(1/6) One Sixth Degree of Separation

So, uh... I had a really interesting weekend. Nothing screenwriting related. But I had a lot of fun and was star-struck many times over.

I was the boom-op on THE GUILD.

As you may have noticed, I am under the impression that internet shorts are on the verge of becoming very financially viable, particularly with the success of Joss Whedon's DR. HORRIBLE'S SING-A-LONG blog.

I also like being a part of shows that I am a fan of. I like to see how they work, meet the people, get a lay of the land.

Okay, so I didn't know how tight-knit of a group this community actually was/is.

Somewhere, I stepped into the twilight zone. It was like the opposite of six degrees of separation -- like, literally, somehow every person I met was directly related to another 6 people that had a show that I am a huge fan of.

When my buddy Sean Oakley (who is doing sound for The Guild, and how I got the boom-op gig) and I arrived to set (The Guild and Dr. Horrible star, Felicia Day's house) there was a woman out front that I thought was vaguely familiar. But I didn't put it together until the end of the day when they were talking about her show. It was Kim Evey. Otherwise known as, KIKO from GORGEOUS TINY CHICKEN MACHINE SHOW. She is the producer of THE GUILD. Rock on!

ASIDE: Check out this show. It is amazing. I can't do it justice, because in all honesty, I don't know how to describe it. It is insanity at its most brilliant.

I actually stuck my foot in my mouth trying to compliment Kim on her show. I said something along the lines of "I love the show. It's amazing. I really don't understand how it works."

What I was talking about was structurally. I meant; I don't understand where I would even begin to write a show like that. It's randomness, energy, style, and miscommunication is what makes the show so hilarious. From a structure standpoint, I wouldn't even know where to begin. And I actually think that is why I like it so much.

BACK TO SCENE

Secondly, the director of this weekend's shoot was Sean Becker. What I found out was, he also doubles as COWNICORN. I did not recognize him without the cow costume. At all. And even afterwards, it was just too silly trying to picture him in that cow costume.

So that was yesterday. Today, we shot at Kim's house. I was browsing her bookshelf, noting the similarity to books I had seen prior at Felicia's house, when I noticed two name-tags on a shelf. Kim Benson. And Greg Benson.

For those of you unfamiliar with the name -- Greg Benson directs THE RETARDED POLICEMAN. Of all the internet shows on the web, this has to have the catchiest theme song. Not to mention most un-PC premise. It's fucking great! If you haven't seen it, stop reading this blog -- Go! I mean it!

I knew Greg Benson had directed some of the season 1 episodes of THE GUILD. I knew he directed some episodes of GORGEOUS TINY CHICKEN MACHINE SHOW. But it took two little cards on a bookshelf for me to put the whole picture together. Greg and Kim are husband and wife.

Oooooohhhhhh!

The circle is complete.

Maybe you all knew this. But I didn't. I am a rather spontaneous person and I tend to stumble into things blindly. Dumb luck, you might call it.

SEAN: What's he look like?
ME: I don't know how to describe him.
SEAN: Was he on set yesterday?
ME: Nah, man, but that was him.
SEAN: I didn't see him.

Greg walks into the room.

ME: He kind of looks exactly like this guy.

Of course, Greg has no idea what Sean and I are talking about -- but he's a cool guy and he plays along.

GREG: Yeah. Who's that?
ME: Greg.
GREG: (adlibs something funny that my poor overloaded short term memory can't remember)
ME: I was just telling Sean that Greg looks exactly like this guy, right here.
GREG: (More funny improv).

And after a moment of awkwardness -- because I really ran out of material and am not that quick on the improv-fly (which unfortunately EVERYONE else on that set was) -- Greg extended his hand and introduced himself.

GREG: Greg.
ME: James. I'm a really big fan of The Retarded Policeman.

It was at this point, at which Greg's phone rang. It was a text from the Ponceman (star of The Retarded Policeman) that simply said: "Sexy Bitch."

That pretty much sums up my weekend.

Sexy bitch.