By Theresa Krakauskas

January 24, 2005

My Day in Llanview

It was a dark and stormy night...  Well, not really, but the weather was pretty bad when your webmistress (WM) and I set off on a Manhattan adventure -- a visit to the set of One Life to Live, my all time favorite soap!  One of her neighbors, also a freelance boom artist, had been kind enough to give us passes.

After fighting the cold, rain and wind, going in the wrong direction, and then to the wrong building (only finding this out *after* we had combed our hair and reapplied our makeup), we arrived shortly after 9 am.  While waiting in the lobby, we saw the gorgeous David Fumero (Christian Vega) chatting with stage manager Alan Needleman ("Needles") whom I remembered from the Daytime Encounter workshop.  Already we were more than excited!

The neighbor met us in the lobby, escorted us upstairs, and gave us a tour.  We began with the room where the show is viewed and edited.  Numerous boards and technical gadgets were coupled with about a million TV screens (all the better to keep an eye on the competition, my dear).  I was mystified that anyone could remember which lever or button was for what.  We then went to where the show is taped, sets lining both sides of the room with a wide aisle down the middle where the cameras and boom (microphone to you "civilians") equipment rolls.  It was so strange seeing the places I'd watched for so many years on TV, and to actually sit in the Lord Library and the Angel Square Diner.  We also saw the cabin where Todd Manning is being held hostage, the carriage house used for some of the All My Children crossover scenes, the cell where Christian was kept when we all thought he was dead, and two pretty realistic-looking outdoor sets.  I was surprised to see how small the sets are -- it's amazing how the camera can make something the size of the average living room look like a mansion.  The neighbor also filled us in on how complicated and messy it can be if rain, snow or a fire is required -- the latter needing approval from the Fire Marshal as well.

Most of the scenes shot that morning were in the diner and it seemed like nearly half the cast made an appearance.  In addition to David Fumero, there were scenes done with Michael Easton (John McBain, who was also my favorite vampire, Caleb, on Port Charles), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Evengeline Williamson), Melissa Archer (Natalie Buchanan Vega), Hillary B. Smith (Nora Buchanan), Patricia Maucer (Carlotta Vega, who also has a gig on The Sopranos), Robert S. Woods (Bo Buchanan), Kimberlin Brown (Dr. Paige Miller), Kristen Alderson (Starr Manning), Tari Signor (Margaret Cochran), and last but not least Erika Slezak (Viki Lord Davidson).  While we really couldn't talk to the actors since they were working, many of them made a point to acknowledge our presence and every person we did meet -- both cast and crew -- was very gracious.  (Note: Bob Woods is just about the cutest man on the planet!)  When I reintroduced myself to Needles, he claimed to remember me, but I think he was just being nice.  The actors also seemed to really enjoy working with each other, as there was quite a bit of joking around.

Believe it or not, the technical end of it was even more interesting than the acting.  For the actors on a soap, it's all hurry up and wait, but it seemed like something was always going on behind the cameras.  Each scene was rehearsed first and then taped immediately afterward.  It was way cool to watch the show live while at the same time seeing it on screen the way it will look on TV, although I nearly got whiplash looking back and forth.  One scene required a voice-over while the character was writing a letter and thinking about what he was writing.  First came the taping of his voice (very quiet on the set!) and then the scene itself was taped while the voice-over played.  Another scene had a character shooting a gun over and over, the director making sure everyone understood that there were no bullets, blank or otherwise, and that it was all very safe.  Every detail was meticulously looked after, such as a vase of flowers at the diner needing to be trimmed down so it didn't obscure the actors in any way.  And yes, the "soap opera face," where the camera lingers in close-up of an actor before the fade-out of a scene, was just as amusing in person as it is on the tube.  Just think of Joey on "Friends" playing Dr. Drake Ramoray and you'll get the picture.

One of the cameramen, "T," had described himself as the OG -- nope, not old gansta, but official greeter, and took us under his wing.  He let us work his camera, showing us how you can even watch another TV station through the screen at the same time.  (Ah-ha!  Now we know they're all really watching "the ball game!")  The head boom guy also came up to me at one point, handing me the mic, but I was like, "no way!"  The thing was HUGE.  I could just imagine it crashing into everything and the sets falling like dominoes if I tried to carry it.

All kidding aside, what we saw was a group of consummate professionals.  The tech people worked like a well-oiled machine, and although there was a lot of levity among the actors, when it was time to get down to business, it was like a switch was flipped.  They were also accommodating amongst each other as well.  When one of the actresses disagreed on how a line should be said (and IMO, *she* should know), she explained her reasoning in a light and kind manner.  Each and every person also had the patience of a saint.  As fast-paced as a scene might look on TV, it seemed like it took forever to just tape a couple of lines.  The extras were treated with the utmost respect as well.  When one of them had to be removed from a scene for aesthetic reasons (i.e. balance in the background), Needles went out of his way to make sure they understood it had nothing to do with them personally.

All too soon, it came time for lunch break and everyone scattered.  No surprise as we were also starving.  While talking with the neighbor on the empty set, we heard WM's name being called.  Turning around, here came "Margaret" -- it turned out they knew each other from another venue!   After each saying, "What are *you* doing here?" simultaneously, we all had a good laugh.  Apparently, between Tari's acting ability, the make-up and the costumes, WM hadn't realized who she was.  It was a real pleasure to meet her, too, since she is one of my favorite characters at present.  I always love the looney tunes and she is one of the best!  In real life, however, she is very charming and beautiful, and joked around about how her only job for the day was "lurking."

Unfortunately, we had to leave because moi had plans for the evening.  But we are hoping to be invited back one day (hear that, neighbor? -- lol!), and when we are, I'll be your faithful reporter once again.

Oh, and the best part?  Knowing what's going to happen in advance.  But there's no way I'm gonna tell you -- you'll just have to tune in to see!

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