My Life

Not much new going on over here in AaronLand.

I've got some movie pics for ya.

Last night Crystal and I saw 'Chronicles of Narnia' (my first her second time). It was pretty good. I'm not familiar with the children's books, so I don't know how faithful the adaptation was, however I was very impressed with the special effects.

After that, we went across the hallway to catch 'Munich'. Now there's two movies on the opposite end of the spectrum. I have been anticipating seeing this one for a while and boy, was I pleased. Spielberg is a master and at the top of his form with this one (didn't catch WOTW so I don't have a point of reference for that). This movie is epic in scale. Tons of locations, spanning a few years. Great performances by Eric Bana, Ciaran Hinds, Geoffrey Rush, and Daniel Craig (soon to be Bond, James Bond). Spielberg's biggest accomplishment, in my opinion, is that the movie presents both sides of the Israel/Palestine conflict. He doesn't necessarily demonize the Palestinian terrorists. Perhaps this was a savvy business move, intended to fill seats in all parts of the Middle East, but I doubt it. The message is one of peace. Violence and retaliation doesn't lead to peace, just (apparently) paranoia and the fear of more retaliation. Just come prepared to sit, because this one is long (so was Narnia).

I doubt I covered it previously, so I'll also endorse Paul Haggis' CRASH. A meditation on race relations/prejudice set in Los Angeles, it features a talented cast: Matt Dillon, Sandra Bullock, Ryan Phillipe, Terrence Howard (amazing!), Don Cheadle, Brendan Fraser, Ludacris (not too shabby), and others. For the most part the plot wasn't predictable, the score was spot on, and the performances truthful. I was moved, and hopefully so will you.

In other news, I think the leash makes my dog a little...crazy. He's like Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde...

Peace.

Hello. Anyone there? I know it's been ages since I've really posted something.

Basically I've been very busy at work. First, we lost our opening manager, then our general manager got transferred to a club in Atlanta. That left 2 full time managers and one weekend manager to run the club. Then, over the holidays, the other full time manager was on vacation, so only myself and one college student ran the club all last week.

This left me with zero time or energy to do anything.

On Monday a new GM started working in our club, so I'll start being sane again. And leaving messages for you to read (or not read).

So much has happened, and there were times when I thought, "this would make a great story for my blog", but alas, I didn't have the time to post it.

Pictures will be coming soon, since I got a DV camcorder with a built in still camera for Christmas.

In career news, one of the positive things to come out of this workplace "shakeup" is that I got to talk with my area director and let him know of my intention to relocate to L.A. the first of June. He was cool with that and said that it should be fairly easy for me to transfer to the Crunch on Sunset Blvd. when the time comes. Plus, the pay is a little better over there (I imagine to compensate for the need for a car). He was also very impressed with how I've been running things.

So there it is. I'm exhausted but looking forward to late spring.

I'd also like to give a shout out to Tat in England. I didn't know you even knew I had a blog. Cheers.

I'm not dead, just busy. A real update is forthcoming...

Because Crystal and I procrastinated (ok, mostly I procrastinated), we finally made arrangements to board Brando in a kennel while we are visiting her family in Kansas. This place is where we settled...and by settled, I mean it was the only place that had availability left. It was Crystal's first choice, though. It's one of those "upscale" Lincoln Park spas for your dog. As much as I like Brando, he's not getting any of that crap. If I don't spend money like that on myself, why would I do it for my dog? Besides, for $40 a night, pampering should be included in the price. We might end up getting him a bath, grooming, and nail trim package for $40 though (just cuz he could use a bath and I still haven't mastered trimming his nails).

Other than that, I have nothing new to report.

How 'bout those BEARS?!!

...still waitin' for them to blow it...

Thanks to melanie for that quote from her blog. It's funny because of her related story with it, but it's also just a funny line.

My weekend went well. Crystal and I didn't really do anything interesting. Same old stuff, delivery food, movies, tv, walks with Brando, sleep. On Sunday we caught a showing of 'The Weather Man' starring Nic Cage. It's got a lot of Chicago locations, making it fun to play a fun little navigation game while watching ("I know where that is!"). It was a pretty good flick. I was an extra in it and if you don't blink and know exactly when the scene is coming up...you just may catch a glimpse of me walking with a girl as Nic's character is getting out of his car and picking up take-out in Wicker Park (North and Milwaukee I believe...near the Double Door). Great performances by solid actors but Michael Caine probably was the best.

Crystal and I are looking into boarding Brando when we go to Kansas for Thanksgiving. Anyone have any thoughts on dog boarding? Recommendations? Or volunteers to pet sit?

C'est tout!

Ok, the moment you've all been waiting for (just humor me)...Aaron Bendele's proofs have arrived via email. Click here.

The cool thing is I paid for 80 frames, but Brian kept on shooting and I got 131 frames (obviously, as you will see, not all of them are winners). Overall, I'm very happy with the results of the shoot. I highly recommend Brian McConkey for your headshot/publicity/portrait needs!

If you do look at them all, please let me know which ones you like and why, I would really appreciate it. There are quite a few I could use, so help with the selection process would be cool.

Thanks.

Merci.

Dommo Arrigato...(mr. robat-o)

Happy All Hallowes Eve, Devil's Night, Lupercalia, etc. to all you gouls and goblins! I hope you have a wonderfully SCARY holiday. I'm thinking of dressing up for our work party this evening. I'm on the fence: I could go as Jack White (which I've done before...no new costume needed), or as a zombie (pretty much like Jack White but without color coordination). Any thoughts?

Time for my weekly Monday morning dispatch from the trenches. I had my headshots session with Brian McConkey on Friday. Aside from me forgetting to bring a shirt I wanted for one of my looks, I had a great session. I thought I'd be nervous, but I was fairly relaxed. Brian was great to work with, a real pro. He's the best in the city, and it shows. I'm also glad I ponied up the exra $90 for the hair & makeup artist. The shoot lasted about 2.5 hours. It was a warm and sunny day. First we went up on the roof, then shot in different areas of the studio downstairs. He used natural light for most of the shoot except for the last few frames. When he found out I'm a bit of a photographer, he gave me an "assignment". He told me how to effectively shoot self-portraits. I had such a great time I forgot that I just dropped $465 for the experience. I can't wait for my proofs to be ready. One cool thing is that they will be available online in about 5 business days, so I think I'll be able to put a link up here so if you are interested you could check them out (and recommend which two shots you think would be best for me to order).

Exciting! I'm broke but happy.

Saturday night Crystal and I saw "Hackslash", a comic book turned slasher horror theatre show. My friend from the theatre conservatory, Adam Mack, had a role in it.

Sunday we checked out Chicagoween downtown at the Daley Center. There were circus performers, which I love. Then we went home, headed to the park with Brando, and I set up my camera on a tripod. We were hoping to get a "family portrait" good enough to use as a Christmas card. I know, I know, all together now...."awwww". It was fun trying to get him to pose, we were losing light fast, but I think we may have gotten a good shot.

Ok, that's it. Goodbye.

My weekend had its highs and lows.

Saturday morning I open at the gym. I got my coffee at the Starbucks on the corner of Roscoe and Broadway, as I always do. I said hello to Phil Higgins (who seems to work there every other saturday morning) from my theatre conservatory days. Then, as always, I waited for the bus across the street. It came at pretty much it's usual time. But I soon discovered that the bus driver managed to accelerate slow enough to catch nearly EVERY light. This couldn't be blamed on traffic, because it was at 6 a.m. I. Wanted. To. Kill. Him (Her?). I arrived at work about 12 minutes later than normal. Still opened on time, but had a lot of stuff to do that I normally get done before opening.

But the fun doesn't stop there. At 8:30 a.m. or so, this skinny, tattooed, full on velvet blazer wearing coked-up musician came in and wanted a tour NOW. He wanted to get in the ring NOW. Would I mind getting in with him right now??


No, thank you.


He said he talked to someone about getting a membership so I did give him the benefit of the doubt. He said he played a gig at the House of Blues next door the night before and that he'd been up all night (which I believed). Still, he was a handful, trying to get a member to give him a tour, etc. Finally, Mike, our personal training manager arrived a few minutes early for a training session he had with a client. Both Mike and I told him that a sales rep. would be in at 9 and he could sign up then. Mike had a few words with him and seemed to calm him down. At that point Mike walked away and took a call on his phone. He then tried to say goodbye to Mike (who was a good 15 yards away) and when Mike didn't say bye he called him a faggot.

"Oh...you shouldn't have done that," I said, almost conspiratorially.

He shouldn't have done that. Mike has a temper. He's in great shape, and by the way he's a trained competitive fighter. Mike quickly let this guy now of his options: 1) Leave now, or we call the Police and our building security. 2) Mike will physically remove you from the premises, we call the Police and an ambulance.

Crazy coked-up musician "left the building".

But what really makes this story worthy of taking up so much space on my blog is that I SAW this guy AGAIN that SAME DAY outside of my APARTMENT BUILDING!

That's right. I was that evening and Crystal and I were headed to the Gap to pick up some clothes from my upcoming headshot shoot, and we were riding down the elevator in our building and this girl from a lower floor got on with us. She was the first to go out the front doors of the building, followed by Crystal and then me. I saw him through the glass then, wearing the same blazer and looking like he still hadn't slept, loitering next to the doorway. Waiting for her. Does she know she's going out with a real catch? One to take home to Mom? I mean, she didn't say, "wow, you look like shit." My girlfriend agreed he looked pretty ragged and she only got to see him from a distance (I told her to hang back because I didn't want to have an awkward conversation...or to let him know where I live).

Sunday proved to be less eventful, though we did make a trip down to Lincoln Park to the Old Navy to get some winter coats (and for me to get more clothes for the shoot). I got a sweet black pea-coat.

The cold and rain has now been going strong for the second day but that's cool because the White Sox have clinched Game 2 of the Series with a home run in the 9th. I'm as excited for the Sox as a bitter Cubs fan can get. This town is gonna be INSANE if they win the Series.

Today is my birthday. 26 years old. Wow.

Let me tell you, 25 sounds young. 25 sounds fresh, still clinging to the few remaining shards of youth...26 sounds like...4 YEARS UNTIL 30! And then part of me looks at what I haven't accomplished yet...

But I realize I AM still young, and my acting career is about to finally start up, and that everything will be ok. But that hasn't made me any less irritable this morning. For some reason, everything and everyone at the gym has been getting on my nerves. I'm regretting not taking the day off today...

But it's not just my birthday today. My camp buddy, Pat Kinney, also has a birthday today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAT!! Look out for 26! Heheh. Also I'd like to give a shout out to my bro from DETROIT...Eminem! Detroit whut! It's his birthday, too.

On to weekend news:

The '41st Annual Chicago International Film Festival' is going on right now. This was the first time since I moved to Chicago that I could actually afford to go to at least one of the screenings. 'The Weather Man' is premiering on the 20th. I'd love to be able to go to that, since I was an extra in it (and I was standing FOUR FEET from Nic Cage), but alas, tickets to that special closing ceremony screening are $25.

Crystal and I DID get to see 'FEAST'. You may have heard of it. It's the product of the reality show on BRAVO, 'Project Greenlight'. This year the contest centered on making a low budget horror movie. What sucks (and what made this season's show so interesting) is that Miramax and Disney kinda had a divorce while this film was in post and consequently it hasn't been released yet (and may never be). A bonus to the late night screening was that the director, John Gulager, and the two screenwriters were in attendance and a 'Q & A' session followed the screening.

So how was the film? Freakin' great if you love the horror genre. I don't mean the atmospheric, water dripping, creepy child scary movies of today but the good old fashioned, blood and gore drenched creature flicks from years back. The look of the film reminded me of the cinematography from the original 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'. The script was brilliant. It had the right touch of humor and plenty of scares to keep you interested. There was a hell of a lot more blood than I expected, and the characters weren't your average 'horror movie characters'. The actors' performances were good. In short, I was thoroughly entertained, pleasantly surprised, and delighted to get to see this film. If the folks at Dimension are reading this, they will give this film the release it deserves. There is an audience out there for this film. I KNOW it would do well at the 'Brew and View' (beer and horror flicks always go well).

Here's to hopefully seeing it there one day.

Vingt-six!
A bientot vingt-cinq...

Check out the new look. More changes to come. Let me know what you think, but since I'm shallow I probably won't take your advice.

Whoa...fall has finally arrived...in the form of WINTER. Nah it's not quite that bad but the winds have picked up around here.

Oh...I wish I wish I wish I were in L.A. NOW!!! They were in, like, the 80's yesterday. I just can't get there fast enough.

...Yesterday I had my headshot consultation with Brian McConkey. To all of you readers on the outside of "the biz", you need 8 x 10" pictures of yourself, focusing mostly on your face, to be able to audition, get an agent, etc. The name sounds like I'm going to get some sort of trendy lobotomy, but rest assured, after my shoot I'll remain as crazy as ever.

So...McConkey. This guy is probably one of maybe 3 or so of the most sought after headshot photographers in the city. Actually, he's probably THE NUMBER ONE guy. His loft studio is immaculate, tons of space, and there are pictures of celebrities (local and big-time) that he has shot over the years. You could also say he's a little...not eccentric, but...punchy, I guess. He has this phrase, or some form of it, "sha boom-boom" that he uses often. As a fellow (but lesser) photographer, I look up to him. As an actor, I hope he's able to take a good picture of me (basically one that captures my personality and will help at least get me seen by agents, casting directors, etc). It should be that way, since for two rolls (80 frames) I'll be shelling out $375, plus $90 if I go with his hair/makeup person. The good news is that he now works in color and that when I move to L.A., which is a town where color is pretty much the industry standard, I won't have to get new shots right away...unless this health club/work out thing goes down the crapper and I gain a TON of weight (pun intended).

Long story short I am THRILLED to FINALLY be able to do what I spent five years and thousands of dollars of money (that I will be paying back for a LONG, LOOONNNNGGG time) to be able to do! This is assuming that in the two and a half years since I earned my BFA (with honors mind you!) that all my talent and training haven't been piddled away by this cold, unforgiving rock that we live on.

Heh.

Wish me luck.

No this entry isn't about cocaine. Though...I love the cocaine, I love the cocaine...

Kidding.

Yesterday ended up a lot different than I thought it would. Around 3 in the afternoon, my friend and ex co-worker at Crunch, Samantha, called me and asked if I wanted to shoot a testimonial for medical software for $50 bucks. I didn't really want to do it since I was feeling lazy (read unshaven and unwashed), but I agreed since she so graciously let us kill her in my short film (and for nothing I might add).

Apparently her friend owns a software company of some sort and wanted testimonials to put up on the website. Once I hear it's up, maybe I'll put up a link so you can see me "playing" a doctor.

For what turned out to be an hour and a half of work, a free mocha, $25 gift certificate to a restaurant, and $50...not a bad way to end the weekend.

It's October! Where the hell does time go, anyway? Not much to report. Watched 'Hotel Rawanda' last night. Very good film but you have to be in the right mood to watch two hours of genocide. Also I've been keeping busy watching the first season of 'Lost' (thanks to Netflix). Wow! I'm totally hooked. I saw a couple episodes last year but I work on Wednesday nights so I couldn't keep up. Damn that show is gooooood! It's almost better watching it on DVD because you can watch a lot of episodes at once and you don't have to wait to see what happens at the end of an episode cliffhanger.

Heh. Anyone else hear that Dominic Monaghan and Elijah Wood are dating?? I KNEW Frodo was gay! I think it's rather funny, the idea of two hairy footed hobbits scrogging.

Whoa? Since when did this blog get all gossipy? I'll keep it to a minimum, then.

I'm gonna see the Foo Fighters at the Allstate Arena on Monday. Fun...they really put on a good rock show...I should know because I've seen every tour of theirs since Colour and the Shape.

Allrighty. That's it.

"you're up, Kip!"

Not much going on here aside from the fact that Crystal's parents are visiting. Last night was pizza at home and a viewing of 'Napolean Dynamite'. They hadn't seen it before and loved it. Tonight is dinner and an evening at the theatre. We have 'Wicked' tickets. And then on Sunday we are going to a Cubs game. Let's pray the weather holds up.

In other news: as of Monday, Bally's sold Crunch Fitness for $45 million. This is good news because our new owners love our brand and they will be pumping some money into our clubs for equipment upgrades and what not.

That's all, folks.

Not much going on here. Monday Crystal waited in line for 4 hours for the chance to meet Sarah Jessia Parker. All she had to do was cough up the $60 for her new perfume (which to be honest smells quite nice). It turns out Crystal was one of the lucky few to actually get to talk to her. She talked to each person for quite a while. Crystal said she gave her acting career advice. I'm pleased she got to meet her idol.

Also on Monday Crystal and I went to the photographer Suzanne Plunkett for Crystal's headshot consultation. They set an appointment for a shoot next Monday. I'm happy that she is getting these done. I'm excited to see how they turn out because I still haven't decided on who I want to do my headshots.

That's all I got.

Just when I thought I had closed the chapter on "parallax", the short film I wrote/acted in this summer, I got a call from L.A. Steve last Sunday. He's currently doing P.A. work on a celebrity poker gameshow on the Gameshow network. He said that the producer has heard about 'Parallax' and that he's "interested" in turning it into a feature length film. He would put up "$100,000."

To be honest, I'm a little underwhelmed.

I'm not jumping up and down, because:

1) I didn't actually talk to the producer myself.
2) Parallax is a short film...I still have to adapt it into a full length and even then there's no guarantee the producer is gonna like it and actually pony up the dough.
3) We all know how unsatisfied I was with the production of the short "Parallax."

Is it good news? Yeah. I mean, if nothing else comes out of it, I'll have one feature script under my belt. I was planning on writing a comedy for my first feature but I can move that back.

In the meantime I'm waiting on Steve to send me a budget report so I can start on a treatment for the script that will fit within the restraints of the budget.

I'm not getting excited until I get a check...

So I really don't know how to put into words how great the concert was. The White Stripes really do rock, in every sense of the word, a la a band like AC/DC or Led Zeppelin. For two divorcees who call themselves siblings and are from the urban wasteland of Deruit (kidding), they can keep an audience's attention.

As you may expect, their songs don't sound like they do on the CD (or MP3 or whatever platform you listen to). It's even less polished, more mistakes, but at the same time their flair and 'je ne sais quois' make up for their lack of polish (but to their defense and in response to one published critique of the concert)...that's their whole thing. Garage rock isn't Third Eye Blind. Or even U2. It's raw. It's nasty. It's ballsy. Nuff said.

Other points of interest would be the venue. The Auditorium is a historic venue. Inside it's all velvet, intricately carved woodwork, and painted murals. There are myriad lights adorning the crevases of the balconies and walls. Not exactly the place where you would expect to see a rock band...possibly a ballet (which is actually true since the world reknowned Joffrey Ballet has been in residence for years). However, for the band whose recording philosophy dictates they cannot record with equipment made after 1963, the Auditorium seemed like a perfect marriage of old and new.

Thanks all I've got. I wish I could better put into words the actual experience. If you could only have seen the gentleman one row in front of us, swaying his hips awkwardly and pumping his fists robotically: compared to everyone else, I think he had the best experience of all.

So I've had, like, tons of requests to talk about the White Stripes concert. Ok...so I've only had one, but that's all the justification I need.

Yes, the concert was awesome. It wasn't quite what I had expected. I own the White Stripes DVD (Under Blackpool Lights) and I expected it to be like that, and sonically, it was. But when Crystal and I took our seats at the Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University (my alma mater), I was surprised to see the stage decorated (for a minimalist rock band they went all out for this one). As a side note I may write about the time some of my friends and I snuck into the Auditorium Theatre via a secret entrance connected to to a bathroom on the 8th floor of university...but not tonight.

Tonight I am suffering from insomnia (or restlessness or both), and to fight that I've poured myself my second stiff drink so if there are typos...so be it.

The stage had a scrim with the album art on it, as well as being decked out in red carpet. There was the drum kit stage right, a piano stage left, and upstage there was a marimba (kinda like a xylophone). There were little white trees and lights in the back.

The Greenhornes opened but you could tell everyone was really waiting for the Stripes to take the stage. When they did, the roar from the crowd was almost deafening.

I could go on but the stiff drinks are finally catching up with me and now I'm tired so I'l wrap this up on Friday.

Peace.

I'll get to the White Stripes concert (which was am.a.zing) later.

I keep watching the news reports and feeling such incredible loss for a city I visited only once. New Orleans was the most vibrant city I'd ever been to. The moment I stepped off the bus outside of my hotel, just by smelling the air, (I know this sounds corny) I felt the Life of the city. You could feel it in humidity. You certainly could see it in the various types of architecture. And you could definitely connect with it when you spoke with the locals. New Orleans is a very unique city. Probably the closest city in America to a European city (in the French Quarter, the Vieux Carre). The Garden District was filled with these incredible antebellum mansions that looked like doll houses. Most of them are probably destroyed now.

When I hear people say that the citizens had it coming, that they knew where they were living and the danger that came with it, I am angered because I know why the citizens of New Orleans live there. You only have to spend an afternoon exploring the city to know that these people have been living in the same homes for generations. And for many, after the steel/shipping bust in the 70's (I believe), there was no where else to go. New Orleans is a part of their character.

I am reminded of the walking tour of the French Quarter that I took one night. It was a 'haunted history' tour but they discussed architecture and film locations, etc. Accross the alley from St. Louis Cathedral, named Pirate's Alley, the tour guide pointed out the apartment that William Faulkner lived in while he wrote many of his gothic stories. I looked around. Behind me lay the courtyard of St. Louis Cathedral, with its gargoyles and statues of saints. And I swear to God, at that moment as if on cue, a black cat stalked past on the far side of the courtyard fence. That's when I knew that New Orleans was special. There's something in the air there. And that's why, with a little help from their fellow Americans, they will rebuild.

It's 6:55 am and I'm overflowing with excitement! Ok, not really...it's tough for me to find anything exciting about being up at 7 am.

2 words:

White FUCKING Stripes!!!!!!

At the risk of sounding like a giddy schoolgirl.........OHMIGOD!! I'm going to see them for the first time! Every time they've been in town (save the last time...New Year's Eve 2003 when tix were $90 a head), I've been out of town, working at Many Point, living in a tent...

But not now. I had the scratch to buy Crystal and I tickets and we are going to see an awesome RAWK SHOW! If their show is anything like their concert DVD I'm going to lose my shit!
Tonight, I'm going to worship at the altar of Jack (and Meg).
Tonight, my cellular and genetic makeup will change.
Tonight, I'll have a pseudo/quasi religious experience.

Yes, I do have a problem.
No, I will not seek help.

In other news, my brother Ron and his buddy Dan came up Friday night and stayed till Saturday night. They came for Saturday's Cubs game. Even though the Cubbies lost, we had a great time sitting at the top of Wrigley Field (literally the very last row of seats, first base side). I also took them to Giordano's for some deep dish pizza. It was great having them up. They stayed in our apartment and got to meet Brando. It was one of the best weekends I've had this summer. I know Crystal had a good time, too. I'd love to be able to host more family and friends from Ohio/elsewhere another time. I wish I could talk my parents into a visit. I know for a fact they'd love it.

Ok, that's all for now...hopefully I'll have a concert update tomorrow.

"she tells me son are you alright
well I must be fine cuz my heart's still beating"