Thursday, August 7th 2008

Thank God it wasn’t as hot today as it has been. I needed to get as much sleep as possible for the weekend, so I didn’t even bother waking up until 1:15 p.m. I went to the computer and sent out a few emails about the 48HFP tomorrow. While I was waiting for responses I took the time to install a few more programs back on the computer to help get me back up to speed.

About 3 p.m. I made myself a couple hot pockets, grabbed a bag of Nilla Waffers, and watched the first episode of the old HBO mini-series BAND OF BROTHERS. I forgot how compelling the show was, and how drawn into it I got from the moment it started…but then again, I’m a nut for WW2 information. After that I still had some time to kill, so I popped on GTA 4 and played the hell out of that for a bit before taking a shower and getting ready for work.

I talked with Ace right before I left to go to the theater and he told me that I was on my own for getting to the kick-off party for the competition tomorrow. I was under the impression that he, Geoff and I would carpool up there, do the genre drawing and head back to the studio, but Ace and Geoff were working with a crew from the BBC tomorrow, so I had to find my own way. This also led me to my next question, how would I be getting to the studio tomorrow for the Channel 4 interview with Jimmy Diggs? Ace had already talked with Geoff about that, and he said that Geoff would pick me up at 7:30 a.m. and drop me at the studio on his way to the shoot. Finally, I chatted with mom about her using my car, and how she would need to pick me up from the studio tomorrow on her way home from work, so I could drive my car up to the kick-off party.

I made sure to stop by 7-11 and grab a couple rockstars (one for tonight and one for the morning) and a bag of chips to snack on. When I pulled into the drive-in, I was the first one there, so I wasted no time in getting the place open ready to rock.

At 9 p.m. I got a phone call from Jeff G. and we talked about our team and if there was anyone else we needed to bring in. I made sure to tell him how I wanted to split his and Geoff’s directing, and how I wanted him to work with the set design and lighting, while Geoff worked with the actors. I would take more of a clerical approach in that I would find and fill out all the SAG paperwork (if any) and release forms for the cast/crew. We also talked about the possibility of shooting the whole thing on green screen, and he said we’d talk about it more tomorrow.

After I talked with Jeff, I got a phone call a little later from Geoff about the same stuff. I pointed out to Geoff that I wanted to be followed very closely, and if there was any major changes that needed to be made that I be consulted first. That was the big problem I had with writing the short last year, some of the things were changed with out me being present, and some of the finer details were overlooked during production. While I was explaining this to Geoff, I made sure that he knew that I wasn’t trying to be a diva about it. I take my writing seriously, and I always put a lot of thought into what goes into the script. He agreed.
As I was closing the snack bar, Beth asked me about how things were with Lauren. I told her what I could, and how I was a little nervous because I don’t want to screw anything up. She gave me a hard time about it.

Right after I closed the box office, I went inside to take a quick shit before doing the paperwork. As I sat down on the toilet I happened to notice something moving out of the corner of my eye. When I focused on what it was, I saw that it was a gigantic wolf spider…or it was a recluse…either way, it was FUCKING huge! I mean, I could almost see the hair on its back. Well it became kill or be killed at this point. I’ve seen these little bastards before and they like to make the first move. First I tried to kill it with a board, but it scuttled away and hid next to another 2x4. I found a piece of metal and tried to crush it, but I only nicked it. Then I tried to hit it with the metal piece again and it ran over to some pylons under the stairs and crawled in there. I kicked over the pylons and the thing fell out. I grabbed a flashlight and a metal bar and came back with a vengeance. I tried to hit again, but he was able to dodge it. I finally tagged him once with the metal bar, then I used my foot to crush the son-of-a-bitch into a gooey mess. I fucking hate big spiders!

After the battle with the spider that looked like it came from ARACHNOPHOBIA (a movie that still gives me the chills all these years later…), I kicked off the shoes and put on the sandals, then I did the paperwork, and started reading the WATCHMEN graphic novel. It didn’t take me long to realize why this book was held in such high regard.

When the movies were over, I locked up, took the money to the bank, and went home. At home I quickly uploaded the 4th episode of WWIF and then I laid down to get my nap before Geoff showed up.