That's Not Rain

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Originally uploaded by itzkoolaid.

It's Ash
From the fire.
The whole sky is red
The situation dire.
My lungs are brown
The smell of cigarettes
Permeate the town.

Yep. I got out of my car after work and thought it was raining, but realized when the water didn't melt into my clothes that it was really ash from the brush fires. We're not affected where we are, but we are close enough to feel the effects.

A prayer for those who are not so lucky.

Misc Stuff:
-DHT needs to release sheet music to Listen To My Heart before I explode
-3 chapters into Memoirs of a Geisha and I CANT PUT IT DOWN
-Converting E! TV program timecodes from NTSC to PAL for their international networks is not as exciting as I thought it would be, but more monotonous and anti-climatic.
-I've caught up on the E! tv shows that I've missed for the past 2 months, though.
-Bally's Total Fitness of North Hollywood sure has a lot of celebrities that go there.
-Running on the treadmill while looking at the figure of a gorgeous celebrity running in front of you is more depressing than motivating.

College Hunting

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Originally uploaded by itzkoolaid.

This is Andy. Hi Andy! Me and Andy went a' college huntin' at the beginning of the week. Colleges we visited:

-AFI
-USC
-Drove past UCLA

AFI looks amazing. After further discussions with Mommy I think I might take the Screenwriting Masters Course there. USC & UCLA were beautiful (typical movie college campuses) but very... hmm... cold, where as AFI was extremely personal and had people (JJ!) there willing to help us and give us a tour.

Downtown LA!

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Originally uploaded by itzkoolaid.

The first time I've seen it. It's so pretty! (NO- Hollywood is NOT downtown LA... LA DOES have a downtown all it's own, you know).

Adventures of Seeking Autographs of Fanboy Filmmakers and Their Friends: Part 2

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Originally uploaded by itzkoolaid.

So this is what I made you wait a week for- this. Sorry, I had to make sure David received his package in the mail (which includes this doll & the below pics) so as not to ruin the surprise with a premature blog post.

This, my friends, is David Rey. I made him for one reason and one reason only. SO THAT KEVIN SMITH WOULD REMEMBER HIS FACE.

Oh yeah- and have him sign David's chest so I can send a SIGNED DAVID DOLL to David in NYC and reap the rewards of a gift well given.

Famous People!

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Originally uploaded by itzkoolaid.

People signing at the Mallrats DVD release were the following: 1 VERY IMPORTANT PERSON, 2 people on the cast that I'm ashamed to say I don't know, and these two dudes right here:

Jason Mewes (JAY!!!) and the FAT BULLY FROM BOY MEETS WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

When I saw it was him I rushed to him and said I loved him on Boy Meets World.

*sigh*

Horrific, I know. Can you imagine: the tired acceptance in his eyes? The bored I'll-smile-at-you-but-I'm-really-seething-over-the-fact-that-you-look-past-all-of-the-great-movies-I-have-done-and-keep-going-back-to-that-stupid-tv-show look? Of all people, I- being a filmmaker myself- should have shown some sympathetic restraint and understanding over his plight.

I couldn't help it. The giggling little girl inside me made me do it.

Grand Finale

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Originally uploaded by itzkoolaid.

So this is what it all was about- this man right here. Folks, you are looking into the eyes of one of the most influentual filmmakers of my generation: Kevin Smith, the auteur of such films like Dogma, Jersey Girl, and the Jay and Silent Bob Series.

He happens to be David Rey's favorite person of all time, and the 7am-3pm line wait was all so I could surprise David with a Kevin Smith signed miniature David doll for his birthday.

Happy Birthday David- glad you like it!

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

AHH!HH!!!!!

*$#^$*&^ %(#*$^#&$$& (

I just spent AN HOUR filling out the Florida Tax Independent Company Exempt Renewal Form for Chispa Productions because the f*&$in website kept saying my "application form has run out of time" and I had to fill the amounts in over and over again.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH




*sob*

sigh... okay, think of the good things:
-finally saw Prozac Nation (noncomparable to the book), March of the Penguins, 40 Year Old Virgin, and Galaxy Quest
-will be getting Memoirs of A Geisha tomorrow + my much needed printer ink
-have been permanently upped to $12/hr wage
-will begin working at E! Entertainment again tomorrow for long term/indefinite
-excersized today
-WROTE today (first time in a month: EXILARATING)
-paid my cellphone bill without needed my parents financial help
-received a coupon to get my kitty spayed for only $10

Okay, fine: Life Is Good

Adventures of Seeking Autographs of Fanboy Filmmakers and Their Friends

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Originally uploaded by itzkoolaid.

This is us at 7 in the morning waiting in line in front of the Jay & Silent Bob's Secret Stash store. Why?

Because yesterday was the 10th anniversary of the release of the Mallrats DVD, and the cast of Mallrats (sans Jason Lee) was going to be present to sign stuff. INCLUDING KEVIN SMITH!!!! (stop crying David...)

So here we are. We got there at the primitive hour and were lucky enough to score seats a few feet from the doors. Unlucky folk that got there later lined up along the block (and around the corner) behind us.

Hmmm.... I wonder what I'm doing. *evil snicker*

JIM LEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Originally uploaded by itzkoolaid.

This door was made by Jim Lee.

nuff said

Hmmm

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Originally uploaded by itzkoolaid.

As we went along the tour of the Secret Stash store we noticed in the back corner a set of wings. Could it be- the magnanomous appendiges that had hung from hunk Ben Affleck's back in the promiscuously controversial Dogma?

My GOD it was!!!

So, here are a couple of pics of Darryl and I thinking happy thoughts.

Yay

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Originally uploaded by itzkoolaid.

I can fly!

I'm Sorry...

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Originally uploaded by itzkoolaid.

Poor shmucks Pete and Andy sat with us from 7am-3pm, but could not come in because they would not purchase the new Mallrats DVD. Bye Pete and Andy!

Next week: News (AND PICS) from the inside: Adventures of Getting Autographs From Fanboy Filmmakers and Their Buddies. STAY TUNED!!!

Self Explainitory

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Originally uploaded by itzkoolaid.

Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash

Krum

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Originally uploaded by itzkoolaid.

Geez Angel... I've been trying for days to get this picture to you. It hasn't worked for me on MSN Messenger, and I totally failed at MySpace. HE'S SO HOT!!!! The trailer is cool- Have you seen the new promo? It was just released yesterday.

Oh, and for more pics: http://summer.attenhofer.info

Tay Tay

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Originally uploaded by itzkoolaid.

TAYLOR!!!! Hazel went and got professional pictures done. She's so cute. :)

Radio Star!

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Originally uploaded by itzkoolaid.

I was on the radio this morning!!!!!

Star 98.7 is a station I listen to during traffic because the DJ's (Jamie, Jack, and Stench) are about as rude and crude as I am, and through them I've had many an entertaining morning. Low and behold, today they start talking about their new boss saying at a morning meeting that he will begin to make some 'productive changes' to the station (primarily meaning Jamie, Jack, and Stench).

Blaspheme.

Well, as expected, listeners from all over south Cali. start calling up to make sure they get vocal support. Among one of those listeners was a little filipino in a white toyota camry.

Yes, me.

And HOLY SH*T!!! They picked up!!! Jamie, Jack, and Stench suddenly start talking over my phone, saying: "And now here is Summer, Summer- are you there?" and they proceed to converse with me!

OVER THE RADIO!!!!!

Anywhoo... I give them my support forever and tell them they rule. They ask background info, I tell them. I even get to sell my movie a bit, ON THE AIR, with them cheering me on. And then, with another cheer goodbye, they hang up.

And I raise the volume on my car radio and (god bless 2 second delays) HEAR MY VOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blogger Baby

It seems that Blogger has become increasingly popular. Today I found out that my hero (Angelina Jolie) is the subject of two new blogs authored by none other than- Surprise!- her son Maddox and new daughter Zahara.

Links respectively:
http://automaddox.blogspot.com/
http://princesszahara.blogspot.com/

Weird, huh? Some people have nothing to do.

Cleaned My Room!

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Originally uploaded by itzkoolaid.

Yay! It's been a while since I could see my floor. Responsibility rocks!

WHAT?

WHAT THE F*%$!!

www.repentamerica.com said:

"The citizens of New Orleans tolerated and welcomed the wickedness in their city for so long, they really brought this on themselves."

and: "God destroyed a wicked city."

They are talking about a celebration- Southern Decadence- that happens annually in New Orleans which took place a few weeks before hurricane Katrina. Because Southern Decadence is a gay and lesbian gathering www.repentamerica.com has called it a "celebration of sin."

Flowers In The Attic

Among the many other people & animals that are having their lives interrupted by Katrina, University Students are having a difficult time too. Their semester has been interrupted. An overflowing amount of US Colleges and University (Go UT of Arlington! Now accepting ALL applicants!) have offered to take in the misplaced students for low or no fees, but a surprising response came from the people upstairs. Here's an insert from dancingwithkatrina.blogspot.com:

"I am trying to get the word out to university students who were affected by the hurricane. Please pass this on to anyone who might be interested; five universities in Nova Scotia, Canada are willing to take in students at a reduced tuition fee. One is even offering to take 5 students free of charge (will provide full tuition and room and board). The others are willing to do whatever they can to get students into classes and houses. contact hurricane.relief@acadiau.ca
or go to www.smu.ca to see two examples."

You nice Canadians you!

I know it's corny, but...

http://www.popdance.us/bigkids.html

I'm joining. It's about two blocks away from where I live, only $10 per class, a good excuse to excersize, and a better excuse to learn how to dance. I gotta somehow catch up with my canadian cousins, right? And it starts tomorrow, which is good because if I had to wait too long I would just find an excuse NOT to go.

Speaking of joining stuff... I joined the Red Cross! I've been thinking about it for all of last week. I felt awful reading and watching news about thousands of people dying and having their whole existence taken away from them; and the fact that I would be in some posh office in Malibu or in my home in North Hollywood complaining about how hot it was, or the price of gas, or how bad the driving was seemed so conceitful and disrespectful. I had to do something...

...don't worry Mommy. It won't cost me a thing, I still have my full-time job (they know all about it and are fine with it), and when the Red Cross flies me over to help with the survivors I won't be going into the cities that were damaged but to the camps and relief stations like the Astrodome and such. Completely safe.

I would be doing nothing with that time spent but watching TV anyway.

I am thankful for:
-Understanding parents who (pretty please) realize that I need to do this and support me even though it is most likely against their wishes for me
-Ice cream on a hot day
-My car to get me where I need to go
-Knowing my family is safe
-Knowing where my family is
-A house to call home

The Funeral

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Originally uploaded by SummerB.

Yesterday we held the funeral for Eclipse at the Filmmaker House. I invited everyone a week ahead of time and made out these programs for the occasion. Everyone agreed to coming (which had me siked!) and so, on Friday the 2nd of September, we proceeded in saying farewell to my kitty.

Cooking

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Originally uploaded by SummerB.

To show my appreciation for their attendance I cooked my roommates a traditional Filipino dinner before the funeral. Pancit, Shrimp with baby corn and mushrooms, and Caldereta! Ummm.....

Unfortunately it was the first time I cooked some of the recipes so (even though I started 2 hours early) I ended up finishing an hour late.

Ha Ha

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Originally uploaded by SummerB.

It was so funny! Peter offered to help me cook (because I needed it badly) and so we set about shelling shrimp together.

Hilarious! Peter had never touched raw shrimp before and when I showed him how he had to behead the shrimp he almost puked. Poor Pete... I had to behead shrimp before him so he could touch them. LOL

Finally, dinner!

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Originally uploaded by SummerB.

Anyway, the guys were nice enough to wait the HOUR past they needed to while I finished cooking the food (thank you Mommy and Daddy for you help over the phone).

Look at them! They are so cute! When I made the invitations for the funeral I put "formal dress" and they totally went for it. It really touched me- they looked so nice and handsome in it all. Miska and Darryl even put on some nice cologne!

The Ceremony

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Originally uploaded by SummerB.

We went outside and proceeded with the funeral. While Peter officiated we did the "Lighting of the Candles," Darryl did a heart-wrenching Eulogy, and with great fanfair and charm Miska read the lines of the poem on the program.

I was pretty brave- I didn't cry once.

Continued...

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Originally uploaded by SummerB.

Afterwards we lit the candles and, since I could not bury her remains because it had already been done by my amazing family in Texas, everyone watched as I planted 2 sunflower seeds in her honor.

Erick watered the seeds from the water in our coffee pot, since all of the glasses had been used for the dinner.

We went inside then and Peter surprised me with a small video he made that showed clips (I had forgotten!) of Eclipse during our roadtrip. It was so touching- the tears I had blocked the whole night kinda came out then.

I have the greatest roommates in the whole world.

I Love My Roomates

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Originally uploaded by SummerB.

Erick comforts me in a sweet show of affection and sympathy.

And Last But Not Least...

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Originally uploaded by SummerB.

The final resting place of Eclipse (at least in spirit for the residents of California).

News From www.drudgereport.com

This just came in:

4:15 P.M. - (AP): Police say storm victims are being raped and beaten inside the New Orleans Convention Center.
About 15,200 people who had taken shelter at the convention center to await buses grew increasingly hostile.
Police Chief Eddie Compass says he sent in 88 officers to quell the situation at the building, but they were quickly beaten back by an angry mob.
Compass says, "We have individuals who are getting raped, we have individuals who are getting beaten."
He says tourists are walking in that direction and they are getting preyed upon.
In hopes of defusing the unrest at the convention center, Mayor Ray Nagin gave the refugees permission to march across a bridge to the city's unflooded west bank for whatever relief they can find. But the bedlam appeared to make leaving difficult.


Whatever hope I had of fiction staying fiction (Blindness- see post below) has just been shattered.

Help

It's almost surreal. Last month I was enthraled in the horrible fiction of Blindness (by Jose Saramago), a book about a society undergoing an epidemic crisis and the drastic, inhumane choices it makes to control it, and I remember thinking "If this ever happens in real life it'll be like living in Hell." ...and now I'm going through the pictures of the damage done by Hurricane Katrina and reading the articles about what the people have to go through in- among other cities just like it- New Orleans and I can't help but notice the similarities between real life and fiction; when all of the sudden I read a quote by the man in this picture that sends chills down my spine:

"It's like living in Hell."

Can this be? Surely the US must be doing something about it... we helped aid the tsunami victims and are always ready to help when other countries are going through crisis...

But then I read about the poor masses of people- who the papers are now calling refugees- crashing through closed stores (which are damaged anyway and will see all their money back through insurance) trying to get their hands on any food or water they can find to survive and, as a response, read quotes like what Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said on NBC's Today show Thursday: "We're trying to deal with looters as ruthlessly as we can get our hands on them."

Looters? Ruthlessly? Is that what you call mothers trying to feed their children? Or men trying to get medicine for sick loved ones?

Or how about this quote from an MSN news article:
"We were told (by police) don't drink or eat in public as it could lead to a mob situation," NBC's Michelle Hofland said. "We were told that by sundown to get out of here."

Or how about the picture I saw of young boys being forced by gunpoint to lie on the hot gravel of the Texas Highway because they stole a mailman's cart to GET AWAY from the devastation?

Or what about:"He was frightened and would not land," Richard Zuschlag, head of Acadian Ambulance, said about why the ONE helicopter the national guard was sending to the superdome refused to land after shots were fired.

Do not misunderstand me- I am not trying to disregard the helping efforts that have been made. Fishermen from surrounding towns on the Gulf- some coming from 200 miles away- have been driving their boats in to aid with the search for people in the water. The few policemen and service men there to help are doing the best they can with their short numbers and smaller amount of medicine, life saving supplies,and ammunition. And the National Guard is still coming to the superdome to help evacuate the some of the thousands of people stuck there with no home, food, water, or news from loved ones.

But what I am surprised about is the disgusting way the government- from the President down to Mississippi's Mayor- is treating the people going through this. While police and service men are down there 'getting dirty' and helping, the men up top- the men who fly by on helicopters to 'survey the disaster,' are saying things like 'shoot to kill' about looters and calling in 100 troops to help when there is clearly a need for thousands. This is not some charity case that you can hope to rub off on well-meaning celebrities and donations Mr. President and Mr. Mayor. This is not a 'low point' in the economy or 'something to learn from next time.' Get off your vacation ranches in Texas or your leather chair and take a good look at the people you swore to help and protect. You are spending 300 billion on the 'war against terror,' and spend millions of dollars to help refugees in the sad little 3rd world countries on your wish list, but these are your CHILDREN, the TAX PAYERS, that need more than a statement or a meesly call to arms.

Never should you ever attach the word 'refugee' to a citizen of your nation. Stop what you are doing and help.


For a detailed account happening RIGHT NOW from 2 men who are blogging through the storm (with pictures) go to: http://dancingwithkatrina.blogspot.com. If that doesn't work go to my link section and you'll find a working one there.