Los Angeles Traffic Shortcuts
I found this great breakdown of traffic shortcuts by an LA messenger service.
http://www.a-1courier.com/lashortcuts.htm
Best TV of the Week
OK, it’s 3am and I can’t sleep. I’ve heard hours of helicopters, fire trucks, and police screaming around, above, and through my neighborhood. It’s life in LA, but man, I feel like we’re under siege.
So, I’m gonna list the best episodes of this week in TV. I know the week isn’t over, but here goes.
- Sons of Anarchy (intense, bad people being good, evil people winning, two words–KATEY SEGAL)
- Castle (hilarious, twisty and turny, sexy, smart, great cast)
- Mad Men (sublime, lots of cheatings, firings, political change)
When too much is too much
As it rained for about 3 minutes in West LA today (not sure if it rained in the Valley…which might as well be a different country sometimes), I was thinking, hmm, did I sign up for gray skies and rain by moving to LA. The fact that I reverted back to my old NW edginess, angst, and irritability was not lost on me.
Just finished up a website, my taxes, and read a memoir on heroin addiction that I’m thinking of adapting for a cable TV series. Need to some pages down on my feature before tomorrow’s writing group. Wed I start stand-up classes where I work, Judy Carter’s Comedy Workshops.
I’ve decided that this guy in my neighborhood whom I see every day with his dog actually doesn’t like me, my wife, or my dog. He’s super nice to everyone else in the neighborhood, but is very cold to us comparatively. Can’t wait to get out of this hood at some point. Weirdos everywhere. Saw a drug deal go down across the street…pretty damn obvious. Maybe the cops on Venice Blvd could clean up my street instead of pulling people over for speeding.
PAGE and BlueCat
Just uploaded my script, Maid of Dishonor, for the PAGE and BlueCat screenwriting competitions. Wish me luck. My last script didn’t do very well there, but did Second Round at Austin. So, go figure.
I waited on applying for Final Draft’s Big Break, since BlueCat gives you free coverage by March 22nd, if you apply by March 2. So, I’ll see what they say.
Of course, after having Pilar Alessandra read it twice, as well as many others, it should be in OK shape.
Steven Arvanites Workshop
The Steven Arvanites Career Development Workshop was AWESOME. He had each of us work on our 1 week, 1 month, 6 month and career goals. It’s nice to put it down on paper. Of course, I do this all the time, but I think those in attendance really got a lot out of the exercise.
For those who missed it, maybe we can bring him back again. It was well worth it. Steven doesn’t let you off the hook.
Steven Arvanites
I just interviewed Steven Arvanites. What a firecracker of a dude. He has that awesome NYC energy and the writing chops and experience to back it up. We had nearly 50 people in attendance at the Guild meeting, and his Q&A was very well received. I learned a lot.
Excited for tomorrow’s workshop.
Day 8 – LA
I fly back to Seattle today. The rent-a-car folks have no inkling that the car was covered in shit. Thank goodness.
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Day 7 – LA
I spend most of the morning and early afternoon driving around with a realtor, in the pouring-ass rain, checking out some amazing places to rent and buy. Prices are really coming down out here. Mostly hung out in Santa Monica, Brentwood, Westwood, and Century City. Still in love with SaMo, as they call it.
I get dropped off at uncle’s house, then head out to drop off a script for Marilyn Atlas to read. (She only reads hard copies). I email Elizabeth, her assistant/literary manager, since she’ll check out a pdf. Marilyn gives me many hugs and kisses.
I put in the address for Mosaic Media, so I can meet up with Jake Kurily. Of course, the address does not come up in the old GPS. I call him, give me my coordinates. I’m 5 minutes away. Lucky me. Mosaic is awesome, covered in framed posters of some little movies they’ve done-Ace Ventura, Dark Knight, etc. Jake and I chat mostly about home prices, then we talk some business. He offers to help me find a manager and I send him my realtor’s contact info. Jake is a very sweet guy who knows his shit, big time.
It’s my last night in town. We go and pic up my cuz from the airport.