January 16, noon
Meg has work to do and so do I. Luckily, it’s raining today so I won’t miss the beach much. However computer problems limit the amount of work I can actually do. I go with Meg to her production meeting and watch them discuss casting. “What’s up with her skin?” “That’s a lot of sun damage,” is a common refrain as Meg and her partner, Ryan, try to find the perfect skin for their body lotion commercial. I work in a corner of the room, occasionally laughing at their comments.
That night, we see a live Bossa Nova performance. It’s a smoky upstairs lounge that’s packed with people at tables enjoying the music. A guitarist accompanies a young woman and the sultry music soothes and loosens us up. Never mind that I don’t know a word this woman is singing. The whole style is very sensual and for a little while, Meg and I forget that we are here on a business trip.
That night, I film lightening outside our hotel. Click here to see it STRIKE. (146 kb)
January 18, 11am
Yesterday was another weird weather day, with typhoon-like winds whipping up the surf. Two men actually had to be rescued by helicopter when they ignored the red flag warnings on the shoreline. But today, surfing looks possible and I’m eager to give it a go. The waves are bigger than they look and I’m hit several times- even spun upside down and sideways. After twenty minutes in, I drag my battered body back to the beach to catch my breath. Finally, I go back in the water and learn the rhythm of the waves. I catch some nice ones. And I couldn’t be happier.
January 19, 9:30am
Ryan’s wife Dru has come to spend a few days in Rio. But Meg and Ryan are so busy ironing the pre-production issues, that Dru and I are left to do our own touring. The day is super sunny and we take the cable car up to Sugar Loaf, a tall mountain named for it’s shape. The view is spectacular but what we really caught our attention is the helicopter tour that takes you all over Rio. For $80, that’s a done deal.
We end up waiting a half hour for the chopper to get refueled but it’s worth it. This was my first time in a helicopter and I vacillated between filming it or just experiencing it. I decide to film it and I’m glad I did. It was spectacular and a real cool way to see the city.
Click here to see us circle the Christ statue on Corcovado by helicopter. (1.43 MB)
