LA is Okay

Because The Gossip shoots music videos where you skated.

So if you're one of those people watching MTV at 1:30 AM, you might have caught an animated show called "DJ and the Fro." I happened to have the opportunity to work on this show as a Post Production PA, and it was a great experience. Apart from the job itself, which was quite enjoyable, we got to do cool stuff like have premiere parties at roller rinks. The Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale, to be exact.

So, watching the new Gossip video this morning I thought, wow, that roller rink looks really familiar. Look out for the parking lot across the street where I parked (it's a Home Depot.) And the song's not bad either. Not bad at all.

The Man removed this video and disabled embedding, but you can watch the video here.

Got to have it. Soul Power!

I watched the documentary Soul Power recently (like three hours ago) and while the documentary wasn't all that special, the music it documented was AMAZING. If you don't know, the doc is about a music festival that took place in Zaire in 1974, featuring the top black musicians of the 70's and headlined by the Godfather of Soul himself, James Brown.

The highlight of the performances, which were all fantastic, had to be Bill Withers' subtle but powerful "Hope She'll Be Happier," which you can watch below. I was familiar with Bill Withers' work only for "Lovely Day," which I downloaded to set as the ringtone for a girl I was dating, and it was credited in my iTunes as "Billy" Withers. After a little searching, I found that he is also the source of the classics "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Use Me." I love it when I discover awesome music that anyone over 40 would take for granted, but is totally new to me. A few years ago it was Fleetwood Mac, last year it was Cat Stevens. This year, it's Soul. Do yourself a favor and watch this performance by Mr. Withers.

Bill Withers from Jesse Thorn on Vimeo.

A few more treats:

Old Star Wars Photo

Strange how everyone in this picture looks dated, from Mark Hamill's wide lapels to Carrie Fisher's Annie Hall pants, but Harrison Ford still looks debonair as hell. See more rare Star Wars photos at uniquescoop.com.

"Sujfan." Awesome.

Take that, Garden State soundtrack likers.

Fiat Jokes

Heard on Car Talk:

Where do you go to get parts for a Fiat?

-Follow around another Fiat.

How do you get a Fiat to go 60 mph?

-Push it off a cliff.

Did you hear about the the anti-theft measures on the new Fiat?

-Yeah, they made the logo bigger.

What's the difference between a Fiat and a Jehova's Witness?

-You can close the door on Jehova's Witness.

I went to the dealer and said, "I'd like a new gas cap for my Fiat."

-He said, "Okay, sounds like a fair trade."

What do you call a Fiat on top of a hill?

-A miracle.

What do you call two Fiats on top of a hill?

-Science Fiction

What do you call three Fiats on top of a hill?

-A strange place to build a Fiat factory.

Take that you fascists!

My Convocation Speech 2009

First, I'd like to start by reading a selection from a classic children's story.

Oh, The Places You Won't Go

by Garrett F Baker

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.

Oh by the way, you're competing for jobs against people with masters, doctorates, and 20 years experience. Save yourself four months and go ahead and apply to The Cheesecake Factory.

THE END

This Week in Movies

The new trailer for Post Grad features a two-second clip of Alexis Bledel running into this building for an interview at a publishing company. As seen here:

It's not a publishing company, however, it's the CAA building. For the midwest inclined, that's the Creative Artists Agency, the top agency in LA (perhaps until a recent merger) where yours truly had an interview that ended in the interviewer telling the interviewee that he had done it only as a favor to a colleague. At least I got a taste of some primo valet parking.

In the background, however, you'll see a building where I did find work. The 9th and 11th floors of the tower on the right contains the headquarters for Lifetime Television, where I did a week of temp work. So, that nearly settles it. I'm famous.

But now I work in Hollywood, I don't have to wear a suit, and I make a ton more money doing the same shit work (but for way cooler people than your average agent).

P.S. I'd just like to take this chance to give out a kind and gentle "f you" to the executive who eight months ago said, "What are we going to do with this recession?...Hey, get me that script about that girl who can't find a job!" and then went home to his mansion.