First earthquake

I survived my first earthquake!

What does one do when they experience their first earthquake? Have a drink...do a shot? Go to church...pray?

I was actually in the car when it all went down. I was stopped at a red light and I suddenly felt the car start to sway. It reminded me of when I was a limo driver back in Houston and folks would raise the partition and get freaky in the back of the cab. I looked around for a moment, wondering if what I felt was really "What I felt," and I didnt really notice anything unusual. The light turned green. I rolled on through. I stopped at the next light about half a mile down the road and it was all over. It wasn't until someone came on the radio and started commenting about the earthquake that I realized that I waas really feeling an earthquake.... cool.

I hope that will always be the extent of my exposure to earthquakes.

On my way out the door here in a few minutes to perform my daily duties as a SoCal HINT sales rep. I have accounts to visit over in Venice, Santa Monica and Brentwood.

When I get home tonight I have reports to finish...especially my mileage report for the month of July. I get remibursed, like, .46 cents a mile...which is a federally mandated number... and what sucks is that .46 cents a mile does not reflect the huge increase in gas prices over the past two years... so that little mileage reimbursement plan isnt exactly fair anymore.

I also have to send follow up emails to all the directors I met the other day. I posted something on Mandy.com explaining that I was looking for directors to collaborate with on my internet series CATCH. So I set up interviews and met with about 10 different people on Monday evening. Everyone was great. An interview is just an interview though. It will be interesting to see who rises above and turns out to be a solid, productive collaborator.

The idea is that I introduce a few different directors and allow them to work their magic on a few different episodes of the series. That way I can focus on writing, producing and actually acting in a few of the epsiodes. I can also increase the exposure and keep the material fresh...for the audience AND myself.... so I'm really looking forward to this little experiment.

I spent a lot of time this past weekend on the new Indie City website. I had initially started building a website through Yahoo small business services...but didnt get very far...simply because the Yahoo service doesnt offer that much...and I'm not really familiar with how to create a site using the Yahoo tools.... but I DO know how to work with Bandzoogle (Thats the service that powers THIS site). So I spent a few weeks building a new Indie City Entertainment site using bandzoogle and unveiled it this weekend.

The site unveiling was uneventful. I havent sent out a blast to the masses yet...I guess because I feel like it still needs a few finishing touches... but please...by all means...check it out... i think it fairly represents the collective and gives the viewer a better idea iof what we are all about...where we've been....where we are going:

INDIECITYENTERTAINMENT.COM

Monsters!!

Wednesday night...

I'm starting to plan the next Indie City screening party.

I just got permission to use a cool new song for the next CATCH episode.

The Yankees have won 5 straight.

I'm in a good mood....

So the next Indie City Entertainment party is going to happen the first week of August...lilkely to be Thursday August 7th. We have had the first few I.C.E. parties at THE BRIDGE in Universal City...but the party promoter there has not returned my calls...and I think she is upset with me because she was expecting us to have a party there on the first Thursday in JULY... I made the decision to NOT have a party in early July...due to the holiday... and neglected to give her a heads up.... so she got a little pissy with me...

If she wont work with me on the next party...I will find another place to hold the event... simple as that... keep moving forward... forward...forward...

I'm obsessed with moving forward.

I'm expecting to have a few good things to show at the next event. First off...the LONG awaited follow up to CATCH: Episode One... appropriately titled CATCH: Episode Two. Ideally, I would love to be able to release a new episod every month...but when you are actiung as a producer working on favors and good will (And NOT cold hard cash), timetables and deadlines are sort of hard to mandate, implement or expedite...LIFE has a tendency to get in the way... so here we are...TWO months after the release of Episode One...

I'm also planning on screening a trailer and Episode One of the "yet to be titled" sit com series that I produced and shot last Summer in New York. The series was co written by myself and Marcus Jones...a playwrite I worked with last year. The series is about a screw ball acting school and al the funny things that go on inside...and OUTSIDE...The Actors Studio....

(Hey, maybe there's the name)

On top of all that...We will be showing THE PLAYING FIELD, which is our submission to the 2008 Los Angeles 48 Hr Film Project... a film that was surprisingly chosen as a finalist.... one of the "Best of LA 2008."

Now I just have to find a suitable venue... I'll let you know.

(I'm drinking some really good Shiraz right now. Just thought I'd share)

So the good news of the day is that I received the following email from a rep for a band called THE GAY BLADES :


Sorry I've been so MIA. Just got back home yesterday morning from a pretty grueling tour. Feel free to use the track "O Shot". Please just include artist information once its done and a promise that if you make it big time, you can purchase the usage at a fair price.

The Gay Blades
"O Shot"
Ghosts, 2008
4Never Records/Triple Crown Records


Check it out...the song and the band was referred to me by a friend and I one I heard it I instantly recognized it is being perfect for the closing of the next CATCH episode... I might even try and stretch the favor and use it for a couple more... sort of as a temporary theme song... its perfect...it really is...and its a kick ass song either way
(Thank you Thank you Thank you)

Did I mention the Yanks have won FIVE straight... good stuff man... I'm gonna try and catch a game at the stadium when I'm back in New York the last week of August... a few days at the Jersey Shore with my brother, his wife and my little Tasmanian nephews...a few days in New York...one last night at the legendary...soon to be torn down... Yankee stadium....and all is right with the world.

Speaking of my Tasmanian nephews... I got a letter in the mail two days ago from my brother and he had folded up a few of Keller's drawings and shipped them out to Califonia for me too loo over...the note attached said... I'm reading from it right now...

Keller wanted to share some of his Monsters. he is hoping you can draw some in return and send them back.

Are you KIDDING ME? HELL YEAH!!

I was walking in the door as I red the note...I literally dropped everything I was holding and immediately pulled out my sketch pad and magic markers. I don't think I even ate dinner. There was nothing in the world that I would rather have been doing than drawing pictures of Monsters for that kid. It was amazingly theraputic. I mean...happy to do it for Keller...even happier to do it for ME...I loved the idea of seeing his sketches...and love the idea of sending some my own sketches back... But he has no idea how badly I needed that.

I mean he's only like...FIVE.

(I probably over did it. I send him so pretty elaborate MuthaF%$#@ monsters)

Ok...that being said....


How about some more pictures of ME?

Reply All

Ok... yesterday I got caught up in this mass email/accidental reply all/high drama fiasco... it was so damn funny that I have to share...

here is the way it went down>>>


Tuesday 2:16PM: I get the following email from Seth, i see its a FWD with some sort of political relevance..I also see that its been cc'd to a MASSIVE amount of email addresses (I'm slightly salivating):


I have signed the "Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less." petition on AmericanSolutions.com because to lower gasoline prices and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, we need real solutions to our energy challenges. I hope you will sign the petition as well. Please sign the petition today at: www.americansolutions.com

Tuesday 2:18PM: I get the same email…again… from Seth.

Tuesday 2:19PM: I get the email for a third time.

Tuesday 3:22PM: A response to Seth’s email from someone named Jessica:

seth I hate to tell you this but this is the most retarded email you have ever sent me. Drilling and paying less for gasoline isnt the right solution and untill americans get their heads out of their asses and realize that we need to use a renewable resource it will NEVER get better...I dont understand people that think that it should be cheeper...I think it should be more expensive and we are lucky that we have it so cheep now....there is a limited supply in the world and we are consuming it all just to waste.

Tuesday 3:24PM: I know who Seth is, but I don’t know who this girl is, maybe an old friend of Seth’s? I do see that her rebuttle has been sent to everyone on Seth’s MASSIVE cc list. I continue reading:


You get this kind of response because you sent it as a forward. I hate stupid forwards. the end.

Tuesday 3:25PM: Ok so maybe they’re not “good” friends. But again, I agree. I hate forwards too. The End. Oh wait…Not the End? I read on:

Sorry about Lauren...I felt it coming....I know you to well I guess. And yeah...take what you are feeling and multiply it by oh lets say 1000 and you might feel some of the pain that I went through when it was us.

Tuesday 3:26PM: Um….okay this is getting awkward…keep reading:

Not to make you feel bad but yeah...we had a lot more history and a lot more ups and downs with each other so it stunk more. The mean part of me is glad that it happened to you but the friend part is sorry that you are hurting.

Tuesday 3:27PM: Wow… she hit REPLY ALL… This message went out to at least 500 email addresses....this is great stuff. Wait...what's this? A REPLY ALL from someone named Jonah:

way to "reply all" ya retard.

Tuesday 3:51PM: A REPLY ALL from someone named Gladys:

I AGREE!

Tuesday 3:59PM: And yet ANOTHER “Reply all” from a nice girl named Maura:

I do not know any of you – but I just had to say- WE ALL MAKE mistakes – no one is perfect – I am sure you feel horrible that you sent this out to everyone….

Tuesday 4:11PM: a “Reply All” from Lisette:

Lisette here,

I'm protecting myself from receiving junk mail.

Please click the link below to complete the verification process.
You have to do this only once.

Tuesday 4:20PM: I cannot resist… I mean, I gotta get a piece if the action, right?

Hi... I don't know any of you...but this is SO much fun

gripping drama... keep em comin!!

James
www.jamescliftonhuffman.com

Oh yes.... Check out Episode One of CATCH on Youtube:

"CATCH is a dark comedy, written and directed by James Huffman that features Anne Judson Yager (BRING IT ON AGAIN, MINORITY REPORT) and Trevor Jones (NOTHING YOU'VE SEEN) as MAGGIE and JERRY, two star-crossed serial killers looking for love and checking out the online dating scene. Are they destined to find each other?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKaEPd-l2_M

Tuesday 4:35PM: a “Reply All” from someone named Wade:

Please kindly remove me from this list

Best of Los Angeles 2008

Today I received this email from the 48HR Film Project people... Indie City Entertainment and "The Playing Field" made it as one of the best films of 2008!!!

"The Playing Field" was written by me, James Huffman, directed by Eric Jones and Edited by Paul Kim. It stars James Huffman as "Detective Clifton James," Anne Judson Yager as "Rhonda Donnellson," Chris Tessitore and Heidi Fielek as "The Players."

Read below>>>>>


Hello 48HFP Los Angeles Filmmakers--

The judges have made their decisions. Here is the lineup for the 48
Hour Film Project "Best of Los Angeles 2008"

To find out who the award winners are, plan on attending the:

"Best of Los Angeles 48HFP"
Screening and Awards Ceremony
Wednesday, July 2 8:00 p.m.
Fairfax Theatre
7907 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048

Here are the Best Films of Los Angeles 2008:

"2042" by Digital Technique
"Barefoot" by Last Minute Productions
"Brutal" by Lasrever
"Dr Ronald Donellson's Fit-Its & Fabulous Remedies" by The Jobless
Talents
"Life After" by Cultural Detritus
"Mashin' Impossible" by Apples & Oranges
"Moment of Silence" by Par-t-com Productions
"Recipe for Danger" by You'll Eat It and LIke It
"Stuck" by Jeffrogee
"The 4th" by Barstow Productions
"The Memo" by JAZ Pics
"The Playing Field" by Indie City Entertainment
"Three Potatoes & A Spud" by Miscellaneous Entertainment
"Y Tu Nana Tambien" by Daywalkers

TICKET SALES
Tickets may be purchased at the Fairfax Theatre Box Office

Forward this email to your team members so that they can come out and
see this year's "Best of Los Angeles" 48HFP. Plus, don't forget to
invite your family, colleagues and friends to attend the screening!

We'll be gathering after the screening at:
Swingers
8020 Beverly Blvd

See you on Wednesday.

Peter Fox
Los Angeles Producer
48 Hour Film Project
pfox@igc.org
323 244-0291
http://www.48hourfilm.com/la