Shark Attack

Nouveau exchange student, Renato, received an inflatable and very mobile floating shark for Christmas. The controls had Orca swimming through the living room menacing anyone in his way.

Weekend Dog

Failing To Resist Tempataion

We took a walk down by my brother's home the afternoon I left Rochester. Blustery and cold. When I got to the airport, a few flights were cancelled but Delta was flying and I had a great afternoon snack before takeoff.

East Coast Snow Storm

I went back to Rochester for a few days and experienced some good weather. The snow began and the wind started howling while at my brother's home for dinner and the next morning saw mom's backyard and front as a winter wonderland.

Psychedelic Pussies

Crazy commercial we did for the Litter Genie last spring in NYC. Take a kitty trip here

Drying Up

We were tossing water balloons today and had to dry the pavement in between takes. The art department had a flame thrower to spectacularly aid in the cleaning up.

Christmas Lights

The lights went up last week.

Shank

Seven's hind leg in a nice bit of midday sun.

Camera Car

A tow rig shot from yesterday. The camera on a jib arm to get into the correct position.

Stunt

We were flipping around a stunt woman yesterday while driving on a process trailer.

Garage

We were on set last week with a brilliant young product designer and the Art Department created a great space in a South Pasadena garage for him. Here's one corner.

Weekend Dog

Waiting for a bone.

How Was Your Lunch?

In between setups, the director and our soundwoman confer on the weighty issues of the day

Cars

Doing a car job now.... here Ellen is squeezed into the passenger side to get the shot while below is a sea of bulbs we worked with today.

Series 3

After 4 days of shooting in a midwest auto plant, I came home to series 3 of Downton Abbey. Having a day off and it raining outside, I devoured the eight episodes. All the melodrama of the first series is back after a disappointing second series (saved only by the Christmas Special). The big announcement of Shirley MacLaine's role as Cora's mother was overblown. Her two dimensional character's exit was a relief. The press' hype of the battle between MacLaine and Smith never happens. This year it's all about Sybil...both of them......

It begins brodcasting on PBS in early January

Weekend Dog

Perfect Sunset

Yesterday walking down San Rafael st., the mountains had a perfect Maxfield Parrish quality to them. Sometimes it can be like living in a painting over here. All we need are a few nymphs and sprites.

Gorgeous LA

The courtyard of Ellen's new offices over @ Gorgeous productions. The waterfall drowns out the street noise of West Hollywood and the architecture suggests an old saloon. You feel miles away from LA in this setting.

Thanksgiving Day Dog

After devouring a turkey neck, Seven finds the last ray of warm light.

Could It Have Worked?

Website Vulture asked a World Bank economist if any of the James Bond villain's schemes could actually work. And then Britain's Economist chimed in as well. It seems that Goldfinger and Le Chiffre were both on the right track

Big O Meets Big Buddha

More here

The Golden Twinkie

We went to the grocery store today to have a last twinkie. Seems a woman was there first and bought them all, telling the cashier that they are collectors items now. We did get a twinkie 2 pack and a snoball to satisfy our taste for nostalgia. When we got home I was curious to see how the demise of Hostess was playing out on Ebay. I can only hope these postings are jokes. Or maybe there is also a bridge in Brooklyn to sell someone........

New Bird By The Bath

A new bird has arrived at the bath. Seems to be alone unlike the usual birds. It has a very distinct single note chirp. The usual chickadees are getting used to us being around and we're not hampering their swimming pleasure.