Changes

Well, my boring assistant quit. He decided the commute was too much for him and took another show in his home town. He claims he didn't seek it out, that it came up as a result of the resumes he had sent out after his last show but I have my doubts. Anyway, he told me on Monday that he was interviewing and Friday was his last day. It would have been his last day even if he hadn't gotten the job...


I really feel like I want to write about all the crap I went through with old-man-clerk but I can't. It's too much for me and I just want to let it go. I think that's part of getting older. You get tired of your own bitching faster. I know other people must be tired of it, too.

So now I am without a clerk but we did bring on a friend of mine (M) to do the 2nd unit payroll and accounting. She's going to take over his desk - it will be nice to have someone in the office who isn't miserable. And I won't fell obligated to make small talk or be cheery. She knows what this job is really like.

We did get a resume for a person to be the clerk. I think S was going to call him yesterday but I don't know if he did or not. I'm trying to take it all in stride and not freak out. It doesn't do any good, any way. And maybe now that M is in town, we can hit some of the tourist spots. We did a lot of that in Boston and had a great time. I hope she ends up on the same Sunday through Thursday schedule I'm on.

ARGH!

I should not work with an assistant until I can clone myself or get Alison on every show. More later...

Ennui?

I overslept Thursday morning. I have a new phone and I probably didn't set the alarm correctly but still, it was 9:05am before a text from a coworker got me up. I had opened my eyes earlier and noticed it was light out but figured the alarm would go off soon and I went back to sleep.

I was surprised to realize that I didn't really care. I got up and showered and packed my lunch and went to work but it didn't seem to matter to me that I was an hour late. I didn't apologize to my boss or anyone else, just strode in and started working. This isn't really like me but for some reason, on this show, I just don't care.

Even though my last show was so difficult for me and my relationship with my boss got so strained I got another job right away. Actually, despite the problems I had on that show, the studio wanted me to take another show for them. They just waited a day too long. Literally.

I'm not sure what point I'm trying to make. I'll figure it out eventually.

In other news, JD is coming to town this week. I'm not sure how many days he'll be on set, but no more than 2. From everything I've heard he's supposed to be a nice guy but the drama surrounding him is going to be a complete pain in the ass; dealing with his entourage and requirements. I would like to see him in person at least once. I wonder if he's as short as most actors seem to be?

The View From Under The Bus

An accountant I worked for in Boston IM'd me to ask if I had any of the waivers for the state. I sent her what I had.

Just found out someone at the studio is mad because of it. Apparently the information on it is old/bad and the recipient threw me under the bus as the originator of the document.

Whatever. Gotta learn to stop helping people out.

My Assistant

I don't like him. I don't know why. He's not offensive but he is boring. Not sure what to do as I need the help...

Movies and Books

I think I've seen more movies (in the theatre) since Brian's been gone than I saw all last year. I've seen Rango, Paul, Hanna, and The Conspirator. I wouldn't recommend Rango but the others were great. Sadly, my movie buddy is out of town next weekend. I'll either have to go by myself or ask someone else. Probably going to be a solo trip to see Water For Elephants. I enjoyed the book and my assistant on S8 worked on it. She also read/liked the book and said they did a pretty good job with the adaptation.

If I don't go, I'll have to find something else to occupy my time. It's a 3 day weekend for us and if I'm not careful I'll end up sleeping it away or reading all day.

I have started reading again but at the moment I'm really into A Discovery of Witches. I got it as an audio book and I've listened to it once and have started on it a second time. It's really struck a chord with me and I'm not sure why. I have ideas, but nothing I've managed to examine too closely. I have other stuff to read, though, so I'm not sure if I'll listen to the whole thing again.

Anyway, I've finished with my time cards - it's my first Sunday working on this show. I don't have everything but I don't think that will be a problem this week. We'll see how it goes next week...

Show Your Work

I've been doing payroll for more than 10 years. I've gotten to the point I can look at a basic, prep week time card and know that I have to pay for 55 hours. If necessary, I will break down the times a bit further and then tally the hours on the calculator and only indicate the total money due. It saves time.

Today, for the first time, an accountant came into my office and told me that I needed to show my work  otherwise the studio auditors will think I just copied the numbers from the edit. I can't imagine the look that must have been on my face - I couldn't believe what I was hearing. If an auditor ever suggested I copied the edit instead of doing the work myself I think I would walk out.

I'm not going to change my ways. When we are shooting and more writing is necessary I will write more. As for now, I'm 40 years old and I'm not in school. I don't have to show you how I reached my conclusion. Ass.

Start Paperwork

Listen - I'm not trying to start something. I'm just trying to tell you that your "stash" of start paperwork is gone. There are no more packets hiding in S's office. I don't care if you had the PA make some yesterday: he made 20 and the hair and makeup dept heads just took 15.

And if I have the time, I'm happy to make more. I'm not trying to make a point by doing it, I'm just making start packets.

Why now? Because we aren't shooting yet. We aren't super busy yet. We have the time to spare now.

And just so you know, the 200 packets your PA is starting? They won't last through the first week of May. You'd think you'd know that by now. This isn't your first show. 

Stupid

If it wasn't for "Tom Hanson" making a cameo, I'd have nothing to look forward to on this show. Eh, maybe I exaggerate but really, I'm having trouble dealing with the stupid. Sometimes I think I'm too good at my job to put up with crap and then I wonder if I'm just being a stuck up bitch. It got to me today and in the end I had to walk away. I don't feel like the 2 people I report to have my back at all and that's a tough spot to be in. And I miss my dog. I've never been this lonely on location. It won't last forever and maybe once we start shooting I'll be too busy to be lonely or to care.

Mr Lack-of-Personality

I can understand not paying me gas when I'm driving my own car - it's a liability issue.

I can't understand not reimbursing me for the cost of 5 cans of soup per week when I choose not to order lunch with the rest of the crew. So that stops now. I will be ordering lunch everyday and if I can get some veggies out of it, great. Otherwise my assistant gets a take-home dinner. Or maybe I should put soup on the craft service list?

And yes, I did try to get a postage scale for myself in lieu of the normal 6th day payment I get when I switch my work week. But you caught it, didn't you? I'll find something else. It won't be $80 all in one go, though. I'll be sure to spend $100 in increments instead.

No wonder no one wants to work with you more than once... I hope the studio rewards you handsomely for screwing over your staff.

Sticky

I decided to start getting up an hour earlier so I could continue to walk to work without getting disgusting because of the humidity. I didn't think it through because today is a rare cool day in NOLA - a front passed through last night and it's only about 56 degrees right now. I should have enjoyed the hour's sleep...

Crocs

Since I have to stand all day at work I have started wearing Crocs. I bought one pair of their work shoes and liked them so much I just went back and bought 3 more pairs. None of the are the basic sandal model and no, I didn't buy any jibbits.

Walking

Just got back from a walk down to the French Quarter. The husband was upset with me because I didn't leave the condo yesterday after my acupuncture, Walmart run, and stop at the post office. It's the first full weekend he's been gone and it got to me... so I took a nap. Then I couldn't fall asleep last night. That will teach me.

But I walked. I went down to the aquarium and over to the park along the river. I walked to the end of the path, then cut through the French Market and circled the park in Jackson Square (in front of the cathedral). Then I came home. It was nice enough, not too hot and humid, but the city smells. The few businesses that had sprayed down their sidewalk didn't help enough. I can't imagine living down there and having that smell permeate everything.

SC and I are going to see a movie today and we'll probably have dinner as well. Last week we saw Rango and had sushi. I really wanted to like Rango but it just didn't work. At least the sushi was delicious. Today we're supposed to see Paul. We'll see if it's better than Rango.

21JS

I'm in New Orleans working on the remake of the 80's show that made Johnny Depp famous. And I'm in it for the location and the possibility of his cameo. Somebody had better get on that!

Anyway, the office isn't dog friendly so Sofie has gone home with her dad. I'm lonely but it's getting busy at work so that helps.

I don't post often enough. FB takes care of a lot of my venting and it's easier. But I think I need to start blogging again. If nothing else it's slightly more anonymous...

New Orleans is an interesting town. It's kind of fabulous and kind of a dump. All of these historic buildings with sidewalks covered in stinking trash cans. The streets are horrendous and the locals can't drive worth shit. We saw more accidents here in the first 6 weeks than I ever saw in Boston (both times I was there!). We got rear-ended by a taxi - that was fun. Took 3 hours for a cop to show up and it was pouring rain.

Speaking of which, the drainage in this town is non-existent. I guess that's what happens when a good portion of the city is technically under sea level.

My back is still screwed up from the herniated disc. I have a drafting table desk and I can't sit for long, or at all if the chair is soft. I did find that Croc work shoes are amazing and I've been wearing them exclusively - I need more than one pair.

I think when it's time for my next show I'm going to aim for Seattle or Portland. Nothing farther away than Santa Fe. And I have to have my Sofie with me - no dog, no show.

Repercussions Part 2

Several weeks ago, the studio called my boss and offered her a really big project - over 200 million and 3 countries. She told them she didn't want it but they asked her to meet with the producers anyway. She did and they liked her and it looked like she'd be taking it.

Fast forward to last week when her direct boss at the studio called her and told her they needed her to pass on the project. Apparently there were people higher up the food chain who felt they needed to take a break from working together because of what transpired on this multi-named monstrosity.

So what does that tell me? That yes, there are repercussions but they are not always in the direction one may think. It also tells me I need to find out who is getting that show.

 

Part II

We don't know how or why, but Darby got better. She figured out that we weren't trying to kill her and stopped trying to reciprocate. Can't say she actually started "playing" but blood stopped flowing so freely. We didn't even have to extend the deadline.

Sometime during all of this, we decided that Darby was Russian. Something about the way her eyes looked, a straight line across the top, made us think Soviet. So ever since she's been a loyal member of the Communist party and often threatens to put her cat brothers up against the wall for various infractions.

Darby and her brothers never did get along. Baxter was the worst for tormenting her - lying in wait and then jumping her. And then she'd turn around and kick Quincy's ass because he was a wuss.

But she did tolerate the dog fairly well. 

Darby - A History in 3 Parts

Part I - October 2004

I decided we needed a 3rd cat. We went to the Van Nuys pound and looked around and I liked the looks of this one cat - a brown spotted coat with a gold/yellow undertone. They opened up the cage door and she head-butted my hand and that was that. Thundra was ours.

The shelter sent her to a local vet for spaying and they did a terrible job; she got an infection that could have killed her. We took her to our regular vet and they immediately started her on fluids and then kept her overnight. It was an expensive start.

When Darby finally came home, her dad took care of her and kept her company. She didn't recover right away but she got better daily. Then we realized that she was a mean little shit who had no concept of play. She was around 2 years old and we had no idea of her history but it wasn't nice if her temperament meant anything. She bit and clawed and left a lot of scars. It was so bad that we actually decided that if she wasn't better by Thanksgiving she would be going back to the pound.

Darby Says Hello

Another Possibility...

I've tried to make myself feel better about all of this by telling myself that if my boss didn't trust in my ability to do the job right then she wouldn't leave so much up to me. Sadly it only goes so far...

Demeaned

I have never worked on a show that disregarded the needs of payroll as much as this one does. More often than not, I sign the time cards and send them to the payroll company. I've even cut checks and distributed them before the people with authority have even finished signing them. It's not supposed to be this way. I'm not supposed to have this kind of power. I think if I wanted to I could slip an extra person or two into the mix and no one would even notice...

The husband keeps asking me if I'm ever going to work for this woman again and I keep telling him no with the caveat that at some point she may be the only job option. Even then it will depend on the size of the show and the amount of staff. She really can't expect do keep doing these bigger shows if she's not willing to put in the time necessary to do the work.

I sent the time cards in on Monday under my signature. The UPM finished signing them yesterday around 5:30pm (after telling me to come to his office at 11am and then never being available). My boss left at her usual time between 6 and 6:30pm after promising me she would sign them in the morning. I just went in to get whatever she had finished with (because I already have edits from the payroll company) but she hasn't touched them and doesn't think she's going to get to them today. So I took them. I'm going to do my work with them and she can deal with them afterward. They won't be in the nice code-order she prefers but I think she's going to know better than to say anything...