If you know me at all, you know that I'm all about getting your daily giggles. On Twitter, I post a #DailyGiggle any day that I'm on. I even wrote a blog post about why I do the Daily Giggle. Laughter really is the best medicine. It's benefits are immediate, and if you make sure to get your laughs every day, they can continually aid your physical and mental health.
I am also an avid reader. As a kid, I devoured books. Then I became a mom and for a while, I forgot all about the things that make me happy. So in the past few years, I've picked up books again. Each year, I try to increase my goal. The bookshelves are overflowing and there is never enough time to read them all.
Today, I'm combining my love of books with my love for laughter. I'm giving away a paperback copy of Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang! This book had me laughing so hard that my husband was giving me dirty looks because I was interrupting his TV watching. And he was the one who bought it for me! I loved it so much that I passed it to my sisters and I can't wait to read it again...and again...and again.
Now, while I have your attention...
I am looking to do a little guest posting on some other Mommy Blogs. There are so many of you out there and I have a VERY long list of the ones that I have read, but I'd like to send out an open invitation to all of you. If you have a mom-related blog, and are interested in having a guest poster, please send me an email at c_horos @ hotmail.com. We'll trade some details and get to know each other a little better!
HOLD ON!
Having a blog, or having me guest post has NO influence on winning this book whatsoever. It was just a good way to get in touch with a lot of people at once.
So....if you'd like to win this book, all you have to do is leave a comment that you'd like to win.
AND...for a second entry, you can Retweet any of the tweets I post announcing the giveaway. Find me at @ChristineMarie_ on Twitter. And make sure to check my Twitter page on Sunday, June 17, to find out if you are a winner!
As a kid, I constantly dreamed about acting. I imagined what
it would be like to create the magic behind the scenes and write the scripts
that built the stories. Time passed, life happened, and I never made that dream
come true. However, I do check in with a local company, Heery Casting, for occasional
work. I missed the filming of Limitless
in 2009, starring Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro, but when I heard they were
returning to film The Silver Linings
Playbook, I immediately applied. I have always admired Robert DeNiro. A
true natural, his movies have profoundly affected me. It was only just before
Hangover 2 released that I discovered Bradley Cooper is from Jenkintown, only
one town over from my own birthplace.
I waited anxiously for the call, which I finally received
near the end of October. The location was a cozy diner in Upper Darby and I was
to bring a Halloween costume. I arrived early, which gave me time to make
friends with some of the other extras. After some waiting in the holding area,
we piled in vans and headed to a quiet neighborhood. We did a few quick shots as
trick-or-treaters, then headed to the diner for more waiting in the parking
lot. The crew members were scattered about communicating on headsets to organize
who would go where. Taking the opportunity, I made sure to keep moving away
from the outgoing vans that were carrying extras back to the holding location.
Eventually, we were herded into the diner and people were placed,
filling the space like sardines. I spotted a table remaining empty in the
middle of the room and slid myself into a seat at the counter directly across
from it. I soon found my intuition was right as Bradley Cooper and Jennifer
Lawrence came in and sat at the table.
I spent from 4pm until 4am on the set, adrenaline keeping me
wide awake the entire time. I laughed. I nibbled cold French fries. I spent
hours getting to know the incredible people in the seats around me. Most
importantly, I soaked up every moment like a sponge. Being so close to the
action allowed me to see how much effort is put into every moment of a film. While
David O. Russell directed, the crew worked furiously to keep the extras quiet
and moving when needed. When a better camera angle was needed, they swooped in
to remove a seat and change the lighting. When squeaking counter seats were
creating a distraction, they appeared with oil to grease each one. And all the
while, they still worked with a smile and pandered to my penchant for playful
banter.
The night was unforgettable. I went home floating on a cloud.
When the next day came, all I could think about was getting back to the set. I
wanted more. If I was an addict, I would have been doubled over from the
withdrawal.
This video was not taken by me, but was from the same day I was on set.
Thankfully, I was called again. This time, the location was
in the city. There was a much larger crowd of people and I wondered if I had
made the right decision. Would the second time be as fun as the first? Would I
be able to get as much out of it as I did before?
It wasn't long before I was assured it would be another
memorable day. A more formal scene, we headed over to the Ben Franklin House.
We were placed throughout the lobby and balcony hallways. Finding a crew member
I recognized, I said hello and he sent me right upstairs with a few others.
Wondering if I would be within view of a camera, I was thrilled when Bradley
Cooper walked by and stood at the end of the hallway with the gathering crew
members.
Again, I was in awe as David and Bradley hashed out the
scenes, deciding the best camera angles and how it would be performed. As the
day went on, I was placed in prime spots as the stars walked the hallways.
David would read their lines, each time with different inflection and timing.
They would repeat and repeat until they had what they wanted.
At the end of the day, I left with the same feeling of
adrenaline and satisfaction. A dreamy smile plastered to my face. For so long I
wondered what it would be like, and even though I didn't pursue the career I
wanted, I spent two amazing days entranced with being in the center of it all. Hopefully, it will lead me to more days like this to come.
