Who says Chi-Town ain't got no beach..

Who says Chi-Town ain't got no beach..
Originally uploaded by MariGerard.

SO Chris took this shot recently on the lake front at the CRACK of dawn while on a walk. Its pretty cool. I haven't been near the water yet..too busy! I just accepted the position of Marketing Coordinator for Redmoon Theater this summer. It is a paid position, flexible hours and is going to be really cool. I am responsible for organizing and directing the volunteer teams that will be distributing Redmoon marketing for the upcoming free spectacle in September. We will be at two parades on July 4th, also some performances at Millenium Park and The Brookfield Zoo as part of the Redmoon Theater Big Bug Brigade. A mini-spectacle for children performing this summer leading up to the giant Spectacle in September outside the museum of Science and Industry. Last year something like 15,000 people saw the spectacle. Thats AWSOME. Again the hours are good and I am not one to say no to expirience or extra cash so I took the job. I look forward to it and I am glad to be still employed by Redmoon for the summer. Guess I still won't have much time to get on this beach huh?

TODAY I met WILL FERRELL

Just a usual Friday for me till about 1pm in the afternoon. I had gone downtown to deposit my Redmoon check before leaving for Redmoon to work the box office and House Manage. I am in the heart of downtown on Grand Ave. I am at the bus stop eating a McDonalds cheesburger, when I notice how there are no cars driving down this section of Grand. This is odd because this is the busiest street normally. Then I start looking around and discover a PA standing on the corner with a Walkie talkie. I ask him if they are filming something today, and he tells me "The new Will Ferrell movie". "Does this mean the Grand bus won't be coming this way?" I ask. "Pretty much" he tells me"The bus has been re-routed for the next few hours" GREAT! I think as I look at my watch and realize I am already late for the boxoffice job. He then tells me that every 10 to 15 min they will be letting traffic through and if my bus is there it will come through this way then. I decide to wait a few-mostly so I can eat my burger. Then this little old lady comes huffing around the corner and asks me how long I have been waiting. I tell her that a movie is filming and they have re-routed the busses. "Who's Movie?" she asks. "Will Ferrell" I tell her. "Who's that? I don't know him!". Then she starts huffing at me about how stupid it is that the bus isn't comming. I direct her to tell her complaints to the PA on the corner. She does and he radio's it in to someone on the other end of his walkie. Then he lets her yell and huff into the walkie. Then he tells her the cones will be moved in 2 min. So they move the cones and a bunch of Taxies and such come through, but no bus. The cones go back up. I start looking for a cab to catch. She goes off again-"Who the hell does this Harry Ferrell think he is? What kind of idiot blocks my bus from comming? I am an old woman I can't walk all over town chasing a bus!" She aproches the PA again and asks to speak to his boss. He holds up the walkie and she repeats her rant into it. The PA then tells her that in 15 more min they will open the cones again. She isn't happy and continues ranting. At that point this bus pulled over on the empty street surrounded by White Vans (All film crews use the 14 passenger White van to move things and people from location to location on a shoot)opens and Will Ferrell gets out. He comes over to us. He addresses the little old lady "Are you the woman we are keeping from getting her bus home totay?" "Yes! Who are you?" "I am Will Ferrell" "Who? I don't know you. What movies have you been in?" he lists several, she replies "I don't watch that junk!" he then looks at me and asks me if I know him. I say yes. he says "see she knows me. Would you like an autograph or a picture while you wait for your bus?" "No! I don't know you! I want my bus!" she says. Then I guess what was written on my shirt(I was wearing my Gymboree shirt ) registered with Mr.Ferrell cause he looks back at me and says "Play Sing Fun? Where do we get some of that?" I said "At Gymboree where I work." "You sell Play Sing Fun?We could use some of that right now huh?" The lady was not amused. I laughed, and said I had to go cause I was late for my second job. I told him it was nice to meet him and crossed the street where people were now gathering and beign held back by PA's to catch my cab to work. As I left-the little old woman was still chewing his ear off about her bus not being able to come through. It was very funny. And Will is VERY tall. Have a good weekend..I am!

Just another day....

The oldest cousins are WIERD
Originally uploaded by MariGerard.

So today is Wednesday...another long day at Gymboree. Sittin' here wishin' the windows around here opened. This shot is of me and wilson from Beth's Grad weekend. It was totally great to hang with him here in Chi-town this past monday. My feet still hurt from all the walkin we did. The busy part of my week really begins tomorrow, long days that drag into long nights, but The Cabinet will be closing soon and I am greatful for all the time I got to work with the awsome people of Redmoon. What's next you ask? Dunno. Saw an ad posted for a House Manager at The Steppenwolf...full time though-would have to leave the manager gig at Gymboree if I did that..not ready to do that yet I don't think...food for thought though.

The Cousins

The Cousins
Originally uploaded by MariGerard.

This Shot was from Beth's Graduation wekend. This is all the cousins-L to R:Me, Wilson, Jamie, Steve, Lawton and Beth. My Cousin Wilson was in chicago yesturday and we had lunch and walked all over town. After we hung at my place and he downloaded these pictures to my computer for me. Click on the picture and you will be taken to my flickr account and you can see the otehr pictures I scaned in.

The DVD cover for 20 Funerals

The DVD cover for 20 Funerals
Originally uploaded by MariGerard.

so the last movie I worked on in Wilmington is out on DVD this week. You can go to www.20Funerals.com and you can watch the trailer-the behind the scenes clips etc. I designed the costumes and made the target masks the cops wear throughout the movie. I am not in any of the behind the scenes shots- but thats cause my work was done usually far away from the camera, but I was present on most days of the 20 day shooting schedule...back in September of 2003- (just to give you a scope of how long post production can take.)
I really hope the DVD sales get Anghus some recognition from people who can really help him get a serious career going, he has a lot of talent, now he just needs the money behind him to propell his talent forward. It was fun working in film, but my soul is in the theatre.

Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink
Originally uploaded by MariGerard.

A girls right to chucks is very important. I haven't had a pair of chucks since like 1998. I forgot how great they are-comfortable, cute, functional in this city for sure. And unlike the black ones I sported in college these have soooo much more personality. Even better they were a steal. Online these pink chucks sell for 45 bucks plus shipping. At Sports Authority where I got these on Sunday- they were on sale for 29$. Super comfy, super cute, and super cheap- can't beat that with a hammer.

Peace

Peace
Originally uploaded by Look at Ethan's Family!.

Oh my Gosh! This needs to be a greeting card or something! Ethan Rocks!

Answer: Mos Eisley

Question: What city does confetti rain down on durning the finale of the re-released Return of the Jedi?

That my friends was the question that I won the Star Wars Trivia Pursuit Challage between my Brother and Chris and I with. Oh yah- this GIRL-took on two BOYS- one of whom is the ultimate Star Wars Freak (My Brother)and I won! It was hard too 'cause for a while Michael was skunking us. Then I guess the bloody Mary's I was drinkin' Went to my head and I started thinking clearly, and answering Questions like: What is the first thing you see in Return of the Jedi? and Who did Pricess Leah say was Beautiful but Sad? Michael had all but one of his Pies when I came back from only having two pies-to getting all 6 and winning. (Chris was just in need of two pies himself to make a run for the title as well and he admitted he wasn't a Star Wars nut as a kid.)It was a great memorial day. We made steaks and hung out with my brother and watched the Buffy Musical episode on the big screen. It was good. A big change from Last memorial Day- last year was a day plagued with over eating, over drinking, and overreacting. Maybe next year we will be ready to throw the big barbeque again.
(Answers to above: The 2nd Death Star and Her Mother)