Man at Arms: Art of War

[Drunk Monk]

Gene, are you checking email?  I need to send you a work-related one. Nothing onerous--

law

Yes I am.  I still have to close the present issue.  But my remote access is a little dicey here, not sure why exactly.  I'll check tomorrow morning, and then sporadically in the evenings over the rest of the week.  It keeps me occupied in this huge feckin room.  It's either that or watch my 3 TVs. 

This room is almost as big as my Cruz bungalow.  There's also a dishwasher, and one room has a walk-in closet with a bench and a full body mirror.  One bath has a tub, the other a walk in shower.  It's kind of freaking me out.  I wonder what the rest of the cast is staying in.

I can sleep in tomorrow.  Breakfast is served until 9:30 and my pick-up isn't until after lunch.  I bumped into some of my cast mates before dinner, Matt, Ilya & DaMon.  They all went out to dinner, but I didn't join them because I had dinner with my disciple brother.  We chatted life and Kung Fu for hours.  We'll probably do lunch on Saturday so I can finally meet his wife and kids.  He currently works for snapchat, making animations.

Here's that show my reggae accomplice is trying to get me to this weekend - https://thesmokersclubfest.com/

And here's that Wednesday show:
1130 ARTISANS, IGNITED LIVE AND WOODROW LABS HOLLYWOOD PRESENT: THE RETURN OF STURDY THIRTY // HOSTED BY TRULIO DISGRACIAS PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS
Wednesday, April 25
Doors: 8:45 pm / Show: 9:00 pm

$12.00-$17.00

TICKETS
This event is 21 and over
                      A special performance of
Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" In it's entirety
                          With Special Guests:
               Scott Page - Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Toto
               Stephen Perkins - Janes Addiction
               Miles Tackett - Breakestra
               Durga McBroom - Pink Floyd

---

I only post those shows because it strikes me as really funny.  I'm not sure why.  But maybe when I look back on this thread, it'll still be funny.

[Drunk Monk]

The waiting is the hardest part.

So originally I was to be picked up at 3:45 and taken to Defy.  But there was an email last night (4AM) that said I had the option to visit the set today as they did some prep at 8 or stay at the hotel until 2, when I would be picked up.  As much as I'd enjoy seeing the new set, they're doing test prep today, and mostly I'd be just standing around posing (which I'm particularly good at).  Plus I had some tasks to do for KFM, so I opted to stay, finish that, and then relax.  Then my pick up was shifted to 3.  I just got another text - now it's 4.  I'm guessing that'll put us in LA traffic.  Not sure how today will play out but I'm eager to get started.  Chomping at the bit, one might even say.

Had the hotel continental breakfast (which was mediocre) with the Baltimore crew, Kerry, Matt & Ilya, and DaMon.  It was good to reunite with them.  

There's a lot of big shops in walking distance, very convenient.  I found a nice taqueria for lunch.  Spent most of my day poolside, reviewing talking point notes and surfing the web.

[cranefly]

Nice.  Thanks for these updates.  It allows us to live vicariously.

After you described your hotel room, I had one thought.  You really need to go totally Hollywood on this, make some outrageous demand -- like you want a two-centimeter cat's eye marble with yellow and turquoise highlights on your pillow every morning when you wake up -- or else.

Anyway, enjoy.

[Greg]

You're also only a couple of blocks from Marvel Studios. Good thing you are going across town to Vernon.

And in news about me. Marvel Studios when it was still Manhattan Beach studios is where we did some of the interiors for 'The Haunting'

Hurry up and wait is the mantra everyone spouts in the film industry.

[Drunk Monk]

Nice.  Thanks for these updates.  It allows us to live vicariously.

a two-centimeter cat's eye marble with yellow and turquoise highlights on your pillow every morning when you wake up -- or else.

I post them out of boredom really. Or maybe nervousness. 

And I always lose my marbles.

And in news about me. Marvel Studios when it was still Manhattan Beach studios is where we did some of the interiors for 'The Haunting'

Hurry up and wait is the mantra everyone spouts in the film industry.

You’re so cool and so right. And so hollyweird.

[Drunk Monk]

Over 5 hours in the hot seat.  My retinas are seared.  I have a later call tomorrow.  I was thinking I'd go in with the early group, but I'm pretty fried and will more likely take my time getting over there, seeing as I have the luxury now.

[Drunk Monk]

Brutal day due to the news.

3 war rooms down for me. 2 to go. There was a last minute change that put me in a war room for which I was totally unprepared. That was my first one, right after I read Lori’s email about our Sifu. So rough.

Our production manager treated us to an amazing dinner. Two of my cast mates got shit faced drunk, which was amusing. I wrote a quick remembrance for Sifu for posting tomorrow - sorry, later today. 

6AM call.

Crystal says ‘hi’

[Drunk Monk]

I went to bed around midnight and have been waking up every hour or so, thinking it must be 5:30 when my alarm will go off.  Finally I just gave into it and got up, rewrote my remembrance for Sifu, and dealt with this shitload of condolence correspondances.  I got about an hour before I have to get up anyway, and my next two war rooms are the Asian ones, my strongest suite, so they should be easier.  Then later, after lunch, we move into the tests.  I don't have any tests scheduled so hopefully I can just bear witness, stroke my beard, and maybe get off some witty comment.

Danny hasn't been as accessible because he's the only one of us who has his own trailer, and he makes good use of it.  But we chatted about Survivor's Guide to Prison while we were in make-up together (that's right, I was in make-up alongside of Danny Trejo) - he's very passionate about that project and was eager to talk about it.  And after yesterday's filming, he gave me a big ol' hug.  

Marko has been cool, as always, and there's a running joke about how his shirts couldn't be any tighter, but everyone concedes that if they had a body like his, they probably wouldn't even bother with wearing a shirt.  I complimented him on his fight with Adkins while Robert Rodriguez was listening in, and did my best to give him props for it.  Robert was only there yesterday and we didn't really talk.  I talked to Rebel though.  He's a good kid and the BK&S guys say he's been developing some serious smithing skills.  He may be on Forged in Fire soon.

The BK&S guys went off on Crystal a dinner, but we've been getting along.  I get her better now.  Falling back in with the BK&S guys has been great.  Luv them.  Same with DaMon.  And there's several more guests in the mix that are fascinating martial sources.

I'm told M@A has been translated now for Germany and India, and perhaps Croatia but that one might be a pirated one.  Dying to see the India one - what must I sound like in Hindi?  And German too?  I bet I sound good in German.

With Sifu's passing, M@A is the ultimate distraction.  It's like my Colorado trip when Tom died was some sort of weird prep.  Life is strange and death is final.  The show must go on.  There are so many people depending on it.  It's how they make their living.  And everyone is working so hard.  Sometimes I catch myself wondering what my expression looks like as I 'act' engaged for a retake, if my sorrow shows.  I've only shared Sifu's passing with the more intimate crew.

[Drunk Monk]

War rooms done. Now the fun part - the tests.

[Greg]

Just remember, be the weapon holder not the weapon target.

Good luck. We're all counting on you.

[Drunk Monk]

We’re bringing in more specialist experts this year. It’s really elevating the cred. 

Not to spoil it, but there is a test where Crystal is the target. Unfortunately I don’t think I’m participating in that test.

[cranefly]

Not to spoil it, but there is a test where Crystal is the target. Unfortunately I don’t think I’m participating in that test.

Will there be three vases around her?  Asking for a friend.

[The Queen]

Sorry that I will miss you on this trip; one of my freelance trainers had a family emergency so I have to cover for her; I’m flying to Chicago on Saturday, teaching for three hours on Sunday morning, then flying home.

[Drunk Monk]

Not to spoil it, but there is a test where Crystal is the target. Unfortunately I don’t think I’m participating in that test.

Will there be three vases around her?  Asking for a friend.

I'm too spent to grok this right now.  Maybe it'll be funny later.  Maybe.

Sorry that I will miss you on this trip; one of my freelance trainers had a family emergency so I have to cover for her; I’m flying to Chicago on Saturday, teaching for three hours on Sunday morning, then flying home.

Bummer.  Well then Greg, never mind Infinity War, it's hookerz & blo!

Today went much better. I met my responsibilities for the mag via remote on my chromebook.  The War Rooms were China and Japan, my strongest, and Danny was feisty with wisecracks and making funny faces, which kept us all going.  The Japanese expert studied at SJSU Kendo in the 90s, so we were essentially dojo brothers.  He caught me up on my former Sensei.  The rest is all test witnessing for me, but tomorrow I'm tasked to do some cutting. I'm nervous about that because it's a tough cut with an unusual blade.  Wish me luck.

[Greg]

There is no try. Only do.

Mountain Dew that is!