BETELGEUSE BETELGEUSE BETELGE--

Well, the last few days have been quite an adventure. Since last I blogged, I've gotten the two internships and I'm trying to make all three work: Mondays and Tuesdays at Metro Talent, Wednesdays on the Fox Lot, and Thursdays and Fridays at Valhalla. I have yet to have a full week, so who knows how successful this undertaking will be.

Last week at Valhalla, I got to call a bunch of agents to check on their clients availability. It was really good experience with getting used to the phones and with getting familiar with the agency system. I also sat on the desk for a few days and I'm becoming a lot more comfortable with my tasks there.

This weekend, we saw "Beetle Juice" (aka "Betelgeuse") at Hollywood Forever, a cemetery in Hollywood. They have screenings on a big lawn every Saturday night, which is totally bizarre, but "Beetle Juice" was the perfect movie to see there, and it just so happens to be one of my all-time favorites. We even got a Betelgeuse cupcake! We had to get there super early to get in line--the movie didn't start until 9, but we were there with cheese, a baguette, and some fruit at 5:45! It was truly amazing.

Sundee, I went to the Larchmont Farmers' Market which is absolutely adorable. I bought the most amazing olives and strawberries and I have yet to try the avocados. We hiked Runyon again (beautiful as usual) and met up with celeb-to-be, Taylor. We got In-N-Out and watched the Celtics beat LA.

Ben's friend Taylor was here auditioning for a part in a new Todd Phillips-produced film. It wasn't even me who was up for the role, but I was anxious. I got to drive Tay Tay around to meet with potential managers and even to LAX three times. And, while he was in a meeting, I made Philip Seymour Hoffman hold the door at Joan's on 3rd open for me because my hands were full. Score. Hopefully Taylor will be moving out here soon, so it'll be awesome to have another buddy!

Today at worksies I did coverage for a pilot--nothing too exciting--then I got to read the graphic novel series The Walking Dead for six hours. Valhalla is producing the Frank Darabont-directed TV adaptation of the zombie-apocalypse series and it's set to premiere on AMC in October (sorry that was a bit of a mouthful). The series is great and I can't wait for the TV show. A few images from the shoot have been published online and they look very convincing. Check it out here. It's shooting in Atlanta and if all goes according to plan, Ben will get to be a zombie, and I am extremely envious.

Momma and Papa arrive tomorrow for my b-day weekend and I'm super pumped to see them and show them around the city. AND only two days until a new episode of Party Down. Hollerrrr.

My Life is Not Real.

Getty Museum.

Topanga Days Music Festival. The last true hippies.

Santa Monica Beach.

So it's been a while and in the meantime I've been a busy bee! We've been to Disneyland, Topanga Canyon, the Santa Monica Mountains and Griffith Park to hike, Yogurtland three times, the Melrose Flea Market, and oh so many more places. I've had cupcakes from five different places: Crumbs, Joan's on 3rd, Buttercake Bakery, Famous Cupcakes (owned by the Kardashians), and Vanilla (our favorite thus far). I've even seen Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley and Delta Spirit, all within two weeks.

Hiking is our new obsession. We're making it a weekly occurrence. Good exercise, amazing views, and the great outdoors. I can't wait to take my visitors to my favorite spots.

Today, Madame Libby P. and I went to Malibu and ran on the beach. I knew it was difficult, but I didn't think my calves would hurt this much. Tomorrow morning should be interesting. After we cruised around Malibu, we stopped for cupcakes at Vanilla in Santa Monica. Wow. I had a mint chocolate mini and a black and white mini and they were amazing. They were moist, but not too and the frosting was just the right amount of sweet. I highly recommend it.

After cupcakes, I went to see Delta Spirit play a free set at Amoeba music. This is the sixth time I've seen them, and the third state I've seen them in (the other two being Sassachusetts and Illinois). I even got their new album even though it isn't officially released until tomorrow. The only thing that was missing was my D.S. buddy, Sazz-ma-Tazz, who is enjoying springtime in Europe. Don't forget the Haribo, bress.

And of course there's work! Last week in the office we were hit with a massive amount of scripts to cover (to read, summarize, and comment on) and so I've just been reading and writing like crazy. Some scripts are better than others, but I've learned an incredible amount from just three weeks of exposure. Last week, a group of movers made our day by delivering the Terminator 2 arcade game and pinball machine. Unfortunately, the former is not currently working, but I did have the high score on pinball.

Since my current internship is only three days a week, I'm in the search for another one for the other two days. I have two interviews tomorrow, one at a talent agency and one at a production company on the Fox Lot, and hopefully one more by the end of the week.

So I'd say we've been enjoying and appreciating our time in this crazy city. AND I've seen Ashley Parker Angel twice, so really, what is there to complain about?

Because I want it All, or Nothing at All

THIS JUST IN: Ashley Parker Angel, yes from the greatest band of all time, O-Town, lives in my apartment complex. I have yet to see him, but when I do...oh boy.

So it's been a few days and I've been busy busy busy! I shall go day by day!

Friday was my first day of work. I got the rundown on morning tasks and a tour of the building. The walls are covered with the movie posters of films they've produced: The Terminator, The Hulk, Punisher: War Zone, Dick, and the special five-disc Armageddon. I spent the day in the basement where they keep the interns reading scripts and just getting acquainted with the set-up. I read the script for Duplicity and yet-to-be-produced The Low Dweller. They're not films that the company is producing or has produced, but they're examples of good scripts.

In addition to scripts, I was given an important sheet to read. Variety's "Facts On Pacts" is a list of first look deals between the major studios and production companies. Basically it means that if a production company with a first look deal has a new project, they have to pitch it first to the studio they have the deal with. In exchange, the studio pays the production company's overhead. While I don't have to memorize all of the relationships (there are at least a hundred), I'm supposed to get a sense of the connections in Hollywood.

I was given other sheets to memorize, which was rather overwhelming (a ten page list of key terms instantly made me want to make notecards), but I know it's going to take some time to learn it all and that's just part of the whole experience. I'm excited to go back to work and really immerse myself in the big, bad biz.

After work, BU hosted an alumni panel with four grads from the last three years. Their jobs were all pretty low on the ladder, but they've already had some incredible experiences and they had great advice. One of them was the assistant script advisor on Steven Spielberg's upcoming The Adventures of Tintin, and he said that it's overwhelming at first, but if you work hard, it's extremely rewarding.

When the panel was over, we came back to our lovely apartment and watched Tower of Terror, starring Steve Guttenberg and Kirsten Dunst. It's really a fine film and I highly recommend it to all.

Yesterday was a BIG day. We hopped in the car at 9 to head north-west to the Getty Center, a museum and architectural landmark atop the Santa Monica Mountains. The buildings and gardens are design-happy and the views are incredible, with LA on one side and the Pacific on the other. Pictures to come.

Straight from the Getty, we drove south to Venice Beach. Wow. It's...umm...quite a sight. A sight I only need to see once. It was really fun at first: the beach, lots of people and things to look at. But after a while we all got cranky and just really creeped out. I can't wait to go to Malibu and Santa Monica.

Last night we did an evening workout and swim then made ourselves a lovely dinner while listening to the Ella and Louis Pandora station. Blissssss.

Cruisin'

Libby P. and I just got back from cupcakes at Crumbs in Larchmont, where we spotted Jason Alexander as our first celeb sighting. Libby got a pink lemonade cupcake and I got a Reece's one. And let me tell you, that was not an easy decision. They have everything: cosmo, cookies n' cream, oreo, half baked, peanut butter and jelly, s'mores. I drooled for twenty minutes before deciding which to get.

This morning I did a test drive of my way to work and went for a joy ride on Mulholland Drive. Holy moly. That twisty-turny road is one of the craziest things I have ever seen. At certain points they have parking areas that overlook LA and the San Fernando Valley and Universal City. The smog made downtown look like Cloud City from "The Empire Strikes Back" (that's for you, Ben) and it actually looked really cool. I can't wait to go hiking in Runyan Canyon Park.

But now it's time for a run around Park La Brea!

Poolside Yoga

Last night, the roomies and I went to Target to stock our apartment. Inside, the Target could be anywhere, but when we walked outside, we were looking at the Hollywood Hills and the Hollywood sign. I promise I will eventually stop being obsessed with that silly little sign, but for the time being I will continue to enjoy its magic.

On our way home from Target we got take-out sushi from this cute little place on Beverly Ave., and ate it while watching "Glee." For those of you who are not gleeks, I apologize, but I need to gush about "Dream On" and "Safety Dance." Matthew Morrison and Neil Patrick Harris' duet was amazing. They put Eminem's homage to the song to shame. And the "Safety Dance." Artie is the greatest and that song is the greatest, so how could it not be great? I'd love to see more dancing like that on the show.

Enough about Glee. This morning, we woke up early, went to the gym and then went to a yoga class at the pool. The pool is beautiful and makes the most peaceful "wushing" noise as it overflows into the drains that surround it. It really was like being at the beach. I could most definitely get used to this lifestyle.

I Love Mountains Part II

The view from our apartment! The Hollywood sign is the tiny white thing on the left side of the hills.

I Love Mountains

My camerawork may need a bit of help, but here's the view from the grove and in the last few seconds you can see my apartment complex--all of those towers that look exactly the same. Also fun fact: they were playing "It Had to Be You" from When Harry Met Sally at the Grove. Parfait.