What a life!

About 18 months ago I read a book called "Raising Girls" which talks about the importance of girls finding their "spark" to get them through the dark years of teenage angst.  Sadly the book doesn't tell you how to go about finding your spark but I mentioned the concept to Tess and 6 months ago Tess decided drama was her spark.  She's been doing drama classes since the beginning of the year and I've been really impressed with the program and the progress that she has made.  Last week an email came through about a casting opportunity with The Disney Channel.  Instead of a live casting they asked interested parties to put together a short video clip showing why they'd be perfect for the job which required a 9-11 year old girl who loves animals.  Tess and I turned her Expedit bookcase (thank you Ikea!) into a zoo with different animal enclosures and Tess pretended to take the viewers on a tour.  I have to admit I was pretty proud of the concept and am taking full credit!  The following day we got a call from the production company saying Disney loved Tess and the video and would she be available to host an episode of "What a Life" showcasing the life of a zookeeper.  I was so excited I cried.  Tess was a bit more composed.  

On Tuesday I picked Tess up from school at lunch time and we headed into the city for a meeting with the production company and a run through the script.  Filming was done on Wednesday and Thursday at Taronga Zoo with the very lovely Danielle who looks after the Australian Animals but is particularly involved with the seals.  The kids and I have been going to the zoo since they could walk and each trip always involves watching the seal show.  During summer a favourite pool game involves one of the kids being a seal whilst the other is the zookeeper.  We know pretty much all the seals by sight and most of the filming was done with them so it couldn't have been more perfect.  The days were long and Tess got tired but she was a trooper and always managed a Disney style smile and excited voice for the filming.  Highlights included hugging and patting all of the seals, feeding the giraffes, cuddling an echidna (not particuarly cuddly on account of the spikes), having a snake wrapped round her and being called "superstar" by all the film crew!  At the end of the filming I asked her whether she would still like to be an actress now that she knows what hard work it is - without hesitation she said yes - oh dear!  

 Tess with Nala

That's a tongue not a conveyor belt!

Tess the superstar, Danielle the zookeeper, the film crew and Maya the seal