Today, we interviewed some great Directors of Photography, talked cameras, shooting style, pre-lighting, then sat down with our stunt coordinator and discussed how our characters' varied personalities are displayed in their respective fighting styles. After lunch, we visited the art department where the gang had a bunch of goodies awaiting our perusal: designs of the…
October 7, 2014: Moving Forward, Looking Back!
Today, we discussed casting, the budget, locations, post-production, and superheroes. Okay, maybe that last one was a little off-topic, but still - another productive day. I have to say I am very pleased with all of the people I've met to date. Super-talented, super-positive, and super-pleasant - I really look forward to working with them.…
October 6, 2014: Prep Meetings! Twin Peaks Returns?
I'm exhausted. I slept fitfully last night because of the time change and then woke up at the crack of dawn - because the morning sun shines unobstructed through a blind-free section of my patio window. Fortunately, the meetings were plenty interesting enough to keep me wide awake throughout the afternoon. We started off with…
October 5, 2014: A Toronto Cameo! Saturday mornings without cartoons?! Say it aint so!
So my flight got into Toronto at about 7:00 p.m. local time and it was a half hour later when the driver dropped me off at my new residence. I had just stepped out onto the sidewalk with my four pieces of luggage when some passing pedestrian stopped and pointed at me, eyes wide, mouth…
October 4, 2014: The Farewell Feasts Begin! The Union! Crackle Creme!
I'm off to Toronto tomorrow, returning Friday. That gives me eight dinners, roughly fifteen meals (minus the turducken/piecaken extravaganza I have planned for Canadian Thanksgiving next Sunday) to enjoy in Vancouver before I leave it - for seven months! Last night, Akemi and I got together with our foodie friends, Nicole and Lan, for the…
October 3, 2014: Best and Worst Book to Film Adaptations!
Whenever I visit Granville Island to pick up some matcha from that little tea shop, I always ask the woman who serves me: "What are you reading?". We discuss and I always complete my purchase by recommending a book. On my most recent trip, she had just finished reading (and throughly enjoying) one of my…
October 2, 2014: Akemi’s Japan Vlog!
Tokyo! Tsukiji Market! Tea Ceremony in Osaka! Check out the first installment of Akemi's Japan vlog: Next time, let's make it a group vacation. Who's in?!!
October 1, 2014: Your readerly recommendations!
Unlike last year's anemic tally (a mere 65 books read) this year has been a very good one for reading. I've surpassed my goal of 120, finishing up my 140th book last night. I don't know how busy prep will keep me once I hit Toronto, but I think I can easily hit the 150…
September 30, 2014: My new mystery show!
Well, it's actually a scifi series, but it IS a mystery insofar as no actual details have been released. I've been told the network will only make an official announcement once the deal has been finalized - and it looks like those lawyers sure are being sticklers. So...soon? Certainly before we go to camera in…
September 29, 2014: Akemi, kids, and dogs!
"I don't know why I am so popular with kids and dogs,"Akemi mused today after our night out with friends Steve and Jodi and their daughter (Akemi's new best buddy) Gemma. And, after some consideration: "Maybe kids think I am kid and dogs think I am dog." Maybe. Akemi claims she essentially re-set her age…
September 28, 2014: A Fantasytic Football Sunday!
After starting the fantasy football season by dropping our first two games (by a combined five points!), my Snow Monkeys have bounced back big time, winning last week and, today, racking up a lofty 136 points to cast to our second consecutive victory, knotting our record at 2-2. I predict BIG things for this team.…
September 27, 2014: My Favorite Movies By Genre!
These are mine... ACTION ADVENTURE ANIMATION COMEDY CRIME DRAMA FANTASY HORROR SCIENCE FICTION (tie) SUPERHERO THRILLER WAR (tie) WESTERN Tag! You're it!
September 26, 2014: Your continuing guide to Akemi-isms!
Please add to your ever-expanding glossary of Akemi-isms: FIY = FYI Gram molass = glamorous Hinch = a hunch Lettucehead = letterhead Melancholy syndrome = depression Rock work = Geology Shoe fly = fruit fly Snow killing = snorkeling The Tim Hortons Team = Green Bay Packers
September 25, 2014: ECHO! ECHO…ECHo…ECho…Echo..gardiogram!
"Ah! You have a baby in your heart!" - Akemi today after I told her about my echocardiogram. Yes, today I went in for an echocardiogram, a procedure that uses sound waves to produce an image of the working heart. Sort of like a pregnancy ultrasound - but different. Still, that didn't stop me…
September 24, 2014: October fast approaches!
I can't believe September is almost done and, in a few weeks, I'll be making the BIG move to Toronto - just in time for what's predicted to be (and I quote) "the T-Rex of winters" (http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/t-rex-of-winters-in-store-for-canada-old-farmer-s-almanac-1.2012804#). Of course, I'll be spending most of it on a nice, cozy spaceship set. Or, in a nice,…