You never know what you'll run across in Las Vegas.
This time our friend Dave tipped me off that crew was filming a car commercial,
so I ran out to see what was happening.
I didn't find cars, but something unusual was definitely going on.
What's going on?
Outside the California
Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
October 4, 2022
Dave Always Keeps Things Interesting!
Outside the California
Shooting an Ad Outside the California
Waiting for "And... ACTION!"
I was there so long, a crew member offered me food and water during a break
when she was passing them out to the extras and the filming crew in the shoot.
I passed, because I didn't want to push my luck.
Everyone was so good about letting me shoot photos,
as long as I didn't get too close or in the way.
A Snack for the Extras
A Snack for the Crew
It didn't take long to realize that filming includes
a whole lot of standing around for most people involved.
Much of the waiting was caused by moving equipment
and managing traffic around the closed off streets and in and out of the California.
"Cut!" yells the director as some people wander out of the Cal and into the scene.
Moving Equipment
Traffic Control
Moving Equipment
Setting Up the Shot
The concept behind the ad was perplexing to me.
There were highly colorful characters, some of whom were jugglers,
and there were beautiful showgirls and giant flowers on stilts.
They all paraded up and down the sidewalk with deadpan expressions on their faces.
Some had painted faces as masks, some had noses and makeup as masks,
and some had blank expressions as masks.
A Blank Mask
As soon as the actors finished their walks,
their deadpan expressions would falter,
and they would give photographers like me some great expressive shots.
The mask begins to slip away.
A blank face begins to crack a smile.
A Mischievous Smile
Full On Razzle Dazzle
Eventually, the cars showed up, and the actors took a break,
heading for the parking lot across the street.
Time for a Break
It turned out to be a car commercial after all.
They didn't have to do as many do-overs as the human actors.
The cars finally get to strut their stuff!
Round and round they went!
Back to work! My heart went out to the flowers on stilts.
They had been walking on them for hours
and would continue their balancing a while longer.
A Last Look at the Cell
A Long Day and Still Shooting
Back at It
A Little Juggling for the People Like Me Watching the Action
I squeezed in a few more shots as Terry came to drag me off to Pizza Rock for dinner.
Curious Onlookers Like Me
I realized as I headed off with Terry that the photos I took of filming the commercial
would work as a post for Rain's Thursday Art Date theme Mask
and for Nicole's Friday Face Off this week.
I'm so glad that my friend Dave alerted me to the action.
Sometimes you just get lucky, and people often call me Lucky Louise!
Definitely Great Masks and Faces!
I'm looking forward to visiting around!
Have a great weekend!
Till next time ~
Fundy Blue
My next post will be on
Fridayday, October 14, 2022. 🤞
On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Thank you so much for sharing all of this. I love these so much. What fun.... Thank you for joining FFO.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nicole! It's fun looking for faces. Have a great weekend!
Deletehaha that was a colorful cast of characters for a commercial. Did you ever find out if it was for a car commercial? There is a lot of hurry up and wait when filming indeed. I watched them film a bit in Lunenburg. All they seemed to be doing was standing around and talking. They changed street signs, hid logos, and stuff like that while I watched.
ReplyDeleteAn Audi and a Cadillac circled around for a bit, Pat, as the crew filmed them. Most of the time filming was spent on the human actors. I'll bet a lot of filming occurs in Lunenburg because it's a UNESCO World Heritage site. Have a great weekend, my friend!
DeleteAs you point out, it's interesting to observe these shoots but they do involve a lot of time spent doing not much of anything. The last time we witnessed such an event was in Lunenburg, NS.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely watch another shoot if I had the chance. I think Lunenburg would be a great place to do historical films. I hope you have a chance to see some great birds this weekend!
DeleteThanks for sharing this looks so fun. We don't realize all the work that goes into productions.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christine! Productions are usually seamless and polished, and we don't get to see everything that is cut from the final product. I'm glad I had the opportunity to see this. Have a great weekend!
DeleteWhat an amazing thing to see. I would have been engrossed too. Some of those costumes look VERY uncomfortable. In your first close up of the 'blank face' all I could think was how tight that dress was.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking us with you.
Thanks, Sue! It was something to see. Yes, those dresses were tight and so were the shoes. The showgirls took their feathered headpieces off every chance they could.
DeleteHow exciting ... did you ever find how what the commercial was for? What fun, Louise ... I think you are definitely lucky!
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From the Sol
It was exciting, Andrea! It turned out to be a car commercial. The cars showed up for their shoot later in the afternoon. You're one of several people who asked this question, so I went back and tried to make it clearer. I'm grateful for being Lucky Louise! Hugs to you!
DeleteWhat a fun thing to come across. I bet it was interesting. I once watched a few minutes of a movie being filmed up my way, but I wasn't allowed close enough to see what you saw. It's exciting. Thanks for sharing, and happy weekend . hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteHugs back at you, Erika! I was able to get close because the California's door wasn't blocked, and the film crew had to let cars and pedestrians through certain close-by areas. Have a great weekend!
DeleteFascinating! I hope you get to see the finished commercial on TV some day!
ReplyDeleteI hope so too, Debra! I'm going to be paying attention to commercials now. Have a great weekend with your Rare One!
Delete...you sure were busy on your "photo shot!" It certainly takes a lot of people film an ad. Things are a bit boring in my neck of the woods!
ReplyDeleteYou've probably figured out that I love shooting photos, Tom. It's so much fun, and I often joke that I'll shoot anything that is alive or isn't. You find so many interesting things to photograph in your neck of the woods ~ not boring at all. And I love your musician posts and your political cartoons. I think you find great shots! Take care!
DeleteI hope to see Las Vegas one day
ReplyDeleteI hope you do too, Adam. You and your wife, that is. I don't think it's a good place for kiddos, although I see a lot of them walking around with their parents. Vegas is definitely R-rated in my estimation, and I'm not a prude! Have fun with your family this weekend!
DeleteLucky Louise!!! ♥♥♥ What a nice post! I have seen a few movie productions first hand in my day and boy oh boy does it ever look B-O-R-I-N-G...lol, you're right about a lot of standing around and waiting. I wouldn't have the patience for it! Nice photography Louise!! ♥
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rain! I'm so glad that you enjoyed my post. I was probably having more fun than anyone involved with the filming. So much for the glamor of the film industry ~ lol! I probably wouldn't have the patience for it either. Enjoy your weekend!
DeleteI have seen a lot of wild and crazy stuff going on in Las Vegas, but I've never seen anything this cool! How fun is that -- I would have done just as you did -- watch and hang out and take pix for hour after hour! The photos are wonderful -- they really capture your day in such delightful detail. I loved every bit of it!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jeanie! I had so much fun hanging out and shooting photos. I love to tell a story with pictures, and I try to cover the full story. I used to write for my university student newspaper, and I thought about a career in journalism, but geology and teaching won out in the end. As a teacher union leader I was able to write newspaper articles for different publications ~ too often tax policy ~ lol. Happy weekend to you!
DeleteWow, how cool is that and how nice you were offered food and water!
ReplyDeleteHm, yes. When I brought Ingo to hospital in Perth in an emergency (he had nose bleeding whilst taking blood thinner - bad combo) there was an accident on the highway - a nurse saw I was freezing my butt off (I´d packed everything for Ingo and nothing for myself). He really asked if I would like a hot tea, but they had so much to do II said, no, but thank you...
Wonderful photos!!! Those smiles coming out!!
Oh, I would LOVE to see that ad! If you can, will you share it, please?
Bet it never will make it´s way to Germany, even if AUDI is involved...
Henry would´ve loved to join, too ;-)
Thanks, Iris! If I see the ad and can capture it, I will share it. How kind of the nurse to offer you hot tea. I certainly understand why you refused the offer. You must have been so worried about Ingo. Parents juggle so much, and a child who is sick or having other medical issues is one of the scary tasks. I hope you are enjoying a relaxing weekend. Take care!
DeleteWhat amazing, fabulous photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sirkkis! It was lots of fun to take them. Happy weekend to you!
DeleteYou certainly got some great faces on this. I have been in one commercial, but I was dressed as and playing myself. It was for a restaurant, and my face got featured in a closeup. I never saw it but my great nephew sent me a photo of it on his girlfriend's TV.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gene! What a thoughtful great nephew! I'll be watching ads to see if I can spot this commercial. My camera is always nearby, so I'm hoping that I can snap a photo if I see it. Enjoy your weekend!
Deletewow, that was an interesting day for sure. I am glad you were able to stay that long. I would have to if I had the opportunity. I have always wondered hor people can actually wlk and stand on the high sticks. I have trouble wit hhigh heels. :)
ReplyDeleteI have trouble with high heels too, Monica! I went through a phase in grade six when I tried walking on stilts ~ The rage passed through my neighborhood. I was terrible at it. I don't like heights, and I like my feet firmly on the ground. I hope you are enjoying a good weekend!
DeleteHow cool that they let you stay and watch! I'm jealous of people who can walk on stilts, though even if I could, I don't think I'd want to do it for hours. Only in Vegas :-)
ReplyDeleteOnly in Vegas for sure, Janet. Thanks for visiting. Take care.
DeleteWhat fun, Louise! How great that you were there to witness and capture this colourful event. I guess you never know what you'll run across in Vegas. You make me want to finally visit!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Martha! I try to be open to whatever each day presents. Right now chicken breasts are staring me down. I have to cook dinner ~ lol! Have a great week! Take care!
Deleteit was fun to get around the car add dear Louise as you shared it so nicely that makes me feel there almost :)
ReplyDeletethe lady walking on sticks reminds me a childhood glimpse of something similar in a fair in city Hyderabad where i lived until i was six i think . for years i wondered why that glimpse come into my mind and makes me feel uncomfortable until i saw this in some Hollywood movie in which a scene settled that old glimpse into my mind as a pleasant thing .
your shots are excellent and show actual smile of the artists beautifully . i had attended few shooting with my sister and i think for the artist this job of acting is most tiring and irritating and they hardly enjoy at all what we enjoy so much as spectator .
thank you for this exciting sharing .hugs and blessings
Vegas is always an interesting place!
ReplyDelete