Took a 4-1/2 hour meeting yesterday, which left me exhausted. The meeting was an initial script review for The Nazarene (which clocked in at 72 pages... woohoo!). The good news is, Moses really likes what I've written. The bad news is I think we have very different ideas about what this thing should be. He wants a Disney-style romp and I want a sophisticated drama with a little political intrigue. I think the issue is how we view the Christmas story. Over the years, I've developed a very different take on just about every story from the Bible. It's not a tame book. Even the birth of Jesus is filled with some pretty adult things like mass-infanticide and political maneuvering and terror and sex issues. When an angel came down and protected Daniel by putting all those lions to sleep... that's a kid's story. Christmas? Not so much.

And don't get me started on Easter.

Anyhow, Moses also showed me some resumes/headshots of some of the actors he's cast. ("This is so-and-so. She'll be playing Mary's mother. She's done a lot of soap opera work. This is whats-his-head. He'll be a member of the Magi. He's done some musical theater in New York. This guy will be Joseph's brother. His agent didn't send me his headshot, but he's FedExing it to me tomorrow.") Whenever I start hearing about real budgets and professional acting talent in the same context as something I've written, it makes me feel like the little guy who's just been invited to eat Thanksgiving with the adults. It's true what they say, though: fake it 'til you make it.
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Since my wife sometimes reads this blogger at work, I'd like to send a very special message out to her:

Honey, come home. Really. Please. You've been working way too hard and, frankly, you're far more appreciated here at home beside your faithful husband and your obnoxious cats. We miss you terribly. Come on.

I mean it. Come on.

-Jer

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We've been living in fear and horror for the past few weeks for one single reason and, frankly, it's hard to discuss without going white and shaky. The reason? You guessed it, my friend:

ANTS.

Ants have invaded our condo. They're crawling all over the desk on which this keyboard sits at this very moment. Ants in our bathrooms, our cats' food, our kitchen... I've even spied a few in our bed. I've started to dream about them. I've started formulating fantasies about inventors who concoct little explosive ant-pellets that, when swallowed, causes every ant in the world to spontaneously combust and then the whole planet gives each other high-fives and celebrates with beer and tacos.

ANTS!!!

Apparently, they're all over So-Cal right now because it's been an unusually hot summer, particularly the coastal regions where we live. Heat is like crack-cocaine to these little monsters and I've taken to holstering a can of bug-spray at my side, Quick Draw McGraw-style, and hosing everything that moves. As a result, our house is now also filled with ant carcasses, which is nearly as disturbing.

posted by Jeremy Bear 1:02 PM

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Thursday, September 04, 2003

I'm not one of those jerks who goes around making horrible blanket statements like, "people are morons" because, come on. That's rude. After all, I've committed my fair share of advanced moronics. Who am I to judge?

But when a song called "My Love is, like, Whoa" is considered Top 40 material, I can see why people come up with those statements.
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Tomorrow I'm turning in the first draft of a musical on which I've been furiously typing lately. It's called The Nazarene and it'll be produced this December in Huntington Beach. I should be working on it now, in fact, but I'm taking a break to blog and to enjoy a slice of spinach pizza.

Anyhow, for those who are curious: it's a Christmassy thing. Mostly, a love story between Joseph and Mary (Jesus' step-dad and mom). Comedy, drama, thrills, spills, and biblical chills. The concept/music was developed by a guy named Moses Toth, one of the more talented composers I've met. So far it's been a little fun and a lot stressful, but these things are usually worth it in the end.

It's Moses' show, though, and he has enough faith in my abilities to have gone ahead with casting. From what I hear, eight parts are already filled and the guy hasn't even seen a script from me yet. Now that's faith.
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Oh, be a dove and check out my sister's wedding photos. Personally, I think they're gorgeous. (Why couldn't this guy have done our wedding? Hmph.) Try not to pay any attention to the overweight, greasy guy in the middle of the wedding party, though. We're not exactly sure how he wandered in.

Click here.
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I'm beginning to think that we've moved into a pretty bad neighborhood. The other night, we saw a car-jacking across the street from our condo. The most horrifying detail of all? It was a police car.

No, I'm afraid I'm not making this up.
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Gotta write. Gotta write. Gotta write.

Gotta go.

posted by Jeremy Bear 8:28 PM

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Monday, September 01, 2003

Hoorah!

For the last five minutes, I've been connected to the internet. Thank God I can now resume an overly-complicated life. Cheers, Verizon!
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Talked to nearly everyone in my family this weekend for the first time since the wedding, which was nice. With the exception of some stern words of warning from Dad, everyone kept fairly mum about my bereaved-parent-mocking escapades. I think the days of "Jer, I refer people to your website all the time!" are at an end. Truly, I am the shame of the family.

Anh, so what else is new?
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Oh, lots of other things to talk about, but who has the time? In the meantime, a happy Labor Day to all. Don't be caught workin'!

posted by Jeremy Bear 12:43 PM

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