Hanging out on the Seeking Simone set.

Sunday, Sept 26.

Seeking Simone is finally in production, shooting the second season – YAY!

The lovely star, Renée Olbert, invited Queeries on set to get the full behind-the-scenes experience, and we said – yes, please!

Photo: Amee King

When photographer Amee King and I arrived on Sunday, the restaurant was a hotbox of lights and prep, but director Naomi Jaye managed a nice and relaxed set. We were instantly made to feel at home. Renée jumped up to greet us and introduced us to the rest of the cast and crew, who were equally welcoming.

Photo: Amee King

The extras kept themselves entertained with talk of pirate-language settings on Facebook and perfecting their “finger gun” poses for the camera. The crew blocked shots and adjusted lights, and Renée went off to meet her new scene co-star to go over the script.

I took the opportunity to chat with Rosemary Rowe (co-creator, writer and producer of Seeking Simone). It was my first in-person meeting with Rose, and what a delight she is. It’s important to note that her friends on set that day were SO excited to have her in the city (she resides in BC) and were all full of kind words about her. After only a few minutes of chatting with her it was easy to see why.

I’m not going to lie. It was a bit of a (lesbian) love-in. The set was full of friends, the mood was light, everything was refreshingly casual, and when action was called, it all came together rather effortlessly for the camera.

Photo: Amee King

I was particularly excited to be on set for one of Seeking Simone’s infamous date scenes. I won’t give away any details, but the hilarious awkwardness you’ve cringed at and enjoyed in the first season is alive and well in the second season.

It was difficult to suppress my giggles as characters Leslie and Simone delivered their lines. This was made a wee bit more challenging by the fact that I wasn’t just behind the scenes as planned, but I actually ended up in the shot trying not to laugh my way off a bar stool and ruin it all.

At the last minute Naomi realized they wanted a body at the bar and Jen, one of the extras, decided that I looked “date ready” and threw me under the bus volunteered me for the part.

In Episode 10, the background barfly “fake talking” in the bright red sweater – that is my Seeking Simone debut!

Photo: Amee King

After a fun day on set, observing, bashfully participating and snapping lots of great pics, Amee and I slipped out and left them to it.

I cannot wait to see how Simone wiggles her way out of that one!

Friday, Oct 1.

Today the Seeking Simone gang was just up the street from the office, so I grabbed my camera and popped out to see what they were up to.

I arrived at Lola’s Commissary to find a table full of muffins. Renée was wrapping up in the makeup chair and the lovely Sara Gilchrist was on her way into it to become Sylvia.

Sara Gilchrist in Make Up

Rose updated me on the past few days of shooting, Danny lit the whole set with blue gels, and we all admired the paintings on the walls.

Then the conversation turned to the word “moist” – as it does. It was unanimous with both cast and crew that the word ranks high on people’s hated-word lists. Of course, it was then just a matter of time before the moist muffin jokes started up — and, well, I’m sure you can imagine where the conversation went from there.

Before I knew it I found myself in the little ladies’ room with Danny, his camera, Rose, Naomi and a small, hot, spotlight. Rose was acting as lighting stand-in for Sylvia, and somehow I became the stand-in for Simone. I’m afraid I don’t make a convincing Simone (sorry Renée).

The Lighting Stand-Ins

I’m looking forward to seeing why the lovely leads were going to be so cozy in that little ladies’ room. Oh, the suspense!

Seeking Simone Ladies on Set

Tuesday, Oct 5.

Renée said, “special effects makeup” and “my eye pecked out by birds,” so I tossed a camera in my bag and headed straight (well… as straight as I could) to the set!

When I arrived, snacks were being put out, tea was being made and mellow music was playing. Sarah Ebisuaki, the special effects makeup artist, was stirring up something goopy that looked like a cross between hot wax and honey.

SpecialFXGoop

Renée was posing for some promo photos by the window, and I was looking at a sketch of what was about to become Simone’s face. It looked pretty gruesome, which isn’t normally my thing, but I was keen to see how this sketch would actualize.

Watching the progression of beautiful actress to “sex worker with her eye pecked out” was a long but fascinating process. Thank goodness for party mix.

I have a new-found respect and sympathy for actors who spend hours in the makeup chair transforming for their roles. I can’t imagine doing this every day, and I wasn’t even the one in the chair!

Renée was such a good sport. Sitting still for so long, one eye closed, makeup artist all up in her grill, all the while surrounded by cast and crew watching, mesmerized by the process, perfecting their best peanut gallery impressions.

I have a hunch that this episode is going to be absurd goodness!

Friday, Oct 8.

Now that the Seeking Simone bunch have wrapped the second season shoot, I would like to take a moment to share with you what I learned from being on the set…

Always have party mix on hand for cast and crew.

If you’re going to endure special-effects makeup for two hours, have straws so you too can enjoy a beverage.

Perhaps most importantly — if you end up on set with the Seeking Simone folks, be prepared to get right into the action. Don’t worry: they’ll offer you muffins! Mmmmm, muffins. They might even offer you moist muffins, but you didn’t hear that from me.

Thanks again for inviting QueeriesMag on set, Seeking Simone!

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