Thursday, August 28, 2008

Summer's almost over -- Let the nostalgia begin

Summer's almost over. In Hollywood that can only mean faint trickles of rain will soon wash the dried dog pee from the sidewalk and your dirt lawn will become a lush yard of mud. Hope you had a great time at home or where ever you went.

If you didn't go anywhere, you can live vicariously through Mom X and Dad X. In these tough economic times, they apparently took my suggestions for cheap summer travel ideas and visited the Bronze Fonz in Milwaukee. Maybe next year they'll go to the World's Largest Collection of the World's Smallest Versions of the World's Largest Things.



Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Because blogging is cheaper than therapy

Existential Crisis (eg-zi-sten-shuhl krahy-sis) -- 1. The psychologic panic and discomfort experienced when a human confronts questions of existence (e.g., Believing that one's life has no purpose or external meaning.) 2. A condition brought on by Temping in Hollywood.
As much as I try to forget junior high, I distinctly remember one day at PJHS. It was the day we took the "What are you gonna be when you grow up" test. My teacher (pushing her shocking red muu-muu to the limit) waddled around and passed out questionnaires asking our interests, skills, likes and dislikes. From that, she would add up the scores and tell a room of 13-year olds their fates.

Shawn was told he would be a fireman. Kelly was destined to be an accountant. Derek -- the only 8th grader with a full moustache -- said he didn't need the test because he was going to be a "gigolo." (He probably is.) While I don't remember what the test told me, I can be sure of one thing, it didn't tell me that I was going to be a Temp. The test was wrong.

There's something perverse about being a Temp in Hollywood. You're below "expendable," as that would require recognition of your value. No. It's far worse. Temps like me are nothing more than a perforated sheet on the limitless paper towel roll in CAA's bathroom. While some people might use you and throw you out, you can just as easily be replaced by evaporation.

Friends and family often congratulate me on my decision to change careers and attempt to do what I love. And I do love writing. It's a joy. It's a puzzle. It's a release. But the reality is, right now, I'm doing what I hate. I hate copying scripts. I hate answering phones. I hate the intellectual black hole I live in Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. But I know I have to do this to get anywhere in this town.

Perhaps my crisis isn't representative of the rest of the Temp or Assistant world, but I think it is. I've seen you in the copy room or at your desk wondering when your idealized version of Hollywood, became your realistic version of Hollywood, which finally became your pessimistic version of Hollywood. But you persevere. And for that I admire your strength, your conviction and your desire to succeed in this town. You are my role models.

I realized I could leave Hollywood today and the only proof I'd have I was ever here is a $132 ticket for jay walking in Burbank...

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

The Fall TV schedule -- By the Numbers

'Tis the season to be jolly -- fa la la la la la la la la! Temp X is brimming with excitement. That can only mean one thing (other than getting a job or an agent) -- the new TV season is about to begin.

So many questions to be answered. Will Pam stay with Jim? Who has Ugly Betty's heart? Will the ladies of Wisteria Lane get their faces pulled back one more notch? I can feel the tension.

But instead of doing traditional fall preview (what's hot, what's not), I've decided to slice the information another way. I'm going strictly by the numbers. The end result, I'm afraid to report, will not heighten anticipation to a fever pitch. All it will do is underscore the sorry state (creatively and economically) of network programming. I tried. Really, I tried.

97 -- Total prime-time shows on the five major networks

33 -- Shows that are spin-offs, imported or from previously produced material*

20 -- Reality/Game shows**

9.4 -- Number of years (working 24 x 7) a PA from 2 1/2 Men will have to work to equal Charlie Sheen's weekly salary for 2 1/2 men.***

120 -- Length (in seconds) of a commercial break during a TV broadcast of Grey's Anatomy

30 - Length (in seconds) of a commercial break during a web broadcast of Grey's Anatomy

1 -- Number of nights the CW sold programming rights to Media Rights Capital

1 -- Number of talent agencies (Endeavor) with partial ownership of Media Rights Capital

13 -- Number of cast members for this season's Dancing with the Stars

7 -- Number of major motion pictures which star any of these DWTS cast members (excluding Frau Blucher -- neigh neigh)

13 -- Number of hour-long dramas on CBS

77 -- Percentage of hour-long dramas on CBS that are "police procedurals" (10 of 13)****

1,431 -- Number of days until NBC's next ratings sweep (the 2012 Olympics)

* Dancing with the Stars, Worst Week, Ugly Betty, Life on Mars, The Moment of Truth, Kitchen Nightmares, Kath & Kim, The Office, Wife Swap, Super Nanny, America's Funniest Home Videos, American Idol, Hell's Kitchen, Secret Millionaire, 90210, Knight Rider, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles, Law & Order: SVU, Private Practice, The Game, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Cleveland Show, The Office spin-off, Privileged, Lipstick Jungle, Smallville, Crusoe, Eleventh Hour, The Ex-List and Merlin

**Dancing with the Stars, America's Toughest Jobs, Biggest Loser, America's Next Top Model, Stylista, Deal or No Deal, Survivor, Moment of Truth, Kitchen Nightmares, Wife Swap, Super Nanny, Are you Smarter than a Fifth Grader, Don't forget the Lyrics, Cops, Americas Most Wanted, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, America's Funniest Home Videos, The Amazing Race and American Idol

***based on Sheen's reported salary of $825,000/week and typical PA salary of $10/hr.

****CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, NCIS, Without a Trace, Numbers, Cold Case, Eleventh Hour, Criminal Minds, The Mentalist

Monday, August 25, 2008

Copyright Infringment Theatre

This joke kills...well, assuming you know BASIC. If you don't ask your IT guy or click here.

Courtesy of toothpastefordinner.com

Friday, August 22, 2008

Love & Hate Mail

Four score and seven postings ago (+/- 5) Temp X brought forth to the Internet, a new Blog, conceived in Liberty (and perhaps a bit of drunkenness), and dedicated to the proposition that all Hollywood Temps are created equal.

And then I started to receive hate mail. So there went that plan.

It's been a busy week at the Hollywood Temp Diaries. The postings that documented my various interview rejections drew a slew of responses (if you missed them, they ran Monday and Tuesday). To those who offer support, I thank you. To those who wish me to fail, let me remind you -- I'm a college grad who is now a Temp. When I work, I get $12/hr. I don't get paid vacation. The printer/fax/copier gets more respect than I do. So if you're wishing me ill, you're too late. I'm already there.

Here are some of the highlights. Can't we all just get along?

Letter #1
the only thing worse than your rejection letter/vm posts is how you choose to express your dejection of the rejection. take it as best you can, but no need to ejaculate your pain across the blogosphere.

oh, and i work at the place from yesterday's post. i sit next to the guy who wrote that letter. he's figured out who you are. of course, it's not like this company hasn't been pissed off enough by people posting things online (i.e. nikki finke). glad we kept your resume, temp
Temp X reply
I know who you are too. You're the capitalization- and punctuation-challenged poet -- e e cummings. What an honor that you're reading my stuff! Since you know who I am, I would appreciate a poem for when my birthday comes around -- but not in your usual sonnet style. That's so predictable.

Letter #2

To the previous anonymous commenter: Isn't that the point of Temp X's blog? It's his humorous skewering of this ridiculous town. If you don't like it, don't read it everyday. And maybe if more than one person thinks your company sucks, it might actually, you know, SUCK. Ever think of that?

Way to miss the humor in this blog, Jackhole.
Temp X reply
Wrong! The point of this blog is it's a lot cheaper than therapy. Also, please don't encourage people not to read this. It'll lower my advertising rates.

Letter #3

To the person who sits next to the "guy who wrote that letter" --

It's uppity little f*ckers like you that willingly enable the decline of industry credibility. Show a little solidarity and stop pretending you aren't as insignificant as the next asshole.

And when you're done with that, go get me a coffee, douchebag.
Temp X reply
Clearly this person had too much coffee already. And as for industry credibility, Hollywood "jumped that shark" sometime between the release of Glitter and From Justin to Kelly.

Letter #4

I look forward to when Temp X is CEO of a major studio. I am certain he will personally take rejected candidates out for a Jamba juice (with the obligatory wheat-grass shot) and give them the straight dope. "Look, dude. You have zero personality. Your breath stinks. And we really wanted to go with someone who was a 36C. But thanks for applying!"
Temp X reply
I too look forward to the day when I'm CEO of a major studio. At the rate I'm going, that should be in about the year 2352, which will coincide with the year Sumner Redstone retires from Viacom.

Letter #5
i love temp x. seriously. we need more people like you working next to us.
Temp X reply
I love me too. That's Hollywood for you, a bunch of narcissists in need of constant validation from people they don't know. You can count me among them.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Back to School with Temp X

Bright-eyed, nubile eager college freshman are moving into dorms all over America this week. They'll spend the next 4-6 years doing drugs, having sex and studying just enough to not flunk out. Lucky kids.

Some of these freshman will enroll in film school with dreams of making it in Hollywood. They'll take classes like "Screen Writing" or "Film History" and get to watch Battleship Potemkin, Birth of a Nation and Un Chien Andalou. Not so lucky kids.

But there's a bunch of classes that colleges don't offer. So to college administrators, I encourage you to update your offerings to keep pace with Hollywood. As Whitney Houston tells us, "Crack is Whack" "I believe that children are our future; Teach them well and let them lead the way." Here are some curriculum ideas courtesy of the Hollywood Temp Diaries:

Ass-Kissing 101: Learn how to convincingly say to your boss things like, "What hair plugs? I didn't notice." and "Of course I don't mind staying until 10:30 p.m. I enjoy cleaning your office." Includes Thursday night lab: Brewing the perfect latte.

Film History and Re-History: This course teaches the fine art of taking a classic movie and remaking it into a substandard version that will bomb. Case studies include Rollerball, Stepford Wives, The Poseidon Adventure, Planet of the Apes, Fever Pitch, House of Wax, The Shaggy Dog and about 100 other movies.

Spanish for Executives/Spanisho for Executivos: Raiding top-rated Latin American programs and bringing them to the U.S. is THE major trend in Hollywood (well, that and "fixing" a deviated septum). It's low risk and so simple a child can do it. In this class you'll learn to say things like, "I worko for el NBC. I want to buyo your programo. We no like to spend dinero for original conceptos."

Product Placement & Production Finance (presented by Pizza Hut): Find out the best way to minimize production costs through shameless product placement. You'll study network research that proves writers don't care if they have to incorporate lines like "Dad, can you pass me a cool, refreshing, one-calorie Diet Pepsi?" Case studies include: Cavemen, Viper, You've Got Mail and The Amazing Race.

Nepotism & Networking: Advancement in Hollywood is all based on who you know. This class will help you develop the critical skills of name dropping, cashing in favors and vacationing in Cape Cod. [Note: A parent or immediate relative must be a "Gold Circle" donor in order for you to gain admission to this course.]

Restaurant Management: You'll understand why you'll need it once you move here.

Good luck. Now get to studying.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Too good and bad to be true

Word on the message boards is a new script is floating about town:
ProStars: The movie -- Adaptation of the short-lived but popular kids TV cartoon starring Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson and Wayne Gretzky as they pass on their superhuman powers to the next generation of stars (LeBron, etc...)
Worst idea ever, right? Wrong. Allow me to take you back in time to a simpler era...


[Begin Flashback]

The year was 1996. The Unemployment Rate was 5.4 and falling. Little Miss Sunshine, Abigail Breslin, was born. The Hoover Institution said Global Warming "would probably reduce mortality in the United States and provide Americans with valuable benefits." And Space Jam reigned supreme at the box office. It did? Really? You mean the film with noted thespians Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing? The one where NBA stars play basketball against animated aliens? Yep.

[End Flashback]


Now that you've had a chance to revisit a time when you knew what the meaning of the word "is" is, let's guess Space Jam's worldwide take (in 1996 dollars):
A. $40 million
B. $80 million
C. $160 million
D. $230 million
The correct answer is $230 million on an $80 million budget. You still ProStars: The Movie is a bad idea? Not for the studio that cleared $150 million.

The clip below will hold you over until it hits the theaters. Just make sure to save me a seat when it does.



Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Remake Tuesday

In a town where "remakes" are as common as Pinkberry imitators or child actors named Dakota, it's only fitting that Temp X offer up a remake too. So today I offer you a remake of yesterday's posting.

Like any good remake (e.g., Gus Van Sant's Psycho), it needs a little something to let the audience know you didn't just make an exact copy. Oh wait. Psycho matched the original shot-for-shot. Perhaps a better example is The Invasion. And since no one saw it ($15 million domestic gross on an $80 million budget), I can make reference to the Blimp fight at the end and you'll just have to believe me.

Temp X recently interviewed with [Company Name Redacted]. The interview went well and I got a call on Friday to schedule a second round. I was giddy. One more round and I could be a fully-fledged assistant. Could this really be the end of Temp X?

No.

Temp X received a rejection voicemail on Monday.
While it's nice that they bothered to send one (they're in the minority), I suppose I was hoping for a better explanation given that I'd already scheduled the next round. Since no one in Hollywood says what they mean (except me), I suppose I'll have to interpret the voicemail for them. So here it goes...
Hi this is [Name Redacted] from [Company Redacted]. I'm calling regarding your interview tomorrow (thank God you're not answering the phone!). As it turns out we found a candidate (this one was holding) today and given the urgency in filling this position (the boss is going through withdrawal and it's getting ugly), we've extended an offer and this person accepted (meaning you're outta luck). Please call me to confirm that you received this message (I won't pick up so as to avoid an awkward situation). Best of luck in your job search.
A typical Hollywood remake -- add a little more suspense and make a slightly happier ending (the "Best of Luck" line) and it'll play well in the "Fly-over" states.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Interpreting a Rejection Letter

Temp X recently interviewed with the production arm of a major network. The interview went well and there was no mention of being someone's "Bitch" or any "Bitch"-related product (unlike last week). And the best part, the interviewer said, "Clearly you're more than qualified. You can expect to come back for another interview."

I was giddy. One more round and I could be a fully-fledged assistant. Could this really be the end of Temp X?

No.

Temp X received the a rejection email on Friday.
While it's nice that they bothered to send one (they're in the minority), I suppose I was hoping for a better explanation given the guarantee from the interviewer. Since no one in Hollywood says what they mean (except me), I suppose I'll have to interpret their email for them. So here it goes...



(No salutation as I'm cutting and pasting this from another email)

Thank you for your interest in the position (whatever position this is, as I'm cutting and pasting this from another email.)

After careful consideration (the other candidates were better looking, related or holding), we (even though you only interviewed with me, I am worthy of the Royal "We") have decided to go in a different direction ("We" consider you not to be a "candidate" but a "direction") and you are no longer being considered at this time (or any other time).

Please know that this was a very difficult decision (I agonized over this for...oh who am I kidding, I forgot your name during the interview), and that you were an extremely qualified and personable candidate (because using "direction" here would be grammatically incorrect).

We (I'm still a collective noun) will keep your resume on file (strictly as an EEOC and legal requirement) and contact you should another position in the department (whatever department this is, as "We're" cutting and pasting this from another email) opens up in the near future (never).



How close am I?

Friday, August 15, 2008

Temp X's job interview -- A recap

"You realize you're gonna end up being [name redacted's] Bitch."

Certainly a curious thing to hear when at the start of a job interview. But such is life in Hollywood. People say things like that in interviews and the applicant (in this case, Temp X) doesn't run out the door and call the Department of Labor.

"I completely understand. To get where I want in this town, that's something I'm more than willing to be."

I lied. No one wants to be anyone's "Bitch." No one wants to be anyone's nanny, office wife/husband, babysitter, memory or otherwise. But we sit there and smile and agree.

"I really need to impress upon you that you're really gonna be his Bitch. You're gonna do bitch work like making copies, setting appointments, emailing scripts. It's a lot of Bitch work."

Clearly someone was taking their "Word of the Day" calendar a bit too seriously. You can probably just use the term once. No need to employ it in every sentence.

"I'm eager to learn and this is a great environment to do it. [Name redacted] is a legend. I can't think of a place I'd rather work."

I lied again. I was just tired of calling my Pimps every Friday to let them know I'm available. I often feel like the day laborers standing outside of Home Depot. Except those guys get paid more. A steady job would be nice.

"Do you know how to roll calls? Are you good with computers."

I hate this question. It takes my entire education, work history, intellect, interests and life experience and boils it down to my ability to push buttons in sequence. Lemme check. The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dogs. Ok that worked. One more test. 424-288-2000. I believe I'm in the clear.

"Yeah. Both Mac and PC. I'm a pro at rolling calls."

"Great. Oh, and it pays $400 per week. Well, I gotta get back to the desk. We'll be in touch."

And that was it. That was my interview. I just told someone I want to be [Name Redacted]'s copy-making, appointment-setting, script-emailing, button-pushing, $10-per-hour Bitch. All this said, I still want the job.

THAT is life in Hollywood. What a Bitch.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Breaking News -- I was right!

As you may remember from yesterday's posting, I said ABC looks to be fishing through the garbage dump of cinema past for TV shows (Witches of Eastwick). Well apparently Steve McPherson -- the head of ABC -- was looking over my shoulder. The following is from The Hollywood Reporter:
ABC is bringing the Jennifer Lopez starrer "Maid in Manhattan" to the small screen.

The network is in negotiations for a series adaptation of the 2002 romantic comedy to be penned by Chad Hodge and executive produced by Lopez, Joe Roth and the film's producer, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas.


The hourlong dramedy, which is getting a put pilot commitment, is not a remake of the hit feature, which centered on Marisa Ventura (Lopez), a struggling single mother from the Bronx who works as a maid at a swanky Manhattan hotel, where a rising politician guest (Ralph Fiennes) falls for her after mistaking her for a wealthy socialite.


"The show is a different maid in a different Manhattan," Hodge said.
So does this mean the show takes place in Manhattan, Colorado? Manhattan, Illinois? Or Manhattan, Kansas?

Programming Ideas with Temp X

So much to consider today. Paula Wagner barely had a chance to fart in her office chair before getting kicked out of UA, fissures within SAG as contract negotiations go nowhere and Temp X has three interviews coming up.

But today I'd like to help out my friends at NBC. I give them a lot of grief and/or tough love. Sure their ratings have been stuck in the cellar longer than the Senator Martin's daughter in Silence of the Lambs. But I, Temp X, hero of the underpaid and underemployed, have a solution for the Peacock Network -- all Olympics all the time.

Scoff as you might, but Ben Silverman's little network that could is killing everything. The Olympics delivered NBC's most watched show since the Friends series finale (52.5 million) with last Friday's Opening Ceremony (35 million). Now close your eyes and imagine a crossover episode where Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Joey, Monica and Lisa Kudrow go to Beijing. Goodbye, Farewell and Amen to M*A*S*H atop the all-time TV leader board.

Ok, perhaps these ideas are a tad unrealistic. But what if they picked the best elements from the Olympics and incorporated them into their normal programming? Hmm....

Sweaty Women in Bikinis -- Chuckle as you might, but Misty May and Kerri Walsh are bumping, setting and spiking (volleyball terms you pervs!) their way to the top of the Nielsens in their microkinis. Oh, and you probably know this same concept worked for the most watch show in world history -- Baywatch (a show that NBC canceled). So how about this idea -- a game show with models wearing slightly more than nothing and...err...oh, wait. That's Deal or No Deal.


Good Looking Men all Wet -- The "story" of the Olympics is Michael Phelps and his pursuit the Gold Medal record set by Mark Spitz and his pornstar moustache. But the real story for the ladies is hunky guys who are all wet. Meee-ow! And how could you forget the Water Polo players? May I recommend to NBC development a show where buff men in their early 20s often parade around shirtless and...oh...whatever happened to Friday Night Lights anyway?


People Eating Weird Food -- I like nothing more than watching reporters go to the Chinese markets and enjoy the local fare. So far I've seen two different NBC "news" people eat scorpions, lizards and duck head and pretend to enjoy it. These segments are rating dynamite. You want to turn away, but you can't help but watch. Maybe Ben and the Regurgitators could make a show where people do this same...oh wait...that was Fear Factor.


Well, maybe NBC has done all it can? That is unless it can make Fox, ABC and CBS run repeats all the time.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Nice to see you again, or for the first time

We all know NBC's programming model -- Reveille buys a top-rated show from a South American country, they run it through Babel Fish and Ben Silverman (founder of Reveille and head of NBC - no conflict?) buys it. Well, it appears other networks are embarking on their own versions of creative regurgitation. CBS decided to go fishing in their archives for "new" material. ABC execs simply watch episodes of Siskel and Ebert and decide to make TV shows of flicks that garner Two Thumbs Up.

Is this fiscally responsible? Probably in the short term.
But don't forget that TNT's The Closer pulled 7.9 million viewers last week (which would tie it for 10th place in the network Nielsens). Be careful Messieurs McPherson and Moonves. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but there's a risk to being risk averse.

Here's what you'll get to see again sometime soon:

Hawaii 5-0
CBS

Oh goodie! A cop drama set against the backdrop of people wearing as few clothes as possible. I guess I won't need to watch CSI: Miami anymore. Casting agents can thank me now when I make the obvious suggestion for Jack Lord's role -- Chris Isaak. Or if you want to skew younger, the coif-du-jour is Zak Effron.


Streets of San Francisco
CBS

I can only assume they're going to focus on San Francisco's real problems - homelessness, decaying infrastructure, boom/bust economic cycles and woefully underfunded public transit. However if they're looking to solve violent crime, might I suggest concentrating their efforts east of Van Ness. Since Karl Malden and Michael Douglas are both 96 years old, Stone and Keller will be played by Ed O'Neill and Ben McKenzie.


The Witches of Eastwick
ABC

May I suggest a cast of Rose McGowan, Shannen Doherty and Alyssa Milano? (Hey look, a Charmed joke. Couldn't see that coming!) But seriously folks, what makes anyone think a show concept that couldn't get off the ground TWICE and is based on a movie from the Reagan administration is gonna work now? Well, I suppose it could air opposite Celebrity Family Feud, in which case it stands a good chance.


Other announced retreads include the Star Wars series, Match Game and the already airing Dave Attell vehicle The Gong Show. Could a remake of The New Adventures of Beans Baxter be far behind?

Forget writing pilots, I'm just gonna buy the rights to everything on Nick-at-Nite.


Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Spend your money wisely -- on something else

Hollywood isn't a cheap place to live. You've got rent that starts at around $1000/month. You've gotta get gas, and that'll cost you $1,000/month. And you've gotta bribe your way past the doorman at Area and that's another $1,000/month. So the last thing you want to spend money on is a necessity that you can get for free. Those necessities are software to make your script look right or your short film look good.

The Hollywood Temp Diaries is not turning into PC Week. But I'd like to offer you links to software that'll save you money (because they're all free). Trust me, no one will know the difference.

Scriptwriting Software
[Cost for Final Draft -- $200]
Sure, lemme just go out and drop a few hundred on Final Draft. And instead of eating, I'll suppress my appetite by smoking these unfinished cigarettes. Or you can download one of these. I've used both and prefer Celtx. They both have their shortcomings as neither has a setting for a 3-camera sitcom format (but you should be shot for writing one anyway). They both allow you to make the file into a pdf.

Video Editing Software
[Cost for Final Cut Express -- $200]
Macs come with iMovie, which isn't bad. PCs come with some crappy program which is...well...crappy. I'm not an editor. Truth be told, I still look at the keyboard when I type. But these programs look cool and seem to do more than either of the pre-installed software. It ain't Avid or Final Cut, but you're not George Lucas and the price is right.

Word Processor, Spreadsheet and PowerPoint
[Cost for MS Office -- $200-$600]
Your new laptop is cheap, but like the razor industry, they get you by jacking up the price on things that make it work. I use pen and paper because they don't have Internet access - thus no distractions. But for those who like them new-fangled computers (they're a fad), these are really good alternatives. Google Docs is much improved from earlier versions and you can access anywhere -- even at work (except for CAA, which blocks access). OpenOffice can be clunky. But maybe you like clunky?

Photo Editing
[Cost for Photoshop -- $650]
For those moments that you need a cool still for your video or reality show treatment, there's no substitute for good photo editing software. If nothing else you can graft together a picture of you with Ari Emanuel and tell your friends you met the guy from Entourage.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Bitchfest Monday

It's come to my attention that my blog isn't the traditional online diary. Some say I spend too much time writing songs, creating MadLibs or pretending to be famous writers (rather than actually being one). With that in mind, I'd like to offer you a more typical blog entry. This entry is called "Bitchfest."

Monday, August 11, 2008

No work today
No calls from my Temp Pimp
No income
No measurable brain activity
No need to take a shower
No interest in the Olympics, Jerry Springer or Oprah
No agent or manager to call
No meetings
No love life
No 401(k) contributions
No paid vacation, sick days or floating holidays
No energy to write
No desire to pay bills
No nice car
No 3 bedroom/2.5 bath house/Infinity pool
No food in the apartment
No interest in doing laundry, vacuuming or washing dishes
No place to go
No one to even tell me "No"
No desire to work in Reality TV
No interest in working for "No - Pay; Yes - Copy/Credit/Meals"
No need to get out of bed or go outside
No coffee
NO COFFEE!!!!!!!
No wonder it's that kind of day


Friday, August 8, 2008

Zen and the Art of Photocopier Maintenance

A recent garage sale in Hibbing, Minnesota turned up a literary find of the century. Amidst a stockpile of Glenn Miller records and moth-eaten clothing, was an unpublished manuscript from famed author, philosopher and recluse Robert Pirsig. The document, which chronicled Pirsig's time at a leading Hollywood talent agency, is more an examination of humanity, psychology and office space science. Following is an excerpt of Zen and the Art of Photocopier Maintenance that runs in next week's New Yorker.

I could see by my watch, without even taking my hand off the toner cartridge that it was eight-thirty in the evening. The building's HVAC system had just shut off for the night, meaning the copier room was about to get really hot really fast. And I had another forty scripts to copy and ship out that night.

I work in a nondescript office building in Century City, a sterile enclave of high rises, over-priced chain restaurants and Fox Studios. For a part of Los Angeles in which so many people work, it's remarkable that you can walk for miles and the only sight of human life comes in a Porche whooshing by on the Avenue of the Stars. But now it was after hours, and those cars aren't even there. It's just me and Chris slaving away.

We were both recently accepted into the agent training program, which means we work in the mail room. I have a Bachelor's degree in English and Mass Communications from Northwestern. Chris just finished his MBA at Stanford and worked for five years at J.P. Morgan. These skills matter not to our employer. They've decided the best use of our talents include sorting mail, cleaning conference rooms and covering for the receptionist while she's on her smoke break. (She went to NYU film school and wants to produce.) If you listen closely you can hear our brains atrophy. Of course, you'll need to filter out the agents' screaming and the assistants' crying to hear that.

But it's late now. They've all gone for the day. Dining at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Stealing clients most likely. Even if it's work, they'll be able to expense a meal that costs more than I make in a week. And then they'll complain about the service or the soup or the fold of the napkins. Whatever it is, I'll hear all about it while I do their expense report.

So I stay here, next to the Xerox 914, a machine that's ill-suited for the job required. But it's the only one that's working. That is until about five minutes ago. Somewhere between an All in the Family spec and a original screenplay called The Feminine Mistake (no doubt causing Betty Friedan grand upset) there was a paper jam. The display panel said the chaos began in the paper feeder. It lied.

The smell of fuser burn combined with my own ripe scent hangs in front of the machine as I try to repair it. It was at that moment my experiences on the backroads of South Dakota on my Suzuki T10 Twin 250 returned to the fore of my temporal lobe. I'd recalled in Phaedrus, Pluto focused on consciousness of the journey rather than achieving the destination. I had attempted to incorporate that into my mail room responsibilities. To live in the moment. But I couldn't get past that fear of "Stuckness" - that somehow this collection of wires and rollers and toner that lay before me was my destiny. That all I'd studied and learned and believed about Quality was simply a myth shoved into Reality's back corner. I was simply a slave to a culture of risk-averse executives, nepotism and verbal regurgitation.

I was in my moment of "Stuckness," and for a moment, I became a non-believer. Then the Xerox 914 started working again, and I forgot what I was thinking about.



Thursday, August 7, 2008

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

These titles for upcoming movies suck as they either tell you everything or nothing about the film. Which movie title would you change first?

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 -- 19%
Surfer, Dude -- 13%
Beverly Hills Chihuahua -- 34%
Quantum of Solace -- 32%

Monday, August 4, 2008

News from outside Hollywoodland

If you must know, Temp X was at a wedding and not keeping up on everything Hollywood. So please forgive the extended survey about Brendan Fraser. I'm not sure whether I was right or wrong Brendan on overload. The Mummy made $42 million in the U.S., coming in second to Batman: Redux. But the foreign box office was a whopping $59 million. Perhaps the next Jerry Lewis is sitting right under our collective noses? But enough industry talk.

Those of us buried under the backsides of the insiders spend too much time engaging in industry chat. Now having spent five days outside the Hollywood bubble, here's what the rest of America isn't talking about:


Nielsen Ratings: Nary a blip on the conversational radar that the season premiere of Mad Men delivered ratings that thumped last year's season average (although only marginally better on a YOY basis). In fact most people seemed blissfully unaware that AMC is even a network, with many still thinking the acronym is that of American Motors Corporation, the inventor of the Jeep.

What people are discussing instead: That they went to the park last evening and played around until sunset at 8:30 pm.

TMZ, Defamer, Perez Hilton or Nikki Finke: It appears the blogosphere has geographic boundaries as the obsession with everything Hollywood appears to be limited to...well...only within Hollywood.

What people are discussing instead: Real news, like what they saw on CNN, heard on NPR or read in the local paper (or, when prompted in the Hollywood Temp Diaries).

Rick Nicita leaving CAA: No one cared that someone they've never heard of is going to run a studio whose most significant contributions to the arts are Battlefield Earth, Freejack and the upcoming Ace Ventura movie.

What people are discussing instead: The election, the economy and that their employers are freezing salaries and cutting bonuses.

Miley Cyrus: Discussions of the teen queen, her penchant for dressing up in bikinis and taking photos of herself, her heated rivalry with Selena Gomez continue to not dominate news outside Hollywoodland.

What people are discussing instead: Their own children.


And with that update I can unequivocally say, it's good to be back. All that intellectual discourse was too much for my tiny little brain.