2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
I was running around like a crazy person trying to set up these last minute meetings. I had just spoken with one of my favorite people at Agency X and he'd asked if we could make some last minute adjustments to the schedule of extremely important meetings. Assistant B was incompetent and/or unhelpful and he knew I was an executive now, but could I just help him figure this out given that it was so important? I adored this person and for him, I said of course I would try and that it shouldn't be an issue.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 8:41 AM 0 comments
Labels: introspection, the industry, yeah...i'm a little bit crazy
Shameless Husband Promotion
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 1:08 PM 1 comments
Labels: daily, the industry
Dancing in the Sun - Part 2
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
PART 2
click here to read part 1
ed note/disclaimer: I don't get any less judgmental. Some people may call it down to earth...you choose.
SUNDAY
10:30 AM - SHUTTLE TO MAIN STREET
We have a lunch to go to at noon, so we decide to leave for Main Street, get some coffee and decide what movies we'd like to try to see. You may wonder why there hasn't been any moviegoing thus far.
For a film festival, it is not easy for one to see movies at Sundance. In fact, it's downright HARD. Even though I got a lottery spot for tickets on the second morning of the lottery, there were no tickets left for any of the movies that we wanted to see by the time I was able to buy tickets. So our option was to get on line 2 1/2 hours prior to the movie to get wait listed and even then, there was a good possibility that we would not be able to see the movie. This is annoying. But we decided that we'd try to wait list for a movie later in the day.
Anyhow -- on the shuttle we met some great guys...from New York. Shocker. We decided that one of the most fun parts of Sundance was meeting the people that were truly there for the festival and the films. That it was sort of like meeting people when you travel through Europe. Loved that. Especially since the shuttle rides were REALLY long.
FYI - if you ever go to Sundance, do your best to stay as close to Main Street or one of the headquarters as possible. There's no use renting a car because you can't park anywhere. But the shuttles take FOREVER. They're slow and inconsistent and unless you're staying at one of the aforementioned places, reeeeeeeeally annoyingly difficult. But you do get to meet cool people.
11:30 AM- MAIN STREET COFFEE ATTEMPT
So we went to Main Street and did not get coffee because there were only 2 places to do so on Main Street and both of them were...you guessed it...clusterfucks! We went into one of the private lounges that we had passes for and drank english breakfast tea. Yum.
12 NOON - LUNCH
Got to the luncheon which turned out to be sort of eh...so we snuck out and went to eat at a great little French Bistro, warm up and plan the rest of our day. On our way to the French Bistro, a sales rep that had seen Matt's film approached him to tell him how incredible he thought the film was and how good Matt was in it. The novelty of this never wears off for me as I'm sure it doesn't for him.
Tangent. Forgot to mention that the day before, I had decided to run the dishwasher. I opened the box of soap on the counter and poured it into the machine. You'll notice I haven't said much about our accommodations. Our condo was fine. It was warm and it had plenty of beds to sleep in and it totally worked. Nice? I wouldn't say that. It had the potential to be nice - it just wasn't well kept by the owners. So the fireplace was broken and one of the shower curtains was less than stellar. There were five of us staying there at one point, but only 3 towels. We had to argue to get more than two keys...that sort of thing. So when the dishwasher started bubbling out the bottom, Matt got on the phone immediately to add "broken dishwasher" to the list. (He enjoys doing this...especially when management is less than helpful in getting those extra towels or fixing the broken fireplace. But that's a whole other story...) So he tells them the dishwasher is also broken. Except on Sunday morning, I looked at the box of dishwashing detergent and realized that it was not dishwashing detergent at all. It was Surf. Do you know what Surf is? (Clearly I didn't.) Surf is laundry detergent. So in fact the dishwasher was not what was broken...my brain was broken. We laughed about this for at least several minutes during lunch.
1:30 PM - HYPE GIFTING SUITE
After lunch we went up to another gifting suite and this one was SUPER fun. Matt got his pic taken designing his own Puma's (brown tweed kicks with a maroon stripe up the side...very cool). I got a bright green Puma travel bag. Matt got his pic taken trying on Oakleys. Matt got his pic taken explaining that our dog, Thursday, eats our Havianas and we both went home with a new pair. Matt got his pic taken trying on Frye boots. I got a faboo pair of Frye heels. We loooooved the people at Frye who we added to the list of people who said, "You must be from New York" and then vented to us about the insane Angelenos that had been obnoxiously bombarding them and demanding crap for the past two days. Huh. Interesting.
2:45 PM/any of the times we're wandering MAIN STREET
Matt knows everyone and their mother. Or, somehow, they know him. Or think they do. It's cold. Very cold. One point for living in LA. Also, Main Street is consistently a clusterfuck.
3 PM - ST. IVES LOUNGE
We take a quick breather in the St. Ives lounge and decide we'll try to see a 5:30 screening of "Mysteries of Pittsburgh". We make the decision and leave immediately to get on the shuttle. Jeff says we need to be there by 4 PM.
4 PM - RACQUET CLUB THEATER
We enter the heated tent to get on the waiting list for the film and are greeted by a lovely volunteer who informs us that we have to get there TWO hours before for wait list...not an hour and a half. All 100 wait list numbers have been given out, but we're welcome to wait and see if there's anything left when that's done. That would be around 5:15. So essentially wait another hour and 15 minutes for about .0013% chance of getting a ticket since it's not even guaranteed to the wait list number holders that they'll get a ticket. We think about it for about 2 seconds before we get back on a shuttle.
4:15 PM - SHUTTLE
We realize we have to take this shuttle to another shuttle to get to our condo. ARRRRRRGHHHHHH! Annoying.com. Oh well...cest la vie. We are hungry and tired and frustrated that we can't see a film at a film festival without waiting on line for 2 + hours.
5 PM - CONDO
We sleep.
We order pizza.
We call the awesome lady that knew we were from New York to take us to the Ray-Ban visionary awards for Quentin Tarantino.
7:15 PM - HARRY O'S
It's very interesting that every single place on Main Street is renamed during the festival. With signs and all. And we're not talking plastic banners...we're talking it looks like these places have always been here. I mean, there's a Tao in Park City...need I say more? So I'm not sure what Harry O's is normally called, but it's a music venue on Main Street. We get there and there's a short line. I'm dressed the least appropriately that I've been dressed thus far - in a tank top and a grey cotton/cashmere open sweater with jeans and boots. Of course I have a winter trench on with a hat and gloves. In front of me there is girl in a mini skirt and heels. Without stockings. And despite the fact that she's already injected her lips with some sort of filler, she sticking them out even more. I wonder if her face hurts from holding it in that position...People are INSANE.
We get to the front of the line. Matt gives his name.
"I'm sorry...I don't see you on the list."
Matt pulls out his invite and his RSVP confirmation.
"Are you sure you rsvp'd? The list was closed on Tuesday."
He patiently shows her the rsvp again. (I wanted to say say, "Ummm...can you READ?") He tells her the name of the people he spoke with. She points to the side and says she's sorry - he can step aside and call them. Which is exactly what he does. He calls his BFF Tara. He can't get her on the phone. He tries again.
Just then, a large bouncer comes over and asks us if we're on the list.
"There's a little confusion," I explain. "But yes, we're guests of this event."
"Well, I don't think you're on the list. You'll have to step outside."
I politely explain that someone is coming out to get us just as Matt gets through to Tara who says she's sending someone out to do just that.
"Sorry. You're not on the list. Step outside. NOW." And he puts his hand on my shoulder to "escort" us.
This is where I get pissed. "A. We ARE on the list. Someone is coming outside to get us. B. There is absolutely NO reason for you to TOUCH me or be rude."
He rudely asserts that he's not being rude, he's doing his job, and tells us that we can wait for the person coming to get us outside of the blockade. I can't stand bouncers who think that because they are the doorman, they have all sorts of power and can be TOTAL dicks.
But we do as we're asked and when Rachel comes out to get us, she's pissed a. that we weren't on the list and b. that we were manhandled. She calls one of the bouncers that made us wait outside to come help her open the blockade to let us in. As if that wasn't satisfying enough, she then says to Matt, "We'll need you to come walk the red carpet." I was so joyous that I might have possibly blacked out momentarily and stuck my tongue out at the bouncer. Or perhaps that was only in my dreams.
Inside, we grab a drink and wait for Matt who has just been on the red carpet with Dennis Hopper and Quentin Tarantino. This is VERY cool. After about 20 minutes, the award is presented to Mr. Tarantino who gives an inspired speech from which I have found my new favorite quote:
"You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand." - Woodrow Wilson
What an amazing quote and couldn't be more appropriate for me for 2008. I've now written it all over the place.
After we see a montage of the amazing movies he's made and hear him speak, the Bravery plays for a while. They're good - really good. But around 10:30 all three of us had about had it. We were exhausted and felt no need for an evening on the Sundance party circuit.
When we walked out into the brisk night air, it was snowing. Despite all the hustle and bustle, Main Street looked gorgeous and magical.
11:00 PM - BACK AT THE CONDO
We got home really early by Park City standards. We couldn't have been happier to crawl into pj's and turn on the TV.
I'm leaving on Monday...but I've decided to get up to try to see "The Last Word"at 9:15. Since it's the first showing of the day, I only have to wait online for 1 hour instead of 2...so I set my alarm for 7:15 and plan to get up and out to try to see at least one other movie before I leave Park City.
MONDAY
7:15 AM - ALARM GOES OFF
I wake up and for the 3rd morning in a row with such a dry mouth and throat that I can barely speak. It's the altitude and the constant heat...but it feels like crap. I feel like crap. I am absolutely exhausted. But I tear myself out of bed and get in the shower.
7:30 AM - CAN'T ANYONE GET A CAB IN THIS TOWN?
The answer is no. I can not get a cab. I call five different companies. Including the karaoke cab-mobile. No cabs. Not until 1 PM. WTF???? This town is feeling more and more difficult. I contemplate taking the shuttle...it's now 7:40 and by the time I get down to the shuttle it will be at least 7:50. Even if the shuttle comes immediately, I won't get to the Eccles until 8:45 or so because I need to switch to another shuttle to get there. I'll have missed the wait list line and I'm back at a .0013% chance of getting a ticket. I decide that I'm not destined to see a film at this film festival and opt to go have breakfast with Matt before I leave and before he does a day of press.
9:10 AM - ALBERTSON'S
We arrive at Albertson's via shuttle which is where the shuttle driver has told us to get out for the Marriott Headquarters. Said driver has failed to mention that the Marriott is a 15 minute walk from here. It's about 15 degrees. And snowing. We go into Alberston's to get Starbucks which I have been craving since we arrived and is not so easy to come by in this town...(there is no Starbucks on Main Street).
As I pour sugar in my latte, I hear someone call Matt's name. It's the guy from Cinetic that's repping Matt's movie. He tells Matt that the movie is getting great buzz at the "New York intellectual/smartnik film of the festival". Wow. He tells Matt that if a film like this is going to get noticed, it needs all of the right people to champion it...and that seems to be happening -from the NY Times to Entertainment Weekly. WOW. He doesn't know if the film will sell or not - it's really hard with a small film like this...but it's getting the attention it deserves and that's a really great thing.
We thank him for filling us in and are on our now even merrier way. The walk is sort of refreshing and it's nice to get a little exercise.
9:40 AM - BREAKFAST
We stop at a little restaurant close to the Marriott and eat delicious breakfast. They serve mac and cheese for breakfast. I am not kidding. I order it. I'm not kidding. I've been wanting it since I didn't get any at the NYU thing on Saturday. So I have it for breakfast. I know that Amy and Kelly would be proud of me...
It's delicious.
10:15 AM - THE MARRIOTT
Matt has to go to press so I sit in front of the fireplace at the Marriott and read for a little while. I check my flight, which has been delayed from 2:55 to 4:35. I call the car service to rearrange my pick up time. The woman tells me that they can't rearrange my pickup time because they're too busy that day.
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME??? It seems to me that Utah is not really that ready for the influx of people coming in for this festival. I can't get a freaking cab, I can't change my car service. You would think that at this point, they'd realize that they need to step it up.
Given that I'm being picked up at 12:15, I have to get on a shuttle to go home. I kiss Matt goodbye and head out into the snow. Of course, the shuttle that picks up outside the Marriott doesn't go to the Canyons. Of course. So I walk to the shuttle that does. I wait for 15 minutes for the shuttle and then take a 45 minute shuttle ride back to my condo (which is only about a 10 minute drive from the Marriott.) This is a perfect final shuttle ride to remind me that I am, indeed, ready to leave Park City.
Happily, I encounter no clusterfucks on my final day. And I am very proud to say that I did not fall on the ice or snow ONE SINGLE TIME. This is a huge feat for me.
1:15 PM - SALT LAKE AIRPORT
Since I am here, oooooooooh, 3 1/2 hours before my flight is scheduled to leave, I buy a magazine and grab a seat at the bar in the airport.
The bartender (who may be a man dressed as a woman or a woman dressed as a man) hands me a water. I ask for lemon.
"No lemons."
I ask for lime.
"No limes. I got maraschino cherries."
I'll skip it. You'd think from the way the bartender and waiters are running around that they'd never had more than 2 customers before.
I order a quesadilla without the chicken but with the other stuff. I'm not so into eating chicken at the airport. When it comes, it has nothing in it but cheese. I send it back. I remind her that I'd ordered a beer. About 20 minutes ago. There is chaos everywhere. She/He grunts a lot. I wonder if one works in the airport because they have a bad attitude or if they have a bad attitude because they work in an airport.
I head to my gate at about 3:30 because I don't want to sit in the bar anymore. I am exhausted. I am so exhausted I feel sick exhausted. I am fighting sleep while waiting for the plane.
Finally at 5 PM we take off. I fall asleep for a while and then watch "Project Runway". A fantastic end to a fantastic weekend. This makes me very happy. Especially since my favorite contestants, Chris and Christian, are working together as a team. And Christian coins the term "ferosh"...as in ferocious. I love this boy.
7:15 PM - HOME SWEET HOME
I force myself to unpack because if I don't do it now, I won't do it for days. I eat a skinny cow mint icecream sandwich. I drink about 50 glasses of water. I get into bed. I am exhausted...but I have to say...Sundance was ferosh.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 5:12 PM 0 comments
Labels: the industry, travels, west coast prejudice
Dancing in the Sun - Part 1
PART 1
Ed. note/warning: This post is judgmental. Just so you're aware that I'm aware and know what you're getting yourself into.
First, let me say, I had a faaaabulous weekend in Sundance. It was an amazing and fascinating experience...
FRIDAY 3:15 PM - BURBANK AIRPORT
I am obsessed with Burbank airport and have often thought that I should fly out of it more often. It's small and manageable and easy. No waiting in security lines or check in lines, no walking miles to get to your terminal. So I was thrilled to be able to fly to Salt Lake City from Burbank.
Except this was no ordinary Friday in Burbank. In an airport where I normally breeze through security, I waited in line for 35 minutes surrounded by hipsters in skinny jeans and sunglasses, entertainment execs with bluetoothed ears and one completely dear older man who refreshingly had nothing to do with the business or partying and had no idea why the airport was so packed that day.
7:50 PM -SALT LAKE CITY AIRPORT
Salt Lake City is ten times worse than Burbank was. Holy shite. Is it this packed with every flight that comes in from NY or LA?
11:00 PM - T-MOBILE DINER TO SEE NIKKA COSTA
Nikka is a friend of my husband's and invited us to come see her do an acoustic set at the T-Mobile diner. The show was slated to begin at 11:30 so we decided to get there closer to 11:00 so as to avoid the crowds and the cold. We arrived at 11:10 to be told that the space wasn't ready yet and we'd have to wait...outside. In the 18 degree weather. Lovely. As we're waiting a stretch hummer (otherwise known as obnoxious on wheels) pulls in and out pops some random in a chinchilla coat with sunglasses on followed by his bleached blonde, fake tanned, tucked, sucked, and plumped entourage. One woman's lips were so big I couldn't see her nose. Another woman had on enough clothing to cover my 9 month old nephew. Did I mention it was 18 degrees out? Did I mention that I was going to be judgmental??? These people pushed their way in front of us, only to be informed that they weren't getting in yet either. (At least they didn't let 25 people in but make us stand outside...if that had happened, I would have left.)
About 10 minutes in, one of the PR chicks for T-Mobile comes out to give wristbands to those on the list. Matt gives his name and she gives us wristbands and tells us we'll still have to wait outside because it's not open yet. He asks politely how long it will take. She gives us one of those PR girl looks as if to say, "ummm - you're lucky to even be at this party buster." and says with all the attitude in the world, "I don't know but you can huddle around that heat lamp." We look over to the single heat lamp that already has thirty people huddled around it and Matt looks back at her and says, "Yeah - no thanks...we're not animals." Genius. Said PR girl sees none of the humor or irony in Matt's statement. It is here that I originate my word of the festival: clusterfuck. There is a clusterfuck of people standing around ONE SINGLE heating lamp. And did I mention yet that it's 18 degrees out?
Thankfully, five minutes later, we head in, get a great seat and wait for the show. We are surrounded by ski bunnies extraordinaire and NY club kids galore. So this is Sundance.
Nikka plays a genius set (if you're not familiar with this woman, get some of her music fast...she's AMAAAAAAZING) which is promptly ruined when aforementioned PR bitch comes over to our table to tell us that we'll have to get up because some of her T-mobile team has arrived and the table is for them.
"For them? There wasn't and isn't a sign on it."
"I know...but there was supposed to be sooooooooooo..."
"Sooooooo...we'll get up after this song is over. We came here to support our friend so we're not going to get up in the middle of her song. Thanks."
And we did. We'd had enough of the Sundance scene for the evening...
SATURDAY 10:30 AM - SHUTTLE TO SCREENING
The shuttle is wall to wall to wall to wall people. Clusterfuck. And the traffic is not moving. Apparently, not only has the entire LA party scene transported itself to Park City, but so has the 405. Finally we get off when a local tells us that we're about a 15 minute walk from the library theater.
11:30 AM - SCREENING OF MOMMA'S MAN
The theater is packed which is really cool. I've already been told about the movie -- that it's beautiful and touching but not especially commercial and painstakingly and intentionally slow in parts. I sit toward the back and center of the theater and watch the short that precedes the film. The short is sort of genius - animation set to a song about a tennis game between father and son interrupted by some hoodlums. Really clever and funny.
The movie starts. I'm totally biased but Matt is really good. His face is unbelievably expressive. The film is beautifully shot and both funny and poignant in places. And while there are about 20 minutes in the middle that are indeed painstakingly slow, it's clear that it's on purpose and so, I have to respect Aza's choices in film making...and that this is not one that will necessarily appeal to the masses but those to whom it does appeal will think it is fantastic. And so is Matt. I'm really, really proud.
1:30 PM - WHISKED AWAY IN A CAR
We're picked up outside the theater by the sweetest guy (who my husband, in true fashion, will later become friends with...) to take us to Main Street so that Matt can record a PSA for the Hallmark Channel. It's fun and he's good and everyone is really lovely. We talk to some women who have created a really cool organization called We Add Up - a non-profit based on the idea that you don't have to do EVERYTHING to help with the environment but if you choose one or two things to focus on, then you can make a difference. We're thrilled to realize that we do not one or two, but EIGHT of the things that add up. Cool. I like these ladies -- so check them out and see what you can do to help. We get handed some swag bags and are sort of overwhelmingly jostled through the hallways...before we're sent on our way back to the car to the next thing.
2:30 PM - CREATIVE COALITION CHILDREN'S READING
The car brings us to another Creative Coalition event. Creative Coalition is essentially a non-profit that helps bring together people in the arts to deal with pressing issues and influence the community. Sort of vague but a very cool group. We are greeted by two adorable and very cold (cold like the temperature -- not cold bitchy) girls who whisk us downstairs to intense chaos (clusterfuck). Matt's here to record a children's story for the Creative Coalition and as a thank you, they'll walk him through one of the famous Sundance gifting suites. (For those of you living under a rock, these are suites that are inhabited by all sorts of designers and products and they give away free things in hopes that celebrities will be photog'd wearing their stuff. Ridic.)
Anyhow, we're plopped onto a couch to wait and it is here that I truly see part of the Sundance spirit. There is a peroxide blonde who thinks she is all that but clearly is not loudly touting her credentials to someone who works with the group. She is in something that's at the festival that she also produced (although when I went to check later, I couldn't find her anywhere) and apparently has been in several dozen films (most of which I'm guessing were porn.) This woman is not interested in reading a children's book for charity (and according to her, was not informed that would be there). She is only interested in getting free stuff. She's told that she's welcome to walk around.
"So do we just get to take things?" she asks in a very fake and sweet high voice.
"No, that's not how it works. You go up to each booth and they'll choose whether or not to gift you."
Now, this sounds like it's obnoxious. However, what this woman doesn't know (and neither do I although I'm still impressed with how this is being handled by the very sweet and lovely PR girl,) is that after you do your reading, one of the lovely PR people (who are clearly of no relation to aforementioned T-mobile PR person) will take you around, introduce you to all the vendors and explain what you're starring in at the festival, making them want to gift you. But since this bee-atch doesn't want to do anything nice for the charity, she'll have no such escort.
Matt leaves to do his reading, and I get a front row ticket to the tantrum this idiot throws. She demands to talk to each and every person that she can possibly speak to. One woman explains that they have no control over what the vendors do or do not give away. She yells saying that she's offended that she was invited to such an event. She says it's like being invited to a party and being told you can't come in. After twenty minutes of this ridiculousness, she finally gets someone to take her around. The person that's come with her is so embarrassed that she opts out and decides to stay on the couch. After this INSANE display, I decided I'm going to take advantage of the bar. And have a martini. When I return, Matt has become best friends with two of the amaaaaazing PR girls, Tara and Sarah. They are adorable and can't tell us enough how nice it is to have two people there that are...well...nice. This is not the first time we will hear this during the weekend. Tara takes us around and I get some t's and a bedazzled shirt that I will never wear but my friend Jessica will devour. Matt gets a pair of jeans and most importantly, we get a ridiculous amount of Ahava products. Matt of course exchanges info with Tara who is now referring to my husband as her long lost cousin...and we're on our way to our next stop.
3:OO PM - TO THE DELTA SKY LOUNGE
It's time to actually see some friends! Matt and I head up to the Delta Sky Lounge to meet Phil and Jeff and Evan, to drink, and digest the day. I am in shock and awe that it's only 3 PM. It feels like it's midnite. And I'm starving. We hit the lounge and I immediately get some hot buttered bourbon. Delicious. As I'm waiting at the bar and ordering cocktails for myself and my husband, he heads upstairs and the woman sitting next to me asks how I know him. I tell her and she says she saw his movie on Friday and that he was incredible. This is waaaaaaay cool. I know it - but I enjoy hearing it from others. Can't help it...
I head upstairs and pop about 10 mini-crab cakes in my mouth since I haven't eaten since 9:30 that morning. After a short respite in the Sky Lounge, all 5 of us head back out into the cold to the NYU Alumni function. As we're leaving, there are all sorts of paparazzi parked outside the door. Some random girl asks Jeff if he knows who's in there.
"Ummm...I heard the lead actor in Momma's Man just left."
The girl looks at him with a blank stare. Jeff's favorite game has become dropping Matt's name everywhere as if you're a moron if you don't know who he is. This game is funny.
4:00 PM - NYU AT SUNDANCE
It's really freaking hot in here. But sure, I'll have a glass of sauvignon blanc...why not? I see many people with mac and cheese. It looks next level good. I am FAMISHED. The crab cakes did nothing. I start to make my way toward the mac and cheese but across the room I spy one of the stars of one of the tv shows I work on...his movie is premiering at Sundance in the dramatic competition. We make eye contact and I head over to say hello. He's honestly one of the SWEETEST men ever and I'm thrilled for him that his movie has made it to the festival. He's equally as thrilled for Matt...we chat for a bit and I head back toward the mac and cheese. When I arrive, it's gone. I am left standing there with a celebrity who is equally as distraught by the lack of breadcrumb and cheese ensconced noodles. We look at the waitress who points behind us to a boy with a plate overflowing with the cheesy goodness that we are longing for. The celeb and I look at each other and we both grab forks, tempted to dig into the boy's plate. But we do not. I settle for a biscotti instead. It's no substitute.
The event winds down and my feet are about to fall off. We hop on a shuttle back to the condo and devour the salsa rice chips that we got in one of our bags. They are amazing with sour cream. Then again, what isn't amazing with sour cream...then we all fall asleep.
10:30 PM - CAB TO MAIN STREET
We call a cab to go meet Jeff and his sister and head to a private mansion in Deer Valley. When we get outside, we see a van illuminated with Christmas lights and a disco ball and...A KARAOKE MACHINE. We sing Journey on the way to Jeff's house. It's definitely fun although the van sort of really smells and it's definitely hindering my enjoyment of the situation.
What further hinders my enjoyment is when Matt asks the two seemingly lovely girls why they're at Sundance and one of them responds, "To party - is there any other reason to be here?"
Yes. I'm serious.
11:15 PM - CAR RIDE TO DEER VALLEY
We drive up the winding roads to Deer Valley. One thing I think I've failed to mention is that this place is GORGEOUS. The snow covered mountains are so picturesque that sometimes I feel like I'm driving through a movie set. This area is just stunning and fantastic snow exposure for a girl who misses this time of year back east.
We have to park our car and take a shuttle so we huddle together with some cool Chicagoans while we wait. And technically, we get to the party early, early, early on Sunday morning...
MIDNITE - THE MANSION
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This place is INSANEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! I mean...ridiculous. Like nothing I've ever seen and yes, I've been in some of those Bel Air mansions and Manhattan penthouses. We arrive early, (Yes, midnite is early) grab a glass of champagne and go for a tour of the house. There is a racquetball court in the house. And a ski room so that they can put on their skis and take the chair lift up the mountain. From their back yard. And an indoor lap pool (which pushes water toward you as you're swimming so that you have to work harder in a small space) and a multi-leveled hot tub with water spurting out of the wall. And it's weird but this huge-ass mansion doesn't feel huge in the sense that it's very warm and cozy (which was helped by the ridiculous number of fireplaces that existed there.) We meandered for about half an hour and then realize that the people coming in are not exactly the kind of people that you would expect at a place like this. So we managed to snag seats on the couch for all five of us which is a perfect location to (I already warned you...) make fun of everyone that walked in the door. Because with the exception of a few producers and the Sundance Programmer (who totally validated the party for us), the entire party could have been at LAX (the Hollywood nightclub- not the airport.) There was the trio of ski bunnies wearing skintight sweaters and little pom pom hats with heels dancing on the fireplace mantel so to get the perfect back lighting. There were lips galore. That was all I could see of some of the women. That and their fake breasts. There was the couple that was grinding in the living room and making out for SO long that I was sure they couldn't have possibly realized they were in a public place. THIS was the ultimate clusterfuck.
30 minutes after we parked it on the couch we decided we'd definitely gotten our taste of the mansion private party scene and headed out into the freezing cold to head home.
1 AM - CAB RIDE HOME
We got into a cab with the greatest lady who turned and looked at us and said, "You guys are New Yorkers - aren't you?" This was the utmost compliment.
This was my first full day at Sundance.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 10:10 AM 1 comments
Labels: the industry, travels, west coast prejudice
Hitting the slopes
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Modesty is overrated. Besides, when it's pertaining to someone other than yourself, you're allowed to brag - right?
This January, I'll be hitting the slopes in Park City, Utah. Why, you ask? Have I moved on from television to film? No. I'm interested in checking out the scene? Nope. Perhaps I just want to get a little skiing in and Utah is closer than Vermont? Not that either.
I'm going to Park City for the Sundance Film Festival for the premiere of a movie called Momma's Man starring...MY HUSBAND!
YIPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Sometimes life is just grand. And in those grand moments, I love sharing my excitement. We've known for over a week but now we get to shout if off the rooftops since it's been announced to the world. So I'm shouting, baby.
You can expect more displays lacking modesty after I'm actually there and see the movie but for the moment, I'm done. For the moment.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 5:31 PM 1 comments
Labels: family, the industry
Strike this
Thursday, November 8, 2007
I know that the Writer's Guild strike is merely news to many of my non-Angeleno counterparts. But here in LA, it's affecting everyone's day to day everything...The overall mood in Los Angeles is one of anxiety. There is tremendous unknown right now and I'm sure the prescriptions for Valium and Xanax at least doubled this past week.
Several people have asked me what the strike is about. I could break it down for you, but a blog called United Hollywood has done it way better than I ever could. Click here to understand and keep in mind this is from the writer's point of view.
When not picketing, my husband is making you tube videos that star my fabulous puppy, Thursday (among others...but she's the most important) Click below for some "strike"-ing entertainment. Wow. That was really bad...
But the thing that I'm really wondering as I have to drive through one of the milder picket lines every day is why can't this get worked out civilly? I'm sure many would say I'm naive - that if it could have, it would have. But I still wonder. The truth is - everyone fighting needs each other. The moguls would be nothing without the creativity of the writers. And the writers wouldn't have a commercial outlet if it weren't for the huge corporate conglomerates. (Sure, they can put on plays and create their own stuff...but they'd all be lying if they said they didn't care about the basics of health insurance and paychecks.) Everyone is so angry and people are lying and there are double standards going on all around.
All I'm saying is that it sucks. Plain and simply sucks.
Oh - and we ate at BLD last night. It was really good. It's actually gotten better than it used to be. And their fruit and nut bread that they serve with the cheese plate is amazing. They have a pretty amazing cheese plate. And I love cheese. LOVE. BLD was good. I like it. I approve. Over and out.
BLD, 7540 Beverly Blvd. 323-930-9744, open for breakfast (that's the B), lunch (that's the L) and dinner...you get it...7 days a week.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 2:00 PM 1 comments
Labels: food and drink, the industry
Get used to repeats, baby.
Friday, November 2, 2007
I remember showing up to a dinner party in tears in the spring of 2003 because of the musician's strike on Broadway. I had to stand in the lobby of the Broadway theater and explain to people that there would be no performance that evening of Baz Luhrmann's La Boheme on Broadway. I had to tell them that they could either get their money back or get tickets for another performance down the line, but that March evening, the lights would not shine on Broadway. People actually cried. They begged me to make the show happen. They were in NYC for their yearly vacation and they always saw a Broadway show - and besides...the show must go on!
Right.
There were people from Australia. There were people that had finally won the lottery for the $20 tickets after waiting in line for three months straight. There was a lot of disappointment for the few nights that Broadway went dark during the musician's strike. It broke my heart to see how devastated people were that they weren't going to get to see theater. I had come to take it for granted because I got to see almost every show that existed for free during previews. I had forgotten that for most people, the theater was truly a special treat. That evening, I remembered.
The musician's strike only lasted a few days - Mayor Bloomberg stepped in because the city was losing millions and it was fixed in a matter of hours. That strike effected a lot of people...but it was nothing compared to what Hollywood is about to experience.
So on Monday the writers will walk out. No more SNL, Letterman or Leno effective immediately. Your favorite shows will last for another couple of months with more repeats in between so you'll see a new episode every so often...but come January, things will change.
Here in TV Network land, we've already been told there's no more overtime, no more expense accounts, no more birthdays. (It's the Grinch who stole fun!) When we drive to work on Monday, we've been told to keep our windows up, lest a picketer should throw something through a window or shout things that we'd feel inclined to want to respond to. Meanwhile, some of these picketers could very possibly be my friends.
There are all the crew people who are just victims of this disagreement and are totally out of work because of it. Big deal if I don't get a birthday cake...
Then there's the rest of LA. I thought about getting a second job waiting tables to make up for the lack of overtime that I'll be getting. But everyone that eats out in this town does so on an expense account. If they don't have one, will they still eat out? Definitely not as often...There will be fewer car services taking people places. People will cancel dog walkers, cleaning ladies, waxing, facials. Starbucks and Coffee Bean are going to see some serious hits (although there will probably be more out of work people hanging out because it's too depressing to just sit at home all day. But I bet you there are fewer lattes ordered and more plain ol' coffees...) Liquor sales may increase but bars won't be so packed.
For a few nights, Broadway disappointed several hundred thousand people and the shows lost some money. But this is going to last for more than a few nights. Repeats are the least of our worries.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 4:57 PM 0 comments
Labels: the industry
The Industry
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
I find it bizarre that I live in a town where people can say "Do you work in The Industry?" and everyone knows what it means. THE Industry. THE Business. As if it's the only one.
But out here, it sort of is. In NYC there are jacks of all trade. When you go to a party and someone asks what you do, the answers are plentiful. And while there are definitely other industries in Los Angeles, the entertainment industry is the biggest by far. Most everyone is somehow linked in...you have your obvious writers, actors, directors, agents, and managers. You have your network and studio execs - be it in development or marketing, PR or production. You have your crew - from prop master to set designer to location scout to best boy to key grip. And even if you're not in the business, you're generally tied into the business - whether it's a charity that depends on celebrities to tout it's cause or web designers that create rock stars websites. Everyone here is looped into the industry. LA is a one trick pony.
I often find it exhausting. There's no escaping talk of what's going on in this town - who's doing what (or who's doing who for that matter.) I know that there are plenty of people who love Los Angeles because of this - it doesn't bother them, it invigorates them. But sometimes, for me, it's just too much. Sometimes I don't want to hear about what's next for this one or who was at that one's dinner party. And I know I'm not alone when I say that I often feel like I'm constantly fighting to be seen and heard on my way up this ladder that at times I question whether I want to climb. I miss being able to walk out of my office into a sea of people that came from Smith Barney and The New York Times and Loreal and Conde Naste. I miss variety. And I don't mean the daily kind that winds up in my inbox every morning.
I live in a town where people create entertainment for others to escape from their normal, everyday lives. But when this is my normal, every day life, where does solace lie for me?
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 2:21 PM 3 comments
Labels: musings on life, the industry
