Dear Friends,
How's everyone? Summer doing well for everybody? getting in those vacations? pools? beaches? bbq's? fruit punch? slip-n-slides? All good things.
I'm about 4 days away from directing my first documentary and the prep work has been pretty exciting, why? Because unlike scripted tv and film, this documentary has no bounds….the story will just unfold in front of the cameras each day, so with that comes the "well, will this story make sense? will it be cohesive?" and I think (HOPE) yes, but really, you can only prep so much for one of these documentaries, so I'm really looking forward to it, the shooting and work will all be "on the fly" it should be a good time and I'm pretty excited about the project and telling you all this story.
That project is part of my 3 point summer plan. I realized as I sit in each network meeting and agent meeting for DETECTIVES, there's way too much talk about me. After these meetings are over, I think "I'm sick of myself, I'm sick of hearing myself pitch a tv show, I'm sick of making all the same silly jokes and I'm sick of my big stupid face."
So that's what Summer 2010 has been for me. "The summer of taking a break from my BIG STUPID FACE".
I have a 3 point plan for this. All of it is doing 3 projects this summer which will spare everyone from having to look at my BSF at least until October, because I think that's the tentative time when the mighty fine film I'm awfully proud of called "DOWN WITH THE BOOGEY" comes out. (that deal is finally done and I congratulate director/writer/genius-maniac Jack Knapp and super producer and hell of a nice person Jen Eldridge and a funny, crazed and gifted cast, I can't wait to see how the world gets down with the boogey with us all late this year)
So with that coming out….it afforded me the opportuntity to do some pretty fun stuff, some new adventures and most importantly, adventures that give the world a break from my BSF.
First up is that documentary. We get going on that, and it's just days away. I have a big white 3 ring binder packed with ideas, but is that binder even necessary? Maybe, but I believe in the motto that "sometimes truth is stranger than fiction" (actually Bad Religion wrote a great song about it, find it! Blast it! Do it right now! I'll wait.) we'll maybe just the reality unfold, what we're looking for here, is a fun, inspiring crowd pleaser of a documentary and I really think we'll get it.
Next up, a tv pilot. Now this where you say "Tim, you moron, isn't 'Detectives' a pilot?" yes, yes it is. But to quote the great Jedi Master Yoda "THERE IS ANOTHER". In my travels, in meetings, new ideas get thrown around. This pilot idea popped in my head as I sat down with a nice big network, and to knock it home? I went home and turned a half page treatment into 30 pages, and turned it right in to the network yesterday at 2am. So that's finished! Out of my hands! And to the networks! Woo hoo! It's actually a lot of fun, it started out as something fairly wholesome and fun, and by page 30 of episode 1 turned in to something sort of twisted, funny and pretty out there. I'm proud of this one, let's just hope the network is! If they're not? if they want to cancel it before cameras even roll? No worries, I think we could get this thing in front of some cameras anyway.
The third part of my "No Tim's BIG STUPID FACE on camera" plan is that I've been given the opportunity to collaborate with some damn fine filmmakers and wonderful human beings, Mauro Giuffrida, Frederic Skrzypek and Jeff Bader….they've put out a wonderful film this year called "200 Characters or Less" and they're already working on their next film right now, even as 200 Characters just begins to ascend to it's successes (with a recent West Coast showing added….West Coast! Go check out "200!"), so we've been writing together. Actually as of about 2am yesterday morning, that looked pretty much set up as well. I'm throwing in the trailer for "200" now, it's a great looking film and with those minds continuing to work together, I know the next film will look great like this too. It was a great opportunity to walk in there and just be "a guy who's writing, no big stupid face in front of the camera" it was new and it was a great experience.
So there it is, my 3 part plan, right on schedule too! This may be the first time I've been on schedule for anything, ever.Seriously.
It's with great pleasure that I mention that I'm now going to stop babbling about how much I like the fine band out of New Jersey "Gaslight Anthem" and their really outstanding effort "59 sound", you may ask "why? why Tim would you stop babbling about that? I demand answers and I demand them NOW" Well, I'm glad you've asked, because now I plan to spend the next bunch of months babbling incoherently that I like the NEW Gaslight Anthem record called "AMERICAN SLANG", thank goodness that fine band from the Garden State just released a new batch of fist pumping catchy songs with enormous choruses. How they're not the biggest band on earth right now, I will never know.
"I've got your name tattoo'ed inside of my arm"
Also, speaking of music, a fine musician and member of our Parking Lot Family (and star of our 2010/2011's "CHARM CITY") the great G LOVE, has a new movie out, little surfing, little life, lots of funky fresh jams provided by the man himself, here's a little sneak peek of G Love, Keith Mallow, Tyler Warren and Chris Christenson in "The Grey Whale Sessions"
And to get all "Afterschool Special" on you all for a quick minute here ("Afterschool special" too vague? How about "7th heaven?") but in light of the disturbing news and recordings that have been released, where Martin Riggs from LETHAL WEAPON says some very not-nice things, and I know there's probably a ton more to that situation, but it brings an important point to the front burner and that's to quote the title of my little guy's favorite book "Hands are not for hitting"….if you or anyone you know is in a situation like that, there's help everywhere. men, women, children, girlfriends of Braveheart, anyone, can call this helpline at anytime 1-888-7HELPLINE (1-888-743-5754)
be good, take care and be safe, because me and my big stupid face love ya,
TC