Thursday, August 30, 2007

Poker in the mill.

My hope of playing dominoes has been dashed against the chips. There's a new game in town and it's Texas Hold'em. The laborers are into the game big time, they play at break, lunch, and second break. I'm gonna have to go to jail just to get a game. Maybe I can talk one of the guys into playing tomorrow.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Goodbye to Zoey and Santa Clarita

After seven weeks in the continuous heat I am moving back to a movie. For the next three days I will work at a warehouse in Glendale on "Indiana Jones 4". The office is air conditioned and wifi. It's a heavenly change of pace. I can also play dominoes, which I haven't played since I left for "Zoey" weeks ago.

After work today I took a short swim at the Ketch tower on Venice Beach. The water was so nice and it was good to swim outside. My younger son and I usually workout at one of the City pools on the Westside.

Next week I'll be at Downey Studios for "IJ4" for a while.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Another day in Zoey land

The weather is hot again today and the strike is almost through. The Production Manager came by today and told me, Thursday will be the last day.

Tomorrow will be my last day. I'm working for a friend on "Untitled Genre Project" (re: "Indiana Jones 4". Thankfully there's air conditioning. I'll tell you how it goes.

Monday, August 27, 2007

Never say never.

I'm back at Zoey until Wednesday and this time I mean it.

Friday, August 24, 2007

More TV

I don't think this TV show will work out. "Sarah Connor Chronicles" is a first season show on the Sci-Fi channel produced by Warner Bros. The pay is low, we don't get holiday/vacation and they want to pay only $15 per day for my kit. Everyone who's ever seen my cart tells me they've never seen a medic with anything like I have. I told the APOC (Assistant Production Office Coordinator) told me that he can't negotiate any money issues but he said he'd find someone and call me back. I won't do this show for the low rate and cheap kit rental. I will ask for a 10 hour gaurantee instead of 8. Sadly, I make more money on Zoey. I probably won't write until Monday.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

A missed day.

Well, since I didn't write yesterday I'll tell you that there's only one more wake-up for me at "Zoey 101". I can't bare to be here anymore. Next week will be even more like watching paint dry. Oh, by the way, this picture is of our caterer.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Negative Days

Well everyone, in a few more days I'll be retiring as Set Medic for Zoey 101. I hope my next job is in an air conditioned location. Here's to three more wake-ups.

Monday, August 20, 2007

The walls come tumblin' down.

Here is the before pic of a wall. The problem with my camera phone is that you have to guess when to press the trigger. Now I thought I allowed plenty of time to get this wall falling. A dynamic photo of something in motion, since I don't know how to post video yet. I'll read up on that tonight. I'm also posting a shot of the wall on the ground so you get the after shot as well. Four more wake-ups for me at this job. I've decided to seek another position after Friday. No I didn't Lifeguard last weekend but I will this week.

Friday, August 17, 2007

T. G. I. FRIDAY!

Five down and five more to go in hot Santa Clarita. I've worked on enough desert movies to last a lifetime. I don't like hot weather and it makes me cranky, I feel like a baby in need of a nap. I got an email yesterday that Adam Sandler's movie "You Don't Mess With The Zohan" is only on location five days and they're using their rigging medic. On to a better subject, thank goodness tomorrow is Saturday. I have a goal to work two more days at the beach before Sept. 1st. I want to keep my seniority number from dropping too low and the only way to do it is by working as many days as I can. I've got to spray myself down with the hose. As Garrison Keillor says, "Be well, do good work, and keep in touch."

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Worthiness 101

I've noticed something about myself as a job ends, I start to feel inadequate. I know I'll have another job in fact I got two calls for work yesterday but I like to have my own show. I sent out resumes but this is a business of relationships and a Production Manager probably won't start a relationship with you based on a resume. As I stated the other day, my cart is the best kit in the business. I need to figure out a good way to market myself. I'm open to any suggestions you pass along. I'll keep you in the loop on this one. For now, be well and keep in touch.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Hot dry and dull.

The days seem to be longer and hotter as the strike moves along. I'm ready for a vacation and next week I'll take one. The family is going to Yosemite in a few days and I will join them next Wednesday. After 11 years in this business I've learned that taking time off is a good thing. My oft repeated mantra is, "No one ever said on their deathbed, I wish I'd worked another day". My kids will be out of our home in a few years so we want to do these things with them while we can.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Keeping watch

The vigilant medic keeps close watch over those whose life he may be called upon to save. That is blurb to put on a web site. I'd like to make you aware of Pirahna Medic - "Aggressively Caring". This is the way I'll promote myself. I must sign off now because I'm a little tired.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Monday 8/13/07

The strike of the sets begins. Normally laborers will tear down a set but Nickelodeon doesn't have a contract with that union so the job falls to Craft Service. These are the guys who usually make coffee and serve food. They serve the other crafts but this type of labor is not customary for them but that's the great thing about this biz, one day your in a mansion in Beverly Hills and the next day you're sweating you ass off in Santa Clarita. Hollywood is magical.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Friday 8/10/07

This is it, the final day of shooting Zoey. We had lobster and sushi and we got a coffee truck too. The day/night is going to wrap at about 2AM. Of course we're gonna finish off with a high fall and then the stuntman falls down some stairs. This will be the last shot and it will be after the minors wrap at 12:30AM. Next week will be quiet by comparison, the only crews will be const. grip, and electric.

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Shotmaker

One more wake up for the venerable "Zoey 101". Tonight we're shooting a stunt and we have a car on a trailer. Thirs is a big deal for a Nickelodeon program. The creator/producer wants to create an Emmy winning final episode. Tomorrow promises to be really special so tune in.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Two More Wake-ups

Went to the "Rush Hour 3" screening last night with my younger son. We liked the movie, he more than me. There are some funny bits and I always like the outtakes during the credits. I hope the movie does well at the box office because that'll mean "Rush Hour 4" may be a reality. The producer Arthur Sarkissian said as much as he introduced the movie.

Keep a sharp eye out for yours truly. I play an EMT (what a stretch) treating Max Von Sydow after his limo blows up at the French Embassy. You can see the back of my bald head.

When I watch movies, especially those that I've worked on, I can't just watch them anymore. I sit there and scrutinize everything. For example, last Saturday we saw "Knocked Up" and in a scene between Seth Rogan and Katherine Heigl (the two leads) I was distracted by the lack of continuity of the girls hair. In one shot it's behind her ear and when we shoot over her shoulder the ear is covered. Working in the "biz" has ruined me.

Now back to "Zoey", we have only two more wake-ups on production and then I'll have two weeks while the sets are taken apart. I hope the weather is a little cooler over the next two weeks since I probably won't be sitting on an air conditioned stage.

Today will be another 18 hour day I'm sure.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

I like this pillow, it's so retro. I got off last might at 2:30AM and came in at 0600. I'm leaving at 1330 because tonight's the "Rush Hour 3" screening and I wanted to have a day off so to speak. I'll have a review tomorrow.

Monday, August 6, 2007

Four More Wake-ups

There are only a few more wake-ups for production on "Zoey". I started at 6:00AM today and the shooting company has a 1:00PM call time. This means that I'll probably work around 19 hours.

Tomorrow will be a short day because I'm going to the screening for "Rush Hour 3".

I just talked with our DP (director of photography) who said that he worked on another show for Nick that had a huge final episode and they worked 15 hours a day and then a 6th day for 22 hours. That is not encouraging.

I'll keep you posted. I have to get to work with the rest of the crew.

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Balloon Light & Water Buffalo

This is a balloon light and it's used to create a soft moonlit scene. Tonight we are shooting a scene with on of our kids and then a shot with an actor on a Water Buffalo. The actor is James Hong who will soon be seen in "Balls of Fury". He won't be on the Water Buffalo, it will be a double. Mr. Hong will be filmed sitting on a ladder. Tomorrow I'm working the early call so I'll be off by 1:00PM.

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

The Best Medic Cart in Show Biz

This is my Medic cart. The very one which has supported cast and crew for such films as "Rush Hour 3", "Epic Movie", "Posiedon" and others. Now The Cart and I are providing that same level of case for the good folks on "Zoey 101". We are shooting our second might of this ten day two part finale to the show. I have a late call again tomorrow so sleep in everyone.