Before you start clicking, please note that I can no longer guarantee the integrity of the following links...
Before you start clicking, please note that I can no longer guarantee the integrity of the following links...
| Thursday, October 31st, 2002: It wouldn't be Halloween without a Devil's Advocates show. It's our five-year anniversary, I think...
This year we're improving on our pointless Lofters appearance of 2001 by guesting at The Hub, a weekly comedy showcase at Queen East and Broadview. And if you can't make that, you can apparently catch Improv Heaven & Hell on The Comedy Network again. Methinks they're plowing through one more cycle before their buyout expires and they'll have to pay us again -- like that'll happen. |
| Wednesday, October 30th, 2002: As I suspected, Second City's one gig in Bangkok has been cancelled. That leaves me with one week in a place I've already been, with a salary approaching the amount I'm losing by cancelling my Cathay ticket. Fortunately I still have that ticket, and can wait until 24 hours before my first flight segment to nix it.
Gigs like this don't come along every day, and as an actor I should never turn down a chance to perform. I'm getting the first tinglings of temptation, though... |
| Tuesday, October, 29th, 2002: If the postings here don't exactly come fast or furious over the next few days, it's because I'm scrambling to edit two films for Second Cine next Tuesday. Of course, that hasn't stopped me from offering two more krazee dealz on eBay, including my current cordless phone and, an exclusive offer for Toronto eBidders, a bass-thumping JBL CD/Clock/Radio, my old make-out machine... What, too much information? |
| Monday, October 28th, 2002: Over the weekend my Rogers Digital Cable free trial expired. To actually pay for compressed video with worse quality than regular broadcast TV somehow doesn't seem right. And Wink is a pointless wank.
As for programming, I might occasionally pine for a Drive-In Classic, and miss the show where all that technical jargon finally gives Dave Chalk the aneurysm that is so clearly coming, but I'll be much happier not having to channel-surf by that ancient documentary on mid-air refueling that plays around the clock on Discovery Wings! |
| Thursday, October 24th, 2002: Last night I found out that Janet Van De Graaff won't be coming on the Toronto Second City's second excursion to Asia. I'm particularly bummed about that, not just because she'd be swell to have in the gang, but because years ago we did a GI Joe/Barbie scene on mainstage together that would have a neat resonance today, what with the looming war on Iraq and all. I can still do it with whomever comes with, of course, but there's always something neat about recreating a scene with the people who wrote it, especially if it's on the other side of the world! |
| Tuesday, October 22nd, 2002: Yesterday's special appearance for the York University Department of Film & Video was a mixed success. For an audience of about twenty second-year students, I managed to squeeze the thirteen years since I graduated into about five minutes of talking. I got some knowing smiles when I mentioned The Devil's Advocates, and my VHS dub of No Logo Players got a pretty good response. Then, just as the questions were getting interesting -- "What were your goals when you first came to York?" -- a fire alarm brought it all to a sudden end. At least I got a submission for Second Cine from one of the students!
Today computers are one step closer to running my life; to shed a few pounds before heading back to Singapore I've started using a Diet & Exercise Assistant for my Treo. ... Can Internet dating be far behind? |
| Monday, October 21st, 2002: I know it doesn't look like much right now, but after a weekend of futzing with HTML frames, SecondCine.com has gone live. I'm still not 100% happy with the layout, but I need something to be up for those York Film & Video kids! |
| Friday, October 18th, 2002: I've been invited to speak at my alma mater next Monday; I just want to plug Second Cine, but my old profs also want me to talk about my "interesting career". It'll probably go something like this:
Question from the audience: "Are you working in the film industry?" |
| Tuesday, October 15th, 2002: If anyone still has my Mac.com email addy in their addy book, dump it. As of this morning, Apple is forcing users to dig deep for a service that used to be free. Maybe when I upgrade to OS X, but for now, no thanks.
It's looking like I am indeed Singapore and Bangkok-bound with Second City, which means I'll have to get rid of the ticket to Asia that I already have. If anyone out there wants to see Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok and save $450 getting there, let me know by the end of this week! |
| Thursday, October 10th, 2002: I'm not one to brag, but back in the day I was the first drummer to take my high school jazz band to the finals of a national competition. This week I'm dusting off my kit to guest with Five Spot, a local jazz band featuring former Northern Secondary School bassist Kevin Hilditch. If you're interested in seeing how much of my chops have been lost to the ravages of time, the beats start happening Friday night around 9pm at The Village Idiot Pub & Grill (formerly The Gallery Bistro). |
| Wednesday, October 9th, 2002: After posting Monday's depressing news, I got an interesting call from Second City. Apparently one of the kind folks who brought a quartet of comedians to Asia last September is working hard to bring us back for some more shows in Bangkok and Singapore, right around the time I booked my trip for Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Nothing is confirmed yet, but if we get a green light I'll probably have to sell the ticket that I've already bought, since Cathay won't let me change the itinerary or roll the trip over into the new year.
Usually I wouldn't jinx something like this by speaking too soon, but in this particular case, there's nothing to jinx; either way, in a little over a month I'm Asia-bound, again! |
| Monday, October 7th, 2002: How would you respond if your father told you to your face that he had about five years to live? I didn't know either. Still don't. |
| Saturday, October 5th, 2002: I'm currently hard at work, tweaking Second Cine to make it better than ever before. My creative thinking has been jump-started with an infusion of great ideas from TourCo resident Naomi Snieckus, who's been involved with a similar film night in Vancouver. Stay tuned! |
| Wednesday, October 2nd, 2002: If you missed last night's Second Cine, you can watch one of the films from the program online. Check out both the director's cut and the Atom Films version of Alex Strikes Back here.
My monthly film night is starting to get some regulars, just not enough of them to cover the cost of renting the theatre. If you've been to the show and have any ideas for making it better, send 'em this way... Please! |