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Charice Pyramid Music Video Dream Day!
Part Two: Lights, Camera, Action, Drama!
Chasters, how I would love to give you a second by second, IMAX, HD, 3D, with digital surround sound recount of my Pyramid Music Video dream day. I wish that my story would allow you to press replay and auto refresh of your favorite “Official Pyramid Music Video” moments, as you have no doubt been doing as you repeatedly view Charice's “Unofficial Pyramid Music Video”. It pains me to be limited in the scope of this article by my previous commitments to Charice's management, my limited vocabulary and my limited mental acuity. I realize that the view through censored eyes is seldom satisfactory. So how do I give voice to my heart? How do I share jubilation overflowing with thanksgiving? How do I become the precentor* of Charice's Choir of Chasters and bring each of you into the ethereal theater; into paradise?
Join me as I sink down into my seat next to the director's chair and tip my hat down over my raised brows. I glance around the theater and see I'm one of just a few fortunate souls to be witnessing this amazing event. I felt like standing up and shouting, “Labyo Charice!”, but for now I remained content to say it through my soul. The house lights are dim, the director is discussing stage lighting and the proper video framing with his assistants. We are between scenes, but the entertainer in Charice doesn't let this moment pass without making it memorable. The production crew and audience start to chuckle as Charice begins a spot on chipmunk imitation followed by a cat meow ovation. Charice grins and then flashes a big teenager smile, letting us know that she's relaxed and having a good time! Charice takes further advantage of the break and launches into some impromptu popping dance moves. She flows her popping motions into some rhythmic waves and then... she's doing a full old school robot routine! I wanna dance! My arms and neck unconsciously tense in a robotic recall of my younger dancing days.
Lights adjusted, stage reset, camera ready and the director radios the audio tech to cue the music to begin the next shot. Pyramid soon comes on over the sound system, but, it's in Chipmunk speed! Maybe the sound engineer enjoyed Charice's Chipmunks imitations a little too much. The director apologizes to Charice and asks the sound engineer to recue the music and asks the amused audience for quiet. Charice is unflappable. Then the glowing red LED frame marker is drawn back from the camera lens once again and we are rolling! It is Diva time! Charice has my head bobbing from her first glamorous gesture. The stage is hers and she owns every inch of it without traveling a step! Bright lights silhouette her petite frame. Charice's long straight hair dances around her face, blown by opposing winds that compete for a turn to caress her cute and curvaceous cheeks. Windswept white smoke reaches out to meet Charice like the extended hands of her adoring fans. It quickly surrounds her, then swirls upward to form a glowing halo above our angel's head. Charice's confident countenance shines like the legendary stars who have graced this same stage: Little Richard, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder to name just a few.
Charice performs each shot with aplomb. Her performance cues are always on the mark and the only reason to reshoot any scene is to allow the director to consider an adjustment to the camera angle, setting and/or lighting effects. No artistic or technical scene discussion is belabored. The director is a smooth operator, giving calm, clear instructions in a respectful tone to each person he addresses. There is no hint of arrogance in him, yet his every request communicates an expectation that nothing less than excellence is acceptable. When he requests a new lighting scheme, workers quickly emerge from every direction and move with rehearsed precision to attend to the task. The production crew maintains a consistently clear attitude of pride toward their work and as a team they all work together to exemplify a sense of well managed urgency, a continuing theme for the day.
The director's goals for the morning shoot are achieved right on schedule. He consults with several team members about the availability of resources for the next shoot and then announces a break for lunch. The theater's house lights are brought back up. I see Charice's mom and brother near the steps to the stage, along with several others. I was afraid to remain a stranger lurking in the distance as I might create some unnecessary tension, so I quickly summon the courage to introduce myself. I make my way over to them and smile a cheesy Chaster grin before saying hello. Right away I can tell that Raquel, Charice's mom, is a gem! She considerately listens to me and my mission and seems genuinely at ease, but she isn't quite ready to give me the okay to interview Charice just yet. I turn to Carl, Charice's brother. I remembered his internet posts from the evening before; he said he had a cough, so I joke that I hope he washed his hands before giving Charice the water bottles earlier. He cautiously smiles. Carl seems protective of his family, which is very understandable. I say goodbye and hope that I will have an opportunity to speak with them more later.
Time for me to consult with a production team member concerning my desire for an interview with Charice. A crew member radios my request and then escorts me backstage. We go down steps, stage left, and into one of the offices. My contact greets me and seems hopeful for my success. He asks me to wait while he checks on Charice's schedule. He walks away and I step out of the office to have a look around. In the downstairs lobby I see several possible cast members seated at a row of dressing-type tables. Their headshot modeling photos are taped to mirrors in front of where they sit. I stick out my chin, fold my arms and strike my best Lolo Stone Cold Steve Austin pose behind them, but, sigh, no response. Before long I see Carl and Charice at the other end of the lobby and I'm very tempted to go speak with them, but I don't want to interrupt their plans. Charice is back into casual clothes now and they are probably on their way out to lunch. My ear-to-ear Chaster grin doesn't seem to be drawing them closer and they quickly vanish from view. My scheduling contact returns soon thereafter and asks me to check back later in the day. He tells me to feel free to join the production crew for lunch at their catering trucks. Good lesson there, when you reject someone, give them something to feel good about. Lunch was great!
Iyaz is in the house! Or, rather, he's in the theater! After lunch the next set location which focused on Iyaz. I'm amazed by the cool confidence he exudes and my mind starts to hear my internal insecurity sirens blaring a reality check; “Mark, you may not be a star, but you are okay just as you are”. Luckily the music starts and snaps me out of my comparison funk. Iyaz looks so light on his feet as he starts to get in the groove of the music. Wow! He's another one take wonder, just like Charice! Iyaz delivers his lines with consistent charismatic flair. I quickly see what a good musical match Charice & Iyaz are! Another set change and although the MV cameras are not running, Iyaz is ready to show he can flow in front of the behind-the- scenes video camera. I tell myself right then, “I want a shot like that for Chasters!”
There are a few more set changes focusing on Iyaz, including the introduction of the models into a shoot. During one of the set changes I see Iyaz walking by himself and he's within conversation range. I hear myself saying, “Hey Iyaz! Much respect to you for your hits, 'Replay' and 'Solo'. Your feel good music goes right well with Charice's songs. Lots of Charice's fans are joining your ranks too!” He then gives me a proper “in the biz” greeting and I'm feeling worthy. I explained a little more about why I was there and I ask him if he might show some mo' flow, and do a freestyle shoutout to Chasters. He was happy to do it and I could sense how much he respects Charice and values this opportunity for them to work together. Iyaz laid down a quick and cool shoutout and even mixed in a bit of "Pyramid"! Meanwhile, Charice was enjoying a lively hand jive game with a photographer. Charice demonstrates quick hands as well as a quick mind! When it came time for Charice and Iyaz to work together they had great chemistry. Although they just met earlier that day, it seemed like they have been friends since childhood. They joked around with each other often between shots and they both looked like they were having a great time together.
Another set change and everyone, except the stars, was asked to find a place out of the wide camera lens view. This luckily brought me into the vicinity of Raquel. I say hello again and ask her if she would like to see the Chaster shoutout that Iyaz just did? She is entertained and while she still has a big smile on her face I ask if she might help me arrange an interview with Charice. The answer was... YES! My heart raced like a chase scene in Grand Theft Auto. My face glowed like a cop car's red lights on a most wanted mission. A production assistant saved me from the extended awkwardness of my bright blushing by saying we were still in the camera's view and he requested we wait in the hallway. Raquel had a friend with her, Cristina, and I asked if I could join them in the sitting area. Yes! We talked for a while as they were tweeting and texting. This is when Cristina said that AMP radio was playing Pyramid! Good times! Within the next hour Cristina received two more notices of AMP playing Pyramid again!
The next set change would take the crew into a restricted area. Fortunately for me, Raquel and Cristina decided to rest and relax in an area where I was allowed. Carl also joined us now. It was around 7:00 p.m. and I imagine the time zone adjustments must have been very difficult for Raquel. At least that's what I tell myself. I hope it wasn't my conversation that motivated her to rest her head and seek a little shut-eye. She looked terribly uncomfortable with her head resting on her hands over to the side of her seat. But, Carl assured me that his mom had learned how to curl up like a flexible feline and sleep anywhere.
About 30 minutes later, who should enter our sanctuary, but none other than the musical genius and fifteen time Grammy Award winner; Charice's mentor, David Foster. David evidently had just returned from Italy and he wanted to check in on his new star, Charice! He spoke with Raquel for a while and invited her, Charice & Carl to the Stars & Strikes Celebrity Bowling Tournament. Charice's manager also joined in the conversation. Much of the conversation they had was confidential, but I can tell you that David has big plans for helping Charice succeed!
My Charice Pyramid Music Video Dream Day story is nearly finished. About 8:15 p.m., I see crew members start taking equipment out to the trucks. Raquel, Carl and Cristina retreated to the actors' dressing rooms. I followed for as long as my visitor clearance allowed. Charice was still filming in a limited access area. About 8:30 p.m. I see Raquel again. I tell her that if Charice is too exhausted to do an interview after filming, I would completely understand. Charice's manager stopped by and I expressed the same sentiments to him as well. If my request were denied, I hoped the message would come from him. His British sounding accent might make the news less stinging. I walk upstairs and out into the alley to settle my nerves and hope that the cold air might help me overcome my own exhaustion. I hadn't slept the night before and now I started to fear that if I did get to interview Charice, I might uncontrollably yawn, like Sleepy from The Seven Dwarfs. Pacing in the alley I try to remain positive and go over my notes of possible questions one more time. My previously “down pat" introduction was rapidly turning into my, “Please Lord, let me survive this!" introduction. I see several more crew members leaving and I ask if the shooting is completed? “It's a wrap” was the response. I'd come this far so now it was time for one final attempt to accomplish my mission.
I carefully walked down the stairs, as if wading against a swift current. An unpredictable stream of crew members flowed past me. They carried the tools of their trade outside to be stowed away for their next journey. Once downstairs, it dawned on me that perhaps Charice already left the theater through a “stars only” secret exit? I pressed my back against the wall and waited. I passed the time by complimenting each worker as they left on a job well done. My smile broadens when I see Carl with bags in hand. I ask him how his Sister is doing and if she is too tired to speak with me. He shrugs his shoulders. “Stay positive” I tell myself. Then... Waaaaaa! A perky teenager with an effervescent smile, comes around the corner. Charice! I don't even remember what I said to her, but much to my surprise, she was willing to talk to me on camera! She is ready to film right there in the hallway, but I ask if we can go up on the stage. Charice accommodates this lolo's request and up we go. While walking up the steps I tell Carl, “I suddenly feel like a director!”
There are lots of people on stage celebrating the conclusion of the shoot. Charice's presence is still in great demand, however we finally are in position. I have my notes and my camera and Charice is looking unbelievably cute, even after a 15 hour shoot! This moment was too much excitement for me to process and I once again make a mess of the introduction, but Charice's smile saves my day! I put my useless note card down and just try to talk for a moment with the young lady that I admire so much. Charice is loving and lovely! Her answers are sincere, unselfish and heartwarming. I found myself quite naturally saying, “God bless you”, near the conclusion of the interview. The ending was perfect. Charice, full of excitement and sporting a smile that would melt the heart of the most evil Christmas Grinch, jokingly says, “Cheysters!” and “At the top baby!”
Cristina asked me if I had a picture with Charice? That detail had completely skipped my mind. Yes, I may have managed to kick Sleepy to the curb, but it seemed Dopey had taken his place. I rifled through my bag until I finally found my still camera. I joined Charice at the front of the stage and she gave me a familial hug. This Charice Pyramid Music Video Dream Day moment was now frozen in digital time for me to share with my grandson when he gets a little older. Carl grinned, shook my hand and said, “Now I will call you Director-Mark”. That's the fun-loving spirit I remember from Carl's internet persona. Charice gives me another hug and we say our goodbyes. As Charice, Raquel, Carl and Cristina walk off the stage and out the door, I pause for a moment and imagine myself having the courage and determination to do what Charice has done: persevere through persecution and unfortunate circumstances to achieve her dreams. Inspired!
*Precentor - A cleric who directs the choral services of a church or cathedral.
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