I slacked off a little on the YSF updates, but the program was one of the favorite things I've been a part of in Los Angeles.
We (the 11 mentors) met with our 11 writers every Wednesday afternoon for 6 weeks and worked on helping them write a 5-page screenplay. At the end of the six weeks, we recruited a team of actors to come in for THE BIG SHOW - a performance for the school, friends, and family of all 11 stories. Each writer cast actors to play characters in his or her screenplay, and the final result was an amazing hour-and-a-half of heartwarming fun.
If you'd like to help out the Young Storytellers Foundation, check out their donation page here. If you're in the Los Angeles area, I highly recommend mentoring or acting in a Big Show. It really was the best hour of my week.
Some pics from our Big Show: The writers at the start of the show.
Our actors jump in and get dirty right away...
The actors telling DJ's story ("6 Friends, 1 Enemy"). Shoutout to DJ and an awesome month and a half. Great work, my man!
In early November, I made an appointment to design a pair of shoes at the NikeID studio at the Montalban Theatre out here. I've messed around at nikeid.com but heard that the in-person experience offers more options...I had to check it out.
The storefront of the converted Montalban, just north of Sunset and Vine. Inside, they have a Nike Sportswear retail store and rotating art, film, and music installations.
We walked up to the balcony of the theatre - they had blank shoes in the three available customizable styles (Dunk Hi, Air Max 90, and Air Force 1) for size/fitting. They also had complimentary cocktails, but seeing as how my appointment was pre-lunch, I managed to restrain myself.
Before I made it to the computer to get down to business, I was able to peruse a few swatch packets...I initially was thinking Dunk His, but metallic patent leather caught my eye and I made game-time switch to the AF1s.
I worked with a NSW consultant to customize the shoe...the work we did on the computer was projected onto a 35' screen on the theatre's "stage".
The final product...gold and navy for my alma maters with a dash of a deep red accent (a little bit of heart? Red Georgia Clay? China? The new pomegranate flavor at Pinkberry? You decide).
Last week, I received the package...I couldn't be happier. Planning to swap out the red laces for white when I get around to wearing them...
And of course, you gots to have some sort of I.D. tag...
Great little experience overall...now we need the Bespoke lab!
So I was in a handful of Fantasy Football leagues this year (I'm starting to think one is too many) - around Week 4, I hated myself...I didn't have the time or patience to deal with setting lineups, I was in last place in every league, and I vowed to never agree to such a thing again.
But then I realized my boys needed me. And as their manager, I had to set an example. My shovel was sharp. My will was outstanding. (Right, Rod?)
So I tried to turn the season around via some late nights at the computer. And you know what? It started to work...I snuck into the playoffs in every league but one. Of those, I all but wrapped up 3rd place in one this weekend and the other two come down to tonight.
More specifically, they come down to my man Matt Forte.
Matt's been good to me all year long. He's a steady, consistent force. And his last name is awesome. I face off with KJ tonight in a 3rd place game and need Forte to have the game of his life to save that weak team's season.
The other game is in a league of self-professed professionals (none of whom I've met) who I thought tricked me into joining so I could be their doormat (I took Tom Brady with my first pick...by Week 7, I was 2-5 and in last place). Then things started to shift my way and I won 8 games in a row...landing me in the championship game. I'm 10 points behind P Hibby - his guys are done and I have Mr. Forte. 11 points and I can take care of this thing... (by the way, big thanks to Kurt Warner for being terrible and making this dramatic).
So Matt, how's about a few receptions, a decent night on the ground, and maybe a TD?
It'd be impossible to post these any later and make them still relevant (muh bad), but our boy Gari took some phenomenal shots from the show a few weeks at Nokia. I thought I'd post a few. So, in somewhat chronological order:
Soundcheck.
Soundcheck.
Soundcheck.
Soundcheck...getting the new stuff sorted for the show.
Soundcheck...the notebook.
Backstage...doughnuts are a tasty treat.
Backstage...doughnut eating contest (always a fun time).
Backstage...roaming the halls.
Backstage...this is how I entertain guests from out of town.
I have the most fun working on merch for the annual LA shows in December. It's a unique opportunity to be able to focus on a single show and at the same time try to deliver something to impress my neighbors. Last year's show brought out one of the best crowds I've ever seen, so I try to work to satisfy you, the people...
The event shirt. Printed on a super-soft tri-blend tee.
The girls' event shirt. Comfortable for a man but cut for a woman (eh - turns out deodorant taglines don't seem to work for t-shirts).
New zip hoodie. Custom sewn and created just for us. Comfy cotton blend. Silver metallic ink-printed logo across chest and on back. Stitched JM Script logo on left chest.
Official tag for all custom merch.
Burnout raglan - lightweight and soft to the point of almost being sheer. Logo printed across front and die-cut JM Script logo embroidered on left chest.
Red crewneck with kangaroo pocket. Another custom item. Has crest logo printed on chest with die-cut felt letters embroidered across. Heavyweight french terry fleece.
Navy crewneck with kangaroo pocket. Name across front in grey felt. From the same batch of custom terry fleece crews.
Girls' "flowy" shirt. My Favorite-Item-I'll-Never-Be-Allowed-To-Wear. Pima cotton shirt has draping sleeves, scoop neck, and round bottom hem. Logo is printed across chest in gold foil.
We'll have a few other things for you to check out on Saturday night...see you then.
Producing/acting in another play that opens on Tuesday: TAPE, written by Stephen Belber. It's about three friends from high school who haven't seen each other in a while and are forced to deal with a little something from their past. It all goes down in the room of a Motel 6 in Lansing, MI - what more could you ever want?
For more information or to make seating reservations, email tape.reservation@gmail.com
And another bit of info - a CSI: Miami episode of note re-airs tonight (Monday, 12/1) at 10PM ET/PT on CBS.
Georgia Tech goes into Athens and beats Georgia (college football's preseason #1 team), 45-42.
YES SIR.
What a tremendous game. Tech's running game killed it in the 2nd half...the option dominated. It's the beginning of a new era with our boys. I haven't been so pumped watching a sports event in...7 years. Call it stupid, but I was fighting back tears as time expired. I was the only Tech guy watching the game with a gang of Georgia fans, so I had to remain stoic and walk briskly back to my car to avoid being lynched.
UVA couldn't hold on against Virginia Tech, so no ACC Championship for us...but everyone knows this game means the most. What a way to end a regular season that exceeded all expectations.
Roddy Jones blew it up with 214 yards rushing. Here's 54 of 'em. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal Constitution, Johnny Crawford)
Lucas Cox kung-fu's one into the end zone. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal Constitution, Pouya Dianat)
Georgia fumbles a kickoff in the 3rd. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal Constitution, Pouya Dianat)
Can't stop, won't stop. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal Constitution, Johnny Crawford)
Taking some of the hedges home. Roddy lets you know what's on his mind... (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal Constitution, Brant Sanderlin)
Spotted: Tech guy at a bulldog gathering. TO HELL WITH GEORGIA!
My mom was visiting last weekend and I had the pleasure of taking her out to Malibu to see David play a private show at Pepperdine (by the way, how ridiculous is it to go to school in MALIBU? Their campus is on the Pacific Coast Highway!). Good, clean fun:
If I Had A Dime For You Used To This Don't Look Down King For A Day Que Sera Que Sera Subterranean Homesick Alien Pretty Girl 101 Pretty Girl (You Send Me, Shining Star, The Most Beautiful Girl In The World, Your Body Is A Wonderland, Let's Get It On, With Or Without You) All I Need Good Thing E: Turn Around
Some details: DRH added "That's why I travel down the PCH...for you" to the itinerary in For You. King For A Day had the most ridiculous guitar work I think I've ever seen at a solo acoustic performance. I haven't heard Que Sera and Subterranean Homesick Alien in years. Before Pretty Girl, David decided he'd use the setting to give a short lecture on the importance and meaning of the song. There will be a test next week that will account for 30% of your final grade. Good Thing had a great singalong...including a solo by some of the audience members.
Great night and so worth the trek. Some photos...
Green/Conference Room
Potential setlist?
One PowerPoint presentation away from being Professor DRH (the Professor of Love)
The I 41, The U 23. Somebody came to play on a Thursday night. 472 yards on the ground. FOUR-HUNDRED-SEVENTY-TWO for all you check-writers. And that includes mailing-it-in in the 4th quarter with backups.
SO pumped about next Saturday morning.
Also pumped about rooting for Duke for the first time ever (and only for the next 2 weeks). While we're at it, go Wolfpack (over UNC), get 'em Dabo (over UVA), and Wahoowa (over VaTech). Little help and the Coastal's clear...
JD runs this. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
My mom just asked me if that's what they do when the band plays "The Bee Song." (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
I don't know if I've ever gotten so hot on a band so quickly like I did after I saw Zac Brown on last year's Rock Boat. Those dudes make me miss Georgia in the best of ways. A little bit of country, a little bit of rock, and a good good time.
Zac Brown Band's record, "The Foundation" drops today. Pick it up, freals...and if you can, check these guys out at a show.
I can't get this jam out of my head! - Varsity Fanclub ain't got nothin' on these guys!
Ok, so here's the deal: 7 of us were a team in the Cannonball Run Film Festival, a festival in which you're given a title, a mandatory line of dialogue, and 48 hours to write, shoot, edit, and then show a 10-minute short film at a screening. Not much sleep, lots of stress, but tons of fun.
We received the title "Friendly Persuasions" and decided to follow the (obviously) very sexy R&B/Pop Group "Six Degrees of Unification". While compiling other footage, we managed to shoot this video with the group for their breakout single "In The Mood". The film itself came out nice as well, but I'll let you get acclimated with Tyler, Micky, Dwayne, Ricardo, Ivan, and Skyler before I drop the True Hollywood Story on you.
