I'm completely lazy and don't really feel like blogging, but before I let too much time slip by again between posts, I figure I should take a few moments to whip something up.
Now, in my last couple posts I kept meaning to share our plans for the new year, but I blabbered on much too long about other stuff, and then never got around to writing about our future plans. So. In case it wasn't already obvious, Jim n' I have decided that it probably makes sense to move closer to the coast.
The way we're looking at it, even after editing is complete at the end of February, the year ahead is going to require numerous trips west for meetings and screenings as the process continues. Colour correcting, sound mixing, visual fx, and score -- all of which will need to be done before June, and half of which will likely require Jim's involvement in some way big or small.
Not to mention, over the last couple of months we've both made a number of industry contacts, and we recognize that it might be good to relocate while those connections are still warm. For instance, one of our set decorating guys was telling Jim that he'd like to bring him on set for the next movie he's working on. It's a big budget film being produced by the Weinstein brothers. And while it's only an invite to check out the set, it's one of those unique chances to network that wouldn't exist if we lived in Kelowna. It also makes you think, what other opportunities might be around the corner if we lived closer to the coast?
Then again, if we're completely honest with ourselves, all sources indicate that the *real* opportunities aren't found in Vancouver at all. Maybe if you're a grip or an electrician... However, if you want to take your career as a director, writer or producer seriously, you gotta move to L.A.
But one step at a time.
We have no reason to go south yet. We'd prefer to wait n' see what kind of buzz DE generates at the festivals first, and we'll take it from there. Our guts will tell us what to do when the time comes. Truthfully, neither of us are keen to go south. L.A. just sounds so phony n' smoggy n' blegh... so not B.C. Yet it's one of those things that if and when the time comes, we'll have to weigh the sacrifice vs. possible gain. Anyway, that kind of leap is at least a year or two from now. For now, we're going to take the first logical baby step by heading to the coast.
Well, sorta the coast....
Our little girl actor's mother owns a condo in Coquitlam (which is just on the outskirts of Vancouver). It was damaged in a building fire a year n' a half ago, and is almost done being restored. They just have to move the new appliances in. She offered it to Jim n' I for a song. Sure, it's much smaller than where we're living now in Kelowna.... but it's also cheaper. And she's willing to rent it out to us for a good $300 less than what she could be asking, just because she really likes us. (I think she's super cool too, and would make a fabulous landlady.)
We've seen a few pictures, and the place looks very nice n' cozy. (I've always wanted a fireplace! :) I also did some Googling on Coquitlam condo fires and managed to nail down the exact location. We scoped out the neighbourhood a few weeks ago, and it's pretty swanky and close to lots of amenities. There's a hot tub and gym on site, and it's pet friendly too. Anyway, we will check the place out first hand when we return. In the meantime, I've done a lot of surfing on Craigslist and Kijiji and it really sounds like our best bet. I also believe that when the universe places a great opportunity right in your lap, it's for a reason. I know it's where we're meant to live.
Of course it's only a one bedroom, which'll mean significantly downsizing our lives. Fortunately, I had already started a big purge before we left for Maple Ridge back in September. As I've mentioned before, there's something very liberating about just getting rid of everything. We accumulate so much crap that we don't need - it feels good to shed it all and just let go.
But even with my urge to purge, I'll admit that only a couple weeks ago, I wasn't quite as keen about the prospect of a big move. Mainly because Jim will still be editing when the condo becomes available, and I'll probably have to fly home a week before him to start packing. (And to those who have already offered to help or were planning to, I mean this will all sincerity - thanks but no thanks. I do not need any help. We just have tooooo much shit to get rid of, and anyone else puttering around would only be in my way. I've done the pack n' purge party before, and it wasn't a good experience....)
Anyway, like I was about to say, I know that looking at the whole ordeal from a dark and dreading perspective won't help us get over this hump any easier... so I've started looking at the bright side. For example, we can finally leave behind our hideous, piece o' shit dressers and pick up a nice new one after we move! Also, I will finally have the power to convince Jim to let go of some of his closet clutter! I've made him cleanse his closets a few times in the past, and I'll give him some credit that he's done well -- but he's still much more sentimental than I am when it comes to clinging to old magazines and other nicknack nonsense. Although I might let him hang on to his massive collection of Archie comics, since he still reads them from time to time.
A side note: Did you know Jim and Jay still own every single Archie comic they've had since childhood - and they started collecting them before they could read!? Yeah... I'm not kidding. I can't remember if Jay took half the collection with him when he moved in with Cheryl, or if he dropped his half of the collection off with us. Either way, Jim's has HUNDREDS of them stacked up (neatly, thank goodness) on his side of our bedroom closet. Hey, there's another bonus of moving -- Coquitlam has an Ikea! Maybe we can get him a nice closet/comic organizer. :)
Anyhow, I'm trying to stay positive and look at this move more like an adventure than an expensive hassle. When I think about it, the last time I was this comfortable in my lifestyle, I instinctively knew that it was holding me back. I forced myself to move and saw my world change in incredible ways. This moment in time feels very much the same. We're so comfortable here in Kelowna, but we can only move forward by pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zone. Even if it's just Coquitlam for now and L.A. later (if ever), who knows how our lives may unexpectedly change for the better with just a 250 mile shift to the west.
So yeah... I guess that's my new year's news. Change is in the air. A move is on the horizon. And I truly believe the best is yet to come.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Christmas List
Okay, even though I should be blogging about our plans for the new year, or buying a Christmas gift for Jim, or doing any number of things to prepare for our trip home on Friday, instead I've been battling some sort of cold-in-waiting-achy-something-or-other the last couple days, and so I think I'm gonna indulge my almost-sick, lazy, achy side and just amuse myself by blogging about something fun. (And then I might consider pulling my groggy ass off the couch, getting some fresh air, and buying Jim his Christmas present, before I run out of time and we're back in Kelowna and I can't find said Christmas gift anywhere in town...)
Anyhow, I was just over at my friend Janet's blog, and around this time of year a lot of the bloggers on that site like to post fun little survey games, like the one I'm about to do below. I think I'd be cool to read some of your answers too, if you're feeling so inclined to put them in the comments section, in a FB note, or on your own blog. But no pressure... it can be a real time-waster. (Or perhaps that's all the more reason to do it.)
Here we go!
Favourite Colour - Pink. The brighter the better. I would have a pink tree if Jim didn't find it so darn girly. Instead ours has red, white, silver and clear ornaments. And you know what I just realized -- together red, white, silver and clear make up bright metallic pink! Ha. So we DO have a pink tree after all... kinda. ;)
Anyway, pink was never my favourite colour until my life when through a big transformation a number of years ago. Suddenly I found that I couldn't get enough of it! I bought a pink mug, a pink jacket, I painted in pink. Pink, pink, pink. Everything new that I purchased was pink. Interestingly enough, Janet also listed pink as becoming her new favourite colour after a similar experience. But I think it makes sense... A few weeks ago when I was discussing my affinity for pink with Kerry, she pointed out that pink is the colour of self-love. That explains a lot. A fresh start in life, giving way to a new-found sense of self-love.
I don't care what anyone says, pink is where it's at! :)
Favourite Decoration - This little metal Santa Claus that when you pull the string between his legs (that sounds dirty, doesn't it?) his limbs all move. I think he's kinda neat. We bought him on our wedding day at a Christmas store in Salzburg. (Yes, we got married in the morning, and then went souvenir shopping in the afternoon. Is that so unusual?) When we got home, I wrote our wedding date on the back of him. BTW, we got married in September not December -- those Germans just really love their Christmas ornaments. (There was a year-round Easter-themed store too!)
Favourite Hymn - O Holy Night. I don't know what it is about that song, but it gives me shivers every time. One of my favourite versions is by Billy Gilman. I don't know who he is, except that we thought that little girl had the voice of an angel. And then we discovered that it was a little boy. Yeah... I can tell the difference (now). And say what you will, but Celine Dion does an especially powerful rendition as well. The lady's got pipes!
Favourite Secular Song - Happy Xmas (War is Over) by John and Yoko. Love that song.
And coming in second place, Baby It's Cold Outside by Dean Martin.
And while we're on the topic of Secular Christmas songs, I just learned last week that Santa Baby is sung by Madonna. Did you know that? I always thought it was super old. Anyway, I kinda like that one too.
Favourite Classical Song - Oh, I have so many, but I think I'll choose I'll Be Home For Christmas by Frank Sinatra. It's just so sad. And everyone wants to feel sad at Christmastime, right? Ha.
Oh wait, my other favourite classical song is Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Judy Garland. That's a sad one too. I don't know why, but I really love sad Christmas songs.
BTW, what's the difference between secular and classical? Who makes up these surveys anyway?
Despised Song - I don't know. The 12 Days of Christmas is probably my least favourite. Isn't it everyone's least favourite? It just goes on and on and on.... Although I have to admit that I don't mind it so much when John Denver and the muppets sing it. But what can I say? I'm a muppet lover.
Tree Topper -A flashy white star.
Christmas Singer (Male) - I don't know. I'm not partial to any one singer, I just like certain songs. Most of our music is just a random mixed bag we've collected through the years, and not any one artist in particular, except the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack, The Barenaked Ladies, Garth Brooks and Elvis. Okay, for the sake of putting down an answer, let's just say Elvis is my favourite male singer. (That'll make Mom C happy, I'm sure... ;)
Christmas Singer (Female) - As above, so below. (No, I don't mean Elvis. But that I don't have any favourite female Christmas singers.)
Reindeer - Rudolph. I mean really, who answers Blitzen or Donner? They were just a bunch of bullies - especially that Olive.
Story - I don't know. I don't really have a favourite for this one. What are my choices here? The Christmas Story from the Bible or Twas the Night Before Christmas? I don't really know of any others...
I've reenacted the Christmas story countless times, during many years of Sunday School pageants -- but always with my mind focused on getting that big bag o' candy at the end of the night. Right, Jode? That was the best! Although I'm sure the bags weren't really as huge as I remember. Meanwhile, Twas the Night is fine n' all, but it never really was part of my childhood. So I guess by default, the Christmas Story it is.
Movie - Scrooged. LOVE that movie. Elf is a close second, but Scrooged holds a special place in my heart, because I've adored it since I was a kid. It's creepy enough to be by Tim Burton, but was actually directed by Richard Donner. (The guy who brought you such classics as Superman, Leather Weapon and the Goonies.) If you haven't seen it, well, then you should. Bill Murray at his caustic finest. And I also love Bobcat Goldthwait. You don't see enough of that guy anymore.
T.V. Animation - Easy. Charlie Brown Christmas. Next.
This video might be getting old, but it's so well done, I think it's still worth posting.
Dinner - I don't know if I have a favourite Christmas dinner, per se. Even though I'm a foodie, I find that it's the atmosphere that is most memorable. I have many fond memories of Christmas as a child, sitting at the kid's table in Grandpa Junop's kitchen, listening to the adults cackle from the dining room, and Uncle Neil laugh at his own jokes long after everyone else has stopped. Ha. But that could be applied to any number of gatherings.
I also always enjoyed Jim's late Grandma Alvina's tradition of having a little glass (or two or three) of Aquavit with dinner to "help digestion so you can eat more"-- probably because the stuff is so strong is just burns through everything your stomach. Still, I always found it an entertaining way to break up dinner, as two or three times through the meal, we'd stop, refill our glasses, toast "skoal", throw back a shot, and refill our plates. Kinda fun. :)
Dessert - Again, no desserts really stand out for me. Pumpkin pie is always great, no matter who makes it. But you don't have to wait for Christmas to have some.
Beverage - Hot apple cider. The kind that has been steeping on the stove all day, with cinnamon sticks and cloves. Tasty goodness. My dad always made really great apple cider.
Snack/Treat - While Cheryl's almond rocca is amazing, one piece is more than enough for me. Otherwise, my taste buds prefer to lick the savory side of the spoon. I can have a plate of sweets sit in front of me all day long, and won't touch it until I get tired of the sweet tooth candy pushers constantly asking, "Have you had any yet? Take one. There's tarts in the kitchen. There's a box of chocolates on the table. Take some. Why aren't you having any? Have one before they're all gone. They're so good. You really should try them. So-n-so made them his/herself. Just have one. " Jim is among the worst of these candy pusher culprits, but he is definitely not alone. Honestly, I think the sweet tooth clan does it to ease their own guilt. Not that I'm judging their sugary indulgences... Hell no! Set me down next to a plate of fancy cheeses, olives n' crusty bread and you'll see who is the Christmas Carb Queen!
So, I guess my final answer to this question is my favourite snack or treat is not chocolate, but cheese. Cheese balls. Seven layer taco dip. Feta-stuffed olives. Dill havarti. Jalapeno jack. Fig and toasted almond brie. Ooooh! Lay it all on me, baby! I love me some cheese!
Oh, I really like spinach dip with water chestnuts in a sour dough bread bowl too.
Childhood Gift - I've been told that the toy I was most excited to receive was a Cookie Monster doll when I was three. I have very vague memories of this gift, but those memories might only be lasting impressions from the faded photo where I'm holding it up in front of my face, shaking. (Yeah, I used to shake like an epileptic when I got excited. Someone once asked my parents if I was having a seizure. Nope. I was just happy.)
But the one childhood gift that I actually do remember, and not just by photograph, was a dollhouse my Grandma Krieger made for my sister n' I. Actually, my Grandpa Krieger might've been the one to actually build it, but it's been so long, I can't remember for sure. I think he must have... What I do recall for certain is that Grandma let Amy n' I choose the colours for the exterior of the house and for each room. I don't know if we knew that the doll house was for us (I don't think we did), but I remember being excited because Grandma had hundreds of colours of paint to choose from, and WE got to choose! Yes-sir-ee, very exciting stuff, I tell you.
Anyhow, when we eventually received the house at Christmas time, we were given all these little boxes of fancy antique-style doll furniture to go with it. I specifically remember there being a set of real China plates - only doll size, and a black velour chaise lounge. It was pretty awesome.
Adulthood Gift - Does our engagement count? My ring wasn't exactly a Christmas gift, but Jim proposed after our Christmas party, so I think it's close enough. Plus, neither of us wanted a showy Christmas-morning-everyone-watching-as-I-unwrapped-the-last-gift-under-the-tree sort of engagement. Blegh. (No offense to those who may have got engaged that way.) We had discussed that if and when we got engaged, we wanted to keep it just between the two of us. (Much like our wedding...) So, Jim proposing two weeks before Christmas was a perfect gift in itself. :)
Best Santa Claus - My dad. And might I add, jeez louise, were we ever a bunch of stupid kids, because we fell for it every single year. Ha.
Y'see, every year after Christmas Eve service, Jodie's dad (Uncle Dave) and my dad would have to "attend a meeting" at the church. So the rest of us would all head back to Grandpa n' Grandma Junop's house, and lo n' behold, who would soon come knocking on the door with gifts for all the kids? But Santa Claus, of course!
The three of us (Amy, Jodie n' I) would get all dizzy with excitement, as we each took a turn on Santa's knee, where he'd then tell us things that only we would know - which further verified that he was always watching. I recall Santa once telling me that when I was born, my dad exclaimed, "Oh no! It's a girl!" I remember being all amazed, and turning to the adults in the room saying, "Yes! YES! That is what daddy said!" (My dad use to jokingly tell me that from time to time... I guess I believed him - and Santa too.)
Anyway, Santa would give us each a present that we were allowed to open right away. (I still maintain the tradition of opening one small gift on Christmas Eve to this day.) Then shortly after he left, Dad n' Uncle David would show up. And just like the Polkaroo, they missed him again!
When I got older, I eventually learned that our fathers did in fact have a meeting at the church after Christmas Eve service. As it turns out, members of the official board (or at least some kind volunteers) would dress up as Santa and go around visiting the homes of Sunday School students -- which I have to say is a pretty awesome thing to do. While Christmas Eve is still my favourite over Christmas Day, it's never been the same without the excitement of a visit from the man in red himself. We were pretty lucky kids.
Memorable Moment - Well, I think I just shared my most memorable moment. A visit from Santa every Christmas Eve is pretty awesome. I also think that Christmas Eve was the only time I actually didn't mind going to church. The sermon wasn't preachy. There was a pretty tree, and lots of decorations and candles. And the choir would always sing O Holy Night. That was probably the best part of all. :)
Outdoor Activity - Umm... I hibernate during the winter. I enjoy sledding and tubing, although I rarely ever, ever go. And I would love to build a snowman again someday but there's either A) not enough snow or B) it isn't sticky enough. Someday...
Best 12 Days? - I don't know, I guess it depends on what those nine pipers have in their pipes? Ha. Okay, seriously (because y'know, this is such a serious decision!) I guess either two turtle doves because they sound sorta cute, or fiiiiiiiiive gooooooooold riiiiiiiiiings, because who wouldn't like fiiiiiiiiive gooooooood riiiiiiiiiings? But make mine white gold please.
Tree? - Absolutely. I can't wait to get back to Kelowna to put it up!!
Cards - Usually. But not this year. I don't think we'll even have our Christmas shopping done on time. Thank goodness for the magic of the internet - eCards, it is! (And save a tree in the process.)
Lights? - We don't bother putting lights outside, but we do string 'em around our apartment. And even though our tree is pre-lit, we string some extra coloured ones around it as well. Can never have too many pretty, sparkly lights!
White? - White what? A white Christmas? Maybe? It sounds like Kelowna has gotten some snow. Although it's as green as green can be here in Maple Ridge.
Fruitcake? - Um. No thanks. It's not the worst thing in the world, but not my favourite either. I received one for Christmas last year (or maybe that was the year before?) and it's still sitting in our freezer. I usually find it too dry n' meh. But I was at a Christmas craft show a few weeks back, and tried a sample of some there, and man, it was actually super melt in your mouth moist and really quite flavourful n' good. I think that's probably how fruitcake is supposed to taste. But I didn't want to spend any money on a loaf when I have an aging frost-bitten loaf at home.
Okay, so that only took me all friggin' afternoon. Guess I won't be going out to get Jim's gift today after all. But I'm still feeling blegh, so I probably wouldn't have anyway, even if I didn't blog the day away.
Anyhow, I was just over at my friend Janet's blog, and around this time of year a lot of the bloggers on that site like to post fun little survey games, like the one I'm about to do below. I think I'd be cool to read some of your answers too, if you're feeling so inclined to put them in the comments section, in a FB note, or on your own blog. But no pressure... it can be a real time-waster. (Or perhaps that's all the more reason to do it.)
Here we go!
Favourite Colour - Pink. The brighter the better. I would have a pink tree if Jim didn't find it so darn girly. Instead ours has red, white, silver and clear ornaments. And you know what I just realized -- together red, white, silver and clear make up bright metallic pink! Ha. So we DO have a pink tree after all... kinda. ;)
Anyway, pink was never my favourite colour until my life when through a big transformation a number of years ago. Suddenly I found that I couldn't get enough of it! I bought a pink mug, a pink jacket, I painted in pink. Pink, pink, pink. Everything new that I purchased was pink. Interestingly enough, Janet also listed pink as becoming her new favourite colour after a similar experience. But I think it makes sense... A few weeks ago when I was discussing my affinity for pink with Kerry, she pointed out that pink is the colour of self-love. That explains a lot. A fresh start in life, giving way to a new-found sense of self-love.
I don't care what anyone says, pink is where it's at! :)
Favourite Decoration - This little metal Santa Claus that when you pull the string between his legs (that sounds dirty, doesn't it?) his limbs all move. I think he's kinda neat. We bought him on our wedding day at a Christmas store in Salzburg. (Yes, we got married in the morning, and then went souvenir shopping in the afternoon. Is that so unusual?) When we got home, I wrote our wedding date on the back of him. BTW, we got married in September not December -- those Germans just really love their Christmas ornaments. (There was a year-round Easter-themed store too!)
Favourite Hymn - O Holy Night. I don't know what it is about that song, but it gives me shivers every time. One of my favourite versions is by Billy Gilman. I don't know who he is, except that we thought that little girl had the voice of an angel. And then we discovered that it was a little boy. Yeah... I can tell the difference (now). And say what you will, but Celine Dion does an especially powerful rendition as well. The lady's got pipes!
Favourite Secular Song - Happy Xmas (War is Over) by John and Yoko. Love that song.
And coming in second place, Baby It's Cold Outside by Dean Martin.
And while we're on the topic of Secular Christmas songs, I just learned last week that Santa Baby is sung by Madonna. Did you know that? I always thought it was super old. Anyway, I kinda like that one too.
Favourite Classical Song - Oh, I have so many, but I think I'll choose I'll Be Home For Christmas by Frank Sinatra. It's just so sad. And everyone wants to feel sad at Christmastime, right? Ha.
Oh wait, my other favourite classical song is Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Judy Garland. That's a sad one too. I don't know why, but I really love sad Christmas songs.
BTW, what's the difference between secular and classical? Who makes up these surveys anyway?
Despised Song - I don't know. The 12 Days of Christmas is probably my least favourite. Isn't it everyone's least favourite? It just goes on and on and on.... Although I have to admit that I don't mind it so much when John Denver and the muppets sing it. But what can I say? I'm a muppet lover.
Tree Topper -A flashy white star.
Christmas Singer (Male) - I don't know. I'm not partial to any one singer, I just like certain songs. Most of our music is just a random mixed bag we've collected through the years, and not any one artist in particular, except the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack, The Barenaked Ladies, Garth Brooks and Elvis. Okay, for the sake of putting down an answer, let's just say Elvis is my favourite male singer. (That'll make Mom C happy, I'm sure... ;)
Christmas Singer (Female) - As above, so below. (No, I don't mean Elvis. But that I don't have any favourite female Christmas singers.)
Reindeer - Rudolph. I mean really, who answers Blitzen or Donner? They were just a bunch of bullies - especially that Olive.
Story - I don't know. I don't really have a favourite for this one. What are my choices here? The Christmas Story from the Bible or Twas the Night Before Christmas? I don't really know of any others...
I've reenacted the Christmas story countless times, during many years of Sunday School pageants -- but always with my mind focused on getting that big bag o' candy at the end of the night. Right, Jode? That was the best! Although I'm sure the bags weren't really as huge as I remember. Meanwhile, Twas the Night is fine n' all, but it never really was part of my childhood. So I guess by default, the Christmas Story it is.
Movie - Scrooged. LOVE that movie. Elf is a close second, but Scrooged holds a special place in my heart, because I've adored it since I was a kid. It's creepy enough to be by Tim Burton, but was actually directed by Richard Donner. (The guy who brought you such classics as Superman, Leather Weapon and the Goonies.) If you haven't seen it, well, then you should. Bill Murray at his caustic finest. And I also love Bobcat Goldthwait. You don't see enough of that guy anymore.
T.V. Animation - Easy. Charlie Brown Christmas. Next.
This video might be getting old, but it's so well done, I think it's still worth posting.
Dinner - I don't know if I have a favourite Christmas dinner, per se. Even though I'm a foodie, I find that it's the atmosphere that is most memorable. I have many fond memories of Christmas as a child, sitting at the kid's table in Grandpa Junop's kitchen, listening to the adults cackle from the dining room, and Uncle Neil laugh at his own jokes long after everyone else has stopped. Ha. But that could be applied to any number of gatherings.
I also always enjoyed Jim's late Grandma Alvina's tradition of having a little glass (or two or three) of Aquavit with dinner to "help digestion so you can eat more"-- probably because the stuff is so strong is just burns through everything your stomach. Still, I always found it an entertaining way to break up dinner, as two or three times through the meal, we'd stop, refill our glasses, toast "skoal", throw back a shot, and refill our plates. Kinda fun. :)
Dessert - Again, no desserts really stand out for me. Pumpkin pie is always great, no matter who makes it. But you don't have to wait for Christmas to have some.
Beverage - Hot apple cider. The kind that has been steeping on the stove all day, with cinnamon sticks and cloves. Tasty goodness. My dad always made really great apple cider.
Snack/Treat - While Cheryl's almond rocca is amazing, one piece is more than enough for me. Otherwise, my taste buds prefer to lick the savory side of the spoon. I can have a plate of sweets sit in front of me all day long, and won't touch it until I get tired of the sweet tooth candy pushers constantly asking, "Have you had any yet? Take one. There's tarts in the kitchen. There's a box of chocolates on the table. Take some. Why aren't you having any? Have one before they're all gone. They're so good. You really should try them. So-n-so made them his/herself. Just have one. " Jim is among the worst of these candy pusher culprits, but he is definitely not alone. Honestly, I think the sweet tooth clan does it to ease their own guilt. Not that I'm judging their sugary indulgences... Hell no! Set me down next to a plate of fancy cheeses, olives n' crusty bread and you'll see who is the Christmas Carb Queen!
So, I guess my final answer to this question is my favourite snack or treat is not chocolate, but cheese. Cheese balls. Seven layer taco dip. Feta-stuffed olives. Dill havarti. Jalapeno jack. Fig and toasted almond brie. Ooooh! Lay it all on me, baby! I love me some cheese!
Oh, I really like spinach dip with water chestnuts in a sour dough bread bowl too.
Childhood Gift - I've been told that the toy I was most excited to receive was a Cookie Monster doll when I was three. I have very vague memories of this gift, but those memories might only be lasting impressions from the faded photo where I'm holding it up in front of my face, shaking. (Yeah, I used to shake like an epileptic when I got excited. Someone once asked my parents if I was having a seizure. Nope. I was just happy.)
But the one childhood gift that I actually do remember, and not just by photograph, was a dollhouse my Grandma Krieger made for my sister n' I. Actually, my Grandpa Krieger might've been the one to actually build it, but it's been so long, I can't remember for sure. I think he must have... What I do recall for certain is that Grandma let Amy n' I choose the colours for the exterior of the house and for each room. I don't know if we knew that the doll house was for us (I don't think we did), but I remember being excited because Grandma had hundreds of colours of paint to choose from, and WE got to choose! Yes-sir-ee, very exciting stuff, I tell you.
Anyhow, when we eventually received the house at Christmas time, we were given all these little boxes of fancy antique-style doll furniture to go with it. I specifically remember there being a set of real China plates - only doll size, and a black velour chaise lounge. It was pretty awesome.
Adulthood Gift - Does our engagement count? My ring wasn't exactly a Christmas gift, but Jim proposed after our Christmas party, so I think it's close enough. Plus, neither of us wanted a showy Christmas-morning-everyone-watching-as-I-unwrapped-the-last-gift-under-the-tree sort of engagement. Blegh. (No offense to those who may have got engaged that way.) We had discussed that if and when we got engaged, we wanted to keep it just between the two of us. (Much like our wedding...) So, Jim proposing two weeks before Christmas was a perfect gift in itself. :)
Best Santa Claus - My dad. And might I add, jeez louise, were we ever a bunch of stupid kids, because we fell for it every single year. Ha.
Y'see, every year after Christmas Eve service, Jodie's dad (Uncle Dave) and my dad would have to "attend a meeting" at the church. So the rest of us would all head back to Grandpa n' Grandma Junop's house, and lo n' behold, who would soon come knocking on the door with gifts for all the kids? But Santa Claus, of course!
The three of us (Amy, Jodie n' I) would get all dizzy with excitement, as we each took a turn on Santa's knee, where he'd then tell us things that only we would know - which further verified that he was always watching. I recall Santa once telling me that when I was born, my dad exclaimed, "Oh no! It's a girl!" I remember being all amazed, and turning to the adults in the room saying, "Yes! YES! That is what daddy said!" (My dad use to jokingly tell me that from time to time... I guess I believed him - and Santa too.)
Anyway, Santa would give us each a present that we were allowed to open right away. (I still maintain the tradition of opening one small gift on Christmas Eve to this day.) Then shortly after he left, Dad n' Uncle David would show up. And just like the Polkaroo, they missed him again!
When I got older, I eventually learned that our fathers did in fact have a meeting at the church after Christmas Eve service. As it turns out, members of the official board (or at least some kind volunteers) would dress up as Santa and go around visiting the homes of Sunday School students -- which I have to say is a pretty awesome thing to do. While Christmas Eve is still my favourite over Christmas Day, it's never been the same without the excitement of a visit from the man in red himself. We were pretty lucky kids.
Memorable Moment - Well, I think I just shared my most memorable moment. A visit from Santa every Christmas Eve is pretty awesome. I also think that Christmas Eve was the only time I actually didn't mind going to church. The sermon wasn't preachy. There was a pretty tree, and lots of decorations and candles. And the choir would always sing O Holy Night. That was probably the best part of all. :)
Outdoor Activity - Umm... I hibernate during the winter. I enjoy sledding and tubing, although I rarely ever, ever go. And I would love to build a snowman again someday but there's either A) not enough snow or B) it isn't sticky enough. Someday...
Best 12 Days? - I don't know, I guess it depends on what those nine pipers have in their pipes? Ha. Okay, seriously (because y'know, this is such a serious decision!) I guess either two turtle doves because they sound sorta cute, or fiiiiiiiiive gooooooooold riiiiiiiiiings, because who wouldn't like fiiiiiiiiive gooooooood riiiiiiiiiings? But make mine white gold please.
Tree? - Absolutely. I can't wait to get back to Kelowna to put it up!!
Cards - Usually. But not this year. I don't think we'll even have our Christmas shopping done on time. Thank goodness for the magic of the internet - eCards, it is! (And save a tree in the process.)
Lights? - We don't bother putting lights outside, but we do string 'em around our apartment. And even though our tree is pre-lit, we string some extra coloured ones around it as well. Can never have too many pretty, sparkly lights!
White? - White what? A white Christmas? Maybe? It sounds like Kelowna has gotten some snow. Although it's as green as green can be here in Maple Ridge.
Fruitcake? - Um. No thanks. It's not the worst thing in the world, but not my favourite either. I received one for Christmas last year (or maybe that was the year before?) and it's still sitting in our freezer. I usually find it too dry n' meh. But I was at a Christmas craft show a few weeks back, and tried a sample of some there, and man, it was actually super melt in your mouth moist and really quite flavourful n' good. I think that's probably how fruitcake is supposed to taste. But I didn't want to spend any money on a loaf when I have an aging frost-bitten loaf at home.
Okay, so that only took me all friggin' afternoon. Guess I won't be going out to get Jim's gift today after all. But I'm still feeling blegh, so I probably wouldn't have anyway, even if I didn't blog the day away.
Monday, December 13, 2010
S'More
Movie Terminology
Before I continue on with what I wanted to write about in my last post, I thought I'd begin with this little terminology tidbit. I finally learned the story behind this term on the day we wrapped. It immediately replaced "chicken in the gate" as my new favourite...
M.O.S. - Whenever a scene is being shot, but sound is not being recorded, the First AD will shout out "M.O.S." This usually only happens if it's a close-up of an object or something being shot in slow motion, where the sound will be added later on.
Now, what M.O.S. actually stands for had me confused until our very last day when I finally asked a few people what it meant. As the story goes, apparently in the 1920's there was a German Hollywood director who would always yell, "Mitout sound!"-- that is to say, "without sound". From then on, the saying stuck. And so to this day M.O.S. is what's called out before shooting mitout sound. Funny, huh?
Okay, and now on to other stuff n' things...
Our Retreat
The only time I've ever stayed in a B n' B was about ten years ago when my dad was having bypass surgery. My family stayed at this place a block from the cardiac unit, which catered to heart patients and their families. The experience was exactly as one might imagine - it was like spending the night at some dusty old great aunt's house. Only there was no great aunt. Just old strangers. Of course, we weren't exactly there to unwind, it was more of a practical choice.
And while Jim has never stayed in a B n' B himself, his impression is exactly as I described above: staying with strangers, and being forced to make awkward conversation around the breakfast table. But I knew that all B n' B's shouldn't be painted with the same brush. So when I started looking for cabins to stay at for our little holiday, I gradually opened my search up to include B n' B's with a more private atmosphere.
I scoured the internet looking for various pet-friendly places on any of the islands, thinking that a little distance might make it feel more like a get-away, without going too far. But then Kerry provided us with the generous offer to kitty-sit, and also passed along a brochure for a place in Port Moody, that was given to her by one of her lecturers the week before.
Port Moody isn't that far at all (only about a half hour drive), but the location was right on the water, the suite offered a cozy fire place, sauna and hot tub... and best of all, it was completely private. The only time we interacted with our hosts was when we awoke to their quiet knock on the door in the morning, letting us know that our always-delicious breakfast was waiting outside. Now that is the way B n' B's should be! None of this B n' BST (Bed and Breakfast Small Talk).
Despite the best of intentions to decompress, besides sleeping in good n' late, our first few days didn't feel quite as agenda-free as I would've liked. On our first day there, we received an email at 2 in the afternoon informing us that Telefilm's Christmas party started at 4, and that it would be good politics for us to attend... y'know since they funded our movie n' all. So. We quickly headed back to Maple Ridge, grabbed some nice clothes, and then were off to the city to get our shmooze on for an hour or so. Not a big deal, but not exactly a relaxing evening of nothingness either. (BTW, I'm not complaining, I'm just sayin'....)
Then because Jim n' I had been so tied up in the days before going on our wee retreat, we didn't get to do any laundry - so we ended up packing a bunch of hamper clothes. This meant that day two was spent trying to find a laundromat. I suppose we could've just driven back to Maple Ridge again, but we were supposed to be vacationing. How is it vacationing if we're just gonna drive home every afternoon? (Then again, how is it vacationing if you're driving around looking for a laundromat?)
Day three I was asked to do an interview for the Pembroke Observer (although I guess they call it The Daily Observer now... but it will alway be the Pembroke Observer to me). My mom had spoken to a gal there, who then contacted me with a whole bunch of questions about DE n' such. I emailed her once to say that I would have my answers for her by the end of the day. She responded to say that she looked forward to them. Later that night, after spending a couple of hours answering them all, I emailed her again. (Twice actually - because I wanted to mention my wonderful high school English teacher, Mr. Vijay). Anyway, I still haven't heard anything back from her. So I dunno... maybe how I became a writer and how we got DE made is a snoozer of a story, and therefore didn't warrant a reply. ;P
I've thought of following up again, but I don't want to seem lame, like I'm trying to push for self-publicity. I mean, I think it'd be cool for my parents, because I know they would be excited to see something in their local paper. But in the big scheme of things, it's not important to me. I can always send them copies of the papers from out here. However, I will say that if the Observer doesn't end up publishing anything, I'll be kinda miffed that I wasted a whole evening of vacation time answering all those questions for nothing. (Again, I'm not complaining. I'm just sayin'...)
On our fourth day, Jim n' I did an interview with Event in Kelowna, who I believe Cheryl had contacted. That one was pretty fun because it was much more interactive as it was over the phone, and Jim n' I were able to bounce off each other's responses. It only took a half hour, so we had the rest of our day to lounge and watch many, many episodes of Cheers on DVD, as well as explore the quaintness of Port Moody. I think the interview might be published this week, but since Jay n' Cheryl are in Vegas until Thursday, if it comes out before then, can I ask some of you Kelowna peeps to please grab us a copy or two?
As for the rest of Saturday along with Sunday and Monday, we had absolutely nothing going on. Those days were as they should be. Movie watching. Magazine reading. Hot tub soakin'. Good, good times.
We'll Be Home For Christmas!
Even though our producers wanted Jim to work up until the 22nd, he's managed to twist their arms and let him go in time for his birthday on the 18th. Our only pickle, (which also impacted our ability to relax those first few days on our retreat) was how we're going to get home. Our options were to fly, rent a car, or take our car. Unfortunately, each mode of transportation came with its own set of challenges.
* The White Knuckle Option: Taking our own car -- The mechanic told us that this was probably our last winter with these snow tires. They're fine for booting around town, but as we discovered a couple weeks ago, in snowy conditions they're not as good as they could be. That being said, making the four hour drive to Kelowna, going over the snowy, icy Coq in a small hatchback with less-than-perfect tires... well, it's doable, but definitely not the most ideal.
* The Expensive Option: Flying -- Besides the fact that it's more expensive this time of year, we have two cats to consider, which would add an extra $200+ tax onto our return ticket price. Not to mention, over the holidays pets cannot be kept with checked baggage, and instead must be included as carry-on luggage -- which would be fine, except that they need to be in 'soft' pet carries, and not the hard-shelled kind (ie: the kind that we own.) So, add up the price of return flights for the both of us, plus cats, plus new carriers, and it comes close to $1,000. Seriously, $1,000 round-trip for a 35 minute flight? That's crazy talk.
* The Even More Expensive/Impossible Option: Rent a car -- To rent a good-sized/4-wheel drive vehicle for two weeks would cost us over $1,000. As for renting a vehicle just to go one way, and then renting one again when we plan to return, I only found one franchise that exists in both the lower mainland and Kelowna who will do that. And as luck would have it, they have no cars available for the dates we need.
So even though it's not the most ideal option, it seemed that our only choice was to pack up the silver bullet, pray for good weather, and just drive as slow as we have to. Blegh.
But as soon as we had made this yucky decision, Jim's dad stepped up with a surprise offer that completely unburdened us of all our stress. He very, very kindly volunteered to come pick us up on Friday the 17th, so we don't have to worry about driving through the mountains during bad winter conditions. I can't tell you how much we appreciate him going out of his way like this - especially since he had hip surgery only a few months ago! Jim asked him a number of times if he's sure, but apparently he feels he's fine to drive, and is happy to help us out. What a saint! (And what a sigh of relief!) :)
Okay, I guess I still have more to say in regards to our plans for the new year... but I'm tired of blogging tonight, so I'll leave that for another post.
Before I continue on with what I wanted to write about in my last post, I thought I'd begin with this little terminology tidbit. I finally learned the story behind this term on the day we wrapped. It immediately replaced "chicken in the gate" as my new favourite...
M.O.S. - Whenever a scene is being shot, but sound is not being recorded, the First AD will shout out "M.O.S." This usually only happens if it's a close-up of an object or something being shot in slow motion, where the sound will be added later on.
Now, what M.O.S. actually stands for had me confused until our very last day when I finally asked a few people what it meant. As the story goes, apparently in the 1920's there was a German Hollywood director who would always yell, "Mitout sound!"-- that is to say, "without sound". From then on, the saying stuck. And so to this day M.O.S. is what's called out before shooting mitout sound. Funny, huh?
Okay, and now on to other stuff n' things...
Our Retreat
The only time I've ever stayed in a B n' B was about ten years ago when my dad was having bypass surgery. My family stayed at this place a block from the cardiac unit, which catered to heart patients and their families. The experience was exactly as one might imagine - it was like spending the night at some dusty old great aunt's house. Only there was no great aunt. Just old strangers. Of course, we weren't exactly there to unwind, it was more of a practical choice.
And while Jim has never stayed in a B n' B himself, his impression is exactly as I described above: staying with strangers, and being forced to make awkward conversation around the breakfast table. But I knew that all B n' B's shouldn't be painted with the same brush. So when I started looking for cabins to stay at for our little holiday, I gradually opened my search up to include B n' B's with a more private atmosphere.
I scoured the internet looking for various pet-friendly places on any of the islands, thinking that a little distance might make it feel more like a get-away, without going too far. But then Kerry provided us with the generous offer to kitty-sit, and also passed along a brochure for a place in Port Moody, that was given to her by one of her lecturers the week before.
Port Moody isn't that far at all (only about a half hour drive), but the location was right on the water, the suite offered a cozy fire place, sauna and hot tub... and best of all, it was completely private. The only time we interacted with our hosts was when we awoke to their quiet knock on the door in the morning, letting us know that our always-delicious breakfast was waiting outside. Now that is the way B n' B's should be! None of this B n' BST (Bed and Breakfast Small Talk).
Despite the best of intentions to decompress, besides sleeping in good n' late, our first few days didn't feel quite as agenda-free as I would've liked. On our first day there, we received an email at 2 in the afternoon informing us that Telefilm's Christmas party started at 4, and that it would be good politics for us to attend... y'know since they funded our movie n' all. So. We quickly headed back to Maple Ridge, grabbed some nice clothes, and then were off to the city to get our shmooze on for an hour or so. Not a big deal, but not exactly a relaxing evening of nothingness either. (BTW, I'm not complaining, I'm just sayin'....)
Then because Jim n' I had been so tied up in the days before going on our wee retreat, we didn't get to do any laundry - so we ended up packing a bunch of hamper clothes. This meant that day two was spent trying to find a laundromat. I suppose we could've just driven back to Maple Ridge again, but we were supposed to be vacationing. How is it vacationing if we're just gonna drive home every afternoon? (Then again, how is it vacationing if you're driving around looking for a laundromat?)
Day three I was asked to do an interview for the Pembroke Observer (although I guess they call it The Daily Observer now... but it will alway be the Pembroke Observer to me). My mom had spoken to a gal there, who then contacted me with a whole bunch of questions about DE n' such. I emailed her once to say that I would have my answers for her by the end of the day. She responded to say that she looked forward to them. Later that night, after spending a couple of hours answering them all, I emailed her again. (Twice actually - because I wanted to mention my wonderful high school English teacher, Mr. Vijay). Anyway, I still haven't heard anything back from her. So I dunno... maybe how I became a writer and how we got DE made is a snoozer of a story, and therefore didn't warrant a reply. ;P
I've thought of following up again, but I don't want to seem lame, like I'm trying to push for self-publicity. I mean, I think it'd be cool for my parents, because I know they would be excited to see something in their local paper. But in the big scheme of things, it's not important to me. I can always send them copies of the papers from out here. However, I will say that if the Observer doesn't end up publishing anything, I'll be kinda miffed that I wasted a whole evening of vacation time answering all those questions for nothing. (Again, I'm not complaining. I'm just sayin'...)
On our fourth day, Jim n' I did an interview with Event in Kelowna, who I believe Cheryl had contacted. That one was pretty fun because it was much more interactive as it was over the phone, and Jim n' I were able to bounce off each other's responses. It only took a half hour, so we had the rest of our day to lounge and watch many, many episodes of Cheers on DVD, as well as explore the quaintness of Port Moody. I think the interview might be published this week, but since Jay n' Cheryl are in Vegas until Thursday, if it comes out before then, can I ask some of you Kelowna peeps to please grab us a copy or two?
As for the rest of Saturday along with Sunday and Monday, we had absolutely nothing going on. Those days were as they should be. Movie watching. Magazine reading. Hot tub soakin'. Good, good times.
We'll Be Home For Christmas!
Even though our producers wanted Jim to work up until the 22nd, he's managed to twist their arms and let him go in time for his birthday on the 18th. Our only pickle, (which also impacted our ability to relax those first few days on our retreat) was how we're going to get home. Our options were to fly, rent a car, or take our car. Unfortunately, each mode of transportation came with its own set of challenges.
* The White Knuckle Option: Taking our own car -- The mechanic told us that this was probably our last winter with these snow tires. They're fine for booting around town, but as we discovered a couple weeks ago, in snowy conditions they're not as good as they could be. That being said, making the four hour drive to Kelowna, going over the snowy, icy Coq in a small hatchback with less-than-perfect tires... well, it's doable, but definitely not the most ideal.
* The Expensive Option: Flying -- Besides the fact that it's more expensive this time of year, we have two cats to consider, which would add an extra $200+ tax onto our return ticket price. Not to mention, over the holidays pets cannot be kept with checked baggage, and instead must be included as carry-on luggage -- which would be fine, except that they need to be in 'soft' pet carries, and not the hard-shelled kind (ie: the kind that we own.) So, add up the price of return flights for the both of us, plus cats, plus new carriers, and it comes close to $1,000. Seriously, $1,000 round-trip for a 35 minute flight? That's crazy talk.
* The Even More Expensive/Impossible Option: Rent a car -- To rent a good-sized/4-wheel drive vehicle for two weeks would cost us over $1,000. As for renting a vehicle just to go one way, and then renting one again when we plan to return, I only found one franchise that exists in both the lower mainland and Kelowna who will do that. And as luck would have it, they have no cars available for the dates we need.
So even though it's not the most ideal option, it seemed that our only choice was to pack up the silver bullet, pray for good weather, and just drive as slow as we have to. Blegh.
But as soon as we had made this yucky decision, Jim's dad stepped up with a surprise offer that completely unburdened us of all our stress. He very, very kindly volunteered to come pick us up on Friday the 17th, so we don't have to worry about driving through the mountains during bad winter conditions. I can't tell you how much we appreciate him going out of his way like this - especially since he had hip surgery only a few months ago! Jim asked him a number of times if he's sure, but apparently he feels he's fine to drive, and is happy to help us out. What a saint! (And what a sigh of relief!) :)
Okay, I guess I still have more to say in regards to our plans for the new year... but I'm tired of blogging tonight, so I'll leave that for another post.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Wrap Up
Okay, I'm back. Finally. Although the problem with coming back after a lapse in time is not knowing where on earth to begin. So I'm going to take the easy way out and just chunk this post up into a bunch of little bite-sized pieces. Sound good?
That's a Wrap!
Our last day of shooting was an ambitious one. Not to say that they all weren't ambitious days, but there were a lot of little scenes left to be shot, including one that involved a huge car accident. We even had a fire truck and ambulance on set in preparation for the stunt, which I thought was kinda cool (even though I hoped we wouldn't need them). I never cease to be amazed by all that's involved in bringing our words to life.
The stunt looked great, and happily no one was injured in the process. However, leading up to it, there were a few time-consuming snags here n' there. A car stalling, the rain fogging up the cameras, etc. You could cut the tension with a knife, because everyone knew that Fort Langely had a curfew and so we absolutely could NOT go into OT. We had to be off the street by 2:30 a.m.
The very last scene scheduled for the day was to be Jim n' my cameo. The one where we had to put our faces right in the camera.
Blegh.
I had been practicing my scared face the night before, and could not pull it off for the life of me. I always smiled or laughed. It was terrible. I am not an actor - nor do I have any ambition to be one. I only agreed to do it because I had been asked by our producers, (and I had been trying to swap myself out of it since day one.) So now that the day had finally arrived, I spend the afternoon asking others if they wanted to be a part of the scene with us. Anything that would allow me to be more in the background and not right next to the lens. I just don't have the chops, and really didn't want to eff things up. After some asking around, our Production Manager agreed to take part, which left me feeling pretty relieved.
Even though it was decided that I wouldn't have my face in the camera, our make-up gal still wanted to pretty me up. But almost immediately after I returned from the circus, my face thick with pancake, Jim informed me that due to the curfew, there wouldn't be enough time for that scene, and so it had been cut. I thought Jim might be disappointed, but he wasn't. We've got our fingerprints all over this film. We don't need our mugs in there too. (Although as I mentioned before, I'm already in one scene - but you'll never actually see me.)
With our scene cut, the last scene ended up shooting was DG lying on the wet ground, with the heavy rain soaking his face. Luckily he was a very good sport about it - probably because he knew that once that scene was shot, the movie would be wrapped and he wouldn't have to put up with our cold Canadian weather anymore. (Apparently on the day we got all that snow, his eyes were as wide as saucers on his drive to set and he asked his chauffeur, "Are we gonna make it?" Ha!)
Afterwards, Danny came around and said goodbye to each person before taking off, which apparently is uncommon for actors to do. He hugged Jim and thanked him, and gave me a kiss on the cheek and said "Thank you for writing a wonderful script." It was nice that everything wrapped up on such a positive note, as it was a very tough day both logistically and weather-wise.
Also on our last day, at lunch time everyone was given a DE shirt as a little memento, which was pretty cool. Unfortunately, Jim's shirt was placed on the back of his chair in our dark tent, and at some point it slipped off and was trampled into the boggy, muddy ground. At the very end of the day, someone discovered it on the ground beside his chair. And while Jim was annoyed that it was so filthy, I couldn't help but find it appropriate. This was a very hard shoot, and to me the muddy shirt represented the battle Jim had been through to get it done. Besides that's what laundry machines are for anyway.
(That wasn't much of a bite-sized post, was it? Oh well... on to the next part...)
Wrap Party!
The next day after a good long sleep, Jim n' I got a room at the Fairmont Hotel downtown -- with much thanks to our lovely Script Supervisor Laura. She had her travel agent sister check us in using her credentials and incredible industry discount, at almost 2/3 off the regular price!
However, I have to say that despite all the pomp n' prestige the Fairmont chain likes the boast, the only thing that really blew Jim n' I away were the prices. I always like to peruse the room service menu, and the mark-up was absolutely laughable. Twenty-two dollars plus tax for some coffee and toast? Thirty-two dollars for a glass of wine? Some people have more money than brains! Of course the room itself was very nice, but neither of us are all that impressed by marble bathrooms or ornately framed mirrors. Besides those shiny features, ultimately it was just another hotel room. I was thankful that we got it so crazy cheap!
Ashley, our make-up artist, had offered to stop by and paint my face pre-party, so that was pretty cool. It's funny because I assume that most of you ladies are like me, and when travelling, you bring only a small make-up bag that contains the essentials. Whereas Ashley showed up with this big 2 X 2.5 foot crate on wheels. I guess it is her profession after all, and it's important to be prepared. I have to admit that I was almost envious of her make-up collection. It's like a portable Sephora store!
When she was done, we headed over to BierCraft (formerly Stella's until just a few weeks ago) for some appies n' drinks with our producer n' his wife, our DP, and one of our Set Dec guys who owns the pub, (and who also pitched me a very unique concept for a TV series, that I'm going to whip up a treatment for!) After an hour or so there, we made our way two blocks down the road to Charlatans, where we had half of the bar reserved for our cast n' crew party.
Now, for the last year or two, every time Jim n' I finished a new draft, we'd always treat ourselves to a breakfast at Milestones. And almost each time I'd say something like, "I wish the Universe would pick up the tab, so we didn't always have to pay for our own reward." Because what good is a reward when it eats into your budget? (No pun intended.) But do you know what I mean? It'd be great if the world worked in such a way that we didn't have to reward ourselves. That being said, I think it is important that we recognize our efforts and reward ourselves, whether it's a fancy dinner or even just a fancy coffee.
Anyway, I mention this because when we got to our wrap party, it felt like THIS was finally the Universe picking up the tab for our reward! There were all these people there, tons of food, and plenty of drink tickets to go round. In some ways it felt kind of surreal. Imagine having ownership of something for so long, and then suddenly have almost 100 people who are now active participants as well. All these people who were strangers only a month ago, have come together and helped you bring your vision to life, and are now celebrating the milestone with you... All I can think is that we've definitely come a long way from our breakfast burritos!
Alright, I kinda want to get on with my day over here, but I've got a lot more to share about our little get-away in PoMo, and our plans for Christmas and the New Year. I promise to return shortly....
That's a Wrap!
Our last day of shooting was an ambitious one. Not to say that they all weren't ambitious days, but there were a lot of little scenes left to be shot, including one that involved a huge car accident. We even had a fire truck and ambulance on set in preparation for the stunt, which I thought was kinda cool (even though I hoped we wouldn't need them). I never cease to be amazed by all that's involved in bringing our words to life.
The stunt looked great, and happily no one was injured in the process. However, leading up to it, there were a few time-consuming snags here n' there. A car stalling, the rain fogging up the cameras, etc. You could cut the tension with a knife, because everyone knew that Fort Langely had a curfew and so we absolutely could NOT go into OT. We had to be off the street by 2:30 a.m.
The very last scene scheduled for the day was to be Jim n' my cameo. The one where we had to put our faces right in the camera.
Blegh.
I had been practicing my scared face the night before, and could not pull it off for the life of me. I always smiled or laughed. It was terrible. I am not an actor - nor do I have any ambition to be one. I only agreed to do it because I had been asked by our producers, (and I had been trying to swap myself out of it since day one.) So now that the day had finally arrived, I spend the afternoon asking others if they wanted to be a part of the scene with us. Anything that would allow me to be more in the background and not right next to the lens. I just don't have the chops, and really didn't want to eff things up. After some asking around, our Production Manager agreed to take part, which left me feeling pretty relieved.
Even though it was decided that I wouldn't have my face in the camera, our make-up gal still wanted to pretty me up. But almost immediately after I returned from the circus, my face thick with pancake, Jim informed me that due to the curfew, there wouldn't be enough time for that scene, and so it had been cut. I thought Jim might be disappointed, but he wasn't. We've got our fingerprints all over this film. We don't need our mugs in there too. (Although as I mentioned before, I'm already in one scene - but you'll never actually see me.)
With our scene cut, the last scene ended up shooting was DG lying on the wet ground, with the heavy rain soaking his face. Luckily he was a very good sport about it - probably because he knew that once that scene was shot, the movie would be wrapped and he wouldn't have to put up with our cold Canadian weather anymore. (Apparently on the day we got all that snow, his eyes were as wide as saucers on his drive to set and he asked his chauffeur, "Are we gonna make it?" Ha!)
Afterwards, Danny came around and said goodbye to each person before taking off, which apparently is uncommon for actors to do. He hugged Jim and thanked him, and gave me a kiss on the cheek and said "Thank you for writing a wonderful script." It was nice that everything wrapped up on such a positive note, as it was a very tough day both logistically and weather-wise.
Also on our last day, at lunch time everyone was given a DE shirt as a little memento, which was pretty cool. Unfortunately, Jim's shirt was placed on the back of his chair in our dark tent, and at some point it slipped off and was trampled into the boggy, muddy ground. At the very end of the day, someone discovered it on the ground beside his chair. And while Jim was annoyed that it was so filthy, I couldn't help but find it appropriate. This was a very hard shoot, and to me the muddy shirt represented the battle Jim had been through to get it done. Besides that's what laundry machines are for anyway.
(That wasn't much of a bite-sized post, was it? Oh well... on to the next part...)
Wrap Party!
The next day after a good long sleep, Jim n' I got a room at the Fairmont Hotel downtown -- with much thanks to our lovely Script Supervisor Laura. She had her travel agent sister check us in using her credentials and incredible industry discount, at almost 2/3 off the regular price!
However, I have to say that despite all the pomp n' prestige the Fairmont chain likes the boast, the only thing that really blew Jim n' I away were the prices. I always like to peruse the room service menu, and the mark-up was absolutely laughable. Twenty-two dollars plus tax for some coffee and toast? Thirty-two dollars for a glass of wine? Some people have more money than brains! Of course the room itself was very nice, but neither of us are all that impressed by marble bathrooms or ornately framed mirrors. Besides those shiny features, ultimately it was just another hotel room. I was thankful that we got it so crazy cheap!
Ashley, our make-up artist, had offered to stop by and paint my face pre-party, so that was pretty cool. It's funny because I assume that most of you ladies are like me, and when travelling, you bring only a small make-up bag that contains the essentials. Whereas Ashley showed up with this big 2 X 2.5 foot crate on wheels. I guess it is her profession after all, and it's important to be prepared. I have to admit that I was almost envious of her make-up collection. It's like a portable Sephora store!
When she was done, we headed over to BierCraft (formerly Stella's until just a few weeks ago) for some appies n' drinks with our producer n' his wife, our DP, and one of our Set Dec guys who owns the pub, (and who also pitched me a very unique concept for a TV series, that I'm going to whip up a treatment for!) After an hour or so there, we made our way two blocks down the road to Charlatans, where we had half of the bar reserved for our cast n' crew party.
Now, for the last year or two, every time Jim n' I finished a new draft, we'd always treat ourselves to a breakfast at Milestones. And almost each time I'd say something like, "I wish the Universe would pick up the tab, so we didn't always have to pay for our own reward." Because what good is a reward when it eats into your budget? (No pun intended.) But do you know what I mean? It'd be great if the world worked in such a way that we didn't have to reward ourselves. That being said, I think it is important that we recognize our efforts and reward ourselves, whether it's a fancy dinner or even just a fancy coffee.
Anyway, I mention this because when we got to our wrap party, it felt like THIS was finally the Universe picking up the tab for our reward! There were all these people there, tons of food, and plenty of drink tickets to go round. In some ways it felt kind of surreal. Imagine having ownership of something for so long, and then suddenly have almost 100 people who are now active participants as well. All these people who were strangers only a month ago, have come together and helped you bring your vision to life, and are now celebrating the milestone with you... All I can think is that we've definitely come a long way from our breakfast burritos!
Alright, I kinda want to get on with my day over here, but I've got a lot more to share about our little get-away in PoMo, and our plans for Christmas and the New Year. I promise to return shortly....
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