There is No Business Like Show Business

Unexpectedly, my boss came in and told me and two of my colleagues to get into the lab. A TV commercial was scheduled to be shot, so "actors" needed to be conscripted. I would like to think I was chosen for my natural photogenic qualities, but it was probably because I did not look busy. I had a small but integral role as loader of sample into the X-ray diffractometer. It was demanding. I had to bring all of my 4.5 years of training to the role when after the 10 secs of scripted business, the camera stayed on me. I had to improvise the next 45 secs of the start-up procedure. People say improvisation is hard, I think not. So if you live in the Midwest and see a commercial with x-ray equipment, I'm the non-Chinese one in the blue shirt.

Side note: I am currently waiting for a craigslist missed connections posting for "Sample loader with the ass that will not quit- m4m- 29" from the production assistant. So if for some reason I appear to be staring off screen, you know who I was looking at.