Posted by Shirley on SimonBakerOnline@yahoogroups.com

Well, I know that Muggs has posted a brief mention of our trip but I do feel that I can add some things and still be discreet about the important things.

I just got back from the trip late today and have tried to wade through the posts. (Aside:Rosiiii made it easy since I just breezed right through all the "acting bugs" posts. Let's hope that this season generates more interesting converstion on this board.)

Well, the cast and crew started shooting exterior shots on Wednesday for Episodes 7, 8 & 9 to be aired during November Sweeps. We did not arrive until Wednesday afternoon. We were able to see them filming right outside our hotel (Omni-William Penn - very plush) on Grant Street which is where the Allegheny County Courthouse and Frick Building (home of the late F&A and now defunct C&A firms)were located. Cast members present for the three day shoot were Simon, Dabney, Alan, Malik, Raphael, Wendy, and Kathleen. We actually spoke with Kathleen (her in-laws live in Sewickley) and Raphael (met his aunt and uncle who also hail from Pittsburgh) -- both very fine people. Also met Alan, Dabney and waved to Malik. Of course, we are on a first name basis with David Hollander, thanks to the prior PP-G article about The Guardian Angels after our August visit to the city. We also met again with Rob Owen (TV Editor to the PP-G)who filled us in on some juicy tid-bits which will remain our privileged secrets.

My first impression of Simon (in person) was that he was so small. Yet when we had our picture made with him (YES YOU HEARD ME) he is most likely the 5'10" stated. He is just so slim and trim. We were personally introduced to Simon by David Hollander. As for his wardrobe for this season, I am here to tell you that he is especially stunning in the darker shirts with the dark suits... just so classic. And I noticed his suit jackets have the split tails this year. He will not be wearing boots this year (according to his wardrobe guy) because they didn't like the way his pants got caught in them last year. Sadly we were not able to hear the dialogue but as we watched the filming we could definitely see moments of anger between Nick and Burton in one scene. And Nick did a lot of running (which he does so elegantly).

The episode Muggs mentioned about the office building was the cutest thing we saw all week. Simon looked up while waiting during the blocking of a scene and noticed a phone number and Lunch? stuck to the window above and women with their noses pushed against the window. He commandeered a cell phone and promptly called to talk with them. We could hear him laugh that real throaty laugh he does when he gets really tickled. He was having a good time. Then after a moment another sign went up in another window ... which said.... "Simon/You're/Hot". It was all too cute.

Simon had his daughter Stella with him the whole time. She spent much of the time at the sight. A woman had been designated to watch her. We caught them in a sweet father/daughter moment Wednesday night when we happened upon them at their hotel while we were dining in the restaurant.

We became good buddies with many of the crew....i.e. his personal body guard, the wardrobe guy, many production assistants, etc. We were the only regulars there--day in and day out. As Muggs mentioned, we learned a lot about the shooting of a TV drama. A lot of the time was spent just standing around. But, we saw how the crew can break-down the set and move to another location in a blink of an eye. We saw them convert a local night spot into The Incline for an exterior scene in a matter of minutes--all this in downtown Pittsburgh during rush hour--quitting time.

We also saw Scott Hollander's KidsVoice offices (in the Frick Building). Of course everyone knows that last season's exterior shots of F&A were of a Los Angeles Building... but the interior was of the actual Frick Building. The one thing that impresses me about Pittsburgh is the wonderful architecture they have and the way they have preserved it and built the new city around it all.

Simon speaks Aussie when he's not actually saying his lines. It seems like it would be difficult to go in and out of the accent like that but he doesn't appear to have any problem with it.

We saw him filming a scene with Wendy and noticed how they seemed to get along so well together - off camera. And, I will say that Wendy is looking so much better this season. Kudos for her hair and wardrobe -- at least for the upcoming episodes including the scene we saw during our trip. I did like the way she looked in The Dead.

We were allowed to shoot as many pictures as we wanted to but we could not use a flash since that shows up on the film and of course we had to remain quiet during the actual shooting and stay out of range of the camera... but other than that we had pretty free rein to follow them around to the different locations. Simon was the busiest of all the actors appearing in most of the scenes. It was a long day for him -- and us. And Friday there was a fine drizzle and cool breeze all day. Filming went on without delay--cameras shrouded in plastic and the director and his monitor under a make- shift tent. We learned that all the lighting and camera crew were Pittsburgh Film Office folks and most of the low-end productions assistants were freelance locals as well. All the top "dogs" were associated with The Guardian's L.A. base--including the wardrobe guy who said he 'dresses' Simon and went on to tell us he was wearing Gucci shoes and Prada shirts this year. **Don't even think he's like a stylist... this guy was NOT like that at all. I believe Simon's bodyguard was a local but he looked like he could have been related to Tony Soprano. LOL

They had the ceremony mentioned in earlier posts giving David Hollander the key to the city and declaring October 11, 2002 as Guardian Day at the City-County Building (featured in many of the shots on the Show). The whole cast was there. David said a few words then Simon said a few, mostly commending David and his love of the city saying that he, too, had come to love the city--as much a result of David's enthusiasm for the City as anything else. And Stella was there.

Simon seemed unflagging during the whole shoot. He rarely sat preferring to walk about and cut up with Stella or others. He laughed and smiled a great deal. It was fun to watch him go from cutting up with Dabney and then right into a serious mode for the scene. I can hardly wait to see the scenes incorporated into these upcoming episodes. It was a great pleasure to meet everyone. I dearly love David Hollander. He is as fine a man as there is. He is totally genuine and unaffected by all this hoopla. And to think I almost decided to pass this trip up. I now have priceless memories to last a lifetime. I don't think any trip to Sony Studios will provide you with the access we had during this two days. Sorry you ALL could not be there with us.

*Shirley (aka "Guardian" Angel or Wallflower)