On Monday I headed down to the Mystery Bookstore on Broxton in Westood only to find the street blocked off to cars and cameras set up everywhere.  Hmmmm.   I asked a bystander who was wearing a wireset what was going on.   He said they were getting ready to shoot a scene from the new Steve Carrell movie!! I chatted with the set nurse, the security guards, and the hair stylist.   Collectively, they told me a lot about the process.  And no one minded in the least that I just hung around for two hours watching.   Steve Carrell walked within six inches of me to get to his seat when they were finally ready for him.  I, of course, did not notice .  The security guard, observing this,  tapped my arm and said  that the star was sitting about two feet from me.   Very exciting.    Steve walked by me again later, on his way to get a pop can from the cooler.   I was caught up in my own thoughts and didn't notice him again, until he smiled at me.   LOL  One might have expected me to be paying closer attention.  Well, only somone who doesn't know me would expect that.  The rest of you would be surprised if i DID notice my surroundings.  

 

The surprising thing about this 'shoot' was that it took two hours to set up for a 20 second take.   The lights, etc. have to be just right...and exactly the way they had been when the other parts of this scene had been shot.  It looks like tedious work to me; yet another reason to be glad not to be a movie star.   Steve knows his craft, however, and only had to do his bit five times until the director was satisfied.  Anyway, it was a fun experience, and one I'm not likely to have in Michigan.

 

Today is my last class about opera, then I have a lunch and a dinner set up with friends on Thursday and Friday.   Aurelia and I have been talking about my imminent departure.  She has announced she will come with me.   Oh dear.   At breakfast today we talked about how much I love her, not just when I am with her, but even when I am far away. Our parting will be difficult..again, but that is the reality of our lives and there's no denying it.