Watch The Attitude

We may have an issue with the Production Office Coordinator on this show. Last night the accountant and I went to speak to him about our travel plans and he actually questioned her. He got all indignant about the possibility I may end up working 6 days if I traveled on Sunday as if it was any of his business. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The accountant started explaining it to him but she shouldn't have to explain herself to anyone but the UPM.

This morning, she came into my office and shut the door. I immediately wondered if I was going to get fired when she said, "So, about D..." and I said "I couldn't believe he was questioning you" and then we hashed over the whole exchange trying to figure out who he thought he was. If he's like that the whole show it's going to be ugly. The superior, condescending attitude has to go.

And if his "travel czar" doesn't improve dramatically, it'll be a disaster. We are all just waiting for that ship to sink.

Sofie On The Line

Sofie went with her dad to the picket line yesterday. She made quite an impression on everybody except the writers. They are a surly lot. But she enjoyed the attention from the security guards and the tourists and ending up sleeping most of the afternoon - it's so exhausting being cute.

I had made her an outfit to wear but the husband decided against it. It said "My dad can haz internet residualz? kthxbai" I'll try to get a snap of it to post.

I'm A Thief

Well, I got something from HSM 3 this morning - I peeled a directional sign off the wall. It doesn't look like anything official so I'll have to see if I can come up with something better. It's funny, I think they've started casting for smaller parts because the kids coming in look like true kids. If at all possible they try to get young looking 18+ year olds to avoid having to limit the hours on set and hiring teachers.

A Love Story In 3 Acts

Shooting Range

Husband,

Do you want to go the shooting range on Saturday? It's not cheap but it may be fun and it's for a good cause. Let me know.

da Wife

I have never fired a gun in my life (BB guns don't count) and I've always wanted to try it. Then again, we could go to Santa Barbara instead.

Voting Enabled

I walked down to the elementary school this morning and voted. I had pretty much made up my mind over the past week who I wanted to vote for and I even took the time to look at the different propositions in the state and make decisions on those. I felt mature and prepared which is almost too much for 8am.

The polling place was dead when I went in - no lines or anything. They didn't even check my ID which is probably an issue. It was actually more difficult to figure out how to get my paper ballot scanned than anything else - they should have had a diagram or something.

I've done my part - now I'll have to see what happens come November.

While Getting Groceries...

I had to stop by the grocery store last night to get some frozen veggies (love those steam-in-the-bag kind!) and had a star sighting - I walked right between Juliette Lewis and the frozen waffles. I figured I'd eventually see a celebrity at that store since it's at the base of the hills. Then I managed to walk out right behind her. She's prettier in person but very tiny.

Wolverine

My assistant just got hired to go to Australia and do payroll on Wolverine (the US crew). I am so jealous. I would totally bail on Boston to go there for 4 months.

I know the accountant on that show so I sent her an email and said the next time she goes Down Under she'd better take me with her.

Hopefully he'll need to ask me lots of questions and then I can get an autograph from Hugh as payment. Especially since this is the guy who decided he didn't want the Boston job because he didn't want to do payroll anymore.

Man, I am so jealous.

HSM 3

I will try to get something, but there's nothing really official. Mostly it's sheets of paper taped to the walls that say "HSM 3 Please take a seat" or "HSM 3 Please sign in".

Not that exciting but I'll keep my eyes open.

Star Sighting

Last night, while out for my birthday dinner, the husband and I saw William Sanderson (from Blade Runner, Newhart, and Deadwood to name just a few). We weren't sure at first it was him, but when we heard him speak we were certain. I love that guy. Such a good actor.

I told the husband as we were leaving how much I liked that restaurant and he said it was only because I keep seeing celebrities there (it's where I saw Navarro) but I like the food and atmosphere, too.

Speaking of stars, we stopped by the tattoo shop on the way home and made my appointment for my birthday tattoo. Tomorrow at 3pm I'm getting the sun/moon/stars tattoo on my left shoulder cap. It's supposed to take about 2 hours and I'm excited. Thanks for the great present husband. Everybody thinks it rocks!

Casting

They are casting for High School Musical 3 on the same floor as my new office. I wasn't sure what it was because the signs only said HSM 3 and since I'm old it didn't register. Today the signs are spelled out. I should have figured it out yesterday when I kept hearing people singing... There are a couple of other casting offices on this floor and it's fun to walk past them on the way to get water or use the restroom - they're so eager and nervous and diligently going over their lines. I always wonder if they hope/fear I'm someone who could affect their career.

There goes the singing again. At least it's good.

Cute Puppies

Bored Again

It's time to go home and I've got almost everything from my office packed up. The only things I'm leaving behind are my pilates ball, my electric stapler, and some extra adhesive. It looks like I'll be able to come back for a few days next week - for what I don't know. It's so boring and unless the payroll company gets their shit together I have nothing to do.

Blech.

Day 1

Today is my first day at the Boston show. It's been a good day - I think I'm going to like working with this group. I only brought a limited kit with me and the one good blue pen died within the first 30 minutes. All I could find was a black pen and I don't like to do payroll in black - blue shows up much better. But that was the worst that happened unless you count the fact the other office went home at 5:30. I'll have to see what time I get home before I decide. My commute is only about 15 minutes instead of an hour.

I go back to the guinea pig movie tomorrow and Friday (at least). I have to pack up the rest of my stuff and hope the holiday report gets sent over. And Friday they're having cake to surprise me for my birthday. Yum.

Accident

I forgot to mention the accident on the lot this morning. I didn't see anything but the aftermath but our clerk saw the whole thing in his rear view mirror.

There's an underground parking garage on the lot and when you go down the ramp to enter, you have to make an immediate left. It's dark but not that narrow. If you're not careful you can cut the corner too close and the change from sun to dark can mess up your vision. Apparently there was a man working on a grate - he was set up in the right hand lane just after the turn. He had cones and stuff set up but it was still a dangerous spot.

The clerk said he thought about it as he was entering, that the man was not in a good spot and that there could be a problem. The SUV that entered after the clerk was the problem. The woman driving it went right over the cones and the man's leg. She claimed she didn't really see the cones and didn't see him at all. He claims he got dragged by her car. The clerk saw the SUV hit the guy but didn't see any dragging and did see the guy get up afterward and run after the car. He figured the guy was ok if he could do that much.

The whole thing is just kind of screwy. The guy was in a bad spot at a bad time and the woman probably wasn't paying a lot of attention. At least no one is really hurt.

Boston

The acct from my Boston show called me this morning. Apparently they're trying to cut $5 million out of the budget and there's a chance it will shut down. She wanted to let me know it would be ok if I started looking around - she wouldn't be offended.

Until we know for sure I'm going to start over there 2 or 3 days a week. The UPM said he doesn't want to lose me and she agrees. I'm probably not going to start looking until next week or after. If I put my name out I'll get calls and I'm not ready to abandon Boston yet. She thinks they'll know something by the end of next week.

They had a huge meeting yesterday and the dumas director actually asked the question "do we need to have more than 3 people in the accounting office?" Well, only if you want your crew and vendors paid correctly and on time... Like cutting down on the accounting staff will save your movie. If you want it saved don't pay the star $20 million or cut back on your own salary. Or maybe don't pay the DP $20K per week.

I told my assistant about it and she's decided to go ahead and look for other work just in case. I completely understand but it's too bad. I think we would have worked well together. Hopefully it'll all still work out.

Push

I found out today my Boston show is pushing for 2 weeks. The accountant still wants me to start next Monday but she has to talk it over with the UPM. Luckily he likes me and maybe he'll let me start. Otherwise I have to decide if I'm going to keep coming down to the guinea pig movie or take some time off.

The problem with taking time is the push might last longer than they think or the show may go away all together. Then I'd have to find something else. Not really a problem but a hassle.

Weekend Activities

Saw Cloverfield this weekend - it was a hard movie for me to watch. I still have trouble with 9/11 imagery and they used it very effectively. It's hard for me to decide if I liked it or not - I feel odd saying I enjoyed it when it's so dark. But it wasn't a bad movie either. It's just tough.

Didn't do much else this weekend. We got the Vespa fixed - just a bad battery after all. I'm really looking forward to riding it - I'd forgotten how much fun it was. We took Sofie to the dog park both days of course. I did some chores and ran my Roomba (which I love). I could use a day off where I don't have to even get out of bed.

Freak

Abacus

One of the 2nds gave everybody an abacus for Christmas and I just spent 10 minutes trying to figure it out. I found a website that had a tutorial but frankly I don't see the point to it. They said the person using the abacus does the calculations in his/her head and uses the beads to keep track. I always thought it would do some of the math for you. It seems like it should but I think it'll take longer than 10 minutes to be able to manipulate it easily and understand what I'm doing.

But then what else am I going to do? I finished the JJ Abrams script for Superman and it was abyssmal. I had to stop and tell my asst about whatever foolishness was going on at the moment. It was just not good.