Pete Souza's Favorites

Obama's official fotog has listed his favorite photos here.

Modern Film Making

Our producer and AD comparing unconventional notes

The Full Bosch

WL got a heat jacket from Bosch this year. We are geeking out on the button above the logo that lights up for different heat settings. Tap it to change warmth and color.

Banco in Situ

My sister sent Banco a stuffed lion for Christmas.  Banco showed it no mercy and when we called quits to playtime, she sat patiently, waiting for the toy to fall from its' perch.

Peachy Mannequins

We did a fashion thing recently with a bunch of mannequins.  Colored surprise peach.  After the shot, the were unceremoniously dumped by the side of the cyc.

Beauty Shoot

 We recently did a beauty shoot with a model against mirrors

Commercial Time

 A few shots from last week's commercial. Tristan got into the prop sunglasses.

Bob and Tony

The Bob Dylan song that Ellen and I shot in Alabama for Tony Bennett's 90th birthday this Fall is now online here

Mirrored Key

Excellent Key Grip Ryan tweaks the mirror panels on set yesterday.

Zsa Zsa Passes at 99

Zsa Zsa Gabor died today at 99.  My fascination with her is in connection to her third husband George Sanders.  They only lasted five years but stayed life long buddies.  In fact, Zsa Zsa counseled George to marry her sister Magda in the early 1970's.  Sadly, it lasted only a month.  Zsa Zsa describes her marriage to George in her blandly titled 1960 autobiography, My Story.  True to form, George has choice words for his ex in his excellent book, Memoirs of a Professional Cad. 
They made only one film together, the regrettable  "Death of a Scoundrel"

Gaffer 63: The Butler

High Diver

 We spent the morning in Riverside filming a cliff diver doing his stuff from the 10m platform.

Lights

 With the Banksia tree gone, we had to rethink our holiday lights out front.  We got a few things and sprinkled them around the garden. Now we just to figure out if we like it!

Banco In Situ

Luigi Listens

We were interviewing a writer/comic last night and her very cute dog Luigi stayed out of shot and on duty.

Cycle Continues

The cycle of the past 35 years is about to continue.  Republican presidents run the country into the ground with Voodoo Economics, Supply Side madness, 2 separate trillion dollar unfunded wars, unfunded $740 billion Medicare mandate, Squandered Budget Surplus, Greatest recession since the Great Depression....... And then it takes the Democrats to dig us out of the hole while the other side screams about deficits and religious liberty. With zero help from the Republicans, Obama has been able to drag the country back to near full employment.
What's coming in January? Massive unfunded tax breaks, $1 trillion unfunded infrastructure plan, massive Pentagon spending.  Estimates are the debt will grow $5.4- $11.5 trillion in the Trump pesidency.
If only Americans could think critically and have memories longer than 5 minutes, we could actually do something with this country.
Donald Trump Budget Deficit
Donald Trump Would Boost Debt
Trumps Republican Party Is Now Just Fine With Deficits

Banco in Situ

Los Angeles Snowfall

Recently, we did a Christmas job at Hollywood and Highland in LA.  The art department laid down the snow mats and for the actual shooting, art department boys with soap machine backpacks to blow suds into the air. Movie Magic.

Banco in Situ

An early morning walk last week.  Before the sun was up and the street stair lights were still on.

Coyote Morning

Banco and I had a good looking, good sized coyote follow us down Oneonta before running past.  They are looking well fed these days.... fewer feral cats around.

Golden Baked Onions

My brother and I were drooling over a recipe we spied yesterday online. Today I made the Golden Baked Onions and they were delicious. The thyme, gruyere and onions smelled amazing, as well.

Front Yard Substitutions

We have turned out attention back to the front yard. The Banksia has been struggling with termites so we finally removed it and put a desert willow in it's stead. A meager cordyline with a massive tap root has been replaced with a Golden Currant.  A pestilence of mites attacking a succulent has hopefully been arrested.  Added some more rosemary to complete a hedge under the front window. We are trying some Freesia bulbs so will be looking for those to start popping up in January. Red and orange poppy seeds scattered about for some spring color.