Show Biz And Marriage
I must confess that it is really difficult to describe some of the wacky commercial shoots I work on to the average civilian, let alone my wife. I have been on sets where we stuffed an old lady in the trunk of a car so she could bake cookies, had an actor wear a pair…
The Speed Of Hollywood
I was working on a commercial on the grounds of CAA’s World Headquarters, marveling at how many stories of glass and concrete a small group of people could afford who make their living off the work of others, when the first A.D. yelled, “That’s lunch! One hour!” I queued up to the catering truck, eagerly…
5 Secrets To Staying Relevant As You Age (Or How Not To Become An Old F**k)
We Boomers have every bit as much to offer as the Millennials or the Gen-X’s or the Gen-Y’s. Hell, we invented the world as they know it. But to bridge the generation gap, or chasm, we need to stay relevant. So here are some safety tips for dealing with the young whippersnappers. 1. Upgrade everything.…
Christmas Starts After Thanksgiving, Dammit!
I saw my first Christmas commercial ten days before Halloween this year. Well, okay technically it wasn’t a “Christmas” commercial. It was a “holiday” commercial with lots of red and green decorations, decorated fir trees in the house, snow on windows, stockings over fireplaces, presents, squealing children, Menorahs near the ham . . . but,…
Hollywood Habitat Hell
Holy smokes did we have a dilemma at the Brakeman household. It started a few days ago when the kids found out that I would be working on a PetSmart commercial. I had tried to keep this secret from them, for reasons that will become obvious, but their little snoopy eyes are everywhere. When they…
The Great Toilet Paper War of 2015
When a woman is pushed too far . . . enjoy! From one of my favorite writers on the planet. You can check out her work at kristenbrakeman.com
Show Biz Chimps
I have worked with many famous people during my many years of employment in Show Business. Oh sure, I could drop names like Beyonce, Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Kevin Bacon, Charlize Theron, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Aniston, Elizabeth Taylor, but I won’t. Besides, they have restraining orders – some lasting past their demise. But do you…
You Will Submit To The Plant Overlords
Sometimes my job as a sound mixer in Show Business takes me to some fascinating and exotic locations, and sometimes it just lands me right in the middle of a commercial plant nursery for 16 hours. So much for the glamour. But the most peculiar thing happened while I was nestled safely in the hothouse…
How To Raise A Family Of Women
I’m completely screwed. I have three daughters. Besides the obvious joy that statement brings, it also means several other things: I have no hair, I’m never right, there will be three colleges, three weddings, and consequently, I will never retire. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t learned a few things along the way that I…
Forrest Brakeman 