Commentary

Traveling to Mars and back

By Daniel Tamarack

April 24, 2006

Imperial Beach, CA--I was an extra on the set of Veronica Mars, the show is often shot in and around San Diego. What an excruciatingly long day it was.

The series follows Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell), who attends Neptune High School by day and solves crimes in her free time. The young Nancy Drew knock-off gets her know-how from her father, Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni), who works as a private detective.

Props to Veronica Mars: a Neptune High School graduation program

I had a moment to speak with actor Enrico Colantoni, also known for his work as Elliot on “Just Shoot Me.” I wanted to know how he endures 12-hour days on the set. “Doesn’t it get boring?” I asked him.

Colantoni answered affirmatively by firmly nodding his head. He shared with me that he loves working on both “dramaedy” and comedy, but “the hours are much better on a comedy.” He explained the benefits to the 12-hour days, however, by asking rhetorically, “Have you ever heard the expression, ‘They pay you to wait?’”

And wait we did. After 13 hours of waiting and sitting on the hard gymnasium stadium seating, my butt felt like it had been through five graduations.

After having spent all that time there, I don’t know if I can sit through the graduation ceremony of my friend, who’s receiving his Masters from San Diego State soon. I think I might do it the Hollywood way and send a stand in.

I’ve created do’s and don’ts for anyone who thinks spending all day on a studio set is a good side gig for themselves.

Do

§ Enjoy a beverage of your choice, as Kristen Bell did. The actress nursed a Starbucks Frappuccino between takes.

§ Wear comfortable shoes, as Bell did. She donned Ugg boots between shots that required her to wear pumps. Also, the actor who plays Veronica’s high school principal wears Nike basketball shoes while on break.

§ Get exercise when and where you can. Co-star Ryan Hansen managed to catch a cast member who performed a poorly executed stage-dive off the bleacher seats.

§ Use humor to keep things lively, as did Enrico Colantoni, whose comic self-muttering and forehead slaps kept onlookers chuckling. Bell, meanwhile, lightened the mood with an “I Love Hooters” bumper sticker slapped on the back of her chair.

Don’t

§ Overindulge on liquids as breaks are sporadic, and you never know when Mother Nature may call.

§ Wear heavy warm clothes during inside shots. Even an enormous gymnasium will heat up like an oven with the amount of lighting used by the crew.

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Danial Tamarack is a San Diego-based freelance writer.

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