Reporting from the Set of Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds which airs every Wednesday on CBS at 9:00 PM is best described through their own tag lines: "To catch a criminal you have to think like one," or "The way to a criminal is through his mind." It's a very dark, gutsy series about FBI profilers. Exactly the kind of drama my son prefers. Kids Management sent the message that Criminal Minds needed boys to play baseball for the day. Though call time was 7:00 in the morning, Layne immediately accepted the offer to work on this episode. It was a nice break from all those Disney shows, I suppose.

As usual, Layne was able to take a nap in the car since we had to leave around 4:30 AM to beat that Southern California traffic. If you have plans for your child to attempt life in the entertainment business let me warn you, it is always a long day. Therefore I would suggest resting them as often as they can and wherever they are willing to lay their heads. At any rate, we arrived at base camp in the Los Angeles area a couple of hours later. Parking was available off set. Then we were whisked away in a company van and headed for location which was about fifteen minutes away.

It is always a sweet deal when the kids get a chance to work outdoors away from the studios. Enjoying breakfast and lunch in the open air makes the food taste better and it's a special treat when the stars come out (Hollywood stars that is) to join us.

At any rate, our morning on the set was pretty brisk. Most of the stage moms were dressed in their fashionable winter outfits. We're still on Hollywood's D list, or perhaps the C list, so wardrobe for me was a pair of jeans, t-shirt and a knee-long sweater. No matter, I was warm, cozy and ready for a day on the set of yet another hit television show.

Upon our arrival on location we were introduced to the other children and the boys were rushed to a trailer where they were fitted for their baseball uniforms. This was their job for the day-to play baseball while Special Agent Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner (portrayed by Thomas Gibson) spoke with a suspect nearby the fence of the baseball field. I guess our kids now qualify as professional baseball players-maybe not.

In any case, after wardrobe, the kids (much to their dismay) were escorted by two teachers to the school trailer. This is always a hard pill for them to swallow. School work is such a grind when movie stars, directors and stuntmen are walking around. Nevertheless, this is their toll but also their privilege and they are constantly reminded by parents how lucky they are. After all, who else would get paid for doing school work?

The moms received a trailer of our own, adjacent to Mr. Gibson's, with computer hook-up and WiFi. Through our windows we witnessed Thomas G's eating habits-lots of fruit, especially grapes. Besides a little star watching, some of us brought our work to the set, others settled in with a good novel, but most of us mingled. At this point of our kids' careers, such as they are, we have begun to work with one another on many different shows and movies. It is an added perk to make wonderful friends. Stage moms at this level are not very competitive and are still willing to help each other with finding jobs or agents. Information is freely shared and connections are made. This I pray will never change.

When it was finally time for the kids to play in front of the camera, Thomas Gibson and his cronies decided to walk to set. This was a ten-minute journey, at least, and straight up a very steep hill. Nevertheless, we were not about to be outdone and so we followed, deceptively thinking we were all in good enough shape to make it up. The kids had little trouble with the vertical climb. But the rest of us had to fight the pain in our legs, huffing and puffing the entire way. We also had to endure the playful smirks and devilish smiles from Mr. Gibson who was apparently very accustomed to such conditions. Finally when we reached the cold bleachers we collapsed very gracefully without too much noise. Next time around everyone piled into the van.

For a good hour or so, while the crew assembled film equipment, lights and miles of electrical chords, the kids practiced their baseball skills and Mr. Gibson along with his co-star went over their lines. The infield position players were chosen according to skill and height. The length of the child became a factor since the primary (child star) would be running past the infield. For one reason or another, the director just did not want him to even appear shorter than the other kids. Layne was slightly taller but his skills were impressive enough to play short stop. It is a big advantage for your young actors to pick up as many skills as possible. At least Layne, who's been playing baseball since he was five, was confident enough that whenever the director yelled "action," he would not drop the ball.

Nonetheless, the kids had a great time. The assistant director played a little ball with them which, no doubt, extended the time of the shoot-all had fun. Eight hours of running, catching and throwing (with a few breaks here and there) the kids were dismissed and ready to go home. Well, one would think they were. There was no call to return the uniforms yet so the boys continued to play between the stars' trailers, namely Mr. Gibson's. The commotion of cleats on asphalt, bouncing baseballs and boisterous laughter drew his attention but no scolding. He just weathered the heat and the wind and took a few pictures with some of America's future stars. One can only hope.