NY Life Tower

I saw this photo this morning.... taken from atop the NY Life tower. Very impressive snap.

2 Billion

Cost of Iraq war nearly $2b a week
By Bryan Bender, Globe Staff | September 28, 2006
WASHINGTON -- A new congressional analysis shows the Iraq war is now costing taxpayers almost $2 billion a week -- nearly twice as much as in the first year of the conflict three years ago and 20 percent more than last year -- as the Pentagon spends more on establishing regional bases to support the extended deployment and scrambles to fix or replace equipment damaged in combat.

The full story is here.

Newsweek

I find this stuff fascinating....... how a major US weekly shows the losing war in Afghanistan to the rest of the world but to it's american readers, a fluff piece on a photog's life in pictures.
Raw Story has the story.

Be Kind, Rewind

Some of our stars.

High above the action

Fake cars, real police

The set

Director, Director of Photography, Producer

A building with no facade, two dimensional model t's, a cardboard piano, and a video camera strapped to a construction crane.... it must be a Michel Gondry film. Here are a few pics from the set last week.

Madame Satan

Jerry Falwell spoke the other day and said that not even Lucifer would have a mobilizing effect in 2008 than a run by Hillary Clinton. Of course later,"[a]n aide to Falwell said Saturday that the Lucifer reference was an "off the cuff" comment and that Falwell "had no intentions of demonizing her."

Halliburton & Medals

"...I agree that in consideration for the application for a Defense of Freedom Medal on my behalf that. . . I hereby release, aquit and discharge KBR, all KBR employees, the military, and any of their representatives. . . with respect to and from any and all claims and any and all causes of action, of any kind or character, whether now known or unknown, I may have against any of them which exist as of the date of this authorization. . . . This release also applies to any claims brought by any person or agency or class action under which I may have a right or benefit."

Part of an agreement sent to Halliburton employees who agree not to sue the company for their injuries or deaths in Iraq.
TPM Muckraker has the whole story.

Street Crossing

I've been meaning to post this for awhile. This is the crosswalk button @ Sunset Junction in Los Angeles. Across from the Vista theater. Someone took off the real faceplate and replaced it with a clever commentary on today's bunker mentality. I'm wondering if they have these in Washington, DC?

Science Of Sleep Premiere

I'm going to the movies sunday night. I have not been able to see a screening of Michel's new film yet, so I'm going to the premiere.
Yesterday we did a Busbt Berkley-esque sequence for his new film, "Be Kind, Rewind". Mos Def as Fats Waller is genius. This should be a fun film to watch.

World Trade

Although I deplore what Bush 43 has done to politicize this tragedy, I would like to present this drawing (this more @ the link) to the memory of the fallen of that day.
Alot of us on set were working together the day of the strikes. In fact on September 10th, we were shooting @ Stuyvesant High School. Incredible what a change in schedule would have meant. But on the 11th, we were in Nyack,NY about to start a day's filming.
Carlos and Lamont would leave right away to try to get back to their families in Brooklyn. It took 7 hours to make the trip.
In the afternoon, Tristan and I were sick of the constant coverage and drove north to go for a hike @ Bear Mountain. We went swimming in a lake and as we floated on our backs, the skies were empty. Everything was quiet that afternoon.
The rest of the crew spent the night @ El's and we made our way back to the city on the 12th.
I live across the Brooklyn Bridge from the site and the intersections of Tillary and Adams was turned into a staging ground. Every few hours masses of doctors or firemen or police would converge and be sent over the bridge in buses.
The acrid smell. The smoke. The sirens. They stayed for days while the city coped.

L'HOMME EST UN CONCEPT: 9/11 : World Trade Center (drawings)

US Open pt.2

It was a good match to watch. Although Roddick folded the first and fourth sets, the middle two were exciting. It was Roddick who was getting the hometown welcome. It seemed rather jingoistic to me and the italian couple next to us were Federer fans. There were even some silly teenagers, barechested with AROD on their chests. Betsy explained that there is an A-Rod in every sport now........
We met up with some film friends. Mia worked with us on the Neil Young film in Nashville.
That last picture proves that I should not have my picture taken while chewing gum.

US Open

Entrance of the stadium in Flushing Meadows, Queens.

Enjoying an official bellini before the men's finals. Betsy goes to the Open every year and this year invited me along. Thanks, Bets!


Great park around the stadium. Was a World's Fairgrounds in 1939 and the big globe still sits there.

Along with alot of mosiacs of pavillions and sponsors of the event. I love this one of Elsie the cow.

They had a ceremony for Martina Navratilova. She thanked her lover and Renee Richards. Chris Everett gave the opening speech. I had forgotten that Martina defected from Czechoslovakia in the mid 1970's. Anyways, the USTA gave her a ring and we gave her an ovation.

Then all the red carpets were rolled up and we waited for the main event.

Yahoo Blow By Blow Coverage

More Vacation

Finally getting around to cropping the vacation pictures. It was a great few days. The weather was magnificent. The air was cool but the water still warm. We went waterskiing in the mornings. Kayaking and tennis during the day. And bellinis @ night.

US Open

Betsy and I are heading out to the Men's finals of the US Open in a few minutes. I've never been to the complex before. Looking forward to it. I hope they allow gin and tonics in the stands.......

Helen Mirren as QE2

I love Helen Mirren. I think she is one of the best actress around. And now she stars as Queen Elizabeth in a film about the monarchy after Princess Diana's death. Directed by Stephen Frears, it should be a good show about coming to terms with changing histories. Watch the trailer.

The Queen

Things Are About To Get Ugly

"The National Republican Congressional Committee, which this year dispatched a half-dozen operatives to comb through tax, court and other records looking for damaging information on Democratic candidates, plans to spend more than 90 percent of its $50 million-plus advertising budget on what officials described as negative ads," the article continues.
The memo recommended that vulnerable incumbents spend $20,000 on a research "package" to find damaging material about challengers and urged that they "define your opponent immediately and unrelentingly."

Washington Post Article

Casino Royale

The full trailer for the film was released this week. Pull the trigger and see.

Casino Royale Trailer

Calm Before....

Friday morning looked very ominous. The sky was red and foreboding.
but we finished shooting before Ernesto's heavy rain started. I have to say I'm really impressed with Mos Def as an actor. We are casting alot of local townspeople around him and he has been very patient. And his makeup is wonderful. People are starting to not think about all the problems of pre production and are starting to see the film.
We also had Mia Farrow join us friday night. She is going to be wonderful. So friendly. She brought one of her sons along.
The real shooting begins tuesday. Cranes, Camera cars, moving lights and a stunt. Let the storm begin!