I've lived in this great state for all but six years  of my life.  Every year, my family gets together for a week and vacations as a group at Flathead Lake.  There are now 16 of us and it is a week of swimming, eating, boating, eating, waterskiing, eating, floating, eating, card playing, eating, etc. 

My parents say that this week is more important to them than having everyone home for Christmas.  What I love the best is all the adults sitting around the campfire (after the kiddos are all asleep), drinking and talking until the wee hours of the morning. 

Now that my own family has moved up to the valley, this year our trip will only take us about 30 minutes instead of 6 hours. That will save us a chunk of change on gas!

When I'm not in the water or sitting around the campfire, I will be spending a lot of time reading.  I have picked up several books on screenwriting and hope to have my own mini crash course over the week. 

I look forward to catching up on some blogs when I get back (probably while doing lots of loads of laundry).

Until then....

¶ 10:18 AM //

The democratic candidate for governor in the state of Montana says it will be one of his priorities.  He is proposing:

1.  A 15% tax credit on production costs incurred in the state during productions of films and commercials.  

2.  A film work-force development and mentorship program in conjunction with the University of Montana and Montana State University.  The program would allow production companies to receive reimbursements for providing on-the-job training opportunities for film and production students.  

Other states, such as Louisiana and New Mexico,  have been successful in using similar incentives.  Their economy has been boosted and they are keeping filmmaking in the United States.

I hope that our state will follow their lead.  Not only is the scenery here amazing, but there are a lot of hardworking people in the industry here who share this vision. 

For me personally, I would like to see something similar to George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch.   The name for it - The Shooting Gallery.  By providing an all in one stop shop for filmmaking in an atomosphere of relaxation and recreation, it could become a very popular and successful production venue.  Another plus - the people of Montana are not intrusive AND there is no sales tax.    

If I ever win the lottery, you can bet that is one of the things (after taking care of my family) that is on the top of my list.



 

¶ 8:49 AM //

Today we took the kiddos up to Big Mountain Ski Resort and rode the gondola up the summit (elevation 7000 feet).  We hiked around a bit, hit the snackbar and then stopped at Whitefish lake for awhile on the way home.  We saw several deer out today and even saw a 5 point buck laying in the shade next to one of the downtown businesses.  (Thankfully everyone was leaving him alone.)  We joked that his wife must have been shopping!

 

 

 

¶ 9:36 PM //

Christmas in July...while driving around today I was surfing radio stations and came upon one that was playing Christmas music all day long today.  So in my tank, shorts and flip flops, I was singing along to "Let It Snow."

I also saw a car with a sticker that said "Don't like my driving? Call 1-800-2FKNBAD.  Loved it!

In closing, I just want to say that I think Goldie Hawn is hilarious...I hope to be as young as her when I get to be her age.

 

¶ 7:20 PM //

It is Dennis Washington's 70th birthday this weekend and he has some high profile guests coming for the big event.  A local newspaper published the names of some of the invited guests and I think that is totally wrong.  It's a private function and not a public event so why should we encourage celebrity gawking?

 

¶ 3:45 PM //

I used to work in a position that I think is similiar to that of a film or movie producer.  I was a "coordinator" and had several deals I was working on all the time.  I would have 5-6 meetings a day and when I wasn't in a meeting, I was on the phone.  I was on the phone a lot.  For every transaction I was "coordinating", there were at least five different parties involved (usually more) and it was my job to make sure everyone was on the same page at all times and to tie everything together in order to close the deal.  I was good at my job and I really enjoyed it.  I enjoyed the social aspect of it as well and I loved the fact that not every day was the same.

It wasn't the kind of job that you could go to school for.  Your training is very limited and you learn by doing and establishing relationships.  It's either sink or swim and if you are good at it, you will have job security for the rest of your life.

Some days I think I miss it.  Then there are days like yesterday.  I got a call from an office here in town who heard thru the grapevine that I was living here.  They asked me if I wanted to go to work for them.  They said I could work as much or as little as I wanted.  This is the second time they have called me. 

I politely declined because I know that's not how that business is.  You can't work part time.  It creates animosity with other coworkers and customers expect you to be available at their beck and call.

Sure I miss the money but I like what I am doing now.  I am enjoying my kids and working on writing.  Some day, a few years from now when all the kids are in school, I may have to go back to the corporate world if I can't find a way to merge "Hollywood & Montana".  

But for now, I will have to live vicariously thru other people's blogs and by reading books on life in Hollywood (both fiction and non-fiction).  And boy am I enjoying it!

¶ 9:07 AM //

When "The Village" opens next weekend, I will not be able to go see it as I will be vacationing at the lake. I always like to go to movies on opening weekend (if not day) out of respect for my favorite actors, producers and directors.  I know how important those first numbers are and I had to extend the same apology to Kevin Smith when "Jersey Girl" opened as well. 

I love going to the movies - the whole experience.  Last night my husband and I took the kiddos to their first drive in movie.  We saw "Shrek 2" (again) and "The Terminal".  The kids had a blast.  They loved wearing their jammies, sitting in lawn chairs in the back of the truck snuggled in blankets and eating popcorn while watching the show on the big screen.

There were a lot of tourists there too.  I saw license plates from Florida, New Jersey and Georgia.  Everyone was having a good time and it was movie magic.

So Night - please accept my apologies.  I am anxiously awaiting the film and I hope you have good grosses the first weekend. 

¶ 1:20 PM //

The new advertising campaign for the tourism industry in Montana is aimed at keeping the locals at home this summer.  They want us to explore our own "backyard" and what it has to offer. 
 
So while reading the paper this weekend, it was front page news that Laura Bush will be in the area for a week hiking with some friends in Glacier National Park.  While reading that, I said to myself  outloud "the first lady is in our backyard for the week".  My daughter heard me and asked me if she was staying in the camper!  
 
The auditions went great.  It was a long 15 hour road trip but my sister was with me for most of it and it was really fun to hang out with her in the car.  We haven't done that in about 15 years but I had a really good time.  (More on the trip later.)  My daughter was one of 300 kids trying out for the part so we are hoping that she at least gets cast as an extra!
 
Hollywood call update  - I spoke to a lawyer who advised me to obtain an entertainment attorney instead of an agent.  The lawyer is making some contacts on my behalf to find me suitable counsel. 
 
This is going to be a crazy week - dentist appts, doctor appts, a birthday and an anniversary.  Plus I have to get ready to go on our weeklong vacation AND finish an essay for Vanity Fair.
 
Still on the upswing....more later...
 
 
 

¶ 9:29 PM //

I don't have cows but my neighbor does.  Every once in awhile I say to my kids "WHAT?!" and then realize it is a calf going "mahahaham".   It is hotter than blazes up here today and that makes everyone really nervous.  We can take the heat but what we can't take is forest fires.  So I guess I can't complain - I would rather smell cowshit than smoke and burnt animal fur.  
 
The excitement of the call from Hollywood has not worn off.  I am anxiously awaiting my letter from Mr. Partner but I also have some trepidation.  It's like riding a chairlift for the first time.  You're nervous to get off but then oh - what a lovely ride.  (The first time I ever rode a chairlift I didn't get off and they had to stop the lift so that I could exit.  I was only 7 but it was very embarassing.)
 
While I am waiting, I am trying to work on a screeplay for my idea that they liked.  It's hard to find time to write though.  A blog here and there is no problem.  I can do that while the kids are watching Spongebob in the same room.  But sitting down and trying to pound out a script is something different.  I don't have writers block and I actually enjoy the process.  It's just that it's hard to find uninterrupted time during the day and that is frustrating.  I'm guess just like every other mother out there - trying to balance quality time with the kids, the husband, running errands, getting housework done, cooking, cleaning, etc. etc.   Luckily I can do this job late at night when the deer come down to eat my flowers.
 
A spongebob sidenote:  My kids LOVE Spongebob.  We even have a Spongebob bathroom in the house.  Whenever we have guests over and they go to use the bathroom - they always are surprised and taken aback by that.  Anyways, my sister does not let her kids watch Spongebob.  She thinks he is evil.  She even tells her kids that!
 
We have another Hollywood adventure this weekend.  They are going to film a children's movie based on a popular book series here in the fall and they are auditioning local children for it.  My daughter desperately wants to try out so we are making the trip this weekend.  It will be my first forray into "stagemomhood".   I'm thrilled that she loves the movie business as much as me although she prefers being in front of the camera.
 
 
 
 
 

¶ 5:16 PM //

In an earlier post, I talked about why celebrity spottings are no big deal in this state unless they make it one. I am reminded of this because of an encounter a friend had with someone famous over the weekend.

Like I said before - don't make a scene, don't ask for preferential treatment and this time - for safety's sake, don't think your Escalade can pass an 18-wheeler on a two lane highway going over a hill.

¶ 10:23 PM //

Our poor dog. He is a border collie/cocker mix that we got about two years ago as a pup. When we first got him, we named him Dodger after my husband's beloved baseball team. That name didn't seem to fit so we tried lots of others before ending up with the name Rocky because he liked to "playfight" with our golden retriever. That is his "real" name now. It is on his papers and on his vet records. But lately I have taken to calling this dog "Forrest" after the movie Forrest Gump.

As they say in the movie - he ain't smart but he can sure run fast. And that fits our dog to a T. He can out run deer, trucks, birds, kids - you name it but try to teach him to do anything other than sit and you are wasting your time.

It's pretty funny though when the kids and I yell at him "Run Forrest Run"!

¶ 5:52 PM //

Our bed is the couch and our nightstand is a table. I don't understand this because we already have both a family room and a living room. I do have to admit though that it is cute to see all three kids and both dogs snuggled up on the king size bed watching a flick. Even if they do leave popcorn in the sheets!

¶ 2:28 PM //

DISCLAIMER: I did not write this because some people think Rance is Jim Carrey.

But perhaps thinking about that put Jim in my head and thus I had a dream about Jim Carrey last night which made me think of an irony. Jim is one of my favorite actors. What's ironic to me is that he is known for being such a comedian but the first thing I ever saw him in was a made for tv movie called "Doing Time on Maple Drive". It was a dramatic role for him and he played an alcoholic son of a military father. After that he played more comedic roles and became the "Jim Carrey" that most people identify with today. While I loved him as Ace and Bruce, his favorite movie of mine is "The Majestic". That's a movie that I think would have done better with a different title. Something along the lines of patriotism.

Anyways, Jim seems to me to be the kind of guy who doesn't take success for granted and has a good time - no matter where he goes. I think he is larger than life because of that.

¶ 2:22 PM //

I consider naptime to be the "mommy lunch hour". When I was working, I LOVED my lunch hour (when I could take one). It was MY hour to do anything I wanted. Shop for fun, shop for groceries, run errands, go out to lunch, eat lunch at my desk while reading a magazine, browse the internet, etc. It was a gift of freedom that I took for granted. Now that I am a stay at home mom, I really miss it.

Naptime makes up for it - except that I can't leave the kids alone at the house of course.

¶ 2:19 PM //

Will the makers of popsicles please hear my plea! If you would make a colorless popsicle, I guarantee it would be a hit. That way, when they melt on my carpet, lawn furniture, desk, countertop, kids clothing, etc. - the stain will only be evidenced by a popsicle stick.

They can still be flavored but market it as a mystery flavor OR color the popsicle sticks instead. That would really be nifty for craft ideas...

¶ 2:50 PM //

My husband and I are packing up the kids today for a short road trip. We are going to go to the "city", see some family, do some shopping, golfing, catch a baseball game and maybe catch a movie.

Short, by the way, is considered by many Montanans to be anything under three hours. One way. :)

¶ 9:08 AM //

Someone is looking out for me. In an earlier post I talked about the nothingness that moviepitch.com has gotten me. Well, while viewing Rance's blog today, I saw an ad for reallycreativeideas.com. Seems to be a service that will take your movie pitches, edit them and submit them online and in their publication for industry review. The cost? 4 ideas for $49. So I took a shot and submitted 3 of my best ideas but unfortunately - one of my ideas double posted. I emailed requesting an idea refund so we'll see what happens. They also enter your ideas into their contest to win $2000. That would pay for the majority of my trip to Minneapolis this fall so maybe fate will intervine...

An update...they have since deleted my double post and given me an extra one for the inconvenience - ROCK ON!

¶ 8:07 PM //

I am sooo glad to see that this disease is finally getting some national attention. Not a day goes by that I don't wonder if the disease somehow contributed to my son's low level autism, central auditory processing disorder and sensory integration dysfunction.

You see, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 2000 almost one year after my son was born. The doctors said I had lived with the disease for almost three years so therefore I was undiagnosed and untreated while pregnant with my son.

My husband found a medical publication that shows that research is being done to see if there is a connection. I have also corresponded with the American Thyroid Association in support of their efforts to encourage OBGYN's to test all pregnant patients. There should be no reason why physicians object to this. It's a simple blood test and the disease can easily treated with medication.

Spread the word...

¶ 1:40 PM //

Bad drivers are my biggest pet peeve. The worst is people who smoke in their cars and then throw the burning cigarette butt out the window.

One of these days, if it happens to occur at a red light, I am going to get out of my car, pick up the cigarette butt and go to the window of the driver. I am going to say "Excuse me, I believe you dropped this" and then throw it back at them.

Of course then it will become a road rage incident for which I'm sure I'll be cited but if there are no kids around...what the hell.

¶ 1:24 PM //

I'm a magazineaholic for which there is no twelve step program. My favorite is Entertainment Weekly and I was surprised to see their "It List" issue feature an article speculating the identity of one of my favorite bloggers. By being featured in EW, is "Who is Rance?" becoming the next "Who Shot J.R?"

It reminds me of the old Project Greenlight message board days when everyone thought a certain poster was Ben Affleck.

Although we have never corresponded, Rance inspired me to blog publicly and I think we have a lot in common. I wish him luck with all the unwanted attention. It could provide for some interesting blogs...

¶ 1:16 PM //

Check with UTA in a couple of days...I sent you a pitch for film.

¶ 1:14 PM //

For a long time now, I have been a big fan of the website www.moviepitch.com. For a fee, you can send away for an informational cd on how to pitch your movie idea and also receive a login and password to pitch movies directly on the website.

This has sort of become a hobby for me. My family and friends used to laugh at me whenever I said "how about this for a movie". Now, I just pitch it to the website and I am 0 for about 200. I saved my best pitch for a suspensful drama with a twist and sent it to M. Knight Shyamalan. I saved my best comedy idea and sent it to Tom Shadyac.

I'm not a screenwriter - I just have these ideas that come out of nowhere and it's nice to have a place to pitch them. I did email the webmaster once to say "what's the deal" but I just got a response that said they were a very small operation.

But wouldn't it be nice to get a "story by" credit and some cash to keep coming up with ideas?

¶ 1:07 PM //

Most of us who live here joke that there are two seasons in Montana. Winter and construction. The reason this comes to mind is because of a conversation I had with a tourist at a gas station. We were in line (he waiting to pay for gas and I waiting to pay for a Diet Coke) and he commented about how all this construction was slowing him down and SURELY damaging the camping trailer that he was towing behind him.

Well to me, if you are on vacation, shouldn't slowing down be a good thing? It gives you the chance to look around and see things that you might have missed in your rush. Things such as a 50's Chevy, wildflowers growing on the side of the road, a new colt playing with it's mother or an eagle flying above.

Reminds me of that Faith Hill song "Just Breathe"...

¶ 1:00 PM //

Dennis Quaid just got married and I found it curious that they had to say he was married "somewhere in Montana" as if that made his wedding more magical. Dennis has his reasons for getting married here and frankly folks, it's none of our damn business.

Montana really is the last, best place. I love living here and to me there is no place on earth as beautiful as the Flathead Valley. We have our share of celebrities in the state, but,as someone being born and bred here, my manners will preclude me from saying who or where they are.

I have seen them in shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, ski resorts, grocery stores, gas stations, national parks, football games, lakes and on location. I've done business with them, had meals with them and conversed with them in public places. I've never asked for an autograph or a photo and I'm not alone.

You see, most people in Montana don't care if you are famous or not. As long as you are respectful, don't cause a scene and don't expect preferential treatment, we will leave you alone.

Maybe that's why they come here - whether it's to live, work or vacation. Whatever the reason...those of us who are residents of this great state will keep it under our hat. Cowboy hat that is...

¶ 10:17 PM //

Yes, it's true. Our friends are thankful that there will be no more offspring. I'm sure it's just a coincidence but would you believe that our three children were born surrounding the events of Oklahoma City, Columbine and September 11th? It's funny but also very sad...

I will never forget Oklahoma City. Our firstborn, a daughter, was only a few weeks old and had woken up early that day. I got up with her and turned on the televison to see what was on. The first thing I saw was this great big building with a hole in it. I sat there, riveted, and watched the live updates. But when they said "daycare", the tears of a hormonal new mother flowed like a river. I just sat there in the rocking chair that day, holding my daughter and grieving for the mothers that couldn't hold their children anymore. Not a day goes by that I don't think of them and the children they lost. Perhaps I am a more loving mother because of that.

Our second child, a son, wasn't even a day old when the nurse turned on the televison of our hospital room one springy day in April. Again with another child in my arms, I watched as parents lost children because of hate. This tragedy really hit home because those kids, some of them jocks, were killed in a high school library. At that same time, my mother worked in a high school library and my sister was a high school jock. I promised myself that day to teach my children kindness and tolerance.

Then, late in the third trimester of our third pregnancy, came September 11th. I heard about the events unfolding as I was driving my toddler to daycare. When we got there, I was struck by the contrast of all the parents in shock around the television set while the laughter of innocent children playing filled the background. Those next few weeks were a scary but uplifting time. After our son's birth, I couldn't shake the fear that he was being born into a generation of lost innocense.

We will raise our children differently than we were raised. It's quite a responsibility if you think about it. My children (when they are older) will look back at their baby books and reflect on the national events that surrounded their births. What will their legacy be? Will they be angry? Will they be sad? Or will it just be history to them?

We shall wait and see...

¶ 9:57 PM //

You know what they are...those dimunitive personality posters that sit on the back of someone's car and are otherwise known as license plates.

License plates used to be boilerplate. They were made by prisoners and every state had their own individual plate. Most were distinguished only by color. Then they got fancier. Some had state mottos. I remember a brief period of time when I lived in Idaho that it was embarassing to have "Famous Potatoes" on the license plate.

Then came the personalized plates. I knew a doctor in Montana who had OBGYN on his plates until his insurance agent told him to take it off. Too many people saw that and figured that there was money to be made from a fender bender.

I know a realtor in Montana who literally had to fight the state to get her last name as a personalized plate. Why? Because her last name is Dick. She wanted Mrs. Dick and her husband wanted Mr. Dick. Do you think they got their plates? Hell yes!

Then came the plates that supported college education. Pay an extra $25 and you could show your support for the college of your choice. Nowadays in Montana, you can get plates for almost anything. 4H, Zoo support, Golf association, Girl Scouts, National parks, Wildlife, etc.

But what really blew me away was a car I saw the other day that said I (heart) my jeep. Now we can have symbols too? Oh jeez realtor friend...you should have waited for this one. I would have loved to have seen a car with a plate that said "I (heart) Mr. Dick".

¶ 9:45 PM //