8:05-My son wakes me up. My wife lets me sleep in on days I have to work so I can get my beauty sleep, but judging from the guy staring back in the mirror I should’ve got eight more hours.
8:40-I’m leaving ten minutes later that I intended because today I’m bringing my wife and my boy to the studio with me and Nate’s on his own time. I live about thirty miles south of L.A. so I always have to give myself plenty of time to get there in case of traffic.
9:40-I make it to the studio early for my 10:00 call. I apologize to my wife for being unpleasant on the drive over fearing I wouldn’t be on time.
9:45-Kim forgives me.
9:50-We get to my trailor and I immediately begin to shave off nine days of facial growth while Kim throws in a video of The Wiggles for Nate. I’m usually in a room that has a t.v., v.c.r., and radio (which never gets any reception), but today my trailor has a d.v.d. player too!
9:50:36-I wish I’d brought d.v.d.s.
10:05-A knock on the door tells me they’re ready for me in the hair and make-up trailor. I’ve still got about five more minutes of facial hair to get rid of (I should’ve used a razor!).
10:10-I get to hair and make-up. I like it in their trailor. Music is always blaring; there’s dancing and singing. Today however the music is loud but the feeling is not so festive. I know they’re all exhausted from work but is something else going on? I start speculating. Is the show getting cancelled maybe…?
10:40-After getting a haircut and my face put on I feel pretty good. I head back to my trailor. I write a thank you note to Tommy Schlamme who’s an advising producer for Invasion. My big brother is a huge fan of West Wing and Tommy signed a copy of Season 2 and the Sportsnight d.v.d. for him. Added to that, he got Aaron Sorkin to sign them as well. Really really classy. They made an awesome belated Christmas present from my second big bro and I.
10:50-Kim and I take Nate to Tommy’s office to drop off the thank you note, then I take her on a tour of the Invasion set (we’ve got about a half hour to kill before I’m needed at the set).
11:00- Kim is really excited to see the jungle set where a lot of the waterside stuff is shot along with Russel’s house and the ranger station. This is her first time on a studio lot. Nate is indifferent. He’s enjoying throwing sticks, leaves, and dirt into the water but they’re filling it right now with fresh water and I think they probably want to keep it clean (maybe somebody’s going for a swim tonight).
I’ve got to get him out of here before we get thrown out.
11:25-They’re ready for me on set. We get in a transportation van and they take us through the E.R. and Gilmore Girls sets (which I point out to Kim) to Stage 9 where we have a green screen set up for c.g. scenes.
11:30-I get the sense that we are late because it looks like they are ready to shoot and I still need to get in my amputation rig. I’m getting rushed along but everyone there is in really good spirits. My fears about bringing Kim and Nate to the set are totally assuaged because they’re being taken care of so well. “Can I get you a couple of chairs?” “Do you want to sit over by the monitors so you can see the scene?” “Do you want anything to drink or eat?” I LOVE THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH!
11:31-Kim watches as I’m being dressed in the prosthetic rig or “torture gear” as I lovingly refer to it. We figure out our game plan. When they start shooting she’ll take Nate outside and bring him back in between takes. A two-and-a-half year old doesn’t get the “inside voice” concept yet.
11:35-Bill strolls over in classic form. I wonder what it must be like to be the man of the hour every hour of your life? I say, “Hey Bill did you miss me?” He replies, “You know, daddy.” This is the extent of our patter because he’s just caught sight of Nate. You’ve got to see this guy around kids, especially little boys! All that tough guy exterior goes right out the window.
11:40-They’ve finished setting up the lights and the shot. The stand-ins step out and Bill and I step in. Its a shot in the sheriff’s cruiser. I’m at the wheel and Underlay wonders aloud shotgun. The green screen is in the background and will be replaced in post-production by a lush everglade landscape. During the scene a couple of grips jostle the car so that it’ll look like the car is moving. Its kind of a funny sight. Its called “poor man’s process”.
11:50-Inside the car we shoot the breeze in between takes. Bill sneeks some quick glances at Nate now and then. “Cute kid.” I know.
11:55-We finish shooting Bill and get out while they turn the car around to shoot my stuff against the greenscreen. I take Nate over to the craft services cart which has a bunch of snackables and we load up on fruit, crackers, and boiled eggs.
12:00-Kim marvels that so many people are required to do so little. I remind her that this is a short scene with very little going on technically. If we were on location on the beach as we were a couple of weeks ago she’d see some movie magic.
12:05-We’re back in the cruiser and finishing up the scene. I play my usual shananigans and Bill threatens to kill me. This is how we joke around. I don’t think you’de get it unless you saw it but its pretty fun. I signed my Christmas card to Bill, “Stan Laurel”.
12:25-We’re finished. It was a really quick scene that didn’t require any rehearsal since it was a pretty straightforward scene and we didn’t have any blocking. I say goodbye to everbody and Kim and I head to the transpo van to get back to the trailor. I sign out and we’re done.
12:35-Stopping by the hair and make-up trailor to get my make-up off I run into Eddie and Tyler. They want to meet my boy (they met Kim at the premier party). I fetch Nate and they’re both really cute with him. I LOVE THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH!
12:50-We leave the studio and swing by the Taco Bell across the street to refuel for the grueling drive home. It was a great day.
Hi Nathan - Cool! It’s really fascinating to read “a day in the life of …” - you! Thank you for sharing the details and kind of de-mystifying a bit of that “What goes on behind the hallowed gates of the studio?” thing! I love your schedule!!!
Yours truly - J
Comment by Joanna — February 13, 2006 @ 12:01 pm
Thanks for giving us a peek behind the wizard’s curtain. I dig this kind of inside scoop stuff. What a great job! Bet you’ve thought - “all this and they pay me too” more than a few times. Keep up the great work, Nathan.
Great to hear the bits about your family too. Thanks!
Comment by Tex Hermano — February 13, 2006 @ 12:20 pm
WOW! Thanks for doing all this Nathan
But Boo-Hoo I’m not getting positive vibes about Invasion after the feeling not festive.
Has anyone on the set talked about? Invasion has to get a renewal Nathan there is still plenty of story to tell for Lewis and Kira and all the others and I want to see Russell & Larkin’s Baby be born too!
You have busy days and it is was cool that William, Eddie, and Tyler met Nate and with you as his Dad I’m sure Nate is so cute.
When do you work again Nathan?
It was cool of you to take the time to do this…
Pamela
Comment by Pamela — February 13, 2006 @ 3:06 pm
*[…] “torture gear” as I lovingly refer to it *
I wonder if it hurts you. I mean, if an arm is forcefully strapped in an uncomfortable position it should be sore within a few minutes and really hurt a few more minutes after that. Is this the (unfortunate) case?
Comment by Eugenia — February 14, 2006 @ 12:34 am
*But Boo-Hoo I’m not getting positive vibes about Invasion after the feeling not festive.*
No need to worry. It looks like, as far as this season is concerned, they’re continuing production. Its business as usual.
As for when I work again I have no idea. You’ll find out as soon as I do.
*I wonder if it ( the torture gear) hurts you.*
Ya. It hurts a lot. But fortunately Warner Brothers pays for my massage therapy!
Comment by Nathan Baesel — February 14, 2006 @ 9:10 am
Nathan, for a newcomer to the blogging scene you are doing masterfully. I love the time line approach. Thank you so much for letting us into your world just a little bit and for keeping us abreast of the latest news as far as Invasion’s lifespan is concerned.
Comment by InvasionFan — February 14, 2006 @ 10:40 am
Big Nate,
Happy Valentine’s Day! And, my bad, because I forgot to tell you how much I enjoyed the humor in your writing(in addition to the insights). When might we see your Invasion ep? Cheers - J
Comment by Joanna — February 14, 2006 @ 6:18 pm
*When might we see your Invasion ep?*
The specific episode is scheduled to be broadcasted on March 8th, according to the current schedule. It is called “The Fittest”, AFAIK.
BTW, happy Valentine’s Day everyone. My husband will be cooking me waffles tonight!
Comment by Eugenia — February 14, 2006 @ 6:20 pm
Hello Nathan
Thanks for the Invasion update and could you please tell us a little abut the next ep you are in ?
I understand you cannot divulge the actual plot but maybe just tell us who all is in it and will we see any light LOL
Pam
Comment by Pamela — February 14, 2006 @ 6:44 pm
Hey, Eugenia! Enjoy the waffles! Mmmm!
I meant the episode(s) that Nathan mentioned he’s writing … is that the one, The Fittest? And, what is AFAIK? Remember, blog newbie, here
Thanks!
Comment by Joanna — February 14, 2006 @ 7:55 pm
> is that the one, The Fittest?
Yup!
>And, what is AFAIK?
“As far as I know”.
IIRC = If I remember correctly
BTW = by the way
Comment by Eugenia — February 14, 2006 @ 7:57 pm
> is that the one, The Fittest?
Yup!
>And, what is AFAIK?
“As far as I know”.
IIRC = If I remember correctly
BTW = by the way
Ok, great! And the last one, I knew
Thanks!
Comment by Joanna — February 14, 2006 @ 8:01 pm
Hey Nathan…thanks so much for the insight! It sounds like you really enjoy what you do and the people you work with and that is a great blessing in and of itself. Put on top of that the fact that (IMO) you are a great actor who I think we have just begun to see the talents of….well, let’s just say I’m thinking perhaps Shaun Cassidy has picked out ANOTHER future Oscar nominee (for those of you who don’t know, Mr. Cassidy hired a new actor by the name of Heath Ledger to star in his series “Roar”). I have even added you to my “Getting to Know the Cast” page on my website. I think we are only going to see better things from you in the future (just don’t leave Invasion!!) Mr. Cassidy also had some nice things to say about you in an interview with the Philadelphia Daily News:
[i]”…For example, in the second episode, he hired “this wonderful actor named Nathan Baesel. I said, ‘OK, Nathan. You’re playing a one-armed deputy. For about eight shows, you’re going to say, “Yes sir, no, sir,” and no one’s going to really know you’re around. No one’s going to comment on your arm, you’re not going to have much to do as an actor… But around episode 10, the show’s going to be yours.’ ”
Anyone who’s watched the show in recent weeks knows Cassidy kept his promise to Baesel (whose character unexpectedly grew back the arm he’d lost in Iraq and then was persuaded by the sheriff to cut it off again, creating some, er, conflict).”…[/i]
BTW…I am one of those people who did NOT notice you even had a missing arm until someone pointed it out to me!
Anyway…sorry this is so long…keep up the great work!
Comment by Annie — February 15, 2006 @ 5:53 am
> *But around episode 10, the show’s going to be yours.’*
Which confirms my “suspicion” that Mr. Cassidy has thought-out the whole series very well and that every little dialog or scene has its special purpose in the timeline. The problem with this approach to TV-making is that if someone misses an episode, there will be a problem down the road to have him figure out why something is the way it is. Nevertheless, I prefer this approach rather than the autonomous episodes approach. It feels more realistic.
Comment by Eugenia — February 15, 2006 @ 11:14 am
Eek, I can’t take it anymore! The show is getting too good for mortal comprehension, so I’ve planned two courses of action; turn into a vampire or become a Jedi (boy, I’m a nerd…). Anyway,
SPOILERS AHEAD DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE FEB. 15TH EPISODE
I enjoyed the eggs very much. Though I must admit probably everyone knew it wasn’t just a tumor, as Psycho Killa had a similar experience. I’m beginning to think that maybe the first round of hybrids were just breeding grounds for more; because there were lotso eggs in that one small sample. I’ll have to think about this while fake a lightsaber duel with Darth Maul.
-Bob
Comment by Bob — February 15, 2006 @ 8:08 pm
Oh, and since for some strange reason half of my comment was eaten by the computer, I was just going to say that the “day in the life of” was pretty well written
When I grow up to be a famous movie star and the girls revel in my good looks, I’ll drive my car past the flying pigs and try to accomplish half the insight >_
Comment by Bob — February 15, 2006 @ 8:13 pm
Aaah, Wed’s (2/15) ep, possible SPOILERS HEREIN:
There is nothing more heartbreaking than a heartbroken teenaged girl - and here, beautifully portrayed by Miss Alexis D. I especially loved her defiant courage and faith at the end: Even if I’m changed, I don’t have to be like you; I won’t be.
Powerful stuff.
It was very nice that Lewis IS really her friend and expressed to the Sheriff exactly what Kira needs - to talk with him, know him, and feel connected to her own father. Nice …
Comment by Joanna — February 16, 2006 @ 9:26 pm
Hey! I just read on ABC Medianet that Invasion (FEB. 15) beat it’s competition and is growing stronger every week. All Right!!!
Comment by Susie — February 16, 2006 @ 10:46 pm
Isn’t Invasion nominated for Saturn Awards (science fiction) for Best Network Television Series and Best Actor- William Fichtner?
http://www.saturnawards.org/nominations.html
Comment by Susie — February 17, 2006 @ 11:46 pm
Hi Nathan!
I’m a really big fan of this show and I never miss an episode. (and no, I don’t “Tivo” it…I sit, record and manually edit out the commercials!)I think it’s great that you want to share your experiences of being on this show w/ the fans. I’m really hoping ABC will move your timeslot and lets your show flourish and grow as “Lost” has. I can’t wait to see what develops! Keep up the good work. Love to you and the rest of the cast!
Comment by Sharry A. — February 18, 2006 @ 6:41 pm
Hello Nathan
Count me in too as one who wants Invasion moved to a new night and better timeslot but not at 8:00pm since some of the subject matter covered is too adult for younger viewers so …
Take Care !!
Pamela
Comment by Pamela — February 19, 2006 @ 11:43 am
I think that the religious angle into this story is quite interesting…can you relate to the character that you play in this way and to what degree??
Also, I thought that you had one of the most poignant lines in the series so far when you trumped Tom’s “Protect my people” comment with “What about your daughter, sir??”
What an absolutely terrific show for you to be playing in…and what a wonderful fellow you are for sharing time with us on this blog!!!
David
Comment by David — February 20, 2006 @ 6:31 pm