Day forty-one

Posted on March 22, 2010 by Simon

The Moisture Festival

Well, its been a while . I had a big weekend with the kids. On Friday night I took Baxter, my eldest son to The Moisture Festival at Fremont. We had a tremendous time Bax’s jaw was agape most of the night, I was enjoying watching him as much as I enjoyed watching the show.The Moisture Festival is a vaudeville style show that runs for two weeks in five different locations around Seattle. There were jugglers, aerialists, a magician, a bubble blower (very impressive too I may add), musicians and clowns among various other sight acts.
Bax sang, danced, and cheered his way through the night. We had a ball. Bax is five and for the life of me I wish he could stay that age forever, I’d even pay the outrageous monthly daycare cost for the rest of my life to achieve it! It’s a glorious age.
I went for TBS to scout for a juggler which we need for one episode, unfortunately both the juggling acts were International.

The Seattle Children’s Museum

Today I went with both boys to The Seattle Children’s Museum, we are members there so we go often, its a great place to take kids of all ages. The thing I like best about here is that they have permanent exhibits that are favorites of all regular visitors, as well as two or three rooms that very frequently change, its a perfect combination of the familiar and the new. The boys love it there.

Discovery Week

I met with Jim, Seth and Mike this time last week and they received the completed-thus-far scripts on Monday, so I will be seeking their feedback in the next day or two. Likewise, I sent Barney Burman the particularly-challenging-make-up script last week so I will be seeking his response.

Bj Kalms and I are working individually on different new scripts at the moment and Bj is also working on new t-shirt designs and a new blog entry, so thats something to look forward to.

I’ve already started seeking models for our t-shirt promotional stuff, we are seeking all sorts of people big, small thin, large, young and old. We will be taking the shots in Seattle – if you’d like to be a model, or know someone who would, contact us by email – theblokeshow@gmail.com all are welcome. We will be using the promotional photos on Facebook, Twitter and the website.

I will be approaching local film schools in the area this week to see what we can arrange to do co-operatively. I have no real set agenda other than to see what we could do together that would be mutually beneficial. At least I hope to gain some new supporters of the show and perhaps some student producers.

Makayla is out of action for the next three weeks, she is preparing for the opening of another film she was production manager on- which I don’t know the name of, but as soon as I do I will be posting a link here.

See ya tomorrow, hope fully with some updates. Have a stupendous week,

Simon

Heres a list of the artists we saw at The Moisture Festival (with links where available)

A Girl in the Sky, Aileen Wilkie, Dr. H P Lovecraft, Fremont Philharmonic Orchestra, Kerri Kresinski , Rob Torres, Run for your Life, Smirk, Tom Noddy’s Bubble Magic, Wang Hong – a real shame she doesn’t have a website she is an excellent Chinese antipodist (foot juggler) and Zoom

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Day thirty-six

Posted on March 17, 2010 by Simon

The Economy

I promised I was going to give all relevant details that affected the production. So here’s some of my personal story with regard to the economy, and how I encounter it daily.

At one of my appointments yesterday, I met an older lady whose house was up for sale, she told me she had dropped $250,000 from her original asking price – and still has no interest from buyers. She also told me that a relative of hers had recently become homeless.

I hate to start this way, but isn’t it about time we faced the truth? This isn’t a recession its a depression. Statistics are misleading, manipulated and inconclusive. It is so apparent to me as to be in-your-face obvious.

Its the insidious depression. There are many people whose jobs haven’t been affected at all. Their only awareness of the nations economic woes are the increasing numbers of For Lease signs where there used to be thriving businesses, some of them businesses that had been around for a long time, and that its much, much easier to get a park at the mall these days. Oh.. and the average age of street-corner beggars has dropped about ten years. This certainly isn’t their fault it just appears that the rift between those affected and those not at all affected is vast and deep. A problem further hampered by the brave (embarrassed?) silence of those affected.

I work as a commission based sales guy, if I don’t sell I don’t earn. Two years ago if I had been selling as little as I am now at my current workplace, I’d have been out of there in a week. I now have entire months when I have no income. My average outlay for gas is over $200 per week. I’m going backwards, I’m not alone – over half the guys I work with are in the same boat. Why don’t we leave? Because there’s nothing out there in the way of sales jobs. Nothing. So we stay and hope, and it keeps us from getting depressed sitting at home. December/January was so bad, my workplace stocked the work refrigerator with food to feed the sales guys who’d had no income. People were coming into work – to eat.

This phenomenon isn’t restricted to the “unskilled” or those people like myself who don’t possess “real world” degrees – I’ve met lawyers, insurance specialists, portfolio managers (stock brokers), IT specialists and airline pilots, among many other professions who are suffering under similar circumstances. Just last week I met an accountant bemoaning the same fate, and we are in the middle of peak tax season.

The cost of living is rising, day-to-day items are staying at the same price and in many instances increasing. Desperate businesses are attempting to maintain the bottom line. It doesn’t make sense but neither do the actions of desperate people.

The commercial real estate market hasn’t bust yet.

If you want one proof-positive indicator that we haven’t come close to bottoming out; here it is – I haven’t been able to pay my mortgage for a while, if it comes to either feeding my kids or paying the mortgage… I’m feeding my kids. Every month I expect foreclosure or eviction notices … it’s been twelve months. ONE YEAR. Now this isn’t normal and I’m sure there are people, many people with unpaid mortgages wondering when their day is coming..many, many, many people.

My lender – Citi-mortgage. That’s right – the group that’s supposedly thriving. Let’s not be overly generous here and suppose they are trying to keep me in my home due to their altruistic nature. No folks, if they kicked out all the people who are behind in their mortgages there would be waves of people, entire families hitting the streets. I can assure you that if I’d have missed two payments in 2007 they’d have started foreclosure proceedings. My guess is that right now they can’t keep up with the backlog of defaulted properties or if they did take action on those defaulted properties their bottom line wouldn’t be looking so hot; not to mention what it would do to the nations confidence level in the economies “recovery”.

I will stay here while I can – it’s good to have a roof over your head.

When I said we have no budget …I meant we have no budget. To be able to conceive of and complete this project in the current economic climate is a testament to the commitment of the men and women who are driving it forward with belief and passion. Every week is new and exciting. We are going to do great things.

You might think I would be depressed, but on the contrary I am invigorated and I’m amazed by the people who surround me who want to work and be productive making high quality, creative work.

I didn’t choose to produce The Bloke Show by accident. I have many partially completed dramatic works. Right now we all need a laugh. The great stage and screen actor Laurence Olivier was once asked which was more important: tragedy or comedy? His reply, which was immediate and unequivocal, surprised me at the time. Comedy.

Boy, was he right.

Simon

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Day thirty-five

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Simon

Hi-ho Hi -ho

Very quick update today. I sent the finished scripts to Jim,Seth, Mike and Barney Burman. Awaiting feedback. I should really finish a whole load of half to three-quarter completed scripts so I can send more to these guys.Time to get busy.
Im looking to move soon and met with a terrific gal…super enjoyed her company..the best roommate ever…I really hope that comes through too…well not so much roommate as landlady Lily owns the property and is looking for someone to share with …she’s torn between selling and sharing…lets see how persuasive I was !
Have a great day tomorrow and I’ll catch up with you then.

Simon

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Day thirty-four

Posted on March 15, 2010 by Simon

What a weekend!

Jim Short at The Comedy Underground Seattle
Great show, nice crowd. Makayla and I had the pleasure of meeting with Jim, Seth Lazear and Mike Ashby after the show. We pitched The Bloke Show to them and are having further discussions after we send them our completed scripts.

Makayla and I also had a bite with Jim after the show. What a really nice personable guy. I’m really hoping things work out with Jim, he’s a really funny guy he would be a blast to work with. The distance/schedule thing could be a hurdle but we’ll do our best to accommodate Jim – he lives In L.A. and we are shooting in Seattle, but my motto has always been where there’s a will there’s a way. And we have a will.

Seth’s also fab, I hope he doesn’t mind me mentioning but initially he was hesitant, he expressed that he hasn’t done any acting work before , but I’ve seen his video clips and he is very comfortable on camera and quite frankly he is everything I want the character Pete to be ..I know he’ll shine. It was so interesting, he was feverishly taking notes on the script we provided as he read and I was thinking to myself that it takes years of training to get actors to do what he was doing right then. Its clear Seth is an amazingly bright guy and he will contribute a lot to the show. Likewise my fingers are crossed he’ll come onboard. Besides, he used to play Rugby and loves the sport… that says great guy right there.

Mike read through the script we provided and asked for more so he can judge the amount of work involved he sounds like he’s flat out with the post-production work he does on movie trailers. I really want to discuss the shows style with him more..the guy knows his apples and likewise was very positive and helpful.

Great guys all.

Makayla felt the same way and she is really hoping we get to work with them so now its time to get materials to them, start serious discussions and in Jim’s case hope we can resolve any scheduling issues.

Meetup Madness – I did NOT make Emma happy

Never in my life have I been accused of being racist.

I attended a meetup function on Friday night and had a great time. Met some cool people and really enjoyed myself. Towards the end of the night a few of us were having a discussion about cultural differences and I expressed both my loves and dislikes about living in America. Emma the host became really really defensive so I backed off….the last thing I want to do is upset someone, and I thought everything ended on a positive note ,no personal criticisms were mentioned , it always baffles me when people get upset over matters that really aren’t personal in nature anyway. But there you have it.

Then I get an email from Emma – with a thinly veiled threat of expulsion from the meetup group. How would I ever survive?

Where the racist card comes in I have no idea …but Emma really gives herself away with the “passionate dislike of America” line.

Heres the gig – don’t criticize America in any way shape or form with Emma (and people like Emma)- its perfect. Always has been, always will be. Any criticism of America constitutes un-american activity and will result in personal affront being taken this will totally justify whatever action’s necessary to remove the meddling whining foreigner from the golden soil of the USA.

I wouldn’t mind but I really like it here.I like the people and the place.

But accusations of being racist, I take very seriously.

Here’s the email and response –

Simon,

I noticed that you failed to either update your RSVP or show for The Cherry Orchard at ACT his afternoon, so for that reason I have marked you as a no-show. I feel I have been reasonable in posting clear requirements to RSVP’ing to my events as well as taken the time to send multiple emails reminding attendees of the importance being considerate by keeping RSVP’s updated in a timely fashion. Please be aware that in the future, if
you RSVP ‘yes’ to an event I post that has limited spaces, I will require you to confirm your RSVP 24 hours in advance so that I know you will for certain attend. If you are a ‘yes’ within 24 hours of an event I post with limited spaces and change you’re RSVP to ‘no’ under that timeframe, I ask that you send me a reason for your cancellation and be aware that doing so will enable me to reserve the right to move you to the waiting list of future events when there are people on the waiting list willing to attend. I think this is fair.

Additionally, it was brought to my attention that you made a rather insulting remark regarding Asians on Friday night during the meet-up at Bambinos, and while I did not myself hear this particular statment, it was both uncomfortable and upsetting for the other person in question, so much so that they left the event early and are now leary of attending future events with this group. I want you to know that I have nothing at all against members expressing a general opion (such as a passionate dislike of America), however directing comments or insults at a specific race, a particular persons religion or sexual orientation ect. is not acceptable or tollerated and if I hear myself that you say these type of things, it may result in your removal from the group, which woud be unfortunate.

It was a pleasure to see you on Friday but unfortunate you were unable to attend the play this afternoon. I hope you continue enjoy being a member of Urban on a Budget. Perhaps I’ll see you at an event soon.
em”

The response –

Emma,

Hmmm. Boy, this is so disturbing .

Allow me to address one issue at a time.

My no-show – mea culpa, a situation arose that prevented me from attending this afternoon’s performance. By all means mark me down as a no-show. I believe the 24 hour rule you mentioned is more than fair. When you have children circumstances sometimes occur that prevent you from attending planned social events. I do not feel the need to explain the circumstances other than to say it is my fault – I responded yes and I apologize for not turning up. I will be happy to forward a donation to the theatre company in question and furthermore I apologize to any group member who could not see the production as a result of my absence, I can assure you, that I am as disappointed as you are.

Secondly allow me to address the far more disturbing wholly untrue and unsubstantiated accusation of a racist remark that I allegedly made and your equally untrue assertion that I “have a passionate dislike for America” ,as you put it, (herein lies the basis for your correspondence I suspect). I can only assume that any remarks that I may have made have been totally misunderstood, but I apologize unreservedly to anyone to whom I may have caused offense, that being the case. I would appreciate it if you could provide me with the precise details of the alleged remarks/incident so I could address them with the people in question.

Nothing offends me more than racist behaviour. I have demonstrated at anti-racist rallies and I have a long and proud association as an e-activist with Amnesty International. The type of language you have accused me of is abhorrent to me . Incidentally, one of the people from a meetup group (The Seattle Single Parents meetup group) with whom I am corresponding happens to be Asian , we are planning to meet so our children can play together, hardly the typical conduct of a racist.

I did notice that you took personal offense to some of my remarks/observations about America . I can assure you that none was intended to be taken personally. But for the record I will repeat my stated beliefs:

– I believe in universal healthcare , healthcare should not be considered a luxury but a basic human right.
– I believe in free and quality education.
– I believe in gun control.
– I support the rights of all individuals to marry
– I believe that the vast majority of Americans have insufficient vacation time and time allowed for personal leave; including but not limited to bereavement, maternity leave and sick days.

I would wish these things for all people,not limited to Americans, but to all people. If my raising of these issues offended you, so be it. But I fail to understand how these assertions constitute a “passionate dislike of America” in fact to the contrary I love my home and the vast majority of Americans, your outlook, generosity,optimism and never-say-die attitude are amongst many other traits that I greatly admire. I enjoy living here very much and wish nothing but good things for this country and her people. I would not talk about these subjects if I did not care about America.I simply wouldn’t care.

I think free and open discourse about political/social issues is healthy and to be encouraged and I hasten to add that some of my remarks were also directed towards Australia – my homeland.

I will be emailing all who attended that evening with this correspondence just to make sure that whoever I may have offended receives my unreserved apology.

Simon Houghton

Unbelievable.

Anyhow you live and learn. Catcha tomorrow ,

Simon

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Day thirty-three

Posted on March 14, 2010 by Simon

Another hectic day- I haven’t told you yet, I sell windows (residential) to earn an income, and boy has the economy put a hole in mine (income not windows). I’ve been driving all over the Puget Sound region all day meeting people, measuring windows and chatting.

A strange phenomenon is taking place. People aren’t buying anything, yet they still want you to come out to their house to give them a quote, have a cup of tea and chat.

If the American public can’t actually buy things they at least want to feel like they’re buying things.

On a positive note Makayla and I are heading to the Comedy Underground Seattle to see Jim Short’s stand-up. We are keen to meet with Jim to see if its feasible to work with him on TBS. Jim lives in LA so it could be a scheduling nightmare – or not. Let’s hope not.
We are also meeting with Mike Ashby there, Mike is a friend of Jim’s as it happens – he’s a local production guy and fan of TBS. I’ve spoken to him once on the phone and he seems just a lovely guy. So with scripts and releases in hand we’re marching off for a laugh and a meeting. Updates tomorrow.

Last night I went to have pizza at Bambinos in Belltown with a meetup group (effectively a group of strangers who come together to socialize and ostensibly have something in common). This meetup group is Urban on a Budget. I met some really lovely folks chief among them, Annette the farmville loving Yank might-be import and Emma the truffle loving group organizer.

I made Emma very happy last night. Enough said.

I recommend these meetup groups for the new-in-town or those who want to meet people with common interests. My experience with them has been very positive and they are well organized. Meetup has basically scheduled my social life for me … gotta love that! When you work full-time and are producing a full-scale web series and have two young boys to take care of, it’s nearly impossible to organize your own social life! And this sure beats hiring a PA.

Well Im off to scout and giggle. Catch up with you tomorrow.

Ciao ciao,

Simon

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment