The Hurricanes won the cup - shit!

Things have really been busy. I've been working like a dog, but loving every minute of it. I must be doing the right thing. I even happened onto a conversation with people gossiping about me at work... in a positive light. At first I didn't know who they were talking about. They didn't know I was there for a moment, but one person turned around saw me working away and told me smiling, "we were just talking about you". I was rather embarrassed but flattered. It's kind of a nice feeling to know that people like you when they don't know you're around.

Apparently the right folks are taking note of me as well. There's a letter going off to the DGC on my behalf from the producer and management of the film company I've been working with so they can give me upgrades without all the problems. I hope it works out, but I'm willing to keep following the long way as long as I have to. It seems worth it to me either way.

Like Dad always told me, "anything worth having is worth working for".

I'll keep you posted.

Still trucking along. Slept on the floor in Abbotsford at the motel to be used as the next day's set. Day two was a much more relaxed day as we just inside and outside one room all day. B Camera was off to get some drive by car stuff in Fort Langley. My back was sore as hell from my night on the floor. I regretted not taking the room at the other hotel, but I had no car and didn't want to chance missing my call.

A six day week sure does tucker one out. Not to mention the fact that halfway through the last day the dreaded cold going through the crew like wildfire found it's way to me - sore throat, stuffy nose and cranky. grrr!

I'm making good use of these two days recharging my batteries. We're back at her tomorrow morning at 0630.

What a couple of days. I'm sore, but still having fun.

What have we learned over the past two days? Let's see:

• You can never do too many dummy checks. There's always gak (gear) left behind.


• The pry bar for straps on a flatbed aren't always where they should be.


• Pick up a C-stand by both the base and the arm otherwise the person you're passing it off to will crush you knuckles.


• Communication is key. Make sure you really did hear what you thought you did.


• Not everyone is cut out for every job on set. There are niches to fit into.


• People notice when you show up, do what's in front of you to do with a good attitude.


• PA's are generally insane but often don't think so.


• Gum is addictive and so is pepperoni.


• A BBQ'd steak at 11:00 pm tastes just as good as one at 5:00 pm.

We're out at Abbottsford Airport tomorrow right out on the tarmac... with faux weapons, but not when planes are landing of course. After that the crew drives to the Reo Hotel in Abbottsford to sleep and wake up and shoot there. So I won't be home until Saturday night very late. I'll blog more then.

Apple - Trailers - The Wicker Man - Trailer 1

Kind of cool seeing some of the days I worked on film finally. Even if it is just a trailer so far. I'm not sure how good this is going to be but I know Neil Labute's a good writer/director and Nicolas Cage is well... Nicolas Cage. I guess we'll see.

Day 4 of 150...

I had a pretty decent day today. I got to see some sunshine, watch a fully armed SWAT team raid a meth lab where a young girl was being held hostage by Russian mafia types and met some new and interesting folk. Dave's a producer who's willing to talk and give me a hand up if he can. Rae's an artist who's moving on to greener pastures, namely the art department on the TV show called Saved.

I love shaking hands. You never know who you're going to meet.

Day 3 of 150...

I started another show today called Family in Hiding. I got an upgrade to AD PA right away as the one scheduled had a toothache and had to leave for the day. It was fun to AD again for a day. Tomorrow I'm back to the floating Key PA position. I'm getting multiple phone calls and emails for work every day. It sure is nice to be in demand. I feel sad that I can't take some of them. Especially the job as a 3rd AD on the movie Numb starring Matthew Perry (yes that one) and Kevin Pollak who does the best darned Captain Kirk and Chirstopher Walken impressions ever.

I had to turn that gig down because DGC rules are that now that I'm a permittee, the minute I take an AD job, namelt TAD 3rd AD or higher I lose my days and am removed from the program. Lame! Anyway, I'll keep plugging away. If people are noticing me after working only these few shows then I'm sure the trend will continue if I keep showing up with a positive attitude, a sense of humour and do what's in front of me to be done.

Nice to have arrived home with the sun still up. However, that makes for an early call time tomorrow - 0630. Who cares? I still like what what I'm doing. It's just so glamourous... (he lied).

The place I'm working tonight with Masters of Horror is called Overlynn or Fairacres Mansion, just 8 minutes away from here. I worked there once before with the TV show The 4400 (who also called me to work today).

The place felt creepy when I was there and I had to be in the house, specifically the attic, alone whilst wrapping out in the evening with no illumination but my little flashlight. My creative head was telling me that perhaps the place was haunted as something just felt off moments of weird drafts and gooseflesh. I disregarded it as my wanting to see something that wasn't there and tried to put it out of my mind. When I heard last night that I'd be going back there I thought about doing some research.

I found some interesting stories.

I haven't posted a thing since May 19th so I'm long overdue for an update of some sort. My creative energy (and every other kind of energy one has) is going elsewhere lately. Where has it gone? Into getting work in the film industry.

Aside from growing out this mop of hair DGC membership has been the priority. Why? Job stability. Even though I've worked as an AD I can't continue to do so on Guilded shows until I'm a member. The old union thing rears it's socialist head. Once on the other side of it I'm sure my view will change (or maybe not). There are a ton of hoops to jump through to get there, but many are covered already. I had four courses to take before I could get my DGC Permittee logbook (for those interested here's the info on the DGC permittee program). I'm now a qualified traffic control person for example. So, if all this movie stuff tanks, I can go stand on a highway with a stop/slow sign and piss drivers off.

Now I have 150 days to get as a permittee to obtain associate membership in the Guild. As of this evening it will be down to 148. LOL! I've added a progress bar to the left nav as well so y'all can follow along.

Yesterday I worked on another Insight show called, "Her Fatal Flaw" where I was actually prompted to update my blog. The Locations Manager, Mick Rochon mentioned that he reads this blog once in a while and knows I've been busy as to the frequency of posting.

Tonight it's off to, yes, Masters of Horror season 2! It's only a day call but I am excited about getting to work on the show at all. Maybe they'll like me and give me more work. Doesn't really matter though. I have work lined up throughout June and into July, but if Masters of Horror were to offer me full-time work I'd sure as hell take it.