I sort of crashed a set decorators fundraiser thing on the NY set streets tonight – really just because a favorite taco truck had tweeted that they were there. (omg that sentence was so LA 2010 right?) In this first shot we see Universal managed to physically simulate the clone tool in photoshop.

I’m super busy trying to work, or trying not to think about work, so here’s a pic of me looking fancy. So Gavsy and Nicholas and the 2 other people that pay any attention to my blog you’ll have to wait a bit longer for things to wrap up. and i already broke a promise to myself to say no to any new work for the rest of the spring/summer that came along – but it was so good I had to say yes. So now theres that too.

If I made a movie it would be this one. It’s possibly my favorite film ever. U can see the whole thing starting here – or see the segment below that has a multitude of moments I adore: a shopping spree, a makeover, a fancy dinner alone in a fancy hotel (SO ME!), drinking alone at a fancy bar (also so me) – and the LA part! The orange trees in the airport!, Meg Ryan as Angelica Graynamore, and THAT SIGN!, Angelica Graynamore and THAT ACCENT! The “LA” restaurant with the shards of light reflected on their faces! Her painting, the transition, her poem! I’ve imitated her accent so often in private – and it’s still a default i slip into when nervous.

Like so many films that totally bomb, it’s actually genius. (Hello Donnie Darko.) And it’s prolly gay to take a life message from a film but i sort of live by this film – especially the line about doing the thing you’re afraid of doing.

Every detail is flawless yet casual. Every set dressing so considered I see something new every time. The fakeness of studio sets is embraced, and a shot of a car pulling up to his apartment is obviously a model. The kitschy lamp in the beginning of the film contains every detail of the end of the film. Excellent music choices and score. And the use of rough storyboards with the end credits – in LOVE. I love when a work acknowledges that it’s a fabrication and doesn’t get hung up on being perfectly artificially polished. I guess the most amazing thing about the story is it’s an only positive film – there’s really no villains or violence – or sex. And it amazingly handles both entertaining artificiality and deep realness in the characters performances and delivery. I hope u love it as much as i do. John Patrick Shanley (the writer/director) thank you thank you!

Spotted biking around my neighborhood. That’s floating alien baby cupids, neon, etc.

Opening night is sold out. More pics to come after I recover. I designed all the sets/props as well as all 40-some illustrations projected on the scrim.

The Good Soldier Schweik for Long Beach Opera – It’s a comedy, in English, based on a Czech novel about the start of WWI. Only 2 performances, each in a different theater, the first one being far superior and almost sold out – Get Tix here if u want.

This is the tipsy bar – which i think is quite a sublime little piece. The mugs attach magnetically to metal hidden under the top allowing repositioning of the mugs – and re-balancing or un-balancing of the bar without the mugs falling.

this bed is made from platforms and crates used in other scenes. The look is spoze to be very traveling troupe with a circus/military feel.

I got this green chair for $5. Making it into a wheelchair cost a bit more.

These sketches were rough early concepts. The birdcage was found on craigslist and i added the extra who-ha at the top. I think adding chandelier crystals to those chairs and cage was a bit of genius but that’s me talking about myself. And let me tell u what a bitch it is to paint a birdcage.

The Good Soldier Schweik for Long Beach Opera – It’s a comedy, in English, based on a Czech novel about the start of WWI – if any of that interests you. There is also a scene with 5 guys in a bed together getting enemas. Maybe i should have gone with that for the poster image. There’s only 2 performances, each in a different theater, the first one being far superior I think – Get Tix here if u want.

Asians don’t handle alcohol well.

Mr. Black is every Tues at Bardot. I show up at the 4:00 mark. Glamour.

But first I stopped in San Francisco to recover and I was bombarded with green guilt at every turn.

this paint job actually worked for me.

Excellent succulent wreath at Paxton Gate.

Then i landed in BUR and a friend needed an emergency rescue from WeHo, which I provided, then we went to Diamond Dogs at Hwood (notice the bondage bling canine at the bar)

and I didn’t get home ’til the sun was coming up (again). The LA Times was there and looky here, they shot one of me (in the red) dancing behind Santino and Tony Ward – who btw, gave me a stick of cinnamon gum so intense i actually got chemical burns on my tounge. What is it with America’s obsession with INTENSE EXTREME IN YOUR FACE FLAVOR!? Christ just give me a stick of zebra stripe that looses it’s flavor after 5 chews.

I had a lesbian friend at Disney that would always come over and bend my pinkie finger down. I can’t help it, it just likes to be up. It makes everything fancier.

All the cool Nordic people were in red plaid.

I never considered myself a party animal but I’m now sick as a dog and i sound like a broken down tar-throated tranny.