Home After the Holidays

Back from the holidays and they spun past without my noticing, because in spite of Gus’s film having wrapped, I have been caught up in a non-stop work tornado of to-do lists and long-delayed projects.  In fact, I will simply have to check in with this short entry on my way out the door to deliver a countertop to the shop that will alter it so it will fit the island in the kitchen of my latest design job: my flip house.

Meanwhile, though, I am thinking (as always) about where that next job may be.  There is a television series coming back this month for another season, and they may need painters—just a couple of them.  I am ambivalent about trying to be a part of this, as it will make getting on the next feature very hard to do.

But will there be a “next feature”?  With our improved Oregon film incentive, I would have thought so, but the horizon, at least the near horizon, appears alarmingly empty.  This is the nature of my business, though, the uncertainty.  I have grown used to it, and actually it is a good Zen exercise.  Lose any attachment to outcomes as much as possible.  I definitely have many things to do to keep life moving, and now is the time to let go of the worry about the next job and just work on those things close to my heart.

So, I wake up every morning to see my hawk Tennerin sitting outside of my bedroom window waiting for me.  Then I go down to the river, put some food out for him and spend some time hanging out and filming him.  After that, I go back to work on the flip house, which is just down the street.  I’m trying to get Tennerin to follow me over there, but he seems to have hawk business across the river most of the time.  I also have to get back to my nonfiction writing and the research and reading that goes with it.  Through all this, I rejoice in the knowledge that I no longer have to get up at 4:00 am these days.

Next time I will discuss a book written by someone at the other end of show business, on the management/agent/producer side and how much we happen to have in common, but for now, it’s off to the countertop shop.

PS I would like to thank both of the people who commented on my last blog entry.  I’ve checked your websites just briefly, but I will be back, and will be in touch.  Synchronicity rocks!