Free Secrets of My Hollywood Life #2: On Location by Jen Calonita

freckled redhead standing next to me.
    "When Piper appears to be drowning, Carly and Dono van will dive in to save her, while Regina hangs back and watches from the other side of the pool. As the two of you pull her out, your teacher, Mrs. Murphy, will yell at you both for messing up the race. Got it?" We all nod. "Kaitlin, I'll be looking for a huge range of emotion on your face as I pull in for the close-up shot. You're confused, bewildered, unsure of what's happening." I nod, aware that all eyes are on me now. "Okay, we're going to try to do this whole scene seam lessly once through and then shoot the other angles. Every one be on your game."
    No first scene rah-rah pep talk before shooting?
    "Quiet on the set!" Hank announces through a mega phone. "Extras, wait to cheer until you receive the sign." Several of the lights set up for the shot pop on and I'm so blinded I can barely make out Nadine and Liz. They are still talking to Madison. I see Liz point to me and the three of them smile.
    Hank slides in front of Sky and me holding the famous black-and-white clapper. This one has an electronic time-code that will help Hutch locate specific frames during the post-production process. I hear Sky let out a long, deep breath. My heart is pounding so loud I barely hear Hank say, " Untitled Hutch Adams Project, scene sixteen, take one." He snaps the board shut, the sound echoing throughout the arena.
    "And, action!" Hutch yells.
    On cue, the crowd behind us cheers as our swim team rallies behind Sky and me, just like we practiced. Sky dives in the pool beautifully and begins racing across the lap lane against a lanky brunette from the blue team. When it's the girl playing Piper's turn to dive in, Hutch screams "cut!"
    "Laura, what kind of dive was that?" Geez. Hutch doesn't have to shout. We're all nervous. Laura pulls herself up from the pool and shakes her head. We do the shot several times, each time Hutch screaming (actually screaming!) about some technique one of us has failed to master. Drew flaps his legs like a fish when he swims, Laura can't dive prop erly, and my freestyle doesn't look convincing. Sky it seems, is the only one not reprimanded. We do the race shot again and again, for almost an hour, before Hutch is finally content.
    "Took you guys long enough, but you finally got it," Hutch concedes gruffly "Catch your breath while we set up the next shot. Kaitlin, Drew, Sky, and Paula." Hutch points to the actress playing Mrs. Murphy. "Stay close by. I don't want to have to look for you when I need you." I rub my sore wet arms and walk to the edge of bleachers.
    Nadine hurries down the steps and throws my robe around me. It feels good to get warm. Rodney hands me a cup of tea. Madison watches all of us intently and then jumps up to do the same for Sky.
    "Kates, the reason you're having trouble with your strokes is because you're not breathing right," I think Rodney mum bles. It's hard to tell when he's talking with his mouth full. He takes another spoonful of the vanilla ice cream he got from the craft services table and continues. "You should turn your head to breathe every four strokes, not two. I can't believe someone didn't correct you." I watch Rodney make the arm motion and pretend to turn his head to breathe. I know he's right, but it's hard not to laugh.
    "Is this your trainer, Kaitlin?" Our producer Daniella asks as she walks in on Rodney making a fish mouth. Daniella's small frame looks even tinier than usual in tight jeans and a green long-sleeved tee.
    "No, my bodyguard," I say and introduce them both.
    "Her bodyguard slash chauffeur, but I'm also training to be a stuntman," Rodney says proudly. I notice he's discreetly placed the cup of ice cream on the bleachers behind him.
    "Really?" Daniella seems genuinely interested. "Where did you study?" Rodney explains he trained at Action Ac tors Academy and Benny the Jet's Gym, both in LA., and Daniella listens intently while I watch another scene unfold in front