THREE WEEKS IN CANADA - pre-production, or, a week or two in castings and on the streets of toronto eating ourselves silly.

in waiting to shoot most things,

people gloss over all the prep work.

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luckily, when i shoot with michael manacop,

we gloss over the prep work by eating out.

often.

everywhere.

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so after a day of casting.

ok, DAYS of casting . . .

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we would often retire to the restaurant across from our hotel,

an amazing sushi place calle AME.

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no, for you avid followers of the two dog,

that is not connie bang on the banner.

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the food ranged from japanese sea bream

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to an insane kabocha squash tempura

that paired perfectly with a cazadores tequila:

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yes,

served on a bed of nails.

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then after a day of location scouting:

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we would try out some delicacy.  poutine.

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that, my lovelies,

is a pile of french fries.

topped with cheese curds.

topped with beef gravy.

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yes.  we went back for more.

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during this time we worked from the lobby:

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we got in some sightseeing:

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the city is alternately insanely chic,

and odd.

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got to know each other,

(loved jess, the agency producer)

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and once found ourselves,

at midnight,

drunk,

in shoppers drug mart.

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danger, will robinson.

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THREE WEEKS IN CANADA - or, how i survived toronto while shooting a big fall campaign.

here's the thing.

i just got back from an amazing production,

filled with new people whom i ended up adoring,

a mixed bag of models and actors 

who were alternately stunning or wooden blocks with features carved in them,

and every single day working out the details

(locations to casting to stages)

of a national retailer's television campaign.

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of course it was in toronto.

the city midwesterners often call

"the cleaner version of new york".

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which, if i were new york, i would take as an insult.

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(i don't know.  i like grit.  and variety.  and a little edge.)

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we traveled up there on my birthday,

which at first i was a little bummed about.

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as you can see, my team and my husband kind of took care of it for me:

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first, this says it all about toronto:

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even the pre-flight snacks sent a message:

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alright, i get it.

you are clean and have socialized medicine.

go, you.

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but the skyline was good:

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and i arrived to a lovely surprise in my room:

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flowers from work:

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champers and chocolates from dad and heida:

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and of course,

tequila and candles from tim:

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and i did fly well.

i was a true pod-person!

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did i post these? does it matter if i re-post these?

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an evening with erin -

flashback : 

before leaving on the big shoot,

tim and i spent a lovely night eating and catching up with erin o'connor,

someone who knows us from our beginnings in chicago,

and with whom we have been through many storms and sweet passages.

it was lovely to see her with her new man,

out in the los angeles evening,

amazing as always.

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WHILE I AM ON THE ROAD :

You can find and follow me here for awhile :

www.landissmithers.tumblr.com

More in depth coverage once i return . . .

MR BLACK, AGAIN.

sorry,

but there's lots of inspiration here.

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LOVE

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ALL HAIL MY FAVORITE SUPERMODEL IN THE WORLD :

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the rescued from the streets at a young age,

strawberry blonde with an attitude,

athletically inclined with a regal attitude,

lady GRR.

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when i got my new lumix to play with,

only she had the patience and skill

to let me work out the details

and shoot her like a pro:

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plus,

i get to say

"work it, bitch",

and she doesn't take offense.

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pit bulls are like that.

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unlike normal female models.

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they typically just go and eat more air.

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this week, i became the person i never thought i COULD be.

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so, recently,

i was hired to shoot the print and video

for the launch of a national retailer's denim line.

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this week,

i won the pitch for a new fall campaign for another national retailer.

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in other words,

after working and creating and taking on small projects,

and creative only projects,

and "hey, i need some dialog projects",

things

are 

happening.

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as tim said this weekend:

the universe is always on time,

you are just early or late.

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here's two of the recent things

that helped tide me over

as the universe decided when to launch me:

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and now,

i'm off and running.

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