An opening of one's knowledge,capabilities, vision and guidance. The Kenaz is about creating a relationship,learning and allowing room for interpretation. When you are in the darkness,an opening with light is the best and most gracious thing to have bestowed upon you. This is a great time for putting energies into new opportunities. Come share my world as I see it.

Thursday, August 11, 2005

News From The Set:Dough Nuts and Hammers

Todays news is a mixed bag of dough nuts and hammers.

First the dough nuts. Yesterday I had the opportunity to work in Hamilton again, on the set of the tv serial Regenesis (Ep202). I played in two scenes of many during the long thirteen hour shoot. The first as an RCMP officer assisting a CSIS(Canadian Secret Service) agent apprehend a suspect outside an airport(Hamilton's old bus station, doubled for Pearson Internationsal).

The second at City Hall as a Toronto Metro Officer doing crowd control. The scene was a series of small pick-up shots requiring us extras to act as a crowd of civilians and media looking on at a man who has just just been killed with a syring of unknown matter, injected into his neck.

Anyway, the script wasn't the interesting part of the day, the fact that I got too work with Canadian Director and Kingston, ON native Bruce McDonald again( cult hit Hardcore Logo, TV Serials Kevin Hill, This is Wonderland, Playmakers and guest directorials on Queer as Folk). I've worked with him on all of these series, and I find his directing style refreshing. He's not one for doing ten takes of five different angles, having extras stand around waiting for the magic to happen. Instead he keeps the extras comfortable in holding, while his crew set up each shot and once he's clear on his shot list it's usually a master, the closeups and then coverage as needed. Three, four set ups, no more than five takes is all he requires.
This night, he had good group of extras (about 50 of us), all of us had been around for a while and know interpret the directions from the AD's.

Bruce McDonald Bio,
Bruce McDonald

A funny moment was provided when at one point in the scene with the onlookers watching the culprit jab his victim, Bruce McDonald yelled out a request for an extra to scream out in shock. His request was met with dead silence, disbelief and mild amusement. See here in Canada, the ACTRA agreement(our version of SAG), states.

union performers,
"When a Background Performer, by virtue of an individual characterization or the addition of dialogue, is upgraded to Principal Actor or Actor, the Performer shall be contracted and receive payment in accordance with the fees and rates for the higher category, which shall be retroactive for all days during which the Performer was engaged to portray such Role or individual characterization.

for non-union performers,
"If any Background Performer is upgraded to Special Skill Background Performer in the course of a workday, then the higher rates shall prevail for that entire work day."

ACTRA Agreements

We all knew this wasn't going to happen on this set, so we kept are mouths shut. Bruce got his scream via one of the actresses who where not in this shot(don't know who she was).

Now the hammers, courtesy of the Hamilton Spectator. Producers of a superhero movie called Zoom have zoomed away from a plan to film in downtown Hamilton next month, although the city was willing to close three blocks of Main Street for two weeks. The producers said in a letter they've decided to rewrite the ending to take place in a remote setting with fewer elements and costs.

Full story, search by key word "zoom" article date August 11, 2005
"Zoom" Article

I hope "remote" doesn't mean I will have to travel to "Scarberia" (Scarborough) home of Mike Myers and not much else.

Any who, other than waiting to hear back from my agent about a commercial audition I did on Tuesday, which, realistically, I'm not optimistic. That's all for now.

Kenaz.

Tarot Reading For The Week

The Question:"Will this week be a successful one?"

Review of the ten card Celtic Spread.

The the deck is first spread out face down in the middle of the table and mixed up thoroughly. The cards are then gathered and played out one card at a time, face up as follows.

The Celtic Cross spread is one of the most common tarot spreads. There is a cross in the center, with a row of 4 cards along the side. This spread will provide a fairly in-depth look at a situation including past, present and external influences. Beginners may want to start with a spread with fewer cards.

Here is the reading.

Cover - General atmosphere
Knight of Swords
SOMEONE UPSETS YOU BY CAUSING MISCHIEF WITH BAD INTENT.

Crossing - Opposing forces
Three of Wands
YOU WILL ENTER A PARTNERSHIP, AND SPEND TIME PLANNING
FOR IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

Foundation - Past basis
Two of Swords
YOU WILL BE TRYING TO MAKE A DECISION THAT YOU FIND HARD
TO MAKE, BECAUSE YOUR HEART WILL TELL YOU ONE THING
AND YOUR MIND ANOTHER, YOUR INDECISION WILL BOUND
YOU TO A BAD SITUATION.

Behind you - Passing influences
Three of Swords
YOU MAY FEEL BETRAYED, AND MAY DECIDE TO LEAVE A
SITUATION OR RELATIONSHIP THAT NO LONGER IS IN YOUR
BEST INTEREST.

Crowning - Possible future
Seven of Swords
SOMEONE MAY BE TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU OR
TRYING TO DECEIVE YOU.

Before you - Soon to come
Nine of Pentacles
YOU ARE CONTENT BEING ALONE AND BEING WITH NATURE.

Hopes - Goals, aspirations
Strength
YOU ARE FACED WITH A DIFFICULT SITUATION THAT COMES FROM
YOUR PAST, YOU WANT POSITIVE RESULTS AND TO OVERCOME
YOUR OBSTACLES, BUT WILL NEED TO CONTROL YOUR OWN
FEELINGS AND ACTIONS. YOU MAY ALSO BE FORCED TO
COMPROMISE OR APPEASE OTHERS AT THIS TIME.

Opinions - What others think
The Fool
YOU WILL ACT OUT OF CHARACTER AS YOU TAKE A RISK ON A FRESH
START OR NEW BEGINNING IN YOUR LIFE.

Feelings - Fears
Two of Wands
YOU MAY FEEL MANIPULATED OR CONTROLLED BY OTHERS
NEAR YOU, THIS COULD BE A RELATIVE, LOVER OR CO-WORKER.

Outcome - Resolution
Knight of Cups
YOU WILL BE OFFERED A PROPOSAL OR INVITATION, THIS
COULD BE A ROMANTIC GET-AWAY.

Quintessence
FOCUS ON YOUR TASKS AND GO AFTER THEM.

Monday, August 08, 2005


Can't we all just get along. Posted by Picasa

This little guys ready to join the fight on crime. The solution Torontos been loking for? Posted by Picasa

Toronto Needs a John Wayne

Something is completely wrong when you wake up and read stories like this. From the Canadian Press.

"For two weeks, gunfire has been ringing out almost daily in Toronto, often in very public places and leaving bloodshed in its wake. A total of twenty shootings occurred during this time period. Among the victims was a four-year-old boy who was wounded in a gun battle between members of rival gangs.

Two more young people were killed and three wounded in two more shootings early Monday, bringing the total of 28 handgun-related homicides this year to 28, compared with 27 at the same time a year ago."

The problem lies in the fact that a bunch of punk kids who think of themselves as outlaws can simply drive down to any U.S border town and pick up a cheap hand gun with little effort.

Of some 5,000 illegal handguns taken off Toronto's streets every year the majority can be traced back to the U.S. Gun laws in America are a joke, a point punctuated by political columnist and business editor Mark Tran, who states that U.S laws make guns extremely accessible to young persons, using the federal governments own figures.

Current U.S federal law requires criminal background checks only for guns sold by licensed firearm dealers, which account for just 60% of gun sales. This means that two of every five guns acquired in the US change hands without a background check. This includes guns bought at gun shows, through classified ads, and between individuals. There are between 2,000 and 5,000 gun shows held every year.

This means any kid with a couple hundred bucks can purchase a gun from the back of a magazine or trunk in an alley way by-passing any age restrictions.

I hope Toronto Mayor David Miller and Police Chief Bill Blair can round up a few more than the already hired thousand new police offers and show these wanna be's who are the real 'bad asses'.

As a side note, what ever happened to the good old days when two hot heads if they needed to duke it out they did it mono on mono with just their fists? Now we have a bunch of stupid little jerks blaming their parents, movies, and ADHD for their in ability to function in a civilized world. Instead they find their sense of being in a piece of coloured rag and acting like a pack of trailer park muts.

Instead of cloning ugly dogs we need to find a way to clone the duke. Fast!

References:

canada.com


U.S Guns Laws/Mark Tran

Kenaz.

Coach Great One:Alpha Male or Dogs Lunch?

That is the question. Someone once said, those who can, do, those who can't teach. This is so true of players who turned coach in the NHL.

Gordon "Red" Berenson was arguably the best player turned coach. As a player he scored a respectable 695 points in 1036 career NHL games with Montreal, Detroit and St. Louis. He turned assistant coach in 1978, then coach in 1980 and took the sad below .500 team to the playoffs in 1981 with an amazing .669 average winning himself the Jack Adams trophy.

No one has ever questioned Wayne Gretzkys leadership and abilities as a player or as a manager and business man. The Great Ones records and achievements in the NHL and internationally speak for themselves. His decision to take over the coaching duties are another story.

Gretzky came to Phoenix and turned around a franchise on the brink of bankruptcy, to the point that interest in the team is at an all time high, based on ticket sales and merchandise sales. Phoenix is no longer the team with laughable jerseys playing in a substandard building thanks to the greatest player of all time.

The question is, again. Can Gretzky coach the ailing Phoenix Coyotes and make them respectable like Berenson did or will he let an inferior product and lack of experience turn his tenure into a coaching footnote more the lines of Mike Milbury in New York, who was forced once again to teach from a distance.

Kenaz

Good Evening...And Goodbye

We have lost another great broadcaster in Peter Jennings. Jennings died of lung cancer age the age of 67, this morning.

The Torontonian never forgot his Canadian roots even as he stood on the summit of the US journalism mountain. His ABC World News Tonight broadcasts always included more Con-Can than any other American broadcast.

Jennings was never afraid to include a story from Canada do to fear of lack of American knowledge. While other American broadcasters tripped over Quebec Premier Jean Charests name or gave out interesting geography lessons, indicating that Napanee, Ontario, is just east of Toronto. Peter Jennings never looked out of place correcting the world in telling them that Avril Lavigne's hometown is actually 136 miles away from Toronto and closest to Kingston.

The guy who at just 27 became the youngest anchor ever of the ABC Evening News went on to a 40 year career that saw Jennings win no fewer than 14 Emmy awards as well as a host of other honours.

Jening's newscasts tackled the conflicts raging in Bosnia, Haiti and Iraq, among others. But he also explored such domestic issues as arts funding, abortion and gun control.

His interviews have ran the full spectrum from ground breaking. From his 1974 profile of Egyptian president Anwar Sadat which won him the first of his two Peabody awards and the first interview with Ayatollah Khomeini following his return to Iran after the shah went into exile in 1979.

To the absurd. In an interview with then President Bill Clinton, at one point Jennings barrage of tough questions pertaining to Clintons alleged affair, became so much, it caused an out burst from the President that ended in Clinton turning a civil interview into a twelve year olds pissing match with Clinton offering this threatening idiom to Jennings "I wouldn't go there!" The consummate professional wasn't phased and "went there".

I summation, I quote ABC's 2005 promotional campaign for Jennings that offered the simple tag line "Trust is earned." And it was.

RIP.

Kenaz

Saturday, August 06, 2005

From The Set Of Cheaper By The Dozen II

Hi all,

I finished up Friday night a two day booking on the set of the new Eugene Levy, Steve Martin film "Cheaper By The Dozen II". Currently filming in Toronto.

I can't say a whole lot about the film, damn rules and all. But let me say, watching two guys with a combined comedy resume of more than two hundred projects in the last
thirty five years was a complete dream.

If you asked me, "hey wanna come out and be stuffed into a dank church basement with a hundred and fifty others, including ninety children. But, oh the kicker, you will have to react to the actions of two of the funniest men on the planet." What would you say? "Hell ya!"

Anyway, the only thing I can say about the set was that it was an easy two days sitting one row from two lengends perform a scene that ends with Steve Martin being held by his ankles over a movie theater balcony by Eugene Levy.

A stunt man was used for Mr. Levy's POV's other than that Steve Martin strapped on the harness and did his own pratt falls into the mat. Even at sixty! the man still has his timing.

Note, Steve Martin's 60th BD is the 14th of August according to IMDB, which I've included a link to so you can check out the complete cast list for this film. Just click on the post title.

Later,
Kenaz

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Paylist For August 4-6, 2005

1. Albert Collins - Ice Pick - Ledgends of Texas Blues n/a 0:00
Albert_Collins_-_Ice_Pick.mp3 32/44/sc 3:09


Albert Collins


2. Blind Blake - west coast blues - not known n/a 3:09
Blind_Blake_-_West_Coast_Blues__1926_.mp3 32/44/sc 3:14


Blind Blake


3. Bessie Smith - After You've Gone - not known n/a 6:23
Bessie_Smith_-_After_You_ve_Gone.mp3 32/44/sc 3:00


Bessie Smith


4. OTR Dimension X - almost Human - 50-05-13 n/a 9:24
Dimension_X_-_Almost_Human_500513.mp3 32/44/sc 27:44


Dimension X

5. Buddy Guy - Bad Bad Whiskey - Buddy Guy And Junior Wells Play The Blues n/a 37:09
Buddy_Guy___Junior_Wells_-_Bad_Bad_Whiskey.mp3 32/44/sc 4:14


Buddy Guy




Junior Wells



6. Dimension X - Beyond Infinity - 07/21/50 n/a 41:23
Dimension_X_-__16_-_Beyond_Infinity_-_07_-_21_-_1950_.mp3 32/44/sc 29:36


Dimension X

7. Blind Boy Fuller - Big Leg Woman Gets My Pay - East Coast Piedmont Style n/a 1:11:00
Blind_Boy_Fuller_-_Big_Leg_Woman_Gets_My_Pay.mp3 32/44/sc 2:46


Blind Boy Fuller


8. Big Bill Broonzy - Bill Bailey - Big Bill Broonzy Sings Folk Songs n/a 1:13:46
Big_Bill_Broonzy_-_Bill_Bailey.mp3 32/44/sc 1:57


Bill Broonzy


9. B.B. King - Blues Man - Blues On The Bayou n/a 1:15:44
BB_King_-_Blues_Man.mp3 32/44/sc 5:01


BB King

10. Robert Johnson - Cross Road Blues - Standing at the Crossroads n/a 1:20:45
Robert_Johnson_-_Cross_Road_Blues.mp3 32/44/sc 2:28


Robert Johnson

11. Blind Willie Johnson - Dark Was the Night (Cold Was t - Dark Was the Night [Columbia/L n/a 1:23:14


Blind Willie Johnson

02_Dark_Was_the_Night__Cold_Was_the_Ground_.mp3 32/44/sc 3:20
12. Norah Jones - Don't Know Why - Come Away With Me n/a 1:26:34 Norah_Jones_-_Come_Away_With_Me_-_01_-_Don_t_Know_Why_1__1_.mp3 32/44/sc 3:16


Norah Jones

13. Bonnie Raitt - Finest Lovin' Man - Bonnie Raitt-The Bonnie Raitt Collection n/a 1:29:51
Bonnie_Raitt_-_Finest_Lovin__Man.mp3 32/44/sc 3:58


Bonnie Raitt

14. Billie Holiday - Georgia on my Mind - God Bless the Child n/a 1:33:50
Billie_Holiday_-_Georgia_On_My_Mind.mp3 32/44/sc 3:05



Billie Holiday

15. Billie Holiday - God Bless The Child - not known n/a 1:36:55
Billie_Holiday_-_God_Bless_The_Child.mp3 32/44/sc 4:01

16. Bonnie Raitt - have a heart - Nick Of Time n/a 1:40:57
Bonnie_Raitt_-_Have_a_heart.mp3 32/44/sc 5:02


Bonnie Raitt


17. Big Mama Thornton - Hound Dog - Hound Dog - The Peacock Record n/a 1:46:00
Big_Mama_Thornton_-_Hound_Dog.mp3 32/44/sc 2:53


Big Mama Thornton

18. CAMPBELL THEATER - Huck Finn - 40-03-17 ep54 n/a 1:48:53
CAMPBELL400317ep5432kbps53m45s_HuckleberryFinn_.mp3 32/44/sc 53:43


Campbell Theater


19. Blind Willie Johnson - John the Revelator - Dark Was the Night [Columbia/L n/a 2:42:37
08_John_the_Revelator.mp3 32/44/sc 3:19


Blind Willie Johnson


20. BB King - Johnny B. Good - not known n/a 2:45:56
BB_King_-_Johnny_B._Good.mp3 32/44/sc 2:42


BB King


21. OTR - Lone Ranger - The Escape n/a 2:48:39
Lone_Ranger_-_The_Escape.mp3 32/44/sc 24:42


The Lone Ranger


22. Buddy Guy Johnny Lang - Midnight Train - not known n/a 3:13:21
Buddy_Guy___Johnny_Lang__Midnight_Train.mp3 32/44/sc 5:21


Buddy Guy




Johnny Lang


23. Bo Diddley Muddy Waters Little Walter - My Babe - Super Blues n/a 3:18:42
Bo_Diddley__Muddy_Waters____Little_Walter_-_My_Babe.mp3 32/44/sc 3:56


Bo Diddly




Muddy Waters




Little Walter


24. Alberta Hunter - My Handy Man Ain't So Handy An - not known n/a 3:22:38
Alberta_Hunter_-_my_handy_man_ain_t_so_handy_anymore.mp3 32/44/sc 3:49


Alberta Hunter


25. DefenseAttorney - OTR - 51-08-31 n/a 3:26:28
DefenseAttorney_510831.mp3 32/44/sc 30:13


Defense Attorney


26. 500615 - Picnic For Fathers Day - Father Knows Best n/a 3:56:41
FatherKnowsBest500615PicnicForFathersDay.mp3 32/44/sc 29:27


Father Knows Best


27. Big Bill Broonzy - Pussy Cat Blues - not known n/a 4:26:08
Big_Bill_Broonzy_-_Pussy_Cat_Blues.mp3 32/44/sc 1:34


Bill Broonzy


28. Big Walter Horton - Rockin My Boogie - not known n/a 4:27:43
Big_Walter_Horton_-_Rockin__My_Boogie.mp3 32/44/sc 3:22


Big Walter Horton


29. Blind Willie McTell - Statesboro Blues - not known n/a 4:31:06
Blind_Willie_Mctell_-_Statesboro_Blues.mp3 32/44/sc 2:35


Blind Willie McTell


30. Big Walter Horton - That Ain t It - not known n/a 4:33:41
Big_Walter_Horton_-_That_Ain_t_It.mp3 32/44/sc 2:53


Big walter Horton


31. CAMPBELL Theater - The Escape - 39-10-15 ep32 n/a 4:36:35
CAMPBELL391015ep3232kbps57m25s_Escape_.mp3 32/44/sc 57:21


The Escape


32. Big Mama Thornton - The Fish - Hound Dog - The Peacock Recordings n/a 5:33:56
Big_Mama_Thornton_-_The_Fish.mp3 32/44/sc 2:31


Big Mama Thornton


33. Freddie King - The Moon is Rising - not known n/a 5:36:28
Blues_Freddie_King-The_Moon_is_Rising.mp3 32/44/sc 4:01


Freddie King


34. AVENGER - The Mystery of the Giant Brain - 450615 n/a 5:40:29
AVENGER450615e0232-22-m27m42sTheMysteryoftheGiantBrain.mp3 32/44/sc 27:37


The Avenger


35. OTR - The Onion Jar - 19xx-xx-xx n/a 6:08:06
OTR_-_The_Onion_Jar.mp3 32/44/sc 27:26


The Onion Jar


36. McTell, Blind Willie 9010 - Three Women Blues - The Early Years 1927-1933 n/a 6:35:33
Blind_Willie_McTell_-_Three_Women_Blues.mp3 32/44/sc 2:43


Blind Willie McTell


37. Bessie Smith - w/MUDDYWATER-AMississippi Moan - not known n/a 6:38:16
Bessie_Smith_-_A_Mississippi_Moan__Muddy_Waters_.mp3 32/44/sc 3:08


Bessie Smith


38. Father Knows Best - Who Has The Time - 50-09-21 n/a 6:41:25
FatherKnowsBest500921WhoHasTheTime.mp3 32/44/sc 29:44


Father Knows Best


39. Alberta Hunter - You Can't Tell The Difference - Blues Masters Volume 11 Classi n/a 7:11:09


Alberta Hunter

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Tarot Reading For The Week

The Question:"Will this week be a successful one? "

Review of the ten card Celtic Spread.

The the deck is first spread out face down in the middle of the table and mixed up thoroughly. The cards are then gathered and played out one card at a time, face up as follows.

The Celtic Cross spread is one of the most common tarot spreads. There is a cross in the center, with a row of 4 cards along the side. This spread will provide a fairly in-depth look at a situation including past, present and external influences. Beginners may want to start with a spread with fewer cards.

Here is the reading.

Positions: 1 - (beneath the 2 card) Basis of the situation. It represents the general tone of the reading and identifies the problem for the querent.

The Tower
AN
UNEXPECTED TRAGEDY WILL ROCK YOUR WORLD, AND YOU
MAY GO THROUGH
A LOSS OF FAITH AND HOPE, THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY OF A LOSS OF
A PERSON NEAR YOU, AND OR
DANGER OF ACCIDENTS AND BAD HEALTH.

2 - Crosses the situation. This card shows the challenges or obstacles that are facing the querent.

Seven of
Pentacles
YOU ARE TAKING A TIME-OUT FROM THINGS TO SEE IF THINGS

WILL WORK OUT, OR RECUPERATING FROM AN ILLNESS.

3 - Subconscious. The true nature of how the querent feels about the matter.

The Emperor
A
POWERFUL MALE OR STRONG MINDED WOMAN WILL ENTER
YOUR LIFE WITH
THE INTENTION TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE THROUGH
A NEW PARTNERSHIP OR
RELATIONSHIP.


4 - The past. Events of the recent past that will have influence or effect on the matter at hand.

The Hangman
THINGS
THAT MATTER IN YOUR LIFE HAVE COME TO A HALT
OR STANDSTILL, A
REVISION OF THINGS WILL BE DONE AND
YOUR LIFE WILL BE DIFFERENT
AS A RESULT.


5 - Conscious. The querents known feelings, which should be read in conjunction with card 3.

King of
Cups
SOMEONE WILL BE OF AID TO YOU, OR BE A BENEFACTOR FOR YOU.

6 - The future. Something that will come to pass in the near future.

Four of
Cups
SOMEONE IS OFFERING YOU AN OPPORTUNITY IN YOUR LIFE,
AND
YOU ARE REFUSING IT OR IGNORING IT.

7 - The querent. The attitude and influence of the querent, and the role they play in the situation.

Knight of
Swords
SOMEONE UPSETS YOU BY CAUSING MISCHIEF WITH BAD INTENT.

8 - The environment. The surroundings of the querent in this situation (possibly reflecting family, friends or work relationships).

The Chariot
YOU
MAY BE GOING ON A TRIP IN THE NEAR FUTURE, THIS TRIP
MAY BE DONE
BY LAND AND BE WITHIN DRIVING DISTANCE OF
YOUR HOME.

9 - Hopes and fears. This card shows how the querent is feeling about the possible outcome of the situation.

Four of
Wands
YOU WILL HAVE REASON TO CELEBRATE, HAPPINESS AND PEACE

ARE NOW WITHIN YOUR GRASP, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A
MARRIAGE
OR COMMITMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE FOR YOU.

10 - Final outcome. This is how the situation will play out.

Six of Cups
YOU
WILL BE REUNITING OR SPENDING TIME WITH SOMEONE
FROM YOUR PAST.

Summation.
THINGS
HAVE COME TO A HALT, THEY WILL PICK UP AGAIN
AFTER A FUNDAMENTAL
CHANGE, OR A RE-EVALUATION, AND
THEN THINGS WILL TAKE OFF.

Reading for the period of August 3-9, 2005

Air France Air Bus on fire sitting on the runway at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. Posted by Picasa

The Angels Are Watching!

I couldn't believe the pictures that came of Pearsons International Airport yesterday.

Watching an Air France Air Bus flight 358 burning on the runway gave me that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach at first. Then to hear that all of the 309 passengers and crew had survived, affirmed by beliefs in guardian angels.

They had taken the guise this day as flight attendants, crew and well informed passengers who worked together to safely evacuate the burning plane in less than two minutes.

Applause also goes out to those who had stopped along the busy highway 401 to pick up the weary crash victims and drive them back to the terminals.

Full coverage and pictures can be found at www.cbc.ca

Kenaz,

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

This Weeks Tales From The Set Archive-Miss Green Dress

A couple of weeks back while on set of some new network series slated for the fall called Beautiful People, a couple of us who had done a long stint on Cinderella Man together last year where humorously recalling some of the details of one particular female extra.

This womens dress was this sets equivalent to Vivian Lee's green dress in "Gone With The Wind". Problem was our Miss Scarlet, acted more like the lead character in the Scarlet Letter.

Let's just say this women was quite aware of how this dress lifted and separated her ample cleavage.

Although, to give her the benefit of the doubt, she might have had a bad back, so that could be the reason she need to bend forward and stretch a lot. Especially when men passed.

It's funny how memory works though, after recalled the facts of this women, we both said simultaneously, "By the way, what was her name ?"

Where ever you are Miss Green Dress, god bless your spirit!

Kenaz,

Things That Make You Shake Your Head II

To be fair, in the last post I noted some of the general publics misnomers and ill thought out phrasings spoken while passing productions. Here is a list of some of the questions uttered by those coming on to a set for the first time.

1. When do we eat?
(Hmm, you are standing in holding, there is a craft table set up for extras, wild guess, when you can? What they meant to say: How long after we have signed in will be be fed? Answer:Three(substantial) and six hours(Hot meal))

2. What time will be wrapped?
(Yeesh, it's 7:00am. When they get all the shots done?)

3. Who's a good agent?
(I hope the one your with!)

4. How much do we get paid?
(Christ we get paid! Yee Haw! This is something the agents cover early, hoping to scare off people who ask this kind of question.)

5. Why do we have to wear these uncomfortable clothing? Can't I wear jeans and stand in the back.
(Asked by a young girl to the wardrobe department ,who I'm assuming had not been kidnapped and dragged onto set and was fully aware that this was a period piece. As to her query, I don't think they wore low rider jeans in 1940 and by the look on the costumers face "in the back" or lower was where she wanted to plant a boot)

Kenaz,

Things That Make You Just Shake Your Head

Here is a top five list of the well meaning questions I've gotten doing background work in the Toronto/Hamilton from the general public passing by a set and the answer that I'm thinking.

1. Are there any stars in this film?
(Nope, no heavenly bodies in this one, a black hole has sucked all the creativity out of this shlock. Example The short lived series "Wonderfalls)

2. Do you have any change?
(from a street beggar I was clearly wearing a police uniform too boot! Note, background performers make less than the guy who picks up road kill on the side of the highway. I was stumped by this guy.)

3. Are you allowed to shoot the guns?
(asked by a well meaning youngster, as she keenly spotted the replica glock placed in my holster. It would not be safe practice for a production company to allow extras to fire real weapons on a busy city street. Nuts.)

4. Can I be in the film?
(Asked by a man who decided to join the line of extras waiting to be cued by an AD(Assistant Director) to make their cross in front of the cameras. If you are that hard up to be seen on film, go the bank and stand in front of the security cam. Short answer no.)

5. Can I get your autograph?
(I'm not lying. On the set of John Q in 2000 a women was asking EXTRAS! for their autographs. Her reason, was just in case any of us made it big she could say I knew them when. And yes some people obliged, I didn't get a chance, really)

Kenaz,

Monday, August 01, 2005

Post Cards From The Hammer


Here are nine photos depicting many of the spenders that can be found in and around the City of Hamilton. Liuna Station (former CN Rail)
This is the same station featured in many films including "X-Men" and "The Long Kiss Goodnight
 Posted by Picasa

Here's a picture of the inside of Liuna station. A friend of mine snapped this when we worked on the set of the Canadian series "The Eleventh Hour". Posted by Picasa

On the set of "The Eleventh Hour" The scene was a flashback to a ficticious chess match between the Russian and Canadian champions set in Montreal. I sat behind the actor playing the Russian (left side of the picture) Posted by Picasa

The Old Burk's Clock keeping perfect time out front Jackson Square Mall .
 Posted by Picasa