Monday morning.... hows it going?

It’s almost SEPTEMBER... and while I’m very excited for the Fall... I’m kind of wondering what happened to Summer.

Fall is awesome. How can you not love September and October? It’s football season.. AND its MLB playoffs season... Nothing like watching late season Pennant races, while SIMULTANEOUSLY following early season NFL action.

The turning of the season and the falling temperatures would also be a nice feature of September and October... but in Southern California.. we don’t get any of that... in fact LAST year... we were getting assaulted by 95 plus degree days up until late October... and since this Summer, So Cal has had a relatively MILD season... I’m guessing Mother Nature is saving a nice little can of Whup Ass just for us.

So as Summer comes to a close... I’m trying to remember what the hell happened... I’ve been so busy the past few months that most of the Summer has buzzed by in the form of a blur.

Most importantly... Summer highlight number 1: I got engaged... actually the Summer highlight of all Summer highlights... but I wont go into another long soliloquiy about that...

I got a team together for another Legal industrial project... which had it’s share of triumphs and tragedies... AND... the crew and I got together and took part in the 2010 48HRFP.

We all got together to attend the official GROUP C screening last week at the Laemmle 4-Plex in Santa Monica. The Wednesday night screening (I believe they hosted screening events for 4 or 5 groups on different nights) showcased 14 films. I would say our film probably landed in 3th or 4th place for the group. Highlights of the evening were a Western genre film that I’d say was the best ACTED, but hard to follow; a ROMANCE genre film that was beautifully shot, but kind of dragged on in the form of a melodramatic montage... it could have been 2 minutes shorter. The hands-down BEST of the night was the film CHICK-FLICK. It was funny, entertaining and well-acted, with a great closing segment with rolling credits that paid homage to the movie THE HANGOVER and it’s now legendary “Photos from the Missing Camera” bit.

Since we had to cut and chop and desecrate our masterpiece to fit contest requirements... I feel like all of our work... from the writing to performance to everything post production was unfairly represented... so we decided to put together a FULL version...or Directors cut... actually I should call the EDITORS CHOICE version... HUGE thanks to Editor Extraordinaire Josh S... got everyone together for a little screening party at the house on Friday night.... food... drink... watched the full version of our film... watched the outtakes and bloopers... again.. THANKS to Josh... then we had an egg toss... a three legged race... and scavenger hunt...

I’m kidding. We didn’t do any of that stuff.... we did have fun watching the film and a few extras. Enjoying a handful of party snacks and a few drinks. My head was pounding the next morning.

Totally unrelated side note....

I got an email this morning from Amazon offering this Pogoplug machine for $50 with free shipping... I know its PINK and its UGLY... but I think I'm going to get it..... main reason I would get this would be to share MOV files with clients and actors who want a copy of their scenes... I BELIEVE I would also be backing up all of my data on an external server... which is always a good thing... AND... I have a LACIE eSATA hard drive that shut down on me about a year ago... and I’m hoping I can fin a way to use this Pogoplug machine to recover that data... fingers crossed...

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10402015-1.html


Ok... gotta go... Ive got PLENTY to do today.... a handful of errands and tasks to complete before my IZZE conference call...

Last 30 days of beverage season.. by the way... my 2010 contract concludes at the end of September.

Alright Y’all...

Stay close.

Stay strong.

Stay cool.

WOW... what the hell just happened?

I feel like I just got run over by a BUS.

48 HRFP kicked my ass all weekend. It was fun but it's going to take me a week to recover.

Friday night we met up and put our heads together to come up with a story. That meeting had a few shining moments and quite a few OBNOXIOUS moments. I sat down in front of my laptop around midnight and tried to bang out a script. I shut it down at 4:15AM and went to sleep for 3 hours.

We shot all day Saturday... from 8AM to 2AM.. when we finally wrapped Saturday night... more like EARLY Sunday morning (1:45AM), I was so tired that my speech was slurred and I was hallucinating. We were ALL pretty EFFIN tired at that point. Director Wes Greeson was so delirious and delusional that he was having long and involved (2-way) conversations with our sound guy's CAT... and during a conversation about what to order for a late dinner, he claimed... and emphatically insisted that he had never heard of a TURKEY BURGER.... he was losing it.

Sunday morning we still had 2 last minute shots to grab before sitting down wth our editor.... who had been working on Saturday's footage through the night.

Late Sunday afternoon, with plenty of time to kill... we finished editing. We put our best foot forward, used all of our best footage to carve out a cohesive story... and ended up with a decent ten-minute film.

Wait....

The maximum length for the 48HRFP is SEVEN minutes.

Aaaaagh! So we started trimming..... then we started cutting... and then we started chopping... I started throwing up.... and I think Wes actually started crying.

We turned in our emaciated masterpiece at 6:43PM PT.

The Indie City Entertainment 2010 LA 48 HR Film Project submission will officially be known as: CATACLYSMO

The Film came out so-so. We had to cut so much out to meet the requirements that pace, performance, rhythm and writing were all compromised to some extent.

But it's done... we officially completed and submitted an entry....

I think the outtakes/deleted scenes/blooper reel will be far more entertaining.... stay tuned.

Tuesday evening... watching BOOK OF ELI on DVD....

So far so good... I really like it... LOVE the way its shot... the way its color corrected... very cool.

(I'm skeptical. I heard the ending sucks and ruins the movie. We'll see)

So... its that time again....

The 48 HOUR FILM PROJECT is back in town... and that is a BADASS BUS that WE are getting ON.

I put together a team in 2008 and INDIE CITY ENTERTAINMENT was representin... we placed and our film THE PLAYING FIELD was selected and screened as part of the final round of entries.....

it is now 2010... and we ae gonna give it a go... again.


TEAM LEADER LOG: Monday, August 02, 2010 8:27 PM >>>


Whats up y'all!

Get ready for a good... old fashioned... 48 HR FAST AND FURIOUS FISH FRY...

I think I just came up with our title.... just kidding.... maybe....

So the big dance kicks off on Friday, August 13th

So for starters... Here is the preliminary plan

Friday at 6... I will be attending the kick off meeting... any and all of you are welcome to attend.... but its not necessary... I will be checking us in as a team, collecting materials, paperwork, etc... and I will also receive our assigned GENRE and our 5 INGREDIENTS... the genre's vary... and are assigned to each team randomly... but EVERYONE gets the same 5 ingredients to work with.... working with assigned ingredients means we will be required to include a mandatory line of dialogue, a character name, a prop... and some other stuff...

here is the info for the Friday Night Kickoff >>>

Date: Friday, August 13th
Time: 6-7pm
Place: Cinespace, 6356 Hollywood Boulevard


Later that night... we will get together and brain storm, collaborate...come up with a concept... characters... and an outline for a story... I'd say we meet at my place around 8?

Once the concept, characters and locations and what not have been established... we can disperse and I will write the final script.

As soon as that is finished...and that is likely to happen either very late or very early in the morning... once that is finished... I will email everyone the script.

THEN... we shoot all day Saturday and Saturday night

Editing starts Saturday night or Sunday morning... we have to have our final product double checked, rendered and turned in by... I think 6 or 7pm on Sunday the 15th.

So FRIDAY is not necessarily MANDATORY... it would be great to have the whole team involved in the conception and creation... but if you absolutely positively CANNOT make it... its ok....

SATURDAY... we DEFINITELY need everyone there on Saturday... all day..

Sunday is a flex day... hoping everyone can kind of be ON CALL.... we SHOULD spend the entire day in POST... but there is always the possibility of needing some Wild Lines...or an insert or something

We will turn in our masterpiece Sunday night by 7:30.

Here is the DROP OFF info >>>

Date: Sunday, August 15th
Time: 6:30-9:00pm (by 7:30pm to be on time!)
Place: Cinespace, 6356 Hollywood Boulevard


THEN... all the films will be screened as part of round one.... films will then be judged and SOME will end being screened AGAIN as part of round 2...

But lets worry about that later... here is the info for the PREMIERE SCREENING

Date: August 24, 25, 26
Time: to be announced
Place: Laemmle Monica 4-Plex, 1332 2nd Street Santa Monica, 90401
Tickets: $11.00 (Purchase them here...)

Our team... INDIE CITY ENTERTAINMENT is part of GROUP C... and our film will be screening on Wed, Aug 25th at 7PM... so mark your calendar... tell your friends

Ok... so I think that's it as far as logistics and important dates and times...

I will be sending out another email tomorrow that will deal with stuff of a more CREATIVE nature... hoping to help everyone get their thinking caps on.... or maybe just take the Thinking caps OFF and let the freaky shit FLY....

LETS DO THIS!!!!


BOOK OF ELI... still watching it.... it's still pretty good... I must say.... Denzel just got shot...


TEAM LEADER LOG: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 11:22 AM >>>

Hey guys...

Here is a little more info from the 48HR FP people.....

(I'm not planning on attending the mixer tonight... so disregard... I mean if you are free and want to swing by... go for it.... I'm not going to be able to make it....)


As we enter our final week of preparations, prepare yourself for a
deluge of crucial information to hit the inbox. We’ll be sending out a
few more emails this week but this one is packed with goodness to read
it carefully and take notes...

And don’t forget, tomorrow night (Tuesday) we are gathering from 7 to
9 at Cinespace for another get together. This isn’t mandatory by any
means - just a way for us to meet up, get familiar with the kick off
and drop off location and perhaps fill any last minute cast or crew
spots.

Feel free to forward the info on to all your team members.

1. 2010 Genres

We've done our customary genre shake-up. Detective/Cop, Holiday Film,
and Superhero have been retired for the year. In their place we've
brought back the popular genres Film Noir, Road Movie, and Silent
Film. And it wouldn't be the 48 Hour Film Project without those three
beloved words: Musical or Western!

Here’s the complete list of genres:
* Buddy Film
* Comedy
* Drama
* Fantasy
* Film de Femme (see below)
* Film Noir
* Horror
* Mockumentary
* Musical or Western
* Road Movie
* Romance
* Sci Fi
* Silent Film
* Thriller/suspense

Film de Femme
Never heard of a Film de Femme? That's because we invented it! This
genre is specifically designed by the 48HFP to encourage strong roles
for females in 48HFP films. A Film de Femme is a film featuring one or
more strong female characters. Romantic comedies or "chick flicks" are
included in this genre, but are only a subset. What's a strong female
character? Think Ellen Page in Juno, Salma Hayek in Frida, Reese
Witherspoon in Election, or Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich. Smart
and complicated. Try to avoid having a woman doing a man's job like a
man would do his job. And contrary to public opinion, strong women
characters are not required to kill someone!

2. 2010 Wild Card Genres
After genres have been selected, filmmakers will be given the option
to trade in their genre for a Wild Card Genre. Once you switch, you
can't switch back! Wild Card Genres will be randomly assigned to each
city. See the list of possible Wild Card genres below.

* Adventure Serial
* Dark Comedy
* Foreign Film
* Heist
* Historical Fiction/Period Piece
* Mystery
* Surprise Ending
* Time Travel Movie or Doppelganger Movie

3. We have increased the camera limit from 2 cameras to 3 cameras.
Here is the pertinent rule. “Rule H: Any type of video or film
camera may be used, however, a maximum of only three cameras may be
used to shoot footage for use in your film. Sound recorders are
allowed in addition to this three camera limit. Cameras used for a
purpose other than recording video footage (for example, as props,
editing decks, sound recorders, or to record solely behind-the-scenes
footage) are allowed in addition to this three camera limit.”

4. While teams are still prohibited form using stock footage as part
of their films, we have relaxed the rule regarding 3rd party special
effects programs. See Filmmaking Rule D and the FAQ for more info.
If you have further questions, please email info@48hourfilm.com.

5. We’re happy to report that once again the 48HFP is partnering with
the Screen Actors Guild to allow SAG members to participate in 48HFP
films. If you are thinking about using a SAG actor, here’s what you
should keep in mind:

* You must complete the SAG Short Film Agreement as modified by the
48HFP Rider (2 copies - both with original signatures)

* You must have your SAG actors complete the SAG Employment Agreement
as modified by the Rider

* You must complete the SAG Internet Use Rider for each SAG actor, if
you would like to put your film on your personal website for resume
purposes only. (Other internet uses will still require permission from
SAG.)

* You will have more limited distribution options. For any but the
most basic uses, you will need to contact SAG to secure additional
rights.

Go to http://www.48hourfilm.com/filmmakers/sag.php for more information.

6. As a reminder, each team must deliver a Team Leader’s Agreement
signed by the team leader to the Kickoff Event. The team leader
doesn’t need to be at the Kickoff, but his or her signature does! The
Team Leader’s Agreement is at:

http://www.48hourfilm.com/filmmakers/documents.php



TEAM LEADER LOG: Wednesday August 11, 2010 7:45 AM >>>

HEY.... Yes... I'm excited too... we are all excited....

For those of you who can't be there for brainstorming.... it would be great to have you... but you go ahead and do what you gotta do.

we will come up with an amazing story and count you in for sure as we are developing the script and coming up with characters...

I will call you Friday night to update you... clue you in to the concept and storyline.... and I will send you a script as soon as its ready... late Friday... or really... reeeelly early Saturday morning...

And... any PROPS that you might have laying around... anything you can add to the mix... anything.... let me know........

And plan on being ready to start shooting nice and early Saturday morning....

AND... just throwing this out there... if you have any of you have any friends who aren't doing anything Saturday and want to join us and help out in ANY (non acting) capacity... bring them along... we can use all the hands we can get.

Cool?

Also... in the meantime... go to the 48 HR FP site and see if you can watch a few films from previous years... different entries... different markets... see what works and what doesn't... what do you like and dislike....

http://ww2.48.tv/bin/index.cfm

if any interesting ideas pop into your head this week... by all means... shoot me an email... share that shizznit

keep in mind ... we are looking for to tell a story that incorporates multiple characters... as of right now, we have 4-5 men... 2 women... a few interesting, long and steep stairways in the neighborhood... my house... which has a patio and and roof deck... and another rooftop at Hollywood & Vine... which is like a sky scraper rooftop... really cool looking... with girders and metal sheds... as well as a little sexy lounge area....

so that's it for now... talk soon...


SO THIS COMING FRIDAY... I'm ready to whup ass.... the shit is ONNNNN.....

AND... BOOK OF ELI is over... and I liked it... I'm not sure what everyone was talking about... as far as the end... I thought the end was cool.... glad I watched it.

hey guys-

I know everyone is busy and on the move... so I figured I would send everyone a quick email just to address a few things....

There are too many FLIES in this house... I came home yesterday and the screen door was left open on the patio... I'm sure that's great for the pets... but its BAD for the PEOPLE. ALL DOORS must to be kept CLOSED as much as possible... NOT left open..... the flies are annoying and gross... they are flying around me in the kitchen... they are flying around me when I'm watching TV... they are flying around me when I'm trying to have sexy time with my fiancee.

So please... don't leave the doors open.

Speaking of annoying and gross.... I just cleaned a pile of dirty dishes in the sink that don't belong to me.... and I don't mind that so much... I have no problem washing another persons dirty dishes from time to time.... but it gets a little annoying when it becomes a regular thing.....

Dirty Dishes should NOT be left in the sink overnight.... ever.... let alone for 48 hours... especially dishes that were used by an animal and have chunks of dog and/or cat food all over them...

When I come out and make myself breakfast in the morning... it sucks to have to look at and work around a bunch of dirty dishes.... especially dirty dishes that have cat and dog food all over them.... its disgusting, its disrespectful, its lazy and its obnoxious... if you have time to cook... you have time to clean... I'm making dinner 3-4 times a week in that kitchen and how many dirty dishes do I leave in the sink overnight? not one.

AND I swept the downstairs floor for the 2nd time this week... I've been sweeping twice a week for the past MONTH.... your welcome.

The floors upstairs and downstairs need to be swept twice a week... especially the kitchen... again... I come out in the morning and there is food all over the floor... so I start sweeping... and end up sweeping the entire downstairs because there IS SO MUCH CAT AND DOG HAIR everywhere.

PLEASE....

You guys all have to start cleaning up after yourselves on a DAILY BASIS... especially of you own pets... because you are cleaning for 2... or 3... or 4.... We are ALL busy... we ALL have stuff going on.... being busy is no excuse...

There is cat and dog hair everywhere... cat and dog FOOD everywhere... and dirty dishes in kitchen constantly... that's gotta change.

I think all of us are MORE than accommodating when it comes to the pets in the house... I love animals... I really do enjoy those cats... let them run around in my room... pet them... play with them... give them water when they need it.... even FED all 3 cats AND Abby last night.... the cats were acting especially crazy.... they were tearing around the house... fighting and then started jumping up on the counter when I was trying to make dinner... which is TOTALLY unacceptable... so I grabbed some of that canned cat food in the fridge... split it up 3 ways... and put them all out on the patio with the food... and they inhaled it.

Again... I dont mind doing that for the cats when necessary... it would have been nice if SOMEONE had picked up those dirty dishes and washed them.... instead of leaving the out there on the patio all night

Which leads to me another thing....

Just so we are clear... for future reference... if you own an animal in this house... the responsibility is 100% yours. and the last I checked ... i dont own any animals. So in the spirit of positive and harmonious communal living, I'm happy to spend time with the animals, pet them, play with them, give them food and water when necessary....

but when the cat gets out... if its YOUR cat... its YOUR problem.

Karla came home the other night after a long days of work, her hands were full of stuff, and when she opened the door, Romeo bolted out into the night... Kristen, Karla and I walked out there and tried to persuade him to come back in the house... and he was not interested...

Wasn't Karla's fault...

DAMN sure wasn't my fault... Kristen and I had just finished dinner and we were watching movie... enjoying some nice relaxing downtime together...

Did we get to finish our movie... NOOOOO.... we ended up walking around outside... up and down those dark and scary stairs... using my PHONE as a flashlight.... trying to find the CAT... and let me tell you... it's scary up there at night... we definitely heard some big rustling going on up there in darkness...

Romeo eventually returned... and the crisis concluded... hooray.... but I'm telling you right now... I will not do that again.... your cat... your problem... period.

so... in summary... PLEASE do not leave dirty dishes in the sink over night... PLEASE be more thorough in cleaning up after yourself... and PLEASE take responsibility for your pets... I'm not saying you DON'T... but here is plenty of room for improvement... for the sake of the SIX other people that share this house...

I hate to have to spend time writing all this... makes me feel like a nag... but this stuff needs to be addressed...

Thanks.

PS: one other thing... somebody chopped up a buttload of fresh garlic the other night and left it in a container in the fridge that was unable to contain the odor... the ENTIRE fridge smelled like ASS... for 48 hours.... come on... how do you not smell that? How do you not smell that... and realize that YOU did that... that your house mates will probably NOT appreciate it... and you should probably DO something about it? I'm just saying... a better container? throw it in a paper bag? TWO paper bags? Use it the next day and then get rid of it?

Just a few suggestions....

Ok... I'm done for now.

I have this strange need to share music... personally I'm insatiable when it comes to new music... and I can't stand most of the mainstream garbage that's out there.... so I'm on a constant and consistent mission to find new and interesting artists and sounds.... when i FIND stuff... I just want to spread the wealth... spread the news... the happiness.... share my recent discoveries.... I burn little mix tapes onto CD's on a regular basis for Kristen so she can have cool new stuff to listen to when she drives to and from work...

I also like to give each CD a quirky little title... like AMERICAN SINISTER, POP DIGGITY and DAY OF THE DREAMING CAMEL...

So... as a result of all this obsessive behavior... I'm a big fan of PANDORA... created a new playist this morning... gave it a name.... and here it is >>>

SUNSHINE IN A TRASHCAN: "A hefty mix of hipster blues in various hues, toast, jam and country ham."


http://www.pandora.com/?sc=sh224708381122264965

Enjoying a rare Sunday morning Yankees game.... thank you TBS.

Fixing to whip up some of my special recipe CHEESE EGGS for a late brunch... cut up come broccoli, thow it in the pan with a little butter... sautee that for a minute or two... then drop in a few eggs... I dont beat the egs prior to dropping hem in the pan... I just crack the eggs into a bowl... where they sit whole until its go time... theonce the eggs hot the pan...  let them cook a ittle before  start t scramble... you get a nice mix of egg white and yolk on your plate. So while the eggs sit in the pan with the broccoli, I throw a handful of cheddar jack cheese on top... sprinkle in some black pepper and maybe some crushed red pepper... and let the scramble begin! I eat that with some sliced avocado, a little bit of salsa... and I am feeling GOOD.

So on Friday I got tickets for kristen and to go see JONSI in San Diego on October 15th.

My buddy JJ has been RAVING about this show... he's already been a couple of times to see the first leg of this tour., which is a solo tour for JONSI... one of the founding members of SIGUR ROS. The show is coming to LA Oct 17th... but that's a Sunday night... so we decided to get tickets for the Friday night in SD.... give us the option of staying down there for a night... or the weekend.

JONSI has a handful of shows scheduled to make up chapter 2 of a North American tour... so if you are looking for a concert that will blow you away... this might be the one...

get tix at jonsi.com


To quote JJ >>>

"so jonsi of sigur ros is going on tour for his solo album and is absolutely blowing the doors off. this tour looks so insane. i have to see it as many times as possible.... the videos for this production look so great. it is mixing theatre, live action, animation, and a team of experts in theatre/ballet (some from the met in new york) to build this insane set and show. check out the link below and watch some of the videos....  nobody in the rock world is doing anything like this anywhere."

j.j.

http://www.vimeo.com/9646382


Yankees are losing.... down 3-0 in the top of the 9th.... boo.

Got up at 6AM this morning to run the stairs in front of the house with my PHEYONCE.

We've got some SERIOUS stairs in this neighborhood.

I think I've mentioned this already but Kristen and I have moved into a house in the Silver Lake hills. It's kind of a winding story, with more drama than I care to share at this juncture, but my good friend JJ bought this house a coule of months ago. It's a fantastic house, nestled in the hills. JJ is really excited about it and he has big plans to build a pool and a jacuzzi in the back yard. One interesting tidbit of gossip is that this HOUSE... was previously occupied (although not OWNED) by another good friend of ours, Cate. Cate has been known to host the occasional epic party at this house and I have ATTENDED quite a few of these parties myself... and they were certainly epic. Cate and JJ.... were good friends at one point... for years.... but then they had a falling out... and are no longer friends. Somehow, through some act of absurd fate or coincidence, JJ ended up BUYING the very house that Cate has been living in for 3 years.  So while JJ wont be moving in until January... possibly even later.... as he and his wife have yet to even put their super shnazzy loft at Hollywod and Vine on the market.... Cate remains... with plans to move Sept 1... and the rest of us, Kristen and I, Colin, Karla, Adrian and Ciel... are all here indefinitely.

So here we are... living in this house... one big happy....or pleansantly dysfunctional family... with an upper deck, a lower patio and 4 bedrooms... a gorgeous house with an amazing view, LOTS of space... and a handful of animals... 3 cats and 2 little dogs... to be exact.

There is MUNCHIE... Cate's cute mini pomeranian. Abbey is a Yorkie belonging to Adrian and Ciel... the couple upstairs. They also own the three cats... ROMEO, WHITE BOY and JACKIE BROWN.

And WHITE BOY... BTW...  got hold of a sparrow this morning on the upper deck and went tearing through the house with a squealing dying bird in his mouth... creating quite the scene.... Kristen was freaking out... I was chasing White Boy with a broom yeling at him to take that shit back upstairs.... it was CRAZY... feathers everywhere.... you should have seen it 

But wait... let me finish....

"CAN I FINISH? CAN I FINISH??"

Ok, I have to go back to before the squealing sparrow incident...

Kristen has been feeling extra tired lately so we are trying a few different things to see if any little changes to the daily routine, diet and whatever else might help boost her energy levels... so we've got this gigantic staircase that runs from the street below up to our front door... its actually the ONLY way to get from the street to the front door... its 97 steps to be exact..... I would say roughly 500 feet... and quite the workout just getting to and ro the car every day.

So we rolled out of bed... threw on some shoes.... and hit the stairs 3 times. I'm hoping that a quick 15 minute workout first thing in the morning might be good for both of us. I mean we both get in to the gym 3-4 times a week... but maybe hitting those stairs first thing in the morning and having some breakfast together will result in my PHEYONCE feeling more ENERGIZED.

So yes... "THE SQUEALING SPARROW INCIDENT" happened right after that.

And THAT'S RIGHT... I called Kristen my PHEYONCE

When we got engaged... and I was Twittering and texting back and forth with friends and family... many of whom were waitng to hear the big news... and eager for the ball to drop since they were privy to the plan.... once it was all said and done.... the question had been popped... and Kristen would officialy no longer be referred to as my girlfriend... or my GF... she would be referred to as my FIANCEE... or my.... or.... my....

"Hmmm" I wondered. "What cute little interweb acronym does one use to describe a fiancee? FC? F-SAY? FI-ON-CE? The Artist formerly known as MY GF?"

I don't know... that's a tough one.... the only thing I could come up with is not quite an interweb acronym with viral viscosity... just a cute litle celebrity spoof...

She is my PHEYONCE.... and I will be her JAY-C....

Its totally corny... I know.... but I'm gonna go wth it.

More stairs, sparrows and special needs scenarios tomorrow?

It's a date.


"CAN I FINISH? CAN I FINISH? ok, i'm finished"

YO!! What's HAPPENIN?

I'm getting ready to go to an audtion ths morning in Sherman Oaks. My life as an actor is still on defrost. I've had a few auditions... but I have to stress the word FEW. I definitey have work to do.

My Mother said somehting cute to me the other day. We were talking about all this work I've been doing as a producer... I've been working hard and things have ben going really well.... but she told me that I needed to go on more auditions. She said "Don't you give up on that." She is apparently reading Goldie Hawn's biography... which I'm sure is filled with stories of struggle and success in Hollywood. I promised her I wouldn't give up.

What I have to do is devote more time (TIME? who has MORE time?) to gaining some momentum as an actor. I have new pics... I need to choos one, get it printed and introduce that sh%t as the new offcial James Hufman headshot. Then I need to start a new campaign for a new agent. I have one... but she not doing a whole lot... granted it is Summer... and Summer is slow...  we will see what happens in the next few months... I'll let you know.

Yankees are playng well. First place in the AL East. I havent heard a PEEP from any of my college buddies up in Boston... which, during baseball season.. is a good good thing.

Is A-Rod gonna slump and take 30 days to hit # 600? Thats what he did trying to hit 500! THAT felt like yesterday when he was aiming for 500.

I think this whole Lebron James is a joke. I think he just made a huge mistake and when he looks back on his career and his legacy... he is going to say to himself "I played it all wrong."

(Thats actually a quote from FUNNY PEOPLE. Adam Sandlers character says that while reflecting on his life... in the face of his own passing. Good movie)

I had basically lost all interset in the NBA before Lebron James came around. I was so sick of all the obnoxious personalities around the league. I didnt enjoy watching anyone play... becasue they all fristrated and/or annoyed me. Lebron James came around and breathed new life into the league... he was gifted to the point of being blessed... the mark he was making was magical. 

Now he is just another whiney, uber egoccentric professional JOCK... enabled and made rich by We The People... blah blah blah... Lebron James is on his way to becoming a cliche... and I've once again... lost my taste for the NBA.

WHEW... feels good to get that off my chest... havent had the chance to sit down and write much of anything lately. 

Honestly, dealing with the move, shooting my latest video project, the engagement, the blissful aftermath of getting engaged... all of that has left me with very little time for blogging....  I'm kind of struggling right now to get myself organized... our bedroom is still kind of a mess, with boxes stacked in corners and clothes... clean and dirty... and some undecided... laying around on the floor, the bed... the boxes... we tossed out the desser that we were using at the apartment on Hoover Street... so we are in dire need of some sort of clothing storage apparatus. I'm having trouble finding my groove over here as far as getting my work done.... I have writing to do.... and I have my day to day duties as the So Cal Field Force rep for IZZE... I need to get a little work station put together in the bedroom...  just havent had the chance to do that yet.

So I've got my hands full... and I'm not quite feeling grounded the way I think I SHOULD...

BUT... some of that is a GOOD thing. Not feeling grounded beacuse  feel like I'm floating because I just got engaged... that is awesome. There is no shortage of excitement or optimism on that front. I feel as smitten with her as I did during our first few weeks of dating. When she walks in the door I drop everything, wrap my arms around her and squeeze her. I close my eyes, breathe her in and thank God for bringing her into my life.

Interesting how I found myself feeling much more spiritual lately.

We are still discussing dates for the wedding... but its looking like Dccember of 2011. I had initialy thought that we would get married on July 4th 2011. We met Juy 4th 2009. We got engaged July 4th 2010. We get married July 4th 2011. Now, its looking like December migt be best... Number one because Kristen has always wanted a December wedding... Number 2 it gives us all a little more time to plan (My Mother called me in a panic after hearing from my Brother that we were planing a December wedding. She thought we meant THIS December). Plus it will enable us to invite my family out for the weding and hopefully get them to stay for Christmas... that would make everyting perfect for me.

It's also looking like Catalina Island is going to be the spot. Catalina Island is beautiful.... Plus Kristen's parents got married at Catalina Country Club... and MR HARYUNG is very excited about the idea of us gettiing married there. I love the idea idea of helping to lay the groundwork for a family tradition. Maybe our kids would want to get married there as well... you never know... but I think it would be cool to create that option. Plus I dont know how we could NOT get married there and disappoint Kristen's Dad. He REALLY likes the idea. SO... unless we find some amazing deal somewhere else... some offer we cant refuse... I'm pretty sure we will be getting married at Catalina Country Club.

Ok...I gotta bounce ...

 

Breaking News....

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner dies at age 80 following a massive heart attack....

Newt Gingrich says he is considering a Presidential run...

The Mel Gibson rant recordings have been released. Among other things, he threatens ex-girlfriend's life twice.

Lebron James was booed at Carmello Anthony's wedding in New York.

Brad Pitt shaved his beard...

and.... I got engaged.

THAT'S RIGHT....

I proposed to my to sweet, sexy, sassy, smart, super special specimen of a girlfriend last week in Chicago. She said YES... and now we are engaged to be married.... and i couldn't be happier. Happy doesnt even even quite cover what I'm feeling right now...

I feel blessed... I feel LUCKY... I feel strong... I feel so many things....

What I feel more than anything.... I feel SURE.

Kristen and I have been together for a year. In fact we met on July 4th, 2009. I pretty much KNEW immediately.

Two partying groups of friends collided in a crowded bar on The Strand at Hermosa Beach last year. Kristen and I started taking and dancing (could have been more like swaying and stumbling). She convinced me to take my shirt off. The bouncer came over and told me to put it back on. Eventually we decided to break away from the dance floor for a while. We found a table outside on the deck sat down and talked. As soon as I sat down and looked into her eyes.... I was DONE.

Aside from the fact that she was this tall beautiful girl with big, brilliant brown eyes.... she was just so sweet... and modest... and funny.

I just knew... right then and there that she was THE ONE.

Now don't get me wrong.... I wasnt so mystified that I became NAIVE... I, like most people, carry my fair share of cynicism and skepticism... Ive got baggage like everybody else....

As the days and weeks went by and we went on dates, talked on the phone, sent each other text messages... I was definitely fighting off negative thoughts... fears, doubts... the urge to sabotage....

But as the days and weeks went by... the more we got to know each other... the more time spent together... the more I started to believe. Time after time, things would come up that I would see as compelling evidence that this relationship was special.

No red flags... ever... I have never seen any reason to NOT marry this girl. There has NEVER been a moment where I thought this might not work. I fell in love with her a little bit more every day.

So there we were... in Chicago.

I had this vision of proposing on the 4th of July, underneath the fireworks, laying on a blanket with an assortment of fine foods and  wine.

The city of Chicago didnt quite offer me that opportunity.

I mean, seriously, what was I thinking? Did I really believe that we would just skip and stroll down to the waterfront and have the entire place to oursleves? maybe we would just share the windy city skyline with a handful of other canoodling couples...

No... Chicago is a big city.... with MILLIONS of hot sweaty people all marching down to Navy Pier...or Millenium park... on July 4th to see them some fireworks.... DON'T KNOWBODY down there care about  some goofy white boy giving that pretty girl a ring.

I started to realize that we would be sharing the 4th of July fireworks with the sweaty masses.... we , of course, would be sweaty too... and even if I was able to pull of a proposal in public... on the pier... we would still be stuck trudging back to the hotel amidst a sea of celebrators.

So... Plan B.... which wuuuuzzzzzzz...... ?????

I knew I would find the right moment... but I was getting impatient. I had been carrying around that ring for 2 days.... wrapped up in a paper towel... all bunched up in my pocket. I didnt want to leave it in the hotel... and I couldnt keep the ring in its box and carry THAT around in my pocket.... so by July 5th I was GOOD and ready to get rid of that thing... plus I was so nervous that I was going to accidentally yank it out of my pocket and drop it on the street or under a bar somewhere.... UGH... that would have been TRAGIC...

So on July 5th... I had decided that I was going to make it happen.

We headed down to the south loop to have brunch at a place called The Bongo Room, whihc came highly recommended by friends as well as Yelp. We got down there and the damn place was CLOSED... off to a great start . We stumbled upon a place called the ELEVEN CITY DINER... which was on the next corner... and this place was PACKED...but good... we had bloody Mary's and Mimosa's... and I had a hearty breakfast... thought about proposing there.... with a stomach full of sausage and pancakes... I must have have been feeling some sort of food euphoria... glad I had enogh sense to resist and hold out... plus we were sitting at the counter... didnt even have our own booth or table...

The plan for the trest of the day... a little shopping... walk around downtown chicago... and head out to Lincoln Park for some legendary deep dish pizza.

We chose a place called BACINO'S, based on another recommendation from a friend. So I mapped out our trip and saw that there is a park right near the restaurant called OZ PARK. I was like... "That's it. That's the spot." I was putting it ALL on OZ Park.

We got on the GREEN line.... headed out to the ARMITAGE stop in Lincoln park. Aaand... A few stops after getting on the green line.... I looked around an noticed that the neighborhoods were getting worse with every stop... then I realized that we were SUPPOSED to be on the BROWN line to Armitage... Green line dont GO to Lincoln Park. We got off... crossed over and waited on a very sketchy subway stop for the green to take us back DOWNTOWN... where we STARTED... so we could catch the Brown line... and GET TO GODDAMN OZ PARK SO I CAN PROPOSE TO MY FRIGGIN GIRLFRIEND ALREADY!!!! CHRIST!!!

We finally reached the Armitage stop and the sun was setting. I still had to get to this park to even SEE if it was suitable before I propose... and I DAMN sure didnt want to do this in the dark...at some sketchy park. So we kicked it in gear and started speed walking through Lincoln Park.... passing cute little cafe's and shops... passing nice restaurants and bars.

I hear a voice: "UM...HELLO?"

I stopped and looked back at Kristen, who was about 10 feet behind me.

"It would be nice if we could walk together."

I took a breath... gathered my thoughts and slowed it all down. We walked together through Lincoln Park. The sun was setting, but iot was actually really nice out. We turned left on to North Halsted and started walking North, passing more cute cafe's, bars, restaurants and shops.... no need to rush... we had plenty of time.

"OH my God, look at those shoes. Can we go in here for a minute?"

Suddenly side tracked...and we are shopping for shoes... sun is still setting.... Diamond ring pulsating in my pocket... waiting patiently... tapping my right foot feverishly.

I'm muttering "Please dont try anything on. Please don't try anything on." "Done? okay great. I'm starving lets go."

We start up again with the stroll. We take a right onto W Dickens and find the southwest corner of OZ PARK.... and its beautiful.

OZ PARK is spread out and very green... with lots of trees.... people jogging.... dogs playing.

So now it's game on. I had to persuade her to walk through the park without suspicion... find a nice secluded spot... and unveil the magic... that is still carefully wrapped in a wadded up papertowel in my pocket. I took her hand and we strolled through OZ park. My head was on a swivel as I was trying to scope out place for landing.

And there it was....

EMERALD CITY GARDEN... a small secluded section of the park, filled with flowers and... stuff.... a couple of benches.... and a bunny.

"Hey, lets go overe here and check out this garden." I say.
"oh...okay." she says
"It's really nice in here. Hey let's go sit  on that bench over there." I say
"uh...sure" she says.

We sat down on the bench and it was beautiful, the breeze was blowing, dusk was in its prime and flowers and bushes blocked the outside world and created the perfect intimate setting.

I told her that I loved her. I told her that I've loved her since day one and that I wanted to be with her for the rest of my life. I started to tear up.

"wait... oh my God... are you doing what I think you're doing?"

I looked into her eyes with a knowing stare.... and I whipped out that ratty papertowel and raised it up like it was a crown for my queen. I unfdolded it... and unfolded it... pulled away a few frayed pices of napkin.... and lint.... unfolded it some more... and was finally able to dig that ring out there. I took her hand and got down on my knee...

"Will you marry me?"

She wrapped her arms around my head and kneck and squeezed as hard as she could... syaing Yes, Yes, yes over and over and over.

And then I started to get a little light headded. She was really squeezing me hard.

"Does anybody else know about this?"
"I spoke to your Dad and your Mom.... so they know..."

Then she REALLY started squeezing.

"This was all supposed to happen yesterday so I'm sure they are wondering what's going on. My family knows... they were all texting me yesterday asking for updates."
"I can't believe this is happening. Oh My God."

She was struggling to catch her breath and to keep her make up in tact. We wer still planning on going to eat. I was emotional... and HUNGRY.

We sat there and hugged and cried and enjoyed the moment... the breeze... the beautiful park.... it all turned out perfectly. A little bunny kept running in and out of the bushes.

It was magical.... if I dont say so myself.

"is the ring supposed to go on this hand?" She asked.

I looked down and realized that I had slipped the ring onto her RIGHT hand... not the left... I guess I was nervous and got confused between HER left.... and MY left.

"Oh crap...sorry."

We quickly slipped the ring off of one hand and onto the other.

"There.... now it's official."

We finally got to Bacinos... ate some deep dish, drank some beers... we walked back through the park after dinner. I changed my status on Facebook... it was all very romantic.

There you have it... I'm engaged....

And I can't tell you how excited I am to call her my wife....  to be her husband.... and to spend the rest of my life making her smile.


Stay Tuned.....

Well... I survived....

It's Thursday July 1st and after 4 days of "Pack, Lift, Climb Stairs, Repeat,"...

I'm all moved out.. all moved in... and ready as hell to hit Chicago for the first time EVER and eat and drink myself to death....

My place on Hoover street was my first official residence in Los Angeles. I lived there for almost 3 years. I moved to LA in September of 07 and signed a lease at that place in OCTOBER of 07....

Now I live in a treehouse.

Not really... but it kind of feels like a treehouse. It's a house resting up on a ridge in the hills of Silver Lake. There are a bunch of houses up there... all tucked away or nestled in... some big... some small... all interesting in their own quirky way... and all connected by a big steep staircase... the house I just moved into is about 300 feet up that staircase... and that staircase is the one and only way to get to the house.... no driveway... no shortcut... one long steep staircase....

so that's what Ive been doing for the past 5 days... My GF and I have been packing tons of crap up in boxes (when I say crap I say that lovingly), carrying those boxes... OF CRAP... as well as my furniture and God knows what else (its all kind of a blur at this point) to the van..... driving 5 minutes down the road and carrying all that CRAP up 300 feet to my new abode.... pack, lift, climb repeat...

I am friggin exhausted.

On top of all the moving... I've been working of course... I've had my daily responsibilities as an IZZE TASTE AGENT to manage...  and I am in thye middle of shooting another video project...  I got my crew together and shot at a studio in Burbank all day on Saturday....

Then my girlfriend and I climbed stairs carrying armfuls of crap all day Sunday.

That being said... we're done.... the move is complete... I closed the book on my previous place and spent the night in the treehouse for the first time last night.... I was so banged up and weary that I woke up in the middle of the night and had NO IDEA where I was...

Here's the thing... the house is gorgeous.... it has an upper patio and a lower patio... and the view from both is amazing....

Here is another thing... there are FIVE other people living in this house.... so we just packed up tons of crap and climbed hundreds of stairs to join the local artists commune up in the hills...

Its kind of a long story and I dont really have the time right now to accentuate the random and coincidental glory of it all.... but the HOUSE used to be inhabited by a few friends of mine... they epic parties... and it was all good. Then another buddy ended up BUYING that house... but he... and his wife... will not be ready top move in until JANUARY... so he allowed a few of the previous tenants to stay there for a few more months... and offered the opportunity to live in one of the home's huge bedrooms...to me and my GF. We took him up on his offer... which is...of course... temporary.... and now we will be staying in this beautiful hillside home with an amazing view, tons of space and a handful of really cool house mates... for about 6 months.

I will be hiring movers come January.

So that's it for now...

BRING ON CHICAGO... I'll be hanging in home run territory at Wrigley on Saturday, drinking beers at Taste of Chicago 24/7...going to see some cool live performances by bands like THE HEAVY and ROBERT RANDOLPH & The Family band... and I'll be watching fireworks, celebarting independence day and my ONE YEAR anniversary with Kristen... my very SPECIAL LADY FREIND (inside joke) from a cozy little blanket somewhere in Grant Park. 

Happy July 1st....Happy July 2nd, 3rd, 4th 5th and 6th.... and so on....

Happy new chapter in my life.... and here's to new and exciting chapters for everyone..... this round is on me...


Cheers!