It's thursday not friday.

Our crew is into workingout. This is "The Rack" and the one pictured belongs to our Electrical dept. I bought one from our Still Photographer, Robert Zuckerman who co-invented it as I mentioned in an earlier post. I suggested he bring one to set and sell them. He's sold four. To get a better look go to:

www.therackworkout.com

The thing about tomorrow looks like it might not be too long. I can hope. Be well.

A view from the perms.

This is the view from the permanent (perms) catwalk above stage 12 at Culver Studios. I've been collecting recycling for my younger son and today at lunch someone came on stage and emptied the recycling cans. That's like stealing in my book. That's all for now. Be well.

Saturday is for sure

I found out today that we are working Saturday. What a bummer! Although the hours aren't long, I do enjoy my weekends. Our family likes to spend time together and in this business there is precious little time for family.

Our days have been uneventful for which I'm glad. It's fun having a bike to ride around the lot and to and from home. Culver Studios is down the block from a Trader Joe's where I went yesterday to purchase some Emer' gen "C".

The lot is full of productions including a Brad Pitt movie, "State of Play", I know nothing about and "Deal or No Deal" with Howie Mandel and us.

There isn't much else that went on today so goodnight and be well.

My new bike.

Here's my bike that I bought over the weekend. I rode to work today and it took eight minutes to get here. There's a rumor that we may work on Saturday and I joked that we're on our seventh day and already behind schedule. On a completely different subject, I found a cool piece of workout equipment that our Still Photographer co-invented. It's called "The Rack" and it's compact but has a lot of exercises. I'm thinking my sons might like it. More to come.

Monday, monday

Well I had a pleasant surprise this morning as I got out of my car. I saw Vicki, the Key Craft Service from "7th Heaven". She was at the studio to work on "Las Vegas". We had a chance to catch up and since her show doesn't have a caterer, she had lunch with my crew.

Today's work was pretty easy, the animals only worked half the day as did the background. Oh and since the main characters are CG we have readers for the voice parts that are rumored to include; Johnny Depp and Will Ferrell.

I bought a beach cruiser over the weekend to ride around the lot and to and from home. I'll post a picture of it tomorrow.

I'm off to bed. Be well.

The historic Culver Studios.

This is the front of the studio but it was not used in "Gone With The Wind". Because today is Friday, we have our first $5 day. This is a tradition where you write your name on a five dollar bill and put the money, folded into fourths, into a bucket. At the end of the day someone pulls out a five and reads the name and, "Ta Da!" that person wins the pot. I'll report Monday on who wins. Be well.

Crafty Truck

I started work this morning at 0430 so I don't have much to say. More tomorrow.

Show Card

A Show Card is a laminated or not, card that is placed on the dash of a crew member's car. The design comes from the Art Dept. but it is handed out by the Teamsters. The idea of these is that security or the cops on the show know who you are. The cards have been around the business for many decades. Anyone who has a more concrete explanation or timeline drop me a line.

The Benevolent King

Our Boss, Jerry Bruckheimer is sitting in his car outside the stage. I saw him often on "Enemy of the State" and he was very low key them. One must admit that everything the man touches, turns to gold. I want to mention that when I write on the phone mistakes will be made. I will proof read as I go to minimize the typos. You probably can't tell from this photo but there are a lot of lights on this set. Consequently little stage 12 gets very warm. Tomorrow I'll bring my camera and try to get some video for the blog. Bye for today.

Monday September 17 2007

Today is the first day of 60 scheduled days of shooting. "G-Force" is slated to be released in 2010 so we're not in much of a hurry. This is a picture of the color chart that a camera assistant used for a test. I had a good talk with the safety guy from Disney who used to be a Medic until a few months ago. I've noticed that every 1st A. D. has a phrase that he or she uses all the time. On this, Richard says, "Picture is imminent". I've worked with another A. D. who hurries her crew along by saying, "Quick like a bunny". These can seen like nothing the first few times but after a week you want the speaker to suffer a slow painful death.

Pre-Shoot Day for 'G-Force'.

Here's one of the stars of the next Jerry Bruckheimer movie. All I know so far is that the show has lots of animals. Today and tomorrow are Pre-Shoot days involving the pet store set and visual effects plate shots. There are some familiar faces from other shows I've done with the producer and UPM. Some of the crew was on "National Treasure 2". Well, they just called lunch so until tomorrow.

Goodbye Genre

I just wasn't into writing yesterday.

Today is a new day and a chance for a better outcome. I'm done working on "Genre" today for tomorrow I prep my cart for "G - Force". There is a squall of politics on the Medic horizon. It should be known that I was not the first choice to be the Production Medic on the show. My friend was to have the job but he's unexpectedly unable to leave his TV show. I've worked with the UPM and Producer of "G - Force" ("Master And Commander" & "Poseidon") and the UPM asked my friend if I was available and that's how I came to be the Key Production Medic.

Meanwhile the Construction Medic thought he was the heir apparent simply by virtue of starting the show. Sometimes the construction medic rolls over to production but not when the UPM and/or Producer have a relationship with another person.

A few years ago a friend/Production Coordinator recommended me for a mini series. During the interview the UPM asked me why she should hire me for the show. I told her, "Every EMT, LVN, RN, or Paramedic in the Local can do this job but someone you trust recommended me for the job. That is what separates me from all those other people in the union".

What many people fail to realize or refuse to see is that this business is all about relationships. A producer will continue to use the same people because he/she is comfortable with that person. The producer knows what they're going to get with the employee and they don't necessarily want to take a chance on the unknown quantity.

Tomorrow, my sons will give me a hand prepping my cart at stage. I'll let you know what it's like at the new digs. I checked www.mapquest.com for the distance from home to stage and it's just over one mile. I gotta get a bike this weekend.

No Work Weekend

The good news is that I won't be working this weekend. At least I won't work on a movie this weekend. I'm just as happy since production starts on Thursday, the 19th.

I may take the family to the Rose Bowl flee Market on Sunday. If the weather stays cool it'll be a fun place to go and my younger son wants to go to an antique store anyway. The flea market would definitely qualify for that.

I'm a little tired at the moment and this is about all I can concentrate on writing.

Have a great weekend and be well.

Hot off the press.

This just in, there is a movie that I will start very shortly. I will have more information as the days go by.

Downey isn't such a bad place. Although it's a few miles farther from home than the mill in Glendale, the drive home was much faster. The only blip on the drive is the transition from the 105 west to the 405 north, the metered lights are on so it slows traffic a little.

I'm very excited that this upcoming movie is very close to home. It's the same place as "Rush Hour 3". I have to buff out my cart even though it worked on production only a couple of weeks ago.

That's the latest at the moment.

Be well.

Outside Stage 1

Stage 1 at Downey Studios. I was last here for a might shift on "The Island" a few years ago. The place is a former Boeing plant. There are two huge hangers that have been turned into stages. Their website makes the place look like it's almost state-of-the-art but it is just big hulking buildings that are as much a stage as the warehouse "Zoey" used. The weather is more tolerable here. More to follow.

Tuesday with Tony

As you can see, I figured out how to put video on the blog. I shot this with my still camera but it turned out okay. We'll see how it looks with a real video camera.

The day after Labor Day finds me in good spirits. I'm rested and refreshed and ready for the week. It's nice to be in an air conditioned office. This place is cooler than home.

My son and I will go swimming after work today. I only worked out three days last week, one of those was a buoy swim yesterday at 26th street in Manhattan Beach. The water was so warm and it's a lot nicer than Venice, where I swam on another day. Unfortunately the boys don't like to swim at the beach.

I don't know where I'll work the rest of the week but I think it's still busy so there shouldn't be a problem. I still have a goal in my mind to get some days lifeguarding.

Be well.

No video

I have a lot to learn before I can post video. Typical of Tinseltown, too much hype for the product.

Explosive

I want to see how it works to put video on the blog.

This is old footage from last season's "24". This was footage used as an element of another shot. I think the final scene was on this oil rig in the final episode. They film at night or against black because it's easy to place the footage over almost anything else.

I'm working in the "Genre Project" warehouse today and possibly tomorrow so I'll have a one day Labor Day weekend. I'll tell you this is a lot better than the stage in Santa Clarita. I'm online, I brought some movies to watch and I'm writing this.

I hope you have a safe, work free, and enjoyable weekend. Let me know what you think about the video. I want use it more often, maybe shoot some myself once I can get my son's camera.

Be well.