(Half) True...

Driving in New York...

I'm glad that I finally learned to drive fearlessly in New York City. I don't mind driving 15 people 5 hours through Manhattan and to MA or driving an equally large crew with equipment to CT or even moving couches and furniture into the new apartment. Somehow a tire exploding with 15 passengers on the MA Turnpike makes me feel like a stronger driver too. Driving in NYC is just a pumped up, anxiety headrush...that I enjoy?

documenting the tire:
A "real" piece of my photography.

Welcome to Brooklyn

Jill

i thought you might enjoy this: my roommate and I almost got arrested
1:52am
Ryan
how?????
1:52am
Jill
we met some guys at a bar and found out they lived in the same building
so we went up to the roof and they have fireworks
so they lit off some fireworks - like actual fireworks that go up and explode
and then the cops heard it and pulled up to the building
1:53am
Ryan
omggg
1:53am
Jill
so I told my roommate I was a little too drunk (even though I’m not) and I have work in the morning so I ran downstairs
I sat on the balcony, saw the cops pull up to the building, and realized my roommate didn't have her phone so I couldn't warn her

they also buzzed my door, but I ignored it

a few minutes later, she runs into the apt, bolts the door and was like "I ran into them in the stairwell, and they told me I had a guilty face so I shrugged and just continued down the stairs."

haha what a fucking rush
welcome to brooklyn
1:55am

I knew it

To do...

I want to congratulate myself for once again slacking. I’ve told myself that I’ve made a commitment to write and I haven’t done that. Wow, scare of commitment for something as small as keeping up with a blog? Sad truth right there.
I know I did write a bit of a rambling piece a few weeks ago and about a day or so later, deleted it. That’s fine. Sometimes it’s okay to spit out emotions, but it wasn’t really the place to do it. Luckily nobody really reads this anyone.
Thankfully, I’m finding that I’m in a much better place than I was in before. Things have started to turn slightly. The frustration (and depression, which I hate admitting to) seems to have passed. I’m trying to focus my energy back to my work.
I crewed on two projects this weekend as an assistant director and as a unit production manager. I had both my share of laughs and frustration, but I’ve come to realize that I think I might actually enjoy what I do. I’ve been on about 5 hours of sleep a night for the past five nights. I woke up at a 5:45 this morning to get ready for the train back to NYC this morning and I feel oddly awake and energized. Maybe after exhausting myself, I just appreciate the sleep that I did get.
I’ve recently started excavating the fat away from my face and discovered traces of cheekbones. I’m hoping that a continued excavation will uncover other such features.
My proposal for Berlin seems to have hit a roadblock at the moment. I hope to restart it again in the coming week or so and send it to a few professors for review (and hopefully have them help me find some funding). For those interested, the “Berlin Proposal” at the moment consists of a game plan and well, a proposal to send me and a small group of students of varying disciplines (history, media, film) to Berlin for a week in November in order to create a documentary piece and possible a written “thesis” on the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the start of reunification. Just think that in some ways, this “new” Germany is only 20 years old. I’m older than Germany! Not really.
I completed a rough cut of my film and I’m hoping to hand it over to another editor to try their hand at it with the hope of having a more concise piece.
Do you like how this is basically an extended “to do” list?
What’s left to do? Start writing on Sociology of Musical Theatre. Yeah, that semi-thesis idea I’ve been working on should really get started. I’ll have to dig up whatever notes I did take when I saw musical theater in Europe. The list was:
“Elisabeth” in Berlin and Budapest (two incredibly different productions)
“Rebecca” in Vienna
“The Phantom of the Opera” in London (trust me, there is a reason I saw the show overseas)
“My Fair Lady” in Berlin (a VERY modernized version of the classic show – I briefly wrote about this when I wrote about Theater des Westens)

I missed/passed on “Rudolf: Affair Mayerling” when I was in Vienna for financial reasons and also because I was traveling with my dad who lacks interest in theatre and we wanted to make the most of our time together in Vienna.

And how about I post a picture too like I’ve said I’ll try and do?
A church (I forget which of the many) from Budapest, Hungary.

Speaking of which...

I wasn't expecting this a few hours after writing today.

Only For A While to Feature Previously Unreleased Recordings from Phantom's Steve Barton

By: Andy Propst · Jul 14, 2009 · New York

On September 7, the UK label Stage Door Records will release Only For A While, the first retrospective of vocals from Steve Barton, who originated the role of Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera in both the West End and on Broadway.

The disc will feature 14 previously unreleased tracks provided by West End lyricist Dee Shipman and Denny Berry (dance captain for 'Phantom'), and it represents a unique collection compiled by Barton's family and friends that pays tribute to this performer who passed away in 2001.

Among the selections on Only For A While are Barton's very last recording sessions for the musical Emma, which were recorded just months before his death.

Pre-orders for the disc are currently being taken at the Stage Door Records site and will ship earlier than the September 7 release date.

For more information visit, www.stagedoorrecords.coma.

Hey there

I think I want to start getting in the habit of writing again. A lot has happened since the last time I wrote and I find it weird that I haven’t documented any of it. Who reads it anyway? At least for my own benefit I might be so lucky as to trick myself into remembering things that happened a few years down the road.

I’m lucky to have some encouragement from friends and reassurance that it’s okay to not have written for some time. I’ve argued that the blog makes me upset because every time I refer to it, a post about Chet stares me rudely in the face. I won’t delete it. That wouldn’t make much sense. But maybe that’s a decent reason -  the desire to write fades when I’m reminded of something like that. The posts after that have been limited and basically meaningless. I'm happy to at least be reassured (from feedback) that writing what I did about Chet was a necessity to more than just myself.

But a summary of things I’d like to at least touch base on, at least for my own benefit:

My return trip to Europe with my dad

My freelance work

Val’s Wedding/Photography

My new place in Brooklyn (which is awesome)

Something comical?

 

Oh and because I promised to help spread the good word, check out Noga’s new cooking blog at steakcookbook.blogspot.com.

And how about a photo so I can pretend I’ve been up on my photography.

 

Special Thanks?

Val's brother compliments my photography:

Message from Eric after asking for his mailing address: