Today was amazing.. I am down in NYC helping to make a commercial for my company.. The cool thing is it’s about something I truly believe in…. our Smarter Planet intitiative..  so it’s both an honor and fun to help them communicate this vision.

we started today at 7:30   with wardrobe and make up.. htey didn tdo muh on either.. I wore the clothes I walkied in off the street in.. thoguh they gave me a tweed jacket to wear (and Keep).. and powederd my nose and head (ah the indignities of old age)

First we did about an hour and a half of in depth interviews in a  wing of the Hyatt that overlooks 42nd street..

Here’s Ben on camera…

Somehow I managed to miss gettign a picture of Hillman the producer.. a very cool guy. he exudes calm.. which was great for me ,, because I was as nervous as all hell/ 

Then we went in the next room and the producers chose extras. waht a strange process..

After a short break we were out in Grand Central to start filming. i had thought that we’d be placed in some out of the way corner.. but we were right in the middle of that glorious building..   These bug helium things were our lighting. ..

As we sat and filmed, the entire city moved around us.. really amazing.

I was baout 20 feet fro the famous clock for nearly 3 hours.

Here’s Ryan one of the ‘Creatives’ and a really awesome guy.

Here I am on set.. looking.. addled

Two of the cool extras. we all spent a lot of time talkign to one another.. Im sorry I didn’t get everyone’s names.. I know this woman’s last name is Ng.

Here I am with Karla.. she had a beutiful singing voice.

They had glorious food for us.. unfortunately.. I didn’t have time to eat much of it.

Here are the grownups from the Ad agency Ogilvy and IBM.   all great folks.

Here’s a view of our set from above. .. you can see what a big chunck of the floor we were taking !

Here’s my friend the steadycam guy..

Every few takes we’d stop and watch.. it was a n eerie feeling watching myself again.. this part of the process is really unnerving .

I remember thinking we were almost done at three takes.. it took us  23 (I think)..

The whole process was so boring and mundane that it was fascinating.. I got to watch all these tiny differences between scenes.

Finally we were ready to wrap. I’m already missing the cast and crew..

I went for a city run, then came back and dressed for dinner. Th Ogilvy folks took out out to the ‘Lure’ fish restaurant.. Great Sushi.. and great company.. I love learning more about these smart folks working here.

I’m struggling to stay awake now.. so I’ll end here.. I do wan tto say that I’m truly greatful for opportunities like doing these commercials.. My life is never boring..
Good night everyone, good night Sam !
-me