Because LAUGHING makes me feel better

I've been sick for the past few days and usually get very down when I don't feel well. . . so I was desperately seeking a little pick me up and while online today found these two funny videos on YouTube by CrappyHolidays featuring two gals from Whip-it! Ellen Page & Alia Shawkat.

Both of these tiny movie shorts made me laugh out loud, so I hope you enjoy. :)






My former classmates & I used to make movie shorts in our digital video classes years ago. I miss it soooo much sometimes, and hope I find the time to be involved again someday.

Something else that nearly had me in tears today from laughing so hard was a story I remembered from my childhood after my son accidentally got soap in his eyes in the bath. It's actually quite EMBARRASSING and I'm a bit hesitant to share, but it is funny, and I think we all have embarrassing stories, don't we? ;) When I was a little girl I felt the need to TEST the claims of Johnson & Johnson No More Tears shampoo. I remember being around 8 or 9 and having this secret "scientific mission" to see if what the company was saying on the commercials was actually true. I snuck the bottle of shampoo to my room and carefully put some of the shampoo directly into my eyes to see if, in fact, the shampoo was really that gentle. (Ridiculous, I know). Anyway, it STUNG just like any other shampoo would and after running to the bathroom I was frantically trying to wash it out before my mom found out what I had done. Hahahah!

It might not surprise you then, that I was voted "Most Gullible" in my high school senior year mock elections. ;)

P.s. I still love No More Tears and believe that it DOES work, but not when one puts it directly into the eye, unmixed with water. Lol. (Childhood lesson about concentrated liquids)

Share your embarrassing stories, please. I would love to hear your silliness!

Have a marvelous week, everyone!
xo
Jessica


"Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects." - Arnold Glasow

7 Loves for Saturday! Whip-it Memories!

It's Saturday, my favorite day of the week. This week was especially exciting for me because Drew Barrymore's directorial debut WHIP-IT finally had a trailer release. Having been a part of this movie, I was impatiently waiting for so long to see some kind of teaser, and was ecstatic to see the trailer for the first time on Wednesday evening! I wrote a little about the experience of being in the movie around a year ago and now that the official trailer is out I can finally share some pics/stories. xo

Here it is if you haven't yet been able to watch it. Filmed primarily in MICHIGAN! {yay for the Mitten}


Some interesting details about this movie:
1. Filming locations included the Detroit Yacht Club, (old & new), An old Birch Run diner that has since been bought and renovated, a high school & salon in Hamtramck, Mother Fletcher's - a vintage shop in Ferndale, a tiny house in Ypsilanti, and The Elbow Room, one of my favorite local dive bars.
2.Being a stand-in for Ellen Page included having to be in many of the spots she was to act in, in order to help the cameras prepare for the shot. Watching her in the trailer made me think of all of those places where I had been too, and tons of memories came flooding back. I became so nostalgic, I got teary-eyed!
3. Ellen Page and Alia Shawcat could often be heard singing together on set. They obviously had become good friends and it was cute to witness that.
4. You'd never know it, but I am sitting in the red car in the trailer, it was the day I was Ellen's double, which is different than being a stand-in. (but I got to wear the same outfit.) :D
5. The first time I had to skate on the track I was scared $hitless, because it was a raised track and I'd never skated on a raised track before! Gained many bruises from fallin' on my bum!
6. This movie made me realize how TOUGH roller derby girls are! They kick butt!
7. I was star struck initially mostly by Drew and Jimmy Fallon. I didn't even know who Kristin Wiig was at first, but have since become a huge fan, she's HILARIOUS!

I loved getting hair & makeup done! Although, the hard-core tough girl makeup took some getting used to! I wanted my hair done in a beehive for this one party scene, thinking there was no way my fine hair would stay, and like magic, Drew's hairstylist made it happen! I was SO HAPPY!



I really wish we could have kept those outfits for souvenirs!!




The original 6 Hot Tamales!! You'll see us very briefly in the movie, but we WILL be there! ;) The derby girl with the paint on her face is the REAL Babe Ruthless. She rocked!

Our last night of filming together we went out on the town in Detroit. Good times!


The celebs were very nice. While I got my hair done, Juliette Lewis told me she liked my jeans! (see above picture)
And Eve was cool too, always talking to everyone.

This is the legendary Bob Yeoman, and he was director of photography. He was the BEST, and I was so sad to say goodbye to him at the wrap party. My friend Francesca and I told him that he better give us a picture on the last day, and he did. :)

And of course, I had to get this picture with Bliss Cavendar and Smashley Simpson, aka Ellen Page and Drew Barrymore, respectively! I loved that they were tiny like me.

It was awesome to see these 2 girls having fun at the wrap party at a tiny little bar I've been going to for about 10 years now! It was 6:30 in the morning the next day when I finally left and people were STILL there partying. I couldn't believe it!


Being on that set was definitely one of the best times I've ever had in my life! Not only was it fascinating to watch a real movie being made, but I met some amazing people that have become great friends.
Here are my lucky skates, and I can't wait to see them on screen October 2nd, 2009, opening day for Whip It! Don't miss it!

xo

It's been a while!

I simply cannot believe it has been over a month since I've last written. Well, I am happy (and sad) to say that the movie has officially wrapped. (as of Sept. 13 actually) in Michigan. What an experience! (certainly one I'll never forget). I was so happy to get a picture with my two favorite stars on the set! ;) For a while it was so hard to believe that it was over. Also, the last day in Michigan it was completely rainy the entire day, so I think that put a little damper on everyone's mood. Sometime pretty late (maybe between 11pm-1am) they called, "Last Michigan scene!" After the cut of that scene we all (cast and crew on set) piled up into this tiny living room where we drank a few beers, watched some bloopers, and heard our lovely director give us a beautiful "thank you and farewell" speech. She almost cried, and I definitely shed a few tears myself. I gave a few gifts and hugs, and afterward there was a party at a local bar that's been a huge favorite among me and my friends for quite a long time. It was awesome to be partying with the stars at such a familiar place!! :) Thank you to the ELBOW ROOM for hosting an after hours party just for us! I remember I left around 6:30 am and there were STILL people there partying. Wow.
Goodbye Ellen & Drew, I hope I see you again someday. Thanks for all the Thank you's and hugs. Goodbye Kind Services, thanks for all the delicious food you constantly provided for us, and COFFEE TOO, cannot forget the COFFEE! Goodbye AWESOME and AMAZING CREW!!!! (sniffle sniffle). I will miss so many of you soooooo much and hope we meet again! (especially Stephen, Francesca, Gordon, Bob, Johnny and Johnny, Dday, Charlie, Jim, and all those other people, you know who you are!)



I would like to say though . . . it's kinda nice being back to my simple life. ;)
I can't wait to start selling & writing about vintage again! I've gotten to see some of my very great friends, I've moved . . . change is in the air, it must be AUTUMN!
Happy FALL everyone!

Happy Happy Joy Joy - Called back to the set of WHIP-IT!

Wow! I wish I had more time to write, I do miss it! However, I was fortunate enough to be called back to the WHIP-IT set and this time as a stand-in for the lovely Ellen Page, star of Juno!

It has been such a wonderful experience I don't even know where to begin. I was surprised that I hadn't even mentioned in my last post that Ms. Page was the star of the movie! In Whip-It she plays Bliss, a young girl stuck working at a little diner who wishes to somehow get out of her small town and find something she is passionate about. She ends up finding roller derby! Read all about it on the WHIP-IT imdb page!

We were in Birch Run all last week and it was a blast! The funniest part of my experience there was that this young teen girl and her mother followed me and a couple of other stand-ins to the ice cream store across the street from our lunch quarters. When I made eye contact with them they asked me if I was Ellen Page, and "could we please get a picture with you?" I laughed and told them I was only her stand-in, but they still wanted a picture with me, which was sweet. :) It was of course extremely flattering being told I look like a such a pretty young actress, but honestly we don't look much alike at all besides being the same height and both having dark hair. Regardless, it was a compliment I'll never forget! :)

TONS of Michiganders were lined up across the street watching the action on set. Work time could usually range about 12-14 hours per day, and there were devoted fans watching always. It was neat. Watch part of it HERE.

Isn't that huge pig hilarious? He looks so sad and reminds me of Wilbur from Charlotte's web. The diner (completely set up by crew) was an old diner that had went out of business and was made into THE OINK JOINT haha! I can't wait, I mean I REALLY CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THIS MOVIE! It just looks like it is going to be so much fun!
I also HAVE to mention, I have SUCH a HUGE new appreciation for the credits that come after a movie is over. It seems we often give actors and actresses so much of the attention for a film, (which of course they rightfully deserve) however, rarely do we realize how important the crew is. I simply CANNOT BELIEVE how many nice crew members I've met, and how hard they work every single day together as a team to make everything flow smoothly. It will be AMAZING to see all of this effort come together when the movie opens.

The happiest moment for me this week (we're now filming back in Detroit) is that Drew now knows me by my name, and she gave me a hug today. Rarely do I put people on a pedestal, but this girl deserves it. She is so focused right now and it is just awesome to see someone that I grew up watching go from being a little girl actress to a respected film director. Not only that, she is ALWAYS polite and thankful for our help.

Can't wait to get back to set tomorrow. It's always something different and exciting. I'll post more later. Goodnight. :)