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