Off to the park with R.
Fun and games! A little chilly - winter's setting in here in SoCal.
Off to a script reading. J was there, first time I've seen her since she booked the job. It's going to be a great shoot as J & I had excellent chemistry. Tried on a couple more wardrobe items! The shoot is going to be in 3D so they're trying to get stripes and wild colours into the clothes. I have tried some wacky combinations. Blue stripes and orange Argyl, I kid you not! Jason mentioned Stanley Unwin who was a Brit comedian who made up his own language, Unwinese! He had a very gentle, disarming but ultimately hilarious delivery. He did film, TV and radio and even had his own character in 'Secret Service' (by the Thunderbirds' creator, Jerry Anderson). Back to the script... it was much revised from the last time I saw it. Much compressed (final has to be 9 minutes long) and a lot less cluttered but with some reworking which made it a lot smoother and more entertaining. The comedy is much stronger as well. We do have quite a few key phrases in there which the client wants, of course, but I think the new script will appeal a lot more to the kids who watch the movie/ride.
Put the little one in the bath and off to bed but not before a few stories... One of his favourite books is 'My big truck book' which doesn't have much of a story but it does have pictures of big trucks! He loves it. Tonight, though, he decided to ask me some questions which went something along the lines of "Daddy", "Yes sunshine"?, "Is this a yellow school bus"? "Yes, that's a yellow school bus". "Excellent, Daddy. Well done"! "Daddy"? "Yes, sweetheart"? "Is this a fire engine"? "No, that's a Paramedic truck". "Excellent, Daddy. Well done"!
I couldn't believe it. This was basically a reverse of the conversation I've been having with him over the last couple of months. It's absolutely mind-blowing how he's been taking it in and inwardly analysing it until he's ready to give it back to me! He's only 2 and a half and he's doing so many things that absolutely amaze me. Maybe I'm biased (yep, of course I am) but he's still a very cool little person!
KFI had a interview with Glynis McCant, an expert numerologist. Sounds like fun! My life number's a 4 and my attitude number is 9 (if you're interested).
Looking up some half decent casting director workshops... Always said I wouldn't do them but the reality of this town is that you can't afford to have an ego and you have to do WHATEVER you have to do to get ahead. Ego won't mail you a cheque or pay the rent or feed you and yours! The SAG Foundation has what looks like an excellent free programme. Will definitely sign up for that and look into another couple of places I've been recommended...

Went to the Zimmer museum with the little one. Brilliant place. Has a bunch of different rooms with excellent activities for the littl'uns. The kids can also play in a full sized ambulance and light aircraft too. All for a fiver. Superb.
Anne let me borrow her car to drive to rehearsal. Bless her! Went well. I think we've blocked the whole show now. Yeehaa! David had a call that his wife was about to reproduce so he had to scarper. Good luck you guys! He had a show tonight at 8pm. Wonder if he made it?
Drove home after rehearsal and it basically took an hour and 40 mins from Malibu to Weho. Traffic was crap!! LA, eh?
Watched the finale of the Apprentice and Randall was hired although it looked like Donald couldn't make his mind up and wanted to have both of them. He even asked Randall if he should hire Rebecca and he said 'No'. What a crap thing to say. All he had to say was 'Yes' to cover himself in glory, gain the everlasting gratitute of probably the most intelligent woman he'll ever meet and win Trump's appreciation of his generocity and humility. But no, nothing like that is going to happen becasue he said 'No'. Very very sad. What a dick.

Spoke to SG. Going to audition 'VI' in Jan at PanaV. Excellent! Loads of submissions coming in on Nowcasting. Superb candidates too.
Movie group meeting.... looks like we're culling some cast members. The flashback scenes aren't going to work in this movie. Maybe we'll use them in another one in the future. Anyway, there's gonna be some upset people. Well, I set up a collaboration group for our class (after making a comment in class and then being called on it by Brett - just to set the record straight as to how it started) and besides a core group who seem to be doing everything, we have another bunch of 'watchers' who, as far as I can see, are waiting for the work to be done and everything to be tied up in neat bows before they decide they're ready to participate. Sorry, that isn't going to work for me. So, we have our cast and R is continuing work on the outline. Should be ready by next week before we break for Christmas. Yes, that's Christmas, as in 'Merry Christmas' not 'Happy Holidays'.
Oh, while we're on the subject of Christmas and the jolly season, I found out that Kwanzaa is, in fact, totally fake! For those of you who are reading this and don't know what Kwanzaa is (basically people outside the US), Google it. Here's what it actually is....
"Kwanzaa is a fake holiday, made up in the 1960's by a black racist cult leader and convicted felon, who thought that blacks shouldn't celebrate a “white man's holiday”. He took some African-sounding words, and made up some principles that sounded good, and manufactured a “holiday” based thereon. This “holiday” has no connection to anything genuinely African. It's really nothing more than a celebration of the ego and racism of its creator."
So, Hallmark and everyone else who markets (or celebrates) this 'occasion', you've been duped.
Anyhow, back to today. Class was great. Worked with A but was totally in my head! Wanted to stop and over analyse everything which is what I'm not aiming for. Did the exercise again and left myself 'open' with a much better result.
Drove to rehearsal. Went very well. Blocked two songs and the first 10 minutes of the show. Found out that the run of shows in March are going to be 80 minutes long (as opposed to 18). Should make for a pretty frantic rehearsal schedule end of Feb!
Had an email from U about travelling to CR.. "these are the shots you're going to need... Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tetanus-diphtheria (If it's been more than 5 years), Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Polio Booster". Nice! at least there's no Malaria to worry about I suppose!
A little worried that there's still no contract with these guys. Emailed my agent and asked them to sort it.
Oh, potty training went a bit awry today. A few accidents (had some yesterday too)!

Hummm, Tuesday....
Play time, Stuff and rehearsal....
Oh, and more potty training!

R started wearing training pants today! I told him that he couldn't peep or poop in them! Left him in M's capable hands and I went off to class! Performed the scene with M and it seemed to go well! Going to do it again next week.
Drove down to Malibu to the Getty Villa. Introduced to the production team and we were given a tour. It is absolutely breathtaking! It is beautiful in so many ways. Superb exhibits in amazing rooms and chambers, some even purpose built for some of the larger pieces. The Villa itself was modelled on one which was lost to Vesuvius in 79AD. Recent additions include an impressive Amphitheatre and a superb indoor theatre (where we'll be doing the show).
Rehearsal went very well. We had a read through and then rehearsed the music for the opening number.
Wanted to mention Albert Owens and the Yang family. Do you know who they are? You should (Google them and find out...). Their killer was made out to be a hero today and there was no end of media whores to step into the limelight with the premise of supporting this non-person. Jesse Jackson (who had no idea who Albert Owens or the Yangfamily were either), Judge Mathias (whomever the hell he is), Snoop Dickhead Dog, Jamie Foxxxxxxx (how many 'x's are there in his name)? This whole circus was in support of a guy who killed four people and never even apologised for it.
Oh, and by the way, it's not Arnie's fault that this guy murdered four people. He was merely executing the law.

Lazy Sunday morning in WeHo... Monkey was up (yes, with a smelly bum, before you ask) and we had brekkie. Found an episode of Poirot playing on A&E so sat with a cuppa and watched it! Felt a little homesick when I saw a country cottage nestled on a sleepy river bank... there's so much that's so right with Old Blighty. Ah well... anyway, where were we? Ah yes, we visited the Zoo to checkout the Christmas decorations which were very, well, nice, I suppose. They did have a new stall full of reindeer which was very seasonal! They also had a 'cardboard antler colouring station' for the kids which was novel! None of the animals seemed to know it was almost Christmas though. One day is much like another when you're being oggled at by the strange clientele LA Zoo seems to attract in the main (Yours truly and kin excepted, of course). The Zoo does give you a brief escape from LA with some nice little alcoves among the animals (piccies above).
Home again to scene work for class (we're presenting it) and script read for Getty rehearsal (first one) tomorrow. Also wrote up a casting note for SG's film for class. Also need to update our movie collaboration site for my fellow movie makers in class. Let's do that now I think...