, well I was considered a Special Abilities Performer, showcasing my special ability…  and I'm happy that my art, was probably seen by more people in that brief moment then any other work of art that I've ever created. 

Think about it, over 15 million people (so far) have seen the episode, the one time I get a close up my art is showcased. I must add, originally seeing my art on camera, wasn't in the conversation. At one point, our director came over and watched me draw for a while. Next thing I noticed was the camera situated behind me had moved, from its original position to right behind me.  

And thanks God, when it was time, I was ready for my close-up. While I'm not entirely in love with what I did, the director seemed happy, so I guess I did my job. And without tooting my own horn too much, happily seeing my sketch on camera I'd have to say I did a pretty decent job. I must mention here, my previous time on camera as a sketch artist, was working on The Jim Gaffigan Show, on that episode which incidentally was filmed three weeks earlier in the same court house as the pilot of Bull. On that episode the art I was showcased drawing was supplied to me, I didn't really draw it, another artist did and I acted the role of a sketch artist.

So drawing on screen, was probably the most nervous I've been since the first time I ever auditioned for a job in a movie or television show for the role of a sketch artist. The first time, I had the opportunity to audition was for Law and Order, I had to showcase my abilities in holding in front of the director, and two other people. Of note, at the time I had given up art. I actually haven't picked up a brush or pencil in several years. Disillusioned by the whole art world at the time… but thats another entirely different story. 

I arrived at Chelsea Piers, completely out of practice as an artist, but desperately wanting this gig. Happily the place was pretty familiar to me, for several years before this I had worked background on multiple scenes shot for the Law and Order shows in the court sets at Chelsea Piers. I personally had worked on over 75 episodes as a background performer there.  

So I knew my way around that set, but after arriving at holding and after a brief introduction I was handed a pad and pastels and a photo to draw from. And right in front of these three very imposing individuals, as well as actors who were working that day on the show, I were told to do my best, and to put it nicely it was a make or break moment for yours truly.

Luckily the sketch came out okay, and I booked the gig, and my art appeared on national television. The camera started the scene on my drawing of a person sitting on a witness stand. Then the camera panned till it arrived on the person actually sitting on the witness stand, and happily my sketch looked just like the actress. I mentioned above that the pilot of Bull is probably the place that my art has been seen by the most people. I'm possibly wrong about that, I would think maybe that the Law and Order episode of me drawing in court, possibly has been seen by as many people or more. Maybe not, 15.4 million is a lot of people, but remember the never ending police drama has been running continuously for years now, in multiple countries, in too many languages to contemplate. So who knows what the numbers are for that specific episode. I'm just happy that the two things I love most, performing and creating art, has somehow morphed into an ongoing calibration on screen and off.  

The episode: The Necklace. S1 Ep 1 is available online: 

http://www.cbs.com/shows/bull/video/CWUV550Fuot_YmNnwGd4YOWeGiK4FB8Q/bull-the-necklace/

If interested in purchasing my portrait of Michael Weatherly on T-Shirts, prints or much more, please go to:
http://neil-feigeles.pixels.com/featured/michael-weatherly-neil-feigeles.html
http://www.redbubble.com/people/neilfeigeles/works/21644885-michael-weatherly?c=499552-television

Until next time,
Neil

I GUESS I PASSED THE AUDITION!

Because I got a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression on the set of Bull

A few months back, I mentioned here on this blog that I was given the great opportunity to work on the pilot of CBS's Bull. Starring Michael Weatherly and Freddy Rodriquez, the series is based on Dr. Phil's life and Michael Weatherly plays the good doc. I had a blast being cast as the Court Room Sketch Artist on the television pilot. 

My sketch in stages of actor Michael Weatherly.

Spending three glorious days doing two of the things I love most at the same time, acting and creating works of art. As the sketch of Michael Weatherly above showcases, working on the set inspired me to create art. Now tell me, what more would you want from life. Okay, maybe one or two lines would be nice, but that will come. Happily the show has been picked up and the pilot will be airing sometime soon. So look out for it on September 20th at 10pm. I do make a tiny appearance in the teaser trailer and hopefully will actually have a few nice moments that make the final cut, look for me drawing away inside the court room.

Sketch of actress Celeste Arias on the witness stand, on set.

Well, this past week, I finally got the good news that I was gonna be working on Ep. # 104, of the now new television series, again as the featured Court Room Sketch Artist. I got the chance to play with my prismacolor pencils once more and impress a few people with my abilities with capturing likenesses. Sadly my work on it, the sketches showcased here, the sketches that I actually did do, wasn’t featured on this episode, which is entitled “Unambiguous”. But I did spend much of it drawing my heart out. When I am on camera, that is ‘if’ I’m on camera, when you see me drawing I am actually drawing. I am as they say in the moment. Cause even when the director yelled cut, I continued drawing till I was asked to step into the other part of the weeks gig.

Sketch of actor Freddy Rodriquez with jury members, on set.

You see when I arrived in the very early hours of the first day, when I signed in I was asked would I also like to do a little Stand-In work as well. Of course I said yes, and so I got to stand-in for actor Joe Grifasi, and it was a true pleasure sitting in for him as the Judge. I say sit, because that's what this gig required, me sitting in the judges chair inside the court room. Oh and about The Court Room, our set, its glorious, brand-spanking new and simply perfection. That's about all I can say… rules you know.  

During the gig, I was the stand-in for actor Joe Grifasi, who played the judge on the episode.

The fun thing in all this, was, I got to play a judge! Little old me, well at least if only as another actor's stand-in who was cast as the judge on a National Television Network Series, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Pretending at least in my mind that on this day, or should I say days, cause I also was Joe's stand-in for the next two days I worked on set. Double duty baby. It was fun juggling both assignments and I got the chance to work with a lot of wonderful people in front of and behind the camera. Hopefully giving the powers that be on the series a good look at what I could possibly give them in the future for what I'm sure will be huge hit television series. That could run for years.

My sketch of actress Adriana Degirolami on the witness stand, on set.

One of the highlights of the entire gig was having a surprise reunion with one of my fellow High School of Art and Design alumni from 1977, Tony Mitchell. Who was sitting on the same bench in the gallery in the court room, but separated by four other background performers in the scene. At one point during the first day in court, Tony came up to me and asked  me if I was Neil Feigeles, me. And as soon as I looked into his face, I recognized him. What a small world. Just imagine its now the year 2016, we graduated almost 40 years a go.

My sketch of actor Alex Breaux on the witness stand, on set.

So showcased here, are several of the drawings I sketched while getting the wonderful opportunity of watching professional actors do what I love to do most. Act to their hearts delight. I actually also gave one of the actors, Alex Breaux, the sketch I did of him after we wrapped on my third day on the set. Showcased in the photo's here. Sadly I didn't get the chance to do the same for any of the others. But they do have my number on set so, me thinks I'm not that hard to find.

Actor Alex Breaux on set, holding my sketch of him on the witness stand.

One last thing, I must say I must compliment our Director, Jan Eliasberg, the way she ran the show, our set. Directing everything with humor and expertise, her actors and everyone else in the gallery, including yours truly, it was an acting work shop and a lesson for anyone wanting to be a director. Knowing exactly what to say to give her actors the right information so that they give her exactly what she wants in that moment. 

And finally Michael Weatherly, could the man be more charming, and in a word more hysterical. All I can say is,  what you see on screen, his warmth, his humanity and sense of humor, is not acting. And on set, there seemed to be a lightness in the air whenever he was around. If you're a fan of the man, you would not be disappointed. And if you had no clue who he was, instantly you would become one. 

Well I'm gonna be watching the series. If the scenes I was lucky enough to work on are any indication, this series is gonna be great. The writing, the acting, the directing and the quality of what I've seen on the monitors make me know that people are gonna be tuning in and returning. Looks to me like Michael Weatherly's gonna be in for a good long run, that could equal even his previous series NCIS. Hopefully, working on ep. 104 will be the first of future experiences on this set. 

Want to learn more about my sketch of Michael Weatherly, please check out this link, thanks:

http://neilfeigeles.blogspot.com/2016/04/third-times-charm-or-sometimes.html

Please check out these links: 

At Red Bubble and Fine Art America you can buy my art in various formats as well as clothes:

http://www.redbubble.com/people/neilfeigeles/works/21644885-michael-weatherly

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/michael-weatherly-neil-feigeles.html?newartwork=true

Until next time, 

Neil