Joy of LOVE: What he wears

Justin has been gone for a month. The return flight has past, and we will not see each other until the boys and I can move out to join him. So, it was nice that I could use him as the person I love today because he left his favorite pants behind. He wore these pants at least three times a week since the day his Sister gave them to him. He always felt trendy and hot in them. As the holes got bigger and bigger the pants were not retired. They were long enough, and skinny enough, and he loved them. While some women would have a problem with being 100 pounds heavier than their husband, I kind of like it especially when he thinks he is dressed in fashion, because he does this funny little strut.

He works hard for us, he sacrifices much for us. He wasn't wearing these jeans all the time because they were his favorite, he was wearing them because they were what he had, and it was lucky they were his favorite. He wasn't necessarily wearing holy jeans because they were his favorite jeans, but because he didn't want to spend the money on himself to buy new jeans.  So, they are reminder to me how lucky I am to love him, and to be loved by him.  

I heart My Husband's Talents

Justin L. Cook Reel from Justin L. Cook on Vimeo.

Thursday is Justin's birthday, so this week of I hearts is dedicated to him.

I am grateful for my husband's talents. He is a creative soul, with plenty of stories locked behind his pacing, we need to motivate him to make his nervous habit typing instead of pacing. He has a wonderful eye for beauty, give him a camera and he can find it. He is wonderful with people, which makes him a good director. And while he doesn't enjoy it, he is pretty good at administration type things.

Have you heard him sing? enough said on that.

He can find something good in just about everything, which makes him kind, forgiving, and generally better than me.

Have you seen him play charades? no, really have you?

He has a talent for being a father. He loves our boys. I love to sit at watch him play with them. Reuben has been on a superhero kick, and Justin is so great about running around with him coming up with new situations.

Have you heard him read?

I'm sure I'm missing talents, because he seems to be an endless well of them. I am so thankful that he has many talents. I spent years trying to hide talents because I felt like people around me thought it made me snooty (which is probably true). But I don't have to hide around Justin because he has just as many (or more) and he likes talented people.

Master of Fine Arts

What can I say? I'm proud of my husband, the Columbia MFA Grad. He earned that diploma and all the rights and privileges that come with it, and yesterday he was granted it. We sat in the rain. We stood in the rain.



Congratulations dear, maybe after you finish your TA responsibilities you can grant us with a statement. What say ye readers? Would you like to know what Justin thinks about being a Master?

Good News!

It is official--Justin is graduating in two weeks! While there wasn't much doubt, there was some doubt. Yesterday Justin had his thesis review, and the faculty filled out the graduation paperwork. Congratulations to him (and us)!

Now, for a job. And a move. (It's always something.)

I know, right?

A bit after I first met Justin, Tammy and I stayed up laughing at the fact that if I married him my name would be Breck Can Cook. But how could I resist such a sweet funny kid based on that fact that my name would sound funny, at least it would be true. I can cook.

He stayed up with Simeon last night so I could sleep.

Congratulations Daddy

Justin finished his first draft of his thesis script! Everyone shout hurray! He is currently shaving, and has promised to carry laundry down and up the stairs. He's not in the clear yet, but might take a break from 12 hour days. The boys are just as excited as I am to have him home just a few extra hours a day.

Dec 17: Do Santa's Work for Him, Open First Present

So, one of my Christmas presents this year was going to see a midnight screening of Avatar, the latest film by James Cameron. I must preface this by saying that I grew up a big fan of James Cameron's movies and the worlds he created. The Abyss was the first film of his that I saw when my brothers rented a VCR and we went movie crazy during Christmas vacation in 1991--I was blown away (other films we watched that I adored were Beetlejuice and The Witches, so you can see my early tastes leaned more towards the other worldly). Cameron is among the directors that I appreciated viscerally even before I began to more deeply understand the art of filmmaking (other directors that had this visceral effect on me though I didn't always know who they were: Wilder, Burton, Hitchcock, Zemeckis, Kubrick...).

A month ago a friend of mine from Columbia bought several tickets to the midnight premiere of Avatar in IMAX 3D and he offered me one of the coveted slots. What an amazingly immersive and unprecedented experience. I thought the story was rather simple, and straightforward, which I am not opposed to, but there definitely wasn't a feeling of an entire mythology welling up beneath the surface as can be found in other epic sci-fi/fantasy films (even those by Cameron). Many of the characters were quite one-dimensional, especially the villains--but in terms of the world, there was nothing one dimensional about it. I admire the efforts that went into shaping the world, the previous films by Cameron that he used as research opportunities to develop technologies that would enhance this experience such as Ghosts of the Abyss and Aliens of the Deep, not to mention the cutting edge technologies paired with engaging stories in his mind-blowing sci-fi/action films of the 80s and early 90s. In short, this isn't an official review, simply my reaction, and love it or hate it, it was like nothing I have ever seen or experienced, and it was incredibly beautiful to behold. I also appreciated that the driving force behind the hero's mission was a combination of unyielding courage, a respect for science, and reverence for a unifying sacred power that was rooted in the transcendent connection with ancestors.

I won't say that it changes movies forever, because that is reducing all films to a single type and style, but it does changes THIS type of movie forever, if those who produce such work have enough money to keep doing it. And they will. Somehow. Don't ask me where all this money comes from, I don't begin to know.

Now, on to the Santa's work part. This is the first time we are really putting on the whole Santa show for Reuben (we did stockings last year, but there wasn't a solid hope of that one thing from Santa or a desire to leave out milk and cookies until now). I find this Santa business challenging and exhilarating all at once. Now that Reuben is old enough we can't just sneak things into the cart with him around--it has to be done completely under the radar. So I trekked up to the new Target at the Gateway Center in the Bronx sans Reuben and Brecken (and the babe of course) after my writing work. Wow--I have forgotten what mega spacious shopping centers with parking garages are like--wait, I have never been to one with a parking garage, except in Brasil. It was a hike and a half just to get to the store within the complex, and once there I spent, get this, three hours finding stuff. Don't get me wrong, it was enjoyable, but my brain turns to mush when confronted with all of these crazy options and imagining all of the cool fun things I could surprise the family with. I also happen to be a big kid when it comes to all this magical holiday stuff (I refused to believe that Santa WASN'T a real live guy until I was 9 years old, and even then it was a sad day for me to hear the truth from my older sister)--so, I did make it out of there after picking out several items, putting them back, picking out more, swapping them out, and on and on. I was proud of my self-control, and even though I went a little crazy with some things (like chocolate), I was quite the wise shopper. When I finally got out of there, though, I dreaded lugging it all back to the 2 train home, and a man stopped me asking if I needed a Taxi. I thought, yeah right, to Upper Upper Westside Manhattan, it'll be like 40 bucks. No--only 12, and he wasn't even a real Yellow Cab guy. "Here comes Santa Clause, Here comes Santa Clause, right down Santa Clause Lane..." (and if a part of you thinks of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation when you hum the tune, we're on the same page)

Film Fest Fun

At long last here is the account of my weekend at the San Diego International Children's Film Festival.

As the plane touched down and I saw the boats in the harbor and the palm trees among the hilly landscape I was slightly reminded of when I touched down at the Guarulhos airport in São Paulo eight years ago. I felt a sudden warmth and excitement and a song from one of my all-time favorite films popped into my head. "By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea, you and me, you and me oh how happy we'll be" Any guesses? Well--it just so happens that it was filmed partially on Coronado Island off thew coast of San Diego. I'll give you one more hint, Billy Wilder directed this unforgettable Marilyn Monroe comedy.

Well, I didn't have time to go see Hotel Coronado or dance along the shores where Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis donned their most brilliant disguises, but I did have a wonderful weekend stay. Just as last year's trek out to Long Beach, NY was my first-ever encounter with the ocean, this was my first-ever encounter with California. I was pleasantly surprised by the comfortable yet sunny temperatures, the open skies despite big city establishments and the freeways as wide as the Nile River.

I stayed with a wonderfully hospitable family, Sam B.'s parents, and they were warm and kind. A nice home away from home. I included a picture of the view from their terrace--talk about temptation to move to SoCal. Who knows, it could happen if I worm my way into some television writer's room out there and settle in a bedroom community outside LA, but first things first.

The festival itself was fun. The New Children's Museum is nestled into the Gaslamp District on West Island Avenue, rather close to the harbor. It has interesting open architecture and is filled with fun places for children to explore. Pas de Deux screened in a studio space (Studio Q to be exact) and it was screened three times. They held a Q&A after two of the screenings and it was really fun when some kids were amazed when they found out the director was present, excited kids can be a real ego booster for an artist. The questions were mostly about how it was cast, where we filmed, how long did it take. I was interested in one response from a set of parents who thought it should be shown in elementary schools and the mother came up afterward and said it had a good message about bullying. I had never thought to promote it as such, but I could see how it would work. It was great to have people see it, most enjoyed it, and I met some other talented filmmakers in the process, two were even from São Paulo.

The Best news of the weekend was when I spoke with the programmer who is also in charge of the LA International Children's film fest. I said, "Is it too late to submit for the LA Fest?" His response: "Oh don't worry about it, we will show your film there in October." So, ladies and gentlemen, watch for more details as my little film makes its way to Hollywood.
(Please forgive the lesser quality photos--I took these with a mini SD video camcorder)

Watch the PAS DE DEUX Trailer

Justin has posted a trailer for Pas De Deux Here.

The film plays the San Diego International Children's Film Festival August 15th and 16th at the New Children's Museum downtown.

Reuben on his Father

I know I could write a lovely post about what a great Father Justin is. But it would sound like bragging, and exaggerated; but it would be completely true. He really is that good of a Father. I figured I would spare you, and just tell him in person instead of on the blog. Besides, you would believe Reuben more than me. So, three year old Reuben thinks this about his Daddy:

A few days ago Reuben was laying on the couch an hour or so after daddy left for work and asked me, "Mom are you sad?"
I said, "Nope."
He said, "I'm sad."
"Why?" I asked.
"I'm just sad because Daddy is gone at work. When Daddy leaves I am sad."

Reuben says the same prayer morning, meals, and night. Dear....Thank thee for the time to spend with daddy. In the name.... We try to interject other things, or a blessing on the food, but he responds by saying, "NO! I don't want that in the prayer."

What makes Daddy happy? Tickles.

What makes Daddy sad? When I hit him.

How old is Daddy? He's three years old.

How tall is Daddy? He's Giant... Why are you little?

What is Daddy's favorite thing to do? Play games with me...called chess.

What is your Daddy's job? He plays games with people.

What does your daddy do at school? If he goes to school he won't come back.

How are you and Daddy the same? He's a boy, and I'm a boy.

How are you and Daddy different? When we are lost... when you and me are lost. That's something.

How do you know that Daddy loves you? Playing with eyes.

(You can tell I lost him. He ran off to play parachute guy with Daddy.)

Congratulations Justin!

Justin's short film, Pas De Deux, was accepted into the 6th Annual San Diego International Children's Film Festival!

I can't even tell you how proud I am of my husband. I'm on IMDB, so I didn't ever think that it was much of a career marker. Granted, I am on there for craft services and he is on there as a Director, Writer, Production Manager, and Actor. But this, this is a huge step in the right direction.

So, send your congratulations in check form, because this film festival doesn't pay for the film maker's plane tickets. Just kidding--kind of.

It will screen Aug. 15-16 (the exact time will be announced July 1) at the New Children's Museum. The film festival's website is: www.sdchildrensfilm.org

Congratulations Justin! This almost makes up for the few dollars you went over budget. It completely makes up for the late nights organizing the craft services because you didn't have enough help to do it on set. It makes up for the month of rehearsals, and the week of shooting. It is more evidence that I am always right, because when you came home sad from your crit session last fall I told you that based on the things they said, they weren't the audience you made the film for. I hope it puts a positive spin on the drama of production. Here's hoping it gets accepted to more festivals, and that your future jobs will be so impressed with your resume.

Justin's Freelance

You should ask Justin about the freelance job he's been doing this week.

Staycation Kick-Off

Welcome to Justin's Spring Break. Oh, and do we need one! Saturday he had an Elder's Quorum Presidency meeting, and when he came home I told him I wanted a hamburger, so he said, "let's go."

We went to the Shake Shack on 77th and Columbus. We had to wait in line for a while, but it wasn't as bad as the time we took Courtlin to the one in the Park. I love me a good hamburger, and it still is my favorite food. The unfortunate thing about having hamburgers be your favorite food is that they can go so wrong so quickly.

We took the bus home, and got off early because of the annual cycling race around Grant's Tomb. We played at the park for a while. Reuben was SO happy to have Daddy there, because Daddy will push him on the swing nonstop. Reuben would yell, "Super Dog going to hold Girl Dog's hand." That's how long it has been since Reuben had a good enough push to remind him of "Underdog" and that movie that we watched on Netflix watch instantly about 200 times.

We stopped and watched the race for a while, Reuben was more interested in the fact that he didn't have a bike, but a scooter.

When we got home I took a nap, and Justin cuddled with Reuben watching movies until they both fell asleep. I woke up just in time to wake them up so we could head down to a birthday party for one of our friends.

Sunday didn't count as one of our staycation days. It was a pretty hard day for me with a morning meeting (that was pleasant but early.) Teaching Sharing time (which went pretty well, with me only getting frustrated with the noise at the very end and the pregnancy brain bursting out and telling the adults they would have to be quiet or leave.) The chaos of changing a schedule on 30 children (there is no silver lining on that one.) And, having Reuben think its okay to run off when I can't chase him, and my pregnancy brain came out again when I yelled down the hallway to to my friendly husband telling him he needed to find our son instead of be friendly. I got a short nap, while Justin made a delicious dinner (the best part of the day) and we were off to choir, where I remembered that I haven't been singing and have lost my range. We got home and almost immediatly went to bed.

Today we have business to attend to, but this evening we are looking forward to dinner with friends. Hopefully we will make this week intersting enough to merit some posts.

The Mile and The Mount

Thing 1: The Mile



...if the delivery takes place at the hospital where we had the appointment today (which is most likely), our baby will be born on Museum Mile in New York City. I love this idea that our child upon nascence becomes a piece of living art and an indelible legacy for generations to cherish and admire...oh wait...isn't that true of every child born in any mile any where? Indeed--but the actual fact of our little blob being delivered on THE mile is just something for me to geek out about.

Thing 2: The Mount
The hospital where the little one will make its first external public appearance is called Mount Sinai. When Moses first went to the Mount it was sort of a half-way meeting point for him and God. When children come into this world they are so close to the parting of the veil that it is almost as though mother, to meet child, must go half-way to meet God. Often childbirth requires women to come close to the edge of death in order to ensure that life is sustained for their little one--at times pass beyond it. Those moments where two (or sometimes more) human beings meet right at either side of the veil to carry forth God's work of eternal love and sacrifice through the pertpetual bonding of mother and child must deem that place holy. I know that this journey to that figurative mountain, or holy place, happens at any birth any where--but the fact that our little family can have that special moment in a place named after one of the most anciently sacred meeting places of God and His children causes a certain warmth in my heart.

The best result of the day.

Happy anniversary to us. In the last five years we both graduated from BYU, both searched for, found, and quit "real" jobs to pursue more important things. We have lived in six different apartments, two different states. We've had one wonderful addition to the family we started that day five years ago. We've not had a car, then had one that tried to kill me, then not had a car, then had one that we loved, then not had a car. We've had short hair and long hair, we've lost weight and gained weight.

But, out of all of those things that started Dec. 30th, 2003, my favorite result of that day in Nauvoo is my husband. His hair may change drastically from month to month, but he has remained kind, caring, entertaining, genuinely concerned, service oriented, and loveable. He makes me better. He encourages me to do things I wish I could do. He is talented, and produces things worth bragging about. He is constantly trying to better himself, and is usually successful at doing so. He gets better at understanding me every day. He is willing to read the books I am reading to find out what draws me to them. He is generous with praise and gratitude (which makes doing things for him enjoyable.) There is much more, but I'm sure you are already convinced of his fabulousity.

As we enter this next year of Fun at the Cook Shack I'm excited for the challenges because I trust my partner enough to face them with him. And, I look forward to all the wonderful things he will do, prompt me to do, and we can do together.

On Lifetime

I never thought I would say this but... A film I worked on is going to be airing on Lifetime Television Network over the next two weeks. It is called Together Again for the First Time, starring David Ogden Stiers and Julia Duffy, and I was the Unit Production Manager for the film. I have seen a better version--which was the director's cut--this one is a little cheesy, but who doesn't love some cheeseball during the holidays? Nonetheless, I am excited to say it has made it to television, and it is also available for enjoyment on DVD.

Click here to see a review and the trailer.

Click here to see the Lifetime TV Schedule--it airs Sunday Dec 14th, Monday Dec. 15th, and Thursday December 25th--select your time zone so you don't miss it!

After all, the screening room at Columbia Film Division is called the Lifetime Screening Room, due to the generous funding provided by said network to make it what it is. OH--and if you look real close you'll see Jordan in a green sweater going to a Christmas party, and me pretending to be asleep on a bus near the end.

I am thankful for Justin's Birthday

2005


Because it means he was born, and can you imagine the world without him?



Justin has a kind heart, he is the happiest when he is serving (don't take advantage of this knowledge, please!). He has a huge capacity, and it takes a lot to make him feel like it is actually a sacrifice. He is a wonderful example of sharing love, and serving in ways that are actually needed.



He remembers names and faces and how he knows people (or where he randomly saw them), and he is not afraid to make people feel like they are important enough to remember. He is getting more timid with age (my fault), but he still has the urge to talk to people he barely knows and confirm the connection.


2006



He is a wonderful father, patient, kind, and full of energy. He is good at communicating with Reuben, and can often get him to settle down when I am out of ideas. He is a wonderful husband, working his hardest to support our family, he is gentle, and has full confidence in my abilities.



He has immense talent, discovered and sleeping. He is good at what he does, and will be good and what he will do. He is well-like among his colleagues, and just has to work with people to gain that respect.


2007



I love him. Reuben loves him. Hundreds of people like him.

This morning we had fake cheesecake with blueberry topping. We will have baked macaroni and cheese for dinner. And tomorrow we are planning to go see James Bond (because if it is his birthday choice so I will go with him.)

He loves to read the comments on the blog, so leave a special on just for him! Like, a memory you have of him. Or, why you like him. Go ahead make his day!

Much to my Father-in-Law's Shagrin...

...I attended a Celine Dion concert--the Take a Chance World Tour 2008.

HOW? (the why is obvious, opinions about Celine are pretty strong, either you're there or you're not)

My friend Jed and I had our "crit" sessions the same day, which meant the presentation of both the film I directed, PAS DE DEUX, and the film that I produced, which Jed directed, BENNY BLACK, in front of panels of 3 faculty members (not the same ones). They were baffling experiences for the most part and the end result was--yes, there were some truthful comments, but for the most part the feedback was something that maybe could have helped 8 months ago when the scripts were being developed, but there was nothing that could help shape the current projects for recutting or reshoots or anything--it was basically "well, this is the film you SHOULD have made (insert whatever fleeting thoughts you have here)"--so...that's what the real world is like blah-dee-blah, artists have to have tough skin blah-dee-blah--they really should say something that informs the current presentation--it was a problem I saw in 95% of the crit sessions I attended. Ah well, my meeting with the professional editor was grounded and thought-provoking, and actually applied to my existing project and helped me gain new insight into ways of reshaping the story--so the part I needed to learn for THIS film happened two weeks ago, whereas there are some things I can think about NEXT time I make a short that were said in the crit--or if they build a time machine I can tell my past self what I really need to be working on instead of what I made. Evident faults aside, I am happy with the film and now time to move on...

...As Jed and I were exiting Dodge Hall he said "Well, we're going to a Celine Dion concert tonight at Madison Square Garden." I said (only partially in jest) "really?--I'm jealous--if you have any extra tickets let me know." (As in free club suite tickets from Kate's work).

Well--a couple hours later I get a phone call from Jed--I thought he wanted to discuss the series of unfortunate events that happened earlier that day--well, no, he said "I have good news and bad news--we have one extra ticket--that's all." Before I could respond, Brecken was sitting by and knew what was being discussed--she said "You have to go..."--I didn't know what to say, since I have secretly been wanting to see Celine in concert for several years now (in spite of making fun of her and doing impressions of her in the 90s--which eventually led to my appreciating her--it's a thing I have, I usually make fun of things until suddenly I become attached to them--it has happened with Destiny's Child, Reba--the show, the Twilight Series--things somewhat embarrassing to admit that feel like a confession or that seem to merit an explanation when I admit them--like now).

So I said yes--I went--I ate coconut shrimp, chicken fingers, brownies, and drank soda and juice from the all-you-can-eat buffet in the club suite. I watched Celine's corny French-Canadian popstar antics (my favorite being the chest-pounding-point-to-the-ceiling-bite-her-thumb-and-wiggle-it-at-the audience move and the part where she skipped around the stage singing "We Will Rock You" surrounded by a bunch of dancers all huddled and jumping around in crazy poses, and then she points to the big boxes covered with screens where three faces appear and she says "Yes, ladies and gentlemen--Queen...I would like to dedicate this song to the lead singer Freddy Mercury...THE SHOW MUST GO ON"--I laughed so hard I cried).



But seriously--she is one of the most talented performers I have ever seen--she doesn't miss a beat or a note, her range and breath control is mind-boggling, and her passion, albeit strange and alien-like in manifestation, is sincere. The show itself is quite an amazing spectacle technically, and I called Brecken 7 times to listen to some of the old favorites--even, are you ready for it? Yep-- "My Heart Will Go On" --which was my number one make-fun-of-Celine hit in 1997/98 for those of you who attended the LLHS talent show.

Can you believe it? And it was free--FREE. Jed and I agreed that it was a nice distraction for the day. We also agreed that the stage set-up looked like the Death Star set from Empire Strikes Back (minus the treadmills used for cool running-in-place and sideways sliding moves).

Thanks friends. Would I do it again? Indeed, I would. So sue me.

Romantic Enchantic Atlantic

I had never seen the ocean...nope...not ever in all of my years had I been to the beach and seen the glorious crashing waves of briny blue.

This may seem unfathomable to some, but I was raised in New Mexico, and we spent many a day playing in the pure beach-esque white dunes of White Sands, but hence, it is a desert and landlocked, therefore no shores.

I have seen Lake Superior whose horizon appears, like the ocean, to have no end, and it has a beautiful lighthouse similar to those found on coastal shores. I have been in New York Harbor, but that is basically just a river, not the real McCoy. I have also seen rivers big (some may doubt the vastness of the Rio Grande--but I have seen the Mississippi, the Potomac, the Hudson) and small, and spent time on frozen lakes in northern Minnesota and in thawed lakes in Alberta, Canada where my Grandma lives.

I have clambered up the slippery edges of the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park (also in Alberta), and peered down the bottomless blue fissures in the slowly drifting slab.







I crossed the Tropic of Capricorn every Monday for seven months of my missionary service while going from Barueri to Santana de Parnaíba--São Paulo, Brasil to attend missionary district meetings.

Brasil--now you are saying, what is wrong with you? How can you have been to that glorious tropical paradise whose vast shores are as long as the United States is wide and never seen the ocean? Yes--I know. But as a missionary we had certain regions where we lived and worked and our work was continuous for the entire two years, therefore, a getaway to the beach wasn't exactly on the agenda--but I assure you, I will go back, and I will frolic on those Atlantic shores...

...but today...several thousand miles to the Northwest of that beloved country Brasil, in a little place called Long Beach, NY along the Atlantic Coast (also about an hour by train from where I live in the city, much like when I lived in São Paulo)


...I saw the ocean for the first time.










I was thrilled.
















I frolicked.





















And I was not disappointed.










And my boyhood dream of finding shells along the shores was fulfilled and passed on to become a tangible experienced for my own little boy.

What a glorious experience! This beach was recommended by a friend who surfs here in New York--I never would have thought that surfing was a thing to do here, but alas, this parallel universe is full of surprises.

And I will let Brecken fill you in on the rest of our fun day at the beach...

Nourishing the Rosebud by Working for Citizen Kane Part I: Every Rose Has its Thorn

Hello all. I know, how long has it been. You are reading the courier font and thinking, who in the world is taking up Brecken's space? Well, I have reemerged from the throes of production, and while I am up for air I figured I would spill the details that several have asked about.

First of all, I have been crewing on several short films or "8-12s" as they are called in Columbia post-first-year land. The first one I worked on was a short for a friend that involved playgrounds, and children, ugh--the heat and the wrangling made me think--that is something to avoid, but the story was sweet. I was able to do sound for that one, and Brecken was gracious enough to be a day player (she had lines, extras don't speak)--and Reuben her tag-along. They got paid in craft service beverages and a chic bottle of orange bubbles.

Next, I was on tap to produce for my dear friend Jed. That was an adventure, as the most perfect location that fit his vision was in the outer reaches of the Brooklyn/Queens border called the Lindenwood Diner. It was a sweet place, spacious, classic, and the owners were very generous--but we had to film after-hours. This meant all-nighters, four nights, and hour-long train commutes each way (oh yeah--and I got lost in Queens alone at midnight--scary--but now I know where JFK airport is if you ever want a ride there). Totally doable, but any form of night shoots already makes the general on-set morale go down a few notches, but it all worked out in the end--and the film is going to be great.

After that--I called a friend who I was going to help out for their final day if they were short handed. Turns out it was their first day and I decided that since I was still unemployed, what the heck, I'll grip and 2nd AC for three days at a playground with kids--yes, that makes playground with kids número dois. The crew worked well and fast, and despite the DP being a bit of a tough personality at times, I just put on my production hat and my winning smile and did what they told me. This, I thought to myself, was going to be my ticket to recruiting some folks for my own 8-12 film.

My journey continued the following week, out to New Jersey for work on a film whose script I initially wanted to direct, but was too late in pitching it. It was helmed by the right person in the end, and her vision carried the film to wonderful heights. The comedy was delightful and the world was so colorfully tangible--I loved it. I script supervised and did some on-set photography--and the film is going to great. It was also an opportunity to scout out a suburban green neighborhood that Brecken could stand to settle into in the event that I got a job here in the city.

Whew--I was done, now I could sail into two weeks of solid pre-production without thinking about any other project but my own. I worked and re-worked the script I ultimately chose to direct. It was in a good starting point, but I wanted to flesh out some of the character details and also cut down on locations, since a company move (taking the production from one location to another) same-day in New York is basically adding a day of production no matter what--and yes, you guessed it--playgrounds and kids were in the mix. After ruining the script, talking it out with Brecken , and re-writing it a few times I finally got it to a place where the story was clear, the characters were where I wanted them, and the magic of the initial idea was still very much in tact....and then...

TO BE CONTINUED...