After getting a tip from a friend about Frost’s symposium at USC this past week, we loaded up and headed down to the university to check it out.

Frost spoke about his work in music videos, particularly those from artists such as Norah Jones, Radiohead, and OK GO.

Frost spoke at length about the scanning techniques used in “House of Cards,” for which he utilized a brand-new lidar technology to create the scans. He remarked that Thom Yorke told him what the song was about, and that it was quite a personal song of Yorke’s, but he would not disclose the song’s meaning. He did say, however, that the video was required to have a party scene, and show people disintegrating (which it did). This is the first video that used this Lidar technology instead of the traditional camera and lights.

The music video features clips of Thom Yorke’s face as well as those of several other people, interspersed with images of suburban landscapes, and people coming and going at a party. In lieu of traditional cameras, the video is made with lidar technology which detects the proximity of objects from the sensor. This gives the video a grainy and grid-like appearance. Sheets of acrylic glass and mirrors are passed in front of the lasers to create scenes in which the image appears distorted, partially disappears, or begins to disintegrate as if being carried by wind.

Frost would also employ this technology for a recent IBM ad:

Very cool stuff. He also spoke at length about the making of the viral video “This Too Shall Pass” for OK GO. The labor-intensive Rube Goldberg design, the 90+ takes that it took for the contraption to work, and how State Farm didn’t question why the first person on screen looked like they had just come from a homocide scene.

I am not doing this symposium justice, but I certainly have a better appreciation of Frost and his work.

In a surprising turn of events, I ended up going to the Governor’s Ball after wrapping up the show at the Nokia. It was incredible – the theme of “Starry, Starry Night” translated to gems hanging from the ceiling, moons everywhere. It was truly an impressive sight. In the middle of the action was a live band, which (although my pics don’t show them) included a mid-sized string section and accompanying instruments. Four singers were poised at the top of a rotating dance floor, belting out all of the hits on my current playlist. It was amazing.

I met up with friends and we shared a three-course dinner of vegetables, lamb and chocolate mousse, all of which was this incredible designer food. SO GOOD. Duncan Hines was a sponsor, which seemed a bit out of place, but they provided some great treats as well. I loved our centerpiece:

By the time we arrived after work, most of the place had cleared out, but we still saw a few folks we knew (Michael Sheen, Jane Krakowski, Rainn Wilson). I suppose the folks behind the Ball knew that everyone would be going to private after-parties anyhow, because everything ended at 11 PM. After a drink with friends and some good conversation, it was time to pack up and head out. Emmy night was over.

So, the way I’m going to do this is like this: I’m going to watch the show and try to give some insights along the way. D’accord?

Right before the show was about to start, I grabbed a water bottle from the cooler and headed toward the stage. I immediately stopped upon almost running into someone. Yup, it was Tom Hanks. That’s right, my favorite actor of all time. I stopped, almost possessed, and said hello. I wished him well on his nominations, and proceeded to the stage. I also saw Hugh Laurie, but at that point, Hanks trumps Laurie and the night’s about to start.

Where I was all night -- in the distance are Tina Fey and Matthew Morrison

Counting down to the show, it didn’t hit me until the pre-tape moved from screen to stage that all of this was really happening. And frankly, it couldn’t have started any better.

The pre-tape began with Jimmy’s smart car pulling up to the Glee kids, who are standing outside moping. The signs behind him are ads for the Emmys. We were pressed for time to keep them there while shooting, as once 5 PM hit, they would return to their usual flashing Toyota ads. The bulletin board behind them was criticized by one person for being “too neat,” so you’ll see that the ad for the Glee competition is sideways.

The door that they enter through is the same door that I’ve entered through for the week, back by the loading dock. One of our real team members passes by, and then, it’s Tina Fey! (see previous post, “The Build Up.” for more about that part of the pre-tape. At this point in the filming, I was working right behind the camera, pushing people back and making sure they were quiet. Lorne Michaels was on set as they filmed this scene, watching from the next room.

When they open the door on Kate Gosselin, Tina’s expression is fabulous. This was from the last take that they did. The two doors that swing open made a huge BANG, so there are actually two people wedged between the door and wall/window to hold them back. And when the group walks away from Kate, there’s one more line from Cory… he turns and says “Sorry. I really like your dress.” And is whisked away by a mad Lea Michele.

Jane really did throw those slushies, which had been created as if it was some intricate chemistry to get the correct formula. Not too watered-down, not too syrupy, just the right color. And I was on-hand to make sure that the floor wasn’t sticky afterward. Hey, you have to start somewhere.

When the screens parted and the pyro flashed, drums pumping… that was the highlight of my night. This is something so logistically tough to pull off with actors of that caliber. I know Jimmy called in some favors, and it’s really a testament to the hard work of the talent department that this crew was assembled. They brought their A-game for sure. It gets me every time to see Jimmy up there working so hard, and the crowd so into it. It set a great tone for us – from what I could tell, our producers were loving it. I was loving it. The crowd seemed to like it. We were 1 for 1.

I was pretty worried about Jimmy’s transitions (the “Rawhide” ones) – but with his clever improv additions and extra something special, his performance was great. Amy Poehler was a great complement for the first one, and I felt better about the transitions afterward.

Eric Stonestreet’s speech about wanting to be a clown in the circus was great – and we LOVED the fact that he said it immediately before the bumper that showcases a scene from “Modern Family” with him as a clown. That was not, and could not have been planned. We were on a high. Sofia Vergara and Jim Parsons were good together, and the extra “big bangs” weren’t planned. Between that and the Old Spice parody from Levitan & Lloyd, another good set of bits.

A big woohoo for Jane Lynch winning. Her speech was hilarious, and she deserved it. At this point, Chris Levitan is making his way back to the “Thank You Cam”, and I accidentally got caught up in him getting lost and turned right to the camera. So if you’re watching the live stream, you can see me being a total dumbass and looking right into the camera. Whoops.

Well, things started to take a turn when Matthew Perry went on stage. All I will say is that he and Lauren Graham were NOT supposed to plug their respective shows before handing out the award. I have a new hate of Matthew Perry, lemme tell you. Why would he mess with something that so many people have worked on so hard? But I digress.

The Modern Family package was great, everyone was happy. Actually, everything was going pretty well. I love the green screen montage from the reality transition. Really, there isn’t much to say at this point. We were rolling. For the record, Will Arnett added that little intro to his poem! Funny stuff.

Speaking of which, did you see Gail trip on the way to the mike for the Top Chef Emmy win? Hilarious. I love that show.

I think this is the first time you can see me on NBC. It’s at about minute 52, as they bumper to commercial.
The rest of the show went by smoothly, with relatively little to report. Per usual, many speakers went over their allotted time and Don adapted. Talk about adapting. Ricky Gervais was ridiculous. The basic premise of what he said was on the prompter, but he used it more as a base to touch than one to read word for word.
That Mel Gibson bit was ALL his own.

We had been doing really well on time throughout the show, but Al Pacino… at 3 ½ minutes, his speech seemed to disregard the 40-second acceptance speech time limit. But what can you do? It’s Al Pacino. Don let him finish, but almost everything was subsequently cut from the show. Just as those on the web heard Don say, “We’re in time crunch,” we were. But no matter, a few snips and we only ran over by a minute.

After the show ended, there were hugs, kisses and congratulations to go around. As the “Modern Family” folks were trying to get through, excited as anyone, they were caught in photo backgrounds of producers and whatnot. Eventually, I headed back to our production office, where I would hear some great news.

What was it? Check out the last part of the blog series, PART FOUR…

HOLY RED CARPET!

The press was in full swing, and celebs were starting to make their way down the carpet. I wish I knew more faces, but boy oh boy, it was a trip. I can’t describe how crazy it was. Look one way, it’s Rainn Wilson; and the other way, it’s Matthew Fox. I tried to be as tactful as I could, but it was still a trip. Here are folks with designer dresses and million-dollar jewelry, next to Kat Lenhart, Ohio-born girl in a $20 black dress from Macys. The most expensive thing I’m wearing is a pair of gold Seychelles shoes, $89.95, Nordstroms. Accompanying it is the dress, as well as an $80 bracelet (a good luck charm), and a pair of earrings I picked up from the local farmers’ market, earrings that I’m proud to say I negotiated from $12 to $10, thank you very much! And for the record, I didn’t borrow my dress. I own it, bitches!

The carpet is in an L-shape, with NBC at the crux of it. At the front with the limos is a sea of publicists, many of whom are flipping out or pushing people out of the way. There are a few folks (such as myself) taking photos and video, and it seems that many of the stars are also quite enthralled by the spectacle of it all. Photos everywhere, interviews, and generally organized chaos. Many enthusiastic greetings, accompanied by light kisses on the cheeks, hearty handshakes and casual chit-chat.

I stayed on the carpet for about an hour, checking everything out and acquiring a color akin to the carpet itself. Some photos:

Jane Lynch looked incredible. That purple dress was gorgeous, and she is one of the sweetest, most deserving actors out there. Kudos to her for always keeping it classy.

Also looking stunning was Clare Danes – the dress was glitz without being too over-the-top (for reference, please see Tom Hanks’ date’s chandelier dress). Though I like her as a red-head rather than a blonde.

January Jones commented that her dress looked a bit like a peacock. I agree.

I missed Jewel on the red carpet, but watching the footage now, she looks amazing! She is actually more physically beautiful than so many of the actresses on the carpet. I did not realize that “Shape of You” had not yet been recorded! My understanding was that it would be released after the Emmys. But honestly, I hope it does at some point get released… it’s striking and beautiful, just as the songwriter herself.

I walked behind Glenn Close for a portion of the carpet. Then, I ended up hanging in one spot and seeing folks heading in, I couldn’t help but snap a few photos. I wouldn’t realize until later that this is somewhat of a faux pas. But honestly, when will this ever happen again?

Eric Stonestreet

Matthew Morrison

Neil Patrick Harris

Ricky Gervais, the funniest man of the evening.

Chris Colfer

Bryan Cranston

And the belle of the ball, Betty White

At the end of the carpet is what can only be described as a media zoo, where stars parade and show their glitz and glam, all to the oohs and aahs (more like LEA!! LEAHHHH!!!) and clicks of shutters and their respective bugs.

In this video, Lea Michele is in navy on the far right, and I think the couple in the middle is Eva Longoria Parker and her date.

On my way back in, I caught up with a few associates, and we snapped some photos as well. Plus, as we headed in, there was my favorite actor of all time, Tom Hanks, in all of his glory. I was finally starstruck.

That wasn’t the last time I saw Tom Hanks. But you have to read on to find out more.

PART 3: THE SHOW is coming…

Well, to those who might have seen me last night, thanks for the screenshots and the crazy Facebook posts. The best way I can describe the experience is as overwhelming and exhilarating. Bear with me as I try to recall it in full.

I left for the Nokia at about 7 AM and didn’t hit traffic, thank heaven. I passed through 8 LAPD security checkpoints, weaved through barriers, and got the car fully checked (including a trunk check). I brought with me two bags, one with my laptop, headset and paperwork; the other, with my clothes and makeup. I was planning on wearing this cute little forest green cocktail dress with gold jewelry, but just in case anything happened, I also threw in a black dress as an afterthought.

Upon arriving at the Nokia, things seem oddly quiet. We’re preparing for a 9:30 dress rehearsal, and around the dressing rooms, I catch Jane Lynch getting ready for the opening. This is the first time we will see it with the full cast in costume. Things are getting exciting.

The first order of the day entails moving the Producers’ tables from the house to backstage. Back there, we had a full office to set up. I dressed the table, brought back pens and staplers, and we were ready to roll. Monitors were already hooked up, along with the red emergency phone and headsets. As I carry lamps and papers, I walk past Jorge Garcia (who, by the way, did not respond to my “good morning”), Tina Fey, Amber Riley (who may get the “biggest diva” award), Jane Lynch chatting it up with Joel McHale, and of course, Jimmy.

The opening number begins, and for the first time, I see the video they taped with all of the stars. It is IN-CRED-IBLE. It has me rolling in the aisle, almost literally. I still can’t believe that everyone pulled it off. It’s one of the most unlikely groups, doing some pretty tough choreography. The dancers in the training video knew their stuff, and the actors had a lot to learn. I’m so thrilled that they pulled it off. Plus, I didn’t see the Jon Hamm part until the actual show! So it was somewhat of a brilliant surprise for me as well. I loved it. And when it was over, Jon Hamm took a wrong turn and asked me where to go. It was awesome.
The rehearsal rolled on with stand-ins accepting fake awards. There were some great successes, but some major scares as well. The wrong video package played, the wrong envelope was read. The run-through was by no means flawless. I was scared for Jimmy. I was afraid that some of the bits may not work and that he could look like an idiot.

Sidebar: I have a new respect for Jimmy Fallon. He is one of the kindest, most generous, caring individuals with whom I have ever worked. He invested an enormous amount of time and effort into making this show as good as it was. He was kind with the crew, and if something didn’t work, he did not yell or scream – he was all business, he would find a way to improve the situation, and left everyone feeling good about the change. He is a big reason why the show was a success. And, as someone who did not necessarily love Fallon throughout some of his other endeavors, I am now a proud member of his camp, and I hold him in only the highest regard. He is really a wonderful person who works hard and makes you feel good about a production.

Ok, sidebar over. Dress rehearsal over. At this point, I’m feeling the effects of only eating peanut M&Ms and being on my feet for four hours. Granted, I’m in sneakers, but it still hurts. I’m worried that I will be dying during the actual show. It’s time to eat and get dressed.

After a nice lunch (“nice” referring to the company I kept, not the food), I prepared for the show. Looking around, everyone (save my friend, Ariella) was in black. Well, lesson learned. I thanked the baby Jesus that in a half-awake state I had thrown a backup black dress in my bag, and so I fetched it. With the 3:00 red carpet opening approaching, I headed out to check out the hubbub.

PART TWO: RED CARPET is coming…

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It's not the best picture of the office, but it gets the job done ('cause it's an office, right?).

Well, here they are — the disclosed Emmys posts. I’m sorry that I have had to wait to post them, but with confidentiality and all, it was for the best.

This past week has been incredible. We moved our office from Beverly Blvd. to the Nokia Theater, and every day have been seeing new faces on site. Now, what started as 10 people has become dozens upon dozens, all working together for Sunday night.

Things have been absolutely crazy, and I’m happy to say that the status of “intern” and the idea that I’m supposed to be learning has borne me some wonderful privileges (some of which that, frankly, I don’t know if anyone else could pull off).

I started in production as basically a PA, and to some extent, I am still at that point. There were the basic lug-this, deliver-that duties, but being an intern and not being allowed to go on runs, I got to be in the office much more than anyone else.

Tuesday was by far the toughest day in the office. I spent the day outside, putting together seat filler boards. The boards are essentially cardboard pieces with 8 1/2 x 11″ headshots and names of the stars in the seats. They’re used for rehearsals, so the cameramen can put together angles and aren’t just shooting an empty seat. I wouldn’t complain if it weren’t for a few items of note. First, the materials. These boards aren’t on flimsy cardboard — they’re on the heaviest paper stock I have ever seen (or had to carry). It was a workout to lug those boards around! Second, the aerosol. I made enough boards to go through eight cans of aerosol glue. Let it be known that I was “feeling it” by about can three. If this wasn’t enough, as the day progressed, it became incredibly windy and 90+ degrees with no clouds. My hands were black by the end of it, and my fingers were throbbing. I slept ridiculously well that night and hoped that the rest of the week would be different.

Thankfully, it was. The next day, I met a very nice friend, Erick, who gave me the full tour of the Nokia. This would be incredibly useful (for obvious reasons), and would come to be the information that would give me a leg-up on a lot of the other folks vying for coveted daily tasks.

That day, I also joined the team that was working on pre-recorded material for the show. It was rehearsal day, and they needed a PA. So I was that PA. The rehearsal was for the opening number, and would essentially be a video to help teach the dance to the stars who would eventually be in it. The idea was, they would get an idea of their choreography through the video and come to the shoot prepared to lay it down quickly. With some of the cast not arriving until Sunday morning, it was of the utmost importance that they saw the video and knew what to do. The stand-ins were a bunch of young dancers, one of whom was from “So You Think You Can Dance” (Mark, Season 4). They were lively and fun, and knew what they were doing. Leading the troupe was Robin Antin — yes, the same Robin Antin that “created” and still “profits from” the Pussycat Dolls. She was a hoot. The dance looked great, and the scenes were shot. Day two, wrapped.

Jimmy rehearses his dance moves with choreographer Robin Antin.

Thursday started as a slow day, but would turn the corner on my experience at the Emmys. I started the day wondering what would happen, aimlessly wandering and trying to find a place I could be of some use. I ended up with two of my compatriots from our original ten at Mischer’s, and we put together the Producers’ tables in the house. Nothing too special, just laid down tablecloths, provided snacks and convenient trash cans. With little more to do, I ended up staying on hand at the Producers’ table for the rest of the day. I watched the show as it was rehearsed with stand-ins, met folks from NBC and the ATAS, and heard what really was going on, which was fantastic.

Friday, the day that shall be known as the day of the celeb encounters. The pre-taping began in the early afternoon, and I was hoping to be on the team again. I really liked the folks who were working on it — hearty folks who did things quickly yet efficiently, kindly but always with an edge that made me respect them and their work. These gentlemen don’t have “processes”, they get the job done. And well, at that. Plus, some of my favorite actors were going to be on set. So it became a win-win in my eyes.

I’ve always thought that being direct and honest will get you far, and I was not going to let this opportunity slip by because I was too meek. So, I walked up to the AD with whom I had the best rapport, and bluntly said that I wanted to work with him today. He seemed to approve and I thought I was set. Well, I ended up running trash at the producers’ table, which really was not a chore at all, but I was hoping to get back to that pre-tape. Very little was happening in the house that day, and I was starting to get bored. There really wasn’t a place for me, and I felt that it would be inappropriate to be skimming Facebook right next to the Academy representative. So I asked for a break, and took it. As I walked down from the table, I heard someone say, “Ooh, that’s me! That’s my seat!” I turn around. Hello, Lea Michele in a big hat and a poofy shirt that allows me to see bra straps in all of their lingerie goodness.

Me: “Yeah, I made that. Like it?”

Lea: “Love it. Do you know if I can pick up my tickets today?”

Me: “You know, I really don’t know about that. But I can try to find out for you if you would like.”

Lea: “Sure. Oh look! I’m with Chris, and Cory and Amber. And Jane’s here. Aww!”

Me: “Yup. Well, have a good pre-tape.”

Lea: “Thanks so much!”

Everyone laughing between takes. (not acting)

I met up with a friend from work, who was also going through a slow spot in her day, and we wrapped our two heads around the idea of being mischievous and taking pictures around the Nokia. We weren’t intrusive, but we went to the red carpet and by happenstance, walked in on the pre-taping. Four “Glee” kids and Jimmy Fallon, all there, working on the first scene. Although I could only stay for a mere few minutes, the majority of which was in-between takes, I did get a chance to snap this photo, which is one of my favorites of the whole week.

After a walk-around and a few photos taken, I ended up back at the Producers’ table, where I would stay for a few minutes before heading to lunch. Winding through the hall, I turned the corner on the production office, and BOOM!  There was Jimmy Fallon and Cory Monteith. I couldn’t play it off as if it was nothing, they were right there. So, why not engage in conversation with them? I totally did. We spoke about the little nothings of the show and the pre-tape, and then I asked Jimmy what tactic I should use for The Price is Right. Bryan and I are going next week, and a friend of mine had dared me to ask Jimmy for advice, should I find myself in an appropriate situation to do so.

Jimmy: “Bid low.”

Cory: “Bid high.”

Jimmy: “No no no, be the guy who bids a dollar. Lean down to the mike, even if the sound guys have it perfectly set, and make sure it feeds back a really annoying screech. Then bid a dollar.”

The moment that I realized that Tina Fey was right there.

We laughed, I awkwardly left the conversation, and I searched for the granola bar that had instigated my trip to the production office. Upon receiving the desired sustenance, I turned to throw out the wrapper, and there she was. Tina Fey, in all of her tiny glory, was now chatting up Jimmy and Cory. But I had just spoken with them, it would be super-awkward to go back. Well, I figured I would not get this opportunity again anytime soon, and I would regret it if I didn’t say hello. So I turned to my trusty bluntness to handle the situation.

Me: “Hi, I thought I’d say hello. You’re my favorite actress. I’m Kat.”

Tina: “Hi! I’m Tina.”

Me: “Well, this is really unprofessional of me, but can I get a quick photo with you?”

Tina: “Oh my god, of course!”

... and then I grew a pair and just asked her for a photo.

Well, it wasn’t my most professional moment, but I had it. There was a bit more, but it’s not worth recapping here.

Immediately after that moment, I found myself on set for the pre-taping. It was my job to clear everyone out prior to the roll. So, that’s exactly what I did. I messed it up once, but generally, I was on my game. I even got to clear out Lorne Michaels when he arrived at the Nokia. He was pretty preoccupied with checking out the scenes and reading on his Blackberry, but seemed to be interested in what was going on.

Eventually, the pre-taping headed downstairs, where I was even more excited. Why? Because the Glee kids were done for the day, but joining us was…

Jane Lynch! Yup, Jane Lynch in all of her Sue Sylvester glory. I watched her throw slushie upon slushie on both Jimmy and Tina — and lemme tell you, she really did take those cold drinks and fling them. Red slush sticking everywhere. The final throw landed not on Tina’s shirt, but ALL over her neck and chest. As it dripped down to the floor and she shivered in chills, we stood near her feet, armed with towels. It even splashed back to Jane Lynch, to which she replied, “Well, it’s polyester. It’ll dry in the next 30 seconds!” She was incredibly nice. In-between takes, I found myself standing right next to her — it was just the two of us. We awkwardly make eye-contact (and yes, my celeb encounters can often be characterized as “awkward”), and I couldn’t help but take advantage of the opportunity.

Me: “Hi.”

Jane: “Hey there.”

Me: “Holding up alright?”

Jane: “I think so. Those were decent throws, right?”

Me: “Oh totally. [BEAT] So good to work with you. Best in Show is such a classic, you were great.”

Jane: *grabs and squeezes my arm* “Thank you! Chris’ stuff really holds up over time, doesn’t it.”

Me: “Oh yeah.”

And then we just kinda went back to what we were doing. It was pretty sweet. For the rest of that evening, I cleaned red slush from Tina, Jimmy and Jane’s shoes as they stood there dripping, totally not knowing that the kid cleaning their shoes is reaching for far more glamorous work. (That’s right! I’ma be mayor! And I’m going to clean up this town!/Good, you can start by cleaning the floor.)

So, Friday was amazing. Unfortunately, I had class scheduled for Saturday, and I had been MIA all week during orientation, so it was kind of important that I be there. So I sucked it up and went, all the while wanting to jump up and head back to check on rehearsals. When 5:30 rolled around, I was out the door so fast! And by 6, I was back at it, ready for our evening rehearsal. It slugged through painfully, but hopefully, the details will all come together. As I sat there at the Producers’ table looking on, someone came up and sat right next to me, leans over and says in a lisp “How ‘ya doin’?” — it was John Shaffner, president/CEO of the ATAS. Kind of a big deal. This is the man who is in charge of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, among his “day job,” which includes dreaming up glam sets and putting together top-notch art direction. This man created some of the most iconic sets of the past decades, including the sets from Friends. So, no pressure. We chatted about various items, he commented on which shows should win and which few he really didn’t understand. I complimented the work of others and smiled nicely, trying to contribute to the conversation in a fashionable manner. It was a good surprise. As I left that night, I told Jimmy to “knock ‘em dead,” to which he uttered his friendly “thank you so much!” and squeezed my hand. Jane Lynch and I exchanged “have a good night”s, which still leaves me with goosebumps.

So here we are. As I finish writing this, it’s show day. I know I’m going to flash through tonight on the bottom of NBC, a major network — and I can’t believe it. I hope everything comes together just the way it is planned. For that matter, I may have been too close to the action to lose all sense of things, but I believe this is an amazing production. For all of us that have worked so hard on it, I encourage you to check it out tonight. It’s going to be a good night.

That said, I’m off for what will certainly be an amazing day.

]]> http://www.katlenhart.com/archives/2156/feed 3 http://www.katlenhart.com/archives/2148 http://www.katlenhart.com/archives/2148#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:47:41 +0000 Kat http://www.katlenhart.com/?p=2148 Los Angeles, it’s quite a town.

Bryan and I had the opportunity to attend the Creative Emmy Awards this past weekend, and had quite a time. So for all of those who have asked for stories, here’s the full one.

I’ve been working for the Primetime Emmys since early July, and one of the perks of doing so was the reception of a pair of tickets for the Creative Emmys, which are essentially all of the awards that aren’t shown on the primetime broadcast. They occur about a week before the telecast, and are produced by a different set of showrunners.

Of course I accepted the opportunity, to which Bryan, my oh-so-lovely roommate, was interested as well. So away we went.

Now, in case it’s lost on you… Los Angeles is expensive. Ridiculous, really. Every day, I walk down Melrose and Beverly Boulevards, past the high-end boutique dress shops and other snob locales. While I would love to walk in and actually be able to find a new dress, that’s not exactly an option at this point. So one phone call to my mother later, and the only dress I own that is appropriate for this event is en route from Cleveland to L.A. It’s a floor-length grey-black dress with velvet-lace overlay, a cocktail/formal piece purchased for a black tie event I went to when I was 13. Ten years later, I wondered if it would still fit. Upon its arrival, I soon learned that I had grown just a bit in the past decade. But it wasn’t in the height, if you know what I mean. Regardless, the dress fit (with a little bit of help), and after a trip to find shoes and jewelry, I was ready.

Now, to answer the celebs question, here it is. We recognized Jamie Hyneman (from Mythbusters), Matthew Morrison, Wanda Sykes, Robin Williams, and a few folks from the iCarly cast as they passed by. However, there were a bunch of showrunners and stars who presented awards, always a fun addition to the event.

Jane Lynch was funny (per usual) as she presented awards with Ryan Murphy, Neil Patrick Harris beat out some tough competition to win his first two Emmys, Rico Rodriguez (the funniest kid on television) flawlessly presented a few awards, and Seth Green’s reaction to presenting an award to his own show was pretty humorous.

Throughout the event, Bryan and I were trying to figure out with whom we were sitting, and we learned the answer upon hearing the winner’s name called for “Best Animated Series – Short Form”. It was the creative staff behind Robot Chicken — who also had the most enthusiastic reaction of the evening.

About a week prior to the show, the boss asked if I would mind going through the footage of the 2002 Winter Olympics opening ceremony and pull out some information for him. I didn’t ask what it was for, but I was curious about his request. As he approached the stage to present a set of Emmys, it all seemed to make sense. My boss sometimes goes a bit crazy when things aren’t going well on a show. So his anecdote for the evening regarded that ceremony. When the ice skaters each passed the Olympic torch, they did so in such a slow fashion that the fuel almost ran out and the torch would have died! So, amidst an array of colorful language, Don’s personal footage was shown. It brought in a bunch of laughs.

However, the biggest laugh of the evening came from the writing team of Conan O’Brien. I don’t know if they were even in attendance, but their video clip was fabulous. As each member of the writing team’s name was announced, applications for retail and food service establishments popped on the screen with the names at the top. Some good press for Taco Bell, probably.

If that all wasn’t enough, our big program books held my first credit in Los Angeles. 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards – Production Staff. I’ll take it! From what I hear, I’ll have a line in the credits on the telecast as well, which is exciting.

As we left, there was a group of onlookers trying to see if we were famous or not. Seems like they don’t know about us… yet.

After the event was over and the true “stars of the show” headed to the Governor’s Ball, Bryan and I had a ball of our own: Astro Burger! We pulled a “Hilary Swank” on it and munched on burgers much to the eyes of nearby families. Bacon avocado goodness.

So all in all, a great event. Will hopefully have a few more photos when the camera on my phone decides to play nice.

This is from Minneapolitan (Minneapolite?) Nick Bachman, which was screened at the Precious Little Film Fest—a special screening of the Scott Pilgrim movie preceded by short cartoons from local animators.

The film fest is part of the Minneapolis Indie Expo—two days of events centered around great indie comics and Midwestern cartoonists. Tonight, there’s graphic novel signings and kickoff party. Tomorrow, a full day of presentations, how-to workshops, and conversations with artists. Admission, gloriously, is free.

Why am I not there?

Simon Tofield is an English animator who has a great interest in British wildlife, painting, the great outdoors and of course cats. All of his playful cat-worship is up at simonscat.com

Ah, the plastic cycle of life! Heal The Bay produced this advocacy video, the message of which is: put an end to plastic pollution. The short-form “nature mockumentary” is narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Jeremy Irons and tracks the “migration” of a plastic bag from a grocery store parking lot to the so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch in the Pacific Ocean. A good find for an early morning.

Despite being nominated for three Emmy awards (including two to be given at the Primetime broadcast), Larry David still thinks he will end up empty-handed.

Last year and again this year, the Emmys folks here have sent Primetime nominees a questionnaire with questions about their everyday life. Inquiries such as “Where did you grow up?”, “What would you do if you were not an actor?”, and so on. Nothing difficult at all, merely information-grabbers that provide fodder for the announcer to read as the winner in each category walks to the stage to accept their respective award.

Before you put money down for Curb to win some golden statues this year, listen to this. According to the David camp, the creator and leading man of the HBO smash has refused to spend time on the questionnaire, because (paraphrased) “he is convinced that they won’t need it.”

For playing a stubborn old man, David must draw from experience.

Let’s give him an award for that.

Curb Your Enthusiasm is nominated for Outstanding Picture Editing for a Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Comedy Series. See if it wins on August 29th.