THREE WEEKS IN CANADA - the fittings

lock yourself for three days on a stage

with racks of clothing,

hair and makeup,

and an endless stream of models.

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see how glamourous it gets, baby.

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by day two,

michael and celeste had worked out a "producer's code"

as in

"how do i keep the creatives moving?"

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john-paul was guiding hair and make-up madly.

or jealously.

hard to tell.

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i was coveting beth's african tribal beads.

in lanvin-esque pink.

pink!

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and i?

i had found a trailer, outside.

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it was deliciously white trash in the middle of all the fashion.

then katy, my new york rep,

sat down in front of it.

and stole the show.

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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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