Back to Work, But First

I was happily screenwriting on Saturday night when a friend of mine dragged me out to Apple. Dirt and Legs happened to be performing..



Linked up with Shannon Smadella, Miss Canada 2009..



I have termed Canadians as Nice Americans. That is like an American to refer to other people as versions of themselves huh? Here she is being crowned 2 months earlier..


Allergies + Champagne..



And an afterparty with a chef whipping up marvelous delights @ 4am! Made no sense, but who can complain when you're mouth's full!



Forget the bacon wrapped hot dog! BTW, you're crazy if you eat those.



Back to Final Draft 7.0.

Giving Thanks

For family..



Surviving high school..



13 years later and my little brother's about to graduate. The final child to leave the nest. And grandpa throwing up the W..



Sentimental.

SAG Strike?

The rumblings are getting louder. The WGA strike changed the game. Bless them for fighting for their digital rights. But the strike had unforeseen negative consequences too. Immediately following the 100-day strike, the studios cut tons of development deals with producers both big and small; and overall adopted a much more stringent approach to the business of creativity.



Now a SAG strike? In the same year? The AMPTP have offered SAG the same deal WGA fought for. But SAG's brass wants more, appearing hellbent on winning this 6 month standoff. I have plenty of actor friends who can't afford to be out of work right now. Neither can the VP of development of x studio. Because it will affect him too.

Currently..

Gasoline is..

..in the Hollywood Media District.

Expansion

Yesterday, I jetted up to Sunset Plaza to meet up with Marc Lotenberg, CEO/Founder of 944 Media. Forget the suit, the kid's hip, and only 29!




Walked over to Cafe Primo to enjoy the outdoors..



And work..



And eat. Roasted beet salad, hearty for some greens!



Later in the night, met up with Mr. Arnold again. Obviously something's in process. But what?



Stopped by Hyde, right away ran into my Five Four family. There's Dee..



And J Dubb..



Remember the Five Four Project? No? It was a viral commercial I directed for these guys. Here it is..



Have a great Sunday.

Friday Building

Friday evening had drinks with Jamie and Karen Waldron, two forces in the world of television and just really nice people.



Earlier sat down to build with Taz Arnold. The movement is moving..



In the daytime, hit the gym with my friend Bee Nguyen of Hot Air.



When have you ever seen blogging at the gym? Expect the unexpected!

"After Hours"

Not that kind. I never, ever get tired of watching Martin Scorsese's classic 1985 film AFTER HOURS, about one crazy night in the seedy Soho of the past. If you've been in a cave and have never seen this, rent it tonight. Here's the trailer..



Why can't we make films like this anymore? Because the hedge funds and bridge financing are drying up. So just expect to see more masked men with moral issues. Not necessarily a bad thing, but balance is imperative.

Manic Wednesdays

Today had lunch @ M Cafe with Chris London who manages the leftist hip hop group U.N.I. Along came Thurz of the group (on left).



Also ran into my buddy Yosi Sergant of Evolutionary PR who was instrumental in the Manifest Hope campaign that was a major factor of Obama heading to the Black House. Yosi let me in on a very cool secret. Frequent back, I'll let you know when it's safe to be revealed. Obama should make this guy press secretary in 2012.



And finally ran into my good casting director friend Julia Kim who is casting my next feature BACKPACKERS.



Appears M Cafe is the new Cheers. Just with kelp.

Axis First Solo Art Show

Saturday night I stopped by my friend and renowned street artist Axis' first solo art show @ Suru on Melrose. Axis is known for his wildly hellish yet darkly comedic images. Here's a nice little video put together by Suru (owned by Joe Hahn of Linkin Park) on what the show had to offer..



Here's the actual show..



And Axis himself..



If you may recall, Axis was one of the featured artists in my 2005 documentary ROCK FRESH. Here's a trip down memory lane..

"In Bruges"

A random film with Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, who play hitmen forced to hide out in a small Belgium town. Notable for Farrell's easy performance where for once he didn't play a super badass, but instead a vulnerable guy who can't stomach the slow lane. I can kind of relate! From a pramatic stance, felt like a film that smartly maximized star power, the draw of a hitman film, but without the huge action scenes that would inflate the budget. Here's the trailer..

AFI Fest 2008

Thanks to my very kind friends at the AFI Fest, they hooked up a festival badge. Bad week, I was sick the whole time!





I did get to catch a rare gem, an Austrian film called REVANCHE. It's the story of two couples whose fates collide after a bank robbery gone bad, set against the both the countryside and the world of prostitution.



The film had some of the best acting I've seen in some time. Johannes Krisch's visceral performance blew me away. Scenes like this did too..



Definitely a candidate for awards during this festival season. Catch this film if you can! Here's the trailer..

Pusan Film Festival '08

I arrived in Pusan, South Korea - after a mere 16 hours! I, like many of you, am not a fan of flying! But luckily I flew Korean Air where they have a superb selection of entertainment. I got to enjoy an interestingly simple film called THE PROMOTION, starring John C. Reilly and Seann William Scott. They both play endearing supermarket employees competing to be manager of a new location. Think Stifler did a great job. And finally isn't Stifler. Here's the trailer:


First thing I do when I touch concrete? Korean street food, yummy!



Checked in to the Seacloud Hotel. Turned on the tube for some Korean reality TV..



Next morning woke up to a beautiful view, Pusan's like the Cannes of Asia!



Met up with the Korean Film Council, led by the hilariously deadpan Roger Garcia..



Hit the street for meetings at the Paradise Hotel - super jetlagged!



Took a nice brisk walk that night..



Next night, had dinner with KOFIC and LEE Joo-ick (THE LAUNDRY WARRIOR) and OH Jung-wan(WOMAN ON THE BEACH), a couple of revered Korean producers. On our way to the CJ Entertainment party, Jung-wan made sure she got pretty!



The level of fanaticism at Pusan is wild. Seriously, like Korean Beatlemania! Tons of girls were going wild for this guy. I'm sorry to say I had no idea who he was. But still took his picture, woooo!



Producer and AFI Professor Barry Sabath, Oh Jung-wan, and myself.



All the Hoegaarden had me tired. That's beer okay. Back to my office where I got my grind on. Writing my new thriller entitled WINTER WAR..



The next night..



Filmmakers heisting beers.



Walking home, found my royal lap dog friend. It's been some time!



The next morning, saying goodbye. Breakfast with my new friend Viktoria Krestina.



No, she's not an actress. She's with Kino Film.



On my way to Seoul, some ominous news about the health of the Korean film industry.