I MAY NOT BE A MEDICAL EXAMINER IN THE MORGUE IN REAL LIFE, BUT RECENTLY I GOT THE CHANCE TO PLAY ONE OF TV…  

Here I am on Blue Bloods, I actually made the final cut again, yeah me!

When I was a kid my parents took me to a specialist, honestly can't remember why, but I did have a terrible case of dyslexia, kind of still do. One of the hazards of being left-handed, so it might have been about that. We used to joke in my family that I went to college before I went school, because the specialist I saw was in a college in Manhattan, sorry can't remember where. The only thing I do recall was near the end they were discussing my handwriting. I'm not too proud to admit that sometimes I can't even read my own notes, that's how bad it can be. Well, the doctor said something like, 'Lady, your son's either gonna be a doctor or an artist cause his handwriting is that bad.' My mom's loving response was, 'I guess he's gonna be an artist, because my genius ain't smart enough to be a doctor.' Well, I may not be smart enough to be a doctor, but sometimes I get to pretend I'm one on film, television or even stage. Sometimes that pretending, makes the final cut and happily when you tell people that you actually worked on something you can say, see, yes I did and here it is. 

Which means, that I'm happy to announce that yes I made an appearance on a television series on major television network on Friday evening. I mean how cool is that? Me a kid from Brooklyn, living his childhood dreams. Showcased in the screen caps included in this post are scenes from the CBS series Blue Bloods in the episode, Whistleblowers, and yours truly is in the middle of the action, or at least near by and in focus. As I performed the role of medical examiner in the city morgue. And yes thats Donnie Wahlberg, one of the stars of the series trying to solve yet another crime in the streets of New York. As mentioned in previous posts, sometimes all your hard days work never makes it on air, as in my recent nonappearance in an episode of Mr. Robot where I also played a medical professional, with lab coat. So its always nice to find out that yes, indeed there I am.

If you watched the episode, which aired on Friday, October 28, 2016, I make a brief appearance at approximately the eight minute mark. Of note, the clothes are mine, except for the lab coat, that was wardrobe's. Luckily when they were casting this part, a lab coat wasn't one of the requirements to land the role. Imagine getting offered a role and then when they query if you own a brief case and you say no, they go sorry. Yes, sadly it just happened to me last week for the new Netflix series, Friends from college, luckily they called back for a different role, and I booked the gig… yeah.

One of the most annoying things about working as an extra, featured special ability performer, or just your normal blur in the background is unlike the named players, stars or under five's, those of us whose names aren't showcased in the credits, more often then not wear our own clothes. That is unless its a period piece or a part that requires a specific wardrobe or costume. Normally they suggest what options to bring, and you go in search of what matches their needs. When you arrive at the gig, sometimes with a suitcase filled with options, the wardrobe people, looks your stuff over and hopefully see something that works for them. Its actually quite fun watching them mix and match, and then pull a tie out of thin air, and somehow it all works out perfectly on screen. 

So, once you get the great news, yes I'm booked. Maybe this could be my big break, maybe this time somebody on set will see something in me that matches what they are looking for. Or at least lets hope the job won't make me want to just finally give up. Its too cold, or too wet, or they want you to run up and down steps or you have to deal with people that make you seriously ponder how much of a glutton for punishment can a person take before just chucking it all. Happily its never gotten that bad and the opportunities I've had so far has made all the struggles worth it. 

Once you get booked, you have to wait for the information on where the gig is gonna be shot. If they will be picking up people up with a mini-van or bus, or are you getting there on your own. Then you have to wait to discover what time you need to report to the job in the first place, which could be really really early the next day. Then figure out what you have in your closet, if it fits to what they need, and then pack up everything so that you can actually carry it without breaking your back. Then, figure out your directions, set the alarm and hope it wakes you up if you actually get to sleep. Then hope your transportation gets you there on time and you don't have to deal with being late, which is the worst possible crime that you have on a set. And finally, fingers crossed hope that by the end of the day you're still smiling and happy you accepted the job in the first place.

Happily my call time wasn't too early, my wardrobe was correct, the lab coat fit just fine and the day turned out better then expected on the set of Blue Bloods. Everyone in front and behind the camera was cool and hopefully they liked what I did and perhaps I'll get another chance one of these days to make another appearance on the series.  

In closing, one small thing, how cool is it, not that I was a huge fan of his former band, but how many people can say they spent a few hours in the company of Donnie Wahlberg, one of the members of New Kids on the Block, well I can and it was way cool. If you missed this episode of Blue Bloods when it aired, and/or can't get on demand on your cable and/or would to like to watch this episode again online, here's the link to it, please go there, sit back and enjoy:

http://www.cbs.com/shows/blue_bloods/video/FCF4A8CF-4B3B-3B6F-8C62-07F95D418A64/blue-bloods-whistleblowers/

Until next time, 

Neil

HAPPY TO REPORT I MADE IT IN THE FINAL CUT ONCE MORE, AND THATS NO BULL!

It was fun seeing my work air, especially after seeing my cameo's on Mr. Robot and Gotham not make the final cut.

And there I was I made it on air once more on CBS's new smash television series Bull. Starring Michael Weatherly and it was fun to see how they showcased my role as the Court Room Sketch Artist on this episode, entitled 'Unambiguous' as opposed to my work on the pilot. 

Its always fun and suspenseful when you sit down to watch something you've worked on, because you never know which take they choose. Or how they will edit it and if you actually make the final cut. Or when the scenes you worked actually fit into the episode or film. For example I worked the remake of Alfie with Jude Law, the scene I worked opened the film, as opposed to The Wolf of Wall Street, where the scene I discovered while watching it, ended the movie.

Showcased here with actor Alex Breaux (2nd from the right), and Tony Mitchel (far left), a fellow alumni from the High School of Art and Design and The School of Visual Arts.

You spend several days on a project and you actually have no clue what will wind up on air. I mention this because I recently worked background on both Mr. Robot, as a surgeon, and Gotham as a lawyer/businessman pedestrian, and neither work made it on camera. But it was interesting to discover that in the case of Gotham, there must have been over hundred extra's working the scene I was in, and only a handful of those actually made the final cut.

Here's the sketch with actor Alex Breaux, which I gave him after the shoot.

Its also fun getting the chance to get to know the actors as they are preparing before, during and after scenes. How they act (pun intended), If they talk to you, how they treat the regular folk. Happily I can report that in the case of the actors on Bull, you could have not asked for a better experience. Of course it could've helped that I was sketching them, and so as artist and model, relationships form during the creation of the art. It also helps when the sketches turn our decent and you actually capture their appearances with the use of Prismacolor's on paper.

Showcased here with actor Alex Breaux (3rd from the right), and actress Adriana Degirolami  (2nd from the right).

Another great thing was, since this gig was a project I had already worked on, the set, the crew, the cast, and some of the background performers I either knew personally or were familiar with them. So it almost felt like I was a regular on the series. Years ago, when I first was attempting this madness known as a career in film and television, while I still was a non-union performer, I was lucky enough to work on the Law and Order shows on numerous occasions. In fact one day, I actually worked on two separate episodes of Law and Order. 

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

That said, usually with this job, each new assignment is like the first day at a new job, a new school, or even a new relationship. So its always fun and you never know what that day will bring. What you will be doing, and sometimes what new friends or enemies you might acquire.

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

Now if you notice, what I'm wearing and what other people are wearing changes, in the photos showcased here. You see, on this episode I worked three days. But in regards to the story line, the scenes we shot, spanned several days. So, if you look at me, I had three looks. Similar I know, but two different shirts, and sometimes I wore my sports coat. One of the fun things on the job, is juggling wardrobe. All of a sudden, they might want to change you into something else. Or tell you instead of wearing your first outfit, this scene requires you to wear your second outfit. On a recent job, I was actually told to change three times at the start of the day, seemingly I was getting mixed messages. Eventually all worked out, and every body was happy and we rolled picture.

In the case of the light blue shirt, at one point they had me move to the other side of the courtroom, where I was sitting directly behind Michael Weatherly in the shoot. No I didn't faint, of course, inside the fan in me was screaming loudly, but on the outside I acted like a mature adult performer and this was no big deal. You see, even though the shirt I was wearing was in some sequences, it was now too bright, so they moved me to the other side of the set. As I mentioned, the best part of this was I was now directly behind the star. Of course, within minutes Michael got up and was replaced by his photo double. it was actually way cool witnessing this. True Hollywood magic. I hope I'm not giving up a secret, but sometimes when you see an actor from the back or in a distance, you aren't actually seeing the actor, but someone else whose a dead ringer from that angle.  

In my career so far, I've only been a photo double for one actor, it was on the set of The Amazing Spiderman 2, the one with Andrew Garfield, besides having a little moment on screen as a doctor in a hospital scene with the great Sally Fields, I also was a photo double for actor Colm Feore. Sadly in my case, our sizes weren't the same, as I discovered when I tried not to split the seams in his costume, a beautiful suit. Both pant and jacket felt at least one size smaller then me on a slim day. So either his measurements were completely off or I was a lot fatter and heavier then the man actually was. Sadly the day I worked, Colm Feore wasn't on set, so I never had the chance to meet and/or talk to him. Or most importantly the best part of any gig, watching the actor work. Studying how they do their trade. This for me has always been the best thing about even being a fly on the wall of a set, witnessing the performances. Seeing the actors interact. And once in a while, getting the actual chance to play with your heroes and feel like you're where you actually have always belonged. Seriously it doesn't get any better then that.

The funniest part of it all was, I had spent much my time while not performing the role of the sketch artist, as a stand-in for actor Joe Grifisi, who played the judge in this episode. I luckily got the chance to spend time with the actor who was Michael Weatherly's regular stand-in on the series. So at one point, while performing as a stand-in for the Judge, all of a sudden there was Michael's stand-in talking to this person who looked amazingly like Michael Weatherly from the rear. I was a little confusing at first. I was joking to myself, that the man's such huge star now, he actually as two stand-ins. It wasn't till I went back to the role of sketch artist, as I mentioned above, that I discovered he was simply his photo-double, and once that sequence was shot, as far as I know, he left for the day. 

One last thing, as I was leaving for a job on Friday early afternoon, I worked background on the newest Jeff Bridges film, yeah. Actually not knowing he was the star of it till I made it to set and yes I met the man (!), a true bucket list moment. Sometimes I seriously love my life. I only mention the gig, because as I left my apartment to go to it, I ran into one of my neighbors, who has always been nice to me. But this time, once she saw my face acted thoroughly excited to be seeing me. Honestly I was in my own world, worrying about not being late, the cardinal sin of the job. So I wasn't expecting anything, until she excitingly told me she saw me on Bull! Thats right folks, I was recognized by someone. She told me when she saw me on her television set she screamed out loud 'I know that person, he's my neighbor'. How fun was that. It put a really huge grin on my face and set me off to my latest adventure.

If you missed the episode and/or would to like to watch this episode online, here's the link, please sit back and enjoy:

http://www.cbs.com/shows/bull/video/lRh_C3ZkccmbpDqUzsDpV0KWPRtQtEEQ/bull-unambiguous/

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

If you like the art and might want to buy something with the art showcased on it, 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