Dirty Laundry: Prattlings

The Olympics, Part 2

Here I am back at Yahoo! FANcouver. And while I’m not partaking in the free hot chocolate, I am using the free wireless and watching the United States trounce all over Finland. They are not even out of the first period yet and it’s 6-0 for U.S. It’s not the nail biter I thought it might be. It seems like every shot the Americans take goes it. I feel sort of bad for Finland. And for all the Finnish fans in the audience. But if Canada wins today it will be a dream matchup and a killer hockey game on Sunday.

Believe it or not, my voice is still hoarse from shouting at the game on Wednesday. It’s been getting better but will only be shouted-out again this evening.

My uncle called me a few days before I left for Vancouver and asked if I could pick up a navy blue Olympics hoodie. Well, you’d think that wouldn’t be so difficult to do. But, as it turns out, the Olympic Superstore at the Bay is swamped from dawn until midnight with lines that rival the opening of a new Star Wars film (or, I guess, more recently, an Avatar screening).  All this waiting just to get into a store and buy Olympics souvenirs. Souvenirs that, quite frankly, are not all that attractive. In fact, the clothes are all pretty darn ugly. But if it’s got Vancouver 2010 stamped on it, someone’s going to buy it, apparently.

Anyway, I thought for sure I could find another place that sold the merchandise (like Canada Hockey Place, for instance) but there seems to be only one type of navy blue hoodie out there and it proved to be elusive. Until last night, when Gerry and I were leaving Gotham Steakhouse (the best steak in Vancouver) and saw that there was no line outside the Bay.

It seems we timed it perfectly as they’d just let in around two hundred people. We scurried up to the doors and were told we’d have to wait just a few minutes. Seconds later, a huge line had formed behind us. I couldn’t believe our good luck. Anyway, long boring story short - the hoodie was found and purchased.

I’m going to attempt to post a few more pictures as the connection seems a bit faster today. Let’s see how this goes.

It’s been cheery in the streets but gloomy overhead.

The city has been decked out.

Decked out all the way to the sea.

Just in case you didn’t believe me about the fire hula-hoopers yesterday.

My friend Gerry insisted I take this photo, even though I said, “No, Gerry, you don’t look like a scoop of rocky road.”

If you have six hours to spare you can wait in line and zip across a few streets of Vancouver.

The torch in coal harbor. I have to say, it was more impressive than I thought it was going to be (Not as impressive as the Great Wall of China, but still…)

Once again, Gerry demands a silly photo be taken of him. This is his impersonation of Heatmiser from The Year Without Santa Clause.

In case you don’t know who Heatmiser is.

Everyone’s enjoying the Olympics (okay, so maybe I’m rehearsing for when my step-kids start having kids)

Lucky you, the connection seems to be super fast today here at Yahoo! Fancouver and so, I get to bore you with my “artistic” photos.  I call this one “Sneakers (or, since we’re in Canada, “Runners”)

This one I’ve entitled “Man Delivering Flowers.” See if you can figure out why.

“Finland Is Still Down 6-0 to the United States”

Enough art, how about some social commentary. Look whose acting isn’t paying the bills anymore.

And finally, one for my wife.

Aren’t you glad I’ve got a wicked fast connection today. It’s a Photo-stravaganza (or some such).  You can expect a lot more in the near future.  For now… GO CANADA! (I’d say GO, USA! too, but they are already going big time.)

Posted by Don Calame on 2.26.10 at 12:34 pm in Prattlings. (0) Comments

Live From The Olympics

Okay, so I didn’t have to steal (borrow) wireless because Yahoo! Vancouver has been kind enough to have a hot chocolate and free wireless spot right here in Yaletown. Yaletown, by the way, is one of the coolest places in the city during these Olympics. It’s like a big street fair with tents and music and food and people singing in the streets. There are flame hula-hoopers and bands and street performers and it’s all quite amazing to behold.

Oh, the Canadian Women’s Hockey Team just won the Gold Medal! Which is awesome! This place has just erupted in cheers. Now if the men can do the same on Sunday all will be right with the world!

Honestly, I don’t know where to start with this Olympics blog. It’s all so overwhelming. From the atmosphere to the city vibe to all the languages being spoken in the streets. It’s like one big cultural world lovefest. Even after Russia lost to Canada last night (in a big, big way) the Russians (though sad) were still congratulatory. There was no hating going on with either side.

I think one of the coolest things is seeing all the kids in the streets all dressed up in their country’s garb, skipping and pointing at things and saying “Olympics! Olympics!”

Probably the best thing to do is to offer up some photos in a kind of photo essay sort of thing. But hopefully more interesting than an essay. I think it’s the best way to get a sense of the city, but also I bought a brand new shiny camera and I want to show off how cool it is. You will probably get sick of seeing photos over the next little while, but you’ll have to put up with it (or not, there’s always the mouse to click to get you to another site).

The Hudson Bay Company is doing all the apparel for 2010. Just don’t try to get in to buy anything. The line is around the block.

Some atmosphere for you.

The ice rink in the middle of the city.

And then there’s this…

My friend Gerry hangs with the friendliest Sasquatch you ever did see.

Before the big game.

These are the symptoms of Canada-itis

A Sidney Crosby sighting!

An anxious fan before the game.

Canada vs. Russia

Thank God he made it out of the crowd, had a shave, and got onto the ice.

Everyone forgot to tell everyone else what they were wearing. It was soooo embarrassing.

Really, there was no need to be anxious.

Lucky for you, the connection here is painfully slow.  I’ve run out of time and patience and won’t be uploading anymore photos (today). I’m off to dinner. Tomorrow’s the Semi-finals. Keep your fingers crossed for the USA and for Canada. We want a rematch in the gold medal game!

Posted by Don Calame on 2.25.10 at 05:41 pm in Prattlings. (1) Comments

Help With Your Writing

One of the producers who I am working on the script of Swim the Fly with just sent me this hilarious video.

Let me first be very clear that, while this situation is familiar to me, it does NOT apply to my current producers and/or my editors, both of whom are absolute joys to work with. I do feel like I am in the enviable position of working with some very smart and talented people right now.

Still, if you’ve ever written anything and been offered help, I think you might find this funny…

Posted by Don Calame on 2.23.10 at 09:42 am in Prattlings. (0) Comments

The Oscars (aka The Academy Awards)

Okay, so, apparently it’s Oscar season. Go figure. I’ve been so swept up in all the Olympic excitement that the fact that the nominations for the Oscars were announced (a few weeks ago) totally slipped by me.

All right, maybe not TOTALLY. I did glance at them when they were first announced but haven’t paid much attention since then. I don’t know if it’s because I simply don’t care that much for the films this year or if it’s because I’ve been so completely consumed by Olympic Fever that there’s no room left in my fevered brain for much of anything else.

Don’t get me wrong. I do still love movies. And I’ve seen quite a few of the nominated films this year. It used to be that I’d see ALL of the nominated movies before the big show so that I could be thoroughly outraged when my particular favorite film was overlooked. But those days are long gone. Which is why it’s a good thing I’m not a member of the Academy. And while I do get to vote in the WGA awards (that’s the Writer’s Guild awards), I don’t do it anymore unless I’ve seen all of what are considered the best films of the year. It doesn’t seem fair to me that I should have a vote when I am not thoroughly versed in all the well written (or poorly written) movies that have come out over the previous years.

To be honest, I doubt that anyone sees ALL the movies that were released (at least seeing all the nominated films is doable, but ALL of the movies released? Forget it). Because there are hundreds of them every year. We are sent a booklet that lists the titles of all the ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY films and all of the BASED ON PREVIOUS MATERIAL films. And I’m here to tell you that a huge hunk of them are headscratchers. It’s like, “what the hell was THAT movie? Never heard of it.” Or, “Really, there was a movie called “I Sell The Dead?”  And another one entitled, “Donkey Punch?” (Yes, this was really a movie released last year and please do not look up the definition of Donkey Punch on Urban Dictionary. I just did… and gasped in horror!)

So, seriously, should we be allowed to nominate anything until we’ve seen EVERYTHING? I don’t know. What if we’re overlooking a gem like “My Bloody Valentine 3D” or “Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li.” (All right, I’m going to officially call for the ban of movie titles that use a colon. Or movies that involve the colon…. ‘nuff said!)

Yes, yes, I know. The critics are there to weed out the stinkers from the really good films. But still, I think it’s unfair for any film to be nominated to anything unless every single film has been viewed. They should invite every Academy member to a month-long retreat where they are forced to sit in a theater and watch every film - from “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” to “I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell” - and only then can they cast a vote as to what is truly the best of everything.

Of course, this will never happen. And so, what we have with The Academy Awards is more of a “This Is Kind Of The Best Movies Of The Year, Sort Of, I Guess, At Least Of The Ones That We’ve Seen.”

With that in mind, I offer you “Don’s Academy Awards” aka “The Best Of What I Had A Chance To See.”

Best Film: “Adventureland” (Yeah, “Avatar” was pretty to look at and “The Hurt Locker” was intense, but I really enjoyed “Adventureland” because it wasn’t trying too hard and because these are my damn awards, so tough!)

No, wait. I changed my mind.

Best Film: “The Hangover” (because I haven’t laughed that hard since… well, a long time ago. And comedies don’t get enough awards love. So, here I am, lovin’ up some “Hangover”).

Best Original Screenplay: “The Hangover” (see above), also “Adventurland” (because, hell, these are my awards, I can give out two if I want).

Best Adapted Screenplay: “District 9” (mostly because I can’t bring myself to look up all of the adapted screenplays written this year. I’m terrible, I know. And lazy, yes. Sorry.)

Best Actress: Kristen Stewart in “Adventureland” (Forget “Twilight,” well you can’t really “forget” it can you, but Kristen Stewart is awesome in this film. Rent it. View it. Know it).

Best Actor: Jackie Earle Haley (as Rorshach) in “The Watchmen” (I think I liked this movie more than most people - except the ending, which was just plain silly. But the best part of the movie was Jackie Earle Haley. I also have to give a shout out to Colin Firth who was excellent in “A Single Man” and to Jeremy Renner who was great in “The Hurt Locker” but again, my awards, so…)

Best Director: Quentin Tarantino for “Inglourious Basterds” (mostly because I’m glad he’s back from hiatus, and by hiatus I mean films like “Jackie Brown,” “Kill Bill 1 & 2” and “Deathproof”)

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds” (because, again, I’m too lazy to sort through all the supporting performance AND he was damn good!)

Best Supporting Actress: Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air” (see above, but also, she was probably the best part of the movie as Clooney’s semi-age-appropriate love interest/fling)

As far as the other awards go (animation, score, set design, documentary)... I’m just going to give one to all of them. Because, why not. These virtual awards come cheap.

All right, enough of this movie stuff. Back to the Olympics!!!

 

 

 

Posted by Don Calame on 2.20.10 at 09:55 am in Prattlings. (0) Comments