::.Autumnattic.::

2008-03-12T02:05:00.001-04:00

Cultural Attaché Head Case: Super Producer’s Thirst for Endless Knowledge

Here’s one the UTA job list conveniently left out this week:

Cultural Attaché needed for A-List producer at major production company. Qualified candidates will be well versed in knowledge in general, several languages, heavy phones, submissions, calendar, travel, be personal friends with a vast array of physicists, Nobel Laureates, Trained chefs, soap makers, veterans and artisans and be fluent in explaining exactly what it is that a “delegate” does. Responsibilities include teaching, expanding, translating and philosophizing on everything that an intelligent producer should probably know, you know? Must have three years agency experience. Top five preferred. Salary DOE – which is a lot because you have experienced pretty much everything that life has to offer. Send cover letter, easy to understand definition of “delegate” and proposed schedule of intelligent cultural icon interviews to resumes@imagine-entertainment.com. 3/7

Waxy haired super producer Brian Grazer is hiring – and no, it’s not an executive assistant position. It’s a cultural attaché position. What – you haven’t heard of that? It’s one of those gigs that pretty much most agency partners and high profile studio heads are privy to. Hell, even ol’ Lew Wasserman had a cultural attaché back in the day! In fact, Wasserman started the cultural attaché mentorship program, where aspiring attachés could intern in the famed MCA building, and learn to cover scripts, procure knowledge, answer phones and expound endless tidbits of art, medicine and politics to high power executives at the drop of a hat.

While the Beautiful Mind producer’s staff of twenty continues to meet with candidates, Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment partner Ron Howard continues his search to replace his long-standing, traveling personal novel condenser and urban planning consultant. [Variety]

2007-02-08T19:17:00.000-05:00

Hi Young Folks,

Are you still there?

Didn't think so.

Anywhozzle, I'm going to take this opportunity to put an unofficial stamp of hiatus on Autumnattic (in case you haven't figured this much out already).

In the meantime, I'll try and figure out the best way to hone my blogging skillz and return to my faithful reader(s) with a vengance.

Until then,

I'll enjoy some Darjeeling.

Ak

i candy

2006-05-27T22:01:00.000-04:00

halftime of pistons/heat game #3 really means it's time to recap.

rather than blocks of text to blur your eyes, feast on a few pictorial highlights from the previous week.

and here's a few items purchased by milly and myself on our day off in charlevoix in order to solidify the unit director aesthetics:

(2) bikes [one refurbished, one brand new; both under $80.00]
(1) coffee maker
(2) motorola talk abouts
(1) insulated mugs

file under: lists

2006-05-24T20:23:00.000-04:00

the fifth (5th) day of precamp comes to a close.

that should formally solidify the first official work week.

you see, camp is really all about lists. and communication. i'll now take those two elements and fuse them for a concise and informational post. without further adieu (sp?); a list:

items and areas of camp unpacked thus far (most with really intensive manual labor):

1) raked/cleaned/spruced up (3) large campsites
2) assembled (3) docks (very big)
3) inventoried (2) athletic sheds; cleaned said sheds
4) unloaded upwards of (25) boats/canoes on to the waterfront
5) assembled volleyball net, badminton net, archery targets
6) assembled stage (very large)
7) rearranged and cleaned the following instructional areas: arts & crafts, mtn. biking, climbing, horseback riding
8) and (plenty) small but no less important tasks to bring camp to a chugging pace.

as you can see, i chose to number my list. if you think about it, however, the possibilites are endless. it's the beauty of the list. there's the (-) or the (*) or the (~) or the (DOT). lists, my friends, are very functional. try your very own today and describe it in the comments.

one chalkboard in the mess hall. one list per day. productivity, people. that's how it's done.

let's get those 'stones back into shape for tomorrow night so us camp folk'll have something to look forward to after a hard day's work.

now it's time to get lost.

pik up stiks

2006-05-21T23:16:00.000-04:00

and thus marks the end of full day #1 of precamp 2006.

for those reading at home, this next batch of autumnattic posts will attempt to sum up and pick apart the preparations necessary in grooming a summer camp for a successful summer. consider this a lesson in appreciation. we'll go from a frosty, barren landscape wrought with fallen leaves, branches, bolted up cabins, seaweed and no equipment to a welcoming community of shiny equipment, mowed grass and freshly painted signs (yeah, right).

stat tracker #1: as of today at 6:30 p.m., the numbers break down like this:

total staff: 14

(2) owners, (2) directors, (3) unit directors, (1) waterfront director, (4) specialists/general counselors, (2) cooks

(2) children, (4) dogs, (2) cats.

it remains the time where everyone anticipates the myriad of virgin camp tanuga faces slowly trickling in by the day. new faces to remember and names to forget. "where are you from? how did you hear about camp? cool! you'll like it here. it's really great. welcome to the vacuum, bitch."

here's a few highlights from day #1:

5,6...you know the rest. how's this for behind the scenes? we virtually places sticks in the forest for campers to find later in the summer and proverbially pat themselves on the back. all of the fallen branches, sticks and even some twigs were thrown into tangled piles on top of the impossibly old tractor. aaron learned to crank the tractor today. don't laugh.

after the staff wenches tired out, 'grizz'ly decided to take a stab at it. as you can see, it's tough for him to place the sticks in the pile because, well, he likes sticks. a lot.

adam lined up paddles. note to selves: war canoes are heavy, and gas is expensive.

at the end of the day, cuts and blisters covered our hands but the pistons win mended our hearts.

baby parker appreciated their effort as well.

now that we've removed the sticks from the ground, i think we'll go rake some pine needles. isn't precamp great?

projected overnight temp in kalkaska, mi: 25 degrees.

**service note: due to the wireless capabilties at camp tanuga, the pictures for this post could not be loaded. please use your imagination until i figure out a more efficient way of getting the eye candy online.

good morning.

2006-05-20T01:05:00.000-04:00

starting today, you can reach me at:

6874 Camp Tanuga Rd. NE
Kalkaska, MI
49646

it's time to embark on what could very well be my last stand at camp tanuga. after thirteen full summers (fifteen if you count family camp!), camper to CIT to counselor to program director, i've finally got nowhere else to go. so i'll be the boy's unit director.

"what? you? funny, aaron."

i know, i know. everyone's favorite enemy. the ball buster. the buzz killer. not this summer, naysayers. just wait and see what's in store for the 2006 season.

call it shmaltzy, sure. call it nostalgic, why not? for the next fifteen (15) weeks it's all of the above and lots of wet, hot kalkaskan summer antics. stay tuned. there'll be plenty to report.

recipe for ice/sound

2006-05-12T09:53:00.000-04:00

sigur rós brought their euro/iceberg/ambient/ear melding show to the state theater last night. coupled with incredible visuals (maya deren, much?), transparent screens and perfectly sequenced lights, the group (seven onstage including the opening classical vixens amina ) tore through a majority of their newest album, takk, as well as some gems from ( ) and Ágætis Byrjun.

without more than one word of stage banter for the entire show (it couldn't possibly be a language barrier), frontman Jon Por Birgisson used his traditional violin bow to cut away at his white les paul and screamed his angelic falsetto to the point where it could've easily been that of a five year old girl. ironically, the giant screen was filled with what appeaed to be avant garde renderings of five year old boys.

there were bells, piano, ensemble violins, impeccably precise bass notes and a whole lot of mesmerized people. at one point, bassist Georg Holm started a song by tapping a drum stick against his bass and creating a faint beat that started small, but ended in an ear splitting montage. Birgisson knows when to hold his tongue, and the crowd knew exactly when to be pin drop silent to catch the smallest whisper that morphed into a crashing crescendo of sound.

the perfect way to describe a sigur rós show? ron said, "patience". i say, "a patient mountain of varying temperatures invaded by horsehair, fits of epilepsy, ice, sugar, tears and horn-rimmed glasses." repeat and stir. result: incredible.

whathowwhyamazingshitohmygodflowcrazysadhappydepressedfriendscampannarbor

2006-04-29T19:49:00.000-04:00

today i graduated from the university of michigan.

what's next?

one word, aaron. plastics.

one word.

don't forget!

2006-03-28T10:45:00.001-05:00

<3

AK

on a more serious note

2006-02-20T17:07:00.000-05:00

this past weekend, university of michigan freshman john mitchell passed away after being in a drug induced coma from a snowboarding accident up north. after two suicides at the university in the past month, it is difficult for me to even ponder the amount of loss, heartbreak, pain and frustration those that were close with the people involved have felt.

i came across mr. mitchell's facebook profile, and was overwhelmed to see the way friends and other students have reached out and used the site as a coping tool and a way to pay their respects. this is one of the most fascinating and bizzarely moving things i have seen in a long time, and i felt the need to post it to illuminate the power a website has to create a posthumous shrine. here is a sampling of what mr. mitchell's wall looks like. it is painted with love and kind words that truly touched me as i did something so mundane as log in to the facebook.

[names have been hidden to protect identities]

____ (MSU) wrote
at 3:33pm
john i didnt know you all too well but from what i did you a great person. i know you are up there smiling down on the ones you loved RIP ____
Message

____wrote
at 12:06pm
John, I remember the Observerland meet when you had a pulled hamstring and you fought through it, and helped Stevenson win Long Jump. You were an amazing athlete and an even better friend. You encouraged me even when I was your competition; you supported me when no one else did. You will never be forgotten. -____
Message

____(Ferris State) wrote
at 3:13am
I dont know what to say man. Everyone that knows you loves you. you were the best of the best. it will never be the same. i'm going to miss u and i cant wait to see u again. I love u bro.
Message

____ wrote
at 9:17pm February 19th, 2006
John, I'll never forget the great times I had with you at Michigan. You are a such an amazing person in every way. You are smart, athletic, and one of the nicest people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. We are all deeply saddened, and you will be forever loved and missed. You truly made the world a better place. Miss you Johnny, rest in peace... ____
Message

____ (Albion) wrote
at 4:26pm February 19th, 2006
I..don't even know what to say..you were a great person. I wish you could see how much you will be missed. peace
Message

____ wrote
at 4:10pm February 19th, 2006
John...I really don't think its hit me yet what it means that you're gone. I honestly don't think I've ever met a nicer guy, you were such an awesome friend and I'm going to miss you tons. Thanks for always being there for me...I know someday I'll see you again. Everyone here loves and misses you so much!! R.I.P.
Message

____ (Northwood) wrote
at 1:58pm February 19th, 2006
There will never be another person like you John. You were truly a great person. A person who would go great distances for other people. You had everything going for you and it is not fair becuase you had the whole world coming to you. You will forever be missed!!! I will never forget you my friend. R.I.P.
Message

____ (Grand Valley State) wrote
at 11:55am February 19th, 2006
Wow.... I really don't think it's hit me yet that you're gone. It's times like these where I really question what possible reason God could have had to take you away from us. You had so much going for you and were one of the nicest guys I've ever met. We'll all miss you more than you could possibly imagine, and your family and friends are in my prayers...... R.I.P John......
Message

____ (Central Mich.) wrote
at 11:02am February 19th, 2006
You were a really nice person I can't say anything bad about you. i will definatly keep you in my prayers. RIP John ____Message

____ wrote
at 4:28am February 19th, 2006
John, you are a great person. Everything that you did reflected that. I will miss you very much along with everyone that had the pleasure of knowing you. We know that you are in a better place but dont ever doubt that we miss you here. Love you!...and you will NEVER be forgotten!!!
Message

____ (MSU) wrote
at 1:04am February 19th, 2006
John, I miss you so much already. It's not the same when the group gets together anymore. When Lia came into the house today it was hard for me to think you wouldn't be following her close behind. You were an amazing friend and one that will never be forgotten. We love you and we miss you. See you when we get there...
Message

____ wrote
at 12:45am February 19th, 2006
John, you have been and still are in all of our prayers. We all miss you so much.
Message

____ (MSU) wrote
at 7:47pm February 18th, 2006
john u will always be here in spirit! i'll miss you tons buddy...tear! RIP
Message

____ wrote
at 7:38pm February 18th, 2006
John, Life is not always fair. You are one of the nicest kids I've ever known, and I will miss you. It was awesome playing basketball with you bcuz you always worked hard and got along with everyone. You made every day of practice so much better. I wish we wouldv'e stayed in touch more after basketball, but I know you are going to a better place now. Everyone is going to miss you so much. We need to think about all the good things you brought to others and stay strong bcuz you were one of the strongest, smartest, nicest, most sincere human beings I have ever been around. I'll miss you John! RIP
Message

____ (MSU) wrote
at 5:45pm February 18th, 2006
John~ i dont even kno where to begine...we didnt really know eachother very well but we've hung out here and there. I have known lia for a very long time and what i do know about you is that u made lia soooooo happy. life isnt always fair, but i beleive that everything happens for a reason...you will never be forgotton love you, mo
Message

____ ♥ (MSU) wrote
at 5:14pm February 18th, 2006
I will always remember eating ice cubes with you after tennis. :) Sorry I never held your hand roller skating when we were little, when you asked. I really did want to. You will never be forgetten. :) You are amazing.
Message

____ (Central Mich.) wrote
at 4:41pm February 18th, 2006
come june, ill celebrate for the both of us. but i kno ull b there in spirit. ill miss ya
Message

____ wrote
at 4:34pm February 18th, 2006
we'll all miss you tons ♥ you're one of the best
Message

____ (Creative Studies) wrote
at 4:28pm February 18th, 2006
dear johnny...
Message

____ (E. Michigan) wrote
at 4:26pm February 18th, 2006
you'll always be with us John!!

kugel-much?

2006-02-20T00:24:00.000-05:00

if you've ever wondered what an ultra-successful kugel competition looked like, why then look no further.

on saturday, the shmooze group held the malka & elimelech kugelov kugel-off at our house. the event surpassed all expectations, and was a great showcase of jews making, eating and shmoozing kugel.

do take notice of the fantastic varieties of bubbe-faves: the delightfully colored "squash kugel", the ever popular "crumbler" [*WINNER], the festively fruity "jersualem kugel", the post modern mashup "seven layer kugel", the drab, tasteless but pareve for pesach "passover kugel" and of course, the salty "piping hot potato kugel".

quite the carb-filled, nap inducing, ech ech ech afternoon, if i might say.

for more information on kugel and kugel-making competitions, see ruby's elaborate effort .

my bloody valentine

2006-02-14T22:25:00.000-05:00

here is a nice valentine card from an artist i truly admire. his name is david shrigley.

so, by the transitive property, had i a valentine this year, this would go to you.

also, for the sentimentalist readers on this hallmark day, go here . you won't regret it.

happy happy and all that, i guess.

misshape'd fur coat

2006-02-08T11:28:00.000-05:00

jenny lewis may have been spinning in style at misshapes on saturday night, but what you didn't know was that my review of rabbit fur coat (which i wrote two weeks ago, go figure) finally ran in yesterday's daily.

i am in the process of booking all sorts of spring break mayhem, including jackson hole for skiing & cold-hot tubbing and of course a visit to bema in "del boca veesta, flawrida" (pronounced like a real midwesterner). helping me do this are the wonderfully serio-comic sounds of jens lekman and the electro-dreamy electric president.

*fabulous nostalgia = an uncovering of very special brand new demos from their supposed 2006 release. word is these tunes are not going to be on the album (that's been in production longer than g n r's chinese democracy), but at least it's some sign of life.

grizzly dog

2006-02-04T23:06:00.000-05:00

lola, my beautiful golden pup, really loves television. and bears.

tonight, she was enamored by timothy treadwell and his amazing story in the 2005 documentary, grizzly man.

she's probably thinking, "i could take those grizzlies. but i don't have to. i have a nice home right here."

invite everyone

2006-02-02T17:50:00.000-05:00

it looks like the new pornographers / belle & sebastian double power tour has some friendly competition. go oc style and bring your friends to the 2006 franz ferdinand / death cab for cutie super mega reformed indie tour: [dates via brooklyn vegan]

DEATH CAB & FRANZ FERDINAND DATES
3/22 Portland, OR Memorial Coliseum
3/23 Sacramento, CA Memorial Auditorium @ Sacramento Conv Ctr.
3/24 Reno, NV Reno Hilton Pavilion
*3/26 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues
3/27 Tucson, AZ Centennial Hall @ University of Arizona
3/29 Austin, TX The Backyard
3/30 Houston, TX Verizon Wireless Theater
3/31 Dallas, TX Nokia Theatre
*4/1 Tulsa, OK Cain's Ballroom
*4/3 Omaha, NE Sokol Auditorium
*4/4 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
*4/5 Atlanta, GA The Tabernacle
4/7 Durham, NC Cameron Stadium @ Duke University
4/8 Camden, NJ Tweeter Indoor Theatre
4/9 Ithaca, NY Barton Hall @ Cornell University
4/11 Washington, DC DAR Constitution Hall
4/12 Boston, MA Agganis Arena at Boston U.
4/13 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
4/14 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
4/15 Montreal, QC Cepsum @ University of Montreal
4/17 Toronto, ON Ricoh Coliseum
4/18 Detroit, MI State Theatre
4/19 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom
4/20 St. Paul, MN Northrop Auditorium
*4/21 Madison, WI Orpheum Theatre
4/23 Winnipeg, MT Burton Cummings Theatre
4/25 Edmonton, AB Shaw Conference Center
4/26 Calgary, AB Stampede Corral
4/28 Vancouver, BC TBA

* indicates Death Cab for Cutie only shows

i mean, really

2006-02-02T15:25:00.000-05:00

it's shmucks like this guy that aren't really helping the case that ang lee, heath ledger and jake gyllenhal so adventurously tried to quell with a film like brokeback mountain. more hate crimes in the ~~south~~ massachusetts really shows why most of them never took their confederate flags off their sleeves.

i know we all want to see less homeless people in ann arbor (except the "spare any change my good friend?" man, of course).

but why, oh why, would these deliquent kids want to literally beat homeless people? now they're charged with first degree and attempted murder, and i really hope they spend the rest of their lives in a 3 x 3 cell.

queer battle

2006-01-31T14:16:00.000-05:00

2006 oscar nominations are here. nothing out of the ordinary, save for my girl kiera knightley's nod for pride & prejudice. expect my predictions in due time, but for now, i'll say this: go team baumbach! [i still love ya, woody.]

detroit rock surge

2006-01-30T16:21:00.000-05:00

the raconteurs are finally here!

listen to the streaming 7" on their website (which, btw, is an amazing throwback). [image courtesy of stereogum]

jack white + brendan benson + patrick keeler + jack lawrence = highly anticipated 2006 shizz

oh, and check out my top ten albums of 2005 (i know, i know, very belated) in today's michigan daily

rumours come true

2006-01-30T13:02:00.000-05:00

that's right. last night in the ripe musical landscape that is manchester, UK, 1/2 of the smiths reunited onstage at the manchester vs. cancer charity event. johnny marr and event organizer andy rourke haven't played together in nearly twenty years! unfortunately, only a prayer in miserable heaven would bring morrissey himself back to join the pair. oh well, we'll have to sit on our heels until he unleashes ringleader of the tormentors on april 4th.

also, the arctic monkeys continued their war of the worlds-esque takeover (slated for the US in february: take cover) with a giant spread in the arts section of the new york times today. prepare for the masses. ew.

shmorgasBlog

2006-01-26T20:09:00.000-05:00

okay so here's the deal.

no updates lately, for i've been a busy, busy real boy. i'm ironing out the treatment for my new screenplay, which should be a really cool drama (even though keith mitchell gave me a critical lashing when i pitched to him). look for a completed first draft in april.
match point will rock your world, bitches.
shmooze had their first event ever on tuesday evening! ian helped organize a screening of the 1999 documentary 'one day in september', a stunning look inside the munich olympics massacre in 1972. afterwards, there was a discussion and q/a with colonel. kami robinson, a former member of the israel defense force. though i understood his qualms with the portrayal of israelis in 'munich' i still enjoyed the movie and will defend kushner and spielberg for their tireless efforts.
feist played immediately after the shmooze-fest, so i had to scurry over to the blind pig to make it on time. feist was cute and charismatic and all, but her show didn't floor me like i suspected. also, her band members are creepy mcCreepertons.
and finally, i write this post from the arts editor's desk michigan daily. it's jeopardy night: the final hurrah for the seniors. a night to make an absurdist paper, drink, say goodbyes, go in the attic, drink and play jeopardy. i've never totally involved myself with daily activities, but i've paid my dues. fuck it up.
finally, i head to charlevoix this weekend for hopefully one of many more northern michigan romps in 06.

__

boa hamster vs. python

2006-01-19T10:32:00.000-05:00

who wants to write this screenplay? i bet disney would option it for a lot of money.

sniffle.

a quick recap

2006-01-17T00:40:00.000-05:00

alissa and i went to see hostel tonight. i must admit, after eli roth's previous camp fest 'cabin fever' (and with tarantino attached as a producer), i was highly anticipating this gorefest. unfortunately, it wasn't up to par. the characters were weak, the gore was less than intense and the story fizzled away after about thirty five minutes. the one thing roth does well, however, is whisk the viewer into an environment in which they feel familiar, but the creepy secondary characters promptly change that.

please direct yourself here for a compact and number crunching review of the 1023 church impromptu party gig on saturday night. pictures included! thanks, deeg.

they were scientists

2006-01-16T16:31:00.000-05:00

we are scientists rocked the magic stick last night. though they only played for about 45 minutes, it was very high on the funkydanceabilitymeterscale.

i took only one poor picture, and will therefore post a similar shot from a show i very clearly was not at (yeah hard rock!). the band, as pointed out by katy, succumbed to a few off beats while they seamlessly segued from one "with love and squalor" tune to the next. i guess they can be forgiven. the bassist, after all, did have a mustache and raquet ball goggles on. i think adam enjoyed it as well. ran into a few old friends as well as some who i didn't really want to see or talk to.

it felt a little like the spring 2005 bloc party show, simply because W.A.S. seem to garner similar buzz, and the venue wasn't even that packed. will they be back for an encore at the royal oak music theater? it think it's possible, particularly given their label and timing. fox and josh schwartz are always ready to whore out another decent dance rock trio to the panting public.

oh, do check out the thighs wide shut top movies of the year and laugh your ass off while you miss the golden globes tonight.

good day.

test audience

2006-01-14T19:49:00.000-05:00

a quick update

here's a link to a new shins song that'll probably be on the new record (according to james mercer at a 1/7/06 show down under). decent quality, and a nice preview to what is one of the most anticipated releases of 2006.

half-ass fridazed

2006-01-14T01:19:00.000-05:00

just in from the east quad music co-op's first big show of the semester. it's a really cool venue in the east quad basement on chuch street. the house was rocked by tyvek, the avatars & the hard lessons. there are some great shows coming up in the next few months, i'd highly recommend takin a few hours out of your friday night and checking it out.

i only got to see the last half of the hard lessons, but the half-ass inn was packed and it seemed like everyone was having a great time. i only wish i might've started coming to these shows earlier. props to jenn and crew for a very successful night.

also, check out a preview i did for 'green eye's, a musical organized entirely by school of music kids, and orchestrated by my amigo, the multi-talented eli zoller.