NOH8 CAMPAIGN SHOOT
HOWARD from Fabscout told me that there would be another day of photo shoots for the NoH8 campaign, and I decided to go. After unsuccessfully trying to get CVK to do a couples shoot with me, I figured I'd beat the crowd and get there when it started at 1:00pm.
I showered, did a quick facial clipping, then decided to put on makeup to cover some of my blotchiness. I carefully applied it to my cheeks and forehead, then used some kind of setting spray that Nick Capra got me to buy to set it. Slipping on a white t-shirt (a color I haven't worn in over 5 years), I grabbed my keys and headed over to photographer Adam Bouska's studio. I got there exactly at one and realized that there were no parking spaces to be found. I finally got one two blocks away.
As I headed for the location, I tried to walk in a slow, steady, non-exerting pace, but it was no use. I've been doing cardio lately, and whenever I walk for more than 5 minutes, my body thinks it's working out and begins to sweat. By the time I got to the registration room, my forehead, cheeks and chest were beading up. I filled out my form and began to fan myself with it like Blanche DuBois on crack. This helped a little, but when I got to the girl applying the NoH8 tattoos, it caused a problem.
"This isn't sticking," she said. "I think it's because of the stubble on your face."
She applied another tattoo with a wet paper towel compress and said, "Now press hard on this for a minute."
As I was pressing, Howard came in, followed by DAVID TAYLOR. "I'm putting him in your hands," he said.
"Hmmmmph?" I quizzed, unwilling to open my mouth.
"Oh, by the way, TOMMY DEFENDI is here," he said. "I know you wanted to talk to him. I'll go get him." And soon, he came back with Tommy in tow.
The young man said hi, and I did my best job of ventriloquism by talking with my teeth clenched. "I want to talk to you about a project, but I can't now," I gritted. I handed him a monologue I'd printed out from the movie NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. He took it with a puzzled look, and I said, "I'll explain later."
The girl looked at the space on my cheek and said, "It's totally not sticking." Howard agreed then bolted with Tommy. I wondered aloud if it could be because I was sweating, and she thought it might, so she patted my cheek with a dry paper towel, then applied a third tattoo. "Now press firmly and don't talk," she said, walking away to apply to others.
David Taylor came over to me. "You're a director, too?" I nodded. "Do you do internet or studio work?" I wondered how I was going to reply to him when he realized what the game was. "You can't talk!" he grinned.
Tat girl came back and checked me. "It looks pretty good," she said. "Let me fix it a little." She did something to the tat and had me look in the mirror. It looked good. "Now, be careful with it," she said, "or it will crack." At that moment, someone came and got David, me and about ten others and took us upstairs where we paid a $40 charge. A guy was there with a roll of gaffers tape and held a piece out to cover my mouth.
"I think you're going to be leaving your beard here," he joked. "This will rip your facial hair out when you take it off." I smirked at him but soon my mouth was covered up with the sticky strip.
Adam Bouska was behind a set of lights and Tape Guy ushered me over. I had decided that I wanted my picture with my 3D glasses to show my love of movies, and I slipped them on. Adam loved the specs and had me pull them down my nose while he took about a dozen pictures of me in various angles. It was a blast.
I hung around and waited for David to finish, then walked out with him. He was a real sweet guy. When we got outside, I asked him where he was parked, and he pointed to the street and a blue car. "How did you get such a sweet spot?" I marveled. He asked if he could give me a lift to my car but I declined, since it wasn't that far. He shook my hand and asked if I was going to Mickey's that night for their Cocktails with the Stars show. I told him it was doubtful, since I was a homebody. He said he was, too, but he hoped he'd see me there.
That was a couple weeks ago and the picture came back today. I'm very happy with it, as I don't take very good pictures, I feel. I like it a lot, with one exception. They made my eyes an ice blue color instead of their natural green. But hey, it's a fabulous pic!
JBK
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