Definitely making it into the Christmas newsletter this year...

Okay, okay, I'll end the suspense for the two of you who were in such a state. :) So, the reason I was dressed up in a school uniform in the North Hollywood metro station was because...

I WAS IN A MUSIC VIDEO!!!!

No, not a remake of anything related to Brittany, don't worry. A facebook message was sent last Friday to everyone who was a member of the group Ecclesia Hollywood (the church Ben and I attend), from our pastor, Brandon, that said:

Hello Friends-I'm shooting a Music Video for SWITCHFOOT as a promotion for the new NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN feature. We shoot Sunday night from 7pm to 5am (yikes) and I'm in dire need of Extras to bring life to a subway station. The idea is that Switchfoot is playing in a Los Angeles subway and the passing trains cut into feature film footage in the same way that those crazy Pavensie children find themselves back in Narnia. If you are in need of $50, a meal, and a sleepless night on set... I NEED YOU!!!!

Now, let me ask you - if YOU had received this message, would you let the opportunity pass? I think not. Or I thought not until I realized Sunday was National Don't Answer Robin's Phone Call Day and came to the conclusion that if I wanted to do this silly video thing, I was going to have to do it alone - I couldn't find anyone to go with me! Ben was on the fence for a bit, but then said something along the lines of not wanting to be too tired the next day at work. Like it was a big deal if he wasn't at his best when he killed those cancer cells. Hmph!

So, I grab the stuff I was instructed to bring (one causal outfit, one business outfit, and lots of work to do during the down time) and headed to the designated area. As soon as I parked and headed toward the station, I had this panic that this was all a big mistake. I felt super lame and out of my element, thinking, "What am I doing here?!" But before I knew it, I was selected to be in the first group to start shooting and we were whisked away to the station in Hollywood, smack dab in the middle of a huge tourist area. It took a long time because of the crowds, but finally the scene was set up and the band was getting ready to do their thing - walk through the maze of people and ride down the escalator to the station while carrying their instruments. Then, right before Brandon yelled 'action!', some douche bag started blasting his boom box, stripped down to his skivvies, and began to dance. Instantly a huge crowd gathered around him and the shot was ruined. Street performers are not uncommon in this area, but this guy was totally stealing the thunder from the video shoot. But Brandon was great and rolled with the punches, as did the band. I noticed how patient they all were with people asking for autographs and wanting to take pictures, and I could tell these guys were quality. Anyway, after about an hour, the crew had what they needed and we packed up and headed back to the original station. I think I made it into a few shots and you'll be able to recognize me in the scene.

But wait - it gets better!

So another few hours go by and we're shooting scenes inside the station. There's a lot of down time, and I'm making good headway on my homework, considering. I'm also making friends with real live actors and learning about their lives (what a weird world). Then there's an announcement that they need four extras to stand in as the Narnia kids and I was chosen to be Susan! So after dinner (which was at midnight!), they get me suited up in a polyester school uniform, complete with knee-highs and mary janes. Then they put me in hair and makeup and I'm transformed into a fifteen-year-old (maybe it IS okay to look so much younger than my real age!) Then I proceed to wait for a few more hours before my scene, during which time I chatted it up with the band in between takes, and some of their friends (including the cello player guy who played with Jon at the fundraiser Ben and I attended in Anaheim last year - amazing!). Tim thought he knew me! I even made people laugh at times and I started having daydreams of getting asked to join them all for breakfast, becoming a groupie, and then a member of the inner circle. Then I remembered that I'm not 13 and should probably get a grip.

Finally my scene rolls around and it's after 4 am by this time. The trains are getting ready to start operating again and people will start filling the station soon, so we're on a time crunch. The place the four of us "kids" in one of the train cars, with the band behind us. You can only see our backs and the props we're holding (the horn and bow and arrows), and I have the very important job of holding the horn while they do some close-up shots on it. But apparently I don't hold a horn very naturally, because Brandon had to keep readjusting my grip. Hey - do YOU know how to naturally hold a horn with a lion's head on it?! Give me a break! Eventually I did it right, the shoot was wrapped, and we all scurried out of the station back to real life.

After I changed back into my normal clothes and was putting the uniform back in wardrobe, Jon swung by to thank the four of us again for being part of the video. HE thanked US! This was the attitude of the band the whole night - so gracious, down to earth, and humble. I was blown away. The whole experience was just surreal. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to take many pictures, partly because it would have probably been frowned upon and partly because I didn't want to be That Girl. But here are a few I snagged when no one was looking.

So be sure and watch the film when it comes out in May or June...I'm not sure where you'll be able to see the music video, but I'll keep you posted. Does this count as part of my fifteen minutes if all you see is the back of my head and my hand?