Great Scot!

Met with the producers last night to go over my outline for my script set in the UK and they loved it. We made a few minor changes and now we're ready to rock 'n roll. I'm very excited to dive into the rewrite. Write on, baby! Write on! Okay, that was corny. So, I'm off now to write FADE IN. The End.

Ghost

Recently while visiting where I used to live in New Jersey and in upstate New York, it felt very strange. As if I were a ghost visiting old haunts. A very bizarre feeling. At the same time, it was a positive feeling. A feeling that assured me that I did the right thing by moving on.

Random thought: The scene with Lauren Bacall getting mugged on "The Sopranos" this week was hilarious.

Random thought II: I'm so glad Kellie Pickler was eliminated from "American Idol" tonight. There is a God, after all.

Two For One

So I saw a movie yesterday for the first time in a long time. Well, okay, I saw quite a few flicks during my recent flights to NY and Europe, but those don't count. Besides, several of them I had seen before, like THE FAMILY STONE and NARNIA.

Anyway, I went to see FRIENDS WITH MONEY. I liked it. It's a slice of life. Then, I snuck into THANK YOU FOR SMOKING. I almost left to see THE SENTINEL because I didn't care for the main character at first, but I remained in my seat. I was actually afraid I would run into this manager-looking guy who kept eyeing me when I walked into the second movie and then went to the bathroom during previews. Well, it turned out to be a pretty good film, if not predictable. Great cast. These two films have inspired me to write a character-driven, slice-o-life-type film. Someday.

But I love doing a double-feature for the price of one because sometimes I can be cheap, not to mention kinda broke. Ironic, no, that I cheated the same industry I want to work in. Oh well. So sue me.

European Vacation

My trip to Europe was great. Thankfully, we were upgraded to Business First where I was able to recline into an almost flat position to sleep several hours after sipping champagne and wine, eating dinner and watching two movies. Seven hours later we landed in London Gatwick, where we took yet another flight to Inverness, Scotland, the gateway to the Scottish Highlands.

I have to admit I had no idea how picturesque the Scottish Highlands would actually be. Think beautiful countryside, lakes and snow-capped mountains. However, it was a bit disconcerting to drive on the wrong side of the road. Thank God I wasn't driving! Our trip here proved to be very informative for my script.

After three days we flew back to London where I haven't been in almost ten years. It was just like I remember -- very regal, clean and a cross between NYC and Washington, DC. We stayed in the Baglioni London Hotel overlooking Kensington Park. They gave us a great suite and we enjoyed some great meals in their restaurant. We even sat at Rod Stewart's favorite table (Raul sat in Rod's chair). Of course, we toured the Hyde Park neighborhood in style with a car and driver in the hotel's very own Maserati.

Since we had already seen most of London's landmarks, except for the London Eye, we decided to give it a whirl. It's like an enormous ferris wheel where everyone stands in these giant capsules with great views over the River Thames.

I missed NY for maybe the first time while walking through Piccadilly Circus (their version of Times Sq.) and dining on Old Compton Street in Soho. All the people on the street created such a great buzz. And that's what I miss about NY -- the energy.

Next, we flew to Pisa, Italy, where Raul's driver and business associate picked us up. After a stop at the Leaning Tower of Pisa, we drove to a new villa in Tuscany Raul is going to represent, called Villa Bordoni. We had a site-inspection and enjoyed the best meal and wine of our trip.

In Florence, we stayed at the Bernini Palace just off the Palazzo Vechio. We had drinks at the top of the Continentale Hotel and had a look at a couple of the rooms, which are decorated in chic white. One of the elevators is made to look like a living room, complete with an L-shaped couch, pillows and faux windows. Very cool!

We had dinner at one of my favorite places in Florence, the Lungarno Hotel overlooking the Arno River. Later, we met up with friends who took us bar hopping and to a disco where we boogied down until 4am. I just have to say the Italians are so much better looking than the Brits and the Scots. Hello!

The next day another driver picked us up (the same guy who drove Oprah on her visit to Italy; in fact, I sat where she sat) who drove us to yet another new villa in Tuscany, Poggio Cennina. It's owned and operated by Paolo Rossi, the Italian soccer, er, football player who helped Italy win the championship in 1982. Apparently, he's a celebrity in Italy. Anyway, it's a beautiful property and very affordable, too, as is Villa Bordoni, in case anyone out there is looking for a great place to take your family for a fabulous holiday. Paolo gave each of us a bottle of their very own wine and olive oil. Grazie!

In Rome, we did the usual: walk the beautiful streets and hang out in my favorite place in Rome, Piazza Navona. Love me some Roma! If there's anywhere else in the world I could live, it would be Italy. If only I could speak the language ....

After a nine hour return flight to NY (thank God for Business First, that's all I have to say!), I decided to extend my stay on the east coast and go visit my mother in upstate NY (I could not have endured another six hour flight back to California!). After visiting my mother for a couple days I returned to LA. Now it's back to reality.


On a writing note: I am meeting with the producers this week to go over my outline.

Earth Day

So I return from my travels to Europe and NY only to find the price for regular unleaded gas in LA has skyrocketed to .... $3.15 per gallon?! How ironic that it's Earth Day, eh? Isn't it time we use alternative fuel sources already? And isn't anyone else outraged that gas is so expensive all of a sudden? That our government and their greedy oil-rich friends are gauging us at the gas tank? And it's not even summer yet, when prices typically rise.

Hello, America! Anyone awake out there? When are people going to open their eyes? Are we all in a brain dead stupor? When is there going to be a revolution in this country? When are we going to take back our government? Didn't anyone see V FOR VENDETTA? Hello? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

Anyway, Happy fricken Earth Day.

Europa Europa

Finished the outline for my rewrite and will email it tonight to the producers for their comments and approval. In the meantime, I'm off to Europe on Friday night via New York tomorrow. Will be doing research in Scotland three nights for said rewrite, then in London for three nights, and Florence, Italy for one night and Rome for two. I'll actually be in Rome for Easter, which could be interesting.

Nothing else to report, except for a few celebrity sightings: the requisite Wilson Cruz sighting twice last week at my gym and Tuc Watkins who plays David on "One Life to Live" at my new favorite restaurant, Marix.

Ciao, for now.

The Weather Man

I rented this movie starring Nic Cage over a week ago. I didn't think I was going to like it. Basically, it looked boring to me. Finally, tonight, I watched it. Well, I gotta say I really liked this movie. It really spoke to me. I could totally identify with the main character and its message. Check it out, it's worth a look.

In other news, New Line completely trashed my script in their coverage. Oh well, not to worry. I'm working on a rewrite.

Speaking of rewrites, the family comedy I co-wrote is currently in rewrite hell. My co-writer brought in another writer to work on it and she has since dropped out. Hopefully, my co-writer and I can figure out how to retool this script. It's a great concept, so it's worth a shot.