How I Spent the Day w/ Maroon 5
So now that the music video has made it’s premiere - I am finally able to release details of how I worked on the #Maroon5 music video for their new song #Sugar
I got the audition at the Showcase I did back in November. Lisa Fields of Lisa Fields Casting said, “Come to auditions on Saturday”. So I did.
It was fun. We were told dress as a bridesmaid or bride. I came dressed in my bridesmaid outfit from my best friend’s wedding earlier that year. I checked in and was called in almost immediately after. It was myself, one other girl and a guy. We were told we were the Bridal Party and its the end of the reception when we’re saying thank you to the guests. Suddenly, music starts playing and we are to turn and look at a pink spot on the wall that represents our favorite band in the entire world crashing this reception. We were to show shock and excitement and then start dancing. So we gave a thumbs up and go on to improving. Then they play Prince’s “KISS”, we turn, we look and I start FREAKING out! I chose Prince as my “favorite band” because why not? His song was playing! So we danced and laughed and then he said, “Cut.” We then did it a second time, this time adding his note about “more energy.” It was just as much fun the second time around. I walked out of there feeling, “Meh” about it. However, I go a Callback the following week.
Callbacks were the exact setup. I dressed in the same outfit and was given the same song and instructions to perform. Except this time, the Director of “The Judge”, @DavidDobkin, was present. This time, it was just me as the Bride and my Groom in the room. He had us run it twice as well with the instruction of “More Energy” for the second one. After “breaking it down with my bad self”, the music stopped, we said “Thank you” then I again walked out feeling, “Meh” about it.
But yet again I go and get a text saying I’m “On Hold” for these shoot dates.... wait a minute... that means they are seriously considering casting me... the next day I get the confirmation text message saying “You’ve been cast for a Bridesmaid in this SAG Music Video.” Well, it was safe to say, I was walking on Sunshine Ooooh Oh, over the next few days while I received details for costume fittings and shoot dates.
The Costume Fitting was quick and easy. I showed up. I met the lovely Laura and Nikki who had me slip into 2 different blue dresses and cute heels. Tried on jewelry and took “sassy photos” for the director’s approval. Then I peaced out.
The shoot itself was sooooo much fun. Call time was 2pm so I easily got there earlier and hung out until sign in time. I met my other Leads: the Bride-Shinelle, the Groom-BJ, The Best Man-Chase, and the Other Bridesmaid-Shivonne and we were kept together as a tight knit group throughout the day. Ashley signed us in and Roman made sure we got to where we needed to go when we needed to get there. Our team was on point and fun to work with. We were taken to lunch (which was delicious) and we cracked jokes and got to know each other. Then we were taken to Makeup and Hair where we killed more time joking with the Makeup Artists getting our face and hair done and watched as the sun went down. Then Roman came for us and took us to wardrobe. We got all dolled up then went back to Hair & MakeUp to wait some more. Then it was show time. We were taken to the Park Plaza Hotel rooftop which overlooked a beautiful skyline of Downtown LA which was lit up like a Christmas Tree. On the roof itself, there was a beautiful tent-like setup decked out in white canvas intertwined with beautiful white Christmas lights. There was a wooden dance floor beneath that and the entire setup was surrounded by round dinner tables for multiple guests. The Bridal Party was set at the far end at first and I was introduced to my ‘date’ Seth. Then a Tech guy came up and said, “We’re going to move you to another table so that you all will be more featured.” No complaints here. So we were moved to the FAR right side. We sat and chatted with the other bridesmaids and groomsmen while the area started to be filled in with Extras to look as party guests at this well attended reception. The Bride and Groom stood in the middle of the dance floor as the camera and lighting crew worked around them setting up. And then Maroon 5 walked on set wearing tuxes and carrying their instruments and we were like... “yup, we’re in the next Maroon 5 music video.” @DavidDobkin was lovely and very specific, the host cued us as to our timing for our blocking, and the band was playful-cracking jokes and talking with us in between ‘holds’.
Then it was GO time. We’re eating our cake and drinking our coffee when the music starts. Obviously this is planned but when the curtain drops to reveal the band... that’s when everything goes mental. ITS MAROON 5!! MAROON 5 IS PLAYING AT THIS RECEPTION. During the chorus, Adam Levine gestures for us to come and dance then the host gestures for us to go and we take off RUNNING to the Bride and Groom in front of the band and proceed to faun, clap, dance and sing. It becomes like a huge dance party/concert for their new song “Sugar.” Which is a catchy song, and I’m not just saying that because I heard it 10 times but because its VERY easy to dance too.
So we do this take multiple times with the camera at different angles getting different looks of the party, then just the band, then us and the band all so the editors have PLENTY of footage to choose from. Then there was a specialist dancer who stole the show with his solo performance filled with some of the sickest moves I’ve seen in awhile. They played the song through several times to highlight specific points of his choreography. Then the song concludes and the band walks up to say, “Congratulations” to the Bride and Groom and gives high fives as they exit through the crowd (which part like the Red Sea) leaving all of us stunned, excited, and laughing in ecstasy as by far the coolest wedding reception comes to a close.
Afterwards, we took group photos of the Bridal Party and then of just the Leads. We were then led back to Wardrobe to return our costumes and get back into our Day clothes. Handed over my costume to Nikki and Laura and said Goodbye. Then we walked over to check out to make sure our forms were properly filled out so that we can get paid :) Then we all made sure we had each others numbers and/or emails and/or social media handles to keep in contact. And with that we exited the Park Plaza Hotel said our, “Good nighs” we then disperse to our respective parking spaces and depart.
That entire process took place between 2pm-9pm Dec. 5. 2014 in Los Angeles, CA. #anactorslifeforme #BTS #ohVeronica
