Chris Champagne:
CLASS OF 1982
H. L. Bourgeois High SchoolClass of 1982
Gray, LA
Maria Immacolata SchoolClass of 1975
Houma, LA
Chris's Story
My story? 2 words..who cares?
Seriously though, when we graduated I went straight to Nicholls, and completely bombed out. Now, that isn't the end of the story...it's actually the beginning. I was so into my art, that I couldn't care less about algebra, literature, & biology. I joined the band, but, they didn't have the time to teach me to play, so I learned it on my own...which was fun...in a way. Took a while, but I can sort of play the xylophone. I met this wild girl named Elaine who played it, and right away I was hooked...she was a Stevie Nicks fan, and was the coolest person I had met up to that point in my life. It's also the time when I met the best friend I've ever had, and we're still best friends to this day..in fact it's because of he and his wife that I wound up in Los Angeles doing what I love.
My world sort of fell apart when in July of 1997 my mom died suddenly of a heart attack. I think that is when I decided to not be content with working for my family and living in Houma. I knew there was more to be seen out there, and I wanted a part of it...not just to sit back and grow old, only to have the regrets late in life.
It took only 2 years for me to gather the courage and the will to move cross country with only 1000.00 in my pocket and a car note due. I moved in with my buddy and his wife, and immediately got home sick. We lived in Rancho Palos Verdes, which is located next to Long Beach. I feel in love with it immediately..the beach, the waves, the buildings..it was so surreal to me, to be here. I worked overnight stocking the shelves at a children's educational toy store for the holidays. I did a good job, that they offered to keep me after the holidays...but as luck would smile on me for the first time of many..since I've been here. I had just gotten off work at 7 a.m. and stopped at a Starbucks to meet with my buddy..(he was the store manager). We were standing in line and I only had 8 bucks to my name....I was sweating..(at least gas was like 1.35 a gallon at the time) and I was commiserating about "should I go home, or stick it out?" Well, the guy standing in line behind me was listening to my conversation, and asked me where my accent was..how the hell did he pick up an accent? Do we really have an accent? He he..anyway, he said, he was the manager of a prop rental house in Burbank, and they were looking for a guy...Expand for more
in shipping/receiving. I immediately grabbed his card and tucked it in my pocket! Finally, a job that had some future in it..well, I called back when he told me to, and they said they had no opening..DANG!
But, the phone rang a few hours later, and I had an interview with them....I took my remaining 8 bucks and went to Ross and bought a tie. The next day, was interview day, and I was nervous as a long tail cat in a room full of rockers. I thought I blew the job..the big boss asked stupid stuff like, if the building catches on fire, what would you do? I wanted to say, run of course..but I said, I'd make sure all my fellow employees were out of the building, I'd check the bathrooms for customers, I'd grab the money box, and hit the street while the fire dept. put the fire out. That sealed it..by the time it took to drive home...45 mins..I had the job. Yay!
That was 10 yrs. ago, and I moved rapidly through the company, to head of sales, I was a buyer, and in charge of the intern program, teaching FIDM students how the process of breaking down a script, character personality, and shopping for a set on a TIGHT budget.
In 2005, I moved into the production side of the business, taking on the shopper job on a pilot for Lifetime television. Then, I went on to movies like The Bucket List, and Cloverfield, Bad Santa, etc..etc.
I like television more, it's faster and more challenging. I've worked on shows like Heroes, Heartland, Will & Grace, Hannah Montana, That's So Raven, The O.C., October Road, Miss Guided, Mad T.V. etc..etc..etc.
During the writers strike, I came home, once again, to work for my family. This time, I wound up at my sisters stores...she has 2 in Houma, Periwinkle Pink, and The Christmas Place. She is combining them into one store on Enterprise Drive. With my art background, and years of design experience, my neice asked me to help her out there. I had to quickly learn how to do arrangements, swags, etc...something I am not used to, since we have to use a floral expert and a greensman. But, I learned and had a good time in the process.
There may be an actors strike soon...I might be back! LOL.
I know this is boring, and I apologize for it..but, this dang web site wanted me to update..so here it is..and if you find yourself in Southern California, look me up, we'll have a margarita, or bloody mary on the boat to Catalina Island.
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