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.
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:
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
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