The Perfect Family

Day 4 -- Friday, October 23

(shot scenes 38 & 39)

It's always sad when a job comes to an end, perhaps more so when you've had a lot of fun, perhaps even more so when the people are so great, and then perhaps even MORE so when it means you have to leave Hawaii. Calling the Colony Surf Hotel my home for the past four days has been very enjoyable.

The job itself was another big first for me. I had not worked on a "non-sitcom" since shooting Deep Impact over a year ago. And I had not worked on TV in that capacity since Party of Five over three years ago. So it was a slump-breaker at least. But beyond that, the role was finally something a little more than four lines and out. Besides Matlock, this is the only job where I created a character that had some staying power throughout the episode. What I thought and did actually mattered. When the role is small, there is almost a sense that you're annoying the other people in the project by being there. A small role can be treated with about the same attention and respect as a large prop. These past few days, however, if I had a question or a concern about the character, I could actually ask the director, Daran Serafian, and he would take the time to discuss my concerns. Crazy, isn't it?

In the meantime, the entire fictional family began to really gel during the week and many new lines were added on the fly as we explored the nuances of the characters and the family dynamic. Oh yeah, and we were also trying to make it funny. Sam Anderson led the charge on that front. His faces and gestures and attitude were hilarious and infectious, both on and off camera. He was truly the family's wacky figurehead and spiritual leader to boot. I learned a lot from him in the sense of always being up and ready to create as well as being supportive of everyone and everything happening around you. He was a model professional.

The Not-So-Perfect Family

While Sam provided emotional support, Megan Ward took over coordinating our efforts with the crew. Suffice it to say that the set was not the most organized I have ever been on and a few times communication between us and the director seemed muddled. More than once, Megan took it upon herself to keep the information flowing and maintain forward progress. I think those who had more experience realized and respected what she was doing and I know I did.

And where did I fit into all this? For now, happily in secondary position. I don't have enough set experience or savvy to be the team leader. I was pleased with the amount of attention I was getting and was learning about being more involved with the creative aspects of creating a character. That was a big enough mountain to climb for the time being. And I was still on my best behavior and in nearly constant good spirits to provide whatever little glimmer of inspiration and amusement I could for my fellow actors.

The feeling a job like this begins to generate is the sense that there is a future to all this and it is linked to the present. That is, when you show up on the set of High School High for a day and slap a "Kick Me" sign on a man's back and say your one line, it's nice that you were chosen by the director out of many other hopefuls, yes. But on the day of shooting, you go in, you slap, you speak, and you go home, and you hope you don't hurt anyone or break anything. And as the dust settles, the only real evidence that you worked on the project is a quarter-inch line on the back of your 8x10 and a two-second on-screen appearance for the 34 people who go see the movie (21 of them related to you). The impact of the job is felt virtually nowhere. And I'm not saying that all of Hawaii is buzzing about the big, new star that has landed on their shores, but it's a more lasting high to hear people express how interesting and fun it was to work and create with you. When one of the porducers approaches you on the last day to say his favorite moment in all eleven episodes to date was something you did in one scene, well then that's something to be proud of because it came from creating a character, not just showing up and asking Joe if he's all right before they hang you from a flagpole. So I'm just saying it felt good.

Know what else feels good? Flopping down on your king-size bed with the lanai doors flung wide open and the breeze blowing in off the ocean into your room as the sun smiles down from the clear blue sky. And getting paid to be there. Again, I wish there had been a little more down time to take in some of the Hawaiian wonders, but our schedule was early until late every day. I did get one lazy morning today since I wasn't picked up until 11:45am and it felt good to wake up on my own in my big bed. And I did get a chance to see my aunt Kathy and cousin Kahea a couple of times during my few moments off, but they also felt the frustration of a busy schedule and all too short a stay. Did somebody say, "return trip"?

Go back to Day 1

Day by Day | Fantasy Island | Ducey on TV