ENTRY #124
YouTube and Feedback links added 02.13.09
 
 
1:45 AM, Thursday, May 31st, 2001:
 
Nearly 4 months ago I wrote the first words about: "The Trinitrons". If you had told me I'd only be this far heading into JUNE tomorrow, I'd have been close to tears.
 
"What in GOD'S NAME could've taken THAT long to write one 30 minute show?"
 
Everything.
 
There have been 10 drafts of "The Trinitrons". There have been about a dozen different names PER BAND MEMBER squabbled over (which we finally chose TODAY - LOL)...and there have been arguments I swear to GOD should've nixed my relationship with Charlotte immediately. Yet somehow yesterday morning, we pretty much agreed on every written word in the script. Of course there will be tiny changes all the way up to the second we hit record. Hell, there's a few lines already I know need to be slightly refined, but the script for all intents and purposes is complete. I cringe when I say that, because I realize what is written and what will be performed will be slightly different, but by "complete" I mean we can start plotting out the production aspects of this show. And after over 15 weeks of writing...Adam's just FINE with that.
 
I'll start from the beginning, for those of you who have skimmed the past few entries that pertained to "The Trinitrons". This'll catch you up and give you an idea of why the hell I've been in such a great mood this year.
 
My first 4tvs show of 2001 was in no way a memorable one. Same Lulu's Beehive, and same 4tvs sets. This time though, through working with a director in my apartment building, I had someone in the audience that would put me on one HELLUVA path. She saw the potential for at most a sitcom for 4tvs, and at least a development deal with a major network because of the talent I show within 4tvs. She contacted me with a simple email:
 
02.01.01
 
Hey there, this is Charlotte, Marshall's friend, and I came and saw the show at
LULU's...loved it. I think you have a very unique act with a lot of
possibilities. And just from your act and website alone, I can tell you will
make it, if for nothing else other than you work ethic. I would love to meet
with you and see what your plans are and how I can help facilitate them. Let
me know when would be a good time?
 
Charlotte Avedikian
 
We talked on the phone, and met for lunch where she told me that my goal should without a doubt be the one man show category at Aspen. Well I damn near peed my pants, because I had no CLUE there was a one man show category at Aspen. I thought it was all stand-up. It was quite the: "WELL DUH, of COURSE I should do that" type of moment, and from that day on that's all I've been focused on.
 
In an email the next week she was throwin' out scenerios for this 30 minute one man show and stumbled upon the name: "The Trinitrons":
 
02.07.01
 
...4tvs is a 5 member band (needs a name...The trinatron..whatever.)...
 
What was just a fleeting thought for her was INSTANTLY clear to me. A band of TVs called "The Trinitrons", now that's funny. 2 days later I bought some domain names: www.thetrinitrons.com and www.trinitrons.com and we were off.
 
Now many of you have felt it necessary to mention that "trinitron" is a copywrighted name. Yeah, as I stare at my Sony Trinitron monitor while I type this, it's safe to say I was aware of that. Well there's several points to this infringement that I should make clear. First and foremost being: PLEASE SUE ME. Please tell me that my little one man show is worthy of a corporation like Sony's time for a cease and desist order. Anyone in Columbus remember a certain CD101 ad in "The Other Paper" that used the Chicago Bulls logo? "Running with the Bulls" I think it was called? Heh, we got the cease and desist order after the campaign was done. Bottom line, they're not gonna touch me unless I'm in some way profiting from it, and I'm not sure that will EVER happen as this is just a means to an end (development deal). Secondly, Charlotte actually knows some people at Sony, and although I'm not sure that she has mentioned it to them yet (why hand it to them), she's more than adament about not worrying about this. "If it comes up, you'll be happy."
 
And finally, I've made absolutely sure that ALL references to the actual BAND NAME during "The Trinitrons" show is done by my LIVE character...so if ANYTHING happens, it will be as simple as changing the tower signs: $80 and getting new domain names: $22. I mean, I believe Charlotte and all, but I'm always gonna leave a responsible "out" just in case.
 
The crux of the next 2 months basically was an argument between Charlotte and I that truly, only recently was completely agreed upon on my end. I wanted the Live band member, Adam, to be the member that is trying valiantly to do a good tight show, and the TVs constantly screw with his world. A real Man vs. Machine type of bit. With the audience relating to the "Live Adam" who must put up with his band mates. Charlotte from the beginning felt Adam should be the world's most arrogant person. A total dick to everyone. ComPLETEly over the top. Ego personified. My problem was that I couldn't define his motive to ever deal with ANYONE's shit on the TVs, 'cause if he was that much of a dick - he'd just TURN THEM OFF.
 
As late as early May, I was still against the arrogant Adam character, but the final and best argument that made it win out is that the live person HAS to be a strong character. By design, the 4tvs set-up drowns out the live man. I remember even in early 1999 during the first shootings saying: "Man, no one is gonna watch me when I perform..." Well that just can't be the case here. The audience didn't come to watch a TV show, and if the live performer is drowned out by the tvs (even if they are ALL me) - you're starting with a strike against you. It was this rationale that finally made me quit fighting and give in. Now that the script is finished, I can happily say, it works like a charm. The story I crafted around Adam's ego has a very strong beginning, middle and end...that I feel will truly impress the audience. In fact, this show is being crafted so carefully, and on so many levels, I'm not sure how you could leave this show NOT saying: "Wow".
 
-First of all, and the most obvious, it's all one guy, interracting LIVE before your eyes. For those of you who have seen the old 4tvs, imagine the tiny bits of interaction times 1000. On top of that, picture every TV looking DRASTICALLY different with insanely different character traits. It now begins to blur the line of fantasy and reality that within a few moments of the show...you WILL forget the actor and begin focussing on the character development.
 
-The technology itself is quite a "head scratcher". We've all seen the power of the green screen and post-production magic as Eddie Murphy becomes an entire family...but live? And in one continuous 30 minute take? HOW THE HELL DO YOU DO THAT? And how am I syncing 4 VCRS? Or is it a computer? How the hell would you RECORD such a thing? There's quite a few people in the audience, that will basically ignore the first 5 minutes of the show (I'm one of those people) trying to figure out the trick. Most "know-it-all" males will fall into this category. Christ, in LA, I should probably stop the show after 5-10 minutes and start over. LOL.
 
-The music. I actually CAN sing. It's pretty hard to fake a capella when you're doing all 5 voices. If you suck, it's obvious. It's kind of sad, but what was once my biggest and brightest talent (may still be) is now delegated to a small portion of a comedy act. I really feel that's a good thing. If your weakest point is also your strongest point...you're gonna be JUST fine.
 
-The acting/timing/performance aspect. FINALLY I get the chance to truly "perform" for a group of people that WANT to see this. I get to act! No one has really gotten to see that side, even though moments peek through in 4tvs...this is the first bit of acting I've gotten to do since being the lead in The Music Man in highschool. I'm freakin' ready, and have ABSOLUTELY no doubts. I'm eager as hell, and I'm amazed I was able to sit and WRITE for 15 weeks, without performing. It's been killing me.
 
-And finally, and truly the foundation and glue that will hold it all together: The story is funny on it's own. If it were 5 different people, it'd still be funny. That is what I've been struggling to accomplish for so long. So often I've relied on my "performance ability" to make the most out of mediocre lines...well these babies aren't mediocre. They aren't just the first thing that came to mind (as I did with all my other 4tvs sets) - this script was truly run through the mill. And will certainly be harped on for the next few weeks all the way up to the moment of shooting. Hell, I guarantee that when it's all said and done, I'll still want to change things. It's the nature of the beast.
 
The next part in "The Trinitron Chronicles" will be the preperation for the production. I've already started by growing my beard, and my hair is as long as it's been since I was in college. A lot of this stage falls on Charlotte. She needs to get the workspace to shoot (which she is pretty sure about), she already has a hair and make-up artist ready to go and of course all the costumes and scenery for each TV needs to be gathered. Each character within the TV actually has a giant ROOM behind him that is dressed up in each character's own special way. I'll be drawing up models for each TV tomorrow (at least the first 2 that we're doing), and brainstorming on costumes and props. My biggest chore, and probably the most crucial part of the entire process, will be making an entire audio script of every second of this performance. Including having to "guess" where the audience will laugh, and having to guess how long it will take each character to actually change within the show (oh, and the characters actually change clothes during the show with ABSOLUTELY NO EDITS...why do I do this to myself?). I suspect this process alone will take 5-7 straight days of work. Tedious, mind-numbing work. Laboring over every damn line. Then mixing and rendering 4 seperate wav files onto a CD that will guide me during taping. If I had access to CD101's studios for probably a DAY, I'd have no problem...without a full fledged recording studio though, it's gonna take a lot of time.
 
The other part of this "Pre-production" phase that I've kept mum about, is getting our celebrity guest to agree to let us invade his house for a few moments and tape him for part of the act. He's just SOOO PERFECT for the end of this show. It will truly shock the hell out of everyone if he does this. It would be the perfect end to a perfect skit, and I pray to GOD he feels the same. Charlotte has his home phone number, and is fairly confident he will dig my sense of humor enough to do this for free. He's only on camera for about 90 seconds, and we can do it without him ever leaving the comfort of his own home. Jesus, the audience will be laughing so damn hard...I'll be amazed if they can even hear him.
 
Another plus, is that it gives me immediate credibility to anyone watching to think that this guy would do this for me. All I can do is hope and pray. If he does say no, I do have an alternate ending, that will work fine since no one will know what it "could've" been...but goddamn let this happen. Within a couple of weeks, we'll know. Let's pray he's as cool as Dave Foley was last year. And don't freak about "who" it is people, you'll know either way in a week or so...
 
Now if I could just choose, I'd want to do the 1st two TVs on the 16th and 17th of June, respectively. We then would have to wait for 2 weeks while some facial hair grows back and to allow me to insert the first 2 TV's audio tracks, so the last 2 are talking to the ACTUAL finished lines, as opposed to the dummy copies. That would bring us to the days of June 30th, and July 1st. With another 2 weeks of post-production, this baby...AT THE EARLIEST...could be performed by the end of July. I know 2 months away seems like forever, but that may even be a "rushed" estimate. As I've seen from the writing phase, shit just comes up.
 
But for now, the process is in motion, and part one is complete. It's a five part process if you were wondering, with the first linking to the video:
 
The Trinitron Chronicles: Part 1 - Writing
The Trinitron Chronicles: Part 2 - Pre-production
The Trinitron Chronicles: Part 3 - 1st half of shooting
The Trinitron Chronicles: Part 4 - 2nd half of shooting
The Trinitron Chronicles: Part 5 - Post-production
 
There will be other "Journey" entries not pertaining to "The Trinitrons" in the coming months as my life has a way of throwing interesting curve-balls when I'm least expecting it. So far so good though.
 
You know, late last night as I took Marshall (director who introduced me to Charlotte) to the airport, he straight up said: "I get having a site, I get doing cool videos, showing show dates and having mp3s...I don't get "the journey". I don't understand the need to have a diary online". And honestly, I don't really either. Had the idea not simply evolved from the "Late Show" newsletter in early 1996, there probably wouldn't be a "Journey". But as of entry #124, I'm REALLY GODDAMN HAPPY this exists. "The Journey" is a project that at some point will end, and just may be the thing I'm most proud of in 20 years.
 
And finally, Marshall, if you haven't read it...you'll never get it. To those who have read up to this point...they're pretty excited.
  
Adam
 
original video file
 
 
MAY 2001
FEEDBACK