TBT: Diary of a Background Performer

Years ago I used to work in film & tv as a background actress. I spent hours, and hours sitting in holding waiting to be called to set. It was a really fun experience and I met heaps of cool people. One summer I spent months working on the set of American Pie: Beta House. There were heaps of really cool people on that set including now CP24 weather reporter Patricia Jaggernauth, recording artist Ish Morris, actress Meghan Heffern, and my sister (who had her own trailer for part of the summer).  Eugene Levy was in it too. Below is a little diary entry  wrote while sitting in background holding on the set of Degrassi at Degrassi High in 2008. This photo was taken years later when I worked at MuchMusic & MTV and was given a Degrassi shirt. I started thinking to myself as I sit in Background Holding for Degrassi High…. Here I am working on a show I’ve never seen surrounded by a bunch of people whom either I’ve met over the last six weeks or are new faces. Its’ great. I hear the sound of “Its Raining Men” on the set, I’ve managed once again to avoid being used or getting on camera. (This is often a goal! lol) It’s a total dream when you get to spend the day sitting in Holding, getting paid to do whatever it is your little heard desires until they call for lunch or “everyone on set”. I’m hoping that today I make it until lunch. My first experience as a Background Performer was working on the set of “American Pie presents Beta House”. I was booked with my sister to do four days of continuity at a mansion in Thornhill. The place was beautiful! We met at Background Holding,…

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Day 5/365 and We’re in Business, Baby!

What a whirlwind yesterday was whoa. I took a walk to get my nails done (manicure Monday!) and decided it was cold enough (-20 something w/ windchill) to whip out the vintage mink coat I inherited from Sean’s aunt via his mum last summer. Went well with my new YSL glasses & long read leather gloves. This coat is heavy and insanely warm. After about 10 minutes of walking, I opened it to get some air, I was sweating! I know how people feel about fur but this thing is already made and would be sitting in a closet if not worn by me. It’s back in hanging in mine now for a special event in the dead of winter. A friend of mine loved the coat but didn’t like the fact it was mink (understandable). She got a really similar faux version from Lily Lulu Fashion. It looks great and can’t even tell it’s faux fur. A floor length mink coat really isn’t practical for a girl on the go. Chuckling to myself as I wrote this. A few years ago I made a New Years resolution to take care of my nails. I’m not really into ‘resolutions’, I like setting goals all year but I felt this was something reasonable. Having your nails tidy and polished makes you look put together. Notable.ca posted yesterday that having your nails done is one way to look richer than you might be. I got this fancy shellac design to kick of the start of 2015 business. You like? In other news, my hair is crazy right now. I can’t decide that to do with it. It’s the awkward in between stage before a bob and the colour is so faded. I’m bored with it. Looks like I’ll be rocking hat head…

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Ok Here We Go, Bundle Up! ❄️

Ok it’s back to the grind and totally freezing outside. I know it’s hard to keep your head up but you MUST. Your attitude will shape everything around you. Grab some summer photos and keep them close by for inspiration. Make sure you have super warm gloves, hat, scarf, jacket, boots. The only way to get through this it to bundle up! It appears that I am frozen in. #dlws pic.twitter.com/ScBHTDmsv5 — CASiE STEWART (@casiestewart) January 5, 2015 Here’s to a great first day back. I’ve planned out heaps of new and old things to write about and I can’t wait to share. With love, CASIE * Also, on a positive note, I feel it’s appropriate to bust out my vintage mink coat!

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365 Chances to Create the Life You’ve Imagined

So, yesterday I wasn’t feeling so hot and I was hoping I was just tired from a busy weekend but today I am worse. My throat is sore and my whole body aches. I’m trying to look on the bright side, it’s forcing me to sit on the couch and spend some time with my computer and there’s a chance I might drop a few lbs before the New Year. I’m drinking heaps of water, have chicken soup, and Sean is home sick too. Our house is quarantine. I don’t get sick very often but I’ve blogged about it a few times: Entrpreneneurs Don’t Call in Sick, They Work Down with the sickness: How to do a Thyme Bath Sick, Mucus, Cold, Gross Looking back, I usually only get sick in winter. Apparently ‘it’s going around’, from my limited interaction with other humans the last 24 hours. After a really busy year I think a few days thrown up on the couch will do me well. I’ve finally set a date for the release of my book on Amazon and have an ISBN number. There’s no turning back now. When I wrote my first book, JEANS, back in 1996 there were waaaaaay more hoops to jump through in order to self-publish. Thanks to the Internet, you can now publish at the touch of your fingers. A photo posted by C A S I E S T E W A R T (@casiestewart) on Dec 12, 2014 at 2:03pm PST I also signed up for ukulele lessons and I will be able to play by the time summer rolls around. I’ve been meaning to to both those things for a while so feeling pretty good the wheels are in motion for 2015. I have a great feeling about this year. 365 new days and…

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Last Min Gift Idea! You Can’t Go Wrong w/ Stylish EyeWear

New glasses! You like? They’re YSL! A gift to myself from SmartBuyGlasses.ca. I was invited to pick out a pair from their gift guide and these new YSL babies were my choice. I absolutely LOVE great eyewear. I choose fast shipping and they arrived in 2 business days. A great gift idea if you are one of those people who leaves everything to the last minute! You have Friday, Monday, Tuesday, get on it! If you follow me on Instagram (which you should be!) or have been looking at my photos for a while, you’ll notice my vast collection of great shades. I’ve moved on from a stylish box to an entire drawer in my wardrobe, you can never have too many! If you’re still looking to treat someone special (even yourself!) check out the gift guides for women and men from Smart Buy Glasses and pick fast shipping to get them in time for Christmas. You can also order a gift card to be shipped same day. I’ll be wearing my new sunnies from now till summer. Even at night. I love them! 🙂 HAPPY HOLIDAYS! <3 CASIE  

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