Big News 2.0

Dan’s been working very hard on a new web project called Big News 2.0. From the brain of Michael McCarthy (Saturday Night Live, Sesame Street, The Drew Carey Show, and countless Second City and Comedy Central projects), comes the reinvention of the political cartoon: One video posted at noon every weekday, based on a headline from that day’s LA Times.

The project is currently being pitched in various forms both to news networks like CNN and cable networks like HBO and Comedy Central. In addition to personal thumbs-ups from people like Tim Meadows and John Cleese, the project has been picked up by the Huffington Post: www.huffingtonpost.com/michaelmccarthy.

See below for some of our favorites. Dan also appears in the live ‘week-in-review’ show every Friday at 7:30pm on the IO West Mainstage in Hollywood, CA. Come check him out!

www.bignewstv.com

Self produced work

More and more, in our pursuit of dreams and lifelong goals, it has become increasingly clear that one must self produce work in order to get the ball rolling in this city. Why, you may ask? Well, you need material for your reel. You can pay a company upwards of $1,000 to film and cut scenes for a reel. Or you can pound the pavement and get cast in an indie film or internet project.  Either way, you need to prove to agents, managers and casting directors that you aren’t a waste of their time with a decent reel.

So to that end you search for roles on casting websites that will help you in your goals. Anytime spent on Actor’s Access or LA Casting will reveal that, without representation, like I find myself right now, an actor gets to choose from student films and independent short films.  The student films, Graduate program student films, that an actor aspires to be in usually come from either USC or UCLA.  Recently, however, the directors in the undergrad programs at these fine institutions, have taken to lying about their projects being graduate study films to attract the talent. So, once one has acquired an audition, one drives to the southern most point of LA in the rain, (which in this city is risking ones life, really ’cause no one knows how to handle rain here,) at rush hour, past the Staples Center when the Lakers are playing a home game, having rehearsed and prepared all day like you were going to meet Steven Spielberg himself, paying $8 for parking so that you don’t have to run blocks and blocks in the rain to the building where your audition is, only to meet a 12 year old boy that calls himself the director. Once in the audition, you lay out all your hard work for this very rich and complicated scene, revealing your bones almost.  And then he chooses to redirect you.  Fine in normal circumstances. Fine in this circumstance, until he assumes that no one has ever seen this scene before or had access to the whole script online or that a prominent actress, let’s call her Fate Minslet, in fact won an Oscar the previous year for playing the role that you are now auditioning for and tells you to play the scene angry. Not just angry, one note, pounding on the piano of the scene angry. Great redirect Einstien. At this point, I’m not so sure that I WANT to be cast in this role.

The other option, well, let me leave a recent sampling from Actor’s Access:

“Sides are available on Showfax/Sides Express. All roles pay scale. All the female cast should have amazing bodies, the nude girls nice breasts.”

This beaut’ comes courtesy of a NON-UNION feature film!  Seriously? Most other postings require the female actresses to be “stunningly gorgeous” or “a Beauty unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Blonde hair and blue eyes.” What?!?!?!? Are you kidding me with this? If there was such a thing and they have been in LA longer than five minutes pursing acting, they are already union members. “Hey! Exploit me! Exploit me!!!“

The only other way that I have seen people get great jobs, get noticed or even simply gotten their SAG cards was through self produced work. It’s what happened to the Lonely Island people and the Flight of the Conchords.  It’s even what happened to a friend of mine, who while shooting a film that she was producing decided that she didn’t just want to direct and produce but she wanted to act also. It was her shoot, so poof, SAG card.  We’ve been working for years for that SAG card, now we’re going to try the smart, on-my-terms way. We’re going to self produce.

Wish us luck. We’re broke.

Of Representation and Reputation

In the pursuit to become a professional, every actor, writer or director, at some point or another, has to come to grips that they need representation.  It has been said that managers and agents are a necessary evil. On the flip side of this coin, most representation feels that artists are the necessary evil. But I don’t believe that it has to be that way at all.  I can tell you that it’s true because I’m currently observing the relationship that D and his manager have and it’s something that I want for myself as well.

Actor’s from the time that their training program allows, search out representation.  Some before they’ve had training. I recently saw an interview with White Collar’s Matthew Bomer and he said that he was 8 when he started cold calling agents and asking for representation! Eager little guy. At 8 I had no idea what need to be done to become an actress. But fresh out of college, I had some idea. I was so keen on getting an agent in Denver. I looked up all of the SAG franchised and licensed agents in town, which in that small market, totaled 2, plus one unlicensed agent that everyone liked better than the other two.

I went to the best photographer in town and got some shots taken and reproduced. I think it was a stack of 300 pictures.  I still have 239 to unload.  Anyone?  Anyway, I sent them out with a meager resume and a lovely cover letter. One of the licensed agencies was interested.  They called me in. I auditioned and they were ready to sign me on the spot, but I would have to go to classes. (It’s true; you should go to classes after you get your degree. Undergrad or Graduate. At the time, I wasn’t happy with it though.) I heard back from the other licensed agency telling me that I had a great submission but they already had a girl on their roster with my type.  I never heard from the third agency. So, I did what any young naive actress would do.  I snatched up the agent that was interested in me.

What followed was months of me combing through the local paper for casting calls, finding auditions and going out on auditions that I scheduled myself.  I continued classes with her suggested coach. Every few weeks or so, I would call to see if I could take my agent out to lunch or even coffee, but most of the time, I was put on hold so she could finish up her other call then I was told how busy she was and that she would call me back. A promise which was never kept.  Then one day, (sound of trumpets,) she called with an audition for a national commercial for a national chain of fast food McRestaurants. AT LAST!

When I showed up for the audition, there were 5 other girls there who were also reped by my agent. None of us booked. In fact, I don’t think that the commercial was even made.  I never saw it.  But I was never called for an audition by her again!

This is a pattern that I have since repeated in several markets across North America. I would still be repeating it if I hadn’t started to recognize that my talents are worth much more then that. Yours are too.  You mustn’t settle for mediocre when there is great out there.

I used to think of representation as an employee. And in a typical business model, agents and managers are your employees, but entertainment ain’t no typical business model. These employees have (or should have) relationships with people who make casting decisions. They care more about those relationships than they care about their relationship with you as the talent.  There will always be another actor there to take your place. There are a limited amount of people that cast, even in Hollywood if we’re talking the big movies and big TV shows.  Therefore, those relationships are more precious to representation. So, instead of thinking of them as employees of your company, like I was told to do many moons ago, think of them as people. Connect with them on that level and build a relationship with them.  Their relationships with the casting people will remain more important, but you now have a partner and hopefully a friend instead of an employee. Again, if you’re going to work with someone, I think a good prerequisite is that you like one another and that means knowing one another.

A good agent or manager is someone who:

-see’s your work before signing you

-knows that a happy actor is a working actor, therefore takes interest in your career goals instead of sending you out on jobs that have no bearing on your career, but pay

-is a fan of your work

-knows your abilities and disabilities and helps you work on the later

-cares about your reputation

-has viable industry connections and can connect you to those people

-has sufficient time and resources to commit to their job

-has time to talk to you

-knows the inner workings of the industry that they are in, (this may seem like a no brainer, but trust me, there are reps out there who don’t know.)

-doesn’t get aggrivated when you don’t use their photographer or coach.

-can effectively communicate

-lives in the market that they are pitching to, so that they can build relationships

-doesn’t have an overly large roster, (you’ll get lost in the shuffle.)

-doesn’t have another you on the roster.

-is honest with you.

If they don’t have these qualities, do you really want them representing you?  I don’t. I know that I am worth more. My skills are worth more. My reputation as a viable actress is worth more. You and your career are too. You will never end up where you want to be without that attitude. Demand more for yourself.  You’ll be happier in the end.

Please take advantage of my experience in this area. If things aren’t moving, try sitting down with your representation and have an honest discussion as to the cause. If you can’t, be kind to them by not taking up more of their time and energy and be kind to yourself by partnering with someone who believes in you, gets to know you and champions you.

Much success to you!

E

Greatness comes…

The following is a blog that I wrote a while back, updated since and have been promising to post in other more recent posts.  I hope you enjoy!

The more I continue to learn about my craft, the more I realize that great work is birthed in servanthood. Think about it. When you’re creating and really doing good work, what do you think about? Your focus is the project and your role and interaction in that project, not about how it will be received & you’re not wrapped up in your own issues, (unless they inform your character.). In theatre, film & television acting, that translates into being a servant to the story. I believe a servant in every aspect; to the hair and make-up people, do the director, to your scene partner and to your character and to the schedule.  Every action serves something greater than yourself and your abilities.   You serve the here and now while the lense is on you and film is rolling. It’s not until the camera stops rolling that you can judge whether or not what you did was good or how it will be recieved. Even then if you’re not directing or producing, you must let it go, at some point, in service to the director’s vision.

Even after the film or TV show has been made, the actor is a servant to the project by promoting it.

I think, for the most part, that there will always be work for people who work in a mind frame of service . These are the Meryl Streep’s, the Tom Hank’s, the Johnny Depp’s, the Kate Winslet’s and from TV the Nathan Fillion’s  and Steve Carell’s of the acting profession. Those who “peacock” or complain may work for a season but no one wants to work with them for long and once the beauty fades, so will their work.

I’ve noticed this phenomenon of service in action here in Hollywood, particularly on the sets of successful, highly acclaimed, highly rated shows. The casts and crews are phenominal! They serve one another & guests on their set. They are pleasures to work with & it causes you to wish them the very best. The crew notices it too and an air of professionalism, like a calling to higher things, spreads.  It’s contageous and creates wonderful moments and wonderful stories.

Meryl Streep put it out there for all of us just after she won a Golden Globe for her role in Julie & Julia this year.  When asked by a novice reporter, “You are so humble!  How do you do it?” and Mrs. Streep just smiled, nuzzled into the shoulder of the reporter and said, “It’s easy being humble.  It’s tough to have courage. You know that!” It was such a beautiful moment. I then knew why she’s been so successful.  She serves her work– it’s become second nature to her.  And because she does so with such grace, we love her for it.  We agree that she deserves every good thing that comes to her.

Just an observation.

I’ve noticed my work growing exponentially as I embrace this philosophy.  I’m fairly certain that this remains true outside of the art of acting too.  Try it and tell me what happens!

Until then…have a great day! Thanks for stopping by!

E

Let’s get this party started!

I love Ellen Degeneres.  She’s funny, super positive and she does good things for others and brings more laughter into the world.  She’s just great! ( I think that a lot of professional entertainers are this way and I will explain why I think it brings them success in a later post that I wrote a while back.) I have now had the pleasure of seeing her show live three times and have yet another set of tickets to her show next month.  It’s not that I’m that huge a fan, though as I said before, I do think she’s amazing. Back in August when my sister came out to visit us, she wanted to see Ellen, unfortunately tickets were unavailable for her visit and we saw Conan O’Brien instead.  Something that now I’m even more happy that we did.  I bet it’s difficult to get tickets to Conan these days as his days may be numbered,( on an ungrateful and insane network.) Serious bunny trail.  Sorry.

Anyway, after Tamara left, I kept looking at Ellen’s website to see when tickets would become available.  They became available in late October ‘09 and I snatched up 3 tickets. We ended up bringing our friend, Rochelle whom we met in acting class.  Truly talented lady.  (Someone hire her.)  It happened to be the episode that Dave Matthews Band played.  Spoiled. I know.  The Ellen show felt awful that we weren’t apart of the studio audience and gave every audience member that was only able to see the concert 2 tickets to a future show.  So, Dan and I decided to go once in January and once in February. Yesterday was our day in January and an unbelievable thing happened.

As we arrived the usual 2 and a half hours early for taping, we saw Rochelle and met up with her again and got mostly caught up from the holiday break.  A PA (I think. I don’t know her official title,) from the show approached our group and said, “Hey! Did you guys hear what I was saying over there?”  ”No.” “Well, I’m going to ask some people to go hang out under the green umbrella over there so that I can choose people to talk to. Would you guys mind hanging out over there?”  ”Not at all!”

This was new.  Never had I been pulled aside. The same PA pulled about 40 other people, lined us up outside, got our audience numbers and told a select few of us to go hang out by another building near the parking structure.  I was one of the 8 or 9 women chosen to hang out by said building, as was Rochelle. The PA took us into the building and proceeded to tell us that we had been selected to potentially participate in some event, game, contest for the show.  She didn’t know when or what but told us to be prepared and meticulously told us how to be prepared in the event that our name was called to go on stage with Ellen. I knew then and there that I was to be called down and sure enough….

We were ushered into the Riff-Raff Room where D and Rochelle’s friend were already waiting for us. We were then placed in our seats throughout the audience, with our friends and families of course and then the whole room filled up.  Then the dancing.  Be warned:  there is A LOT of dancing that happens on this show.  30 minute prior to Ellen coming out and starting the show, the audience dances…vigerously….the whole 30 minutes…no acceptions…old people too.  People wonder, “What do they do during commercial break?” Well, Ellen thanks her guests and rehearses quickly what she’s doing in the next segment.  A horde of people with clothing rollers and make-up brushes loaded with powder crowd around her and “fix” any imperfections. The audience dances. Vigorously.  Seriously, by the time that Ellen came out to do her monologue, I was sweating. And I was wearing summer weight clothing in an air conditioned studio! Would I really want at this point to hug a nice smelling celebrity now that I have sweat beads dripping down my brow? Not particularly… and yet….

Ellen starts her monologue and then says, “It’s time to play blind folded musical chairs.” My big moment.  I couldn’t actually hear her say my name, but I read her lips.  I checked the cue cards just in case I was way off.  I wasn’t. Thank God.  That could have gone from, “Yay! I’m meeting Ellen and playing a game.” to “Oops!  Sorry, Ellen.  You’re going to have to stop taping and do that again.” and Getting asked to leave or something. I got my brief, sweaty hug. (Sorry, Ellen.  Seriously. Calm that guy who gets the crowd excited down. He’s a maniac! “DANCE!!! :::wild laughter::::”)

Well, as I’ve stated before, there is a LOT of dancing that happens on Ellen’s show.  So, why not make us do different dances while we’re playing blindfolded musical chairs. Really?!??!

I shouldn’t complain.  I made Ellen laugh and I WON!!!!!

Look for the Riverdancer that thinks she’s out, but in the end takes it all!  That’s me! Today on Ellen.  Check your local listings for channel and time.  It is so worth it.  Also on today’s show, I couldn’t believe it: Edward Norton and Jim Parsons (From the Big Bang Theory) and a Canadian Magician that was AMAZING!  Why wouldn’t he be?  He’s from BC!

Have fun laughing at me today! I will!

E

Happy New Year! Wait…what ???!?!?!???

I will attempt to answer what has happened since September 22, 2009 in the lives of the Amos’s. I suppose it’s easy to say that we’ve been busy.  It’s sometimes difficult to find the time to sit down and formulate thoughts into coherent, thought provoking sentences and paragraphs.  But let’s be honest.  We’re not writing poetry here.  We’re just telling you about our lives.  Observations that we’ve made.  Things that we’ve learned. Adventures that we’ve embarked on.  So, we’ve been observing, learning and adventuring a lot these past 3+ months.  (Geez!  I’m sorry) It’s not that we haven’t been blogging or thinking of blogging, it’s just that we’ve not posted anything.

One thing that happened even earlier than September 22, 2009  on August 21, 22, 24 & 25, E was on NBC’s the Office again.  This time as a guest at Jim & Pam’s wedding!!!! Even more finely designated as one of Jim’s Florida cousins.  This was yet another amazing time on set, got a hello from Rainn Wilson this time and joked around with Brian Baumgardner (Kevin). He was so nice.  I truly think that this is the way that production is supposed to be, but rarely ever is.  I also have been on Castle, Dexter, 90210, FlashForward and Brothers & Sisters as well as some other shows since then.

In August, we both began taking film scene study at Clay Bank Studio in Studio City, appropriately enough .  He is an amazing coach that stretches us artistically and constantly challenges us to better and better work.  I’m really happy with how far our work and confidence has come since studying under him.  If you come out here, please look into classes with him.  Tell him that, “Dan & Elizabeth sent you.”

In October, we hosted my older sister, Tamara, for a week over her birthday.  Her trip to LA marked our ump-teen-millionth time to Disneyland this year.  ”Which ride do you want to go on now?”, ” I dunno?  Which one do you want to ride?”  We really did have a lovely time. And my sister was able to get a $72 birthday card from Disney. Happy birthday to you!

We also hosted a small, quaint and very Canadian Thanksgiving here in our 650 sq. feet of paradise.  That was so fun!  And we had a surprising turn out.  And as at any Thanksgiving, there was much food, for body and soul.  We’ve decided since the Canada Day kerfuffel that we’ll only do organized Canadian holidays on our terms.  No more partying Hollywood style on the roof of a club on Canada Day!  We’ll have our own Canadian beer at home or at a Canadian friend’s house from now on and not charge $8/bottle for a Molsen.  Seriously.  It’s not even the best of the Canadian beers! I digress….

Shortly after my sister left, so did we. To Vancouver.  It was such an ideal time that we didn’t want to return home!  Not that we don’t love LA. We just spent 5 or 6 days seeing people we loved, staying with family (more people we love,) visiting our favorite sites and eating at our favorite restaurants and there was little to no rain. Anyone who has spent a winter, spanning from the end of June until well into the following May will be able to understand why the rain keeping it’s distance would be a blessing. Anyway, who wouldn’t love being home on those terms?

When we returned to LA,  you viewers at home probably saw U2 perform live on YouTube from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.  We were there.  At the Rose Bowl. Soaking in every amazing, life changing moment.  It was unbelievable.  Better than it looked on YouTube. Sorry to brag. But before you die.  You MUST see U2 live. Must.

November brought a reunion with our Lamb’s Players family.  We were able to see Godspell at the Horton Grand Theatre in the Gas Lamp district of San Diego and then go to a gala celebrating a wonderful arts organization’s survival through this past year.  What a lovely place filled with brilliant performers– kind and generous people.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if you’re in San Diego, find out what’s playing and see it!  If you are just a lover of the arts, go online and donate to them.  It is well worth it!

Also in November, as all American’s know, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade which happens on the third Thursday of the month. That day is also known as…um… Thanksgiving, I think.  There’s just too much food  on that day to be worried with Thanking anyone for anything.  But I guess we took time out with 25 of our closest friends, whom we are thankful for, to co-host with our best friend’s our 5th annual Thanksgiving dinner at their home. So much delicious food, most of which was gluten, egg and dairy free! Looking back over this past year, the fact that we have a roof over our head, an abundance of food in our cupboards and dear friends and family that love and support us so much; everyday should be a day of thanksgiving! Seriously.  This has been an incredible year stuffed full of wonderful treasures during a time that could have been otherwise so.  Thank God for His provision and protection. I’m glad to be a two Thanksgiving house. (Wow! That paragraph started out so funny.  Then I just pulled the rug right out from under you!  I’m sorry.)

The day after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, I put up Christmas decor.  Our tiny place was a two tree apartment.  D and I could have held hands and with our other hands stretched out as far as they could reach,  each touched a different tree. We never tried that though.

My 31st, (yes, 31st!) birthday followed upon the heels of Thanksgiving in early December.  To make up for having to leave me in Disneyland on my birthday alone to go to a class, D bought me a 21.5″ iMac.  It’s gorgeous.  I love it.  It was a very important class and I understood his need to be there.  D, also, with help from the family, took me to Disney’s Grand Californian. This has long been a dream of mine.  Well, only since it’s opening in 2001.  It was gorgeous! Gorgeous!  I love the California Arts & Crafts movement in design, so this was a treat.  D and I sat by the fire in our pajamas and went exploring all over the hotel.  I think that there were some places that we weren’t supposed to venture into, but we did.  It was fun!  The next day, on my actual birthday, we ventured into the parks and painted them red.  Then Shannon met up with me and we finished my birthday in Disneyland together, while D headed off to class.  He got a great new manager out of the class.  We’re really excited about what 2010 holds for his career.  (And mine, it’s just he’s found an amazing manager to help.)

And of course, December means Christmas.  This year we spent it in Colorado with my side of the family.

Everything that I reviewed is pictured above. Our our 2009 Christmas letter follows below here. It’s kind of our year in review.  I hope to post more details about the great things we learned in this hectic and frenzied time soon.

Also, you’ll notice that there are some new links up. One of them is to the IO website where you can see D in a daily sketch, (a kind of a reinvention of political cartoons,) called Big News, created by Michael McCarthy.  Watch them regularly, because once they get rolling and acquire notoriety, you’ll never know who you might see in a Big News sketch.

Yes, Sir.  2010 has a lot in store for us and we hope for you too.  Every good and perfect thing, we hope.  May this be a year of successes unimagined, joy, health and happiness. Be safe.  We’ll be talking again soon!

E

Merry Christmas from California!

We began last year’s Christmas letter with, “It’s been a huge year for the Amoses…” Well, we hadn’t seen nothing yet! The adventure actually began on December 27th of 2008. That was the day we set off from our home in British Columbia to the great frontier of California. Tinseltown! Hollywood! Swimming pools! Movie… you get the idea.  Though the move was like a comedy of errors, we made it to California with all of our belongings, (eventually,) in one piece and the journey began.

We spent the first three months of 2009 acting together in a play at the wonderful Lamb’s Player’s Theatre in San Diego. Seriously, if you’re ever in San Diego, you need to go see a play at Lamb’s. It’s amazing. Talk about a soft landing. We were spoiled. The play by all accounts was a hit.  An enormous “Thank you!” to those friends and family who were able to come see the show and support us.  For the rest of you, we hope that there is another opportunity to see us on the Lamb’s stage.

The California honeymoon ended and we had to get down to the business of establishing a life in Los Angeles and pursuing careers in the film industry…

Things started off rough. In early May, our car was totaled on the 101 freeway. Our friends Tim and Rachel Nussbaum, who were visiting from Seattle, were in the backseat. Tim sustained major injuries in his legs and is only now getting back to normal. Much chaos ensued with insurance companies. Thankfully we were able to stay hopeful and move on. It was a tough time, but we’re on the other side of it now. Thank God we all survived!

One particular highlight of a our year was getting to work together as featured extras on the season finale, and 100^th episode of NBC’s The Office (probably our favorite show). We met several wonderful cast and crew members, and were very inspired. Flashes of Erin’s beautiful face may also be seen on such shows as Flash Forward, The Big Bang Theory, Mad Men (Dan too!), Beverly Hills 90210, Castle, Dexter, Better off Ted, ‘Til Death, Monk and others.

We pay our bills now through a combination of Erin’s extra work and Dan’s bookkeeping skills (he keeps the books at our church and for a small production company).

The acting careers are seeing some progress as well… you may have seen that Erin’s “Cymbalta” commercial is now airing. We’ve also begun working with a great acting coach here in LA and have a manager. Dan is appearing every week in a sketch comedy show at Improv Olympic, directed by a former Saturday Night Live writer. He was also afforded the opportunity to audition for the voice of Mickey Mouse! (They had already cast the role, but it was pretty amazing nonetheless.)  Prospects, prospects, prospects…!

We’ve only been able to escape the warm sunny Southern California weather once for a visit back home to Vancouver.  It was all too short and entirely enjoyable to see our Canadian friends and family again.

We’re also getting a white Christmas (crossing fingers,) by being in Colorado with Erin’s family for the holiday.  That will surely go by too fleetingly.

All in all, a difficult yet truly rewarding year. We’ve reconnected with some very dear old friends, and made some very dear new ones, too. Above all, we’re really learning what it’s like to step out in faith and follow your dream – what it’s like to give up control… and consequently find true fulfillment. It’s quite extraordinary.

With that in mind, we’d like to wish you the most heartfelt, merriest of Christmases.

“The birth of a helpless, squealing creature who is also God. An all-powerful baby! Doesn’t that satisfy your taste for the peculiar? It’s the coming of new life in the heart of winter. The snow falls and the trees are bare. All except one tree, which bears fruit. Now that’s real magic.”

–CS Lewis

May the joy of Christ invade your whole being, just like it invaded our planet two thousand years ago.

Love,

Dan and Erin

The Butterfly Circus, Part II

A gigantic thank you to all of you who went to thedoorpost.com and watched all 10 of the finalist’s movies and voted. Due to your support, this past Saturday, The Butterfly Circus took home the Grande Prize of $100,000!
Congratulations to the filmmakers, Josh & Rebekah Weigal and all who were involved in the making of this film! Well done!

The Butterfly Circus

Mom’s can sometimes be the best networkers. Boy! If they want something done, ( by the time their kids are adults,) it gets done. My mother, who still lives in Denver goes to church with a woman whose son and daughter-in-law are filmmakers here in LA. Mom thought that we should meet this couple as they have entered several film and commercial contests and won them. Their names are Josh & Rebecca Weigel. And, as usual, mom was right. These are great people to know. Not just in the sense that they are great filmmakers, but also because they are truely amazing people!
We were lucky enough to get to work with them in a small capacity on their newest film project, The Butterfly Circus. It’s a submission in the Door Post film contest. D & I would really like to throw all of our support, (and yours) to them.
How can you help? I’m glad you asked. The weekend is coming up and just like on American Idol, your vote counts.
In order to vote, you must go to The Door Post and create an account on the site. Then you watch all ten films in their entirety, then you can vote. The catch, you only have until Sept. 16, 2009 to vote!
So, go to the door post, select the “sign up” tab on the right, upload a photo of yourself (optional) or select continue, select “watch now” below the films image. Or you can also follow this link: The Butterfly Circus
You won’t be disappointed, but if you are, we’ll give you 100% of your money back. Guaranteed.
Enjoy your weekend. I know you will if you see this film.
E

Pics of our anniversary at the Getty Museum and D’s birthday at Disneyland

John Williams at the Hollywood Bowl

Last night was a real treat. On a whim, E got us tickets to see (and hear!) John Williams conduct the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl in a tribute to the power of music in film. It was amazing.

The entire first half consisted of selections from the Harry Potter films, with the orchestra providing live scoring to montages from the movies, all narrated (live) by Lynn Redgrave.

The second half provided highlights from a good twenty film scores, most of which were Williams’… but not all – As Time Goes By from Casablanca, the Superman March and themes from Dracula, ET, Catch Me If You Can, and of course, Star Wars.

He saved the most iconic for last, and as those opening chords resounded, a whole world of geek that we weren’t ready for revealed itself. Toy lightsabres lit up all across the vast audience! We’d seen a few people in Jedi robes on our way in… but wow, I just wasn’t prepared for that.