I'm famous!

Melissa Etheridge was interviewed in front of my production desk.

First off -- my return to production

You know that feeling of coming home and plopping onto the couch to watch tv after a long day? That was what it felt like to jump back into commercial/music video production. So far so good, LA is picking up from a long and difficult slump and I'm enjoying every moment.

In the few weeks I've spent laughing and hustling at work, I've collected a few moments that I will probably never forget. So meaningful to me that I'll tell you twice, unknowingly. (I do that a lot)

1. Under only the 100+ degree heat of the sun, I manage to get lost in a Cadillac graveyard just outside Devils Punchbowl in the desert. I managed to follow the giant ants to their anthill that happened to be right next to my car. The size of the ant hill was near the size of my tire!

2. SNL alum, Jim Breuer, sang a bar of Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" in my presence with accompanied double fist pumps. Highlight of the night, really! (note: he's extremely cool. i wish he came to my bbqs)

3. I learned how to play the triangle in a "cool Latin way" from DMB's Carter Beauford. (the happiest nicest man alive!) And offered my services if ever they needed another triangle player.

I can only hope that it keeps on going!

Post Christmas Dilemma

So I got what I wanted: a Nerf gun. And now that the damage is done, I guess I'll go back to work.

I hope everyone is surviving their first day back at work. Happy Blue Monday!

An Assistant's Fantasy

This is a picture of Claire and her boss as a bee.

The Birthday Boys

Mike, Jeff and Chris work with me and are 3/5 of the sketch comedy group,the Birthday Boys. So last night, I went to the Upright Citizens Brigade theater to see what people were talking about. And guess what? They were actually funny.

An interesting fact about the Birthday Boys is that they all live together in one big sized house of brainstorm. This is evident in their sketches through their themes of insecurity, groupthink, and absurdity. Most importantly it shows that they like what they're doing and in result, we like them and their work too.

See them every 1st Wednesday of the month at the UCB Theater in Hollywood. Or here: The Birthday Boys

My Pumpkin

Some people haven't grasped the concept. Idiots.

My new office

As some of you already know, I have a new job. And they really are treating me well. I took a few photos.


My own office

Fancy chair

Two monitors like the cool kids have.

Thanks, Tita Mynna

My New Pattern of Bohemia

Like many others, my career has been effected by the weakened economy. Weeks have passed without paychecks and I've been left to devise other ways to sponsor my Cap'n Crunch addiction. This entry contains no sadness because my needs and wants have evolved into a minimum.

One new venture is freelance writing. A certain publication, whose validity I still question, approached me and asked if I could write a 500 word article for the entertainment section. "Sure" I respond. My skepticism is muted as a direct result of my hunger. For a writing career or for food? At this stage in my development, the definitions have blurred. The deadline was met on account of having nothing to lose.

Another has been painting. Eva, one of my biggest art cheerleaders, told me about the Gallery at the End of the World. She had a flyer that encouraged emerging artists (that's me!) to display art and hang out with the local art hippies alike. The gallery was a garden space that was decorated with rusty knicknacks and a disco ball. Vines shaded the bar and stage for inspired performers. This is how my Sunday afternoon was spent: Hung up some art. Had drinks with my stylish friends (who looked like fishes out of water) with slimly populated Altadena as the backdrop. Guess what? I even sold some stuff!

Eva asked me, "Aren't you glad that you're not working?" My immediate answer was "no, I hate it." This is evident in the fact that I spend near eight hours a day choosing the sexiest Helvetica resume font and politely e-mailing studios without even a piano break. But at least after the last few weeks, I can define "work" not only by my production jobs, but also by the things I love to do.

FIRE on SET and our hero, Intern Luis

We were all going about our usual duties on set: shooting for the Urgency, watching YouTube vids, eating snacks. Rihanna and Chris Brown were socializing. Everything seemed to be going well...

Little did we know that disaster struck in the courtyard where lunch had been! As Luis, our intern, was hauling the trash when his can became a ball of fire! (The caterer forgot that lit candles do not go into the trash. He apologized later.) Over the walkie talkie, he Urgently called for help, but they were to no avail! He wrestled the flames alone in the midst of terror! He bravely found the fire extinguisher and calmed the blaze.

Our new intern/firefighter/hero, Luis. Without him, this video would've never been made...

Earthquake

I've had my share of natural disasters while on the job: diverting traffic due to a massive brush fires in Griffith Park while we shoot on the opposite side, soaking up water in the mobile office due to floods in Portland, gripping to a pop-up tent tightly while a dust storm sweeps through a shoot in the Mojave. The industry is quite relentless when it comes to Mother Nature's will.

Last week, LA was struck by a 5.6 magnitude earthquake. During the earthquake, I was prepping a music video for Natasha Bedingfield, a British pop star who sang the theme song for The Hills and some sort of feminine product.

We were out on a soundstage in Castaic, CA. This town is a truck stop for the most part before truck drivers approach the Grapevine on the I-5. The day was warm and I supervised as the crew began to hang lights and build sets.

When the tremors began, my friend, Deepak, and I suddenly noticed that the lights and sets (about 13 giant flats) begin to sway. We were so mesmerized by the swaying that it took us far too long to realize it was an earthquake. The assistant director made the call to evacuate. While standing outside, the Native American stage manager, Winterhawk, came out smiling. He gently placed his hand on the ground and said "Hmm yeah, about a 5.6. Definitely not a 6 or a 5." (Winterhawk is an amazing character all in all. From his spiritual connection with the Earth to his heavymetal band that toured with Metallica, he has plenty to say. A pleasure to have around.)

After we got back inside, I had to go over emergency procedures with Natasha and her entourage in case there were aftershocks. This was their first earthquake and were a little uneasy. Duck and cover, ladies!