For the past two days (Wednesday and today), I’m working on a show that I’ve not worked on for almost two years. In the interim, they’ve completely changed crews (twice, I hear), although they’re still on the same stages in Hollywood.
The sets are still the same, but the stash points and staging areas have all changed, so I’m not that familiar with the stages or this crew’s slang terms for things (every crew has their own lingo and on some crews that lingo is more, um, obtuse than on others), but I managed to get through the day yesterday, although we’re on a different stage today and I’m finding myself having trouble navigating through this particular set, so I’m doing a lot of set up work at the carts (when the gaffer calls for a light, I’ll pull it off the cart and get it ready and then hand it off to someone who’s capable of running the rat maze of a hospital set more quickly than I am).
The ‘new’ crew are all really nice, plus, there’s enough of us that we’re not getting worked half to death – and since we’re in a stage with wifi all day and not moving too much I was hoping to catch up on some internets.
That’s probably not going to work out, though. This DP’s a “tweaker”. This means he’s always adding and moving lights up until the last minute (and sometimes between takes) so I’m not getting to sit down very much. This is opposed to the show I’ve been working on (and hence have gotten used to), where once they’ve declared the scene ‘lit’, they walk away (most of the time – everyone changes something at the last minute sometimes).
This is actually not a bad thing – this particular stage is so vigorously air conditioned that it feels like a meat locker. Every time I sit down, I get really cold since I didn’t bring a jacket with me (I usually don’t when I’m working inside all day), so really moving around is the better choice.
My stomach is feeling much better, although I’m still not eating much due to about three million canker sores which have suddenly appeared in my mouth – this makes eating rather painful, and today the caterer served Mexican food, which I can assure you is not something to be avoided when one has a mouth full of sores.
Tomorrow, I’m on another show, and since we’re going to be here until at least 10 pm I’m hoping once again to get lucky on the turnaround time.
UPDATE: Of course, every single morsel of food that’s been on the craft service table today has been loaded with salt. Second meal tonight is Italian food which I’m not going anywhere near. It hurts just to think about it.
Filed under: studio lots, Work, carts, cold, set, show, stage, Work
Totally Unauthorized 
Lysine. That’s the only thing that works on them pesky cold sores. You can get it at the Vitamin Shoppe.
When I was a kid, mom’s “cure” for canker sores was butter milk. It was a help from stinging food, but as an adult I’ve found a cure: Listerine. Sure it burns like the devil, but I gets rid of them for me. BTW, only the real brand works. Store brands just burn without healing.
Two things that I do really help…
I use Kanka during the day, it’s a cold-sore applicator by Blistex.
Then, when I’m at home, I swish with Listerine, and it numbs and freshens. Also cleans out the sore and lets it heal faster.
I hate canker sores!
Hope you’ve stopped throwing up. That has to be one of the least enjoyable activities there is.
Zilactin B puts a protective, numbing coating and is easy to carry, but don’t overuse.
I’m with Nezza. Handling sores is nothing compared to the upchuck. Feel better, drink tea, lots of water, stay out of the sun, etc, etc. Yes, mother.
I find gargling with warm salt water helps heal those little cuts on the tongue and inside checks.
Yeah.. that’s what I would do. It hurts like a bitch.. but salt water will wipe them out completely.