filming day 3

 Our 3rd day of filming brought us to Highland Park on the lake front. It was cold but super fun. I only stayed for half the day. Below is TJ with the Director.

I know I am his mom, but I think TJ is just adorable. I did receive the same feedback from just about everyone on set

the extra's above

 TJ does the 50's well

This is Emilie with an "ie" she was hired to do hair and makeup for TJ. When Karrick introduced himself as "Karrick with a K" she responded emilie with an ie"

She was super cool and fun. she is also a jazz singer downtown

the boy can work it

Karrick booked a fashion runway show. Tonight was the fitting and photoshoot. This little boy worked it like nothing I've seen before. He was so stinkin cute that I had to sneak shots and then OMG! I got caught and in trouble. K was so sweet while busting me that I felt horrible. I hid in the hallway while Karrick changed into his street clothes. I then heard K tell the rest of the parents "no pictures"  OUCH!

Everyone was sneaking pictures with their cell phones, I whipped out my Canon. The actual shots will blow mine away, I kept my flash off and the photographer's camera was hooked into the umbrella lights

I cant wait to see them

Filming of BOTR day 2

Day 2 of filming

TJ getting pampered at 7 am, He even got a warm towel shave. Today all the extra's were on set. My little Karrick was one of them. 

TJ's character gets a little tipsy

Lunch break...we filmed at Potbelly's in Deerfield

 Lena on the right went to Act One Studio (acting classes) last summer with TJ....a great surprise to meet up with her and her mom on set. The afternoon led us outside and it was cold...I mean cold!

 Always fighting the colic

 TJ just nails the 50's role. He is almost a carbon copy of my dad as a teen. The two pics below are my dad as a high school senior with his father on left and my mom on right

A trip to the 1950's- filming Day 1

they had a hairstylist cut off all of TJ's hair...he was so professional about it. 

Made me super proud!

After audtioning in February, booking the lead in March, many days traveling downtown or up to the NorthShore for endless rehearsals, fittings, and locations stops TJ started filming his movie "Billy on the Rocks" TJ auditioned for a smaller role but landed the lead. He had a good 16-18 pages of dialogue to memorize.

The home they filmed in was spot on. The director really put some time in and nailed the locations. This home she randomly went up and knocked on the door. A 100 + year old home with a 90 year old couple living in it. The decor looked original.

Once agian I was hired to shoot the stills that follow the movie and I get credit....3 movie credits to my name..WOOHOO. Plus I get access to the set...which rocks

The night/day before filming started we got hit with a monster storm and were stuck in oour house. TJ's call time was 8 am and we were surrounded by water with no way out. Our cars were under water. The director sent her father to pick TJ up from the North Shore. Callahan had to tow TJ in the kayak down the block to higher ground , drop TJ off and tow the 2nd kayak back. 

My brother in law picked me up at my porch hours later as his giant Ram truck cut right through the flood waters. He then took me to Long Grove where I got my MIL's car.

So scary to think "what if we couldn't get out and 3 months of prep and a dozen or so people all waiting for TJ to get there."

It all worked out and all of us had a ball. It is a great movie

Day 2 next

TJ had to hold that giant steak on his eye...so gross

It is so wonderful to see TJ just light up when acting....he loves the pampering and star treatment he gets, but sometimes it overwhelms him and he feels a little uncomfortable.

Everyone was super nice and they all drove in from New York for the week.

3 story winding staircase....stunning