Unscripted

On The Charts

I was going to write this list out in my "production book" today, but figured I'd write it out here. What's next for Big Quiche Productions and myself? Course I'll have to dress it up a bit.

This past Sunday I had coffee with a husband and wife team that are looking for their next project to produce. We went over a few scripts I've already written that fit their criteria and interests, and later that night I sent PDFs for them to read. At the very least, it'll give us a starting point, and we'll know which way to go from there. We all think we'd be best to start with a short, but that isn't stopping us from talking budgets and features.

The feature I'm in pre-production with (S4tD) has been pushed back again... My partner/lawyer's other film has gotten pushed three weeks, so... Well, one thing pushes another... It'll be a little while longer before he's on ours as his priority. Last night he was dealing with contracts with stars and business offices in Japan. I had just finished my "red pen" edit of the rough draft. This week I'll be working to polish it to a kick ass first draft. In addition, tonight I'm starting an acting class where I hope to tune up. It's funny how intimidating the massive dialog in plays have become as I've gotten so used to Film, Television and Commercial (lack of) scripts.

I have a few "Closet Singers" on the production schedule, and several others in the "hopper" as I figure them out. They're easy for me to accomplish, as I don't have to involve too many others in order to get them done...  And man do I dislike waiting on others. Hopefully I'll be shooting another one with an actress ("...Myself") next Sunday... And possibly recording and shooting two others ("...live" and "...happy") this week. At some point I'll have to start singing out, or like the plays have become intimidating, so will live audiences.

There's two Big Quiche Short Films on the books... And sadly both on hold. The first ("...Cake") was supposed to be shot two weeks ago, but my actress/stunt chick blew out her knee doing a stunt, and we're waiting for her to recover. It doesn't sound like it'll be any time soon... The second ("...Period"), unless we find another location, we're on hold as a kitchen (our set) is being remodeled. I'm told it'll be completed in about three weeks.

There's two other shorts that I'm supposedly CO-Producing with another Production Company... The first of them ("...Kraut") has been on hold as the director has started a new survival job... And even getting together for a coffee meet has yet to be accomplished. And the second (yet to agree on a title) is sitting on a musician's music stand, and awaiting music to be written to lyrics I wrote weeks ago.

There's a project nicknamed "Shark" or "Beach," which has been on the short list of a friend of mine to be completed for what has been years. It requires his expertise in CGI... It's been a challenge for him to figure out how to accomplish what he wants to accomplish with it, and a challenge for him to find the time to complete it. It's only a 30 second short, and had we had him on board from the beginning, it would have been simpler for him. Live and learn. My first CGI guy on it got busy and then moved back to Canada.

There's a few other irons on the edge of the fire, but to my knowledge they're not close to "going" and/or I feel like I've already written enough "blah blah" on this post.  And a few irons I've pulled from the flames for one reason or another. Not everything works out, not everything is a good idea, and not every partnership blooms.

Besides writing this blog, writing more short film scripts and feature scripts, future writing plans also include a non-fiction book, or two, or three.

Course there are the auditions, TV, Film and Commercial work that makes having time for all this possible... However, at this time I hardly ever know more than a few days ahead of any of that stuff. I suppose it keeps life "exciting," and me "on the edge," but man, wouldn't that be awesome to know you've got work lined up weeks or months ahead of time, and actually have time to prepare for roles... And empty weeks to schedule vacations without that fear of "missing" possible work.

-- Quiching Busy ~ Tom Kiesche

You Read Everyone?

Is there anyone out there who reads every writer of this blog...? Maybe not all the time... But that has at one time or another...

That isn't a writer of this blog themselves.

If so... I'd love to hear from you, as I have a question I'd love answered...

Let me know if you qualify and are willing to possibly answer something.

-- Tom

It'd be GREAT if you didn't read the comments below till after you answer...
So earlier answers don't influence you.

Well, here are my questions. You don't have to answer each one. And of course you don't have to answer any of them. And if you don't want to post your answers on line, you can answer directly to me off post and ask me to keep it private.

Question:

1) Do you think you could tell who writes each blog entry without the name or picture attached? 

2) If 7 of us wrote 3 blogs, unlabeled, without pictures, in one week... How many blogs do you think you'd guess correctly out of the 21?

3) If you were to describe the different writers of this blog to someone who's never read this blog before... How would you differentiate between the writers to them? (ie. What words would you use to describe each writer? Or is what they write about different? Or their tone different? Or their style? Or does each writer mix it up?)

4) Personally, as I'm always looking for ways to improve in every aspect of my life and work, Is there anything that you personally would like to read more of or less of from this particular writer?

(Not to say I'll change based on what you tell me, but like notes on a script, I promise to at least look at those aspects.)

Happy Joy

Music to read by: Happy happy. Joy joy.

"Are you happy?"

"Hope you're happy."

Recently a good friend wrote something to that effect in an email... And it's not like she's the only one that's ever written that to me, but it was on one of those days when I had to respond... Exactly what I wrote back, I've no real recollection, but it was something like...

"What does that mean am I happy?"

Sure, I know people who are "happy" a lot... Or put on a "happy face" every single time they're in public. But who can say they're "happy" as a sweeping statement?

Are there moments in my life when I smile...?
Sure, daily.

When I laugh?
Oh my, yes... I think I laugh extremely often.

Are there points where I laugh so hard I can hardly breathe...
When it feels like I'm so full of life I'm close to death... With an attack of some kind....?
When tears fill my eyes?
When I turn red...
When it feels like I'm going to explode...
Yup, probably monthly.

Am I "happy" in those moments, minutes and hours...
Yessir.
Yessir, I am.

However, if we aren't supposed to feel the other emotions, why would we have 'em? And quite honestly, if I were this "happy" thing all the time, I'm not sure I would get any writing done.

I'm sure there are "happy pills" out there... Medications that we could take to walk around without cares, with big dumb ass smiles across our faces...

Drugs that would make us oblivious to all other things around us.

She, my friend, shot me back an email, apologizing for being lazy using a super general word such as "happy" and said something to the effect of hoping I have joy, or hoping I'm living with joy.

Course my next question is...
Who is this Joy, and is she cute?

It wasn't my intent to chastise her for asking something that was completely good natured... It really was just me responding at a time when I was questioning... I do that... Question. And if you've been reading me for a while you know what hangs around my neck... An interrobang.

I didn't think much more on that email exchange till one night at my vocal coaching... We had warmed up. Stretched out. Ran through two songs... And still had 20 minutes left... So, I broke out a new song to me... Old to the world... "Make Someone Happy."

I'll record it some time soon... but I suppose the message that's relevant to this particular blog is that... " Make someone happy, Make just one someone happy, And you will be happy, too."

This week I finally got around to watching "The Bucket List..." I was happy to see two friends in it with speaking roles, I enjoyed several of the performances, teared up like a baby towards the end... But what has stuck with me was the theme of the film...

I suppose some people walked away thinking the theme was something like... "Life is short, accomplish what you want to accomplish..."

But to me, the theme was even more spelled out by Morgan Freeman's character talking about the beliefs of Ancient  Egyptians, and the two questions their souls were asked at heaven's gates... "Have you found joy in your life? " And second, "Has your life brought joy others?"

Now, while Jack Nickolson's character was  confused and had trouble answering the question... The moment I asked myself those two questions my answers were..."Yes." And "Without question, yes."

Being agnostic, I'm not one that's sure there's a heaven or gates to get through, but if there is... I'm now really hoping that those are the two questions asked, and only two questions asked...

So to my friend...
Yes, I'm continuing to find the joy in my own life.
And yes, I'm often doing my best to bring joy to others (and even animals)...

What are your answers?

-- Quiche Asking Questions ~ Tom Kiesche

Postcards

Self-promotion never ends... I've been sending out postcards for well over a decade. Designing. Labeling. Stamping. Spending... The inevitable question: Does it work? Does spending the time, efforts and money in sending out postcards work? 

Does it change a Casting Professional's perception of you? Does it remind an Assistant that you saw at a Casting Workshop of who you are? Will it cross the "right" desk at the "right" time... The answer...

I don't really know.

What I do know...

* I've been able to carve a living as an actor for a while now.
* I need to feel like I'm doing something in order to stave off "unproductive" feelings.
* I can't imagine a reminder that I exist, that I'm still kicking, that I'm still being productive, that I'm still being hired, that I'm being hired for bigger and bigger roles, that I'm starting to do more film work... That any of that could possibly be a bad thing.

It's not as tax deductible as it used to be, both legally and personally. And if you don't know what the ALT MIN tax is yet, someday you will. And just because something is "tax deductible," doesn't mean it's the same thing as having that money in your pocket. Making 60K a year with no expenses is a heck of a lot better than making 80K with 20K in expenses, or 90K with 30K.... Or whatever numbers you put in there... 

I barely remember the days I sold pharmaceuticals. Those days when I got a salary and had an expense account... But I do remember how sweet it was to get those expense checks, and steady direct deposit checks every other week... That my friends was SWEET.

Anyway, postcards to 70 Casting Directors will go out later today...

Yesterday I was back in the closet, recording a new song. This time with another friend. A professional singer who gigs out all the time, and who is currently working on her third solo album... The experience was humbling. Currently she's recording in professional studios, with a sound engineer, producer and live musicians... Even though she knew what she was getting into, literally a closet, it took her a few takes to realize we were actually singing in a closet. That I was the untrained amateur technician. That the "muzak" "karaoke" that cost me $70 to have my coach record playing through our headphones was what we were indeed singing to. She was a super sport and we laughed a lot... Hopefully we'll be shooting the video (another no budget no crew exploit) soon!

I had a thought of making "Closet Singer" postcards as another something to send out in the future... And I'm pretty sure that if I could actually get a few CDs to watch a few of those posted on YouTube, some perceptions of "Tom Kiesche" may indeed change... Though I'm not sure if that'd be good or bad.

Alien Hunter, Mover, Cop, Closet Singer...

-- Quiche Me A Postcard ~ Tom Kiesche

Agents

Got to get on the stick with regards to a new agent... I've sort of let it slide a bit feeling like I'm being covered until I can generate some "heat." Which is an excuse I like to fall into while avoiding the process of finding new representation.

I can't yet point to an appointment or job that's come from a submission or pitch from the agents I'm "dating." But on the other side, they seem to be fielding phone calls, and even though the role I'm doing on MONK this morning is nothing to brag about, they did negotiate/ask for a 1/2 trailer for me, and got it.

These same agents, got a friend FRONT CREDITS on a movie that my former agent didn't get me a Front Credit on, a role arguably as large and important... They are solid agents. And while they might not find it flattering to represent me UNTIL I can generate industry notice, they're smart enough to know that I am a potential revenue stream.

Maybe I should look at the agent "hunt" more as a way to start meeting people, so when the time comes... I have a few relationships already built. Kinda like meeting realtors and mortgage brokers before you're ready to buy a house, just so when you're ready... And maybe I should do a better job agenting the agents I'm "dating."

-- Quiche ~ Tom Kiesche

BTW... One good thing about playing "a mover" is that make up and hair was about 11 seconds as the only thing they did to me was put a little sunscreen on my face. I'm not a big fan of "the chair."

Slip And Slide

Big screen. Big guy. Unflattering angles. Unflattering lens. Shot on video. Dressed in a black turtle neck. Story and movie aside, I couldn't help thinking "I'll never eat again."

Course this morning hungry wakes me.
Stomach begs me.
Eyes tease me.
Nose tortures me.
Mind complains, and whines.

I write this blog over a "cup" of oatmeal, banana and black coffee. Certainly not the maple syrup, cayenne pepper concoction that I don't ever want to do again... But not the -- Stop.

Some times I'm really good at viewing food as substance, and not as a way of deriving daily pleasures. Or treating sugar like a chemical, and all added food chemicals as poison. And some times like a heroin junkie or alcoholic I slip. Slip and slide. The frustrating part is my slips aren't very bad, it's just -- Stop.

Pain and pleasure.
Pain and pleasure.
Two incredible motivators.

I love the radio in this joint... And I'm starting to think I'm living one of the most incredible serendipitous life...The song that just started playing... Constant Craving.

The life of an actor... If I were almost anything else in the world, this post would be mainly about vanity, wardrobe or health. I mean who cares, a few extra pounds... But in our line of work, that difference is between playing the rommantic lead and playing the plumber who fixes the lead's sink. It's the difference between playing hero who saves the world, kisses the girl, and the guy who sits in the car and eats donuts.

Plumbers and Donut Eaters typically only work one day on shows... Working one day at a time on shows and films these days is not going to lead to a comfortable life and a house in the Hills.

Pain and pleasure.

Yesterday, on a walk, again on my street, a Snail Shell. Although this one was empty... The Snail most likely ripped out by a bird... Man, a Snails life sucks. I've yet to get a hidden meaning from the hollowness the Snail left behind, but I do have a cool looking shell soaking in cleaning fluid today. Perhaps its got something to do with the emptiness of this whole career... Or more likely it has nothing to do with me, and it was just a Snail's time to become one with a bird.

I wonder how Street Snails taste -- Stop.

-- Big Quiche ~ Tom Kiesche

Ethics

"Ethics - motivation based on ideas of right and wrong"
Quick Definition #2 supplied by onelook.com

While I'm glad I didn't wait to post on Friday, the truth is, the audition I went to later in the day did give me material that I could have written about...

However, Friday night I wasn't prepared to sit down and type out a blog, and yesterday gave me no time (more on that later in post)...

The circumstance...

I get the call.
"You're playing a cop." "Dress cop like."

I get there... The direction from the Session Assistant outside the room all boils down to...
"Be 'cop like.'"

I look at the copy...
It reads like a cop would talk.

Simple enough. Only I don't want to do it. I don't want to go in the audition room and speak the words. I don't want to book the spot. I don't want to be on TV saying what's said.

I get a weird feeling in my stomach telling me NOT to go in the room. I read who's involved in the shoot. Try to figure out if leaving would be a better idea.

The Session Assistant picks up on it.
She inquires... 

I try to explain...

The spot basically reads like a public service announcement. NOT like a commercial. It basically states that STEALING CABLE is wrong, and that you shouldn't do it... OK. Fine... Boring as hell... But fine.

Then the last line...
Something to the effect of...
"You should anonymously report your friends and neighbors that do it."

---- SCREECH

I've STRIPPED on TV on the Internet. I've killed and arrested people on TV, FILM and INTERNET... I'm made a complete ass of myself in EVERY MEDIUM... But for some reason... Doing what felt like a public service announcement to RAT OUT FRIENDS bugged me.

It's not that I steal cable or EVEN HAVE CABLE, but saying that last line to camera...

"Call 1-877-YOU-RAT-BASTARD" wasn't what I wanted to do.
Maybe it's the Jersey Boy in me... I don't know.

However, sometimes we do what we don't want to do... And after a brief walk down the hallway, and a look in the mirror...  It was just a role. It was just a role. Just like any other role. I had to do the same thing with the Stripper Cop. I had to do the same thing when I played a Rapist. It might be something I should work on. Getting out of the way of my own judgments.

I find it funny how I had ethically had difficulty doing what big brother and society tells us is actually "ethically correct..." I'm tempted to go on a diatribe here about big brother, society and big business, but I won't...

Back to the Session...

Helping to BLUR the lines even further...

In the room, the Session Runner has us slate our names, and then go right into it...
"Hi my name is Tom Kiesche - Stealing Cable is a crime..."

Ethics.
"Ethics - motivation based on ideas of right and wrong"

Yesterday, I spent my entire day involved with something called INSTANT FILMS... I was an actor, and at 8 in the AM was randomly chosen by a director, who randomly got assigned a "Sci-Fi" script, that a random writer randomly wrote only hours before...

I was cast in what I felt wasn't not a very challenging or interesting role of an "idude." But because of my size in comparison to the other two actors... I got the distinct honor of playing a lifelike robot created by the Apple company.  The other two actors were to play the constantly bickering couple who purchased it...

After reading through the 9 page script, we with our collective minds, the director and the cast of 3 started to try and figure out what the script was about, how to make it work for us as cast members,  how we could make it a little more interesting for us to work on all day long. Basically, how we were going to tackle it.

In the conversation the director decided the couple would be a sort of Donna Reid Mary Tyler Moore Dick Van Dyke... He'd edit it to have that classic Black and White TV look.  And the idude?

If I was going to play it...
And play it all day.
I wanted to play it straight.

Play it like a surfer? With zink on my nose?
Seemed like a joke.

Play it with boxes around my body in Tin Foil?
Another joke. Didn't want to spend my day like that. Plus Mac prides itself on being sleek.

In a suit?
Seemed too Personal Computer (based on Macs advertising campaign).

I did my best to DIVE into my "character" based on what idude says in the script ("Hello I am a Mac"),  based on what other characters say in the script, based on the written action lines, and  based on what I know about Apple products and quick research of other things referenced.

Mac products seem to come in three colors...
White. Silver. Black.

Silver wasn't an option... I have no SILVER costumes, and the director's people had no SILVER CLOTHING. And we were probably not going to find a SILVER SPEED SKATING OUTFIT in the next 90 minutes in my size...

White was our next option... We'd paint my hair white. I'd wear white. Skin, white... But I didn't have all white either. We could probably find all white in my size with some time...

I did have all black.

So either white or black...

Long story short...

Black.

Black rain pants. Black turtle neck. Black face....
That's correct...
Black face.

Regardless of black being the color, I played the Robot the same as I would if he was white or silver... A black ibook functions the same as a white one... I suppose if I wanted to be really geekish, I should play a silver one faster than a white or black one (powerbook verses ibook) but in order to see that you'd need two different "idudes" (okay, I'm not the writer)...

I suggested to the director that I record my dialog at home in my closet prior to getting to the set, even prior the final decision on whether I was black or white... I'd throw a filter on it, and give him the AIF files to the extremely limited dialog that I had of CD.  My thought was that it'd be creeper to have this computer speak without its mouth moving. Also giving it the exact same inflection each and every time it said "I am a Mac."

I'm sorry I'm like a super actor geek... But if I'm going to commit to something, I'm going to attempt to figure out every single detail I can...  Do it the best I can. Even if time and resources are extremely limited.

Anyway...

Ethics.
"Ethics - motivation based on ideas of right and wrong"

I suspect when it plays on a big screen tonight (48 hours after the writer started writing) some people will take Tom Kiesche in black clothing with a dark face (the make up person didn't have black) the same way the Dyke-Reid-Moore-esq couple took owning a black colored "idude."

But the truth is, computers don't come in races.
They come in colors.
They come in speeds.
They come in sizes...
They come in brands...

If you want to see the film I'm talking about (which I'm not at all telling you that you should see) it plays tonight with 7 other films that were made entirely this weekend... Advanced tickets bought on line are like ten bucks. I have no idea how any one of the 8 films will turn out, but I would imagine that there will some high lights, and can pretty much guarantee there will be loads of people to network with.

-- Some Of The Odd Ever Changing Ethics Of A Quiche ~ Tom Kiesche

RM'S B

My gut tells me I should wait till the afternoon hours to blog today, as the reality is that yesterday I did pretty much nothing except recover from a late night, and the most powerful headache I've experienced in a very long time...

You know the kind of cranium cramping where getting the mail is an effort, where you blow through a red light and only realize it afterwards, when watching a movie is somewhat torturous in that you have to have a modicum of focus.

My first two movies, had something to do with HIT-MEN, maybe a message to get put out of my misery. The third and forth movies were dusty classics... With the forth being something I had put off for decades as I wrote it off as "not my kind of movie."

Isn't it funny how our upbringings, and the religions that we were taught can paralyze us into making certain decisions on what we expose ourselves to? As well as convincing us on fearing the unknown instead of embracing it...

This morning I was going to write a post about how being "stupid" was one of the smartest things I have ever done financially... About an experience in the upside down housing market... But here I am writing about ROSEMARY'S BABY.

Having just written a rough draft of S4tD (my last script), and gearing up to start rewrites... I felt I really owe it to my future viewers to "learn" from one of the best Supernatural movies out there... No matter how freaked I am about watching it... And undoutbedly ROSEMARY'S BABY is often referred to as one of the best. And what better time to watch it when your head feels as twisted and soggy as your mother's dishrag?

I enjoyed the film, but it wasn't nearly what I had built it up in my mind to be. As it was much more horroriffic in my own mind... Once again proving many many points. As to what those are... You're a smart cookie, you don't need those spelled out for you.

-- Do One Quiche Each Day That Quiches You ~ Tom Kiesche

Decisions

Changes in circumstances change our answers and perhaps change the questions. One answer was "yes" to doing a one line role on an upcoming TV show. YES there was a time when I would have been incredibly excited to announce that... "I booked a role on____! Tune in and watch!" But now it's more about that the money earned from the day will go towards my pension, towards paying rent, saving for a house, future residuals, the fact that I can change a credit on my resume from Guest Star to Recurring if I choose, the fact that I have the desire to work, work begets work, it will give postage money to the theatrical agency I'm "dating" these days...  Add to that list that the Casting Office called asking for me, they've been awesome to me over the years, there was no audition necessary, the line is semi-funny, and it's in a scene with an actor I wouldn't mind meeting. All answers that have nothing to do with passion, challenge, or why I became an actor.

Hate me if you must, but the reality is THIS IS my survival job. Its my job to survive between bigger jobs, more interesting jobs, till I land with an agency or management company that has me too busy to say "yes" to projects like this, or until one of my own projects takes off.

Attempting to put "the right kind of" energy into the world, yesterday, in a series of emails and conversations I came to a decision. Short term, I'll be working with an acting coach inside her class and am looking into sharpening my stage combat with the help of some stunt friends. Doing both to tune up some very specific skills for a very specific role.

Since I'm attached to my latest script (I'll call S4tD) as the lead... And I'm to consider S4tD moving forward and in preproduction... And since my producing partner of S4tD is currently swamped getting his 2nd film ready for principal photography in Japan in Mid-May... I figured I should use this time wisely, and focus on what I can do, rather than on what I have no control over. I don't want to work on S4tD in class, but do want to work on the emotional and physical tools that will be required in front of the camera. And it's not that I feel I lack anything at this point, but more to see if I can deepen and improve.

Last thing... For those that "read" me. Sadly on my walk here I saw a snail on the sidewalk. Crushed. It's soft slimy body mushed, smeared and mingling with it's hard multi-brown shaded shell. So, while Sammy had a better chance than Marty and Mary the Meat Puppets, it didn't move fast enough to avoid getting stepped on. So while it's better to move slowly than not move at all... Moving at a healthy pace is... Well... Healthier.

-- Quiche On Quiching On ~ Tom Kiesche

Meet Meat

MEET - Friday. Party. Friend's house. Hills. Great view. Lots of pictures of herself hanging. Lots of new age saying posted. Few conversations. Met some new people. Could have met more. The round dough looking thing... Don't eat that. It's like pure granulated sugar.

MEAT - Saturday.  Morning. Hot already. Meat Pinata on display. In with the Lions. Roar. Wasn't dramatic. Like a cat with a new toy... They played. Hid toys from the public. Rested. Worth the time put in? Don't know. Would have liked the toy to have been able to fight back a little.

EAT - Saturday. Night. Dinner with my lawyer and 8 others. Knew my lawyer. No one else.  Finance guy. Director. Director of Photography. And  five others equally as interesting... Quite a collection. Have a feeling it was more than a "meet and greet." Should have gotten the duck.

SWEET - Sunday. Early morning. Gas station. 6 high performance sports cars fueling up. Around the corner... Car show. Some of the nicest cars driving down the road. I'm not sure how many other places you'd see such a thing... Gas at $4.00 a gallon, seems decadent... But if you got...

HEAT - Sunday. All day. Direct sun light. Woodland hills. If Hell baked bread, this is where they would do it. Sun beating. Hired as a "beat" cop. Indie film. A friend's friend I met two weeks ago called me mid week... "Hey I'm CO-producing...." "Pick up shoot." The part... Nothing special. But I find it ironic. In a film, playing a cop in a commercial. And it's good to work, meet new people, and start and feed relationships.

BEAT - Sunday. Night. Dehydrated. Burnt.  Out like a light.

-- Monday. Morning. Quiche ~ Tom Kiesche

 

Mama...

Since my Mom got the DVD and watched it...
I now post it for others...
Maybe they, or you too, will smile.

"I Didn't Get Small. It Was The Closets That Got Small..."

While I've gotten GREAT feedback on both the Superman Video and "Time After Time"... A few people inquired about my "happiness..."

So, here's a little happy for you. Least it makes me smile every time I hear or see it. Seems like a good Monday video, but maybe it'll get you whistling at work before the wild weekend.

-- Quiche ~ Tom Kiesche

Must Read/See (pt 2)

Didn't realize I'd be writing a part two, but a few minutes after I finished part one and sent it out into the world of cyberspace... I realized another bit of synchronicity I had yesterday.

Besides listening to NPR where I heard the Joshua Bell story, I also listened to some Tom Leykis ...

Let me put out there that I'm not always a fan of what he has to say, nor do I believe I'm completely his demographic... But some times something he says stays with me for a few days...

The topic I heard him and his callers going on about was something to do about secretary day, or something to do with how much one gets paid... I didn't find it all that interesting and soon tired of it. However, some things he said obviously stuck...

A twenty-something called in... Wanted to know if he should ask his boss for a raise... Wanted to know how much he should ask for... Tom's answer wasn't all that earth shattering... It wasn't anything I hadn't heard before... But still, I'm glad I had the radio tuned in at that moment.

He suggested to this kid that he starts going on job interviews... Talk to his peers... Find out what others are paying others with similar work experience and history. If others are making more, ask for more or leave... If others are making less... Don't demand too much or they'll find someone else that will do it for you. Yes, I'm paraphrasing...

What's any of that have to do with Joshua Bell playing violin in the subway...

Well, the article writer and so many people were shocked that Joshua Bell only made $32 in 43 minutes... But if you think about what I heard Leykis saying on the radio... If you ask other subway violinist in the subway what they make in 43 minutes... My bet would be that Mister Bell was probably right in the middle of their earning bracket. And for the first day on the job, that's not bad... One might figure if J.B. were to show up and play a few times a week, more and more people would become comfortable with him, and leave more  and more cash... By the end of the month, I'm guessing Joshua Bell would probably be among the highest paid subway musicians... Among the highest paid SUBWAY MUSICIANS.

I'm not going to publicly draw any parallels for my own life or yours... But, I continue to find the Joshua Bell experiment enlightening and fascinating. Again, I suggest you read the article and watch the video after you read the words... Another thing that stood out was J's uncomfortably with the lack of applause between songs, something he's not at all used to, and how he awkwardly dealt with it.

-- Quiche Out Of The Subway ~ Tom Kiesche

A Must Read/See

The article is long... And the video is sped up...
And both of these things aren't new.

However, listening to NPR yesterday, I became aware of the article, and then sought out to see the video. I recommend reading the article first, then watching the video. I actually may go back and read the article slower now that I've seen the video.

It's truly amazing.

In a nut shell. A WORLD KNOWN, $1,000 a minute, classical violinist named Joshua Bell, with his 3.5-million dollar Strad, for an experiment for the Washington Post, played in a subway for about 45 minutes... He made about $32.00 in change and only one a few people even paused to listen to him. And if that's all that was in the article I'd say don't bother reading it...

It truly is amazing.

Article can be found at...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html

The video can be found at...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnOPu0_YWhw

But I bet it's not nearly as interesting to watch without reading the article first.

The difference between Joshua Bell on a grand stage, under lights, playing for people who shelled out hundreds of dollars to see him from a distance... And Joshua Bell being only feet away in a subway... Nothing but perception...

Maybe, because I often play my own crafts in my own sort of subways... I find this interesting. Or maybe it's just really interesting on it's own. Either way, I have the need to share it.

Would you have stopped to hear the music...
Sadly, I can say, I probably wouldn't have.

-- Quiche ~ Tom Kiesche

Message In A Meat Puppet

Up. Down. Up. Down...

Paraphrasing a friend who reads these posts, "I like printing a bunch of your blogs out, and reading them back to back... It's like watching someone ride a roller coaster." Up. Down. Down. Down. Up. Down. Up. Down. Down. Down.

You know what I love about life... The synchronicity all around. It might be my favorite thing next to creation... This song started playing as I wrote the two "Downs" in a row... 

Weeks ago I acquired the sheet music, and at some point I may tackle that particular song... But really this post wasn't really going to be about my singing or that song. It was going to be about my lackluster day yesterday -- But now it's not going to be. I'll take the song on the radio as a sign not to continue with that thread of thought.

On my walk here I saw a snail sliding across the sidewalk towards the awaiting moist plant life off to the side... If I had a camera with me, I would have taken a shot of him or her. Unless he fell out of the sky or just got out of a car... He most likely came from all the way across the street, and from the other sidewalk... How long that must of took him I've no idea...

But a few seconds after I almost unintentionally crushed him I started wondering if it wasn't a mistake I saw him this AM... Let me elaborate... I had just left my home. I had just put down a book I'm close to finishing... I just finished a chapter entitled, "Pace Yourself."

A hundred yards after passing over the snail, my thoughts drifted to a project I was involved with over the weekend at the Zoo... As part of a team, I designed, created, painted, one of two meat piñata for two Lions.  They'll be stuffed with meat and served up at a later date... 

Supposedly it's quite the sight to watch them actually stalk and then attack and devour them.

I drew a parallel between the snail moving with a purpose, and living with the risks of being crushed under size 13 sneakers, or being picked off by a high flying bird... And the stagnant meat puppets that have absolutely no possible outcome other than being shredded, consumed, and digested by the King Of The Jungle...

Is there some message to this particular blog...

Maybe...

Keep moving regardless of how difficult and slow it may be, because your other choice is ending up as pile of crap on exhibit.

-- Quiche Moving Forward ~ Tom Kiesche

For the record, everything used in the making of the meat puppets is completely edible and safe for consumption by carnivores. And that's supposed to be a nice, plump, ripe to be eaten duiker. I take no responsibility for the leg length.

 

 

Perambulate

I know it's not "Hollywood,"but I'm thinking of personally changing "let's lunch" to "let's trek ." "Wanna coffee?" to "wanna stroll?"

This weekend, instead of having a lazy breakfast with a friend we collectively chose rather to use our legs... A walk and talk. An amble and ramble. Now, I'm one who loves both food and sitting as much as anyone... But the walk... Combined with the conversation... Was simply energizing.

A few weeks ago, the same thing. A different friend... A different location. But the same result. Ideas flowed... Suggestions of reading material were made... Problems solved. It was just plain stimulating. And on this blog just a few days ago, I credited the ending of my latest screenplay coming on a walk...

Walk. Walk. Walk...

So, if we're friends... And you wanna catch up. Suggest a walk. And it's not like I'm not going to "do" meals or fluids any longer... But I think mixing it up is good... And keeping the blood flowing is important...

So what came up on the walk? Well, lots of things...

List of intentions.
List of goals.

These are not new thoughts. Not new ideas. But today, once again, I'll be compiling a new list of short term and longer term goals. I've done it in the past. And I've always accomplished many of them. Well, I have yet to accomplish the dollar bill amount I have taped on my wall, which is my long term goal for my daily average wage, but it's there, waiting for me to make it happen.

So today, while I'll do my day-to-day things like write this blog, go to a class I'm currently enrolled in, hit the gym, set my week up... I'll also invest some time in projecting my future. And then perhaps I'll take it further as it was suggested, on a walk.

-- Amblin' Quiche ~ Tom Kiesche

Oh funny bit... While on the walk, we passed a woman with a T-shirt that read "I'm blogging this." Cracked me up...

Newest One... New Risks...

Newest one...
New risks...

A Million Miles An Hour To...

Cheesus, when it slows down, Cod I don't like being around myself... Today was one of those... "Okay, what the Funk am I going to do?"

Yup, it's a really great thing to have time off... But, too much time off is like... Well, it Sunks... Especially when you were just going at a million miles an hour... I would have gone away this weekend, but the thought of dropping to Zero... Duck no.

I've been looking for things to do, but nothing can fill that void I feel...

You know it... You're in a play that's about to open... You're in tech at night all week. Running around every day trying to put things together... The show opens -- Monday happens.

You're on a movie... Working every day... Eight to twelve hours a day before driving time. The shoot wraps -- Crickets.

I should learn how to pace myself with my own projects so that I don't have these incredible days of silence...  But, with that I'd run the risk of never completing the initial tasks. Don't get me wrong, I'm still being productive... I'm just not as PRODUCTIVE.

And yes I know... "I'm very fortunate..." and "I'm very thankful..."

I suppose if my life were more rounded I might not have these periods... But then again, maybe those who work 9-5 in Ohio have these days too, even with their accounting job and picking up the kids at the pool to drive them to soccer...

Yesterday, I recorded and cut one video (waiting to release it), and today I recorded and... Well, I sort of edited it, and posted it on YouTube.

This whole singing thing has been such a learning experience... From the night at my friend's singing "Ol' Man River..." to recording my first song "I Won't Send Roses" in my coach's dinning room turned studio... To recording my first song on my own in my closet "The Best Is Yet To Come..." to putting out this song, where I include no "tricks"... "Time After Time."

I could write about so many aspects...
But the one I'll write about is feedback.

The feedback I get from people has been so interesting...

If I close my eyes while singing... One person loves it. One person says I'm hiding... (Andrea Bocelli, the best hider ever? Ray Charles?)...

Look into the lens... One watcher feels engaged. Another says that moment took them out of it.

If look off to the side... Someone wonders who I'm singing to... Someone else thinks I'm reading from a script...

Put in slides... I get a comment of "just stand there and sing..." When I just stand there and sing I get a note... "Didn't feel like doing anything?"

It's really Fracking interesting.

I don't, in any way, want to dissuade comments. I love 'em... They continue to challenge me, and I continue to learn from them. Would  have never done "Beast Of Burden" the way I did had I not gotten certain feedback... Well, heck... Truth is, I never would have started singing again, or singing, acting or writing in the first place if I weren't for feedback.

And as I share in this latest, once again I've discovered how often I can limit myself... And if not for all the great and honest feedback... I might not have ever been made aware of it.

-- Quiche You Quiche You All ~ Tom Kiesche

Famous, Stalked, Recognized, Mail

While I frequently get emails from people all over the world looking for autographed pictures, I can't believe they're anything other than collectors, who have NO IDEA who I am, but just hope to get an autograph that someday may be worth something... They're usually very generically written... "Love your work" "Big Fan!" or they say something about a show that there's no way they remember me from...

I suppose like filling up the gas tank to drive for an audition across town, it's just the cost of doing business. Though, I'm truly tempted do delete the last dozen requests I've gotten. However, something always stops me from doing that...

When I was a kid I wrote the Incredible Hulk, Lou Ferrigno, and he, or his publicist sent me a postcard. While the back of the postcard was neatly written, the envelope was not, and my father concluded, HE PROBABLY ADDRESSED it himself, and had paid someone to sign a ton of them. I kept that thing for a while, but one day lost track of it... But, what I've kept with me is the story.

I sent letters to probably a dozen actors that day... And that's one that sent me a signed picture back... Course it took more than a cut and paste of an email, and the investment of a stamp... But...

The odd day yesterday started late when 4 kids hanging outside my gym giggled upon me approaching the front door... "Are you famous?" They blurted out.

It was so out of left field I said the first thing that came to my mind...
"Hi" I responded.

They giggled. Blushed...
For all I know they were asking everyone... Or maybe they liked throwing people off...

Just after that, visiting a local Target... I was stalked for a few aisles... While I could say it wasn't stalking, but just a coincidence, I've seen enough movies to know how to spot a tail. And while it's flattering... I'm not into men... And if I were into men, I'd probably still find it more comical then anything else because the gentleman was about 200 pounds overweight, had a breathing tube up his nose, and was in one of those automatic carts (beep beep beep)...

After a few aisles, I changed direction and I believe I startled him... It was too narrow for him to turn around... And I was off to another section.

Course, he could of just being waiting to ask me to help him get something down from a top shelf... But with my "How you doing?" as I faced him for that final time...

He did nothing but smile and stutter.
"Hi."

In my in-box at home... A message on one of my YouTube videos... Something like... "Hey I saw you a year ago at a park... "

Now while I can chalk that up to...

You know something, I can't remember who I saw last night... And someone remembers me from seeing me in a park a year ago...

If it were generic I'd say it was like the "fan mail," but the person mentioned a very specific park, which I've been to many times...

Anyway, it's a weird business we're in. I can't imagine what it's like to be Pitt, Ford or Cruise...

And while I love Lou for sending that postcard years and years ago... I also hate him, because if no one ever sent me anything, I wouldn't feel have a shred of obligation to send others. If I ever meet the great Lou Ferrigno, I'll thank him, and if he's 200 pounds overweight, in a beeping cart with a tube up his nose, maybe I'll punch him too.

-- Just Quiche ~ Tom Kiesche

What I Did With My Day Off

I had to get away from the script I finished on Saturday... While it's not completed, I'm happy announce that I'm told to consider it in PREPRODUCTION!!!... As the changes that I'll be making from this point on, will most likely be tiny...

So, yay!...
I have a film in PREPRODUCTION!

Exciting? Yup...

The other day I was so exhausted after I finished the rough draft I did my victory dance under my covers... And I haven't really celebrated the ANNOUNCEMENT that WE'RE GOING FORWARD yet.

Instead, with time to spare today... Convincing myself that I'll be extremely busy in three months... And not wanting to crank out any new pages. Touch that new script, or any other... I decided to jump back in the closet, and record a song I've been toying with.

I'll be honest, that closet is getting CROWDED as I continued to try some new things, as well as a different camera.

Doing everything is always an exercise in focus... Having to hit this button. Close the door. Put on the headphones. Cover the door with the backdrop. Focus the light. Frame the camera. Hit record... Oh and sing and memorize the song... All the while trying not to think how it will edit together, or how it sounds, or if I'm red lining.

Anyway, it's an experience... I learn every time I record or shoot something... Just like I learn every time I write something new...

Last video I sang in, a few people felt I was "hiding..." So, with this one, I've attempted to "hide" less... Also, a few people challenged me with making my next video more "video-ish..." So, that was my second challenge... Let me know what you think.

--  Closet Quiche ~ Tom Kiesche

Brilliant - Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

Have to share...
Someone passed it on to me...

Why You Do The Things You Do pt2

Immediately after I posted part 1, which wasn't going to be a pt1... I checked one of my social networking sites. Funny I found the following message there...

"That was really sweet. I kept expecting it to get dirty or at least more absurd. But now I'm forwarding to my wife - perhaps we'll sing it to our daughter."

It means as much as the other messages... But the really importantly thing I read in it was "I kept expecting..."

The moment we become predictable in life or as artists...
Yuck.

Why You Do The Things You Do

I was on the phone last week with a Publicity Person. This particular PP works for a large organization that I have volunteered for in the past. Basically I was looking for permission from the PP to access some stock footage, for a project I was intending to do...

"What's the purpose of the project?" the PP asked.

It was almost comical how, "because I enjoy doing them" didn't seem to be a believable answer to either the PP or the PP's assistant.

Of course I want people to watch them... Otherwise why would I post them on YouTube...

Of course I'd love to sell everything I've ever written or created... But if that would happen... When that happens... I'll go back and make the deals needed with the people involved... Basically pay them the scale rate I promised...

 

***Side story  Continue reading "Why You Do The Things You Do" »

And while I'd love to own several homes around the country... Pools. Boats. Beach fronts. Penthouses. Take trips to Italy. Denmark. Africa... That's not the reason I do what I do. If it was JUST about money, there is SO MUCH MORE I could do... To make SO MUCH MORE MONEY...

After ten minutes on the phone with the PP... A conversation that I had started with... "Don't feel bad if you just say 'No'..." I was being told to submit a proposal in writing, that the PP could run by the people that would need to sign off on it... And they may have to have people OK it as well... It was at the very least a 7 day waiting process, with lots of people that would ask the same questions.

Not one to slow down at times... I pushed forward without it...
And recorded and posted MORE I CANNOT WISH YOU...

I've already posted two of the many emails I've gotten about it. But today I'm posting a few more to make my point... One of the reasons I do what I do...

"you have a fantastic voice!  I was deeply moved by your song and thought of my own daughters as I listened (sniff, sniff)."

"Oh my gosh, I LOVE THIS!!!!!  I was almost in tears..."

And one that made me smile REALLY big...

"Have to tell you that I enjoyed the song & your presentation...i sang it to my little girl tonite when i tucked her into bed...thank you for sharing that side of  your life. You are a ‘goldmine of talent’ so let them see it all."

Just the thought of a mom singing that same song to her daughter, because of something I did...  That seems like a REALLY great reason to continue...

-- Quiche On Quiching On ~ Tom Kiesche

1:47 AM

My right middle finger feels like I broke it some time today... My entire right hands has been giving me grief all day... Had trouble holding tools at the Zoo.  My contacts are dry as a bone... Static is playing on my TV silently... But at 1:47 AM this morning... Less than 5 days after I started...

I just turned in a 91 page "rough draft" screenplay to my Partner.

After a several hour phone conversation with my Chaplin friend (thank God for free weekends)... After discussing what I might really be afraid of... My Catholic upbringing... My beliefs now that I'm an adult... Life... Liberty...  I sat back down and started writing again...

Is Act Three as horrific as I felt it would be... I don't know...
If the movie gets a big enough budget it certainly will be...

I know it's the perfect length.
I know it flows great.
I know it cuts together really well on the page...
I know it got me when I thought of it.
Creeped me out when I wrote it.
And is still creeping me out a little.

But all that could be the Peppered Vodka talking...
Gotta numb the finger somehow, right?
And numb the brain, just a little, right?

Okay... Time to go to bed.
Maybe this one is the one that goes into production...
Attached as the lead... Maybe this one's the one that Rocket's me to the top...
Maybe this one...
Maybe this one...
Blah blah blah.
Sound familiar .

For the record, I do think, it's one of my best...
At least one of my top three "rough drafts" by far...
And in a new genre that tends to do very well...

I don't really much feel like doing it...
But before I hit the bed, I do owe myself a COMPLETION DANCE...
After all if you can't celebrate the little things... How can you celebrate the big things?

Who's up?
Wanna dance?

--  Quiche Me ~ Tom Kiesche

Dark Side

After being stumped on ACT 3 of the screenplay I'm working on (for the last 24 hours) ... Then today on my way back down the hill after volunteering at the Zoo, it hit me... Of all the possibilities for the ending that I wrote down yesterday and sent my CO-writer, none of them hit me as hard as this one...

When I wrote down the outline... As I just did...
Holy Geez.

Well, lets just say, I'm wrecked. My insides are turning... They've twisted. I have never had a reaction like this with anything I've written or was going to write. I always have reactions, laugh, cry, get turned on... But with this one, I'm almost afraid to type it. It's all sorts of F'ed up...

The script has Evil in it... But... Holy God...
There's some weird things already coming up with this one...

Let me be up front and say, I'm not a religious man... I don't know what I believe in regarding God...  I never believed in the Devil and that sort of thing... And never wanted to see any of the movies like "Rosemary's Baby" or "Exorcist." For they really creep me out.

Yesterday, after I wrote a KICK ASS scene... Someone about soul selling... Immediately after I wrote it,  I went to an audition... (ask reader "D" if it's true, she was there... )

So, you want F'n weird?

In the audition room, we the actors are supposed to sit behind a table... Okay, easy.

On the table there's a piece of paper...
Okay, that's normal.
Nobody wants you writing on their table.

Written on the paper an actor must of wrote...
"Sign here..." with a line.

Not so odd, right?
Written on the line...
Another actor wrote...

"Put your soul here."

Okay, it's just a coincidence, right?
So, I chalk it up.

Later, as I'm telling this story to the Producer, my lawyer, the one that came up with the original idea for the story... What's he say immediately after that?

"Holy Shit..."
"What?" I ask.

" You'll never guess what the license plate in front of me reads..." 
I honestly didn't want to know...
"I don't want to know" I say.

"666."

Yeah.
True story.

I won't tell you what the story's about, or what happens in ACT THREE or in any of the movie... But you can probably guess what a minor part of it is about just by what I'm writing.

If the ending on the page comes out anything like the ending came out in my outline...  Holy mother of God wow... What a movie, what an ending.

I just called up my one friend that's in Seminary, to get her Masters in religion as she's a practicing Chaplin to talk about it all. I'm truly sitting here wondering if  I want to write  any more of it... And just caught myself saying...
"I don't know if I want to write it."

Yeah I know it's just a screenplay...
Chaplin's calling me back. Gotta go for now.

-- That's Quiche For Me ~ Tom Kiesche

Have To Share

I've gotten a load of feedback today... I have to share. I'm removing names with the thought that if they wanted to get credit for the post, they'd post themselves. Or like one friend, explain they can't post themselves, and I post for them with their name.

The first exchange... A good friend wrote that she watched the newest videos I posted...

In a message dated 4/11/2008 12:25:59 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, writes:

"checked out the new stuff... ranges from Ok to AWESOME. But do I hear a bit of melancholy in you? No you don't have to be up all the time. Neither do you have to please anyone but yourself. Your natural talent (seems to me) lies in the wry, warm and fuzzy, gentle chuckles and out right guffaws, and making people feel good about life regardless of the medium you are employing at the moment. But regardless of what I or anyone else sees, you follow your bliss. Lecture over.  Hugs"

I wrote back... "Which are okay? Which one is awesome?"

This is her response...

In a message dated 4/11/2008 2:01:14 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  writes:

"The Best is Yet To Come, I Won't Send Roses, Real Live Girl, Hey There are totally awesome.  Ol' Man River - voice is awesome (your voice is always awesome - I will stand up and cheer whenever you sing) but story, I like it, however it needs a bit of editing perhaps?  You Raised Me Up is OK - a good OK, but for me not an awesome.  But then who wants to be awesome all the time - could get boring.  What do I know?... You keep singing those show tunes. Many Hugs"

This was my response back to her.

"The best thing about questions like that are the answers... I just got TWO EMAILS today one LOVED YOU RAISE ME UP said it was the best thing... And one said "Ol' MAN RIVER" was the BEST... Something about his Mom's favorite musical ever... So it's so interesting...

Some love that I didn't look at the camera... Some wanted me to... Oh ART is so interesting... Thank you so much for your feedback... I will tell you that the words on Ol' Man River "should" have been edited, but I chose to just pull the text from the BLOG and remain honest to that.

That video also has been incredibly received by all that were at that party... Three called me up on the phone after watching to gush... One admitted to crying while watching.

God I love it all. I love that you're part of the people that watch, and you're part of the people that respond so often.... It means A TON!

Okay, I'm off to clean a little. And think about the 3rd act of this newest screenplay... I think I've dug a deep hole that is very dangerous. And as far as being awesome all the time...

Merton said something about... Whenever you think you're a success... Do something that changes that as quick as you can, so you're always growing."

Several other Emails hit me today… But I'll share only one more, because it was from a guy I went to High School with...

In a message dated 4/11/2008 10:36:13 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, writes:

"Damn Tom, You can sing too? That was some fine singing. Acting... dancing (as displayed in the stripper cop video) and now singing?!?  You're a triple threat, fella! I actually like "Ol' Man River" and my mother was a big fan of The Pajama Game, so I am very familiar with that also. Very nice job on those and the other kids ballad. So I guess not too long until we see "Tom on Taps" tapdancing huh? Keep up the good work and I wish you the best. Don't ever think you can't compete- you are the real deal. Have that confidence in you when you audition. They would be crazy not to hire you."

-- Quiche The Encouragement And Support – Tom Kiesche

BTW… No danger of me tap dancing any time soon… Or is there…???

Missing Blog - Pbbbbttt

I will never be able to repeat what I wrote last night, which is a real shame because I would have loved to have had it for at the very least a journal entry... But sadly, I couldn't find a trace of it, nor could the administrator of this blog.

So, like a fart in the wind... It's gone forever.

It was perfect in that it was just what I needed to figure out for myself when I needed to hear it... A search for a quote I thought I wanted to include, led to another quote that was actually much more relevant in the present... Which of course is now past.

So, what's present?
What is right now?

With a temporary fix on my Theatrical situation, a good agency that's going let me see other people while we date, and while they submit me for projects... And with an incredible amount of energy with this new script I'm writing, and other projects that are suddenly becoming warmer again... I don't at all feel desperation... Actually today, out loud I said to a friend... "I'm going to be successful," out loud... Not that I haven't been... But it's been a while since that old confidence has run in my veins. That I really felt that the A list was not only possible by probable.

Things FEEL really good right now... Full of promise. I know I'm probably talking in jabber jaw right now... But basically since Tuesday I've written 62 pages of a new script... Which looks very promising to get made... It also comes with the deal that I'll be attached as a Writer, Producer, and Lead Actor. The story idea and 27 pages came from my lawyer... And we both love the new pages that are flowing from my fingers... It seems they have everything the script needs, and are really tight.

I would have been up to page 75 tonight, but a few notes from him created a series of discussions and some very minor rewrites...

It's funny how tied he was to certain story elements he didn't think he was tied to... And how tied to something I've become that I only started working on like 72 hours ago. But that's creativity for you, these are our children... Probably why actors take it so hard when you don't like their play, or beginning writers don't take criticism. And like children, the more you have, the more you're like... "Ah, whatever... They fall down some times."

Like I have young ones.

I got some interesting feedback today about how I present myself in my career. Feedback that caused quite a physical reaction in me... God the truth sometimes hurts. It's  funny how I'm not afraid to embrace the physical or flirtatious in life, yet on screen in my own projects, that's not the case... I'm talking in riddles because I don't really want to talk about it.

Tonight I took another step forward with one of my little YouTube videos... As per a few people's suggestions, I stopped hiding behind "funny" and I just sang a lullaby. One person feels I'm still hiding a little, but admits that I'm moving forward...

Baby steps perhaps.

The video I did today on my dinner break, which I posted as I started addressing notes... A song for my nieces 3,000 miles away... And for all my friends that have daughters. The first time I heard this song I was doing "Guys and Dolls" in New Hampshire, and the guy that sang it  couldn't keep very well on pitch, but GOD did he cut through me with this song every night.

Anyway, as all these projects that I post, they're all works in progress... They all may disappear tomorrow and be reposted, changed... And they may all very well stay forever... BTW if ANYONE knows how to load things on YouTube without YouTube messing up the sound... Let me know... Cause not one of these things has sounded even close to as good, as it sounded before being posted. But as one friend said... "What do you want for free?"

-- Quiche Me Goodnight ~ Tom Kiesche

And this time I'll be sure it's posted before I shut down. And if you don't like my videos... "Hey what do you want for free?"

Insert String Of Curse Words

I'm not sure what happened. Last night I wrote one of my favorite posts in a LONG TIME... Posted it. Went to bed. This morning it's gone. As if it never happened. Mother Crumpker.... Gosh Barn it. It had Merton quotes in it... A video of "Lucas In Love." Fudge!

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

The funny thing... It was something I needed to write, and read for myself... And I guess that's all it was... That'll teach me to write all day, and blog right before I shut down...  FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

-- Quiched Off ~ Tom Kiesche

Dirty Boy

The weekend came and went and man did I get dirty... Know how I know I'm a guy...? I loved it. Saturday with PVC dust from grinding and cutting tubes, and Sunday from digging volleyballs out of the sand.  It's been a long time since I've played some two man... Actually the last time I remember was about 10 years ago with one of my best friends in Jersey... We played some 20 year olds, and while we beat 'em the first game (smarts over energy)... By the third game we were sucking not only wind, but generally sucking a sucky suck job of a volleyball game. And, when we were crawling to our cars, they were ready to play another 3 games with some other team.

What is it about getting older? You can be in amazing shape one way, but all the other ways, you're absolutely out of shape... You can do Yoga for 90 minutes, but bike for ten miles and you die... Or you can do Yoga for 90, Bike for miles upon miles, but do a hike? And you're bent over looking for oxygen... Do Yoga, Bike, Hike, Swim, Lift Weights, do Sprints... And then play volleyball on the sand? Holy Moses!

Your groin is screaming at you 10 minutes after starting and you didn't remember ever feeling a ball actually hurt... And that includes all the games of SMEAR THE QUEER or DODGE BALL when you got NAILED on purpose. By the way, don't get all PC on me... When I played STQ, it wasn't used in the gay manner... And for all I know, it was before homosexuals even embraced that term.

It was funny in a weird way having to relearn how to spike the ball over the net, since my gross vertical jump has been reduced to a number closer to zero then an actual positive number.

Thankfully this weekend no one else was too good, nor cared too much...

I will tell you that the best thing I did was at the beginning of the game tell everyone that apologizing for sucking was not allowed, and that one big apology at the end of each game would be all that anyone would get from me. I suppose that's something age gave me over the much younger players.

I'm actually not nearly as sore as I thought I'd be today after diving for ball after ball... And I look forward to the next time I'm invited down... Cause damn it, I guess now I've added Volleyball to my training regime.

 

-- Quiche It Over The Net ~ Tom Kiesche

And today... Despite a very active weekend... Two separate 20 something year old lifeguards at the gym today gave me a belly tap and said something to the effect of "putting on a few?" Man... If I could actually catch them... I'd give them a good lecturing.

ReCut And News

If you read me, you know I've been re-cutting and retooling for this newly energized business plan I'm on... This morning I re-edited my "sizzle reel..." and moved some videos around on websites and YouTube to strengthen my brands. This week, I'll have to look at re-editing my "comedy reel."

Hey, I got some EXCELLENT NEWS on Friday... My commercial agents, passed my materials to their THEATRICAL DEPARTMENT, and we're going to be "dating" for a while, they'll submit me for things as I try to figure out EXACTLY where I want to land regarding representation... They're great, but not into packaging and literary as I want... But it was GREAT news for both of us...

May we do well for each other in the interim!

-- Quiche

 

Zoo Story... to be continued

Today was my first day of actual volunteer work at the Los Angeles Zoo... My initial general volunteer training is over, and now I'm officially in the Enrichment department, implementing and figuring out ways to entertain and stimulate the animals. Wow...

Insert jokes here...

And no, they don't strap meat to me and make me run around the Lion pens... Yet. Or make me pole dance for the elephants... Yet. I did whistle as I walked back down the path to my car, but I don't think any animal was really listening.

Today I designed and created feeding tubes for orangutan, that kinda are supposed to look like branches... I built two to their specs (pic on left). Built a third combining specs (after I got permission)... And then created a prototype for a brand new design which I'm told will be tested this week by the Keepers  (pic on right)...

8.5 hours later I left the gates loving how I spent the day.  I'm a big supporter of finding volunteer work that interests you.

-- Quiched In PVC Dust ~ Tom Kiesche