The Chinook Arch

It's a wondrous thing... the sky is clear... blue... the sun is beaming down and to the west one can see a hazy arch of clouds over the mountains. It's like a halo... and it brings a fantastic jetstream of warm air from over the mountains. It feels like Spring, but it's February. It's +10C today and I love it.

I'm finally working in the city (my first actual paid gig here since moving). What's the big new job? You can find me behind the bar at the Big Secret Theatre. One Yellow Rabbit has procured the services of yours truly to sling beer, coffee, and assorted bevvies to thirsty theatre goers in the lobby at the Epcor Centre. The current show "Bigger Than Jesus" is a decent hit, and the Rabbits (as they are known) love to party, so it's been a good week.

Even though this isn't a "real job", it's seems real enough right now. I'm meeting all the cool kids in town, and it's an honour to be considered "one of the Rabbits". Besides, I've always fancied myself behind the bar. I'm having a ball... hopefully the novelty won't rub off right away.

The gang of Bunnies has been nothing but welcoming. On Saturday good friend Daiva, brother Jordan and girlfriend? Lindsay led the way to Broken City. It's a live music club, not unlike Silver Dollar in TO. On stage was Leeroy Stagger. He and his band kept the audience crammed right up to the stage. I liked this club. The crowd was an excellent mix of the best looking and hippest alterna-boys and alterna-girls.

Now I just have to go back next week in hopes of again meeting the cute boy who I was chatting with about tall ships (of all things). WHY! didn't I get his number the first time... ack.

Now if someone could tell me how to post pictures on this damn site, I'd share some shots of me and good friend Tim, and new friend Jenn hiking in the hills past Lake Louise last week. Damn, those mountains are good for the soul. Who needs the sea when one has mountain lakes, streams and pine trees. Seriously.

Ok, everyone get ready to send good Karma my way in the form of about a dozen call backs that I'm waiting for from potential employers. I mean I love sending resumes and all, but how 'bout an INTERVIEW people!

Miami Beach Blues

Just over 100 years ago this barrier island was covered in mangrove swamps and wild jungle. Today every square inch is paved over and businesses rule. Hotels, restaurants, shops, drug dealers, hookers etc.

The cars, the bronzed, the elderly.

I don't mean to sound bitter. It's just that everything here is so... American. Americans are hard workers. It's just that there seems to be less happiness here. People are so wrapped up in their jobs, and making a buck, and all that.

When people need something, they yell. Literally, in the Film Fest offices when someone wanted Alex the Intern they would yell from their desk "Alex! Has anyone seen Alex?" They wouldn't even stand up or look around or anything. Just keep staring at their computer screen and yell!

I don't mean to judge either. I have to keep reminding myself that different people have different ways of doing things, different customs, different priorities.

Now I need a beer.

The festivities continue...

I have delayed posting for too long.

Let's see... what have I been up to. Working like a dog, and partying like several other types of animals...

Sundance Film Festival: our team scored big. Me and Shane, Hilary and Cheryl (plus significant other fabulous kids from across the globe) ran a shift at the brand new venue, The Racquet Club. Talented technicians converted a basktelball court (!) into a screening room for 640 of our closest friends and industry types.

Festival lodging came through with condos for all right across the parking lot from the Racquet Club. Even Shane didn't mind the five boys that had to troop through his bedroom to get to theirs every morning and night.

Alas skiing was not in the cards, especially for a cash poor (but experience rich) boy like me.

Memorable moments included partying with the boys from South Carolina, mincing in inappropriate shoes across fields of snow, putting Shane on various busses in various states of intoxication, and running our celebrity heavy venue with Swiss Watch presicion. Not without serious support from the concientious Swede (aka Shane) and the Hisidic good looks of Hilary. Oh and Cheryl the Elder was right in there too.

On to Miami. Thank you American Airlines... your 777 is a lovely machine, I've never had 10 seats to myself before.

Worked the first big day at the Regal multiplex with Debbie and Amy yesterday. It went pretty well, but forsome reason there were a lot of technical problems... definately notquite as slick as TIFF or Sundance. Also there is this stupid membership program at the festival where people donate money at the"Actor" "Director" or "Producer" level. So everyone and their dog is going around with passes that say actor/director/producer, except they have nothing to do with the film or have any special priveledges at all. Ya, that's really an excellent system with no room for confusion. Yup.

Our accomodations are at the fabulously located (but slightly disappointingly appointed) Dorchester Hotel. Funny fact: it's directly across the street from the Shore Club hotel where Ossie Davis died two days ago. Ossie and Rip Torn and Peter Falk were here to film a movie when Ossie died in his hotel room. Then yesterday Peter Falk came tothe Regal to see a movie!

Miami Beach is a bit nutty... the architecture is crazy, after all we are in the Art Deco District. The food is pretty expensive, but there is a good variety.

Stangely, downtown Miami literally shuts down at 5pm and Miami Beach keeps rocking until 4am. I did stick my toes in the Atlantic. I hope to have a beach day on Tuesday, my one day off.

The long days are just beginning, but we're on a roll, so nothing can stop us. Getting in four screens with 4 or 5 movies a day each will keep us busy. Yes.

And now for me it's back out to Miami Beach where the weather is a balmy +24 celsius... and the air is dewy sweet all the time.