A near miss

It has been an incredible five months. So sorry for the slack blogging re LA but its all been under wraps for a reason. Through a contact at the AFI I was approached at Christmas time by a great production company for consideration to direct one of their feature films. A shock out of the blue! So sent off 'What Does Your Daddy Do?' and received a great response. Received the script. Thought there was something interesting in the story but thought the script needed work. Then went in for an interview. Never thought I would get the film, nonetheless it would be a great experience to go through the interview process. Well they kept coming back wanting to look at all my old films such as 'Alone Together' 'Out Bread and Butter' etc. I then did a bit of research and started to be drawn into the world in which the story was being told. Anyway, cut to the chase I was offered the job! It has all been very intoxicating. I have really enjoyed working with the producers of the film. A really great bunch, very easy to work with and to get on with. In the end it all boils down to story. Just received the next draft..............Well I have just turned the project down. It's tough as I so looked forward to getting my teeth into a feature length story. It would have been a great challenge considering the budget and time frame but eminently do able. Especially as I was looking to work with some of my strong pals from the AFI. The script just did not work for me and didn't look if it could be developed in that direction. I am sure there is a director out there who can take on the project and will see a way to realise the story. So it's back to the drawing board!!

Las Vegas

Headed off the the biggest of the national parks and my least favourite, in fact I really think I am beginning to loathe this place: Las Vegas!




Seems that Rebecca and I drank some bad water with disastrous effects. Or was it the claustrophobia of the car?



Stopped off on route to go bowling. OK so flash Lukas won (I believe instead of going to college he has secretly been practicing) followed by Rebecca. Julia and I gracefully bowed out.






Viva Las Vegas. I don't think that Rebecca and Lukas were that impressed. We did end up having a great time and laughed so much. I guess we were living the dream and were totally money! Stayed at the Monte Carlo.










Julia and Lukas played some poker and were very generous in helping the casino to stay profitable. So to rectify this slight mishap we adjourned to our room for an aggressive round of 'swimming' with a total pot of $4. Rock and Roll!!! Oh Julia entertained us with her amusing and crazy stories about kniffel.

Zion

Headed off for a hike up to the observation point. Guide book said 5-6 hour round trip. We did it in under 3 hours returning a little sweaty. Well worth the views.










Zion is amazing, a statement of the obvious considering the photos!











Lukas headed off for a run. He is taking part in the Hamburg marathon at the end of April




Big emergency as the liquid detergent exploded in the trunk of the car! The ladies were quick to rectify the emergency.

Fab supper at the lodge. Chicken with blue crab. Fantastic.
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Bryce Canyon

An extraordinary day driving through desert, snow capped mountains, canyons and lush forrest all in the space of a few hundred miles.




















We drove through Capital Reef National Park.





Dixie National Forrest and Fishlake National Forrest.
















Hiked down into the heart of Bryce Canyon (it's not technically a canyon its an escarpment). Back for a swim at the lodge. The pool was full of chlorine with a tiny bit of water added resulting in Julia coming out with a bug rash. Then dinner surrounded by hundreds of German tourists!! Evening watching 'I am Legend' - not a great film.