'Tis the Season 


I haven't bothered noting any anniversaries in this blog... 

... like, for instance, the anniversary of the start of this blog. Today's anniversary, however, seems notable. It was exactly one year ago today that we arrived in Spruce Grove after what, at the time, felt like an outrageous series of misadventures and obstacles. It's also the Christmas season which always seems to add an additional layer of reflection--end of the year and that... so yeah, this is going to be one of those reflective, boring entries... but bear with me.

The first thing I started thinking about was this: really, what exactly has happened over the last year? Folks, I'm drawing blanks. I mean, there were quite a few things I wrote about in my blog, but it was all just "stuff". I still don't have my landed immigrant status (although the lawyer claims it has been filed and demanded an additional $2,000 for the service). I hear promises of work but nothing concrete and no dates as of yet. "Ghost on the Highway" seems to have stalled without distribution, so I'm unlikely to see any more money from that (and I hardly saw anything to begin with). I'm still living in other peoples' houses, sleeping in other peoples' beds, and would probably be eating other peoples' porridge if it weren't for the fact that I'm on the Atkins diet. Actually, I've lost 15 pounds so far... but what am I even dieting for?

Originally, I was dieting for that internet series I wanted to make, "Due North". They say the camera adds ten pounds but honestly, it's more than that... and living up here added a bit more than that, too... but despite this year's relatively heavy snowfall creating the perfect backdrop on which to shoot the project, I've decided to postpone it for yet another year. I've discussed the series with a few people up here, and every single one has convinced me that it's grant-worthy--the Canadian government, they say, will throw money at projects like "Due North" because it's actually about Canada, not just something that happens to have been shot up here like all of the U.S. shows being made in Vancouver. The problem is that, not being legal yet, I can't apply for a grant... so I'll wait. It seems the sensible thing to do. So... with no work and no "Due North", what to do?

Well, a good friend of mine called me about a month ago to tell me about a new reality series in development for the Fox network called "On the Lot". It's created by Mark Burnett (the "Survivor"/"Apprentice" guy) and Steven Spielberg. (I'm sure I don't have to list his credits for you.) And what's the show about? "16 aspiring filmmakers compete to become the next big Hollywood director and sign a development deal with DreamWorks". (Quoted from www.imdb.com.) I decided to write a couple of scripts, pick the best one, get the old "Quitters" team together, and go shoot a short. (Your submission must be under five minutes.) I talked briefly to the DP. I talked briefly to the producer. Neither have called me back, and it's been over two weeks. I'm going to try them again tonight (have called a few times already), but I'm starting to consider shooting something up here... but still, I don't know anyone up here! It's all feeling a little futile. There's just no momentum behind anything. It's hard to get people excited about something from 1,800 miles away... or, when it comes to shooting up here, it's hard for me to get excited at the prospect of working with an entire cast and crew of first-timers... AND having to physically shoot the thing myself. I'm handy with a camera but really a bit clueless when it comes to lighting a scene for live action... and I'm supposed to direct actors while I'm doing that?

But all of this is just details and specifics. I'm still glad we moved up here and definitely think it was the right decision. I haven't worked (on anything paying) for over a year, now, and it's somewhat horrifying to picture what would have happened if we'd stayed in California. Oh, and these new shows I've been hearing about? Yeah, they're coming out of Vancouver... so I feel like the decision was still a good, sound, and justifiable one.

However, taking stock of things at this point, I realise that I'm not much farther along in anything than I was at this point last year. I have my car up here, now with Alberta plates, but where my car is legal, I'm still not! I still can't get an Alberta driver's license, and I still can't get on my wife's bank account. Okay, enough. These are all things you all already know (unless you haven't been reading my blog, in which case I'd suggest you go and start here.)

Anyway, seeing as this will most likely be my last blog entry until 2007, why don't I try to sum up the year.

2006 will be remembered in Canada as the year the Conservatives took power (and probably the last year they'll see power for awhile). In the U.S., 2006 will be remembered, I imagine, as the year that the conservatives lost power leading to, I expect, the last gasp for George-Dub and his somewhat misguided plans for the Middle East. I only hope he doesn't do anything stupid (okay, MORE stupid) or desperate in his last couple of years. I think 2006 will be remembered as the year Italy hosted the Olympics and, strangely, won far more medals than they probably should have. 2006 was the year that global warming became more evident and yet NASA started planning a space-station on the moon. (Do they know something we don't?) This year saw the retirement of Michael Shumacher, arguably the best formula one driver ever and the death of the most hilarious Frankenstein monster ever, Peter Boyle. Other deaths in 2006 were beloved neurotic Don Knotts, Red Buttons, dictator and all-around asshole Slobodan Milosevic, Coretta Scott King, Chris Penn, legendary soul singer Lou Rawls (who my dad worked for in the early '80's), and that KGB agent who was poisoned by something radioactive at a sushi bar in London. (Stay away from the tekka makium!)

... and 2006 was the my first full year in Canada. Merry Christmas, eh... and a Happy New Year, hoseheads!
 

Posted: Sun - December 17, 2006 at 07:43 PM          

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