They found Benji's phone! It was shoved down in one of the diaper bags and they missed it while searching at the park. Yay! He probably got a new one in the interim, but maybe he can return it since it's within a week of purchase.

Nikki's necklace is still smooshed though. Not everybody wins.

Nice!

When we got home from the park Nicole and I picked up the gift, which was the backs of their director chairs with the movie and their names screen printed on them since they were blank before. We did them at Te Shurt and they had time done that day! Nice! We thought of putting them in long flower boxes with flowers on top, but the flower shop didn't have boxes. So we had the lady (April's Flowers I think) wrap them in the celophane around the flowers, which looked awesome. It was perfect. Then we wandered over to Pitaya and bought a new dress for the party. Yay sale rack! I got 2. Then I went back and showered while Nicole went to run more errands. After I was all ready I sat down and signed all the thank you cards Nicle had picked up for the crew. It took a while. We had a lot of people helping us. Then I caught a shuttle to the Krannert Center.

There were a lot of people there. I went to get a drink, but they were already out of my go-to Cap'n Morgan. So I had water and wandered over to get some food, which I subsequently dropped on the floor while trying to hold both my water and plate and eat at the same time. Oops! I cleaned up the messy part and the chips were just some crumbs left. Not too bad. I gave up on the snacks and got a beer instead.

I got all the leads to sign the card for our directors, though benji was late so we signed for him. Then we got up on the little stage and brought E and DB up and gave them the gifts. They were delighted. And they said some nice things and then we went back to mingling. Benji did show up after that, though without his phone. At least he seemed in ok spirits by then.

After a few hours we were shuttled over to Jupiter's II, a yummy pizza place, where we had the whole upstairs reserved. Nicole drove the car of some of the guests because they had been drinking, so I rode with them. Yay safety!

Lots of people were there as well, including some that missed the early party. I wandered around for a while handing out our thank you notes. Then we got done with those and I got some awesome pizza and drinks. It wasn't supposed to be open bar but a mystery patron picked up our tab. Woah! Thanks Mystery Benefitiary! There was pool, but I didn't get around to playing. There was a dance floor that I did hit up. Though as soon as I went over to dance they cut the music and announced there was a sample of the grocery store musical for us to see! Yay! So we got to see footage cut with the song- all very preliminary, the song isn't even finished, but still rad. Then it was back to dancing and I danced the rest of the time. And once again threw out my neck apparently. I also busted my new necklace. Doh! Oh well, it was well worth it. Lots of dancing! And eventually crying at the end. Wah!

But then we went back to the dorms and decided it was time for IHOP again! Woo! IHOP! So we stumble over there and get food. And others join us. Pete dances at Shaheen and almost turns her straight with the powers of dance. Lots of laughing and eating. Then later Shaheen picks up the check. She is the greatest. Not for that, just in general. I think we left around 4 or 4:30.

Then I had to pack. Yeah. I kind of didn't have time before. I got finished sometime after 6:30, so I got about 2 or so hours of sleep. Woo. But I sleep on planes, so whatever. There was traffic but Benji and I managed to barely catch our flight. I was amazed since I'd had bad experiences with US Airways screwing me over by leaving early. But they didn't and I made it on. Yay! They had me check my carry on since I was like the last on board, so I grabbed my laptop and checked the bag. Good thing I did since they lost that piece of luggage. First time I've ever had my bag lost. I got it back the next afternoon though, so it wasn't so bad. And I didn't need my laptop stuff since I would be home with my desktop computer.

So jeff picks me up. Yay! And I've just been trying to get used to my normal schedule. I think I'm starting to now. It's just wierd being home and not having to work 12 hours a day. It's kind of nice to veg out a bit now too.

Sorry it's taken so long. I've been traveling and sleeping and spending time with Jeff, so blogging wasn't on the forefront of my mind. But he's off at an Atrox meeting, and I'm doing laundry so I have some sit down time.

Tuesday was the final day. We got up moderately early and shuttled over to Allerton Park. It's this big park with a mansion and a lake and big fields, trees, art, etc. It's really pretty. I didn't read about it at the visitor center, but I'm sure you can look it up online.

It was a very hot day, but there were a few moderately air conditioned rooms at the visitor center where we could set up. Plus hair and makeup were in the trailer with AC. Once we were all ready we moved over to the long walkway toward the 2 story gazebo. It's like this picnic montage with the babies and all of us being a happy family. It is super cute. They film us walking toward the camera, then turn around so we walk on toward the gazebo. It was a long walk, so I'm sure they will edit it. Then we did some stuff up in the gazebo and some stuff with the video camera home movie thing. we're all sweaty messes, but oh well. Luckily we had the fake babies, so we didn't need to worry about overheating tiny babies. We also didn't need to worry about Benji pretending to drop the actual baby of the side. Let's assume they will cut that.

After that we moved on to an area that used to be a pond, but was now a grassy area inside these big walls. We all hung out on the blanket and ran around up the stairs. At one point Benji took out his phone, but they didn't want to use that so he put it back in the baby carriage, which had lots of pouches and such. Then Nicole and I had a fun moment riding one of the fishy statues, where at one point I sat down wrong- ow! Fishy had back fins. Then we moved up to another long walk way, first playing back and forth between these little monk statues then walking up the path toward the naked guy statue. Some of us hid inside the buses that lined the walkway and jumped out to scare the crew as they came up behind us. I lagged, so I scared no one. It was still nice and shady in there though.

Then from the naked guy statue, we turned and crossed the big meadow to get to the final spot by the lake, looking over at the mansion. We were reminded how crazy hot out it was. Luckily we all slathered on the sunblock. I didn't get burned at all that day. Yay! We made it to the trees and there was a trail through the brush toward the spot.

While we waited for the scene to be set we were across the spot in the shade and I found not 1, but 2 four leaf clovers! Like immediately and within like 15 minutes of each other, just looking down. Double luck! Except maybe not.

In the journey from the fishes to the spot, we lost Benji's phone out of the baby carriage. And then Nicole's birdcage necklace, which had come off at some point, was accidentally stepped on and crushed. Doh! Sadness. They sent some PAs to retrace our steps to find the phone. The phone was not found, so they brought them back.

We shot the final shot where we are sitting by the lake as a family, eating our picnic and swatting the bugs. Jerk bugs! Then the camera turns away into the meadow and the crew members are called out and frolic into the field. Then we get up and join them and we all dance around and hug and cry, etc. Some folks dump the cooler on Markas- which was actually quite refreshing I would think. Then some of us charged at the camera and picked up Pete because he was still hiding back there. Luke and Brett busted out some champagne. A lot of it exploded out or was doused on people, but there was enough for folks to toast with. Yay! We made a movie! Yay!

I think at some point Frankel may have also lost his phone, but I never heard if he found his.

We finished frolicking and people packed up. I realized that it was already 4 pm and we needed to pick up our gift for the directors by 5 pm. I asked Luke and Brett and they were like- sure no problem, but didn't immediately rush away. And then I got all panicky. Ok, not panicky, but concerned because I didn't know how long it took to drive back. Apparently not that long because they got it just fine. I was just paranoid. Anyway, everyone pakced up and most left. And yet, we were still sitting there. After about 20 minutes I realized it was because Benji was still wandering around looking for his missing phone. Finally I just asked little Brett if we could get a driver since by the time the car got to Champaign and back, he might still be looking for it and there was no reason the rest of the Leads should be waiting. Afterall, we all needed to get pretty for our wrap party!

So he drives us back. Yay!

Apparently it's a federal offense to smoke on school grounds. I wonder if it's also a federal offense to strip naked and walk around only wearing balloons in a school.

Today (I'm finally catching up!) we went back to the sweat box that is Franklin Middle School and picked up our remaining scenes. We got the bathroom scene. I managed to eek out my 2 remaining lines. We tried it like I was doing it sort of jokey and gravelly. I think it worked. maybe? I think so. If not I can ADR it later. I know folks with recording booths in LA!

It was pretty hot, but not like it was in the gym that day. I also managed to eat something before hand and wasn't lightheaded at all. After that scene I changed into normal clothes and hung out in the air conditioned rooms most of the day. Nice! I got in a 20 minute nap even.

After lunch we shot Benji and Shannon's competition dance on both the camcorder and the Red. We needed the Camcorder for teh opening sequence then the Red just to have it all nice for the DVD. They were freaking awesome. They looked amazing. Markas had them in green and black and when the light hit them they sparkled everywhere- literally and figuratively. They even had sparkly custom shoes! I was out there for most of them because the camcorder eventually sees my feet- which was a thing of confusion for a few takes as we had Cut yelled after the dance, but then the camcorder was still on and people were talking and walking all over. One even has Benji talking about his pants being torn. Doh! Only an issue because I say a line. So we got it all sorted out and we did it once more for the camcorder and that one worked. Then Benji and Shannon wanted another go so they could totally nail it for the Red. I went into the AC to change but it sounds like they rocked it.

After their dance we still had enough time to film our tango in our outfits. We did ours up on the stage, which was all done up with balloons and paper stars like it was High school musical. So funny. We danced to a song we hadn't practiced on before so my start timing was off. After that we had Melanie cue me when to move. That worked much better. the first go of it I felt really good about but nicole wasn't happy with. Plus she was lipsyncing out of habit. He he. So we tried again and got off rhythm pretty quick. I think that's when we had Melanie cue me. We were both also really sweaty and she was literally slipping away from me. We started over and did alright, but I didn't feel great that time. I think that's when the spotlight blew a circuit so we went in the AC to cool off while they reset it. When we came back for the last time we nailed it. I had to mutter to Nicole to stop singing and she did and we got all the way through it, and through it well. It was fun and sexy and fierce. Plus we worked out the angles really well so the good moves are toward the camera. Nice!

Another awesome thing is thatI got to wear my tux sans jacket because they put a false back on the vest. It was pinned becasue it was Markas' granfather's vest and they didn't want to make alterations on it. Sophie hand stitched a black cotton back to it so I wouldn't have to try and dance in the heavy coat. Thank goodness! Plus it's a cute look on it's own.

Today was supposed to be a day in the park, but since it was a pickup day we will go to the park tomorrow. Since we go to the park tomorrow, we lose our promo photo shoot we wanted to do. Like for posters and such. We were going to try rigging a fake pony tail so my hair doesn't look cut, but it's moot since we won't have time now. I also won't have time to get my tattoo here before I leave. Sadness! Oh well. I can get it in LA, I just wanted to go to where we found our little girl that plays little me in the movie. (No Regrets tatoo)

Tomorrow we will have time to party. Mike Ross is hosting the first 2 hours of the party at Krannert Center with an open bar! Woo! Then we move the party, but I forget where. hopefuly I won't throw out my neck dancing again.

Then I guess I pack because I leave Wednesday.

Since we started and ended late on Sunday, we all missed Kenneth's big send off party/show at C Street. Sadness! Ultra sad for Benji because he was going to preform that night. C'est la vie. Maybe he can find a fun show in LA, though it's so much fun doing it in a small venue.