Cousin Billy Celebrates Eagles Win

Just when I think spoofing Eagles fans is played out, something like this comes along to inspire and renew. It gets good at 1:30. (I imagine how funny it would be if someone told him there was a flag on the play)

LINK HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6EjS_h-6es&t=1m40s

A Real Show

This past weekend I saw 1812 Productions yearly political satire show called "This is the Week That Is" and it was great. It was well written, interesting, lively, had tons of set and costume changes and muscial numbers, a bit of improv and the video design was off the charts. They had three separated screens of different sizes all with projections working in tandem. There must have been 100 images, videos, audio cues. (you can see from the pic the vividness of costumes, good lighting and the screens in background)

The amount of work that goes into this is huge. However, they have hired professionals across the board- people who do this stuff year-round and so are always learning and able to add value. I feel I can never get to this level without scrapping certain things with our show. This show reminds me why people specialize and why people go to school to learn how to put on a show. We are just small potatoes and will never expand unless there is major changes. But maybe that's ok. I don't know.

Away Game

The other night we performed a few pieces at a show with some other comedy acts. The other performers were all great and very nice people. I think we did ok, but I always get weirded out performing in front of other performers. Not sure why. Feels like an "away game" on someone else's field. When we do our Fringe run at Society Hill Playhouse we are in our element and the show, while made up of many pieces, is like one complete 'thought' whereas everytime we do a section or sketch or show one video it never feels quite right.

In the end though, none of this matters anyway...

Downtime?

October was supposed to be nothing more than me lying on the couch all weekend slothed out watching football and napping. I've done some of that but all the sudden my schedule is pretty full with readings, performances, meetings and the national film challenge.

I've also been motivated to write a few pieces, including a longer play called "Three Dicks from Austin" about Lance Armstrong, Andy Roddick and Matthew McConneghey trying to solve a mystery. Also, working on "Middle Class Hero" a monologue about a guy giving Commencement address to Stockton State U about the benefits of just being mediocre. And, "Testosteroned" about a guy at a Bachelor Party who ODs on testosterone and gets a little too crazy. And I'm doing some prelim research for a possible documentary on the infamous Eagles Court. I'm endlessly fascinated by insane Eagles fans, what can i say...

Walking on Air

We are in the middle of our Fringe run. Feeling really good as we our first three shows were all sold out (90 seats). I always feel like no one will come, and then this happens. I'm very grateful. But, I know this show is very good, I must say - the best one yet by far. It's fast, tight and funny. Two years ago, City Paper reviewed Wawapalooza 2 and said it had some funny quips but overall was "mildly entertaining" This motivated me and the crew to work harder and erase the "mildly" from the entertaining. So, fast fwd two years later, City Paper reviewed Friday's show and had this to say:
"Suprisingly spot-on. Smart, inspired bits of funny business." It feels good because we earned it.

Wawapalooza 4 Rehearsal Pics

Van Gogh

Care of Bonnie's Photoshop skills.

3 Weeks till Fringe

Mindset. 3 Weeks till the new show opens. This year, I'm less stressed because we have 21 minutes of short films, which is already in can and can't get fucked up- you just hit 'play'. As for the other 45 min of live theatre, sure I worry about the actors' lack of energy or forgetting lines, but really I can only do so much. It will all work out. The key is to have fun and enjoy our loose and fringe-y show that we've created. As one of the actresses told me, "It ain't Shakespeare"

Props. One thing that will help is we aren't using props or exotic furniture this year. In year's past we loaded all kinds of shit. Last year for K-Mart sketch we used a real 50lb cash register and bag of charcoal and sign and etc. This year we will fake everything. This will make up for in speed, what it takes away from in realism. This also is one less headache for me.

Press. I foresee lack of press for us this year. I sense we are old news. Even though I think this show is fresh and targets certain things that aren't being targeted or satirized too much. Anyhow, I can't control that. I can only control the process up to the show.

Tech. We were at theatre on Tuesday to do a little tech and let me just say that Wayne is amazing, having him is huge. He was able to set up and align projection and work the board and all that. And he's a super nice guy. Tech is the least of my worries thanks to him.

The Next Short Film

With "The List" finally done, and all my side projects completed, I am not focusing on shooting the third (and final) short film for Wawapalooza 4. The short is called "The Accidental Environmentalist" and is about how my Grandma is best environmentalist I've even met, and she doesn't even know it! A true model for us all.

I also take down several Eco-Hypocrites including Thom Yorke, Leonardo DiCaprio and of course, Al Gore. (the key for me is to figure out how to make it funny!)
This is not meant to be a left or right thing, just that I'm pretty tired of hearing how I need to change my lifestyle when these people pollute and trash the planet at a rate of 50 times an average person. Hypocrisy is something that pushes my buttons, especially under the guise of righteousness. Ech. This pic of Al Gore says it all...

Cast Photo

May 2010

Wawapalooza 4 Image

Finally settled on a image for show (above) after several options. I like it as it is consistent with the other years' in that it takes an iconic image and combines it with something from Wawa in a way that also is a metaphor for the meterial. (I'm sure I overthink this stuff).

On a side note, I've just personally been so busy with non-IdRather stuff.. namely assistant directing for Tweltfth Night, taking a playwriting class and shooting The List and the 48 Hour Film Festival. I'm tired.

Short Film #2: "The List"

Saturday was DAY ONE of shooting "The List" which is the second short film for Wawapalooza 4. We shot all over Lower Bucks County, including in a pizza place, strip mall and a scuzzy park. So far, I'm happy with the results and I think it will be funny. I still have some questions to myself on how to arrange it and how much to use graphics and music, but I think the material should play well. The posted pic is one of many takes where Mandy slaps Jeff. Poor guy had a red face at the end of the day...

The List

Now that The Mustache is over, the next project on the horizon is another short film called "The List" which we will shoot in April and May. This is a short film based on a section of Jeff Soles' stand-up routine. When I saw his act last, I was really drawn into his bit where he pulls out a piece of paper and explains to the crowd that he has a list of things that if a girl does, he will immediately break up with them. Some of those things include breathing through her mouth, mispronouncing Reece's Pieces and wearing anything with Disney on it. It's great fun that he is so serious about these trivial things. The more angry and intense on stage he gets the funnier it is.

I got an idea to model the short film after Michael Jackson's Thriller video. Not the dancing, but the beginning, where he is telling his girl in the park that he's not like other guys. This is going to be our template then we will do a bunch of cutaways to Jeff's list as he is going through it.

This should be a blast to shoot, it will be much much less of a production then The Mustache and more rogue, like Owen vs Ikea shoot. Most of it will be shot in Lower Bucks County, where Jeff lives with girls Jeff knows. So, I'm approaching this as a mini-trip into Jeff's world and that's why I think the "romantic goth" style will fit nicely.

The 10% Doucher Theorum

I've come up with a theory: 10% of all people you work with in the world are Douches, especially in the "Arts" world. I've been doing this theatre/film stuff for four years now, and most people are a delight and provide not only good performances/work, but provide a nice energy and smile. HOWEVER, some people choose to Douche-out for whatever reason and suck energy in and hoard it for themselves like vampires. Mostly it's people who think too highly of themselves and are nursing a giant insecurity. It's a shame.. but I'm learning to accept that whatever project or show you work in, you're going to have 90% awesomeness and 10% douche-baggery.

I call it "The 10% Doucher Theorum"

Ok, that's all on that.. I don't like to be negative, but I can't help but make observations.

Done!

Today we wrapped on The Mustache. I was very pleased with the outcome. We shot it in 2.5 days, right on schedule. The acting was amazing, I couldn't have been happier. The Canon 7D shot as beautifully as we had hoped and Taka and Tony were great with it. Our sound guys were hard-working and nice. Trang cooked up a storm. Wayne was the best host/jack-of-all-trades ever. Almost everyone joined the spirit and contributed to the nice vibe we had going. No major ordeals or back-of-the-mind worries. I just hope the rest of the cast and crew felt the same way. Now it's up to Giz to edit it all and make sushi out of fish and rice.

I do feel utterly exhausted by it all though. The planning, the people, the mustaches.. A reminder that even good things need to end. I'm back at home now, off to Valentine's Day dinner.

Mustache Shoot - Pre Shoot Tech

Yesterday was all about preparing for the Mustache shoot. Started with me shoveling my car out from a mound of snow, then I went and shoveled my Mom's driveway, then drove to New York to pick up Giz, and we had to make 4 separate stops, for the lights, lenses, camera rigs and then finally to Best Buy for a monitor and hard drive.
Then, we rushed over to the location to meet all the crew. Tony coulnt't make it, but Taka did. We went over lighting schemes and played with the camera. Ethan had the sound working great. Gus and I were stand-ins and had fun spewing out absurdities. Wayne was awesome as host and bought a bunch of snacks and made coffee.

We broke at around 9:15pm.

Now I'm off to get Bonnie and all the wardrobe, stop at Wawa to get hoagies and grape soda for props, and snickers for us to eat. Then, I come back and pick up Trang who has been slaving in the kitched for 3 hours making all kinds of culinary delights for the cast and crew.

Finally, a little prayer that everyone shows up or Day 1.

Missile Command

Less than week till we shoot *The Mustache* This coming week is all about executing and troubleshooting. It's a lot like a game of Missile Command with the scheduling, re-writing, emails, props, food, lights, driving, headaches and prayers that it doesn't snow again!


We had a rehearsal last weekend, which went great. We discovered some things we needed to correct and the cast and crew had a chance to gel. The actors did a really fruitful improv session. We merged the existing script, which was written in my bedroom, with the improv and style of the actors, to hopefully arrive at a real-sounding synergy between writer and actor.

We also got a chance to see the Canon 7D in action and were blown away by the richness and color of the Canon 7D. It is twice as good as our Panasonic DV cameras. I'm picking up Giz and a bunch of equipment in New York this Thursday. More to come...

Gearing Up

About a month to go till we shoot *The Mustache.* We have pretty much the entire cast and crew set. This is easily the largest group of people, biggest budget and most talent on any project IdRatherBeHere has been involved with.

CAST:

Jared Delaney as Alex

D'arcy Fellona as Lauren

Jared Nelson as Peter

Amanda Siebold as The Floozy

Ian Sullivan as Evan

CREW:

Eric Balchunas: Writer/Executive Producer

Gisela Aydin: Director/Executive Producer

Tony Obfenda: Director of Photography

Taka Ogawa: Director of Photography

Ken Jordan: Lighting Design

Dan Plunkett: Producer

Gus Milligan: Producer

???: Sound Recordist

Jim Philbrick: Boom Operator

Ken Jordan: Lighting Design

Bonnie Quick: Wardrobe Director

Wayne Johnson: Electric/Grip

Trang Balchunas/Dan Lewis: Top Chef

Goals for 2010

I've drawn up four simple goals for 2010 for IdRatherBeHere:

1. TV Show Pitch
This weekend I wrote an 8 page first draft of a treatment for a TV show about South Jersey. Possible title(s) are "SoJo" or "The Hometown Heroes." The premise of the show is a guy who moves back to SoJo from the city and tries to acclamate amongst the cast of characters down there. I have a wealth of stories, characters and ideas for this. I have mapped out 10 episodes and love how easily the writing comes for this.

2. Short Film Festival
The short film we are shooting in February called *The Mustache* may act as a pilot or a preview to be used in concert with the Treatment in a TV show pitch. BUT, we want to see this shown in at least a few film fests. We think we have a good shot.

3. Wawapalooza 4
Also planning Wawapalooza 4. This year should be the best yet, as we've brought in some experienced, new blood to add to show's content. I'm also looking to make the show more diverse by adding modern dance, stand-up and even artwork, in addition to the short films and sketches. I've got about 12 scripts in the bag so far. And, I'd like to start using musicians' songs for transitions and pre-show.

4. Give birth to one full-lenght script
My final goal for 2010 is to just complete a long play and have it produced in some way, even if it's just a reading. The main idea is to get done a 60-70 page play. It is very difficult for me as I get bored easily so I gravitate towards shorter pieces. I have 2-3 plays that I can expand, just need to stick to it.