Off the grid

I am pulling an Andrew Sullivan and going off the grid for a few days. I'm not just not blogging; I'm trying to ignore news as much as I can. Haven't looked at TPM, Andrew Sullivan, or Daily Kos for a couple of days. I haven't even watched or read Obama's speech on health care.

I think it's been at least two years, since the summer of 2007, when I got involved in the Obama campaign, since I have really given myself a sustained break from worrying about the rest of the world. It feels really good.

It's a little late to be taking a break, since the rest of the world did so in August, but better late than never.

In other news, I was at Starbucks today and bought an album you may have heard of, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It's amazing to realize that I actually know every single song on the album. There are damn few albums that I do not own that I can say that about. And I know every single song really well. And probably just about every person I know knows every song really well. It's a digitally remastered edition, with a mini-documentary. I haven't watched that yet.

Unfortunately, unlike Andrew Sullivan, I don't have an under-blogger to cover for me, so commentary on health care and the latest Republican idiocy will be forthcoming in a few days.

Also, tomorrow USC continues its march towards its next national title by taking on Ohio State, and that, of course, is much more important than something like health care reform. I bought a new USC t-shirt today. I also learned that the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California, oldest and greatest film school in the world, got its own star today from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. When you walk around Hollywood, there are stars in the pavement with the names of famous celebrities. Now USC has one, but it is actually on the USC film school campus. Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. would be proud - he founded the school and taught the first course. He had some pull within the industry at the time - he was the president of a new group called the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Go Trojans!

USC in the NYT!

The University of Southern California was mentioned twice today in the New York Times - on the same page! And it wasn't in the sports section! It was on the front page of the Arts section.

First up was an entire article devoted to the glorious new home of the School of Cinematic Arts, my alma mater, and the greatest film school in the history of the universe. The new building is being paid for mostly by the great and wise George Lucas, because he went to USC, and he firmly believes that cinema should be taken more seriously in education. I wholeheartedly agree with him, and am very grateful for his generosity. He actually gave a building once before, but that one is being torn down. I am almost as grateful that the old building is being torn down as I am happy that the new one is being built. I wouldn't quite call the old one an "architectural monstrosity," but "mistake in concrete" would definitely be appropos. Damn but it was an ugly building. So, thanks George, and thanks to Elizabeth Daley, the dean of the school, and a fantastic fundraiser. If and when I am rich, I will endow something or other at USC. Apparently there is, inscribed in stone in the new building, the phrase "Limes regiones rerum," which is Latin for the school's motto, "Reality ends here." Some people think that's cheesy, but I love it.

The other mention of the best university in Southern California was in an article about the Grammys. The Trogan marching band, no stranger to pop music on live television, (they backed up Fleetwood Mac on "Tusk") backed up Radiohead. Good for them. I didn't watch the Grammys, but I'm glad Coldplay won for Viva La Vida. Love that song. Video could have been better, but great song.

I would like to this opportunity to point out that, although I am, of course, a fan of the Trojan marching band and I like Fleetwood Mac, the video for Tusk is, in my opinion, one of the worst music videos ever made.

Interesting obits in the LA Times today

There were several interesting obituaries in the LA Times today. First, Nina Foch, actress and acting teacher, died. She taught directing actors at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where I went. I didn't take her class, but most of my friends did, and I know they all learned a great deal from her.

A couple of bits of rock and roll trivia: Jim Morrison's father died. He was an admiral, and reportedly didn't appreciate his son's career. The obit does say, however, that he viewed his son's "success with pride." So that's nice.

In other tangentially related Doors news (and really, isn't that the best kind of Doors news?), Elmer Valentine, founder of the Whiskey a Go Go, also passed away. The Doors were one of many rock bands that played there. I saw a friend's band play there once. That was the only time I went there, but it was cool to see a friend's band at such a famous place. I think it was their debut as a band. Apparently the term "go-go" comes from that club. So now I know where one of my favorite bands gets its name.

I know it may be a bit depressing to read about three deaths in one post, but I think of it as lots of history.

USC film school in the NY Times

There's one group of college students who have a unique perspective on guns and school: film school students. People in film school occasionally make movies about people with guns. That creates some interesting situations. What if you're filming somebody running down a dark alley holding a gun, a bystander walks by, doesn't realize it's a film set, and calls the cops? That's not a hypothetical for me - it has happened to me. It wasn't on a student film, it was an independent film (VERY independent), but the cops were called. We were warned to skedaddle, which we did. I wasn't producing or directing - I was basically the only crew member besides the director, who was shooting everything on a video camera, so I was gaffer, if that. The director had graduated from USC film school, but apparently hadn't learned the right lessons. Eventually he did.

This is relevant because this week there was an Op-Ed piece in the NY Times by a student at School of Cinematic Arts of the University Southern California, where I learned a few things, had some adventures, and made some great friends.

The topic of the Op-Ed is trying to find the balance between safety and freedom, which is a complicated, difficult topic that I don't want to address right now. I'm just thrilled that a really good guy that I know, Joe Wallenstein, got a mention on the Op-Ed page of The New York Times. Good for him.

1-800-AUTOPSY

Something of a macabre post today, from the LA Times. 1-800-AUTOPSY is a rather unusual business, and one that you really hope you don't have to call. It's just what it sounds like, a business that performs autopsies for people who want to know how someone died and don't necessarily want the police to be doing the work. There is, of course, a Web site: 1800AUTOPSY.com.

I'm publishing this not because I am recommending this as a service, but as a bit of a walk down nostalgia lane for me. Not because I have ever had to use their services, but because I once worked on a student film that was shot there. It was called Antebody, and I was the First Assistant Director. One of several First AD's, according to IMDB. Normally I produced student movies, but somehow I got roped into being First AD. Also, unbeknownst to me until just now, when I checked this out, I am also credited with "Props" and "Set Construction." That may very well be the first and only time I earn those credits. I think I have a "Props" credit because I changed the tire on a car.

It's a good movie, about a dead body (hence the use of a morgue). It wasn't a working morgue or autopsy operating room when we shot there. It hadn't been licensed yet, so it was just set up to be a place where autopsies had been performed. Which, honestly, I think made it easier for all concerned to actually shoot a movie there. Particularly since we shot at night. The "body" was anatomically correct, and was named "Bob."

Film school: it's not just an education, it's an adventure.