The Hollywood Experience, my version

Although I grew up in the Entertainment Capitol of the World, I must admit, I have no memories of ever having anything to do with the Entertainment industry.

All of my friends pretty much know that I do have some extra time in my hands. So I get a phone call one evening from someone who got my contact info from a great friend asking me if I was interested to be a PA for two days for a newly created Spanish television show called Mas Vale Tarde? Uh! sure why not. When do I start? The next day at 9:00 a.m. sharp.

I tell my family of the two-day job offer and then my father asks... "So, what will you be doing?" hmmm... I'm going to be a PA... "what is that?" my father asks. "oh, it's short for Production Assistant" I say... "what do PAs do?" he continues... "I guess they assist the production crew" I say... "what does that mean, assisting?" he insists... "dad, I don't know what I will do exactly. All I know is that the show is called Mas Vale Tarde."

I was somewhat excited because it's something completely different from what I have ever done before. I was exited for the new experience and as I kept on wondering about the many tasks that may await me, one thing was clear; I was going to get exhausted working for 12 hours straight for two days.

Mas Vale Tarde is a newly developed late night talk show for Telemundo Spanish television audience. Here's a clip from one of the promos.



Behind the scenes, the number of people it takes to put a show together is more than I had ever thought. Well, I really never thought about it to be honest. But I will never watch another TV show the same. I mean, the hard work, the long hours, the BS, the the the the... never mind.

The experience itself was rewarding enough because I just goes to prove that no matter what it is that I do, I always dedicate myself 100% to it... I truly work hard to get things right. As a production assistant, I did everything such as: carrying boxes, going shopping with the company's credit card, picking up after people, escorting "talent," buying food for "talent," oh and can I say the most challenging task was to buy birthday candles ASAP. Let me explain or as my brother Tony would say "le me esplain": The TV show was taped in the middle of Universal City Walk... For those of you not familiar with it, Universal City Walk is it's own little community surrounded by roads and Universal City Walk's own parking structures... it is best described as an island with restaurants, coffee shops, an amphitheater, and stores that sell shirts, memorabilia but no birthday candles. It was obvious after going to a second store that Universal City Walk would not have any birthday candles, or would it?... so my next best idea was to go to a restaurant and sweet talk someone into getting me some birthday candles. And that's exactly what I did and all I had to do is ask nicely and smile. Thank you Luis from Camacho Mexican Restaurant.

Overall, the TV buz is not as glamorous as any non-entertainment-oriented person would think. Sure, if your goal is to make it in the Entertainment industry then getting your foot anywhere possible would be great, even as a PA. But to me, it's just an experience that well... hmm, how shall I say it delicately? It's simply not my repertoire... but I did meet some great people and had a great time, and that's exactly how I will remember it.

But before I end, I shall post this Mas Vale Tarde video clip (I think it's a promo) that's a little bit longer than the first video that I posted above.



cheers,

-Zen