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We’ve been in a big transition period here at Slim Pictures. To start, there was the move to LA. A month was spent on the CBS lot in Studio City, and later this week I’ll start work with Revolution Studios. We’re wrapping up “Voices from the Chicago Grave” and are in pre-production on “Voices from the California Grave.” In addition, we are finishing a complete web site overhaul that will launch next month. I’m also in the early stages of development on a feature film by scribe Scott Ray, and other projects written by comic Tom Clark. In a few weeks the next newsletter will come out with more info on those specific projects, but for now…

THE ROAD TO LA
Almost all of last two months was spent getting ready for the move and actually moving, so there isn’t much new to report that isn’t entirely LA-related. To answer the two questions I get the most from people in Chicago, yes the weather is very nice out here. No snow, and it wouldn’t surprise me if people out here haven’t heard the term “windchill” before and if they have they’ve never experienced a –50 windchill. To answer the second question – here are the stars I’ve seen – Tom Hanks, Danny Elfman, Paul Rubins, Andy Garcia, Dominique Swain, Christina Ricci, Leelee Sobielski, Patty Hearst, and John Waters. And in television: Frankie Muniz, Erik Per Sullivan, Christopher Masterson, Bryan Cranston (from “Malcom in the Middle”), Richard Kind, Alan Ruck, Michael Boatman (“Spin City”), George Segal, David Spade (“Just Shoot Me”), Ashton, Kutcher, Wilmer Valderrama, Debra Jo Rupp, Mila Kunis, Laura Prepon (“That ‘70s Show”), and Bernie Mac (“The Bernie Mac Show).” I’ve also seen a lot of people from “That ‘80s show,” “Passions,” and other shows that shoot on the CBS Radford lot where I went to school.

For those who are interested, the following is my 2,000+ mile trip from The City of Big Shoulders to The City of Angels.

2/16
Getting my last glimpse of my home and Comiskey Park for a while, I left Chicago amidst snow flurries and had lunch in St. Louis in mid-50 degree weather. After stopping just past the arch for lunch we drove due West to make it to the near boarder town of Joplin, MO.

2/17
Crossed into Oklahoma. I always wanted to drive through this state, but I planned on doing it while storm chasing – maybe next time. We stopped to visit the memorial site of the Oklahoma City Federal Building bombing. While having no direct personal involvement, it was still one of the most powerful things I’ve ever seen. On a lighter note, we saw the first ever Philips 66 gas station, which is located down the road from the barbed wire museum (that’s actually not a joke) in the little town of McLean, TX. Note to Location scouts – check out McLean. We also stopped at the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX a few hours later. We ended the day in Tucumcari, NM.

2/18
In order to avoid a possibly dangerous snow mountain snowstorm we made it an early day. After breaking in Albuquerque, we headed through Flagstaff, AZ and ended the day in the quaint desert town of Harris, AZ. Motto – “Harris, AZ: Famous for absolutely nothing. 100 miles from water, five feet from Hell.”

2/19 – 2/20
The next day we made it easy on ourselves and drove just 250 miles to Las Vegas where we stayed for two nights. Hey, after driving 600 miles a day for three days it was time for a reward. Highlights included the New York, New York, the fountains at Bellagio, Paris Las Vegas, and The Venetian.

2/21
After stopping in Victorville, CA, I made it the rest of the way to my new home in northern Los Angeles. Just a few days later I started classes at the only television/film school in the world that actually takes place on a studio lot – Columbia College Chicago’s Semester in LA.