Life of Lisa: Shark Tank and Hollywood.

Twelve days in, and my time in California is already going too fast. Today was my last shoot day with Shark Tank ( meaning the last day of filming), and Wednesday is my last day with Shark Tank. I feel like I just got here and started yesterday. In the short time I've been here, I have already met so many great people and made so many connections. Days on set are full of laughs and questions. If there's a problem, it's solved. In between pitches, music is played. The crew is full of people who really are kids at heart.. especially when it comes to the bell. Everyone wants to ring the bell; it's always so appealing. I was tempted to, but then just let the stage managers do it because it's funny to see how happy they'll get or the funny faces they'll make when they know the bell is being rung just to be annoying.

Back to it being the last day on set. I chatted with Ken (the director) about the business and what's best for me to do next year and what his favorite show is and things like that. What I found interesting was that part of the reason I got hired was due to my goal of directing Saturday Night Live. It's one of Ken's too. I know SNL is a huge reach, but you have to dream big. Even if it's just one episode, it'd be one of the best things ever to be able to direct SNL. It's funny how a similar interest can help. Another piece of advice he gave me comes from a story of his first PA job and how he knew that day this is what he wanted to do. In return, I told him the story of my first time to California. In short, it took me 20 years to get to Hollywood, but only 20 seconds to realize it's where I belong. This feeling was reaffirmed the other day when I was driving into Hollywood for a workshop at the TV Academy. I saw the Hollywood sign for the first time this trip. It hit me out of nowhere. A feeling that I haven't felt in a long time (if not ever) just hit me and creeped up. Before I knew it, my eyes were watering-- but not out of sadness or any bad feelings. I was on the verge of crying because I was so happy-- I am so happy. When I last saw the sign in March, I didn't think I'd be back for a long time. Here it is, four short months later, right in front of me.
You see, that moment was my "a-ha" moment.
Ken told me in order to work in this field, it won't be easy. You'll put relationships on hold, and you may not get to see your family and friends as often as you'd like, but there will come the day when it's worth it. Some days will be harder than others. Some days you'll come home and ask yourself "what the heck are you doing?" Then, other days, you'll come with that feeling and know why you're doing what you're doing. As I've said before, moving out to Los Angeles is not going to be the easiest thing or the most ideal thing for family and friends, but I know if I want to truly love what I'm doing, this is the place to be because there are more jobs here, and I'm happy here. I can't live on the East Coast, expecting to work on the West Coast. Some times, jobs will open up for that day or the next day, and there won't always be a flight or a place to stay or time to pack up and go. Besides, it's pretty much always sunny and in the 70s to low 80s here (a.k.a. perfect weather.. reason #373 why LA is better than NYC).
Along with the "a-ha" moment, you also have to appreciate where you are and when you have a job. In this business, you could have a job one day and be unemployed the next. Regardless of what job title you have in television, enjoy it and don't take it for granted.

Ken gave me good advice, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to have interned with him.
I am grateful for the whole crew who took time out of their busy schedules to answer my questions and give me advice and for letting me intern and get to shadow all aspects of the show from the control truck to stage to wardrobe to everything. It was a great experience, and if the next three legs of my internship are half as good as this one, it'll continue to be an amazing summer.

After the questions and conversations, we went on stage and took pictures in the tank and on the chairs the sharks sit in. I'll try to upload those soon!

Today's shoot ended with a wrap party, which means I went to my first wrap party which was fun. It was at a bar, and one of the sharks was paying for everything pretty much. Unfortunately I'm not 21, so no free drinks for me, but there were veggies, fruit, chicken and pizza, so it still worked out well.

Each day, I am more and more thankful for this opportunity. It is truly one of the best things that could happen to me, and I am enjoying every moment of it. Like I said before, this summer is going to fly. I have six weeks left, and I'm going to take it all in while I can.