Anna Wallner2013-05-22T13:35:01-04:00Anna Wallnerhttp://www.huffingtonpost.ca/author/index.php?author=anna-wallnerCopyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Anna WallnerGood old fashioned elbow grease.Hey Dudes, Pull Up Your Pantstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.29018792013-03-18T15:12:42-04:002013-05-18T05:12:01-04:00Anna Wallnerhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/anna-wallner/Kristina and I took a break from the Vancouver rain recently and turned a meeting in LA into an excuse for a full weekend in the sun, complete with other gal pals, shopping, chardonnay and pool time. Fun!
Of course we decided in advance which restaurants to hit and like many women who care about fashion, I put some thought into what to wear to the various hot spots, not to mention my shopping and pool outfits. My wardrobe weaknesses are shoes and dresses and I spend more then I care to admit on both, so I don't ever want to miss an opportunity to wear a favourite frock or sky-high heels to a swish dinner.
After a day of serious shopping, we all raced back to our hotel to hit the showers. There were blow dryers, flat, curling and clothing irons going all at once. Eyelashes were groomed, outfits debated, make up applied and nails quickly painted before rushing out the door. A serious effort was put in by all.
And when seated at the five-star establishment where we were dining, I looked around at all the other women in the room who had clearly made a similar effort. Nice work, ladies.
And then my eyes wandered to the boys, I mean men, in the room.
There were sweatshirts everywhere. Too-long pants sitting below the butt crack (really? are we still doing that?), scuffed sneakers, and yes, baseball caps. Some even turned off-centre. (I have never understood this look. To me it screams, "Helloooo I'm a dumb dumb." Why would one want to advertise that?)
Benicio del Toro was at the next table, big poofy hair sticking out from under a baseball cap. He looked like an old man who really really doesn't want to grow up.
And shopping along Robertson? There's a guy barking into his cell phone wearing a too-tight, soiled t-shirt and shuffling along in flip flops -- no pedicure there -- next to his perfectly put-together better half.
Now, I know men's fashion in L.A. is decidedly relaxed, but things have gone too far. There is a difference between casually chic and sloth-like. Buy a belt. And an iron. Wear clothes that fit. Buy entire outfits at a time if thinking is too hard for you. Keep a collection of new white T-shirts.
And take off that f-ing baseball hat!
If you plan on going shopping (and you should), remember that stripes and bold colours are in for spring, navy looks good on everyone, and you can never have too many nice socks.
We all want our fashion to look effortless. But that takes a lot of work! And if you insist on doing none, then you should pay for dinner; your honey probably spent all her money on shoes. I know I did.
]]>The Reality Behind Reality TVtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.25695302013-01-28T17:57:08-05:002013-03-30T05:12:01-04:00 I can't tell you much about exactly what we were doing because that would ruin the show. But let me just say this: I only made it to day two before I cried. Almost every single member of our crew was brought to tears at some point, mostly due to sheer exhaustion.]]>Anna Wallnerhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/anna-wallner/
Now, I can't tell you much about exactly what we were doing because that would ruin the show. But let me just say this: I only made it to day two before I cried. I think Kristina made it to day four — she's a toughie. Almost every single member of our crew was brought to tears at some point, mostly due to sheer exhaustion.
I got a sunburn, bumped my head on a tuc tuc, and dug an ominous, eight foot by four foot ditch in which to cook some sheep. A lot of that you'll see, but some of it you won't because part of what's unfortunate for the audience of shows like this one — any show really — is that you never see the entire story of "the making of": the drama between crew members, getting lost, having to pay people off, dealing with accommodations, which, when you're in the middle of nowhere, typically leave a lot to be desired.
On this particular trip, I left the crew behind at one point in search of a hotel that had heat. It was unseasonably freezing in Mexico and few things matter more to me then a warm bed.
Well that's not quite true. Food matters just as much. And the television and film industry is unique in that we, as producers, always arrange food for crews. When shooting at home, we have it catered. But on the road, our crews are small and it's usually restaurants. It doesn't need to be fancy, but it needs to be on the healthy side and plentiful.
On this trip, we often found ourselves shooting at someone's home and they wanted us to join them for lunch. Considering we were a group of about 12 and that we were working with people who, really, have so little, it was a very generous offer and indeed rude to decline.
But looking at those chickens that had been sitting in sun for hours and were covered in flies, well, my stomach churned. But eat it we did and washed it back with no-name orange pop and mescal.
Only one of our crew members barfed.
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And then there was the day I didn't pee for 11 hours. I had the choice between a sketchy outhouse that was being shared with 200 mescal-swilling others, or a field, also shared with 200. I choose dehydration.
Audiences will also never see the constant agonizing over what we call continuity. That is, when shooting one scene that will follow another, does my make up match? Was my watch on my left wrist or right? Kristina lost her Ray Bans and now this scene won't match the last one. So someone has to race to town to find a store that sells green Ray Bans. No luck there, so she wears a pair that aren't her best look and we hope no one notices. On a big budget feature film there is someone who does this job exclusively.
We started at the crack of dawn every morning and went late into the night. One day I was up for 22 hours, so please forgive those bags under my eyes if you see the show.
On this trip, we put our lives at risk on Mexican highways, where speed limits, drinking and driving restrictions, lighting and basic rules of the road are only guidelines.
We had car trouble more than once that had us looking for help in a place we don't speak the language. I tried to get by on my "Fritalian" — the combination of French and Italian I would blurt out whenever addressed, in hopes that would help me communicate. "Merci, arrivederci!" That, and my miming. My act for "Please hurry, we're late" is hilarious if not effective.
The show will run next fall on W Network (in Canada) and we look forward to your feedback! But please be gentle; we were exhausted. And that's the reality of reality TV!