One of Many...

So, if you don't already know this about me, one of my many passions is the TV show Friday Night Lights. I have been watching the show since its first season, and follow it religiously to this day. It is currently in the process of filming it's 5th season! Sadly, it'll probably be its last, but hey, critics weren't giving it a chance after the first season. Better to end on a high note than get cancelled. :) Not only do I watch, but am also a background extra. :) It's been a great experience taking part in a show from that aspect.

Anyway, for my blog tonight, I'm going to post up a couple of videos for those who would like to have a small preview about it. The first video is one that I made and compiled yesterday.

The Outsiders @ Yahoo! Video

The second video was made by a good friend of mine, and fellow blogger, http://mmcdonald64.blogspot.com/. It shows the beginnings of a problem with Coach Taylor and how it escalates into a fight with his wife, later to be resolved like they always do.

Eric and Tami fight @ Yahoo! Video

The acting is dynamic and the storylines aren't just about football. They are about life, love, and everything in between. Even non-football fans would appreciate it! :)

A Wonderful Night!!!

I went to Austin to film a football game for Friday Night Lights. In one word, I can sum up the entire evening... AMAZING!!!! Our call time was 5:30 so we left San Antonio around 3:30 to dodge rush hour traffic. We got to set about 30 minutes early. We had a major chance of some severe weather and I had my phone doppler working in overtime. The air was sticky and muggy so it was evident that the dryline was setting up to the west. I love that feeling, but was concerned about the storms turning tornadic and us not having a place to take cover....

After signing in and taking care of all that stuff, we ate some dinner and waited at base camp to be called to the stadium. Everyone was in good moods. It wasn't a huge shoot so it was a lot more relaxed than a lot of other shoots I have been on.

We got called to the East Dillon stadium, a first for me. Talk about a very huge transition from West Dillon to East Dillon. That stadium...just wow.

Between setups on films, there was times we were just hanging out. Loriann and I walked below the bleachers... There was Kyle with his daughter and his dog. I knew that was probably our chance to get to talk to him. I wanted to at least one more time in case this was my last time to film. Kyle saw us and came over. He hugged Loriann and they talked about her surgery coming up. I chickend out and only shook his hand, but that's okay because I was there with him. I told him that we had met before, I was Jessie from Lubbock. He smiled and said it was good to see me again. I informed him that this too, was probably my last time to be on set. He asked why. I told him I was going to school. He flashed me a sly smile and asked "Where?" Almost like he knew, being that I was from Lubbock and all. I told him Tech and he approved. So I got a stamp of approval from Kyle to go to Tech. :-P His daughter was adorable too. She asked me if I had to go to school on Saturday's and when I told her yes, her eyes got huge and she just could not believe it. We also petted his dog and it was soaking up a lot of attention too.

We told him goodbye and he said, "Maybe we can come back for 13 more for you guys." I think he was meaning 13 more seasons. That would be cool in some ways. :) We went back up in the stands and I had one eye on filming and one eye on the sky. The storms weren't forming yet, but I knew they would.

Connie Britton (Tami Taylor), Brad Leland (Buddy Garrity), and the woman who plays Mindy Riggins got seated in the stands. We got moved down the row to sit right below them. We chatted with Connie and Brad. Connie was commenting on the weather and we showed her the doppler on my phone a few times. She was geniunely concerned for all of us extra's getting wet. When they wrapped them, she even told us bye and hoped we'd be okay. Brad thanked all of us as well. They were so kind.

After doing more filming, the storms were getting closer. The wind shifted west and feeded into it. It also got cooler. Then, the wind randomly picked up and they sent all of us to a hotel near set. We had to sit down in an area and wait. They fed us Subway and we just chilled for awhile. I checked over the dopplers and it was just too unpredictable to tell what was going to happen. They then sent us out on the field again. As we were walking back, a huge cluster of lightning lit up the sky. I was like, seriously? We can't film on an open field with metal and electrical equipment around us. No sooner than I thought that, Jacob and Tony, the PA's, said we were wrapped for the night.

If this was my last filming, I can say that I'm leaving satisfied. I got to talk to Kyle one last time and tell him my goodbyes. Filming was relaxed and fun and I got to see some friends I have made on set. What a great time. I'm truly blessed! :)

F -- Friday Night Lights

I have to blog about my favorite TV show, Friday Night Lights. I know this is a repeat of my good friend, Mary's blog, but since it's been a large part of my life, I have to do it as well. I have been blessed to be an extra on this show. It is filmed in Austin and I've taken the time to go down and film from time to time, of course, when I can get the time off to do so.

I have gotten to meet an actor I have been following for a very long time. Kyle Chandler has captured my interest since his days on the movie Pure Country with George Strait. That was back in 1993. Yeah, I've been a fan for that long, so you can bet how GREAT it felt to actually get to meet him.

I'm very blessed to actually get to work alongside a man that I have admired. To see him transform from Kyle to Coach Taylor in a matter of seconds is amazing. Not only is he great at acting, he is an awesome person. He's very friendly. I was nervous to meet him but when I finally did, it was like chatting with an old friend. He's really funny and open to everyone, not "celebrity" at all. That is so compelling.

Not only have I met Kyle, I have also had the opportunity for other cast members. Connie Britton, Taylor Kitsch, Minka Kelly, Aimee Teegarden, just to name a few.

It's a great show. Yes, this is a shameless plug, but hey, Friday Night Lights begins with F and well, today's letter is F. Of course I had to blog about this. The show isn't just about football. It's about life in general. The acting is exquisite. So much can be "said" with body language. The fictional marriage of Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and Tami (Connie Britton) feels real. It's like they are married in real life. The storylines are real. Even life in Texas is real. It takes place in fictional Dillon, TX which is supposed to be located near where I really live, so I can safely say that they portray it very well.

So, next time you hear about Friday Night Lights, don't think it's just football. While that's a theme in the show, it's merely a sub plot in this dynamic show. It's a very great change of pace from the everyday lawyer and doctor shows that are all over the TV. It has survived through four seasons and filming for the fifth has begun. I'm hoping to get down there a few more times to film before it's over.

There is a screening on April 24th that I'm fortunate to get to go to, thanks to a great family who has welcomed me like I am one of their own. I cant thank them enough for allowing me to stay with them during filming and what not. They are great! I can't wait to watch FNL on the big screen, along with some of the cast members. That's going to be crazy to get to see their reactions to their own work!

Check out the show. It's going to air on NBC starting on May 7th. If you like good acting and good plots, you won't be disappointed. Not to mention, Kyle Chandler is oh so easy on the eyes. :)

Here is the link to Mary's blog, another great take on the show!

http://mmcdonald64.blogspot.com/