Friday, December 4, 2009

All Access Victoria's Secret












Being booked to provide comedic relief at the Victoria's secret fashion show is actually a lot harder than it may sound but it was a task that was completely worth it. Now if you read my previous post you know that I was booked to be an improv actor for the 2009 Victori'a secret fashion show. However, if you saw the show on CBS on DEC 1st you may have realized that you did not see me. "What happened?" you might ask, well here goes.

The night before the Victori'as secret fashion show was the rehearsal. Now this was the major rehearsal with all the effects, the Black Eyed Peas, Supermodels with wings and yours truly Sandhurst Miggins. Now to this point my co-host and I were told that we were basically going to be doing commentary backstage. Fooling around with the models, hold up that didn't sound right, lets try this again, playing with the models, hmm even worse. Okay just having fun backstage. Now here is where I started to see a problem with this vision. From a creative standpoint, having two guys backstage cracking jokes could be funny if executed well, however this is a fashion show and as a model myself backstage gets so hectic that no one is in the mood to laugh, even though the models look like they are smiling backstage as the run to change, they know the deal. They know the camera is on them and as such the smile and the "Oh I am having such a great time look is pasted on for the world to see" when in reality its more of a "Get out of my (insert obscenities here )way, I have to go on again in 2 seconds."

During the rehearsals everything was kept light, the models were having fun. I was trying not to faint and go into complete groupie mode as I started conversing with the likes of Chanel Iman Alessandra Ambrossi, Sessilee Lopez, Aminata, Marissa, Miranda and a really fun loving Candice Swanepoel who actually knew who I was. I had an excellent time backstage. It was a great experience interacting with some of the girls. Sessilee and I broke it down for the cameras hamming it up backstage. We even had a mock soultrain line going. I didn't think the night could get any better but then it did. One of the models had yet to show up so they asked me to be a stand in for her and walk the runway. So there I am waiting for my cue as Channel Iman walks out right before me. Walking the VS runway I must admit even though it was a dress rehearsal is extremely intimidating but it was fun. As I took my four seconds to pose at the crest of the runway I was like "Damn this is CRAZY!" Turning back to walk to the other side of the V I was completely caught off guard as Alessandra Ambrossi the Longest VS Angel beside Heidi walked out. The Woman is hot and being that close to her on the runway was almost too much I actually stumbled a bit by the shock of seeing her walk out after me. I think the moment became almost too big for me but I digress. The night was a success even though my partner and I were still unaware of exactly how tomorrow's show was going to work with the craziness of backstage.

The next morning as I woke up at 7 for my 11 o'clock call I was greeted by an email from Robert of Victoria's Secret with the Subject "Actor's Cancelation." Yes I had ben axed, fired, sacked, let go, released, I had been deprived of an even greater experience to top the one that I had last night yet all I could think of was "Yeah that's fine and all but I still get to see the show right?" I replied to the email thanking them for the opportunity and asked if I could still come see the show. A speedy yes was given to me and even though I still had my all access pass that was issued to me the night before for the actual show I was given two extra tickets. Not bad for a guy who two weeks ago was trying to sneak into the event. I was still going to get compensated for the job and I got to go backstage, it was great.

To let you all in, the cancellation was due to just what I had suspected the night before. Backstage was just going to be to crazy on the night of the show to have extra people there and they decided to get rid of the actors before we got a chance to get in the way. So is the way of the entertainment world, you have to be understanding. I didn't care though I got to interact with the most beautiful women in the world and I got to see both tapings of the show, once in the audience from, really great seats and once from the control tower right behind the director. I truly got an all-round all access pass to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

2 comments:

Oasis said...

Hi...this is Melonie with Islandpeople Mas...back in trini...just wanna ket you know i'm proud..keep doing you!!!

Jeffery Odyssey said...

i wish i was there in your shoes. i would have loved to work behind the scenes of that show. I would like to be in it but hey they don't design for men lol