Here it is. Much thanks to my friend Russell for the many hours invested in this project. In the middle of production, he received a call to help out on the special effects for a low budget ghost movie. That gig payed, Binge didn't. Russell still managed to work on both projects.
So here is the first real animated BiNGE project. It was a learning experience for the both of us.
I hit Craigslist a couple of times a day. Not a lot out there. When I first arrived in New Orleans in March, my buddy Aaron suggested that I start applying for work on off shore oil rigs. Great money, adventure. I wouldn't be doing the roustabout kind of work, too old. The rigs are like small cities in the Gulf, they need janitors and cooks. I started to send out resumes to a few companies.... the rest is history.
At one of the temp agencies I found some work doing labor. Even though I was twice the age of most of the local kids hired from the same agency, I kept up and even out worked some. I didn't bitch about doing the work that was given. I was thankful for it. The manager that hired us through the temp agency pulled me to the side and took my number. I never expected to hear from him.
Yesterday my phone rings, I have a week's work waiting for me in Biloxi Mississippi. Unloading trucks and assembling school furniture. They'll put me and a few others up at a Motel 6 and feed us, plus pay. I explained that my car was in the shop, he said he'll set me up with a ride to Biloxi. I'm glad to find a place where the work ethic does not go unnoticed. I'll keep you posted. BTW, it's pronounced Bil- LUX-i, not bil-OX-i. Pronounce it wrong and the locals laugh. Let's see them try to pronounce Manasquan or Hohokus.
When I returned from picking up the forms for food stamps this morning, (Of which were mostly gone to those who used to work in the fishing industries.) I found a care package waiting for me. Shipped from an undisclosed mountain in the Pacific North West. It was heavier than I thought and I may have damaged a testicle. The package (Box on porch that is) contained everything from rice to Dewar's airplane liquor. The GONZO Diet: Starch and liquor. Candy, Chef Boyrdee, coffee, yea.
God bless them both. Thanks to everyone who has helped me on this journey. "Ok Columbus, here's two hundred to find something interesting...." I can't wait for an opportunity to pay each of you back ten fold. That is the one's who believed in me get ten fold. Regular creditors and idiots just get payed back exactly what I owe.
Thanks again, not just for the carbs and buzz, but for believing in me.
and he worked as a background extra on a show starring JOHN GOODMAN
the other guy worked with a director who worked with LINDSAY LOHAN
Probably in July 2010 the latest BiNGE animation. My co-conspirator Russell is putting all of the pieces together between naps. I just saw the opening sequence, totally different from what I would have done. It was great, I like to have a collaborative effort with others. I hope none of you will be disappointed with the two minute epic.
I underestimated the power of satire. Evidently my latest blog about being a background extra as an oil clean up worker was taken seriously. I apologize to anyone who may have forwarded the posting as a true account of an actual event. It was not. I was drawing from my experience as a film background actor and recent reports from the Gulf Coast where staged news clean ups are taking place. It was not my intent to mislead anyone or any news agency into believing that the incident was real. It was written in a satirical vein.
In the future I will post disclaimers to prevent a humorous posting from being taken seriously.
Today I started at six in the morning on a background extra job. Several of us were in wardrobe being fitted into white Tyvek suits with brand new hard hats. The director held up a metal garden rake with the price tag still on it from Home Depot. "Who knows what this is?" After several seconds of silence I responded "A rake?" "You got the part." The other two background extras were issued a black trash bag and a roll of paper towels.
Loaded into a van and driven down to the gulf coast where we sat in the extras holding area until about 10:30. A production assistant barged in and announced the camera crew had arrived and the principal would be there shortly. We were ushered out onto an oil covered beach to take position behind a stand in. Carefully arranged by the director to our needed places. "Don't get any oil on the suites, we need to re-use them tomorrow." He pointed to me "Same thing for the rake, keep it clean so we can return it to the store." Seeking direction I asked if he wanted me to actually rake the tar balls on the sand. "Hell no, that will leave a bare spot and show how bad the rest of the beach actually is." The director scanned the shore and went flew a fit of rage. "HOW THE HELL DID THAT GET INTO MY SHOT?" A dead water fowl was bobbing in the surf. A skittish grip replied it must have washed up in the past few minutes. "Well, get rid of it, it defeats the purpose of us being here."
Soon after the TV news cameras took position a shiny heavy SUV pulled up. Dozens of official looking men secured the area as President Obama took the place of where the stand in had stood. A half a dozen handlers milled around him. "Where is it?" Obama asked. "Too windy to use the teleprompter sir, just stick to the key words, you'll do fine." "Mannerisms?" "Thumbs up when you mention the Federal Government, angry fist when you speak of BP. Point to the beach to show concern and resolve."
Ten minutes later cut was yelled and the president and camera crews had left. The background extras crammed into the van. "Hurry up, Governor Jindal is holding a press conference in the next parish at three o'clock, we need you to stand behind him. Remember, don't get your suites dirty."
I should have clarified that was a satirical blog. Reports from the coast are that oil clean up crews are only around when TV new teams are. As soon as the cameras leave, so do the clean up crews. Many of the news reports have a "staged" look. Guys in pristine white suites with rolls of Bounty paper towels wiping down blades of oily grass. Numerous members of clean up crews have been sent to the hospital because BP refuses to allow them to wear respirators. If the workers wear the masks, then it would be an admission by BP that the oil slick is in fact toxic. So if an individual tries to wear any respiratory protection he is fired from the clean up work. Remember what happened to the 911 clean up crews?
