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Navani Knows how to be a production assistant…
Running in creative circles like I do means actively supporting those around you in their endeavors. Most times it comes in the form of going to a friend’s show. Other times, as I learned this weekend, it means picking up a new skill set. For example, acting as production assistant on an impromptu Brooklyn wide photo shoot. I received a crash course in styling, photography and British culture while on location with my singer/songwriter friend Kim Garrison.
I may be in the midst of a career change as we speak people…GO KIM STREET TEAM! WOOT!
It was very reminiscent of an episode of America’s Next Top Model on a Brooklyn street challenge. Kim plays the contestant minus the crying, David Renfrey plays Nigel, the British Photographer, and I am the not gay, less glamorous art director Jay, minus the platinum hair. I shouted out directions and fixed her hair, but mostly just carried bags and sat with them.
In any case it was a cool experience playing apprentice!
Highlights included:
* Helping Kim get over her fear of heights on the Williamsburg Bridge.
* Learning how to measure light with special equipment and having it
added to my PA duties (along with watching the bags).
* Playing fashion show while eating butternut squash baked pizza.
YUM!
* Pinning up a nightgown and pretending it was suitable to wear outside at
6 pm.(MAKE IT WORK)
* Taking a picture of someone taking a picture. (STREET TEAM ACTION SHOTS WOO HOO)
* Kim yelling at everyone as they walked into Rockwood music hall to go to
the other room and not look at her.
* Getting accosted by the park police for not having a permit to shoot
pictures (after shooting for over an hour).
* The park police not noticing the huge bottle of Jameson we had with us
on location.
* Skater guy watching us shoot at the park.
* Skater guy following us around the block and watching us again.
* Kim sprawled out on a purple bench.
* Kim in the middle of the street with her dress and 4 inch heels, screaming
periodically that she is NOT a street walker.
* Finding the space invaders symbol painted on the wall.
* Skater guy still watching us
* Kim waving to the police hoping they don’t mistake her for a street walker.
* Trying to find the damn pier.
* Not finding the pier entrance, but stumbling on the best diner known to
mankind (Relish Diner)
* Learning terminology like “closer “(a closer body shot) and “neat” (drink
without ice).
* David reading his manual - um how long have you been a professional
photographer?
* David figuring out color saturation. We heart color saturation!
* Kim and I getting hit on by an eight-year-old outside the bodega - “you so
sexy, and your friend too:”
* Me learning about embedding colors and the real definition of a flat in the
same breath.
* Saying, “of course” after everything.
* Making David listen to Soko “I’ll kill her.”
* David loving the song.
* Getting scared by large groups of tourists in Dumbo.
* Running away from Dumbo shortly thereafter.
* Me speaking in a British accent for the remainder of the day.
So, it is very fitting that I am being sent to cover the AOL Fashionista photoshoot later today. Stay tuned for that blog…
find out more about navani here - http://navaniknows.wordpress.com/
