The Thing About Coffee...

I'd like to take a moment to talk about coffee. There will be two sections in this post. The first I'll call coffee for others.

Part One: COFFEE FOR OTHERS-

The film industry runs on coffee. And lots of it. Everyday. Film people are constantly going, and sometimes need the added boost of caffeine. Sometimes they also need the added boost of cocaine... but that's a topic for another day. I'm here to talk about coffee. Nature's goodness in a cup.

Naturally, as an intern, you will get coffee. When I came to RKO, I was told that I'd rarely have to do coffee runs. That most of the executives get their own coffee. Cool. You always here about interns griping about getting coffee. It's not what they want to be doing. They want to be making movies (little do they realize that they are making movies). But here's the thing about coffee: It's your place to shine. I'm sure you're brilliant, I'm sure I'm brilliant - but there will always be someone more brilliant than you, more creative than you - especially when you're just starting out in the industry. I'm green. I'm still learning. But I can do a hell of a Starbucks run.
1) Be in a good mood, hell be CHIPPER, about getting them their fucking coffee.
2) Memorize orders.
3) Deliver each coffee individually.

Executives seem to never want a cup of coffee. They want a double-tall semi-dry cappuccino with chocolate powder on top and two sugars. They want a venti non-fat steamer with a half pump vanilla. They want a grande skinny vanilla latte.

Memorize it. A producer in my office always gets the same thing (I'll give you a clue- it's one of the orders up there) and I impressed her - not with my coverage, not with my insight on a script, not with my ability to place calls. But with my ability to get her coffee right. First I remembered that she wanted chocolate on top. Then gradually the entire order. She told me to get her personal email from her later. Because my good mood and attention to detail was why she was going to hire me (granted, she says these things jokingly- but I know that when it comes time for me to get a job, if she's got a job opening - she'll hire me)

Funny that the thing that most interns hate doing, complain about doing - is going to be the thing that gets me a job.



Part Two: COFFEE FOR YOURSELF-

Oh goodness. I love coffee. It's so much more than energy in a cup for me. I got myself a coffee maker and I rarely use it. But there's something about getting coffee somewhere. I don't know what it is. Sure it's more expensive but it tastes so much better when you're not making it yourself. There's something therapeutic about sitting in a Starbucks, a Coffee Bean, a wherever with your cup of coffee. Therapeutic becomes ritual.

I grew up on coffee, I have a love of Costa Rican coffee. It's in my blood. I, unlike the afore mentioned executives like my coffee simple. I like a cup of coffee. That's all. Call me crazy, but I like my coffee to taste like...well... coffee.

When someone offers to get you coffee (a lowly intern perhaps) beat them to the punch about paying for it. They don't have the money to buy you coffee, especially when you're getting it all the time. And it's hard to ask an executive, someone you're trying to impress, for money (let alone a job). So when someone is getting coffee for yourself, offer them money to pay for it before they ask. And if you're going to give them a complicated order. Thank them. If you're going to give them a simple order. Thank them.

Or offer to buy them a cup.

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday

And by Ruby Tuesday I mean The Daily Grill.

V Hudge loves The Daily Grill.... and sensible shoes, it looks like.

After a year+ working at the Grill in Irvine I have officially hung up my apron. When I couldn't find a job anywhere in Orange I ventured outside my comfort zone and into the restaurant business.

Started as a host, and let me say no one in the restaurant (spell check keeps fixing how I spell restaurant. I still can't spell that word to save my life) looked as good in a suit as I did. I rocked that host stand.

Things I learned as a host:
Hosts work fucking hard. They're more than just skinny blonde bitches in tight clothes. Aside from being the face of the restaurant, we're the manager's right hand. That being said- once you are seated do NOT complain to me. Do NOT yell at the host when something goes wrong. Once your ass is in a a chair, I am not the man to see. Just because I'm wearing a suit and assist the manager does not make me a manager. I don't get paid enough to listen to you yell.

Also dabbled in Take-out:

Don't be a bumbling idiot on the phone.

Don't make the poor person working the phones read you the entire menu, they have more things to do than that.

TIP god damn it. You think they're doing this because they like it? They do everything. They take your order, input it, make sure it's right. Check you out. They're just like your waiter. TIP.

Finally worked up to server:

Things I learned as server. I shouldn't serve. I don't like it. Unfortunately the money was too good. Be nice to your waiter. They do a lot. It's not their fault if the kitchen fucks up. Tip them too. Tip them well. They deserve it.

Do NOT give them fake 100s because then they become VERY unhappy.

Recommendations:

Cobb Club Sandwich

Steak Salad

Chicken Piccata

Banana Cream Pie

But alas I digress. I just couldn't stay locked in Orange County any more. So now begins the temp. job hunt in LA. Wish me luck.

P.S. Shout out to Katie, my server counterpart who kept me sane. I owe her a drink.

A Weekend in LA [with an under-ager]

So, this past weekend (yes, I realize it's Friday already) I somehow rolled the lucky dice. An entire weekend off of work AND Denny was in town.

Friday: Errands, and lots of them. RKO let me have the afternoon off because they've been working me like a slave.

Then I went to the LACMA with Nora and Matty. Got to see some Warhol and Lichtenstein, so I was happy. The rest wasn't as good as I'd hoped- but it was nice.

Then, picked up Denny at union station. We got beer at Ralph's and chilled in (since under agers are NOT allowed to drink in fun public places, like bars.) Watched The Savages, which I recommend, if only to see Laura Linney say "Big. Red. Pillow." and see Philip Bosco smear shit on the wall.

Saturday: Met my parents for breakfast. They love Denny and would absolutely drive to LA to see him. Oh yeah, I'm here too. Where did we go? Where do you think... Griddle Cafe for giant ass pancakes. I'll never know another breakfast. Then we went to a Verizon store where my dad proceeded to yell at the employees for a good thirty minutes, but all ended well. I got my new baby. I'm like a grown up or something. Then we ventured over to Santa Monica. I hadn't been to the beach all summer. Changed that! It was fantastic. Santa Monica beach was followed by Santa Monica promenade. Good food. Spent too much money on clothes and food and movies. saw Away We Go again. Another recommendation, if only to see an uncomfortable oral sex scene and Allison Janney act crazy [crazier?] Night ends with a wandering up and down Hollywood Blvd. We got invited into a limo. We passed.

Sunday: Lacei joined us! We walked around the Farmer's Market and Hollywood Blvd. Ate amazing salads at Tender Greens, Stared at graffiti [art?] and went to the Grammy Museum.

It was a packed weekend, but definitely a break I needed.

Interning

Who ever developed the concept of the 'internship' was a genius. Think about it. Eager, young, fresh faced kids who want to make something of themselves. They'll (or really, I should say 'We'll') do anything you ask. Pot of coffee? Done. Bind a script? Done. Answer the phone? Paint the office? Drive to Glendale? Done. Done. Done.

Help you sell your apartment? Find you movers? Suck your *%$#. Done. Done. WAIT A MINUTE.

Interning is an interesting experience, to say the least. I've lucked out. RKO is one of the best places for me to end up. I haven't had to paint any offices, make any coffee or suck any *%$#. (I'll stop now, I promise)

Upon coming to RKO I was told that I shouldn't expect to do too much creatively, after all- there are people that are paid to do that. I was told that I shouldn't come in expecting to 'you know, produce a movie' or anything. Then why, please answer me, was I called Marcus the Producer the other day? It's a title I wouldn't mind.

In the short month I've been there (5 days a week, 9-6... or 6:30... or 7... or today, 8.) I've gotten to do more things for this company than most get to do in their first years working.

I am essentially an assistant to the business and legal affairs executive. I've created a locations menu, twitter account (1,000 followers today!) and DP, Actor, Line Producer and Production Designer lists for Lady Scarface and I've gotten the chance to voice my opinion about a countless number of projects.

Don't get me wrong. I still occasionally get coffee, make copies and the likes - but for the most part I'd like to consider myself a few steps ahead in this game.

My boss jokingly mentioned not going back to school and staying at RKO. How fitting, that my love of old Hollywood would find me potentially starting my career with the company that started film careers.

RKO pictures, please hire me.

Pancake Post

My life has been monopolized by the movie making industry lately, (a blog on RKO will come soon) but I was lucky enough to get today off... given the whole "nation's independence thing." At first thought I was going to sleep in and do nothing, but why waste the day?

I've started this day off right, with a trip to the BEST pancake (and waffle, and french toast) restaurant ever: The Griddle Cafe.

What makes this cafe so excellent, you ask? Two things.

Size. and Flavors.

Size doesn't matter, you say? Nonsense! When it comes to food, especially breakfast, I want as much as I can get my grubby little hands on. The size of these pancakes is amazing. They're bigger than the plate. They're bigger than my head. I dare you to finish them in one sitting. Hell, I dare you to finish HALF of them in one sitting.

More flavors of pancakes than you ever thought imaginable. Somewhere, a very brilliant young man (or woman) thought, "why limit ourselves to plain pancakes? or just chocolate chip, or just blueberry. "

And thus, this pancake menu was born.

Some favorites:

Banana Nana - Brown Sugar Baked Bananas in Buttermilk Batter (Delicious!)

Hear Me Roar - Frosted Flakes and Strawberry Hotcakes (Breakfast Cereal IN A PANCAKE!)

Teacher's Pet - is filled with Cinnamon and Baked Apples (Today's Treat)

Black Magic - Oreo pancakes

and the best

Eyes Wide Shut - Espresso AND Chocolate Chips AND Powdered Sugar. (TO DIE FOR)

You'll wait for at least 30 minutes no matter what time you get there on a weekend morning, parties of 5 or more - expect to be looking at an hour. And I'd wait everytime.

A quick shout out for Coffee! In addition to delicious griddle items, the coffee at The Griddle Cafe is amazing. I'd never order pancakes without it.

You get your own individual French Press and the coffee is strong, abundant and wonderful.

Griddle Cafe, I'll be back.

None of this 'toe in the water' bullshit.

In the past 5 days I've been drunk 3 of them. This is a tradition that cannot continue, but there was no "getting my feet wet" in terms of the Hollywood social scene. I'd like to think I jumped right in.

With a little help from my friends of course.

Friday: Fiesta Cantina
Drinks: Margaritas (2)
Company: Matty and Ryan



I've never been drunker, and honestly remember very little about the night. Here is what I do remember. It started with Matt and I. We parked where WeHo meets Beverly Hills and trekked our way to the bar (being cool..and broke, we would NEVER pay for parking). Started off the night with a marg. Ordered one, but got two - much to my surprise. Later learned that Margaritas are two for one. I must make a mental note of that. Matt and I chilled outside and at some point I remember telling him that I was in a bubble. A soapy, glossy bubble. Why? I don't know. I was already feeling my tequila.

Met up with Ryan was was celebrating his impending move to San Fransisco. It was good to see him before he left. This is where the night gets fuzzy. Somewhere in this mess I got hit on, and responded with something bitchy before fluttering away. We got pizza, and (after rereading horribly misspelled text messages) I got lost in the bathroom (spelt 'bathromenw'). Next thing I know, we ended up in a different bar and soon were making our way back to Matt's car. I'd like to take this moment to apologize to the house in Beverly Hills that I peed on.

Monday: The Standard on Sunset
Drinks: Birthday Cake Shot (1), Grapefruit Gimlet (1)
Company: Alex and Katy



If you ever want to feel like you're part of the Hollywood scene, I'd swing by the Standard. It's everything you'd imagine an LA club to be. The night began at midnight (Happy 21st Alex!), and after a quest to find quarters to pay for my parking meter in front of the strip club, we entered the lobby to the Standard Hotel. Behind the concierge is a glass tank featuring a living, breathing woman. Reading, sleeping, doing whatever her little heart desires. Can I have that job, please?

The bouncer (a trendy Asian girl) wished Dobbs a happy birthday and we went inside. It took me a minute to adjust my eyes to the lighting. It was darker than I was used to. And purple. So much purple. I definitely tripped over a swinging chair (suspended from the ceiling) on my way in. Way to start the night, right? We get to the bar and proceed to drink a large number of drinks (I think Dobbs had 5 or 6) in a short period of time. One of the most enjoyable parts of the night was fighting Dobbs at the bar. We wouldn't let him pay for any of his drinks. The bartenders were on my side.

There was a hipster hip hop artist and DJ performing and after we felt our buzz, the dance floor was the next logical step. Dobbs, I'm still pissed that you didn't dance with that blond girl. She clearly wanted it. I danced with the hip hop artist, in her stretchy crazy pants.

Lady Katy bought us shots, but the Grapefruit Gimlet was definitely the best drink of the night. Much better than Dobbs's LA Water.

Lady Katy drove us home, and I love her for it.

Note to self: Next time, lose the tie and dress a little more hipster.

Tuesday: The Woods
Drinks: Lemon Drop (1), Mojito (1)
Company: Alex, Nora, Alex R., Justin, Max, Cassie, Adam



The Woods is an incredible bar. 0.3 Miles from my apartment. A 5 minute walk. Happy Hour is from 8pm to 10pm. This spells disaster in my future. the Lemon Drop Shot was the shot of the day and only cost 3 dollars. One night, I'm going to have too many of those and find myself on top of the table singing "Gosh it disturbs me to see you Gaston, looking so down in the dumps" - which I fought the urge to do all night. I blame the antler chandeliers.

The atmosphere was great. There was a decent crowd and Dobbs managed to get moderately drunk (Happy 21st Part Deux). Nora and I even managed to slip him a liquid cocaine shot. He was done in.

I left the bar at about midnight-thirty. Something about having to be up for work the next morning...

I awoke at about 2 to the sound of banging in my apartment. Dobbs had gotten home and was a disasterpiece. He crashed into everything in my apartment, including several things in the bathroom. According to his facebook this morning... it took him 23 minutes to find his pants from last night.

The highlight, however, was a buxom blond that walked by. She was a flash of hair, boobs, ass, and legs. Max and I are convinced that she didn't have a face. Max drew a picture.



All in all, it's been a great couple of days. But now I need to give my liver a break.

I failed again

I'm sorry. Lets try again.

Tell Tale Heart- Part 2

This set was full of all sorts of new experiences and challenges. It's up there on my 'sets I learned the most on' list.

First of all it was a night shoot. That was an entirely new challenge for me. Sleeping all day and working all night was fun, but it definitely took it's toll. There was no way I could sleep all day, which meant I was working on less sleep than if I would have been doing a day shoot. Coffee came to my rescue, but in case you were wondering what a crew's breaking point is on a night shoot: 2:30a.m. They start to go down like flies.

This was also my second set with fake blood, but the first one with fake blood in a) this quantity, and b) that I'd be making and dealing with, exclusively. Laundry Detergent and Food Dye- recipe of champions. It looks real, and dries great.

There was also a lot of pre production planning and building for this set. This was more than simply a 'set dress'' job. There was literal design, which was fun. We (since we couldn't pull up the floorboards in the house we were shooting) needed to devise a way to do the scene where he buries the body under the floorboards. I came up with the idea of shooting it from under the floorboards and building a fake, raised flooring and we ran from there. (It's the giant wooden box in the pictures, Dobbs [our cinematographer] is underneath it). I had no idea it would end up having to be so large. 5 x 5 x 2. It was a heavy beast, but I'm crossing my fingers that the shot is worth it.

I also learned something important about myself. I have a post show cleansing ritual. undoubtedly when I work on a shoot my car, and room become a disaster. It's just low on my concerns when I have so many other things to worry about. When a show is over, it takes me a couple days to come off it, but once I clean out my room and car - I find that I rid myself of the shoot and can get back to normal. It's nice.

This shoot was a lot of fun (a lot of stress, but a lot of fun) and I can't wait to see the footage.

Tell Tale Heart- Part 1

I'll post pictures now. Thoughts and ramblings about the shoot to follow eventually. Too tired for that right now.

Hollywood. Home, Sweet Home.

The Hollywood Lanai, my future home.

This past week my parents and I went out to LA to try and find me an apartment. We succeeded.

After a painful internet search, and driving all over LA - we found the place.

Two blocks from the Kodak theater, train station, two grocery stores, and numerous bars in walking distance. This is gonna be great.

I move in May 1.

Complete search of the area shall commence then.

My floor is open to anyone who wants to crash.

See you in Hollywood.

It was a night out of a movie...

Cameron's 21st Birthday.

Definitely in the Top 5 Nights of My Life.

Eight of us caravan to LA to the house of a friend of Cameron's. Kid lives on the same street as Miley Cyrus and Steve Carell. There were paparazzi waiting outside Miley's and for a minute they thought we were someone. And we were.

We got into a limo outside Jordan's house. Booze was flowing. A bottle of Champagne and a bottle of Vodka later, we are all good and drunk.

We danced all over that limo.

Limo pulls up to the club and in hops Jessie. Jessie was the VIP coordinator of the club we were at. He was waiting for VIP guests in a black limo, and what a coincidence we were in a black limo.

Back in the limo, we take another lap around the block... with Jessie. We drink with him he texts the host at the club. He likes us, and wants to ring in Cameron's birthday right. So he scores us a VIP section. All 'cause he thought we were someone else. That's Hollywood luck if I've ever seen it.

So now 8 very drunk 21+ year olds enter the VIP section of this club.

8 Martinis.

8 Shots (Raspberry Lemon Drops... the shot was literally 3/4 of a scotch glass. More like 3 shots...)

8 more shots (Buttery Nipples...)

More Martinis...

We were a MESS. Dancing all over the place. Had so much fun.

Went to the bathroom, and Jessie rushed up to us.

"No, no, no you guys don't use that bathroom. You use the VIP bathroom. The password is Elizabeth"

Are you kidding me?! A VIP bathroom?

-Other highlights include: The napkins, which read "Do you like me? Check Yes__, No___, Maybe___. My Phone Number is ___________."

-Taking shots with Jessie and our waiter.

-Cameron's tour de puke outside the club.

-Playing on the jungle gym

-Bo, our limo driver (Props to Bo, he took good care of us)

-Inn n Out. So many fries.

The night ended good and proper, with Kristen vomiting on the side of my car. What a night.

It's technically Tuesday...

Forgive me.

Hollywood is so close I can touch it. Two months 'till the move.

Went to a salsa club in Santa Monica this weekend. Got drunk off one margarita (which was delicious). The joys of being a light weight. Tried to salsa dance, failed miserably.

I went with Julie, Kristen, Nora and Alison. All of which who were hit on by numerous latinos, and Lupe (a chubby bald guy with a beard and glasses, who Julie proceeded to call out [ten points for Julie]). It was fun.

"Tell Tale Heart" keeps getting closer and closer to shooting. I should get cracking on buying my stuff. It'll be easier to do once I know actor sizes for costuming, and visit the location which I should be doing tomorrow, er today.

It should look really good, I hope I'm right.

Spring Break is a couple days away, can't wait. I'm planning on locking myself in my room and writing, only coming out to pee and eat.

And meet up with a few friends in LA to discuss, you guessed it, movies.

Other than that, I'm the Daily Grill employee of the month for the month of March (heyo!).

Have a good week.

The Monday Update

I don't have much thats noteworthy to talk about this week.

As far as my Hollywood pursuit goes, I went to a Nickelodeon internship meeting. Thats about all I've got on that front today.

I started working on another screenplay - The Wrong Things to Say to a Cancer Patient - and I'm pretty excited about that. Since my plans to go up north for spring break have been foiled, the new plan is to lock myself in my room and write for a week. I'll let you know how that goes.

On a completely unrelated note: TGIFridays ripped me off this weekend. Happy hour at TGIF is from 10:30 to close. They have 1/2 price appetizers. I went on Saturday, ordered appetizers (we were too late for booze) and they were full price. We ordered off the Happy Hour menu. Nowhere does it say that happy hour is not on Saturday. NOWHERE.

Needless to say, I was not happy about that. Shame on you TGIF, shame on you. (I bet you cared about reading that, huh?)

So it begins...

My life in Orange County is slowly drawing to a close, and the next logical step is LA.

My lease here is up at the end of May, and then I'm off to LA. I began the apartment hunt with Lauren and Janove. We hit up a few places in Los Feliz and North Hollywood. Later that night, Nora and I went on a spontaneous adventure back to LA. We were trying to see Cake Eaters, but missed the movie and ended up eating at Du-Par's (best Raspberry Pie, ever) and driving around La Brea, Hollywood and WeHo looking at apartment buildings. Somewhere in there is probably here I'll end up. I'm only young once, might as well be in as much of a city as my industry will let me. I'm not ready for suburbia. I hope we all end up close together, though.

I'm super excited. Dreading the finances of it all. I made it this far up the mountain, now I'm looking over the edge. Getting ready to jump.

It's been a while, Hollywood

So let's try this again, shall we? This time I promise to write. Check for updates once a week. They'll be here.

I looked back at some of my older blogs (not that old.. but old enough) to see how much my path has been changing.

The Wes Craven short fell through. They just stopped contacting me and the project slowly rolled to a stop. Nothing I could do about that, so I stick my head up and carry on.

I just wrapped shooting on a short, tentatively titled "Cherry Pie" (yes, after the song)- that I wrote and production designed. I had an amazing key crew with Dobbs behind the camera, and Paula directing. The shoot went alarmingly well, and I'm really excited to get the footage back.

The plan: Write a feature version of the short. Take the short to festivals. Get money. Make the feature (if I'm lucky with Dobbs and Paula). Once we have it edited, the festival submissions start. Wish me luck.

Other news: I'm production designing a modern adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe's "Tell Tale Heart" - I'm really excited and if I have my way it's going to look friggin' sweet. That shoots in April, expect updates.

I've applied to about 6 billion internships for the summer, heres hoping one of them sticks.

forgive my absence. I'm back.