In Hollywood

By Christine Anderson, Piñon Pines

I am a handbell specialist— you name it, I do it: sales rep, concert solo handbell ringer, festival conductor, workshop clinician, composer, arranger and handbell editor for a publisher.

I’m on YouTube and have produced DVDs and CDs. This summer I mentored a TV show cast. The results will be aired on December 6 on the Fox TV channel.

My company, Malmark, Inc., called in August to ask if I would be available to teach Zooey Deschanel, the star of the New Girl TV series, and her cast how to ring handbells for an upcoming episode. Yes!

But when Fox TV called to confirm a date, I was dismayed to see I had a trip to Dallas planned for a grandchild’s birthday. Of course, I sent my husband to Dallas and canceled my trip.

This experience would be a once in a lifetime adventure. For five days I worked with Zooey and the cast, teaching them to ring different techniques, and how to ring part of “Eye of the Tiger.” It was exciting to be on the set, watching rehearsals and taping scenes, coaching the cast, honing their fledgeling handbell skills.

The episode involves some high school kids who are given the choice of being suspended or ringing in a handbell choir. Zooey plays a teacher who is in charge of teaching them to play for a concert in the park.

I had an absolute blast on the set, met wonderful people, and was impressed with the professionalism, kindness, and friendliness of everyone, both cast and crew. Zooey is a genuinely sweet person. I can’t wait to see what editing has done to the script.

So that’s the story. I know there are a lot of folks up here in our mountain communities who work in Hollywood, and it’s no big deal for them. But for me, it was exciting and fun.

Christine D. Anderson, who lives in Piñon Pines, is artist in residence at Masters College in Santa Clarita.

This is part of the November 25, 2011 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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