On set..

I had a good time working on set as an extra for the production of the film 'Coma' last wk Monday & Tuesday...

This is an upcoming mini-series produced by A&E, playing next year over Memorial Day wknd..It stars James Woods, Geena Davis, Joe Morton, Burgess Jenkins & others..From wat I understand it's a 3rd remake, with the original having been a 70s version with Micheal Douglas, then another mini-series of the same story done in the late 90s..

I play a medical intern & will most likely be seen wandering the hospital, checking on patients, etc..of course, once editing is done, u may not even see my face at all..But hey, it was an experience nonetheless & a good way to make a little extra on my days off..

This was my first time being on a movie set & it was quite a sight to see the intense detail & tediousness behind making a movie..Interesting how it all coincides...you've got the set director leading his tech team who are putting up reflectors, taping of lights, marking camera spots, building the set, basically...at the same time the director director is looking at shots, communicating with the actors & watching each rehearsal & take (1x the set director & team finished putting everything in place)...then the director has an assistant director who's also directing certain takes, & the set director has a first assistant too...then there's the "extras director" who's looking at the whole scene apart from the immediate actors & bringing in (through his assistant) all of us who build the scene surrounding the actors..the chain of command trickled waaaay down...amazing..

Then there's the camera crew & computer technicians..this whole team makes up about 20 0r 30 ppl, not to leave out the costume & make up department & then all the extras...for most of the scenes I worked in, the actual actors were only 2 or 3 in each shot at one time, but altogether there were between 35 & 50 of us on set at any given time...

More extra roles in the future will hopefully lead to an actual role, or more significant film appearance in the future..

I recommend extra work for those looking for a little side income, or something to do on your day off, or even for someone just wanting to experience being part of a movie, seeing how it's all done, etc. Try it sometime!

coming back...

ok, that's it...

I'm back...

it seems that adventure still abounds, although, certainly in smaller & less exciting doses....but adventure is adventure & it's time I started writing again...

Ok, let me tell you the real reason I'm writing on this site again...

A book by the same name of this site is being currently constructed (penly speaking)...in order to write good book material, I need to keep my writing skills honed/up to snuff/practiced/sharpened....ok, I think u get the point..

all that to say...I'll be writing up here again..

Tune in to tomorrow's post (or the day after, depending on how life goes over the next couple days) which will tell about my adventure being a part (a small part) of the mini-series Coma, starring Geena Davis, James Woods, Burgess Jenkins & others...

See u then..;)

closing temporarily...

when traipsing around Africa saving souls/bodies/spirits, experiencing cultures, seeing the world, performing, writing, giving, doing, etc. I felt a more intense kind of gratification in knowing that I was making a difference & then hopefully inspiring you all by telling you about it here on this blog...

Now, however, I live a slightly boring life here in suburbia, going to work & back, as I adjust to a new lifestyle & get set up to study (what I don't know, but certainly something that will help set me back in Africa making a difference & experiencing Adventure for a Lifetime)...

So for the timebeing, because I'm so boring, I thought I'd officially take leave,
as well as take time to write my book, before all my beautiful African memories leave me...

So with that I take leave...I certainly won't close the site, cuz for those new to it, there's many an adventure to read about, picture to enjoy & story to be inspired by...there's 5 yrs worth of blog up here, so feel free to peruse around & enjoy to the full...

Meanwhile, I'll try & find another more fitting name for a site that can host more boring tidbits from a less adventurous time that is mine (the present)...

Stay tuned...;)

Stories of Hope/Kindness during Japan disaster...

March 11 stories that warm my heart
by Celly Kamoi on Monday, March 14, 2011 at 1:25am (reposted w/ permission)

Some of these are taken from my friends and family's posts on FB and others are Tweets. The generosity of heart in a time of crisis touches my soul. I love Japan, and though I haven't lived there for 11 years, it's still my home and I feel the pain and want to be with my countrymen. There is love and kindness out there - I've never felt so patriotic about my country as I do now.

Even if you only read a few, it will encourage and warm your heart. My people need your help and prayers!



* Lots of stories coming out about people risking their lives/giving their lives to save others. What I find most touching is the little things, like the homeless people bringing cardboard to the people sleeping in the cold in stations where they are stranded. The homeless, often ignored by all of us, may not have much to give, but they are doing what they can.

* My sister wrote: During the earthquake, I thought I was going to die. The trains were stopped, so I walked towards my friend's house. There were no taxi's running, the restaurants and shops were all full of people who couldn't get home. After I'd walked 4 1/2 hours, hope was fading, the temperature dropped and I was so so cold. The masses of people crawled along like little ants dragging their feet. At that time I had just crossed this bridge, as I came down there was an old man with the trunk of his car full of "hokkairo". He passed them out to the weary people walking, encouraging each passer by. I immediately felt warmed inside through the kindness that was shown.

* Heard a story last night of a woman and her baby who were caught up in the tsunami. A man on a second floor balcony climbed down to help her, passed the baby up, and helped the woman up, only to be washed away by the tsunami himself. Selflessness like that is amazing.

* In the middle of the night, I was walking home from college. A lady at a bakery was giving out bread. She kept her bakery open till late hours and was doing what she could do to help others. I was so touched. Tokyo is still not a bad place to live! Such a heart-warming scene.

* Seems the Yakuza up north were out in force after the quake... HELPING DIRECT TRAFFIC.

* Just read about the citizens of Osaka showing up in droves to donate blood.

* I was so moved by the statement issued by the UN Secretary General, saying, "Japan is one of the most generous and strongest benefactors, coming to the assistance of those in need the world over. In that spirit, the United Nations stands by the people of Japan and we will do anything and everything we can at this very difficult time." This is a perfect example of doing good to others. They will do the same to you, when you most need their help.

* This afternoon at the convenience store there was a group of young punk looking guys buying drinks and beer. When they got to the register, one of them realized if he bought the beer as well, he wouldn't have any money left to make a donation for quake victims. He returned the beer.

* My husband walked for 4 hours to come back home. He was feeling weak at Akabane and this man offered free coffee saying "It's pretty cold huh? Warm up with this hot coffee!" Thanks to the him, my husband regained the strength to keep walking. It must have really touched him because he's been repeating the story 5 times. Thank you to the man passing out free coffee.

* This afternoon, I saw a young guy who has radical looks. He donated put several ten-thousand-yen bills to a donation box saying his friends “We can buy a game anytime”. I heard his words and that made me and the people around there what is important and we donated a bit too. I re-realized that it is not appropriate to judge people by their looks.

* When the earthquake struck Japan, I was working at the restaurant. The restaurant was almost full. After the earthquake, we guided the guest to go out from there because it could be dangerous. I thought great part of them would leave there without paying, but most of them came back and paid their bill. The rest of them, who didn’t pay yesterday, came back to the restaurant today to pay. What a beautiful country Japan is.

* Weep! I was so touched I cried super hard! That international call from a stranger just now, it was a phone call of worry and support from someone who called their own number, except with Japan's country code hoping to connect with someone in Japan! I didn't quite understand the English, but I understood what the person was trying to say! She said a lot of people over there are "praying for Japan"!

* It happened last night. A convenience store near a train station managed to open for business with a power generator. While I was waiting in a long line, the generator stopped, maybe because it ran out of fuel, and the cash register stopped. The entire store was pitch black. Everyone put the things they had in their hands back on the shelves and left, even though no one would've noticed if they walked out with them.

* An elderly man, probably over 80, who was rescued from the disaster area said "We will be OK, we are pretty sure we will. We have experienced Tsunami from Chile so why can't we do it this time?" he said with a smile. He again said with a smile, "It is useless to say something sad" to the news reporter trying to get some comments of sorrow. His wife standing next to him told the reporter sharply "Don't take photos of our disgraceful look". From this conversation, we can see how courageous the people who built Japan have dignity.

* A conversation I overheard on the train between two grandmas. "The police are telling us to turn the lights off because there's not enough electricity. We used to spend a lot of time without lights for the good of our country during the World War 2. This time, we don’t need to worry about the bombs falling over us. We’ll gladly turn off the light, won’t we?” The people around them got silent for a second. My eyes welled up with tears

2011 kick-off..start it out right..

employ these principals & 2011 will be your best year yet..

*Don’t let mistakes of the past blur your vision for the future. Focus on the good to come.

*I am willing to go anywhere, anywhere, anywhere—so long as it’s forward.2

*People are always blaming their circumstances. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.3

*Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.4

*“When you pass through the waters … they shall not overflow you.”5 God doesn’t open paths for us in advance of our coming. He doesn’t promise help before help is needed. He doesn’t remove obstacles out of our way before we reach them. Yet when we are on the edge of our need, God’s hand is stretched out. Many people forget this and are forever worrying about difficulties which they foresee in the future. They expect that God is going to make the way plain and open before them miles and miles ahead, whereas He has promised to do it only step by step as they may need. You must get to the floodwaters before you can claim the promise.
I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, “Fear not, I will help you.”6

*Faith gives us courage to face the present with confidence and the future with expectancy.7
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1 Mottos for Success.
2 David Livingstone (1813–1873).
3 George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950).
4 William Carey (1761–1834).
5 Isaiah 43:2 NKJV.
6 Isaiah 41:13 NKJV; Author unknown.
7 Mottos for Success.