Who left the light on?

I forgot all about this place.
I have new project and spend most of my time at: http://neighborhoodwatchwebseries.blogspot.com/

Here's the scoop:
Watch events unfold through the eyes of the security system's mysterious operator.



“Neighborhood Watch at The Hollywood” incorporates an innovative storytelling device called "Forced Perspective." Forced perspective is essentially first person point of view, which is nothing new, however the difference is that the viewer is forced to see the entire story through a character's perspective. The powerful aspect of Forced Perspective is that the viewer doesn't get to see what they want to see or even what they are used to seeing. There is no hand holding. There are no zoom shots to direct your attention to where clues might be-you're going to have to find them yourself. In “Neighborhood Watch at The Hollywood” the viewer is immediately introduced to the control panel of The Hollywood's state of the art security system and it becomes evident that they are watching someone use it to monitor the tenants. The console is completely functional and the operator has access to not only security cam footage but also video from cams hidden in apartments as well as mobile cams. Only the security system's operator controls what is seen and when and discovering their identity is central to the plot.

New Fall TV Show Review

I've watched a few of the new TV shows and of course, I have some opinions:

Studio 60: Obviously since it's created by Sorkin there will be similarities to West Wing but I was amazed how basically it's the same show. It looks the same. It's shot in the same style. You get the feeling while doing West Wing he realized that running an administration was not unlike the way networks and TV shows are run. He probably picked a comedy sketch show to give him more players to have a voice much like a White House administration.
Chances: 75%. Up against CSI:Miami and What About Brian? I think a close second place gets the job done.

Vanished: It's supposed to be "24" meets "Without a Trace" but I really left myself wondering "Why should I care?" You pretty much need to care about the missing person and the people trying to find them and it couldn't make me do that.
Chances: DOA. Up against The Bachelor, Heroes, Runaway and the CBS comedy block of Two and a Half Men and Old Christine.

Shark: It's pretty obvious Shark is supposed to be the law version of House. Sarah Carter is in it so you know I'm already there for her. It's hard to take your eyes off Woods, he definitely plays Shark big. He's a jerk sure but he's aware that he can be a jerk if it's in a noble effort. This is why he's a single dad and switches to working for the prosecution. I'm not sure why but there is something enjoyable about a jerk who is free to be the best jerk he can be, in fact his success is dependent on it.
Chances: 50%. Great lead in with CSI but up against Six Degrees and ER. If it holds the lead yes if not then no.

Heroes: I thought it was weak. I think Heroes definitely could have used a 2 hour premiere. I couldn't believe they couldn't come up with some original powers for the characters to have. Worst of all is that you have this handful of people that have these powers from all over the world yet they start bumping into each other for no could reason. The nurse guy's brother has powers, the daughter of someone he looks after has a boyfriend who has powers and he gets in the cab with the son of a man who whose father had researched people with powers. Don't get me wrong I like the premise but I think the execution is weak.
Chances: 75%. I think a close second isn't a lot to ask of this show. Up against The Bachelor, Vanished, Runaway and the CBS comedy block of Two and a Half Men and Old Christine.

Jericho: Probably my new favorite fall show. It's similar to Lost in that you have an isolated group of people trying to survive. It's on a grander scale because it's a whole town. There seems to be so much more at stake here though possibly the very future of the country or perhaps mankind itself. They don't know themselves. They really layered in the conflict well as it doesn't seem many of the characters got along before the "attack." The main character Jake has a mysterious past. Gerald McRaney does an awesome job as his father and the mayor. My favorite character is Robert Hawkins. He's a former cop from St. Louis who just moved to town. Coming from the "city" he knows how to handle himself in these situations but he seems to be the only black guy in town so you get the feeling people won't be so receptive to his instructions. It reminds me of Red Dawn which is one of my favorite flicks.
Chances: 75% with a move, 25% without. I think it can be a good show, if it proves to be then it deserves a better spot. Up against Dancing With the Stars, America's Next Top Model, Bones and the NBC comedy block of 30 Rock and 20 Good Years.

The theme to Rocky isn't Gonna Fly Now

Just read a review from a screening of Rocky Balboa. The following is x-posted from some thoughts I posted there:

The theme to Rocky is about proving something to yourself , legacy and how you want people to remember you.

"It really don't matter if I lose this fight. It really don't matter if this guy opens my head, either. 'Cause all I wanna do is go the distance. No one's ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that bell rings and I'm still standing, I'm gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren't just another bum from the neighborhood."

Even earlier when he has that talk with Marie. "Yo, a bad reputation -- Twenty years from now people will say D'you remember Marie?' 'No, who was she?' 'She was that little whore who hung out at the Atomic Hoagie Shop.' 'Oh, now I remember!'... See, they don't remember you, they remember the rep." He's talking about himself just as much as he is about her (not the whore part, the rep part.)

For him to come back to this theme would bring things full circle. It would be natural for him to be upset for people to remember him as a statistic for his boxing record and not what he accomplished as a person. They in fact don't remember that he went the distance, rather that he lost. He would feel the need to drive the point home again the only way he knows how, through boxing. What would be nice is if Rocky were to realize his legacy was his impact and influence on others. There are so many surrounding characters we could see that in: his son, surviving members of Apollo and Mick's families or maybe even some redemption for Tommy Gunn. Ultimately what will determine what kind of movie this will be is going to be the message. If the message is that you can still do great things when you're old it's not going to cut it.

Back at the dance.

Sundance wants me back as a reader. There are some scheuling details we need to work out but they are flexible so I don't see it being a problem.

I'll get you Tom!

My head hasn't been in "the game" for quite some time. I don't usually make goals for myself but this year I laid out a bunch of specific things I wanted to accomplish. It was ambitious and I really wanted to hit the ground running in 2006. Well dammit if the world just didn't want me to do that. So I've been wallowing in that disappointment which only makes things worse. I feel like the dog chained to the tree. You know, the one Tom from "Tom and Jerry" use to stand just out of reach from. That dog wants at Tom so bad and that leash is stretched tight as far as it can. Tom just stands there taunting him. Well, I'm the dog, Tom is my goals and the leash are things like calling services that don't book you work, internships that take up too much of your time but don't do you any good and apartments that are too expensive. I feel like I'm choking on it all right now. That's ok. You have your laugh now Tom. Someday I'll get you.

AnthonyDe's first PA job is wrapped!

Just finished my first job on a film crew as P.A. I primarily ran the slate but I also transported rental lighting equipment, rigged and moved lighting equipment on set, was a stand in, sound effects(pounding on a door), provided the silhouette for the killer, ordered and picked up food one day, made coffee(just once), created sets, dressed sets, provided marks for actors and other assorted gopher work. There were as many as 5 P.A.s but we average about 3. Me and the sound guy were the only ones who made it every day including the last day. We kicked ass and knocked the rest of the shoot out early. The learning curve was huge. I literally spent most of the first day scratching my head. By the last day I was anticpating what the producer, director or D.P. would need before the scenes. Apparently they were impressed enough to give me a Production Coordinator credit, not that I know what that means exactly. I figure it has to be better than P.A. though.

Busy- hopefully in a good way

The Sundance internship is winding down and I've picked up some work as as background artist. It's quick cash and someone once told me to get a job on the lots any way you can and keep your ears open. Nothing but time on the set and if I had a paying coverage gig it would be ideal. At the very least it's set experience and did I mention quick cash?

I'm also lining up an unpaid PA gig for two weekends in Dec. Of course when it goes on the resume it won't mention the unpaid or two weekends parts.

I'm going to try and crank out 2 TV specs in Dec.