A Dream Come True

My lip is bleeding from biting it for so long. I wanted to let you all know about this big event as soon as it happened, but I didn't want to jinx it. However, today I saw clear signs that the process has begun, I have signed a contract, and received two confirmation phone calls, so now I feel confident screaming from the Internet rooftop.

Drum roll, please...

"Law & Order" is shooting a scene in my apartment!

Let me begin by saying how much I love this show. Love it. The theme song is my cell phone ring tone. When TNT has the marathons...I always watch. The show has been on for 16 years and I have seen most of the episodes. It was always a dream of mine to be an extra. Love it!

So when I saw a letter posted on the door of an apartment building in my neighborhood last week with "Law & Order" letterhead, I stopped in my tracks. Poor Ella! The letter stated that they would be shooting at the college nearby and were looking for an apartment to shoot a scene in.

I ripped the letter off the door and called the number right away. Luckily, the location scout had just posted the letter and was still on the street. I told him about my place; he told me what he needed. We met on the corner and I escorted him to my place, me telling him about my love of the show all the way.

He liked the size and the layout, but told me since they were using at least two places to create one "TV apartment", they probably couldn't use mine. It didn't fit with the other places he'd seen. We shook hands and I got ready to go over to The Mormon's.

Later that night, I saw I had a message on my phone. It was the LS. He just happened to visit a house across the street from my building and met a lovely couple whose home does match mine. So he wanted to bring some people to my house the next day to get their opinion. More "Law & Order" people would be in my house?!?! Of course!

The next day, a group of eight people came in and walked around. They turned on all my lights, stepped in my bathtub, spoke in hushed tones, got annoyed by Ella's barking. The director of the episode was very mean-looking. He was not impressed by my love of the show. They left.

Later that day, I got a call from the Assistant Location Manager, who told me the following: they loved my place, it was perfect for the shot, but it's too nice. They would have to paint my living room to make it work. Because of that, they are contacting all the people who live on my apartment line to see if there is another place easier on the art department.

You mean, someone else could benefit from my love for "Law & Order?" Yup. Ah well...

The ALM said chances are still good that it will happen in my house, so unless I hear otherwise, expect a technical crew to come by the following day.

The next day I'm working from home with no pants on when I get a call from the LS. Can we come by your apartment again, he asks. I'm confused because it's several hours before the tech crew is supposed to arrive, but I am not going to say no. He says, we'll be there in a couple of minutes. Remember...I had no pants on. So I throw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt that displays my Alma Mater. Thirty seconds later, I hear a knock on the door.

This time, about 11 people come into my house: location people, camera people, art department people. Ella is barking: Get out of my house! and peeing on the floor. The director is NOT amused. I'm thinking Ella is going to ruin it, because he is staring at me trying to quiet her down. Instead, he asks me if I went to the college on my shirt.

I say yes.

He says he went to the college on my shirt. He asks me when I graduated and what my major was.

I tell him. It was his major as well.

We reminisce over faculty and the famous alumni he knows.

The mean facade was cracked.

The contract was delivered and signed later that day. They increased the compensation they first quoted because of the "inconvenience" they caused. What? This has been the most convenient thing that has every happened to me!

So next week, there will be a couple of days where I wake up very early. The lovely living room I painted myself will be transformed and then transformed back. Jesse L. Martin may be all cop-like in my house. It will be a VERY nice Christmas because of the check they're cutting me. And one of my favorite shows will forever have a piece of my apartment in it!