McBride: one down, ? to go

McBride: one down, ? to go

Man, yesterday most definitely made up for the shitty past few days. As a preface: Jennie, our 2nd Assistant Director, left to go back to work on "Arrested Development" and Sean, the Key Production Assistant, quit. Both are fantastic human beings, and neither of them were at work yesterday. I was a little worried.

The work day turned out pretty well. We worked especially slow, even for us. That's really slow for those keeping track at home. Despite (or maybe because of) that, the atmosphere was so much more relaxed than it had been over the days previous to it. I won't bother you with details from the work day because they're actually quite boring. Instead, I'll show you some pictures of the last day before wrap to give you some idea of what happens on a movie set:



Here we have Dave (left), a fellow PA, and Matt, the medic, who got recruited to be an extra as a uniformed cop.


Here's a picture of my lady Angela, from craft service. You're looking at what mostly happens on a movie set: sitting and waiting. This young lady rocks my world. As the Beatsie, Beatsie Boys say: "She's crafty. She's just my type [in a completely platonic way because she's married and not really my type type]."




You might notice the difference between a hot or live set (top) and a dead set. One is bustling; the other is terrifying. That dead set's actually a courtroom, not a haunted movie theater, by the way.


Here's Seth's, another fellow PA (Key PA for the day), back and the 1st Assistant Director, John running the show on the police station set.


Lunch time, baby! From left to right, there's Seth, Dave, and Brooke who was filling in for Sean's absence. As you can tell, the picture is actually two different ones I shoved together.


That's me and Felix, our security man, and Felix's 'stache. He's not as mean as he tries to look. You know the type: big man, big heart...big mustache.


This is what backstage looks like on a movie set.


There's the Man and the other Man. We've got Kevin, the director, on the left. I remind you that this is the guy who directed the fantastic Motel Hell. He's a badass. And on the right we have the man who needs no introduction, Larroquette. Note the hanging out and waiting. Also, for those that are wondering: those bright yellow things at the top of the frame are air conditioning hoses.

As I said before, yesterday more than made up for the shitty days previous to it. I took JL home after work, and with a few words exchanged about contact information and the next movie, he handed me $100 and said I could use that instead of my card to buy my next books. This refers back to a conversation--the first real conversation we had--when I mentioned that I was in trouble because I discovered a used bookstore a few blocks from my apartment that accepted credit card. Let it be known that I most definitely accept gratuity. As if I didn't have a high opinion of the guy already, right?

So after that, I had to take the producion van back to the studio to drop off the keys. All the PA's were still there, of course, and the plan was to go hang out at the wrap party after they all finished. I got a ride with Seth, and we headed over to a house in which Alex, the Key Grip, John, the Set Dresser, and Geraldo, Grip/Camera, all live a few miles from the production studio. In front of the caravan were Seth and I followed by Dave, then Brooke, then Sergio, Transportation.

Brooke ended up getting pulled over. She was released, and we asked her what happened when we got to the house. Apparently she was talking on her cell phone and blowing her nose at the same time. The cop pulled her over because he thought she was drunk. She explained that she was following us, showed him a copy of her license because he real one is currently in Tennessee waiting to be mailed to her here, and the cop let her go. I'm still baffled by that one.

So anyway, we walked into the house. Some highlights from the wrap party:

Our hosts were drunk when we arrived. Alex offered Dave and I a beer, then started to look for them elsewhere while we got a couple from the kitchen. John yelled my name when he saw me, got up close, looked me in the eyes and said, "Let's do a shot." And so we did.

I thought there was something a little weird when we walked into the house and saw a baby grand piano to the left. The house was incredible. It had a huge, landscaped back yard and stairs leading up to an overlook of the Valley. I don't know who's renting Alex, John, and G--three guys around my age--the house, but I'm sure they aren't entirely vacated from the premises.

I had a long conversation with Jen, Art Department, because she's from Chicago, and she and Steph, Guido's friend, have got to be clones of the same person. It's uncanny.

I learned that James, Gaffer (the guy who controls the lighting), is a Pixies fan.

At one point in the night I saw a very drunk John trying to convince a not so drunk Janice, Make-up, to hop in the hot tub in her unmentionables with him. When I looked at the hot tub later, I saw Geraldo, John and another guy in the hot tub in their boxers. John had poured some Mr. Bubbles into the hot tub, and Alex was scooping out the bubbles with a snow shovel. Geraldo told me to stay out of the "hot tub lane" so I wouldn't block anyone from getting in the hot tub. I'll tell ya: no one was shoving me out of the way to hop in with these fellas. Also, I have no idea where Alex got a snow shovel in California.

I got home pleasantly buzzed thanks to Seth and went to bed at 3AM for the first time in a long time since I've been here. I woke up at 10:30 this morning, half my left hand was numb, and I got AIM messages from several people I haven't talked to in a long time. I was also hungover. I'm better now.

D

Material wealth

Material wealth



Here's a picture of everything I bought for myself last week. I got the $100 soundcard, the $10 DVD, and the $70 worth of comics. I really just put this up for myself so I could remind myself why I subject myself to the daily grind. This is sad for two reasons: 1) I'm already part of the daily grind at the green age of 22 and 2) that I thought of the coffee shop in "Friends" when I typed "daily grind". I don't even like that show.

Focus on the picture, Drew. Focus on the picture.

It's all good, though. I'm finished with the first McBride film tomorrow. I look at apartments this weekend. I've got the Cardinals' game this weekend. I'm going to spend too much money this weekend on crap that I don't need (but want). I'll give some happier posts during this time.

Also, I'm working on a TV pilot for a contest from Bravo Channel. Unfortunately it's got to be postmarked by September 18, and I haven't even started it yet. I guess that's what this week off is going to be for (in addition to looking for a place, going to a ball game, and buying crap).

D

Shouldn't have jinxed it

Shouldn't have jinxed it

As predicted, my day sucked pretty bad today. I don't want to talk about it because there aren't even any good stories. I'll be glad when I finish up this week.

D

My lucky day

My lucky day

I got to work after a bunch of shit hit the fan, and was able to remain uninvolved in it.

Angela, who runs craft service, got a big variety bag of candy that had a lot of big Tootsie Rolls that she knows I love.

I might have found a person to go to the baseball game with on Saturday, depending on what time she finishes work that day.

I got called "the coolest" today by Christy, the assistant props girl, and when I asked what I did to deserve the compliment, she just said that she thought I was fabulous. Surely I blushed. She also told me about a pilot-writing contest for Bravo, in which I think I might participate.

Juliet, a hair/make-up girl, has nicknamed me Cupid because of my voluptous lips. I don't know what Eros and my lips have to do with one another, but I'll take the compliment nonetheless.

The day flew by.

I know tomorrow isn't going to be like this, so I'm trying to stretch this streak for as long as I can. I realize that trying to intentionally stretch luck kind of goes against the very meaning of the word, so when I say I'm trying to stretch it I'm actually just sitting here. We'll see what tomorrow brings, though.

D

{UPDATE: I should mention that Grant Morrison, famous comic writer extraordinaire, has a new mini-series coming out called WE3 and it looks awesome. Check it out for yourself.)

Rubbin' them 'bows

Rubbin' them 'bows

Well, I'm starting to be social here...finally. Last night I went to a guy's cousin's place to hang out with Peter--potential roommate--and some of his friends. It's was pretty fun. We hung out pool side, drank some beers, and shot a BB pistol at some empty beer cans against the mountainous backdrop of The Hills. The conversation revolved mostly around T&A because there was a porn house next door. My suggestion was the "honesty is the best policy" route and just knocking on the door wanting to look at naked ladies. It was ruled out for not being elaborate enough. We ended up back at Peter's current place watching some projects he did for his USC classes and some footage some of the other guys had shot earlier that day and earlier last week. It was okay, but these guys were guy guys. Now, I like the ladies as much as the next fella, but it kind of bores me when 75% of the conversation revolves around figuring out how to get some action. Whatever. It was good to get out of the apartment to hang out with some other human beings.

I spent most of today reading comics. Namely 100 Bullets, 30 Days of Nights, and Dark Days. 100 Bullets is decent, but I'll be glad when the main plotline starts kicking in in earnest. I only got to issue #19 because that's pretty much all I have.

For those that don't know, 30 Days of Night and Dark Days are vampire yarns that start in Barrow, Alaska in 30 Days and move to LA in Dark Days. I think my only complaint about 30 Days is that it wasn't nearly long enough. It takes the snowy/geographical isolation of The Thing and mixes it with the "holed up in a house" element of Night of the Living Dead. With such a structure, you really have to have time to a) get to know the characters and b) stew. I don't think 30 Days took the time to do either.

Dark Days, on the other hand, takes its time more and is a pretty damn decent sequel to 30 Days. In fact, I enjoyed it more, for what that's worth.

After that I went to what was supposed to be a poker game at my co-worker's place. I was the only one to show up, and only one other person called to say she couldn't make it. I felt bad for my co-worker, but we had a good time hanging out and watching TV (mostly "American Choppers"). Despite doing laundry and buying groceries today, I felt really lazy. Oh well, I guess that's what happens when you work 14 hour days.

I'm almost looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. Scary.

D

Comic Day!

Comic Day!

I woke up this morning, had a couple of peanut butter & jelly sandwiches (to which I've now aquired a serious addiction) and sat in front of my computer reading the first few issues of 100 Bullets, a comic by a guy named Brian Azzarello. This and reading Kate's post about her nocturnal comic reading on the job gave me a mission to go and find some comic shops to hang out in for the day. I settled on both an offshoot and the main store of the self-proclaimed "World's Greatest Comics Book Store... and More!", Golden Apple Comics. I know. The name is very Illuminati, but that's part of the coolness of the place.

At one location--the offshoot--I picked up volumes one & two of Alan Moore's Tom Strong. It was located at the back of a Rhino Records shop and obviously didn't have a great selection. So: I made my way across town to the big poppa main store. I hung out there for a while (mostly looking for TPBs of Warren Ellis' Strange Killings), but I walked out happy with 30 Days of Night and its sequel Dark Days.

So now I'm back home reading my remaining issues of 100 Bullets, preparing to call three more apartment places, and thinking of having another PB & J sandwich. I think I'm going to make Sunday my official comic day. I honestly cannot think of anything better to do on my lazy Sunday afternoons than buying new comics, having lunch out, and going to some air conditioned environment to read my new purchases.

D

Listening to:

Beastie Boys, Paul's Boutique

Interpol, Turn on the Bright Lights

Faithless, "Mass Destruction (P*Nut & Sister Bliss Mix)"
I know. The name of the group is ridiculous, but Indie 103.1 has been playing this song for the past few weeks. It's so damn catchy. It's like a fast tempo'd, electronic/punk song about fear, mis-information, etc. being weapons of mass destruction. It's definitely got a beat you can dance to.