In the scheme of
things in this "Journey", this will most likely be a
minor footnote, but it doesn't lessen how good it
feels to have some wild vision in your head become a
reality - and then wind up being even better
than you had hoped. It's the foundation of my life to
make crazy ideas a reality, and make them a success,
and 6 months ago when I put up what everyone thought
was an "April Fools' Day" joke -- I couldn't have
asked for a better execution from everyone involved.
It's a testament to just how inherrently dramatic this
game is. I knew in my SOUL that if I got the right
people together, they too would get attached to it -
and it would absolutely write itself... didn't realize
however that I would be a victim of looking like a bit
of a bitch.
It all comes down
to rules that we've loosely agreed on, that are hard
as hell to officiate. When you get really competitive?
This is a game of inches. The rule in question is one
that the best player, JT, made up because my serves
were really good. However, I want balance so I
acquiesced to it, but still have issues. My issue is
that they want to call "foot faults" when your foot
passes the PLANE of a line, as opposed to actually
TOUCHING the line - which I believe is assanine as
hell, and hard to call. This game is like Tennis and
foot faults are called when you touch, not when you
cross. But we did agree to it, and I was called on it
in a really important game in the show. In the actual
show, this segment will be cut down dramatically
'cause these are 5-7 minute shows that cover multiple
games, but I had to show the long version to you guys,
just so you see how heated this gets. We aren't
acting. This isn't being played for the camera (at
least I wasn't). This might be the most legitimately
pissed off I've ever been on camera and honestly
rivals some of the angrier moments of my life.
HA.
So in the end,
thankfully, the right thing happened. In all honesty,
I care so much about making this fair and balanced, I
will listen to nearly any grievance. I want to
win, but I want to win fairly. And, it's my baby - I
don't want it to look like I stacked the deck in
my favor: that does not make for a good show.
You look at the video, my foot does cross the plane
right before I touch the ball - but it's a very
difficult thing to expect the judges to catch (foot
cross vs. foot touch), and we're gonna argue over a
few rule changes in the next episode to make this
easier to officiate. 'Cause as entertaining as the
fighting can be? When we're in the final game, we have
to get this right - or it'll kill the whole
show.
And poor
CeBe. This is the saddest holdover from the
insanity that was my relationship with Donna.
This poor puppy now can't handle even the
slightest excitement in my voice... or
really anyone's. Hell, the last time Donna
came over and she just told me a story, the
dog got all freaked out because of her tone.
So a bunch of loud, angry men yelling? CeBe
is finding a pair of legs to hide under. So
sweet.
So the first day
of shooting went perfect. It was a ridiculous amount
to try to pull off in one day (we're doing the whole
13 week series in 2 days) and everyone did great.
Interviews were great, alliances were great, drama was
great... I seriously believe that this show could get
kids around the world to start buying chalk and making
4-Square courts on their driveways or in their
backyards and playing competitively. There are
competitive leagues around, but it has a "nerdy
jockish" type feel. There's something about the dirty
realness of this NOT being in a gymnasium, but in a
backyard that really, really works.
Alright, I have 8
hours of footage to wade through and once I get a
couple shows done, I'll start the talks back up with
Atom Films. That will determine when they're up...
...and oh yeah,
there's the whole Comedy Central show to completely
write and produce still.
GODDAMN I LOVE BEING BUSY!!!!!!!
