Monday, March 23, 2020

News Anchor #1

I took the day off work and went to Mel’s film stage in Montreal on October 2, 2017, to shoot my small part as a news anchor in “X Men: Dark Phoenix”.  I went to costume and make-up and then sat in my half-trailer to wait for my scene to be shot. The sign on the door read, "News Anchor #1".


My half trailer
Selfie in costume waiting to go on set
I shot the scene and, knowing there was a chance my part might not make it in the film, I didn't think about it again until, many months later, Steve, a colleague at work, mentioned he had seen me in the movie. I was delighted to hear the filmmakers had managed to salvage something!

My family gave me a DVD of "X Men: Dark Phoenix" for Christmas. You bet I was shocked that I didn't make the cover of the DVD! For weeks, Susan had been pushing me to watch it, so, on Saturday, we finally did. I appear as a news anchor in two small scenes.





All in all, the experience was pretty interesting. I continue to wait for my close-up.

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Make It An Even Half Dozen

After graduating from school, I was hired by Jean-Claude Langlois as editor-in-chief of the local newspaper in my community. I worked there for three years and then was laid-off.


Thanks to Jack Curran, I was then hired as overnight radio news anchor at CFCF. I was there for one year before I was laid-off.

I was hired by Lee Hambleton to work at CHOM-CKGM. I worked there for seventeen years and then was laid-off.

I started working at Global Quebec. I worked for five seasons as the morning show reporter before being laid-off.

Two years later, I returned to Global Montreal to work as news anchor and morning show host before being laid-off.

I was hired to work for an international company as a communications specialist and was told on Friday the 13th, we would be working from home. As a result of COVID consequences, on Friday March 20th, I was laid-off.

The reminder that I am disposable has always been acutely troubling. I'm sure you feel the same way. Like so many others, the familiar stress of uncertainty is growing in the pit of my stomach. Yes, like so many others, I have been told this is temporary, but, like so many others, I have been told that "temporary" could mean two weeks, or much longer.

I wish for colleagues, myself, and all of you, a rapid return to our work stations and, above all else, good health.