This was a really BIG deal!

Ian filmed the short film on Monday and Tuesday, 6/17 & 6/18.   The timing was absolutely perfect as school had just finished for the year the week before and we still had 2 weeks before Ian was headed down to Orlando to visit family.

Upon arriving at the set on Monday, Ian and I were impressed with how large the crew was.  There was a director, assistant director, the executive producer, the regular producer, cameramen, people in charge of sound and lighting, make-up/clothing stylist, the writer, the casting director, and a few others.   It was a much bigger deal than either of us was expecting.

The parents were told to hang out in the "green room", which was basically a nice basement in the director's house, where the filming was to take place on day 1.  I had a great conversation with 2 of the other parents who also had kids in the film.  These kids were also 14 years old and already very accomplished performing in professional theatre, voiceovers, movies, and more.  Ian and I were definitely in uncharted waters. This was all so new to us.

I learned so much during day 1.  The mom of Vivian and the dad of Talia were so helpful and provided lots of advice and tips on how to navigate this new world for us that Ian wants to explore further and see where it can take him.

At some point during different times in the day, a few of the crew each came up to me and asked if Ian had done film before...um, no!  Hello, this is our first professional ANYTHING!!   They were impressed with Ian, said he was doing a great job, and then let me know that he is really great at improv. Apparently, he was making them laugh A LOT during takes.  They weren't sure I knew just how funny Ian was.  Yep, all you need to do is let him go and he will do his thing for any kind of audience.  Each conversation would end with, this movie will give you great footage to add to his reel.  I guess that means we have to start a reel!

Talia's dad said to make sure we add this movie listing as an entry on his IMDB page.  Ha!  I guess that means we need to start an IMDB page for Ian.

So the big kissing scene turned in to a peck on the cheek.  It just worked out better for the scene for Abby to lean over and kiss Elliott on the cheek rather than turn his head and kiss him on the lips.  But this still counts as Ian's first kiss!  And it is still captured on film.

Day 2 of filming found us at a synagogue in NW D.C.   I was a pro at this 'Momager' thing by now.  :)    I barely spied on the kids during filming and instead hung out at the synagogue's library or the room with all the food and just enjoyed being a part of it all.   At the end of the shoot, we made our way to the National Cathedral just up the street and took a bunch of photos for publicity.  (and maybe a movie poster?  -- do they do those for short films??).  We will find out!

The film is going to be entered into film festivals all over.  It seems to me, it would be a perfect fit for our local Northern Virginia Jewish film festival that I've gone to a few screenings over the years.  Between being about Jewish kids, having a local writer and being filmed in NoVa, it has to make it in!   I can't wait to see what happens next!

NYC for 60!

Ian's advanced drama class does a trip to NYC each year.  I don't need to be told that twice to know I want to go and be a chaperone.  Ian wasn't initially happy with me being on the trip with him, but he eventually came to accept my presence. He even said when the weekend was over, that it turned out ok to have me along because "I didn't get all up in his business".

The itinerary for the trip was pretty awesome. Part of the 48 hours is spent going to two Broadway shows and doing a workshop with one of the actors from a show.  As soon as we arrived, we went straight to the studio and met with the musical director and a member from the cast of "Come From Away".   The kids learned a musical number "Welcome to the Rock", along with the dance that accompanies it.   The chaperones had the option to stick around and watch or go get coffee, wander around and be back in an hour.  Are you kidding me??!! Of course, I am going to stay and watch.  I LIVE for this stuff!!

I tried very hard to be on the down low and not be obvious about taking photos/video.  However, once the kids started rehearsing, I couldn't hold myself back any longer.  I took a chair, put it in the corner of the studio and stood on it to record.  Talk about putting myself out there!  There was no going back now and hiding!

After the dance number, the kids got to do a 30-minute question and answer period with Julie and the musical director.

We made our way to Brooklyn and visited Smorgasburg, the largest open-air food market.  I was in charge of Ian and his two friends, both named Ryan!   This was interesting having to keep track of 3 teenage boys among a thousand people and these boys all wanted to go in different directions.  I survived and we had a great time!   It was such a beautiful day!!

After having lunch, we had free time to walk around Times Square.  Then it was time to go to Ellen's Stardust Diner for dinner.  Love this place!  And having a group reservation is the best way to go.

"King Kong" was the show we saw Saturday night. The funniest part of the trip was when we were getting our tickets for the show as we were walking into the theatre.  Ian had big plans to sit next to his best buds.  He wanted me to be as far away from him as possible.  Ian is quickly shuffling the tickets around, taking the ticket from one person and handing it to another person.  He had very little time to accomplish what he wanted to do.  Upon entering the theatre, the kids went straight to their seats and the adults went to the bathroom.  When I made my way to my seat, I looked at the empty seat next to Ian and realized he messed up big-time!  Ian inadvertently had me sitting right next to him!  The expression on his face as he is realizing what he had done, is priceless.  He asked if anyone around us would switch seats with me. Ha! Not only would no one switch seats, but we all couldn't stop laughing!   King Kong had great special effects. The way the creators had King Kong have facial expressions were so cool and most impressive.  But the storyline and music was very weak.

On Sunday, we did a guided tour of the 9/11 Memorial.   Even though I had been before, I learned quite a bit about the September 11th attacks that I didn't know.  Again, another beautiful day to be outside and walking around.  We had some extra time and took a walk down to Trinity Church and saw where Alexander Hamilton is buried.  So cool!

Lunch was at Carmine's and soooo yummy!   They do gluten free pasta perfectly.  After lunch, we made our way to see "Come From Away".  The play tied in nicely with the 9/11 Memorial tour and it really hit home how wonderful this town of Gander, New Foundland was to the 38 planes of people who had no choice to but to land in their town.  Their population doubled!  Without a doubt, we all loved "Come From Away" and was moved to tears.  After the show was over, we went to the stage door and hung out waiting for the actors to come out.   We got to see Julie and tell her how great she did.

Chaperoning this field trip was the best!  I am so happy I didn't think twice and not sign up to go. I am pretty sure I had more fun than all those kids put together!

Brooklyn Smorgasburg!

The skip day that almost wasn't

Each year, since 3rd grade when SOL testing is administered, I let the kids take each take a skip day from school as soon as all the testing is over.  It's my way of rewarding them for working hard all year, and being done with another year of school.

The kids each take their day separately and they get to the design the day exactly how they want to spend it.  For some reason I asked Sam more than a few times when she wanted to take her skip day and she'd pick a day and then change her mind.  And not just change her mind on which day she was going to take, but change her mind on wanting to take one at all.  What???   Hard to believe.  It wasn't until the 11th hour (we were running out of school days!) that Sam ended up picking a day to miss school and sticking with it.  Sam mapped out how she wanted to spend her day and got very exact with the timing for everything.   How cute is this note?!?!

However, when the day finally came to be, Samantha didn't wake up until 10:00am, which meant we were already behind schedule.  Then when it came time to play tennis, we both decided it was way too hot to be outside and shifted our focus to getting pedicures instead.

I am so happy Sam ended up skipping school.  We had a great day together!

Update on short film

Ian was emailed the script for the short film.  It is really, really short.  Like all of 7 pages short.  When he went for the audition and had a few pages sent to him to do the audition with, it turns out that was half the script!

In one of the scenes Ian's character will have his first kiss with the girl who likes him. And now it will be recorded forever.  We've been having lots of fun making jokes about this.

I guess my plans to have a screening party is no longer necessary.  This short film can't possibly be longer than 5 minutes in length.  My new plan is to post it on YouTube and send it to friends and family.   Don't get me wrong, we are all so excited that Ian got picked to star in the movie, but it could be a while before he is getting recognized out in public.

Ooops, she did it again!

Almost 3 years to the day, Samantha broke her arm.  This time it was her other arm.  It happened at school and I got a call from the school nurse that Samantha had fallen at recess and her arm was bad enough that I should come get her and have it checked out.  Sure enough, she fractured her elbow.  The orthopedist described it as significant.  After getting xrays at Fair Oaks Hospital emergency room, we went the next day to the specialist and had them put a cast on her.  For 4 to 6 weeks she will have this cast.  Ugh!  Just as the pool was opening for the Summer.  So. Not. Fun.

Samantha said it happened when she was doing a handstand on the playground.  I am sure she is not going to try that again.  We are all hoping that her arm heals closer to 4 weeks than 6.  A one-armed Samantha is not a happy Samantha.

Bucket list item!

A few months ago I found an adult beginner tap class and decided to take it!  Growing up I never took any kind of dance instruction and I guess I have felt that void for many years.   I announced at dinner one night to my family that I was going to register for this tap class. They were all shocked and thought I was making a joke.  Nope, I am 100% serious.  

I sent an email to some friends seeing if they wanted to join me. To my delight, two friends replied back almost instantaneously saying this was on their bucket list too and for years now was thinking about taking a tap class.  Wow!  When I told Jeff that Kelly and Susanne were going to join me, he couldn't believe that there was more than just me wanting to do this crazy idea. 

The tap class was offered thru our local recreation center classes, partnered with a local dance studio.  It was 8 weeks long, an hour each lesson, and a very reasonable cost.  So when I write why I will not take this particular class at this particular dance studio again, I really don't have much room to complain.   The parking lot was dreadful.  Parking was limited and the spots were tight.  The class was held in the evenings, so it being dark made the parking situation that much more troublesome.  The hallway inside the dance studio where you waited for the classroom to be open, was tight.  Very tight. Two people couldn't pass each other.  And with all the classes letting out at the same time, and all the new people showing up for the next set of classes, it was ridiculous!  Lastly, this is the worst part of it; there was a smelly girl in our tap class.  Like really, really smelly.  Her body odor wafted through the whole room and left a pungent smell in the air.  Even standing a few feet away from her made it sickening to breathe.  I ended up putting some lavender oil on my wrists and smelling my wrists when I couldn't take it anymore.  It helped somewhat, but the smell never diminished or wasn't an issue.  I am sure it was a cultural thing, but oh man, it was the worst!  

Other than my list of issues, I did enjoy taking the class. I am going to try to find another adult dance class to take, but at a different studio.  And it still needs to be beginner.  I discovered after 8 weeks, I have little to no coordination and it will be a long time before I get beyond this level.