Monday, June 30, 2008

Notes on a Monday.

*I'm going to catalog my tattoos, once and for all. Because when you tell people you have "15 or 16," that's bad. I should have them accounted for.

*Just saw "Harold and Maude" over the weekend. Bought it today. It's the perfect movie. And I would have done anything to see the musical, which starred the perfectly cast Eric Millegan. (Whose web site is down! Fix it! We heart you!)

*A short week: Only two days of classes, then "Wanted" on Wednesday. Then no class on Thursday and the day off Friday. Yay!

*Made progress on the screenplay, thought of an awful, awful working title that doesn't fit the vibe at all. I won't share it.

*My last day of class with Michael Showalter is tomorrow. This makes me sad, but it was one of the best things I ever did.

S'all for now!

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Friday, June 27, 2008

Ooo, hopefully I'm not the only one psyched about this

Anyone who has ever been unemployed for any amount of time supports the theory that "Law & Order," any of them, is probably on TV on some channel at any given time during the day. Each of them have evolved into their own little niche within the franchise, and some of us have our favorites. And for NY-based actors, it's the show you can usually get on your resume. (Do I want to be on one? Yes. But not as a rape victim. I would rather play a techie or something.) And nearly everyone you've ever seen on TV or in a movie has had a bit part on one of the shows. I'm not even going to link, because you already know what I'm talking about.

But this is a fun, fun casting decision if ever I saw one: Jeff Goldblum.



I love Jeff Goldblum. I love his quirky weirdness, and I'm very excited about catching all those reruns in a marathon that will cost me a weekend.

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Thursday, June 26, 2008

Don't think I'm weird, please.

I had a dream right before waking up (and nearly missing my alarm clock) that scared the shit out of me. I was riding a bike through my neighborhood and kept seeing pools of blood. Then I started seeing these huge massive things hung from trees, couldn't tell what they were, until I got close to one. And it turned out they were all slaughtered cows. Then I rode past this nasty punkass guy who was taunting a live bull with a huge dagger and cutting it. Right before I woke up to a really crappy song on the radio, I screamed (like screamed) for him to stop.

Good morning, sunshine!

I did a little Googling for dream interpretation and found this:

From Hyperdictionary:

Meaning of SLAUGHTERHOUSE: Seeing or dreaming that you are in a slaughterhouse, suggests that you may need to compromise an aspect of yourself in order to move ahead.


And from Dream Moods Dictionary:

Cow:

To see a cow in your dream, signifies your obedience to authority without question. It symbolizes your passive and docile nature. Alternatively, it represents maternal instincts or the desire to be cared for. For some cultures, the cow represents divine qualities of fertility, nourishment and motherhood.

...

To see a herd of cows, indicates your need to belong.


So, I guess if the cows are slaughtered, I'm averse to authority and aggressive, and don't want to be cared for, and in addition, I need to compromise something in order to move on. Makes perfect sense, and a fine example of "showing" rather than "telling" as far as completely demented storytelling goes. Thank you, subconscious.

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Burning the candle at both ends and loving it.

So, it's been a wild couple of weeks, and it will likely stay that way through the summer. But it's all good. No class is fun in the beginning (with the exception of Michael Showalter's screenwriting class, which was amazing from Day 1), and that's how the acting class is going, but it's just the beginning of a 10-week adventure into learning how to think with my gut.

But honestly, I'm such a Type A/logical-rationally thinking person that this class makes me feel like I have Asperger's.

Here's my typical week though: Monday through Thursday, drive 35 miles in morning rush hour to work, wait for interesting people to email me all day, drive to a nearby food joint to by dinner to be consumed in transit (eating at a table would be divine) while driving in evening rush hour to Manhattan, park my car in midtown, take the subway to Columbus Circle, swoon at the fact that I'm in Columbus Circle on a summer evening, walk to class, listen to people repeat each other for three hours, take the subway back to my car, drive back home after finally making it through Manhattan, finally crash at about 1:00 AM. Wake up at 6:30 the next day and do it all again!

And I can never seem to just get there and get home. There's always a freaking issue.

Or an idiot leering at me on the subway platform who decides in his mind that the most effective way to start a conversation with a woman after 10:00 PM would be to tell her she reminds him of the Penguin. "From Batman! Ever see that movie? You know, because of the umbrella!" Yeah. Perfect. Recommended to all men. Please, boys, try this. It totally works. So does randomly saying to a woman on the street in a really seedy manner, "Hey baby, looking good..." Lo, my heart hath been overcome.

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Saturday, June 21, 2008

Too tired/lazy to post them all: Blog-Off Wrap-Up

So, last night was the first night all week I got to come home after work. It felt amazing. I fell asleep before 11:00 PM and got to sleep until whenever I wanted. Which was about 9:00 AM this morning. Ahhhhhh...take it in. I'll share.

The Blog-Off seems to have went well! I had quite a few posts up there, and some people were kind enough to leave comments. I'll let you know how much money was raised for the Actor's Fund. And if "Bones" creator Hart Hanson read any of my ass-kissing love letters to him. My guess is no.

But since I'm too lazy to post the rest of my links, you can visit these links to read them on Searching Bones. And muchas gracias, merci, danke to Lynn, who runs the site and invited me to post!

The Egon Factor: Why I Love the Squints

"I'll Never Let Go, Zack! I'll Never Let Go!"

Bones and Booth: Don't Hook Them Up!

Homework for Season 4

Wendy and Jamie Concur: Hart Hanson Needs a Virtual Hug

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Friday, June 20, 2008

Bones & Booth: Don't Hook Them Up!

Another helping from the Blog-Off, posted today.



And suddenly, a lot of people don't like me anymore.

Here is my rationale for not letting Brennan and Booth become a couple.

First of all, in TV land, it's storyline suicide. Look at "Moonlighting." Once that tension and chemistry was resolved, the show went downhill. A steep hill. It was a warning to "X-Files" creator Chris Carter, who smartly kept Mulder and Scully platonic throughout the series. (You guys may remember the "Bones" pilot, in which Booth cited plainly, "I'm Mulder, you're Scully." Take. This. To. Heart/Hart.) We already have Hodgins and Angela playing the Ross and Rachel roles of "will they, won't they," even though in their case it's a matter of "will they ever marry" and not "will they ever be together."

But we don't need more drama with these two. It's not unheard of to have platonic relationships between a man and a woman who find each other attractive, have great respect for each other, and clearly have a lot of chemistry. I know this, because I have a best guy friend. He's like my brother, except that we flirt. So, like a step-brother that you technically could hook up with, but it would be so wrong if you actually did. In TV land, the kiss from Season 3 was a great experiment. It was executed perfectly in the context of the show and the relationship between Bones and Booth. And sometimes, in real life, things happen between two people who swear they'd never hook up. But it doesn't always happen, and maybe that's what needs to be proven on TV. And I think "Bones" has just the right attitude and tone to maintain the platonic relationship between these two.

Besides the professional risks, I just don't see Bones and Booth as a couple. That doesn't mean that there is something missing in their relationship. The only thing that could be considered missing is that one extra step. But that step is just that: extra. It's a bonus. You may find someone with whom you have the greatest rapport, the most comfort, the most trust and the greatest mutual respect...but if you're satisfied with that, that's okay!

Take Hodgins and Angela, one of the most believable, organic TV workplace romances ever. They had a rapport, were comfortable with each other, trusted each other and respected each other...but they were also attracted to each other. I remember watching Seasons 1 and 2, knowing they would eventually hook up, and by the end of Season 1, it was clear that something was happening. It was something that worked between the actors, who'd made unconscious decisions for their characters that there was something else to be explored, and TJ Thyne and Michaela Conlin allowed it to happen - with a little help from the writers, of course - and so we got Hodgela. For me, I just don't see that with Emily Deschanel/Brennan and David Boreanaz/Booth. They have all the puzzle pieces to form a beautiful picture, but they don't really want to go so far as to glue it together and put it in a frame. The curiosity just isn't there. And they're okay with that. There is a different curiosity between them, but it isn't romantic. Booth wants Bones to allow herself more openness, express herself more. But Booth, a father and law enforcement official, is a nurturer, a helper and a fixer. Bones, at the core, is happy she has someone with whom she can be herself, as much as she can. But her purpose is more defined and concrete - she knows what she wants, even though she may not always feel it's right, she probably feels it's correct.

Could Bones and Booth go further? We're told that they will, but I really hope this isn't how they're addressing the lack of addressing Season 3's kiss. I hold out hope that Hart Hanson won't take the show in this direction and hook Bones and Booth up romantically. If they find themselves in a situation in which they need each other for a moment, that's one thing. We all do strange and wild things in the heat of the moment. (I've sure got my stories...) But I implore the writers - remember "The X-Files" like Chris Carter remembered "Moonlighting."

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The Egon Factor: Why I Love the Squints

This was published today on the Blog-Off on Searching Bones. And remember to support the Actor's Fund!



While the rapport between Brennan and Booth are the main focus of "Bones," I came to an amazing realization a while back on why I actually prefer the squints. And it all came down to "Ghostbusters."

"Ghostbusters" and "Ghostbusters 2" have been my favorite movies, hands down, since I was about nine years old. That was when "Ghostbusters 2" was released, and it was one of the first movies I remember seeing in the theater and not being too young to appreciate. While most of the jokes went over my head, I developed an instant crush on one 'buster: Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis). Go ahead. Laugh. But I have always loved Egon. The glasses. The high hair. And the intellect. Rowr.

Fast forward to 2008 - holy crow, almost 20 years later???? - and I am infatuated with "Bones." I can't put my finger on precisely why. Temperence Brennan was a superbly written female lead. The Bones and Booth relationship was that of a screwball comedy. But something about Zack Addy and Jack Hodgins got me just a bit more than the hunky, snarky Booth.

I realized soon enough that it was because I was watching the respective reincarnations of Egon Spengler and Peter Venkman. Surely you see it, too: Egon and Zack are the logical, rational types with the million-dollar vernaculars and the infinite intellect. Venkman and Hodgins are also both supremely intelligent, with double doctorates, but unlike Egon and Zack know exactly how to use their brains to win over ladies. Egon was probably just like Zack in his younger days, socially awkward, but with a bunch of secret admirers who tried to send signals and failed to get past the Wall of Smart. Venkman and Hodgins, on the other hand, knew how to budget their smarts and instead used their positions and intelligence for what Egon and Zack would consider unproductive purposes.



But it's unnecessary to go into a deep character study (though I probably could, and could also probably charge a couple of Benjamins for an awesome term paper). Bottom line, you can easily hear lines spoken by Egon and Venkman coming out of Zack and Hodgins. Such as:

EGON: I'm terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought.

VENKMAN: Nimble little minx, isn't she?

EGON: Sumerian, not Babylonian.
VENKMAN: Yeah, big difference.

VENKMAN: Why worry? Each of us is wearing an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back.

EGON: I feel like the floor of a taxi cab.

VENKMAN: ...This reminds me of the time you tried to drill a hole through your head. Remember that?
EGON: That would have worked if you hadn't stopped me.

EGON: I think they're more interested in my epididymis.

VENKMAN: We came, we saw, we kicked its ass!

EGON: We had part of a Slinky. But I straightened it.

[In response to Ray Stanz: "You think there's a connection between this Vigo character and the... slime?"]
EGON: Is the atomic weight of cobalt 58.9?

I think the "Bones" writers must be 'busters fans too. Or maybe I just like both waaaay too much. Unfortunately, I can't figure out who Ray Stanz (Dan Aykroyd) could have been, though maybe he was the happy medium between Zack and Hodgins. But imagine my utter glee when the fourth Ghostbuster, Ernie Hudson started showing up as defense attorney David Barron on "Bones"! Not only was it exciting to see a Ghostbuster on my favorite show, but I officially had, sort of, one degree of separation:



Yup. Doesn't get much better than that. If "Bones" can get Aykroyd on the show somehow, I will be in nerd heaven.

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Thursday, June 19, 2008

Blogging up a storm for a good cause.

Can I just say off the bat that I've had an insanely busy week full of (mostly) fun?

This week I started acting classes, like hardcore Sanford Meisner acting classes, and so far I think I might not such at acting. But it's only the first class, so we'll have to wait and see. I have another one tonight - every Monday and Wednesday, plus hour-long rehearsals iin between. This is especially fun, because that means I get to drive into the city five out of seven days a week now. Mostly in rush hour traffic. And gas is at least $4.23/gallon here. I'd take the train, but the earliest one I can catch after work doesn't arrive in NYC in time, though I will get a break on that soon.

Also, idiot that I am, I forgot to remind myself the side road on which the train station by work is located, so yesterday I was all ready to chill on the train, but instead I just got lost in Hempstead. Yay.

But real, actual fun: Tuesday nights I take a screenwriting class with Michael Showalter. It's truly my favorte part of the week, even above falling asleep Friday nights. We've had four classes, but from the very first one, I had started approaching my screenplay much differently. Then last week, I pitched my screenplay and had the best exchange with Showalter about it, and now I have a much better idea of what I'm doing with it. I can't wait to start really working on it, once the "Bones" script I'm writing is done.

Now the funny thing that I completely left out. "Ghostbusters" is my FAVORITE movie. I got to Showalter's class a few minutes late this week, and when I walked in, he said, "Come on in. We're just watching 'Ghostbusters.'" In a split second, every part of my face got bigger, I gasped, then in an amazingly high-pitched voice, I went, "REEEEEEALLLLLYYYY????" I sat down and started watching, and about a minute later, I realized that half the class had laughed at me. Dork. After class, I told Showalter, "Next week we'll watch 'Ghostbusters 2' and I'll just full-on faint." He said, "I'm bringing 'Ghostbusters 2.'"

But the ANNOUNCEMENT: I will be taking part in the Great b5media Blog-Off on Searching Bones tomorrow. I'll be posting a bunch of posts about "Bones," some my own and some with Wendy from Obsessed with Bones. We'll be officially announcing our script project for "Bones" fans and handing out virtual hugs to those involved with the show. I wrote the bulk of my material Sunday night at about midnight due to my schedule, so it should be pretty interesting. Proceeds from the Blog-Off go to the Actor's Fund. I'll repost my entries after Friday here, but definitely check out Searching Bones!

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Sunday, June 15, 2008

HuffPo: My tribute to Tim Russert

I'm very lucky to be able to post on "The Huffington Post." In fact, I'll take this opportunity to thank Rachel Sklar for being responsible for getting me on there. Honestly, I'm really a nobody with a blog. Sure, I have fun things going on in my life and I love writing about them. And who knows where these fun things will take me, if anywhere at all. But I really am in no place to have an impact on society. At least not right now. That's why I wondered whether or not I should bother writing a tribute to NBC's Tim Russert, who passed away suddenly on Friday. (And yes, I cried all weekend, and not because of the wedding.) Who am I, exactly, to go on one of the most popular media/political blogs and talk about how much Tim Russert meant to me when there are so many other people in those industries who not only are successful and noteworthy, but probably actually knew Russert?

I decided to write it. Maybe I'm just a viewer, but I felt the impact of Russert's death in my own way. And maybe there are other mere viewers who feel the same way I do and can't post on HuffPo. So I decided to take this opportunity and posted my tribute.

HuffPo: It Won't Be Sunday Without You, Mr. Russert.

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Friday, June 13, 2008

Tim Russert Dead. A huge loss for us.

I may get those tears I was bitching about earlier. Prolific political journalist Tim Russert just died of a massive heart attack at the age of 58. No matter what you thought of him, he was a journalistic legend for those of us who consider ourselves political junkies. And I do. I watched him on "Meet the Press" pretty much every Sunday, saw him on MSNBC as a commentator and on his own "Tim Russert Show."

This is a devastating loss. My heart and prayers go out to his family, wife Maureen Orth and son Luke, his father, and his family and friends at NBC and MSNBC.



And R. Kelly was just acquitted on 14 counts of peeing on underage girls. A red letter day. Did God push the wrong fucking button? How does this happen?

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Thursday, June 12, 2008

Don't cry out loud...don't worry - I won't.

A caveat: I am not hormonal.

Okay, so the highly emotional dame that I am, I feel like I've been on the verge of tears, like a major crying jag, since the "Bones" finale. Since then, the Muse that is every element of the show has triggered some of the most inspired writing that I've ever done. I've been working on a decent screenplay and I've been piecing together my "Bones" spec script/fan-fic-gone-too-far. (The script of which will go head-to-head with Wendy from Obsessed with Bones!) Plus my buddies are starting to think about some new projects. So there's been an amazing creative insurgence since May 19.

But, as heartbreaking and devastated as I was about the big bad reveal, I simply have not been able to squirt some. That sounds filthy. But I am emotionally constipated. I tried everything, but either I'm too distracted by life - a good thing - or something just has not triggered me yet.

I will venture to predict that I will cry this weekend at my cousin Mike's wedding. Because I'm a woman, I'm single, I will be single forever, and I will be drinking wine. But that's not even real crying. More like a natural thing I would do at a wedding - put on a dress, make myself pretty, get drunk and get weepy. Happens. Every. Time. So I'm not really anticipating the emotional break that I've been seeking.

I've tried everything, even rented "Love Story." Not even a welling. All the NPR stories about the China earthquake and StoryCorps on Fridays? Nothing. I guess I kill puppies for a living, but I just could not cry. And sometimes a girl's gotta just let it roll!

I'll keep all two of you posted.

By the way: Fuck you, David Motari. I hope something terrible happens to you now that you've been kicked out of the military.

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