Pre-Production

So I have a little list of things I need to do for pre-production on "Dead Oliver", my short dramatic film that I plan to film this summer, and then take to some film festivals. The first thing I want to do is go take pictures of the beach we're going to film at, then find a hotel and book a room for 3 days. I also need to film a short video for the Indiegogo website, talking about what the film is about and why we need $5000 to make it (Mostly lighting and editing equipment).

Other than that, things are going swimmingly. My aunt has offered to come out here and watch the kids while me and hubby film (he's the cameraman/DP/cinematographer, whatever you want to call him). He's also going to score the film, and we're going to write an original song for it. It's going to be the song that Oliver sings to Annabelle. He's going to sing to her in the film ACapella, but it's supposed to be his hit song, so we're starting on that.

Hmmm...what else? Any questions? Remember, if you donate to the film, you get producer credit on IMDB! If you don't have a IMDB page, you'll have one created for you, with credit saying you helped produce a film! Yes, that's really how it works! If you help fund an indie film, such as mine, you'll be listed as a producer on IMDB, which will really help someone who has no page but wants one, or an actor wanting more credits or even someone who is already a producer, wanting more credits. Go to www.indiegogo.com/deadoliverfilm and see how we're doing, donate, or just get more info on the film. And tell your friends!

Thanks!

Searching for Oliver

I'm really trying hard to fund this film, sending out tweets, e-mails, Facebook posts, etc. I'm spamming celebs to RT my tweet about the film! I wonder if that's how other producers make films? Hmmm....lol

I've been too proud to straight-up beg for money. I guess I'll get over that, I mean, a lot of indie filmmakers got their starts begging family and friends for money. I'm also thinking of extending "Dead Oliver" and making it longer. It was originally supposed to be 30 minutes, but I'm starting to feel like there's more story there that can be explored, like how Annabelle and Oliver met and what her life was like before that moment of meeting this famous musician.

Also, I think myself, my director, Lisa Shows and my hubby, who's the cinematographer, are going to make little snippets, a behind-the-scenes look into us making the film and begging for donations! Lol. I'll put it on Youtube as a short webseries, like "The Making of Dead Oliver and How Not to Lose Your Mind Doing So"! Great title, right?! I probably won't go specifically with that, but something similar!

Also, I'm still looking for a young actor to play Oliver!

Later!

"Dead Oliver"...what it's all about

Okay, so I'm working on "Dead Oliver" a short film I wrote and will star, Bry is going to film and my friend Lisa is going to direct. We are currently trying to raise funds to make it, just $5000. It's mostly going to film in a hotel room and then on the beach, I'm think Venice Beach.

We start filming in September, so I really need to find someone to play Oliver.

Now let me tell you what inspired the film.

I had a dream about Justin Bieber a few weeks back. I know, weird. I mean, I wasn't exactly a Justin Bieber fan. I thought he was cool, and I loved the song "Somebody to Love" because my cousin Kecia told me about ti and loved it. So I guess the dream was because I keep hearing about him in the news, since his new album was coming out.

So in the dream, I'm in a hotel room, surrounded by his people, you know, his manager Scooter Braun, etc., and he's upset and he's asking me for advice. Why in the world he would ask me for advice, I don't know. But in the dream, I was his friend and I was being helpful. So at some point, his people weren't there, and he was talking about getting away for a while, just taking a vacation and not letting anybody know where was. So then I told him "If you disappear without telling anybody where you are, they'll think you're dead".

I then wrote "Dead Oliver", about an older chick who meets a rock star, not necessarily being a fan, but helping him out and helping him get away for a few days, but then people don't know where he is, so they think he's dead, hence "Dead Oliver".

We're accepting donations towards funding "Dead Oliver", which we're going to take to several film fests end of this year and next year, and if you donate $25 or more, you get producer credit on IMDB! In two days, we've already gotten $50 towards our $5000 goal!

I'll be shooting pics from where we're going to film soon, plus a video by me, explaining the film. Coming soon!

In the meantime, support my indie film! Go to www.indiegogo.com/deadoliverfilm!

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter for all the latest updates, or e-mail me for more info!

By the way, Justin Bieber's new album is dope. "As Long As You Love Me" is amazing. I'm totally serious. It's so good. And I mostly listen to rock music, and I love this album. #Belieberforreal

Scene from the "Dead Oliver" script

OLIVER
Thanks, by the way.
ANNABELLE
You already said that.
OLIVER
I hope people don’t think you’re my kidnapper.
ANNABELLE
People don’t know who I am.
OLIVER
That’s why I asked you to rent the car.
ANNABELLE
Is there a plan, here, Oliver? Is there? Because sooner or later...
OLIVER
I know.
ANNABELLE
We’re not that far from L.A. Someone could recognize you.
OLIVER
Yeah. I’m not running away.
ANNABELLE
You already did.
OLIVER
I’m not gonna stay gone for long. Look, can we just hang out, just talk?

He gets up from the floor and walks over to the bed, sitting near where she’s standing.

ANNABELLE
Okay. But there has to be a plan. You can’t hide forever.
OLIVER
Okay. But I’m glad you’re hiding with me.
ANNABELLE
I’m not hiding. I have nothing to hide from.
OLIVER
Then why did you agree to rent the car, drive me up the coast?
ANNABELLE
An opportunity to run away with a rock star sounded like fun!
OLIVER
You didn’t even know who I was!
He chuckles.
ANNABELLE
You told me you were a rock star...
OLIVER
You believed me?!
ANNABELLE
I believed your entourage. And your fans.
OLIVER
What were you doing at that hotel anyway?

ANNABELLE
I was staying there. I’m in town for a few days.
OLIVER
You’re not from L.A.?
ANNABELLE
I live in Chicago. I’m from there. This was my first time in L.A.
OLIVER
Wow. What a story to go home with.
ANNABELLE
Oliver...my plane leaves for Chicago in 3 days.
OLIVER
Okay.
ANNABELLE
How long are we hiding here?

She comes and sits on the bed with him.

"Dead Oliver"...help me make my film!

"Dead Oliver"
A short film by Angelina Grace

"For 4 days, the world thought Oliver was dead. We watched it from our hotel room. Where we stayed. Where he hid. Where I hid with him." - Annabelle

The story of a young woman who meets a rock star, not knowing who he is, then agreeing to drive him up the coast of California so he can get away.

I'm looking for an actor to play Oliver, who's between the ages of 18-25 and can sing!

Donate to the cause! I'll accept any amount, via Paypal, and you'll receive an IMDB page as a producer on the film, your name in the end credits, and a copy of the DVD when the film is made!!! You have nothing to lose!

It's a 30-minute comedy/drama, set in Los Angeles, shot in HD.

Donate via PayPal!

www.paypal.com----

angelina208@gmail.com

Adventures in Lala Land

Here are just a few videos from the past few weeks of my life in L.A., including the twins eating cupcakes on their 3rd birthday!

A Stressful Week

Laila Raine

Laila, today at Pinkberry. She loves frozen yogurt!

A few days after she hurt her teeth. She seemed just fine. Thank God.

I've had a stressful week, with Laila getting hurt and 2 straight weeks of family being here, now I don't know how to be on my own again. Lol.
I mean, I haven't been alone with my own kids for 2 weeks! Bry even had a decent amount of days off with my family being in town. I'm used to having a house full of people!
And now I'm bored.
On the plus, Bry and I are working on a graphic novel. It doesn't have a title yet, but I already wrote out an entire storyline. Bry is supposed to be drawing the characters. He's an amazing artist.

And my teeth hurt. I was leaning over to kiss Laila on her forehead while she was laying in her bed and she moved, smacking me in the front teeth with her head. Ouch indeed! That shit hurt!!!

On another plus, I got the twins completely off the pacifiers! Yes, I know, they're 3, they should've been off of them a long time ago. It took Laila falling on her mouth, hurting her two front teeth to the point where they were pushed up into her gums and bleeding, then taking her to the dentist and the dentist telling us that she had an "Open bite" which was probably caused by the pacifier. I went home and threw all of those fuckers in the garbage. No turning back! I've tried to break them off of them before and I wussied out by giving it back to them. That's why this time I threw them in the garbage. When they cried for them at bedtime, I told them that they were all gone, and I hugged and kissed them. Thank God my aunt was still here because during the day she kept them occupied so they weren't asking for them as much.

Now, a week later, Laila's mouth is healing and she's no longer complaining of pain. It was terrible when it first happened. Blood, crying (both her and me), then a trip to the ER, then right to the dentist after we left the hospital. She was giggling and acting silly an hour or two after it happened, but the dentist said her teeth might 'right' themselves over time. I'll pray on that. Poor Lailee...

And a whole week without pacifiers. And they're not asking for them anymore. And they go right to sleep at bedtime.

Thank God!

Dreamin' of Bieber...but why?

I had a dream last night. It was weird. Justin Bieber was there. That's why it was weird. I don't crush on Justin Bieber. I'm not that familiar with his music, other than "Baby", "Boyfriend" and "Somebody to Love". I don't own any albums. I don't have kids old enough to be crazy about him. It's just weird. Maybe he got into my mind because of a news story? I mean, he does live semi nearby...or maybe because I met Stalker Sarah last week and she's taken 50 billion pictures with him. Hell, I was more interested in the fact that she's met Josh Hutcherson. Either way, strange dream.

And it wasn't anything romantic. I mean, I ran into him somewhere and then we just hung out, talking. We didn't kiss. Yeah, he's 18, it's legal, but still. In the dream, we were just hanging out and talking and I thought "What a cool guy". But in the dream, he talked about his breakup with Selena Gomez. They haven't broken up, right? I wouldn't have half cared before now, but they haven't, have they?

I mean, I don't typically listen to his music, but I don't have anything against him.

So why am I dreaming about Justin Bieber? Lol.

And then I came out up with a film idea based around the dream. I'm working on. More on the way!

Okay, he's kinda cute. I mean, I get it! Lol

Touristy and Weight-lossy things

I've had an interesting week.

My mom and aunts came to visit from Chicago. We spent a lot of time just driving around and showing them the touristy places around L.A.

Also, I've been jogging! I'm still trying to drop some weight, and none of my clothes fit...everything is hanging off of me. Excuse to shop! It's really cool. I'm finally losing the baby weight...from 3 years ago! But keep in mind, I had twins! I had 3 pregnancies back to back...first Ani in 2006, then I got pregnant and had a miscarriage in 2008, then got pregnant with the twins right after. So the weight piled on, and now I'm really working harder to lose it. I'm thinner right now than I've been in a long time.

Well, we're off to show my Auntie Martha the Hollywood sign. She's never seen it before.

Did I mention I met Stalker Sarah at Chateau Marmont? Right before Lindsay Lohan drove by! lol

Later gators.

Me and my mom

At Chateau Marmont with Stalker Sarah!

The twinsies on their 3rd birthday on June 4th!

Paint the town red, or whatever...

So my family will be in town for two weeks! I can't wait to see my mom's face the first time she sees the Hollywood sign and the walk of fame and all of those other tourist-y happy things you show people when they first come to L.A. I hope she doesn't get her hopes up, thinking we'll run into George Clooney or something! Whatever, you never know! I hope to spot at least one celebrity that means something to her! And my Auntie Carol, who helped me discover the magic that was Natalie Wood, I can't wait to take her to Grauman's to see Natalie's handprints. It was a little emotional for me when I came here back in November for the first time. Natalie Wood has always had a special place in my heart. Her movies, her acting, her life story, just moves me. What an amazing person.

You know what else family visits mean?! Baby-sitters! The husband person and I are going to paint the town red, or whatever color people say. Why red, though? What does that even mean? Red with envy because we're out and no one else is? But everyone else is out, that's how they're seeing us. It's not like we're the only people that can go out...okay, I'm rambling.

I got a big announcement coming in the next few weeks. Just you wait! More work for me! More nerve-wrecking, knocking-me-out-of-my-comfort-zone work! But hey, that's what the fuck I came here for!

Laters.

A Tragedy...

Today, I saw a 3 year old little boy get pinned between and SUV and a mini van in my parking lot. He was apparently standing there with his family, washing their van when this woman neighbor comes barreling into the parking lot quickly and hits the little boy, pinning him between her SUV and his family's van. It was terrible. I heard the loud boom from my kitchen and ran downstairs, afraid Bry was in an accident because he had just left for work. He wasn't involved and had left already, but people were screaming that a child was stuck between the two cars. I couldn't see over the woman's SUV that blocked that path, near the mailboxes. I dialed 911 and had to walk away for a few moments so the dispatcher could hear me over the loud noises of people yelling. Somehow, all of the people out there, including the kid's dad, was able to pull the car off of him. Then, he was just laying there, almost in a state of shock, on the ground. I had to run back upstairs to check on my kids, then I ran back downstairs.

Last I heard from my building manager, is that the little boy is in the ICU. His poor parents. His mother was huddled over him while the paramedics put a neck brace on him. She had blood on her shirt. I'll never forget that image. Or the sound of her screaming when I first got downstairs. Or the fact that the little boy's 12 year old brother was crying and no one was comforting him. I went over to him and got his name, his age and started trying to reassure him. Poor thing felt awful, like it was somehow his fault. I then told his father what apartment I lived in and my  name, as they'd only just moved in recently, and told him if his family needed anything to let us know. I'll go check on them tomorrow morning.

After that, I just hung out with my kids. We laid in my bed and watched cartoons, then I went into their room and played with them for a while. My twins will be 3 in a week.

Pray for that poor little boy. And his family.

Favorite Albums of All Time

I'm bored. So here's my favorite albums of all time. I'm sure I'll forget some.


Bone Thugs N Harmony - E.1999 Eternal

Anathema - A Fine Day to Exit

Eisley - The Valley

Janet Jackson - janet.

Michael Jackson - Dangerous

Tegan & Sara - Sainthood

Jeff Buckley - Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk

Shakira - Donde Estan Los Ladrones

Selena - Amor Prohibido

TLC - Ooooohhhh...on the TLC Tip

Tori Amos - Scarlet's Walk

Duncan Sheik - Duncan Sheik

Fefe Dobson - Fefe Dobson

Aaliyah - One in a Million

Kelly Clarkson - All I Ever Wanted

The Verve Pipe - Villains

What's Next

Well, I'm preparing for my aunts and mom to visit and the twins' 3rd birthday. We're doing a Barbie theme party, with Barbie's face on the plates, decorations, cups, etc. from Party City. I also have to worry about showing my family a good time while they're here. I have a few plans, like the classic stuff: The Hollywood Sign, Grauman's Chinese Theater, Walk of Fame, etc. But, my mom has a cast on her leg, so I can't park blocks away and drag her around Hollywood, so it'll probably be me and Auntie Carol doing these things. Hollywood Blvd. scares the twins. There are always these people dressed up as Spongebob and Superman and Darth Vader. These scare my soon to be 3 year olds. I understand! It is a little scary, I guess, when you're that young.

Also, I had a really cool business meeting with Ms. Lisa Shows, who's in the play "Reservoir Bitches" with me. We met up at Intelligentsia in Silverlake and talked about doing a web series or a podcast. We decided we'll do the Podcast sooner than later, now we're just trying to figure out where we can record it where there isn't a bunch of noise. Where we'll be uninterrupted. I'm thinking this over right now...

In the meantime, we only have two shows left of the play and I'm thinking I want to do another play. I'm sending out my headshots and resumes to other theaters, and I'll ask my current director if any shows are coming up at that theater. We'll see what happens!

Toodles!

Dwell

I've been sitting here watching movies all week. During the girls "naptime", and I put that in quotation marks because they rarely ever go to sleep, I've been sitting here and just watching films. Mostly on Netflix, sometimes on the DVR and On Demand, but I've just been bored and trying not to think too much. I'm still hurt over that friend thing, which I won't speak of. I rarely speak of it to family and friends. I mean, it's a little traumatic, and I'm not trying to hide that I have feelings, but I just don't understand the situation and I can't just pretend, so I'll just try not to think about it non-stop. Because I know damn well she's not thinking about me.

And I'm not trying to be one of this people who are like "Fuck it, Next!" and get all ghetto and be all like "Fuck that bitch she blah blah blah to me", because that's not who I am. I think this was a learning experience. First of all, if your instincts are telling you that something is wrong, listen to your instincts. Don't just tell yourself that you have to do this and that and it's all in your head. Listen to your heart. I've been listening to my heart a lot lately.

But I really can't just dwell, can I? I have 2 more shows left of "Reservoir Bitches" and I'm going to start working on projects with my cast mate/friend Lisa. She's this talented actor/comedian who has been really kind to me. We have great conversations in between waiting to go back out on stage. She's given me some perspective too. I'm really going to miss these girls once the show ends. And yes, I can see them outside of the show, but it's not going to be the same like when we're all together with a common goal every Thursday night. I had a great conversation with Tina and walked down Hollywood Blvd. with other Lisa last Thursday looking for a shop that sells rubber ears. Yes, you read that right. I miss Carmen, who was in a car accident and had to drop out of the show because her doctor said so. She was always encouraging me to go out and do stand-up, as she's been out here playing the comedy club circuit for a while. Felicia and I have recently been talking a lot too. She's really sweet and talented. She's given me a lot of advice also. She's even giving me workout advice. Aliss has been a sweetheart too. We're in the heist scene together. She always seems perfectly calm before each show. She calms me down! And then the more I talk to Arae, the more I realize that her and I have too much in common! We can quote "Empire Records" and sing old Degrassi songs together. Remember the Zits? "Everybody wants something, and never give up!" We were singing that backstage this past Thursday night. lol

Oh well. I guess I'll have to get everybody together in a few weeks, cause I'm gonna miss them way too hard. 

Laters.

You Better Be a Comedian!

I had a great show last night! We had a pretty big crowd and I think I just vibed off of that and went for it. My lines came out more naturally I think. I loved getting laughs off of the ridiculousness I have to say! I mean, it sticks to the script of "Reservoir Dogs", and I play the Quentin Tarantino role. I start off the play. As soon as the lights go up, I start talking. Now, if you've seen the play, you know what Quentin, as Mr. Brown, says. It's pretty funny. It always gets laughs from the crowd. And then the girls, my castmates, chuckle and adlib and it makes it even funnier!

The problem is, I think I'm really going to miss doing this every Thursday once the show ends. We only have 2 more shows left! Once the show ends, I think I'm going to just concentrate on getting this screenplay made. I need a literary agent! Like, stat!

So today, I'm just spending the day with the girls, watching them play with their Barbie pools my aunt bought them. Oh, and watching "Alvin and the Chipmunks". And stealing kisses. I say to them "Are you mommy's Mia?" and Mia goes "No!", smiling. So I do sad face and then she goes "Yes!", laughing! I do that to all three of them. Each one of them always says no first, then says yes once I do sad face. What funny kids. I tell them they'd better be stand-up comedians! LOL

So Much Reading and Writing

I have an important meeting tomorrow. Too soon for details, just cross your fingers. I'm trying to get this screenplay made and it's consuming me. But in a good way! I think about seeing it on the big screen. I dream about being on the set during the filming. I didn't write a part for myself in this film, but I see the actors I want for the film. I just want the check from selling the screenplay! And, I want producing credit. But whatever, what will be will be. I'll get it made, I'm sure. I'm just hoping I can get the director I want and the actors I want will be just as enthralled. I'm working on it, man!

So I've realized I haven't been updating this thing as much as I used to. Don't fret, I haven't given up my beloved blog. I've just been writing so many other things. I was editing my screenplay "Hello Again", and I've been doing research to make the film better. The film is about dreams and past-lives, so I've been reading a lot. I just finished this book by Brian Weiss called "Only Love is Real". It's about this woman who is going through a tough time and so she goes to him, a psychiatrist, to find out why is she so grief-stricken and sad and can't maintain a good romantic relationship. So she starts going through past-life regression therapy and goes under hypnosis and starts remembering all of these lives where she lost someone close to her, but she doesn't recognize this person in this current life. So meanwhile, this guy comes to therapy for similar reasons and starts having the same past-life memories that the woman is having, though they've never met, never crossed paths! So Dr. Weiss tries to decide if he should tell the other one "Hey, this person is having the same past-life memories that you're having! You were together in all of those past lives!". It's really riveting. And yes, it's a true story!

It's just brought up a lot of new ideas to me, like if I really believe in reincarnation and when your fears have no bearing on your current life. Like, if you're afraid of things for no real reason in this life, it might be a repressed memory from a past life. Either way, the book kept me in suspense. I got it for mother's day from Bry on Sunday and I finished it yesterday, on Tuesday. Yeah, I couldn't put it down!

So that's why I've been neglecting you, dear readers. On top of the wonderful play I'm in, the script that I wrote, the one-woman show I'm writing entitled "Fabulous Audacities" (coming soon!) and taking care of the hubby and kids...I've been away, I'm aware! I'll try to update more often! So much reading and writing...you would think that I'm in school! (which I promise to finish someday for the sake of my kids...that's another blog, though, lol)

Smoochilies!
(say that outloud..go ahead, I'll wait....)

Plotting the next steps...

So I've been in Los Angeles almost 2 months and I've done more than I thought I would, but still, I feel like there is more left to do soon. I did get out here close to the end of pilot season, true, so I'm not going to be starring in some  hit show in the fall. Besides, I have no agent, no manager and know close to nobody in town. That's okay though. I'm just sitting here thinking about what I need to be doing between now and next pilot season. I need to go do some stand-up at the The Comedy Store and the Laugh Factory. I need to do some short films or student films to get more experience and pad my resume. I need to do more theater, no matter how scary it is. I need to do a commercial or two! Commercials pay really well usually, and L.A. rent is way more than Chicago Ridge rent! Lol

What I'm trying to say is, I always feel the need to push myself. If I think I'm doing well for 5 minutes, I develop new standards of what "well" is defined as. For example, I moved here, auditioned for one play and now I'm in a 8-week run at a theater in Hollywood. Yeah, that's a big friggin' deal! But I want more! I want more plays! I want to be busy nonstop. Sitting still is not good for me. Sitting still allows me time to think, and for an over-thinker like myself, that's just too much not good!

So in the meanwhile, while I save up for more acting classes and register Ani for Kindgergarten and the twins for Preschool, I'll be sitting here, writing, and concentrating on the play I'm currently in. Oh, and plotting the next steps! I think I might have the whole rest of my year figured out! This plan includes acting, directing and pilates! Mama needs to lose the rest of this baby weight! This is just getting ridiculous now. I'm going to start lying to people and tell them I just had the twins just so they feel sorry for me! LOL

Later.

(Yes, I realize I didn't put the 's' on laters. I'm trying something new!)

Grossly Negligent and Barf-Inducing

Yes, I Tumble, or whatever the cool kids are calling it. Am I one of the cool kids yet??!

http://angelinascene.tumblr.com/

And follow me on Twitter, bitches. I'm sorry. You're not bitches, Party People. I don't know what came over me. Please follow me on Twitter, that's what I meant, yep:

http://www.twitter.com/angelinascene

Also, I'm almost at 6000 pageviews of all time on this blog! I'm really wondering who's actually reading this mess of run-on sentences, depravity, self-abashing, too much information, tongue-in-cheek, over-exaggerated, under uniformed, over-the-top, drama queen'ed, overly comedic, grossly negligent, barf-inducing, take-no-prisoners, no-holds-barred, diarrhea festival that is my life. All I talk about is Los Angeles, my kids, what people do that annoy me, and who I find attractive. Thank you for reading but not telling me how much of an assbag I must look like in these writings. In my defense, I write these a lot of the time at night while Bry is talking to me and we're watching Glee. And then, I don't go back and read them. That's probably for the best. I like being open about my life, whether or not I have fans. And if it's only my family reading these...hi mom, aunts and Kecia! lol

Laterz.

(ending "later" with a 'z' instead of an 's' is douchey, right? Or is it cool? Comments, opinions?)

Where They Get this From

I'm having a pretty good week. I woke up early this morning, before hubby had to start getting ready for work, and decided to go to Intelligentsia, this nice coffee bar in Silver Lake, which is not too far from my house. I got up, went there, found parking on the street and sat there drinking my chai latte and talking to my mom about why she's afraid to move to California. Okay, I get it, the earthquakes, the wildfires the mudslides, I get it, I really do. Those things are part of the reason why I never moved here before, truthfully. But in Chicago, I was afraid to drive around! I was afraid to go into the city for auditions and for my acting classes. I still did it, but I really got to the point of being terrified of getting shot in the face. Nobody wants to get shot in the face. Not to say that it couldn't happen here, because obviously, crime happens in L.A. too, duh! It just got to a point where people I grew up with were getting killed back to back. I lost two old friends in a month period! One in December, right before Christmas, and then again in January! The gang violence just got out of control and it wasn't just in one area, it was all over. It got dangerous to go downtown. I still love Chicago, I really, I do. I love it for its beauty and I love it because of its history and because of Second City and the amazing people that have come out of there and made great things of themselves. I'm just a little afraid of getting shot in the face. That's all.

But, in hindsight, there was an earthquake here today. A relatively small one, so small I didn't feel it and wouldn't even had known about it if it wasn't for the fact that it was a top story on Yahoo. So for a few hours after reading that, I thought I felt the floor shaking. At one point, Anneka's water bottle fell off the counter and hit the floor. I jumped like "what was that?" and Ani was like "I don't know". I was like "did you feel the floor move?" and she goes "No!" looking at me, like I'm crazy.

These kids...I'm sitting here trying to write this blog, and I've had to stop like 7 times. They're supposed to be eating dinner, and I'm at the table with them, but they're clowning around. I don't know where they get this snizz from. Clownshoe babies. Everything is a joke to them. Absolutely no clue where they get this from...

Yes, this is really how they are at dinnertime. I probably should be all "Knock it off! Have better table manners!" But whatever, they're little kids. And it's funny!

Your Beauty is My Muse

So we're driving through Griffith Park, going up into the hills, blasting Sucre's new album, and realizing that I belong here. I've never been this happy. All of the hard work, sacrifice, arguments and positive thinking finally got us here. We drove up to the Griffith Park Observatory, where parts of Rebel Without a Cause was filmed. Now I want to watch it again and relive that magical first time I saw that film and it changed my life. The first time I really saw Natalie Wood and just fell awesomely in love with her. After that film, I decided she was my favorite actress and saw "Love With the Proper Stranger", which is now one of my favorite films of all time.
And James Dean. My God. James Dean. To find out years later that we share a birthday (February 8th). What an amazing actor he was. He was so compelling in that film.

I'm writing a film right now that I think is going to change my life. I have so much hope and faith in the idea and I think I'm doing my best writing to date. I'm obsessed with it. I spent hours listening to Sucre in the bedroom the other day with Bry, and I was sitting up in bed with my laptop open and just writing and writing, and checking notes that I had written a few months back when I first began writing this script. And I can see it. It looks like a completed film in my mind. I feel like this could be the script that finally garners attention for me. It's going to be the story that gets me my house on a hill in Silverlake or Los Feliz. It's going to be the story that changes my life. And I'm halfway done with the first draft. I'm not going to talk about what it's called, what it's about, blah blah blah yet. I'll get there, at some point. Right now, I'm just concentrating on the journey.

These experiences that I'm having gives me these beautiful ideas. Looking from the Griffith Observatory and realizing we were so high up that we could see the Hollywood sign and pretty much all of Los Angeles, just inspired me. L.A., your beauty is my fucking muse.

When we went to Santa Monica pier last week, and we were driving along the freeway and realized that there was this thick fog covering the area and the temperature began to drop drastically and we were cold, but yet I still got out of that car and walked across the sand and put my feet in the ocean. That was the first time I'd ever been to the ocean. And yes, it was cold, and yes, I had a two year old on my hip who thought she would have to get wet too...(I told Mia "I'm not putting you in the water...I'm your mommy, don't you trust me??" and my gorgeous girl said "No"! LOL) I just let the water wash over my feet a couple of times, and that was good enough to get me just a little emotionally. I'd finally made it here. I finally made it to L.A.

These experiences are leading up to something. And there's still a lot left to explore. There's still Venice Beach! There's still Zuma Beach! There's Malibu! Pacific Coast Highway! A bunch of things left to explore in L.A. Can't wait!!!

Mia, at the observatory today. Love my girls!