May 18, 2006

It’s hard to write this. It’s my last post filming report, perhaps for good. Everwood is about to air their season finale, with no word on whether they will be back for the 2006-2007 season. By now you’ve learned that Bright cheated on Hannah. Do they survive the crisis to their relationship? I honestly don’t know that. But she does come to his bed side when he’s thrown through a bar window in the season finale. I know, because I play a nurse standing outside his room when everyone comes to visit. She sobs for him in a very tender scene.

Now, for those of you who are dying to find out what else is going to happen, I’ll break the news right here and now.

Irv dies.

That’s right. He dies of a heart attack.

We filmed a beautiful funeral scene in a church in Ogden, Utah. It would be been almost realistic if John Beasley, the actor who plays Irv, hadn’t been hanging around the back of the church. During Dr. Abbott’s eulogy to Irv, he’s going on about what a great man he was, and then looked up and exclaimed, “Irv!” John Beasley smiled and waved at the “mourners”. We gave him a round of applause.

Sigh . . . on the last day of filming, we reported to the set in Salt Lake City.  The casting lady, Erin, even sounded sad. The recorded message was, “Call time, maybe for the last time, is 2:30 p.m. It’s been a pleasure working with you all. I appreciate your hard work and your love of the show. Take care.”

So on a warm afternoon in April, about 20 extras filtered into the warehouse. We gazed on the stark boards holding up the Abbott house interior and murmured about how we were going to miss it. Some crew members weren’t worried; “we’ll be back,” they said. Others made plans to go home from New Jersey to California. Others are going to do some traveling. And for that special day, everyone was relaxed about the rules. The goodies, usually divided between cast and crew and extras, were opened up to all. We extras feasted on rich pastries, candies, fruit salad, and all sorts of delectables. Later, when wardrobe approved our clothing and I went to change, I passed the prop man. I never knew his name, but he’s the quiet genius who painstakingly prepares the food to set on the tables during scenes in Sam’s. Most of the time, you can’t even see the detail, and yet he arranges vegetable chips and 4 layer sandwiches like a gourmet cook. He works behind the Sam’s set, in a small corner of obscurity. Give him a quick round of applause the next time you watch a scene that takes place in a restaurant.

There were more pleasant surprises. Sarah Lancaster, fresh off the set of her new show, wandered into the warehouse. She lit up the area with her lovely, bright smile. She hugged several cast members who weren’t on set, and then she was gone. We barely had time to get out our cameras. Emily Van Camp smiled and chatted with everyone. Greg Smith kept busy, between horsing around with crew members and chatting on his cell phone. Justin B. wished everyone well. The producer, Tom Luse, bid him well in his acting endeavors, and everyone gave Justin a round of applause. He blew kisses, waved, grinned, and then was gone. Tom Amandes finished his scene early. With windswept, mussed hair and sunglasses, he was a far cry from his usual natty self. He quickly waved goodbye and slipped out of the warehouse. The last one to appear for goodbyes was Treat Williams. I almost didn’t recognize him. He was clean shaven, and had grown out his hair and combed it in a slicked back style. He hugged Sarah Lancaster, spoke with several crew members, grabbed a few goodies, and then moved inside to the set.

When the warning bell rang at the end of the scene and filming wrapped, everyone hugged everyone. Cameras snapped. There were promises to write, to keep in touch, farewells, and warm wishes. We all exited quietly, extras, crew, and stars. The sun was shining and the birds were singing.

Everwood is a good show. The powers that be at the CW network would be fools not to renew the show. I hope that emails and letters are flooding in. I vowed to do everything I could to make my one voice heard. As I walked to my car, I couldn’t help but wax a bit philosophical. We had shot a very a quick scene in Sam’s. Someone’s interested in Ephraim, and so Amy invites the young woman for a chat. Amy tells the young lady that she still has feelings for Ephraim. It was all I could do not to shout, “Hallelujah!” when I heard that. “Amy still loves Ephraim!” my mind resounded. The young lady apologizes and vows to stay away from Ephraim. The camera zooms in on Amy, her jaw set, her expression resolute. The last words she utters said it for all of us: “Oh, it is so on.”