Saturday, May 30, 2009

Re-Gifting

Happy Birthday to me! It is midnight, the clock just turned to May 31st, and I am mumblemumble years old! I just got home a few minutes ago from hanging out with Eric in his neck of the woods, for what could be called a mutual birthday dinner, as he is a fellow Gemini, but what was basically just hanging out because we hadn't seen each other in awhile. I have done a complete turnaround from last night's rotten mood, which you don't know about because I was in too rotten of a mood to write, but trust me. Before I went to bed last night, I happened to check my horoscope online (Susan Miller is the best), and it said that come morning, Mercury would go direct (no longer be in retrograde). Now, I don't know exactly what "retrograde" means, as far as the physical sense of what happens to my ruling planet of Mercury, and just maybe after I finish writing this post I will Google it and tell you later (though of course if you are reading this, you either do know what it means or are probably Googling it yourself right now, so I may not bother). But what I DO know is that when Mercury is in retrograde, it not only screws things up for those signs like Gemini who are ruled by that planet, but for EVERYONE.

And Mercury has been in retrograde all month! So, if you have been in a bad mood, gained weight, lost a job, missed your flight, had a fight with your partner, kicked your cat, or gotten a speeding ticket - not your fault! Mercury was in retrograde!

But, finally, no mas! I'm in a good mood, all is right with the world, everything is coming up roses, and I can prove it! I had a VERY nice gift in my inbox when I got home (and NO, that is not a euphemism! Minds out of the gutter, please), and I am about to share it with you, and as you are such faithful readers, I am telling you FIRST. I am not calling Eric or Michelle or emailing all my actors, I am putting it out to you, right here, right now, right after I received this gift myself, I give it to you (and if those people love me anyway, they should have this blog wired somehow that a deafening alarm goes off on their cell phone every time I post something here):

"Smalltimore," has been accepted to the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival!

I can't tell you how excited I am about this! Best birthday weekend, and it has barely begun! Today I received a gorgeous floral arrangement from dear Mikey B., a box with gifts from my Mom, all from her recent trip to Russia, which included a fridge magnet, a bar of dark Russian chocolate, a silver ring, and best of all, a jar of real Russian caviar, of which I just indulged a celebrational spoonful! Plus got to hang out with Eric all evening, and tomorrow I am going to Charles Town Race Track with half a dozen friends for the Third Annual Duchess Stakes, a.k.a. Jeanie's (a.k.a. the Duchess of Mount Vernon) birthday, and have been promised several compilation CDs (my favorite birthday gift from my friends)!

AND my movie has been accepted at its second film festival!

Seriously, I need a moment (fans face with hands). And maybe another spoonful of caviar.

What is super-great about this, I hope, is that Philly is close enough that some of my cast, crew, friends, family, and fans can come to Philly and see "Smalltimore" in a festival atmosphere. I am leaving on Saturday for England, to go to our first fest, The Heart of England Festival, but unfortunately no one from the production could join me due to schedule and/or the expense. My friends Matthew and Jim are coming to Tamworth from London to see it with me, though, and I am looking forward to that.

But now I also get to look forward to seeing the film and having other people from the production (fingers crossed, I hope many of you will attend!) at a fun event that makes them feel like their efforts are appreciated by people other than me and our hometown fans.

There is something very special about having strangers approve of your creative work. Certain things in life you can only know if you experience them. There are some incredible, wonderful, exhilarating experiences that I will likely never have, and I know that no matter how much someone describes them to me, I won't get it - the birth a child, jumping out of an airplane, driving a race car 200+ miles an hour, winning the lottery... I can try to imagine it, but you just have to experience it. That doesn't make me jealous, I don't feel like I am missing out on anything, because those are things that, well, if you haven't done them then you don't know what you're missing so in effect you're not really missing out, in my opinion.

But, as an artist, I can tell you, if you are not an artist you will never know the joy of having a stranger "get it". It is wonderful to have your friends and family, all the people who love you, support you and tell you that you are wonderful and talented, and of course that counts for a whole lot. However, even if they are right, they are biased. They just are. But to have someone that you don't know from Adam tell you that whatever you created made them laugh, cry, or it somehow move them... feel it once, and you will live for those moments.

When I had my first B&W photography exhibit, my Dad wanted to be able to boast that he bought my first piece ever. He lived in Florida so he couldn't come to the show, so he had me pick out something that I thought would suit him. I chose an image of a stray black dog standing alone on a cobbled street in Pompeii, looking back at me over his shoulder. Something about his sad eyes, close to me in proximity but isolated, on some plane a world away, reminded me of my Father. It meant a lot to me that Daddy bought that picture. Over the phone I told him what the show price was and then told him the "family discount". He mailed me a check for the entire listed amount.

That was a special moment in my life, just like when my Mother more recently mailed me an unsolicited check to contribute towards the making of "Smalltimore". Those are things you never forget. But also are the moments you are totally unprepared for, like the first time a stranger bought a photograph of mine. Or the time that an artist, a good artist but someone I had never met before, bought a painting of mine, told me he loved it, had to have it. Within that exhibit I thought it was the worst of the bunch and was afraid it would out me as an imposter. Honestly, I don't even consider myself a painter. I couldn't believe it. I felt guilty taking his money, like I almost wanted to say, when you get home and realize it is a piece of crap, you can bring it to me for your money back. But I didn't say that, and I never saw the guy again.

I think most artists feel that way at first, and most artists have their first "stranger" sales burned into their brains. It makes you feel legit. At the "Smalltimore" premiere on May 3, in addition to all the love and energy that was created in that room by the people who know me and know how much I have put in and continue to put in to this production, I also got a charge and very much fed off of the good vibes I received from all the unfamiliar faces, many of whom approached me after the screening with warm, genuine smiles and handshakes.

So now I sally forth to Jolly Old England, not sure of what awaits me there. Will they get it? Will the American humor translate? I am excited, but also nervous. My game plan is that I arrive in Tamworth on Sunday, June 7th. This gives me three full days and nights to drink with as many locals as possible and bribe them to come to the screening. Marketing is a dirty job, but someone's got to do it. And since I will be the only Smalltimore rep there, I am the only one to do it!

I am so glad that the first (of many, knock on wood) domestic festival that "Smalltimore" will be screening in is in Philadelphia. I haven't spent a lot of time in Philly, but when I have been there, it seems to me to be a mash-up of both the best and worst parts of Pittsburgh and Baltimore. An observation, not a judgement. I like Philly, what I have seen of it. I am comfortable there and have always wanted to spend more time there, and now I have a chance to. That being said is simply a lengthy way of saying that, in addition to its geographical proximity to Baltimore, I think the mindset of people there is also similar, and I think (hope, pray) that a Philadelphia audience will "get it".

But I am fully prepared to get there early and drink with the locals in order to hedge my bets.


The Philadelphia Independent Film Festival is the weekend of June 25-28. Mark your calendars!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Break Over

Hey gang, sorry for the radio silence. I needed a serious break from both All Things Movie and All Things Computer. I have been so close to "Smalltimore" for so long that I needed to step back for a little perspective, and I had been spending so much time at the computer that I was on the verge of major carpal tunnel syndrome. My arms tingled from my wrists all the way up to my shoulders, especially in my right arm, which is the hand I use more when typing and exclusively for editing, and I was starting to feel sharp pains as well. This post is the last thing I plan on doing on the computer today, as I am starting to tingle again after being on the computer catching up with email etc. for the last hour or so. My friend Matthew and my Mom have both had surgery for carpal tunnel, and it is something I am most interested in avoiding.

SO, what is new in MovieLand? Well, last Friday I was interviewed by Tiffany Ariany (Angela) on a television program called "Media Matters" which focuses on international finance and media arts. We talked about how I found my investors and how "Smalltimore" managed to get into an international film festival. It was fun, and great to see Tiffany, I had not laid eyes on her since the screening of the rough cut in December. She and her Mom, Farah, both look like a million bucks, as always. Tiffany is co-producing and editing the program in addition to hosting it. I think she is barely 20 years old! Can't wait to ask her to hire me for something when she's 30 and ruling the world.

I have booked my plane ticket for England, to attend the Heart of England Film Festival in Tamworth, where "Smalltimore" screens on June 10th. I plan to be there a few days early to spend my evenings liquoring up the locals and convincing them to attend the screening. I am hoping that at least one of my stars will join me, but haven't had anyone confirm yet.

Found out that my job-job seems to be semi-secure at least until the end of summer (knock on wood). Really hoping I can stretch that out until the end of the calendar year and pay off a few more credit cards.

Waiting to hear back from some more film festivals. There are a few that I am REALLY hoping to get into, even though it may be tough to scrape the $$$ together to actually attend them. Had a huge yard sale last weekend that made enough cash to cover the rest of my hotel expenses in England, so that was good. And so successful that my neighbors and I plan on doing it monthly! Next sale, Sunday, June 28th, 9am-3pm, so mark your calendars!

Also of course I am teaching a one-day pre-production class at the Creative Alliance on Saturday, June 6th, 10am-4pm. If you are planning your own production soon, I promise you will learn enough in this class to save you enough time and money that the class will more than pay for itself - AND allow me to eat in England!

Wrist really starting to hurt, so signing off for now...

Friday, May 15, 2009

300!!!

is the number of fans we now have on our "Smalltimore, the Movie" Facebook page! I love milestones.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Press/ure



[Johnny Benson, Kelly Coston, and Phil Calvert at the sold-out Smalltimore premiere at the Wind-Up Space - photo by Richard Payne, who just covered the White House Correspondents Dinner - how 'bout them apples!]

I was quoted in this month's Baltimore Magazine, along with director Steve Yeager and Steve Ruback, with whom I am currently working as Assistant Director on Steve Yeager's movie "The Rosens":

http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/article.asp?t=1&m=1&c=30&s=487&ai=82629

Currently on my plate, I have to fix some sound glitches in the movie that are still driving me crazy, correct a few titles in the credits, cut a few lines that are dragging some scenes down, and swap a few scenes to make the pace a little better. Oh, and a couple more scenes need more attention to color correction. Then I SWEAR to GOD I am going to be finished with this damn thing.

THEN I have to flesh out my pre-production class that I will be teaching on Saturday, June 6, at the Creative Alliance. If you are planning to shoot your own feature or short, I hope you'll sign up! There is SO much that I wish someone would have told me before starting all this, a lot of things that I am very glad that I did that not everyone does, and some things that I didn't do that I wish I would have. And I'll be happy to tell you all about them! Sign up here:

http://www.creativealliance.org/events/eventItem1791.html

And THEN, I have to make my travel arrangements to go to England to attend the Heart of England Film Festival where Smalltimore will be screening. Did I mention that I have to leave Saturday, June 6? So I get to teach an all-day class, run home, walk the dogs and hand them over to my neighbor, grab my suitcase and get my butt to BWI!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Confusions of Grandeur



The Bentleys: Keith Bentley and Johnny Benson, who plays Keith Bentley - photo by Richard Payne at the "Smalltimore" premiere]

9 movies in 3 days at the Maryland Film Festival... I am about cinema'd out. Saw a couple flicks I REALLY enjoyed: "Stingray Sam," I think was my favorite, but "The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle," was also very good and absolutely hysterical. Since that one started 25 minutes late, I missed the first 25 minutes of "The Overbrook Brothers," but I went in anyway and I liked that one also.

I saw two documentaries, "Invisible Girlfriend," and "Rocaterrania." There were a few things about both of them that bugged me, but I thought they were both very good as well. I don't know if I would ever be interested in making a documentary. I think it would be a very difficult undertaking, and most documentaries, if you think about it, are about subjects that are somewhat sad, or politically controversial, or both. Those are exactly the sort of things that put a beat-down on my spirit. It takes so much blood, sweat, and tears to make any sort of movie. I don't know if I could (or would want to) put myself through an emotional wringer while trying to do that. I am too empathetic to people with problems, I don't know if I could make an objective production in those circumstances.

What else did I see... "Daytime Drinking," was good, but a bit too long, and I enjoyed, "Modern Love is Automatic," the closest thing the MFF had to a local production. I saw the John Waters' pick, "Love Songs," which was just okay in my opinion, and not nearly as good as "Sleeping Dogs Lie" two years ago (available at Video Americaine - RENT IT).

"Somers Town," was good. "Lightning Salad Motion Picture," not so much. I was really psyched to see this one, it sounded very "Kids in the Hall", and the creators of it were there and said a few words beforehand and they were cute and funny and energetic and I really WANTED to like this movie. I sat through the first half hour, laughed a few times but not nearly as many times as I think I was supposed to. I know I still have some sound issues to take care of in "Smalltimore," but the sound issues with "Lightning Salad" were beyond forgiveness. As the movie began painfully corkscrewing towards a major crash and burn, I kept trying to hang in there, but finally told myself, if I don't laugh in the next five minutes, I'm outta here. I don't know if I have ever walked out of a movie before, but five minutes later, that's what I did. I felt bad because those guys were in the audience, but it was seriously more than I could take. Maybe it is one of those movies that you need to be high for.

It was a good example, however, of a universal truth I am learning the hard way: when it comes to festivals, being weird is FAR more important than being good. I like seeing weird movies, but they have to be GOOD weird movies. OR I have to be very, very drunk.

Another thing that bugged me is that so many movies "Modern Love...", "Somers Town," "Invisible Girlfriend," seemed to put little to no thought into the ending of the film, they just sort of trail off... I don't think that is "artsy" any longer. I think it is played out. An ending to a movie doesn't have to be happy to be satisfactory. Make me laugh, make me cry, make me think, or leave me with a great big cliffhanger that makes me go, "GAH!!!", but make me feel SOMETHING.

Anyway... all in all, I had a good time at the MFF, and I saw 9 1/3 movies for $50 (I am a Friend of the Festival, so I got into any movies before 6:00pm on Friday for free), so you can't beat that. But it also showed me the difference between movies made for festivals and movies made for widespread distribution. I mean, I sort of knew that before, and Eric talks a lot about it, as he made a movie ("23 Hours") specifically for festivals, and did very well with it, including at Slamdance. But this was the first film festival I have attended since MAKING a movie. So it really brought it home.

Bleah. It's kind of confusing. It's like, what are your choices? Make a weird movie and have a better chance of getting into a film festival but little chance of getting real theater distribution. Make a normal, even watered-down movie that tries to please everyone and spend the majority of your budget to hire an A- or B-list actor so it has a chance at distribution. Or make a good movie with no major actors and have little chance of getting into festivals or widespread distribution!

Don't get me wrong. I'm proud of "Smalltimore," and given the chance, I don't think I'd do much differently. I'm still all over it and I think good things lie ahead. It just makes me think about what I want to do next.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Smalltimore Soundtrack Details Released!



[Soundtrack artists T.T.Tucker and Jen Swartout - photo by Richard Payne]

For all those who have been asking, here is the detailed list of the soundtrack and the artists' sites that you can find (most of) the songs on. Currently I have no plans to produce the soundtrack on CDs as that takes time and money I don't have at the moment. Plus, I'd like the artists to be able to get all the money themselves, and you can find some more of their songs that you like in the process! I will also try to keep you posted on the fan page as to when these bands and solo artists are performing locally. They are all even better in person, so please get out there and support them. A lot of them are on Facebook and MySpace, friend them so you can keep up with them also.

Here you go, the info you need to create your own soundtrack! I've identified the scenes so that I don't release any spoilers, but if you have seen the movie you will know what I am talking about. Enjoy!

T.T.Tucker & the Bum Rush Band
www.tttucker.com
Natty Boh (opening scene at Dougherty's)
That Was Then/This Is Now (1st scene at Wind-Up)
How Did We Survive (2nd scene at Wind-up)
Garden of Stone (3rd scene at Wind-Up)
See You On the Other Side (not yet released)(driving scene)
Move It Along (background at party)
Looking at You, Looking at Me (background at party)
America Is One Tough Town (not yet released)(final Tucker song at party)

The Remnants
www.theremnants.com, also on FB and MySpace
Nobody Home (Wind-Up background into 1st scene at gallery)
Wastin' Time (1st date scene on couch)
Save The World (Dougherty's scene with the Voice of Reason)
Small Circles (background song at Dougherty's)
Easier (confrontation scene at Gracie's house)
Everything's Good (Drew & Thom's heart-to-heart into Monument scene)
I'm a Man (Tony's front porch)
Ain't Got a Lot (Wind-Up Space background, Darik exits)
One Horse Town (Wind-Up Space background, Gracie & Thom talk)
Stand My Ground (Wind-Up Space, band exits)
Take This Ride (Courthouse ext into party scene)

Jen Swartout
www.myspace.com/jenswartout (also on FB)
Tell Her This (Darik & Gracie talk at Dougherty's)
She's So Beautiful (Gracie arrives at Mel's apartment)
Easter Sunday (post-fight montage)

Joyce J. Scott
(no website but I can connect you if you'd like her CD)
Breathe (Mrs. T's discovery)
Ho, Sally (Mrs. T's snack)
Crimes (Committed in the Name of Love)(finale)

Niki Lee
www.nikilee.com
Bohemia (opening credits)
Patterson Place (background song at party)
Triolets (slow dance at party)

Lawnchair
www.myspace.com/lawnchair
Top Down (background at 1st scene in Dougherty's)
Hard to Swallow (parking lot fight)

The Degenerettes
www.thedegenerettes.com
Get Out (first date dinner)
Baltimore (sushi restaurant)

Lauren Young (also on FB)
www.myspace.com/laurenyoungmusic
Second Best (pool room at Dougherty's)
Pretty Girls (Tony's front porch,morning)

Lazerbitch (also on FB)
www.myspace.com/lazerbitch
Do Me Wrong (Dionysus scene, Angela arrives)

Reina Williams
www.myspace.com/reinawilliams (also on FB)
Just Move (Wind-Up scene into Bentley's apartment)

and

Brynn McCoy
(contact Reina for this one, as she produced it)
Fuck You (Angela and Drew talk at Dougherty's)

Afterglow/Aftermath



[Sold-out crowd at The Wind-Up Space for Smalltimore Premiere - photo by Richard Payne]

Breathing is... nice! And so very foreign to me these days. Monday morning, post-premiere, was not all that rough though I did sleep in until it was time to go to lunch with my friend Shawn (a.k.a. prom date). When he hit the road, I had only a couple hours before going to the CAmm Salon/Cinelounge at the Creative Alliance. If you are a filmmaker, actor, musician, crew member, anyone involved whatsoever (or wants to be) in the filmmaking community of Baltimore, you really need to start going to this. It happens the first Monday of the month, and it is a great way to network and to keep your finger on the pulse of what is going on in the community, plus you get to see several shorts, and who doesn't love shorts!

Yesterday, Tuesday, I finally just BREATHED DEEP. Wrote a few quick emails, avoided the phone, and watched about 6 episodes of Law & Order, and also two episodes online of Rescue Me that I had missed while I was in Seattle. Damn, I love that show.

It was nice, just to chill, not to be on a crushing deadline or feeling guilty because I don't have time to hang out with friends. Just take a day to myself. Today will be a bit more of that, but have to do some real work at my day job, too. I'd like to keep that for awhile longer!

Last night I spent some time seriously slogging through the Film Guide on the website of the Maryland Film Festival, which kicks off tonight. I have to admit, they have some really interesting flicks in there and I am looking forward to seeing several of them. Still stings a bit that I wasn't invited in, but I am pretty well over it, especially considering that I met my goal of being able to cover my flight to London for The Heart of England Film Festival with my take at the door of the "Smalltimore" Premiere. Wouldn't have seen a dime if it had premiered at MFF instead. I do know some other local filmmakers (lots of them actually, since only one local-ish feature film is in the MFF, out of about 90 time slots) who are also disappointed in not getting into the MFF, and some of them are boycotting it because of this. I understand that and I won't deny I considered doing so myself. But once the bruises to your ego heal, you have to look at the big picture. MFF never claimed to be a festival about Maryland films. They even make a point of saying exactly that on their website. It is simply a film festival that happens to take place in Maryland. They are bringing some amazing films to Baltimore, many of which have already done well in the big three, Tribeca, Toronto, and Sundance. I am not going to cut off my nose to spite my face and miss what is likely my only opportunity to see these films on the big screen. Also I have some friends that work for the festival that have been very supportive of me (who were not decision-makers regarding my entry) and they have worked really hard to make this a great event. I've been to it before and it gets better every year. Sometimes you just have to get over yourself, and see the blessing in disguise. I had a SOLD OUT premiere on a night that was mine and all mine; and I'm going to England.

I got an email this morning from the Red Rock Film Festival of Zion Canyon, saying that "Smalltimore," had made it through to the second round. Red Rock is only in its third year, and before finding it on withoutabox.com I had never heard of it. But there are several reasons I submitted to it: 1) I have never been to Zion National Park, where the festival is held; 2) when I saw the outdoor screen when I clicked on their website (http://www.ophilia.com/), I really, REALLY wanted to see my movie on that screen, and 3) it was super-cheap to submit. Like, two cosmopolitans, not including tip. I didn't go out last night, so it just paid for itself!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Smashing Smalltimore Success!

My goodness. I am still on a high, last night was SOOOOOOOO much fun! What was equally great was seeing loads of faces that I know and loads of faces that I don't know, but everyone seeming to have an equally good time. It was the first time I have shown the movie to an audience that was not entirely biased. That's the real test. Of course my friends, my family, and the cast and crew who helped me to make the film are going to say nice things about it, and that is always good to hear, but the ultimate goal of any artist is to have a total stranger love your work. And I had a lot of strangers come up to talk to me after the film with smiles on their faces.

The two questions asked most often were, "When can I buy it on DVD?" and "How can I get the soundtrack?" The answer to the first question is, probably about six months from now, but definitely in time for Christmas, so start thinking about all your Baltimoron friends, here as well as scattered about the country, who would love to have this movie in their Christmas stocking!

The answer to the second question is: click on the links to the musicians websites on the right side of this very page you are reading, buy their music and create your own soundtrack! Some of them have downloadable clips, and some are on CDbaby so you can buy just the songs you want or their whole CDs. Of course I recommend doing the latter!

I can't even count how many compliments I got on the music as well as the movie. During the screening, I heard someone behind me say to her friend, "This music is REALLY good." It is one of the things I am most proud of about the film, and I love that people are both surprised and excited about it all being original music by Baltimore artists. 37 songs! That's a box set.

Speaking of music, as in "music to my ears," another thing I heard from a lot of different people was that they loved that it was SO Baltimore. Again, I was glad to hear this from the people who live here and feel it was authentic and I did them proud, but also from people who came in from out of town to see the movie, people who don't know much about this city, who said to me that from the film they had a very clear sense of the Baltimore that I was trying to show them, and they liked it. That made me very happy.

There were a few sound glitches that surprised me, because I literally got done burning the DVD at 6:35pm and we started the film around 7:15pm! I keep telling you I am an 11th-hour kind of gal, but this was extreme even for me. Eric came to the show, and afterwards I was kind of joking about it, but I was upset that the last song, where Joyce sings, was partially screwed up. Eric kinda yelled at me, not real yelling, but my procrastination annoys him a little, I think. Since I didn't have time to proof the DVD, it bit me in the ass because, "You ALWAYS do this!" he said. Yea, I said, but I always seem to pull it off. Almost every friend of mine that is an artist of any walk of life is the same way. If we didn't have deadlines, we'd never get anything done. Anyway, I think the gag reel saved me a bit because then everyone had a good laugh at the end while the credits rolled, and I think that helped them to forgive the glitches. I hope so, anyway.

I will fix them soon, but I gotta tell ya, I am SO glad to not look at it for at least two weeks. The premiere was a big step and a big event, and I am ecstatic at the turnout as well as how well it was received. I did feel badly that there was not enough seating for everyone and that I couldn't reserve seats for everyone who worked on the film, but I DID tell everyone a million times to get there early, and I am just glad that Russell didn't make me turn people away at the door. The Wind-Up Space's capacity is 240 people, and we were VERY close to that mark, and that head count doesn't usually include dozens of folding chairs.

So, like I said, I am glad to step away from it for a bit, but there was so much fantastic energy in that room that I do look forward to the fall when I can have the DVD release party. I don't know the venue yet, but I promise to have it at a proper theater with seating for all!

Thanks once again to everyone - the cast, the crew, the artists, the musicians, and my friends who loaned me their homes and businesses as locations, and thanks to everyone who came out last night and made the evening such a success! Is this a great town or what?!?!

W to the O to the WOW!!!

FANTASTIC turnout last night. Over 200 people crushed into the Wind-Up Space for the premiere!!! I am exhausted but so, so happy :) WIll write lots more later, going to have lunch with my prom date soon.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

KFJ

That would be me - cuz I am FRIED. And yet wired! Spread myself waaaay too thin this weekend, but didn't have much of a choice in the matter. How could I resist being A.D. (Asst Director) on a Steve Yeager project? It has been a lot of fun, but there is a familiar ache in my feet. 10 hours yesterday, another 10 today, smack after getting home from Seattle. Really should not have said I could work in the morning tomorrow also, but I did, so I will. I would never back out on a commitment like that.

Two of my most FAVORITE friends from HIGH SCHOOL are on their way to my place at this very minute!!! Going out to dinner with them shortly. It really means the world to me that they are coming all the way to see me and the premiere. One of them, Shawn, was actually my prom date! I haven't seen him in (mumblemumble) years! The other, Mark, a.k.a. Acey Baby, I saw in March for the first time in almost as many years, though i did see him more recently than Shawn. It was as if no time had passed at all. Ya gotta love those kinds of friends the most.

SO looking forward to the premiere tomorrow and SO have no idea how I am going to find the time to pull it off! Somehow I always seem to manage, though. I work best with deadlines, and I am more likely to stay out of trouble when I am busy. So I certainly have nailed those two criteria this weekend!

See YOU tomorrow!!!