Grey’s Anatomy
* Well, it looks like I didn’t get the CSI spot (sigh), but that’s the way it goes. I’m off this morning to shoot a part in “Gray’s Anatomy”. I play a nurse.’
* It’s shot at a historic studio, ABC Prospect. Check it out:
* UPDATE
* Well, it was a lovely but long day. The studio was nice, kinda small for a studio lot (which is still huge) and very relaxed. It was put at ease immediately by the remarkably sweethearted AD, who greeted me with genuine kindness. I went and got into wardrobe (scrubs), found the holding area and then commenced to grazing at the craft services table. I ran into an asstant AD who had worked on “Monster in Law”, who greeted me cheerfully. I knew she was nice and wasn’t worried about her spreading information about me on the set. I was just a background nurse, anyway.
* The other actors arrived and we all got to know each other a little. Working like this sparks some weird “friendships”, where you spend 8-12 hours sitting around or interacting with someone, so you pretty much have to talk and get to know each other a little. But then you leave and most likely never see them again. If we wanted to, we could exchange numbers or whatnot, but so far I haven’t met anyone on the same wavelength as me where issues like fun, humor and politics are concerned.
* At one point we were wheeling a battered female patient out of the OR on her mobile bed and I mentioned to Ellen Pompeo (one of the show regulars) “I used to actually do this for a living, and we would never have moved a patient without putting the bedrails up.” This is so they won’t slip out of bed while it’s in motion, and also for insurance purposes. It was repeated so often that it was an automatic recognition in a patient moving situation.
* Suddenly a little guy in green shorts with a happy-face button pinned on his shirt scuttled over and looked up at me. “That lady over there…”, he pointed to a thick older woman, “is paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to make sure our sets are authentic. She has been a nurse for 22 years. She has cleared this scene.”
* I was taken aback at his fervor and shrugged. “I’ll just be quiet then.” I really hadn’t meant anything but to help, and didn’t bring it up again.
* After the scene was shot, he slipped back over and looked up at me again. “She’s been in this business for 22 years.” He reiterated. I was surprised he was bringing this back up, as I had let it go immediately. I wondered if his mother had been a nurse and he had a reverence complex toward them or something. “I would watch what you say about stuff like that.”
* “No, thank you, that’s Ok.” I said with completely unsarcastic compassion, as if he had asked my forgiveness for being so rude.
* “I’m telling you this for your own good!”
* “No, that’s all right. Thank you.” I was unflappably nice.
* I hadn’t been the least molecule sarcastic or mean. I just responded to what he should have said, rather than what he did say.
* For the record:
* From the Federal Government on Patient Safety “Reduc[es] the risk of patients falling out of bed when being transported”
* From the Association of Registered Nurses:
“Specific needs of the patient should be assessed and appropriate interventions implemented during the transport phase. (7) Safety measures to be implemented during transport/transfer activities should include, but are not limited to,
* locking wheels on the transport vehicle and the patient’s bed during transfer activities;
* elevating side rails and using safety straps;”
* So, um, I’d get my money back on that “hundreds of thousands of dollars” chick, because she was wrong, but she’s most likely pretty cool and mellow sitting on those fat stacks of case, so they should actually just muzzle Happy Face Button, because he’s a dumbass, LOL.
| Print article | This entry was posted by Calpernia Addams on October 14, 2004 at 7:16 am, and is filed under Diary. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |






about 7 years ago
Hmm… their loss! This nurse thing sounds cool, though. Hopefully they’ll feed ya some good grub today
about 7 years ago
Totally their loss. You are most awesome .
about 7 years ago
I’m telling the Supreme Marmoset! How dare they not cast our Calpernia! Blah I say! Good luck in the nurse part, and WE still love you at least
-Talia
about 7 years ago
Ahhh well, I never watch CSI anyway. They probably went the cookie cutter route and settled for average. ‘Gray’s Anatomy’ sounds like they know what they’re doin’ though, is it a speaking part? I hope it went well for you.
‘Irony, oh irony/you are the polar seed of truth/you grow upon the open plain/the faithful, you uproot’
about 7 years ago
*Buys you a drink*
Bigger better rolls are waiting in the cards for you. Can’t wait to see you play a nurse though… so sweet, gentle and motherly. But I have to say I’m not exactly sure what “Gray’s Anatomy” is…
*is a big dummy*
Becky
about 7 years ago
Well, kudos to you for speaking your mind. Who cares if “that” nurse has 22 years of experience?! But seriously…I have several friends who act and you must watch whose toes you unintentionally step on because one little word mentioned, and there go the gigs. Unfortunately, you really can’t trust anyone, especially someone whom you just met. Backstabbers run rampant in the acting world and will do anything to move ahead or look better in another’s eyes. Be careful! On a more positive note, you have come so far in so short a time and I hope you’re proud of yourself and patting yourself on the back once in awhile!
Any news on the car situation?
about 7 years ago
You are a normal person Callie. You spoke the truth (and you were totally right) . AD’s are wannabe directors who are trying to get to know the TV business enough to fake their way through a directors job. His reaction betrays the fact you caught him off guard and that he mistakenly believes directors are always right. That is his misconception and he is wrong . Any REAL film maker would have considered it and asked his expert rather than throwing up the experts experience. A dead give a way of a gigantic fake.
The sad thing is that there are so many in the business. It’s hard to tolerate their threats , micromanaging and brow beating. They usually end up very bitter after a life of butt kissing and climbing political Hollywood ladders to nowhere . I like when they threaten because they know about as much about the business as the local paperboy. Someday you will run across him and smile knowing you were right. Real people tell the truth and that is in the best interest of everyone.
about 7 years ago
HAHAHA… someone should send those links to that lil twirp!
about 7 years ago
One time I was in a nursing home visiting my grandmother and this was one of her phases when she would go to a nursing home for a while and then go home. Ok, my granny was weird, lol. Anyhow, this lady was sitting in a chair with a tray in front of her. She didn’t look like a patient and so she asked me to help her up because her legs hurt. My mother and me took the tray off and picked this woman up and my Mom had one arm and I had the other. This lady started hurrying toward the door with both of us holding her up. The nurse came in and was like “OMG, she can’t walk and you’re helping her to escape”. I was like “What”. It shocked the hell out of me but now that I think of it, it was funny as hell. That nurse was pretty pissed off at my Mom and me. lol.
about 7 years ago
That gave me a good chuckle Kimmie….. I’m suprised she didn’t push a panic button and all these people surrounded you with this little man with one of those megaphones saying “put down the old lady…nobody move, nobody get hurt….” LoLoLoL
Becky
about 7 years ago
Good for you for not letting that guy get to you. Sounds like he was on a ego trip and looking for someone to chew out. The fact that you kept your poise and politeness probably unnerved him. Good for you.
about 7 years ago
Hi Calpernia,
Always sorry to hear about small people trying to throw thier weight around; least it doesn’t sound like it ruined the experience for you. I don’t know if this is the proper place or a proper question but what is the wavelength you spoke of below?
“…but so far I haven’t met anyone on the same wavelength as me where issues like fun, humor and politics are concerned.”
about 7 years ago
Oh my goodness… all this talk here about authenticity on TV really came to life a few minutes ago. I was watching “Cold Case” on CBS. I had no idea what this week’s case was gonna be about… to my amazement it was a touching love story about a TS woman named Daniella. It was sad, heartwarming, and encouraging. It was nice to see that she was portrayed in a pretty nice way. Thank God. I think they found a real T-person to play the part, too, as she had a prominent trachea. Oh well, I hope you all got to see the show, too. I sat here and cried.
about 7 years ago
I watched the movie Soldier Girl this past week. I was reallllllly moved by it. I want you to know I cried and I sympathize with you. You look beautiful in your pictures on your website. I hope your day is good.. I have recommended the movie to all my friends.
about 7 years ago
Speaking of the navy you should update your military section. I’ve been checking back, but there is nothing new.
about 7 years ago
what jerk! Good for you for sticking up for yourself!!
about 7 years ago
I guess we know why she changed careers now–huh, Cal? LOL prob involved a patient falling and suing… meh. I guess he completely ignored the fact that you worked in the medical field, too.
I guess people who do their job wrong for 22-years are always right, because of the size of their pay-check. Meh, again.
Can I slap a smiley face pin on my shirt, bounce around all day, and be *your* personal ass-kisser, Cal?
ROFL
about 7 years ago
I dont think they were going against Cali, I think thye get wrapped up in there own worlds and what is the movie world and reality is not the same. By Cali saying some thing that was true might have been better if she had taken it to some one of authority other than this person who was defensive so htat this 22 year veteran can save face even though Cali was right. Its the same in any job you go to. Companies dont listern unles a boss comes up with the same idea.
about 7 years ago
I’ve been a RN for over 25 years. You always put the side rails up when moving a patient.
about 6 years ago
I think what you said was common sense, accurate, and anyway – you were only trying to help. Too bad he didn’t care to listen!