LA LA L.A....

I have been in LA now since the 19th. And at first all I did everyday was work. Hardly anytime for any leisure. And this is my first production since my accident in May '08, so I was very excited to come. But we were so busy at work and that pattern continued while out here. We also came Oscar weekend so that added another dimension to the environment. We stayed in The Mondrian until the 23rd. And that stay wrapped around the Oscars.

I saw a couple of stars in The Mondrian lobby. One of was Adrian Brody. We got on the elevator together on the same floor. He promptly covered his face because someone left us a Dutch Oven in the elevator. So I didn't recognize him at all. Until he got off the elevator and was standing in the lobby.

This is so not a good picture...

My partner and I were working in the lobby. And in the same time we were there we saw Tichina Arnold from Everybody Hates Chris. Talking loud as fuck on a cell phone. My hearing suuuuxxxxx. And I heard her conversation...

Monday came and it was shoot day. We were shooting Andy Roddick that day. And he turned out to be a really cool dude. Can't hate him...Honestly. He was a good sport about the shoot and did well.


Next up...We shoot Floyd Mayweather...He did an amazing job- that spot is FUNNY.


That link to the spot will come soon. It really is funny. Bill Kurtis is a very funny guy...

That night we went to dinner with Bill Kurtis of Cold Case files and the client. Hilarity ensued when we got desert. We ordered the Junk Food tray. Wow...

Cookies, snowballs, pies, rice crispy treats and motherfucking cotton candy! That is where the funniness took place.




And I give you... Dumb Donald from Fat Albert...


The we took a trip to Legacy Effects. This was very cool- the same company that built all the great models and special effects like the Terminator, Jurassic Park, The Predator, and most notetably, IRON MAN. His suit was there. Awesome. They are building a "something" for us for an AT&T commercial. This was a very cool trip and was very exciting to see all the stuff and models and characters you see on tv- in real life. The actual things... So cool. IRON MAN and The Iron Monger were my favorite. But the Jurassic Park dinosaur heads and Terminator we not to be disappointed with either. This day made me very excited for Monday's shoot.

Then I met up with my long time friend Zani. I miss her in NY- and seeing her out here made me realize that I did. But she is coming back. So YAY!



And of all people- I saw Suge Knight hanging out at our hotel bar...

We also saw Nicole Richie...Matthew saw Jamie Lee Curtis and Danny Boyle, The Slumdog Millionaire director in the elevator too.


The I met with my homeboy Yusef that have known since my last two years in Atlanta. And we hung out twice. We hung out with my CD's and some friends and we hung out again with some pals of his. He took me to this hotel that was sick. SLS Hotel. Designed in collaboration by Phillippe Starck, Moss, Jose Andreas and others. But the space is insane. It's like they did a perfect of acknowledging the rules and then disregarding them.



It's was as if the MOMA was a hotel. That's the quality of things that were included. Amazing.

Then Today- ATVing...wow. We drove ( Myself, Matthew, Dave, Darren) drove over on an hour outside of LA to go this huge playground of sorts for off roaders. I had never been ATVing like this before so I was a little nervous and excited the same. Hey, I wasn't looking to get in any other accidents since my BIG MISHAP. But this day was to be a long one of extreme fun and excitement.

The drive up to this place was amazing in itself. The Mountains in front of me and all around me was insane. But not just a line of mountains- there were layers of mountains. Unimaginable to a southern kid. When we arrived this is what we arrived too for MAtthew and I to ride.


It was crazy. These are what the trails looked like. A small example...

So I set out on my ATV. I learned very fast that these 4 wheelers can not take certain hills at less than certain speeds.
I rolled my ATV no less than 3 times. By rolled I mean wiped out. flipped.
The first time was scary- well actually all the times were. But the first time I was behind Matthew going up a hill. I didn't know that there needed to be room to so full speed up a hill so steep. So I was following him a little close. But when he slowed down at the top, I couldn't go any further. My ATV proceeded to stall out a,d slide back down the hill. SO I hit the brakes. Locking the wheels even more. And when I slid the ATV lost footing and began to roll. I flipped off and rolled down the hill. Scared the ATV would land on top of me but it didn't. It landed on all fours like a cat and began to roll on it's own. It finally stopped and I was able to get back on it. But I was a little shaken up.

The second time it rolled, was a little more scary. I was going up a hill full speed, but not enough to take that hill in particular. I reached to the top and stalled out again. A repeat of the first roll. Except this time my fear of the ATV landing on me wasn't merely an insecurity. It happened. The ATV landed on me and continued to roll and rolled down a hill. Heading towards many ATVers who did not expect to see my ATV careening towards them. I chased the ATV and finally one guy cornered it off with his dirt bike. Surprisingly these rolls did not hurt me. Even the ATV landing on top of me. Wow...

Right after that incident, I went back to base and found my crew and immediately, my CD flipped the Rhino...

He was quite shaken, but I have to admit. I was no longer embarrassed by my rolls. He is an experienced rider. I was cool.

The day went on. We followed each other through the course- kicking up mud and dust and having a blast. Hills and trails...Then I rolled again. This time everyone was ahead of me. And this time wasn't the worst. But DAMN!

I was very careful after that time...I wasn't game for a fourth fall. You think it would make you less fearful after the first time. But I had just been through worse and didn't want to take any chances, I came close a few more times...whew...Here are some more pics from the day....




How awesome is this kid on training wheels?


And the end of the day...

Not a bad day. After working so hard everyday in LA not enjoying this weather and awayness, this was by far what we all needed.

So now tomorrow we have one more shoot and then we head back to NY. I will post the story about tomorrow soon cause it is surely gonna be a really greta day...