Goodbye Century City, Hello Santa Monica

The company move is finally upon us - after a good (ish) year in Century City the company is off the a more creative space in Santa Monica. Reasons for the move include, but are not limited to: bad ghosts in the office, the awful corporate atmosphere, new executives and lack of funds. Thats right, Santa Monica will be cheaper than Century City. Naturally, there are pros and cons to both locations. I for one will be glad to get out of this office though - hopefully some big changes will happen in the new building.... However, there are-

Things I'll miss about Century City:

-The proximity to my house. Don't get me wrong, it still takes me 30 minutes to get there during morning rush hour - but hell, it's closer than Santa Monica.

-The Starbucks in the ground level of my building. I don't even need to go anywhere to get my morning coffee! Amazing. They know my order. More amazing (or embarrassing)!

-The way the elevator says "going down" when I return to the lobby. I can't help but laugh... EVERY time.

-The awful fashion sense of people who work in a corporate setting. I'm especially fond of the ones that dress nice, but where tennis shoes.

-The view. I'm on the 21st story and can see out to the ocean. Even in Santa Monica, I'll rarely see the ocean.

-The Century City mall. It's so close! It has awesome food! It's an escape during lunch time, and it has a movie theatre we sometimes go to instead of doing work.

Things I'm looking forward to in Santa Monica:

-Being ocean side. I won't be able to see it, but it'll be there. Maybe somedays, I'll even go down there, just because I'm so close.

- The new building. It's an old abandoned warehouse that we're converting. It's going to be cool (and hopefully) creative. And hopefully I'll finally have a new assistant to help me out!

-The Daily Grill. I've missed it and there is one around the corner from my office. This will end poorly for my wallet, but so well for my stomach.

-TruYogaLA. I'm going to start doing yoga. Mark my words. There is a studio around the corner from the office, and while they don't have early morning classes as I'd hoped- they do have one I can do after work, or at lunch. We'll see how that goes!

-The bus. I'm going to take it. So long to my driving commute, and hello to the bus. Sure it might be sketch (because come on, who rides the bus in LA?) but its going to be an hour where I'm not wanting to kill myself in my car. Its an hour where I can do something else. Its an hour that my car isn't polluting the planet. I'll take the risk.

There is some bad too though, like how I have to contact every single person in contacts to tell them that we've moved. Or have to pack the entire office in boxes. Or how I need to order new stationary, business cards, letterheads, etc. because no one in the office had the foresight to plan ahead. How about how I still don't know the new phone number so I CAN'T do any of those things? Augh! The first few weeks in Santa Monica will be a mess, but then it will hopefully calm down. I'm going to really need that yoga.

Writing is Rewriting

Many of you know about it, but the Internet has not been graced with my tales of rewriting this script for RKO. The title and premise shall at this time remain nameless but let's just say the original was something like this....

and we want to make it more like this...

It was at first an exciting endeavor. I quickly got over that. Shit, rewriting is hard. Like really hard. Luckily, I'm not personally invested in any of the previous material. My own feature, sits untouched after the first draft because of this challenge. It is a challenge all writers face. So I quickly got over my excitement to make a gem and stared at 100 daunting pages of terrible dialogue and action blocks. The only thing this script had was a premise... and even that needed work. How on Earth was I going to do this?

What works for me:

DEADLINE: If I don't have a deadline it will never get done. My boss said "as fast as possible." Those words literally meant nothing to me. It wasn't until I told myself that I needed to be done June 1 that I actually got my ass in gear and started working.

SPACE: If it's my own work, I've got to put it down and separate myself from it for a while. If my story as-is is what's running through my brain, I'll never be able to look at it in a new light.

PLACE: I will never, ever, ever be able to write something in my apartment. I have to go somewhere else, with the simple purpose of writing. Solar de Cahuenga usually serves that purpose, but every now and then I'll change it up.

MUSIC: I currently have a playlist for the project I'm working on. Things that fit thematically, or tonally to whatever it is I'm writing at the time. Things on this project's playlist-

"Before He Cheats" - Carrie Underwood

"Irreplaceable" - Beyonce (spellcheck doesn't recognize her name as a word. How dare they!)

"Love Kills" - Little Boots

COFFEE: Must have it to write. If it's late I'll drink decaf. It's a "setting" thing.

DELETE: I took the original. Read a scene. Deleted it and then rewrote it. It's much easier for me to do it that way then to try and change things in the document. It's slightly more work, but the work feels more like my own AND I'm less likely to let things slide, or just leave certain things that aren't working but I don't know how to get around sitting their on the page.

Now I just need to finish this. I'll be at Solar de Cahuenga tonight. And tomorrow night. And This weekend. And so on and so forth.

See you in the credits.

Rock for Equality

After an exhausting night Saturday, I woke up bright and early (except it wasn't that bright, given our gloomy weather [it was early though: 845!]) and went to the Rock for Equality rally at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. But first - COFFEE!

Here's some pictures of the event:

(Mikey was there!)

(Barbara Boxer was there!)

Here's some facts:

-The federal government requires Americans in same-sex relationships to pay into Social Security like everybody else. These people are then denied key benefits that make up a crucial part of the safety net Americans rely on for their economic well-being in their latter years, or upon becoming disabled. In tough economic times, like those gripping the country today, these benefits are all the more critical.

-The Social Security Administration does not recognize any same-sex relationships, anywhere, including couples in states that afford same-sex couples the right to marry or the right to register as domestic partners.

-In some instances, the Social Security Administration affords certain advantageous benefits to divorced individuals that it does not provide to same-sex couples: even when the same-sex couples are married or registered as domestic partners.

-$ 2,046,872,071 is the current amount of money denied to same-sex couples and the number keeps growing.

Old Hollywood Called, I Answered

As you all know by now [and if you don't, you stumbled upon my blog in a drunken google search and have found yourself to be a loyal reader ever since, and I thank you] I have been working at RKO Pictures for about a month now. My official title is "executive assistant" which is fancy talk for office bitch.

I can't talk about much because I'm bound and gagged by a confidentiality agreement, and anything else I say of a negative nature could result in the loss of my job. So I'll spare you the frustrations, and talk of long hours. I won't talk about the employee who I want to punch in the face. I'll leave out the tid bit about how another assistant should have been hired by now and hasn't. About how I'm working really fucking hard. I'll forget to mention that assistant is also sounding board for yells.

Instead opting to tell you, I love my job. There's lots of times where it may seem like I don't. Like I can't wait to get out, move on. But at the end of the day, I'm doing something that millions can only dream of: I'm getting paid to make movies.

Sure, I only do very minuscule tasks. Sure I'm not in the credits (yet, baby) but my job, at it's very core - is essential to the final product. Believe me, if they didn't need me, I wouldn't be working here. So there you have it- any time you hear me complain. Any time I get home at 9pm after an eleven hour work day - hand me that friendly reminder. It's all I need.

RKO is doing some pretty exciting things right now, like a movie starring ******* ********* about ***** and another, a romantic comedy called *** *** **** ** *****, starring **** *****.

Sorry, that's the confidentiality agreement talking. But trust me, it's not all bad. I know what you're thinking, RKO hasn't made a movie since.... Citizen Kane, It's A Wonderful Life, King Kong (the original! [RKO sold the rights to King Kong to Universal. We didn't play a part in the remake]).

Well we're back. Ready for our second renaissance. Ready to churn out some new classics.

Everyday I'm greeted by two Oscars and a Citizen Kane "Rosebud" Sled. And while I hated the movie, I've got have respect for what it's done. It's kept us around, and it's brought me on board.

So you're wondering what I do? I assist. Plain and simple.

Coffee. Printing. Copies. Staplers. Cleaning. Packing. Organizing. Phone Calls. Emails. Meeting Scheduling. Reading. Watching. Commenting.

Any script in consideration has to go through me first. I'm the second filter (the interns are the first) which is actually pretty cool. Think of the power. Every movie you see, an assistant read that script. Liked it. Passed it on.

I'm in love with storytelling, so that's the best part of my job. It's what makes the yelling worth it.

That and the paycheck.

So thanks RKO, for walking me into the "real world." In due time, I'll walk away. I'll grow older and end up in a dream job.

But I'll owe it to you.

You hear me dream job? You hear me Focus? Paramount Vantage? HBO? Showtime? I'm coming after you next.

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.

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.

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.