tsroaw: day one

as i mentioned about a month back, i'm spending the first couple weeks of may in san francisco, working on my old buddy joel's thesis film, the strange rebirth of andre weil [see vague plot description]. i got out here friday (along with another great old friend, sam) and have been working nonstop ever since (although friday consisted mostly of learning to drive stick shift up treacherous hills in a ratty old jeep). filming began early saturday (this) morning and didn't finish until long after the bay fog had stolen all of our light.

we started at the front door of a mission apartment where my character was busy recruiting members for his cult. from there we moved to lincoln park where i had one of the most difficult assignments of my life. the scene consisted of me driving (stick) around san francisco in friday's jeep, berating passersby over a bullhorn, with a major camera and a spotlight mounted on the hood (0 visibility) and a boom mic riding shotgun. needless to say, there was quite a bit of stalling. with that survived, i had to run from the car, arms flailing, and essentially make out with a tree while writhing on the ground in ecstasy. totally normal.

we finished in another park overlooking the pacific ocean through overgrown wildflowers and blooming eucalyptus trees. this time it was a fight scene between me and ellie, who cried on cue and kept a straight face through all of my insanity (which included, but wasn't limited to, a maniacally sung and choreographed "power prayer"). again, the sorts of things that happen to all people almost every day.

after that it was all hot sakes and delicious fishes plucked from a bartop sushi river and whiskey heart to hearts at america's least memorable irish pub. as maybe you can tell from my bore-ass tone, i'm already majorly exhausted and can't think alive enough to do any of this justice. sorry i'm lame. but i'd hate to keep you out of the loop. hope you're having a fun weekend and here's some more photos taken by sam:


joel, ellie and i between fight takes.


me pretending to smoke at the top of a tree.

still to come: the meditation center, dr. botchkin's laboratory, heinous crimes at santa cruz vacation homes, the end of my goddamned terrible beard and so much more.