it's been a while since I updated my blog, and though I am sure no one is reading it anymore, I will indulge myself and update the populace on the what's new in the world of Charlie.
1. I just finished a short film that I think is the best work I have done to date. It's a great little story and the rough cut made my mom cry so I think we are on to something here. I am pretty sure she wasn't crying because I don't have a real job, as she has so many times in the past.
This little film called "The Price of Art" starred Louis Zorich, a well known character actor in Theatre and Film. You would probably know him best as BURT BUCHMAN, Paul's father on Mad About You, however he has a resume that would make your knees buckle. He agreed to do our little film and the end result was unbelievable. Then to add just another layer on the cake Tom Paxton, one of the Godfathers of folk Music, read the script (our sound designer is good friends with him and gave him the script to read) and wrote the score for the movie without us asking. That was a first for me. The end result is that this little film has turned into something very special.
2. My new daughter is now 4 months old and doing very well. She has mentioned to the four year old that she wants to direct.
The four year old, also appeared in the latest project, again giving a star performance as she played peek-a-boo with Louis,
3. We are gearing up for our next feature film, the largest one yet, which (hopefully) will go into production in the winter of 2008. We already have some great stuff happening with that as well.
4. The renovation on the house continues at a snails pace. I figure it will give me something to do in my old age.
5. And last but not least, it's time for the yearly tradition of heading off to Western Pennsylvania to put on armor, hit my closest friends as hard as I can with whatever I have handy and to drink lots of Mead. Yes, PENNSIC 36 is at hand.
http://www.pennsic.net/
Two weeks of rest, relaxation and colorful costumes, pavillions, welts and bruises.
6. Ok one more thing that makes me smile ... The NY Mets are still in First place in the NL East.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Friday, March 23, 2007
More Than Just An Inconvenient Truth
I just watched "An Inconvenient Truth" last night. Like many others who have seen it, when it ended I felt angry, concerned, empowered and motivated. But I also felt sorry. I know it's been said many times, but it is the truth. If the Al Gore who eats up the cameras and issues on this screen, had been the same guy squaring off against the current moron in the White House, we would be living in a very different world. It saddens me, that if not for two stolen elections, the world might be a safer, healthier place to live.
The Republicans and the wealth blinded conservatives can throw all the sticks and stones they like. They can play the fear card, though all intelligent people know and agree we live in a much more dangerous world now thanks to President Pinhead than before he usurped the oval office. Al Gore would have been the man of the moment had we seen the real Al Gore, not the stuffed suit the DNC felt they needed to appease the "Fence Sitters".
Well the Birds have come home to roost. All of the talk of where the Ground Zero Memorial should be and what it should look like will all be for naught, if Greenland’s ice shelf breaks off, as most of lower Manhattan, as well as my house in Brooklyn, will be under water.
Tourists can look at Ground Zero through a glass bottom boat.
Al Gore for President 2008
The Republicans and the wealth blinded conservatives can throw all the sticks and stones they like. They can play the fear card, though all intelligent people know and agree we live in a much more dangerous world now thanks to President Pinhead than before he usurped the oval office. Al Gore would have been the man of the moment had we seen the real Al Gore, not the stuffed suit the DNC felt they needed to appease the "Fence Sitters".
Well the Birds have come home to roost. All of the talk of where the Ground Zero Memorial should be and what it should look like will all be for naught, if Greenland’s ice shelf breaks off, as most of lower Manhattan, as well as my house in Brooklyn, will be under water.
Tourists can look at Ground Zero through a glass bottom boat.
Al Gore for President 2008
Saturday, March 17, 2007
A New Member of The Family arrives ...
5 weeks early!
Yep, my second daughter was born yesterday at 1:27pm. roughly 5 weeks before she was due. However, both baby and Mommy are doing swell.
And for the moment, all is right in Charlie Land.
Yep, my second daughter was born yesterday at 1:27pm. roughly 5 weeks before she was due. However, both baby and Mommy are doing swell.
And for the moment, all is right in Charlie Land.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Richard Jeni - October 31, 1962–March 10, 2007
Richard Jeni took his own life on Saturday, This guy made me laugh. ALOT!
He was from Brooklyn and was not ashamed. He was a brilliant comedian and deserved more recognition than he got.
The first time I saw him was on his HBO Special "Richard Jeni: Boy From New York City". I laughed so hard I nearly blacked out.
Three years ago while we were still trying to get "Beds & Breakfast" made we actually got his head shot from his agent. Both my partner Paul and I were thrilled, as we were both big fans of Richard's. Unfortunately the schedules couldn't be worked out (as is so often the case) because he was in production on a sitcom at the time. I consider that a missed opportunity to work with someone I really respected. Now I will never get the chance,
What would make a guy who is so talented take is own life? I have no answer. Having been in show business for the last 25 years, I have met a lot of people. Some are not with us anymore for various reasons. Drugs, AIDS, Alcohol abuse and car wrecks, has taken a few people that I have called friends. I don't know anyone who has committed suicide. It is a very foreign thing to me.
His voice and his comedy will be sorely missed.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Things That Piss Me Off
There are so many things that piss me off that narrowing them down has been quite a task. So without further ado, for your amusement here we go: (these aren't in any particular order of annoyance)
1. People who litter. Now I know this might sound obvious to you but it's not what you think, Yes it pissess me off when people litter because it's bad for our planet and all that. But what really pissess me off is the smug non-chalantness of these scumbags when they throw something out the window of their car or just throw something on the floor. They look around and smile to themselves like they just got away with the heist of the century. Last week I was sitting on a bench with my daughter when some nit wit woman threw a bottle cap at garbage can from about 10 feet away and of course she missed. She just left it there and started to walk away. Of course I could not let that stand so I got up and shouted at her. "Hey, Moron, you missed the can."
She turned around and was kind of making believe that I wasn't talking to her. I said "Yeah you, you missed the can and the cap is sitting on the floor over there". She looked at me like I had two head, standing there holding her "cap-less" bottle of soda. I was relentless "Go over there and pick it up and put it back in trash can". Again stunned silence from this member of Mensa. Of course she didn't come back and pick up the cap so I did. Of course I abused her the whole time. (Very loudly)
"I AM PICKKING UP THE BOTTLE CAP THIS WOMAN DELIBERATLY THREW ON THE FLOOR. SHE IS A SELFISH PIG WHO DESERVES TO BE LOOCKED IN A ROOM THAT IS FILLED WITH LANDFILL FROM STATEN ISLAND. THAT WOMAN THERE IN THE BLACK DRESS WHO IS TRYING TO WALK AWAY QUICKLY. EVERYONE LOOK AT HER. SHE IS A LITTER."
Needless to say I felt better and my daughter got a kick out of it,
2. People who don't even have the slightest working knowledge of the English language who are put in positions of customer service. I have touched in this before with regards to my bank's customer service being sent over to India but now I am talking much closer to home. On the corner of my block there is one of these conglomerate "Dunkin Donuts/Pizza Hut/Taco Hell. When we were renovating my house 5 years ago we (my buddy and I) ate there almost everyday for month as it was the closest place to eat and there was nothing in our gutted house. And everyday it was a struggle just to get an order right. Now I understand that the problem in this particular establishment is twofold. First the language barrier and secondly that most of the people who work there are as dumb as a bag of hammers. I have nothing against people who work in the fast food industry, I myself have many years on those jobs, But the people hired in this particular store are absolutely the dumbest group of people on the planet. Even when they do speak English (the few that do) are still completely inept,
Anyhow, the other day I went down there to grab a quick lunch (there was absolutely nothing in the house to eat, I hadn't gone shopping yet). So I mosey on down and order a very basic thing. A personal a meat lovers pan pizza and a small order of buffalo wings. This was the conversation I had with the recent arrival in our country:
Me - I would like a Meatlovers Pizza please
Moron - A supreme.
Me - No, A Meatlovers
Moron - (Shaking her yes) A Supreme
Me - (Shaking my head no) No, Not a Supreme, A Meatlovers
Moron - (I shit you not) A Supreme.
At this time I Lose my shit and point to the rather large signs behind her which contain pictures of SUPREME - CHEESE - MEATLOVERS - VEGGIE LOVERS - PEPPERONI
And she turns back to me and say... you guessed it
Moron - Supreme
By this time I am appoplectic and the manager (another rocket scientist) walks over and points to the meatlovers button on the register. At this time the block of wood who has been trying to take my order smiles at me as if the past two minutes never occurred and says, in a barely understandable broken English:
MORON - Anything else?
Me being a glutton for punishment I say:
Me - Yes a small order of wings.
This is followed by complete stunned silence, because clearly I just started speaking in Esperanto. The lack of recognition on this womans face was something akin to Yul Brynner in that wickedly bad 70's flick "West World". So I say again:
Me - I would like a small order of Chicken wings.
Nothing. Finally the manager comes back over and pushes the button on the register. Now at this point I am out of my mind and I am thinking that this thing in front of me is not a human but a malfunctioning Jack in the Box Clown head. She just stands there with this blank expression on her face. At this point another customer comes in and approaches the counter. He is about to order when I say:
Me - Don't do it man, save yourself. Go to McDonalds.
Of course he just smiles the smile of a man who has not yet forseen his own destruction. The Clown Head speaks:
Moron Clown Head - May I help you?
Dead Man Walking - Yes, I would like two soft tacos and a coke.
SIlence from the Clown Head.
Finally the manager comes over and tells Clown Head (in a language I did not recognize) to go over and make the two soft tacos. Now, the nice human sacrifice standing next to me thinks he has escaped virtually unsinged. But he is mistaken. While the manager takes his money, with her back to Clown Head, the festival of pain continues. I watch as the Clown Head makes two HARD tacos. Human Sacrifice next to me starts to point at her. Clearly all speech has left his body. I on the other hand, glad to see someone else suffer for a change just giggle. The manager turns around just in time to see her wrapping up the hard shell tacos. Human Sacrifice next to me is begining to cry. The moronic manager actually hands the hard tacos to Human Sacrifice. He holds them in his hands as if two great eagles had just dropped a turd in each hand,
Human Sacrifice - I ordered soft tacos.
Manager from Hell - Just nods yes with that dumb expression.
I can take no more, I turn on this spawn of Taco Hell:
Me - Look you moron, that idiot made two hard shell tacos and you gave this man two hard tacos. Not the soft tacos he asked for (Human Sacrifice could do nothing more than nod, as the sacrificial knife began cutting into his still beating heart).
I could take no more and walked out. Without my controversial pizza or my authentic imitation Buffalo Wings (which would have been a compltete disappointment anyway). Fake Buffalo wings is a whole other thing that pissess me off.
I vowed never to go back there again.
Of course I say that everytime I leave there.
1. People who litter. Now I know this might sound obvious to you but it's not what you think, Yes it pissess me off when people litter because it's bad for our planet and all that. But what really pissess me off is the smug non-chalantness of these scumbags when they throw something out the window of their car or just throw something on the floor. They look around and smile to themselves like they just got away with the heist of the century. Last week I was sitting on a bench with my daughter when some nit wit woman threw a bottle cap at garbage can from about 10 feet away and of course she missed. She just left it there and started to walk away. Of course I could not let that stand so I got up and shouted at her. "Hey, Moron, you missed the can."
She turned around and was kind of making believe that I wasn't talking to her. I said "Yeah you, you missed the can and the cap is sitting on the floor over there". She looked at me like I had two head, standing there holding her "cap-less" bottle of soda. I was relentless "Go over there and pick it up and put it back in trash can". Again stunned silence from this member of Mensa. Of course she didn't come back and pick up the cap so I did. Of course I abused her the whole time. (Very loudly)
"I AM PICKKING UP THE BOTTLE CAP THIS WOMAN DELIBERATLY THREW ON THE FLOOR. SHE IS A SELFISH PIG WHO DESERVES TO BE LOOCKED IN A ROOM THAT IS FILLED WITH LANDFILL FROM STATEN ISLAND. THAT WOMAN THERE IN THE BLACK DRESS WHO IS TRYING TO WALK AWAY QUICKLY. EVERYONE LOOK AT HER. SHE IS A LITTER."
Needless to say I felt better and my daughter got a kick out of it,
2. People who don't even have the slightest working knowledge of the English language who are put in positions of customer service. I have touched in this before with regards to my bank's customer service being sent over to India but now I am talking much closer to home. On the corner of my block there is one of these conglomerate "Dunkin Donuts/Pizza Hut/Taco Hell. When we were renovating my house 5 years ago we (my buddy and I) ate there almost everyday for month as it was the closest place to eat and there was nothing in our gutted house. And everyday it was a struggle just to get an order right. Now I understand that the problem in this particular establishment is twofold. First the language barrier and secondly that most of the people who work there are as dumb as a bag of hammers. I have nothing against people who work in the fast food industry, I myself have many years on those jobs, But the people hired in this particular store are absolutely the dumbest group of people on the planet. Even when they do speak English (the few that do) are still completely inept,
Anyhow, the other day I went down there to grab a quick lunch (there was absolutely nothing in the house to eat, I hadn't gone shopping yet). So I mosey on down and order a very basic thing. A personal a meat lovers pan pizza and a small order of buffalo wings. This was the conversation I had with the recent arrival in our country:
Me - I would like a Meatlovers Pizza please
Moron - A supreme.
Me - No, A Meatlovers
Moron - (Shaking her yes) A Supreme
Me - (Shaking my head no) No, Not a Supreme, A Meatlovers
Moron - (I shit you not) A Supreme.
At this time I Lose my shit and point to the rather large signs behind her which contain pictures of SUPREME - CHEESE - MEATLOVERS - VEGGIE LOVERS - PEPPERONI
And she turns back to me and say... you guessed it
Moron - Supreme
By this time I am appoplectic and the manager (another rocket scientist) walks over and points to the meatlovers button on the register. At this time the block of wood who has been trying to take my order smiles at me as if the past two minutes never occurred and says, in a barely understandable broken English:
MORON - Anything else?
Me being a glutton for punishment I say:
Me - Yes a small order of wings.
This is followed by complete stunned silence, because clearly I just started speaking in Esperanto. The lack of recognition on this womans face was something akin to Yul Brynner in that wickedly bad 70's flick "West World". So I say again:
Me - I would like a small order of Chicken wings.
Nothing. Finally the manager comes back over and pushes the button on the register. Now at this point I am out of my mind and I am thinking that this thing in front of me is not a human but a malfunctioning Jack in the Box Clown head. She just stands there with this blank expression on her face. At this point another customer comes in and approaches the counter. He is about to order when I say:
Me - Don't do it man, save yourself. Go to McDonalds.
Of course he just smiles the smile of a man who has not yet forseen his own destruction. The Clown Head speaks:
Moron Clown Head - May I help you?
Dead Man Walking - Yes, I would like two soft tacos and a coke.
SIlence from the Clown Head.
Finally the manager comes over and tells Clown Head (in a language I did not recognize) to go over and make the two soft tacos. Now, the nice human sacrifice standing next to me thinks he has escaped virtually unsinged. But he is mistaken. While the manager takes his money, with her back to Clown Head, the festival of pain continues. I watch as the Clown Head makes two HARD tacos. Human Sacrifice next to me starts to point at her. Clearly all speech has left his body. I on the other hand, glad to see someone else suffer for a change just giggle. The manager turns around just in time to see her wrapping up the hard shell tacos. Human Sacrifice next to me is begining to cry. The moronic manager actually hands the hard tacos to Human Sacrifice. He holds them in his hands as if two great eagles had just dropped a turd in each hand,
Human Sacrifice - I ordered soft tacos.
Manager from Hell - Just nods yes with that dumb expression.
I can take no more, I turn on this spawn of Taco Hell:
Me - Look you moron, that idiot made two hard shell tacos and you gave this man two hard tacos. Not the soft tacos he asked for (Human Sacrifice could do nothing more than nod, as the sacrificial knife began cutting into his still beating heart).
I could take no more and walked out. Without my controversial pizza or my authentic imitation Buffalo Wings (which would have been a compltete disappointment anyway). Fake Buffalo wings is a whole other thing that pissess me off.
I vowed never to go back there again.
Of course I say that everytime I leave there.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Where are they now?
Yesterday while I was procrastinating and not getting any writing done I decided to do a little web surfing to see if I could track down a couple of my childhood friends. I found a number of them and oddly enough most have normal upper middle class lives -- Doctors, Lawyers, one went in to local politics in California. Then I came across 2 of my very good friends who I lost contact with right after HS.
The first one, we'll call him Poncho, is now a defense lawyer specializing in "The Mob". Yes, the "The Mob". This is perfect, You have to understand, this is the same guy that talked me into running away to Pittsburgh to become miners when we were in 9th grade. He got thrown out of a number of High Schools as well as private schools. I also heard that he was involved in a scandal at a prominent Prep School. He could sell snow to eskimos and get them to return the snow when they were done with it. He always managed to survive and get his way. And he could argue. HE could argue with you until you just had to give in. He would rant and rave, pull his hair out of his head. It was as amusing as it was effective. Well, now he has his own practice and has defended a number of high profile mobsters, who's names you would probably recognize. Well done Poncho, well done....
The second one, who we will call Goofy, also played to his strengths. He was the consumate bullshit artist. He had a story for every occassion, but unlike Poncho, we never believed him. He also would do just about anything to get a woman. If she wanted him to be taller he would have put lifts in his shoes. If she wanted him bald he would have shaved his head. So now, I find out that he has been a highly respected "Motivational Speaker/Author)" for some years, (though highly respected and motivational speaker don't really sit well together) and now, he has found Jesus. It was only a matter of time. Keep in mind he was born Jewish and attended a well known Hebrew Day School. I read his little bio and he says his new wife, "Showed him the way", yeah I bet she did. And if she had happened to be Mao-ist, he'd be running around in one of those little hats and riding a bicycle everywhere. If she had been Shaker he'd be making rocking chairs. If she was a Mormon he'd be running around with the Magic Sunglasses. Still the Bullshit artist. But now he is getting paid for it. It all just makes perfect sense.
I often ask myself how I got to where I am now. It seems to me the path was not as bizarre as some others .... and I take comfort in that.
The first one, we'll call him Poncho, is now a defense lawyer specializing in "The Mob". Yes, the "The Mob". This is perfect, You have to understand, this is the same guy that talked me into running away to Pittsburgh to become miners when we were in 9th grade. He got thrown out of a number of High Schools as well as private schools. I also heard that he was involved in a scandal at a prominent Prep School. He could sell snow to eskimos and get them to return the snow when they were done with it. He always managed to survive and get his way. And he could argue. HE could argue with you until you just had to give in. He would rant and rave, pull his hair out of his head. It was as amusing as it was effective. Well, now he has his own practice and has defended a number of high profile mobsters, who's names you would probably recognize. Well done Poncho, well done....
The second one, who we will call Goofy, also played to his strengths. He was the consumate bullshit artist. He had a story for every occassion, but unlike Poncho, we never believed him. He also would do just about anything to get a woman. If she wanted him to be taller he would have put lifts in his shoes. If she wanted him bald he would have shaved his head. So now, I find out that he has been a highly respected "Motivational Speaker/Author)" for some years, (though highly respected and motivational speaker don't really sit well together) and now, he has found Jesus. It was only a matter of time. Keep in mind he was born Jewish and attended a well known Hebrew Day School. I read his little bio and he says his new wife, "Showed him the way", yeah I bet she did. And if she had happened to be Mao-ist, he'd be running around in one of those little hats and riding a bicycle everywhere. If she had been Shaker he'd be making rocking chairs. If she was a Mormon he'd be running around with the Magic Sunglasses. Still the Bullshit artist. But now he is getting paid for it. It all just makes perfect sense.
I often ask myself how I got to where I am now. It seems to me the path was not as bizarre as some others .... and I take comfort in that.
What's new and Interesting in the World of Charlie?
Well let's see.
1. There is another youngin' on the way, (she is due in late April) yes it's a girl. We don't like surprises. To quote a very funny man, Paul Reiser "It's one of two things, if it's a third thing, say an Owl, I would like to know, only good can come from knowing."
2. The new child brings with it all kinds of joyous life altering situations. To start with, we never really planned for 2 kids so our lovely Brooklyn home does not have enough rooms to raise the new forthcoming seedling. So, off with roof and a third story will be built. The new floor will house not only my wife and I, but my new spacious office as well. My office in the basement will be home to our soon to be live in nanny/babysitter. Now I am the last person I would ever have thought would have a live in nanny. Unfortunately we have no choice. As soon as my wife goes back to work after the child arrives, I will be (hopefully will be) going into pre-production on my next film. That will not leave a lot of time for diaper changing and drop offs and pick ups to school. So that's where the new nanny comes in. We found a woman who id great, gets a long great with the current rugrat and is completely qualified to mind the forth-coming heir to the Charlie Empire. (Well, one man's empire is another man's walk in closet).
3. My last film project is just about ready to go into the final phases of postproduction and then hopefully a sale to a major cable company. Last Girl On Earth has honored me by agreeing to compose the soundtrack for the movie. I can't wait to hear what she comes up with.
4. While I put the finishing touches on RLD I have already began to lay the groundwork for my next film. While it's a bigger project than my last one, I think it will be easier to shoot. After this last movie, I have a whole new respect for people who do large scale war movies. shooting battle scenes is no easy task. give me four guys sitting in a room talking and making jokes any day of the week!!! The good news is the next film will be shot right here in Brooklyn. So I will get to roll out of bed and pretty much be on set in 5 minutes. That should beat the heck out of 16 days in a hotel in Maryland and 30 days away from home.
I am going to try and start writing regularly again. I have been so busy that I haven't really had a chance to be pissed off about what's going on in the world. I think I am ready to start ranting again.
1. There is another youngin' on the way, (she is due in late April) yes it's a girl. We don't like surprises. To quote a very funny man, Paul Reiser "It's one of two things, if it's a third thing, say an Owl, I would like to know, only good can come from knowing."
2. The new child brings with it all kinds of joyous life altering situations. To start with, we never really planned for 2 kids so our lovely Brooklyn home does not have enough rooms to raise the new forthcoming seedling. So, off with roof and a third story will be built. The new floor will house not only my wife and I, but my new spacious office as well. My office in the basement will be home to our soon to be live in nanny/babysitter. Now I am the last person I would ever have thought would have a live in nanny. Unfortunately we have no choice. As soon as my wife goes back to work after the child arrives, I will be (hopefully will be) going into pre-production on my next film. That will not leave a lot of time for diaper changing and drop offs and pick ups to school. So that's where the new nanny comes in. We found a woman who id great, gets a long great with the current rugrat and is completely qualified to mind the forth-coming heir to the Charlie Empire. (Well, one man's empire is another man's walk in closet).
3. My last film project is just about ready to go into the final phases of postproduction and then hopefully a sale to a major cable company. Last Girl On Earth has honored me by agreeing to compose the soundtrack for the movie. I can't wait to hear what she comes up with.
4. While I put the finishing touches on RLD I have already began to lay the groundwork for my next film. While it's a bigger project than my last one, I think it will be easier to shoot. After this last movie, I have a whole new respect for people who do large scale war movies. shooting battle scenes is no easy task. give me four guys sitting in a room talking and making jokes any day of the week!!! The good news is the next film will be shot right here in Brooklyn. So I will get to roll out of bed and pretty much be on set in 5 minutes. That should beat the heck out of 16 days in a hotel in Maryland and 30 days away from home.
I am going to try and start writing regularly again. I have been so busy that I haven't really had a chance to be pissed off about what's going on in the world. I think I am ready to start ranting again.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Rising above their own limitations...
Finally the Democrats have managed not to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. It looks like they will not just own the HoR but the Senate as well. Let's see how long it takes them to screw this up....
Am i cynical? You bet your ass I am.
Am i cynical? You bet your ass I am.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
Tell Me Something I Don't Already Know
Civil Libertarian You scored 83% Personal Liberty and 50% Economic Liberty! |
A civil libertarian believes in little to no government intervention on personal matters and moderate government intervention on economic matters. As the name implies, a Civil Libertarian's main concern is with civil liberties - personal matters. They tend to be strongly opposed to war, police powers, victimless crimes, and foreign intervention. Civil Libertarians may tend to believe in a social safety net, but to a lesser extent then most leftists. Strong Civil Libertarians are somewhat inclined towards supporting capitalism as an economic system. A civil libertarian strongly believes in protecting personal liberty. They strongly support self-ownership and privacy. |
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My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
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| Link: The Politics Test written by brainpolice on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
Friday, August 04, 2006
The Current Middle Ages
One would assume that with the biggest, most important movie of my life rolling camera in exactly 3 weeks from tomorrow I would be hunkered down going over last minute details, chatting and rehearsing with my actors, worrying over budgets and equipment lists.
Well you would be wrong. Everything is in hand (because along with the biggest movie of my life I also have the biggest crew of my life, and they all pretty much kick ass). This has left me with a lot less to do than I normally would have expected.
So...
This afternoon I am off to a place where Kings, Queens, Knights and Squires (of which I am one) roam the world in a semi inebriated stupor for two weeks. A place where close to 2000 long haired hippy types will put on armor and beat the snot out of each other in the hot sun.
Yes this is PENNSIC.
The Ramadan, 12 Days Of Xmas, Kwansa, Sturgis, Mardi Gras, Spring Break and Purim of the SCA.Society for Creative Anachronism
Pennsic is a 2 week war that pretty much attracts between 11,000 to 14,000 people from all over the "Known World" (which means all 19 kingdoms from all over the United States, Canada, Europe & Australia). We recreate the middle ages not the way it was but the way it ought to have been. Very few peasants (unless one chooses to be so). Lots of mirth and merriment and very little plague and pestilence other than Pennsic Plague which is often akin to Montezuma's Revenge.
Anyhow, this is how my friends and I have been spending the first two weeks of Aug for a whole lot of years. This will be the 35th Pennsic.
So while I will have my computer and production book with me, it is far more likely that I will be holding a nice cold tankard of home brewed Mead (I make a mean Mead) then a production schedule for the next 11 days or so.
Let the games begin.
Well you would be wrong. Everything is in hand (because along with the biggest movie of my life I also have the biggest crew of my life, and they all pretty much kick ass). This has left me with a lot less to do than I normally would have expected.
So...
This afternoon I am off to a place where Kings, Queens, Knights and Squires (of which I am one) roam the world in a semi inebriated stupor for two weeks. A place where close to 2000 long haired hippy types will put on armor and beat the snot out of each other in the hot sun.
Yes this is PENNSIC.
The Ramadan, 12 Days Of Xmas, Kwansa, Sturgis, Mardi Gras, Spring Break and Purim of the SCA.
Pennsic is a 2 week war that pretty much attracts between 11,000 to 14,000 people from all over the "Known World" (which means all 19 kingdoms from all over the United States, Canada, Europe & Australia). We recreate the middle ages not the way it was but the way it ought to have been. Very few peasants (unless one chooses to be so). Lots of mirth and merriment and very little plague and pestilence other than Pennsic Plague which is often akin to Montezuma's Revenge.
Anyhow, this is how my friends and I have been spending the first two weeks of Aug for a whole lot of years. This will be the 35th Pennsic.
So while I will have my computer and production book with me, it is far more likely that I will be holding a nice cold tankard of home brewed Mead (I make a mean Mead) then a production schedule for the next 11 days or so.
Let the games begin.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Jews For Cheeses
My buddy just started his first Blog. It's called "Jews For Cheeses" and it's pretty funny. You should check it out.
I really mean it.
YOU SHOULD CHECK IT OUT.
Jews For Cheeses
I really mean it.
YOU SHOULD CHECK IT OUT.
Jews For Cheeses
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Cheese Wheel: Rejected Cartoons
Ok this is so bizarre and funny you really need to watch it. An I mean YOU!!!!!!!
Cheese Wheel: Rejected Cartoons
Cheese Wheel: Rejected Cartoons
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Stuff That Makes Me Laugh
Ok, I know it's sick but I have watched this clip about 50 times and everytime I watch it I laugh my ass off. I know it's childish, but this is freakin' funny.
How honest are you ... really....
I thought this survey was particularly interesting as honesty is something I value most in the people around me.
I guess I am about as honest as you can be without alienating most of the populace around me.
I guess I am about as honest as you can be without alienating most of the populace around me.
| You Are 80% Brutally Honest |
 Most of the time, you tell it like it is. Even if it's hard for people to hear. Sometimes you hold back though, because you never want your honesty to be hurtful. |
Monday, July 24, 2006
Production Update
So it's been a while but we are now T minus 4 weeks in counting before we begin principal photography on my next feature film. I have been pretty silent about this one for a number of reasons, however as we are almost completely cast and crewed up I think it is safe to talk about this one as there is very little chance of this one falling apart.
As some of you may know and many of you may not know, in my spare time (basically when I am not yelling at some agent or begging for financing) I participate in a couple of hobbies. One in which I put on armor and hit my close friends with a rattan great sword. The other hobby is One where I dress up in Red Pantaloons and a fez and recreate obscure battles from the late part of the 19th Century in the US.
Yes I am a member of the SCA and a Civil War reenactor.
There I have said it.
I am also a student of history and an amateur Civil War Historian. The group I belong to, the "5th NY Volunteer infantry Duryee's Zouaves" was one of the finest regiments that fought in the war. My friend Brian Pohanka who died last year (see blog installment June 18, 2005) finished the regimental history about the 5th a month or so before he passed away. The movie we are about to make is based on his book and with any luck the book will be published at the same time the movie is released.
This is the largest movie I have ever made. Over 70 actors and a crew of close to 40. It's huge. However I have great people working with me and for me and I think we are going to have one hell of a final product when all is said and done,
I am going to try yet a again to keep a production journal and I will post interesting or funny things that happen during the shoot.
Ok, I have procrastinated long enough.... back to work.
As some of you may know and many of you may not know, in my spare time (basically when I am not yelling at some agent or begging for financing) I participate in a couple of hobbies. One in which I put on armor and hit my close friends with a rattan great sword. The other hobby is One where I dress up in Red Pantaloons and a fez and recreate obscure battles from the late part of the 19th Century in the US.
Yes I am a member of the SCA and a Civil War reenactor.
There I have said it.
I am also a student of history and an amateur Civil War Historian. The group I belong to, the "5th NY Volunteer infantry Duryee's Zouaves" was one of the finest regiments that fought in the war. My friend Brian Pohanka who died last year (see blog installment June 18, 2005) finished the regimental history about the 5th a month or so before he passed away. The movie we are about to make is based on his book and with any luck the book will be published at the same time the movie is released.
This is the largest movie I have ever made. Over 70 actors and a crew of close to 40. It's huge. However I have great people working with me and for me and I think we are going to have one hell of a final product when all is said and done,
I am going to try yet a again to keep a production journal and I will post interesting or funny things that happen during the shoot.
Ok, I have procrastinated long enough.... back to work.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Friday, June 30, 2006
Finally, a poll worth taking
This reminded me of that old Saturday Night Live skecth about the Justice League. Margot Kidder was the host that night.
Margot Kidder .... Lois Lane
Dan Aykroyd .... The Flash
John Belushi .... The Incredible Hulk
Jane Curtin .... Lana
Garrett Morris .... Antman
Bill Murray .... Superman
Laraine Newman .... Cookie
Gilda Radner .... Beverly
It was the one of the funniest sketches ever. Complete with Bill Murray showing up half dressed as Clark Kent / Superman and John Belushi taking a massive "Hulkian Dump" in the bathroom and stinking out the joint. But for me the funniest part of the sketch was when Garret Morris who was "Ant Man" was asked what his special power was and he said he could shrink down to the size of an ant and stil have the powers of a mortal man. The rest of the super heros start mocking him, "Hey Hulk, get this, Ant man shrinks down to the size of an ant and has "powers of a mortal man" ... It was very funny.
Anyway, I guess I'm kind of glad that I'm not Ant Man. I already have powers of a mortal man. And who wants to be the size of an ant.
Your results:
You are Iron Man
Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...
Margot Kidder .... Lois Lane
Dan Aykroyd .... The Flash
John Belushi .... The Incredible Hulk
Jane Curtin .... Lana
Garrett Morris .... Antman
Bill Murray .... Superman
Laraine Newman .... Cookie
Gilda Radner .... Beverly
It was the one of the funniest sketches ever. Complete with Bill Murray showing up half dressed as Clark Kent / Superman and John Belushi taking a massive "Hulkian Dump" in the bathroom and stinking out the joint. But for me the funniest part of the sketch was when Garret Morris who was "Ant Man" was asked what his special power was and he said he could shrink down to the size of an ant and stil have the powers of a mortal man. The rest of the super heros start mocking him, "Hey Hulk, get this, Ant man shrinks down to the size of an ant and has "powers of a mortal man" ... It was very funny.
Anyway, I guess I'm kind of glad that I'm not Ant Man. I already have powers of a mortal man. And who wants to be the size of an ant.
Your results:
You are Iron Man
| Inventor. Businessman. Genius. |
Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...
Saturday, June 24, 2006
So Many Pods, not enough Socks Filled With Manure
So, I spent the last two weeks down in Virginia doing various film things (casting, location scouting, crew meetings etc.). For the most part things went very well.
However...
As with all things in this business the pods inevitably raise their leechy pod-like heads. We had roughly 15 or 16 people scheduled to come in to read. There is always an attrition rate at auditions of about 35%, it's to be expected. While it bothers me that with the small amount of jobs out there that pay, actors would try their damnedest to show up to an audition. Maybe it's just me but that shows a real lack of desire. But hey, it's just me.
Anyway...
We had a woman scheduled to come in to read for the only principle female part in the movie. Now keep in mind, she answered OUR ad. We didn''t contact her. She contacted us. When my Production Manager called to give her the details for the auditions, the only contact number we had for this woman was her "Agency". There is a misconception out there amongst less experienced actors (mostly those outside of the NYC / LA area). They think that if they have an "agent" it will make them look more important and we will take them more seriously. That's never the case. For starters we hate dealing with agents. They make it impossible for their clients to work because of unrealistic demands and their blood money (so if it's low budget they don't get their pound of pod flesh). However, it is even worse when the agent is a fly by night no name pod agency that charges the actors money to represent them. These are pods of the lowest order. However the agency we dealt with if you can call it that was even lower. When my Prod. Mgr. called to set up the audition it was like dealing with a half wit. We are pretty sure it was the actresses home number and it was her mom or someone answering the phone. I have never called and agency and had the person answering the phone just say "Hello" without saying the name of the agency. When you call CAA or ICM or William Morris you know it as soon as they pick up the phone. We called this place and the conversation went something like this:
Pod Agency/Mom/Actress: Hello
My Prod. Mgr: Is this _____Talent Agency
Pod Agency/Mom: Uh,,,, Hold on ,,,,
Wait, wait, wait, (translation - 'Hey Mom make believe you're _____ Talent Agency".
MOM: Uh This is _____ Talent agency can I help you?
My Prod. Mgr: Yes, (Actress name here) was supposed to be here two hours ago and we are waiting on her, This is a courtesy call as we are going to pack up and leave.
MOM: Um well she was told to be there between 2- 5pm. It's only 4:00pm
My PRod. Mgr.: Actually no, she was told to be here at 2pm and be prepared to stay for a while probably until 5pm because we were going to mix and match the different roles.
MOM: (uncomfortable silence) Umm, I will call (Actress Name here) and see where she is ....
My PRod. Mgr. : Thanks, please call me back and let me know where she is, I have 5 actors sitting here waiting on her,
Needless to say, we don't hear back from her. So by this point I am fed up with the Podness that is happening here. I call back the Pod Agency.
Pod MOM: Hello
Me: Is this ____ Talent Agency?
Pod Agency/Mom: Uh,,,, Hold on ,,,,
Wait, wait, wait, (translation - 'Hey Mom make believe you're _____ Talent Agency".
MOM: Uh This is _____ Talent agency can I help you?
Me: Yes, I am sitting at an audition waiting for one of your actors to show up. I have 5 actors waiting on her and she was supposed to be here at 2 it is now 4:30. This is no way to do business.
MOM: Well she was told to be there between 2 & 5
Me: (6 hours into auditions and at the end of my tether). BULLSHIT! I know what she was told. She was told the same thing as everyone else who showed up on time, Do you think we made special arrangements for her. NO NO NO NO we didn't. She isn't here and you are full of shit. This is no way to do business and clearly a rinky dinky jerk water agency in the middle of bumfuck Pennsylvania can't even manage to get their "Talent" here on time. I am going to make sure that everyone I know, knows who you are and will never hire another client of yours again.
Now while I am spouting all of this and more, she is trying to talk over me. It was hysterical. The more she tried to bullshit me I just kept talking over her. I was having a good time and letting go of some well earned stress, I hung up on her. Of course the actress never showed up anyway, She called at 5:30pm to apologize. My Prod. Mgr told her she would see if I would allow her to come in the next day for the call backs. I said yes, just so I could get a look at this woman. Wouldn't you know it, she didn't show up on Thursday either,
Woody Allen once quoted WC Fields who said the leaders of the world should gather in a stadium and beat each other up with socks filled with manure. I really wish I had on that day....
However...
As with all things in this business the pods inevitably raise their leechy pod-like heads. We had roughly 15 or 16 people scheduled to come in to read. There is always an attrition rate at auditions of about 35%, it's to be expected. While it bothers me that with the small amount of jobs out there that pay, actors would try their damnedest to show up to an audition. Maybe it's just me but that shows a real lack of desire. But hey, it's just me.
Anyway...
We had a woman scheduled to come in to read for the only principle female part in the movie. Now keep in mind, she answered OUR ad. We didn''t contact her. She contacted us. When my Production Manager called to give her the details for the auditions, the only contact number we had for this woman was her "Agency". There is a misconception out there amongst less experienced actors (mostly those outside of the NYC / LA area). They think that if they have an "agent" it will make them look more important and we will take them more seriously. That's never the case. For starters we hate dealing with agents. They make it impossible for their clients to work because of unrealistic demands and their blood money (so if it's low budget they don't get their pound of pod flesh). However, it is even worse when the agent is a fly by night no name pod agency that charges the actors money to represent them. These are pods of the lowest order. However the agency we dealt with if you can call it that was even lower. When my Prod. Mgr. called to set up the audition it was like dealing with a half wit. We are pretty sure it was the actresses home number and it was her mom or someone answering the phone. I have never called and agency and had the person answering the phone just say "Hello" without saying the name of the agency. When you call CAA or ICM or William Morris you know it as soon as they pick up the phone. We called this place and the conversation went something like this:
Pod Agency/Mom/Actress: Hello
My Prod. Mgr: Is this _____Talent Agency
Pod Agency/Mom: Uh,,,, Hold on ,,,,
Wait, wait, wait, (translation - 'Hey Mom make believe you're _____ Talent Agency".
MOM: Uh This is _____ Talent agency can I help you?
My Prod. Mgr: Yes, (Actress name here) was supposed to be here two hours ago and we are waiting on her, This is a courtesy call as we are going to pack up and leave.
MOM: Um well she was told to be there between 2- 5pm. It's only 4:00pm
My PRod. Mgr.: Actually no, she was told to be here at 2pm and be prepared to stay for a while probably until 5pm because we were going to mix and match the different roles.
MOM: (uncomfortable silence) Umm, I will call (Actress Name here) and see where she is ....
My PRod. Mgr. : Thanks, please call me back and let me know where she is, I have 5 actors sitting here waiting on her,
Needless to say, we don't hear back from her. So by this point I am fed up with the Podness that is happening here. I call back the Pod Agency.
Pod MOM: Hello
Me: Is this ____ Talent Agency?
Pod Agency/Mom: Uh,,,, Hold on ,,,,
Wait, wait, wait, (translation - 'Hey Mom make believe you're _____ Talent Agency".
MOM: Uh This is _____ Talent agency can I help you?
Me: Yes, I am sitting at an audition waiting for one of your actors to show up. I have 5 actors waiting on her and she was supposed to be here at 2 it is now 4:30. This is no way to do business.
MOM: Well she was told to be there between 2 & 5
Me: (6 hours into auditions and at the end of my tether). BULLSHIT! I know what she was told. She was told the same thing as everyone else who showed up on time, Do you think we made special arrangements for her. NO NO NO NO we didn't. She isn't here and you are full of shit. This is no way to do business and clearly a rinky dinky jerk water agency in the middle of bumfuck Pennsylvania can't even manage to get their "Talent" here on time. I am going to make sure that everyone I know, knows who you are and will never hire another client of yours again.
Now while I am spouting all of this and more, she is trying to talk over me. It was hysterical. The more she tried to bullshit me I just kept talking over her. I was having a good time and letting go of some well earned stress, I hung up on her. Of course the actress never showed up anyway, She called at 5:30pm to apologize. My Prod. Mgr told her she would see if I would allow her to come in the next day for the call backs. I said yes, just so I could get a look at this woman. Wouldn't you know it, she didn't show up on Thursday either,
Woody Allen once quoted WC Fields who said the leaders of the world should gather in a stadium and beat each other up with socks filled with manure. I really wish I had on that day....
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