Manhattan - Day 33

Up early this morning to grab a coffee and then back to my desk. Was eager to look at some of the footage I shot yesterday with Paul. Suddenly it's twelve hours later and I have my working cut of my first narrative short since "Birders". Know that I'll be polishing it in the weeks ahead but tonight, "How Do I Say This?" looks pretty good.

Manhattan - Day 32

Up early this morning to grab a train uptown to see my dear friend Harold Garde off on his trip home to Maine. Being in California these past few months have kept he and I from spending much time together and what a treat to have had yesterday together in New York and then this morning a bite of breakfast before I put him in his car over to LaGuardia. Harold, as always spending time with you is a treat but never enough.

After my breakfast with Harold it was back to Chelsea to spend the day shooting a short film with Paul Scott, the actor. A long and tiring day but I believe we got good stuff!

Manhattan - Day 31

Spent the day today catching up with old friends, making new ones and feeling more and more like a part of the creative community here - too bad I'm over half way through my stay. Oh well, I'll enjoy it while it lasts, make the most of the time I've got left, etc, etc, etc. . . I'm beat, shooting all day tomorrow.

From Jeffery Lerer's Manuscript Fragments Found at the Gilbert Hotel

Manhattan - Day 30

10th's a hoppin'

Tonight I strolled down the wet pavement of 20th Street to 10 Avenue were I joined my dear friend Brian Numme for dinner. Things are really happing on 10th, new restaurants, book stores, galleries and of course all in the shadow of the wonderful HighLine. We had a great dinner at Izakaya Ten and had an even better time catching up. It's always great to see someone you care for finding the right groove for themselves and it seems like Brian has done just that. After dinner we took a little walk on the HighLine and snapped this pic.

Manhattan - Day 29

After a busy day, here I am sitting at my desk waiting for the software update on my iPhone - 90 minutes and counting . . . see ya tomorrow.

Manhattan - Day 28

The Chelsea Back Lot

In the time I've been here I can honestly say that it seems far more unusual for there not to be some film or TV crew working in the area than it is to see the trailers, and trucks set up for another day of shooting. These blocks between 8th and 10th from 17th up to 22nd seem to be where the entertainment industry comes to capture the quintessential New York street. Everything from TV pilot's (directed by Andrew McCarthy no less) to Hollywood films have been on location here over the past 4 weeks.

"Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my closeup now."

Manhattan - Day 27

This morning I went out for a long walk before the Indian Summer heat blanketed the city. I started down ninth through Chelsea, then when ninth ended, I continued down the length of Hudson through the Village, then into Tribeca and ending of course in the financial district and the site of the new Freedom tower. As I walked down through lower Manhattan with its' cobblestone streets and trendy shops and restaurants, I tried to imagine what it all must have looked like ten years ago coated in a layer of ash and dust. Hard to imagine.

Manhattan - Day 26

October, glorious October. My favorite month of the year, the sweaters come out of the closet, the leaves begin to turn and there is a certain smell that travels along on the cool autumn breeze. . .

. . . and today it was 85!

Now I know a lot of folks loved this little bit of Indian summer, but as I walked across the park today, amidst all the October sunbathers, all I could think of was -  "it's too damn hot". I hear it supposed to cool down in a couple of days. Well, not soon enough for me.