Truck link

above link takes you to my .mac page.

~pwp

Top of Sept

We've got about a month to go on Angels and Demons. Lots more to do...

Things have come to a slow halt in feature production in Los Angeles. Thanks to the fears of another strike, the production of movies has been effected this time around. Last year we saw TV production come to a crashing halt with the writers strike, then months of no production. Movies were not as impacted by that strike, as the scripts for most movies had been locked and put away. It was much more of a TV strike. This go around has been much different. SAG has not come to any agreement with the AMPTP, but no strike vote or lock out has occurred. It's basically a stalemate at this point. I think things are starting to pick back up, as the possibility of a strike has diminished.

The new truck is being fitted with shelving and metalwork. I should get it back from Brett next week. Really looking forward to that.




Next up will be a new utility cart... More on that later.

updates...

Sorry for the long delay in posting... I get that way.

We finished up Swingtown right before the 4th of July. No news yet on a pick up or even a cancellation, so no news is good news at this point. The summer had one of the lowest amount of viewers in history I believe, so none of the shows got great ratings. We've yet to find out the decisions of CBS regarding the show's future.

Currently my crew and I, Patrick Martens on boom and Devendra Cleary as utility, are working on the 2nd unit of Angels and Demons for Columbia/Sony. We are just about mid way through filming and will complete in October. Very big show, wonderful actors and crew, lots of action...what can I say. It's been a great experience so far. Many thanks to my good friend Peter Devlin for bringing me on board.

The new truck should land next week (I hope). As soon as it arrives I'll start the interior prep and build, posting pictures along the way.

That's about it...

~pwp

Equipment truck version 2.0

As I've mentioned more than once, when you change one thing...you usually have to change a lot more just to make the new thing work. I think that made sense.

This past January we built my new sound cart which is much larger than the previous version. The resulting issue is that now neither the main cart and the accessory cart will fit in my current van anymore. I've had the GMC Safari for 10 years, and it's served me well. But now it's time to move to a much larger vehicle.

A new box van is in the planning stages and will be in production soon. More details to follow, but I can tell you that it will be nice to be able to stand up inside the truck and also have a lift gate. Can't wait for both of those things.

~pwp

saving Jericho....again

This past week Brad Beyer, who plays Stanley Richmond on Jericho, and I recorded some Voice Over for a new campaign to keep the show alive. The fans of Jericho are tireless in their endeavor to keep the show on TV. Brad and I had a great time recording the VO and are very happy to help out in the efforts.

Personally, I'd like to thank all the fans that have written in to the SaveJerichoAgain website with kind words and praise. I'm happy to help. Really.

Just a bit of trivia, Brad and I recorded the dialog on the stages that were used for Jericho. In fact Brad was about 20 feet from Gracie's Market (turned Trading Post) and almost exactly on the spot where Hawkins had his basement and "safe room". We thought it was fitting...

~pwp

Last weeks of Swingtown

We've been back in production on Swingtown since the end of March and we are nearing the end. There are just over 2 episodes left for production. Our premiere was this past week with a good showing and good ratings. The spirits are high here at Swingtown central. We are hopeful to find out something positive regarding the future of our show before we wrap, but that rarely happens. We'll probably find out our fate after we have shut down.

Keep watching Swingtown on Thursday nights at 10pm(eastern/pacific)-9pm(central) on CBS.

finally got an iPhone

Many that work with me on a regular basis have been baffled as to why I hadn't jumped on the iPhone wagon. In fact, there might have even been a bet as to whether I would have one on day 1. Much to everyone's disbelief...I waited until about 2 weeks ago. My Treo finally bit the big one and re-booted one too many times on an important phone call. It hit the ground, no I didn't throw it, after a miss cue out of my pants pocket and exploded into many pieces. It was all I needed to go to the Apple Store and snatch up one of the 16G hunkies from the shelf.

Oh yea... Can't believe I waited as long as I did. Very cool interface. Haven't gone down the Jailbreak path, and not sure if I will. Not unhappy with the ATT service as I thought I would...I couldn't even talk in my own home with Verizon. I was happy to find that ATT has FULL bars in my casa!

Very happy so far.... Sa-weet.

~pwp

updates

We've started Swingtown, back from the WGA strike. Production for the show began back on March 25 and we are already into our second episode since we kick back into production. Everything is going quite smoothly and we are all happy to be back to the grind. Swingtown will begin airing May 29 at 10pm. It's the slot right after CSI, so we are hopeful for a good carry over audience. The show is good, so all we need is viewers...

The new cart is working fantastic. Not much I'd like to change at this point as I'm still getting used to the design and footprint. We were out at Disney Ranch for a couple of days last week, so it had the rough ground test. It was really stable and performed just fine. Actually much better than my previous cart, which was a surprise. Very happy so far.

~pwp

Finished sound cart

The cart is done. Finished loading the gear this weekend. Just in time to load in for work this Monday. Here is the link to the whole process:

sound cart page




~pwp

Cart phase 1.5

I got the base back from powder coating this past Friday. I've reassembled the base structure..looks pretty good.

I'm in the middle of ordering and purchasing all the needed items for the gear assembly.

~pwp

Cart phase 1

I took delivery of the new cart this past weekend. Brett Grant-Grierson has done a great job building the base and platform for the SKB Shock Rack. I've put a page of photos together.

Sound Cart photos

Here is the assembly before the powder coat. The bottom supports for the base are steel, and are off getting coated black at this time.



Once I get the base back and coated, I'll assemble the gear and put up some new shots.

~pwp

New Cart in production

I've decided to move on from my PSC modified sound cart, which has been my main recording cart (off and on) for 9 years. It has become somewhat unstable due to the amount of weight that it must support. I sit a little too high for my liking, causing me to hunch over when I get tired..which is everyday and my back hurts regularly.

The new design will be a Shock Rack based cart with a platform designed around a vertical Magliner. Brett Grant-Grierson is designing and building the platform. Hopefully we can have it completed before he heads back to work on Medium...which is a couple of weeks off.

I'm sourcing all the parts today and hopefully will have them to him by this evening. The cutting and welding will begin immediately. Pictures to follow...

~pwp

New vertical follow cart completed

Sorry it took me a while to finish out this project, but it was the holidays after all.

The cart is completed with three rack drawers containing microphones, wireless transmitters and related gear, Comteks and IFB's, mic mounts, etc. The bottom bin is for extra gear and spare batteries, etc. The top deck has small bins for primary batteries, and 2 IPower 9volt chargers. The back has hooks for 2 Rycotes that have Sanken CS3e's.

This was my first sound cart, and had been sitting in my garage for about 8 years. It was a recycle job. This new/old cart will fit nicely behind my main cart inside my GMC Safari van. Bye Bye to the Rubbermaid!









~pwp

new follow cart for day calls

My dilemma: The follow and accessory cart that I have been using for the last couple of years is a rather huge, six drawered behemoth that has the nickname of "the bus". When doing day calls and commercials I have to use my GMC Safari van, which completely rules out it's use. I can't even get this cart through the back doors of the GMC, and even if I could...it could kill me at any moment. In years past I have used a Rubbermaid cart fashioned with three drawers, hooks for the Rycotes, pole mounts, etc.

My mission is to make a vertical cart into a usable accessory and follow cart. Haven't seen anything that I like in this realm, so it's a good project. I've got lots of time thanks to the WGA strike, and several carts to steal parts from in the garage. It will be a recycle project as well... More to come.

~pwp

strike movement??

A couple of things have happened in the last days that show some positive movement in the continuing WGA strike. First, welcome to the Directors. It seems the DGA is not thrilled with the continued effect the strike is having on it's members, and has chosen to begin its negotiations in January regardless of the status of the WGA situation. This has the effect of saying, "the directors have arrived". If a deal is sealed by the DGA for it's upcoming contract negotiations, the pressure will surely increase dramatically for the WGA to follow suit. The next thing that has so many talking is the Late Night hosts have decided to return to the small screen in January regardless of the WGA strike efforts. This shows the support for the strike has eroded in some circles, specifically all those NOT part of Worldwide Pants (The Letterman owned production company). WWP has lined up an interim deal with the WGA to allow his writers to return to work. The other shows, Leno/O'Brian/Kimmel, all will be without WGA support at this time. The ratings have sloped to all time lows, and their long term future is apparently in jeapordy. I guess this would be the only reason to return while the strike is still on.

The best source for strike information, Deadline Hollywood Daily. I don't always agree with Nikki, but she gets all the info and lays it out there. She's totally on top of it, and she's the new industry trade as far as I'm concerned.

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/

Please negotiate

The arrogance of the negotiating teams for the WGA and AMPTP is astounding. As I sit, almost all of my friends in the business of Television and Film Production have lost their jobs. A select few have found jobs on features that will carry them through the holidays, and perhaps the toughest part of the strike. The ripple effect is being felt throughout the community. My next door neighbor has seen a decline in business at his work place. There have been lay offs at restaurants around the studio sites due to no lunch and dinner crowds. Crew folk like myself are not shopping for the holidays. Charitable donations have all but ceased, food banks and toy drives are empty.

All this is from the greed of a very select few people who already stand to make a very good living from their job of choice, even with the previous contract. The new one, even if it's the one the the AMPTP would like to see, will certainly show some sort of increase in the average income of the ABOVE average salaries.

It's very true that many, if not most of the writers in the WGA do not make a substantial living from their efforts. The large part of the income is garnered by a select few individuals who have had the fortune of writing successful projects. But I must stress an earlier point...it is a job of choice. No one is holding anyone down and forcing them to be a writer. For most, it is a vocation of passion, and art. And with any luck, you can make a buck.

But now...the entire industry is being held hostage by the negotiating team of the WGA. Pull yourselves together and go back to the table. Clean slate...no demands. Negotiating is not about demands, it's about give and take. Start over from the beginning and save our jobs.

Just my opinion....

~pwp

Jericho air date - 2/12

We have an air date! Season 2 of Jericho will begin on February 12 at 10pm. Our lead in show will be a new season of Big Brother.

The WGA strike has effectively shut down the fall season of TV shows. Nearly all shows have shut down, or are in the process of doing so at this point. It looks like a bleak holiday season if you are in our business. Since the talks have broken down, support for the striking writers is becoming more fragile. I expect that support to erode substantially as we head through the holidays. My hopes are high for a good WGA contract, but the price for that contract seems to be the jobs of so many.

It's up to the Jericho Rangers now. Get the word out. Let's get the viewers in front of the TV's. The ratings are more important now than ever. It's a whole new ball game to get a season 3.

~PWP

Swingtown...down for the strike

This past Tuesday was our last day of photography due to the current dispute between the AMPTP and the WGA. We had high hopes of continuing production, but we were cut short due to lack of prepared scripts. At lunch on Tuesday, lay off letters were issued to each crew member. We knew it was coming, but I've never actually received an official lay off letter. That's a first.

This coming Monday, November 26, the two sides have reported that they will begin negotiations again. Many things could happen, so I will reserve my predictions. My hopes however, are the swift end to this strike, a compromise and agreement to return back to work. Thousands will suffer the consequences of this strike this holiday season, which is tough already due to the economy.

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday. Cross your fingers and lets send good wishes to the negotiators, in hopes that an agreement will be made.

~PWP

A short ending

We are now mid way through shooting episode 103 of Swingtown, and due to the current WGA writers strike we will be shutting down production next week. We got off to a pretty good start, but alas...the disagreement between the studios and the writers will put a quick end to our production schedule. This will put some 140 or more of us out of work.

Let's all hope cooler heads will prevail, and the negotiating will begin again. It seems there is no talking at this point...which many of us do not understand. It seems, at least to me, that if you want a contract that you like...you must negotiate to get it. There is so much more at play than I or any of those I work with understand, but now we are out of work because of it. We are now the casualties. Many of us in the industry cannot afford a long lay off, as we do not make the salaries of the executives or the select few writers who make most of the money. We are the working class, the labor, the engine that keeps the shows on the air, in the theaters and I guess now on the web.

Please, lets get back together and hammer out a deal!

~PWP

Pre-Production of Swingtown

We have several phases of production in the film and TV world. Pre-production, everything before the camera starts rolling. Production, everything while the camera is rolling. And Post-production, which is everything after the camera stops rolling. There is actually more, but that's the gist of it all. There is more...but not something I will go into any detail.

Right now, we are less than a week away from beginning production and principal photography of Swingtown. This is a freshman series that will be a mid-season replacement on CBS for the 2007-2008 season. We're looking at a January(ish) start for Swingtown. We don't know the dates or time because we are waiting to see what new shows don't fulfill the networks dream of success.

Pre-production for a me as a sound mixer is a lot of things. Equipment cleaning, updating my gear if possible, meetings, and getting in as much rest as possible since our days will be long. The gear is in pretty dusty and dirty shape after Jericho, so I spent the better part of yesterday cleaning the main recording cart. Today will be the follow and accessory cart. Lots of new wireless to program and label, as I've updated all my transmitters.

Swingtown looks as though I will get a bit of a reprieve from the dusty farms of Jericho. Our new show takes place in Chicago, so it looks like urban locations for the next 5 or more months. I welcome that aspect. The farm was incredibly dusty and difficult on the crew and myself.

I look forward to giving some updates as we start production next week.