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Then half of them had to stand in the windy cold, sans jacket, through multiple takes of simple introductions - 5. 6, 7, 8 ... step, turn, pose ... "I'm Tara Elizabeth Connor, 20, Miss Kentucky USA!" Smile, step, turn - until goosebumps fused into one.
OK. It was 39 takes.
The shots being directed by Los Angeles director Rhett Smith panned from one, to another, then a third Miss Whichever.
But then the clouds blew in front of the sun, ruining several shots. Or a near-perfect take would be undermined by a gust that tossed tassles of perfectly coiffed blond locks just as Miss Maine stuck her line, punctuating "USA" with a nod and a knowing look.
Over and over, and over.
"That was perfect! Thank you. I would not change a thing. Let's do just three more," Mr. Smith said.
Then, after those: "OK, just two more."
"It's hot. So hot. So hot," Miss Kentucky said, trying to convince herself.
Meanwhile, the City of Annapolis' finest were riding herd on State Circle traffic, gawkers and stray wanderers.
"Bogey!" one of the various grips or a camera assistant would squawk if a lobbyist or tourist appeared in the background.
"OK, cue the jogger!" or "Cue the cloud!" others said to keep things light.
There was no sniping on this set. In fact the overly polite "Thank you" for this, "I appreciate" that, and "Great ladies, you look great!" soothed whatever nerves might have frayed after so many takes.
After all the makeup, a little heavy for the cameras, and the coiffing and the taping of bodices and such, the director's comment, "That one was good, really natural," seemed a bit out of sync.
The hair seemed to be a primary problem despite the lacquering and primping efforts of hairstylist Nely Santos Pezzino, and her three cans of Farouk Systems BioSilk Fixatif something or other.
"I buy it by the case," she said.
It was a film set on the fly. Serious Grip and Electric brought heavy lights, reflecting panels, stands from its headquarters in Hanover and a four-man crew to sling it all around. Mr. Smith pointed to a mark in the street for Miss Louisiana to hit.
"Use that gum spot there. No, the other one."
To make the State House shot seem less, well, municipal, one crewman zipped up a ladder to unscrew no parking and no left turn signs from the antique-looking light posts.
The second trio of Miss USA hopefuls, including Miss Maryland USA Melissa DiGiulian of Ocean City, took their cues up on the State House grounds. By then the wind and clouds had quit their shenanigans, and the second half of yesterday's Annapolis shoot went more quickly.
Just 24 more takes.
Miss DiGiulian, 20, who attended Archbishop Spalding High School, grew up in Bowie and is studying business at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. This is her third pageant, and she is fully schooled in "the walk," how to interview well and showing poise under pressure.
"I'm going to represent Maryland. I'm going to win," Miss DiGuilian said.
The competition, which will be held April 21 in Baltimore, does not involve the sometimes awkward talent competition. That means no baton-twirling tap-dancers in red, white and blue.
But it does have Donald Trump, the pageant's executive producer. Some on the set were sipping Trump Ice bottled spring water. Thankfully, none of the ladies adopted his hairdo.
The ladies were off to lunch at Griffin's on City Dock. In all, they were in the city for about six hours shooting the introductions, while other contestants did the same at other locations around the state.
Later in the day they, along with all the other contestants headed to Baltimore for an appearance at an Orioles game. They'll then all run down to Ocean City for two days of shooting and a luau.
Several more contestants will visit Annapolis on Wednesday for more filming. On April 21 one of the 51 will be crowned Miss USA.
One can only hope the others won't be dispatched with that other Trump calling card, "You're fired."
By E.B. FURGURSON III, Staff Writer
Source: http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2006/04_06-35/TOP
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