Via Southland is moving!

Yep.  We're going to be at viasouthland.wordpress.com from now on.  As you can tell, we're switching blog hosts in anticipation of future expansion issues related to Blogger.

Please head over and see what's new!

WATCH: Shit Craigslist Producers Say

Yeah, the whole "Shit ___ Poeple Say" thing is long gone, but I just came across this one about Craigslist producers and their funny demands.  If you're on Craigslist as much as I am, I'm sure you can relate to these.

While we're at it, let's just get it all out of our system:

Shit Filmmakers Say
Shit L.A. Actors Say
Shit PA's Say


_V.S.

The Truth About Courtroom TV

The first time I served as a paid extra was for America's Court with Judge Ross.

Never heard of it?  Here's a sample case via glorious YouTube:

Believe it or not, that shit ain't real.  Of course it isn't, but I was pretty surprised to see what sort of fake it was.

Unlike Judge Judy or Judge Joe Brown, this show is not an arbitration where both parties sign contracts to be bound by the "court's" decision.  America's Court takes real case FILES, and then has actors re-enact the cases, relying heavily on improvisation.  Judge Ross is a real retired LA judge, and even the bailiff is "an active duty sheriff" (not sure how he has time for this show).

The day I was there, they had us record seven cases.  Two of those cases used actors pulled straight from the audience.  I could probably have played the role of "Art Collector" if I had just raised my hand (nobody wanted to do it and the guy who eventually did it was ridiculous).

If you ever watch the show, take a look at the audience.  Notice something about everyone in the first four or five rows (only six rows total)?  They're all women.  I can't imagine anyone wanting to watch courtroom TV for the babes in the audience, but I suppose it's better than using the troglodytes like me who end up in the back row.

Still, you can get paid $8 an hour to sit quietly in a chair for about seven hours, while your fellow extras all bitch about the pay (which we knew beforehand), the hours (we were warned beforehand) and the air-conditioning (which was pretty damn cold).

I never cared for courtroom tv and I probably never will, but I'll say this:  despite the shortcomings of America's Court with Judge Ross, I was impressed with how Judge Ross takes a ridiculous case and manages to deliver his ruling with a small lecture on parenting, family, or personal responsibility.  It's actually something I think might be good for people; it's like they hid Arthur or Doug-styled lessons in these crazy cases to teach adults how to be good people.  I'm not even being sarcastic, though this whole paragraph reeks of it.

Still, with only a judge making decisions you can avoid a hung jury...

_V.S.

HEALTH: Reducing or Preventing Back Pain

Photo Credit (1)

If you're on your feet all the time and frequently lifting (production), or if you sit in a chair all day at your job (post-production), the resulting muscle imbalances will likely cause back pain for you.  I've been dealing with lower-back pain for a few days now, but today it's bad enough that I couldn't think straight from all the pain.

From my research (and the advice of others), I've learned that lower back pain involves more than just your back muscles.  Your calves, glutes, and hip flexors all come into play; they all need to be stretched.  Even if you're not in excruciating pain, you should seriously consider adopting some stretching into your daily routine to avoid future injury, increase flexibility, and relieve stress.

By the way, how's your posture right now?  Sit up!

I spent awhile looking around online for some help, but a lot of websites have poor explanations or useless pictures.  Finally, I came across lower-back-pain-answers.com.  The instructions make sense, the videos have clear explanations, and I already feel a little better having done some of their stretches.

This page deals with lower-back stretches.  Thank God.

Everyone is busy in this industry and it's easy to overlook your own health, but don't wait until it's too late to take proper care of yourself.  If your injury is serious enough, you might be unable to work.  Besides, you don't want to be retire as a barely-functioning body of squeaky joints and deformed muscles, do you?  Take care of yourself!

How's your posture?

_V.S.

(1)  Photo credit: katie cowden via photopin cc

Happy Halloween

Photo (and related article):
http://bobbydobbybloggy.blogspot.com/2011/10/boo.html

In 1952 the ConocoPhillips refinery started a tradition of painting one of it's 3-million gallon storage tanks into a giant jack o'lantern.  Wilmington, CA...that's a bit south of LA.  I took the virtual drive-by on Google Maps, but it wasn't fully painted in the picture (though it is orange).  Take a peek here.

Just to round it out, here's an old picture from the LIFE magazine archives.  You might notice they are painting on a different portion of it (the stairs are different), but other than that it looks as though this 60+ year tradition hasn't changed much.  Admirable!  Let's all drive down to Wilmington and patronize their shops (the positive kind of patronize)!

Quick Tip: Extension Cables

Perhaps you read a previous post on How To Wrap Cables Properly.  On a similar note, here's some advice that is useful both on set and at home.

Extension cables, or "stingers", sometimes have to be run along in a daisy chain to power equipment.  It's frustrating and embarrassing when your chain keeps coming apart, so use this simple trick to hold them together:

Emergency Numbers

Photo:  www.you-are-here.com

It's always a good idea to have a couple taxi company numbers stored in your phone.  You never know when you'll need a ride, and it's nearly impossible to hail a cab on the streets of LA.

Checker Cab:  323.654.8400

Yellow Cab Company:  877.733.3305

United Taxi:  800.822.8294

L.A. Taxi:  323.428.6896

5 Essential Terms for a PA

After a handful of gigs, I've picked up some of the basic terminology that's being thrown around on set.  This is beginners info.

I think these are the five most essential phrases to understand:

1. "Ten-one"
2. "Eighty-six"
3. "C-47"
4. "Twenty?"
5. "Points!"

WATCH: The Californians on SNL

I've been thinking a lot about Californian stereotypes lately.  One thing I love is seeing New Yorkers' opinions about people in Los Angeles.  SNL has a funny bit on just that topic, called "The Californians".  Spend a couple weeks here and you'll know all you need to know.

The Californians

Like it?  Check out  the dress rehearsal take.

Craigslist Makes Me Smile/Cry

From glorious Craigslist:

I'm looking for one lucky producer who has the means to prouduce a micro budget film that has 100 million dollar potential. I need someone who has experience in producing horor movies. I have written the script and own the rights to the screenplay. The concept for the movie is genius, and has been ran past several freinds and colleagues who all agree that the movie will be succesfull. Please if you are interested drop me a line with your experience, and express to me what kind of finicail backing you are bringing to the table. I've been in the movie business for years, started out as a PA, now I do freelance lighting and grip gigs, and camera operate. I taught myself how to screenwrite, and need to make this movie my bread and butter; the one that puts millions in the bank so money is like air. Thanks for reading this. You can respond to me via email, or call me @ (206)***-****. 

Robby T****

• Location: Los Angeles
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
• Compensation: you will get rich

Spelling/Grammar errors aside, I love his passion for stories.  You can tell right away he means business with lines such as, "need to make this movie my bread and butter; the one that pus millions in the bank so money is like air."
I'm also thrilled to know that he owns the rights to his own screenplay.  That should help push things through development, that and his "genius" concept.

Robby T, you had me at "prouduce".