Summer Update

So it's been a while since my last blog, and I kind of feel ashamed, after all this blog is about my adventures in LA, and I feel like I've not been very adventurous. I'll need to try harder. I have been working. I was lucky enough to film a web sketch called "Two Girls, One World Cup" for Mike Hatton Entertainment. If you haven't seen it yet, take a peek. (HERE!) Also, check out the changes I've made to the In Rare Form website as well as the changes I'm making to the JLP Films site. If you get a chance, please, check it out.


Some real exciting writing opportunities are coming up in the coming weeks, I'll post more information is it becomes available. Other than that, there’s not much to report on. I saw Dick Van Dyke at the Malibu Arts Festival. I guess Heather had a conversation with him, which was pretty cool. Also, she said she saw David Duchovny and Téa Leoni at the festival. I didn't see them, and honestly, if I had, I probably would have never noticed them.

Unfortunately that's all I got right now, I will leave you with a few images from the last few months. Go Braves!!

JLP

End of an era... My 30th birthday

For those who have known me for the longest, you know I don't tend to make a big deal over things, my birthday included. Maybe it's just my laid back nature, maybe it's just because I save those celebrations for things that truly warrant me going all out. I know to some (I'll mention no names), this seems odd and maybe a little sad.


With that said, (and even though I already have) I would like to thank Heather for going to so much trouble for me today. She didn't have to, but she did, and for that I cannot thank her enough. She orchestrated a trip to the IMAX for Iron Man 2, she made dinner, and dessert (side note: If you've never had Heather's Apple Crisp, you're really missing out. Imagine your favorite thing to eat, and then multiply that by 20. Really, it's that good.). Also, she snuck around town and managed to get me several wonderful gifts. None of things she had to do, except Iron Man. Anyway, thank you Heather, if I'd had any stress over the end of my twenties, (which I didn't) you erased them.

Also, thank you to Alex and Emily for a fun night and free passes to mini-golf. I have no chance of ever winning, but it’ll still be a blast. Of course, thank you Kevin and Brad, I hope you enjoyed IMAX Iron Man all up in your face as much as I did. Finally, to all the birthday greetings, and well wishes everyone sent today, I know I already did once, but thank you all again. Oh yeah, Happy Mother's Day Momma. You called me, I win. Good night everyone, and here's to you!

JLP

Dinner Plans

TGIF

For the last few weeks I've noticed that my Fridays seem to come faster and faster. I've heard that as you get older, time seems to speed up and the next thing you know, months turn into years. Honestly, I agree with that. Even though I'm still in my 20's (be it the twilight of my 20's), I notice each year passes more quickly than the last. So why should I be shocked when I realized my Fridays seem to happen more frequently than they used too. For me while I was like, "Finally, it's Friday," The sky would part, and music would play. Then last week I realized, "I live for Friday." In fact, I would wager that 90% of Americans live for Friday. Sure, Friday kicks off the weekend, but the faster they arrive, the faster time passes and you know what that means. Of course, I know how this happens, you get caught up in the day-to-day grind of life, you wake up, go to work, go home, have dinner, do some work, maybe watch an hour of TV, then it's time for bed... day in and day out. It's defeating. Of course you can do what I've done the past two weeks and try to do as much as possible, barely sleeping and then walk around like a zombie every day. Then I assure you, Friday will never come soon enough.

In other news, Heather drug me to a wonderful show at the iO West Theater last week. I say, "drug," but I was more than happy to go. The show was Beer, Shark, Mice, an improv troupe starring Mike Coleman, Pat Finn, Neil Flynn, Pete Hulne, David Koechner, and Paul Vaillancourt. Yeah, those guys! Anyway, it was a great show, and their last I was told, so if you missed out, sucks to be you. There's not a day that goes by now were Heather doesn't call me, Text me, or in some way communicate the words: "Hey, there's a dead body over here," to me in some fashion.

So any way, Happy Easter everyone (if you choose to celebrate Easter) and have a nice weekend. Oh, keep an eye out... all I can say is Stickers!

JLP

Changes... Sketches... Chachi Arcola...

So, for those 3 of you who actually go to my website, (www.jlpfilms.com) I'm sure you've noticed that the site basically looks like crap right now. I want to apologize to you for that, but I am in the middle of having the site re-modeled. Once completed, I will let you all know, so you can give me feedback on it. So please, bear with me.


In the mean time, let’s talk shop. I had the privilege of working with In Rare Form again last week. We shot a new sketch video based on their improv comedy, so look for that to hit the inter webs later this week. Once again, I continue to be amazed at how awesome those guys can be. Hopefully, you should see more collaboration with those guys real soon.

You want more celebrity sightings, you got'em. I was having breakfast at Bob's Big Boy in Burbank, when Heather looks up and says, "There's Scott Baio." I turned and sure enough, there he was... and no, he didn't ask me for any Raspberry syrup. He was with his family and true to my code of conduct; I don't bother actors that are out and about unless they are named Patrick Duffy. This is actually the second know actor I've seen at Bob's. A few months back, I ran into Mathew Lillard there as well. Of course Bob's is just across from Warner Brothers and right down from NBC, so I imagine if I went there more often, I would see a lot of different folks.

Anyway, that's all I got for now. Keep an eye out for iConnect from In Rare Form; it should be coming to the Youtubes very soon.

JLP

A Year In LA

So I've made it! (Depending on the time frame you use) I have been in L.A. for a year now. That's an amazing feet if you think about it for a moment. Basically, a year ago, I loaded up my car, and moved 3,000 miles away from everything I knew, without any idea where I'd live, no job lined up, and no real plan other than, I knew this was the place I needed to be. To date, at least from the outside looking in, it's been a pretty boring adventure. There have been no swinger’s type moments. I've not been to any crazy Hollywood parties. Well actually, I did attend my first Hollywood party two weeks ago. It was an interesting affair with a lounge act and a vat of black out margaritas. But other than that... I don't have anything awesome to report on.


So I want to take a moment to thank a few people who have made my L.A. experience awesome. First I want to thank Staples Office Supply Superstore, without you I might have found a real job sooner and not spent so much of my savings trying to make ends meet while being completely miserable for 3 months. I would like to thank in and Out Burger for always giving me the runs. Then there's Ralph's (Kroger for those back east) for being so damn close. I would also like to thank EA Active for the Wii for helping me get back into the swing of losing weight. Other's I'd like to thank include: My parents for still talking to me. My car for not dying yet; my former roommates for reminding me why I hate having roommates; McDonalds for the dollar menu; Trader Joe's for making me want to eat healthier; My former roommates for dicking me over as often as they could. Jessie and Mindy Spencer, you guys are great. UCB and Nick Wiger for showing me that sketch writing can be fun despite not being my favorite. All the members of In Rare Form for letting me be part of their family. Cris Aris for giving me swine flu; B&H for giving me a place to spend my money; Heather Horton you're just awesome, and finally LA traffic for making me afraid of little Asian people.

Without all of you, none of this would have been possible!

JLP

Good Sports

A month ago I was asked by Heather, to help her come up with ideas for 5 video sketches. I felt a lot of pressure because A) I didn’t want to let her down; and B) I wasn’t sure if they would be funny.

Despite my time and training at UCB, this wasn’t a table read, this was going to out there for everyone to see. I worked out the script, and sent it over… positive feedback. There was hope.
So thank you to Jamie for your time and energy (and getting clobbered over and over), I look forward to working with you again. Also, thank you Heather for having the faith in me to be the one to help you with this project. I can’t wait till the next one.
So here it is folks, enjoy it. And keep an eye out, because this is just the beginning .
JLP