hollywood housewife

{giveaway} the gorilla's movies & tv shows with a personal note

 

From his body of work, people expect my husband The Gorilla to be a certain sort of person: crude, violent, foul-mouthed, possibly unkind or at the very least ambivalent to certain niceties.

This couldn't be further from the truth. 

The Gorilla has a powerful presence, the sort of demeanor that people of all ages are drawn toward.  He is polite, generous to a fault, funny, and decisive.  He sees the good in everyone (which has been known to drive me crazy) and his annoyance and anger fuse is miles long.  By his example, I have better learned the difference between what is okay and what is right.

I am grateful for every day that I share this life with him.  Potty-humor and all.

 

I have resisted doing this sort of giveaway for several reasons, but now I'm giving in because

a) The Gorilla celebrated a big birthday over the weekend and I feel like bragging on him.

and

b) It has been requested enough that I'm assuming there must be some sort of interest.

c) I'm fully aware that while these movies and tv shows may not appeal to my core HH readers, it might just appeal to their spouses/brothers/significant others.  Also, if you're ever out of gift ideas then this is a unique one. 

One HH reader will win a package set that contains: the box set of this original television series AND all four seasons of this original series, the first movie, the second movie, 2.5, and the third movie.  BONUS: The Gorilla will sign a note to the winner or to whomever the winner wants. 

To enter: leave a comment on this post telling me if you're actually a fan of this stuff, a secret fan, or if you're hoping to win for someone who is fan.  Only one entry per person, please.

You have until Friday, September 9 2011 at midnight (PST) to enter.  I'll announce the winner in the days that follow. 

Good luck!

there's a documentary downstairs

The Gorilla has this cute little habit of coming home and saying something like, "Oh, we're going to shoot a little something at the house tomorrow.  That's okay, right?"

Most of the time it is okay.  People show up and mill around the backyard.  I order a bunch of pizzas. 

Then there was that one time that I came home from a very long day to find a morbidly obese person on my bathroom floor covered in tomato sauce.  That time was not as okay.  But that was years ago. 

Over the weekend The Gorilla shot a few interviews for a documentary he's working on for the Fall.  It was a mellow day, unremarkable in any production way.

It was a two camera shoot, one holding a wide shot, the other close up.  This is Rick syncing the two cameras before they got started.  The bright light made the colors of the man room pop.

Sometimes I stick around and watch, other times I don't.  I like to learn new technical things or marvel how different something (or someone!) looks on camera than it does in real life.  Most of all, I love watching my husband in his element.  Especially when we're at home and he can toss Pigtail around the yard between takes. 

What's that saying?  It may be a crazy life, but it's OUR life.

n'awesome

I don't share much about my husband's friends or my relationship to them, because that is not the spirit of this blog.  But this week it feels appropriate, to honor someone who was so special to us, someone who was a member of our extended family.

Even the most casual viewer of the jackass series or movies can see that the nine main cast members share something deeper than injury appreciation.  These guys are not acting, they are incapable of faking the comaraderie that they portray amidst their infamous stunts.  On the screen and off, they cheer the others victories and worry in times of trouble.  They are a brotherhood.

Like in any family, there have been strains and quarrels, lovefests and happiness.  As a group, they have been working hard and playing hard together for over a decade.  This is where the family extends beyond what you see on the screen.  There is a core group of people that have produced these shows and movies together and the jackass family has grown from just a few guys with a video camera to include loyal crew members, significant others, and millions of fans. 

Over the past eleven years, they have weathered injuries, divorces, surgeries, and intervention.  But not until this week has there been such a loss.  The sudden passing of Ryan Dunn has overwhelmed our family.

There are so many things to say about him, but I'll stick to speaking only for myself.  Ryan was always one of my favorites.  He treated me exactly the same - with a hug, a smile, an inside joke - when I was a newbie production assistant as when I was the director's wife.  I saw this time and again, his lack of pretentiousness.  Chatting in the car or one-liners for the camera, his sense of humor is easily the wittiest and in our household he is the most quoted.  When everyone is sitting around waiting on the next take, waiting on lunch, Ryan is who you most want to plop down next to.  

Ryan was relaxed and unaffected even when there was drama and chaos surrounding him.  He was, by far, in the most stable of relationships for the duration of the decade and in Ireland on the press trip we had a long talk about love and what it means.  His perspective on his longtime girlfriend always impressed me and he never wavered in his admiration and awe of her.   

All week Jeff and I have talked about how particularly great Ryan was during this last movie.  He seemed as content as we've ever known him.  We've been sharing our favorite memories and telling stories, and while that's healing in a way, the unspoken hangs in the air while we're quiet.  It's inconceivable that as a family we'll never again be whole.  

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To understand the title of this post, you can read my husband's emotional (and gross) tribute to Ryan by clicking here.    

...

We are devastated by the loss of our friend and jackass family member Ryan Dunn. 

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Thank you for your messages of love and support.  Please know that I have read them all and they are deeply appreciated.

thursday tivo selection (stuff to watch related to the movie)

Last year my husband The Gorilla made a movie.  It came out in October, to great fanfare. 

The thing about these franchise movies is that they're the gift that keeps on giving.  On Thursday, June 9, MTV will air 3.5 at 10pm EST.  Three point five is a collection of all the hilarious bits and pieces that didn't make the cut for 3D, but should be shared with the world.  There is also a dose of behind-the-scenes moments and commentary.  It's well worth the watch. 

If you don't get MTV, or if you just love 3.5 so much, the 3.5 DVD will be available for purchase on June 14. 

 A few years ago, The Gorilla produced a documentary about the drug addiction struggles of one of the cast members.  (Demise & Rise is excellent by the way.)  This week, in conjunction with his new book Professional Idiot: A Memoir, the biography channel is also taking an in-depth look at the life of SteveO.  The first airing was last night, but you can also catch it this Thursday, June 9 at 11pm EST.  A full list of future airings can be found here.  I have heard that both his book and the biography channel's special are great. 

I know that 3.5 is great and The Gorilla makes an appearance in all of it.  And he's cute.  So watch it.

Amazon affiliate links included in this post.   

movie DVD release party

Remember back in October when The Gorilla put out a little ole movie?  That was super fun.  What happens after a movie is released in theaters, is that six-ish months later the DVD comes out.  So if you're involved in said movie, there might be a whole new round of press and parties.

Last night we attended the DVD release party on the Paramount lot.  The infamous Paramount water tower that rises over Hollywood was temporarily taken over by the skull and crutches logo.

You had to walk through port-o-potties to walk the red carpet or to enter the party. 

It was our bad luck that the evening turned cold and windy.  These are not ideal conditions for an outside event.  But there were lots of heat lamps.  And it didn't seem to hinder anyone's good time.

friday links - the movie on DVD edition!

Guess what comes out next week?  The Gorilla's movie on DVD!  There are lots of fun events having to do with the movie coming up in the next couple of weeks, including a party and a big trip.  If you missed the movie in the theaters, now is the time to catch it.  (Or buy it as a gift!) 

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For your weekend reading pleasure:

If you love to hostess like I do, then you are going to love One Charming Party.  Not only is there tons of inspiration on the site, you can purchase these party plans, which gives you ideas, tutorials,  and PDF's to print and use for your own party. 

I've linked to Chez Larsson before, but recently I got obsessed with the pictures of her house on flickr.  I love looking at people's actual spaces. 

I found Lindsay Letters through Shauna Niequist and oh my goodness am I obsessed with her lettering and style.  I want to live in her blog.  (Incidentally, I just did a project with my typewriter sorta similar to this post.)

Kurt Vonnegut is one of The Gorilla's favorite writers.  If he's one of yours, you'll like 15 Things Kurt Vonnegut Said Better Than Anyone Else Ever Has Or Will.  (A.V. Club)

You guys have to go read this funny story that is far worse than my own TSA troubles, and Rita's story is much better told.  (Me & My Shortloffs)

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We have a wonderful few days planned with old friends - this time The Gorilla's.  

Happy weekend, HH readers!

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celebrity security guards

Occasionally my husband The Gorilla is assigned a security guard for press trips and the like.  Believe me when I say he never needs a security guard.  If you recognize my husband, you're more than just a passing fan, since he's rarely the face in front of the camera. 

Now, many of the cast members or talent for The Gorilla's shows have a real need for security when they're in very public venues.  This isn't just because of their huge popularity - though of course their fan base is very large - but because of the nature of their shows and movies.  Sometimes people think that because these guys kick each other on screen, that they like to be kicked.  You might be surprised at how many people want to um, spar, with them.

When we were on the European press tour for the movie last Fall, The Gorilla was assigned a security guard I'll call Goliath.  We loved Goliath.  He took such special care of us for weeks.  Goliath has been with some of the biggest names in entertainment, mostly music-related.  I can't tell you who all he has guarded, but trust me when I tell you that they are the A-list of the A-list in the music industry.  (And then, of course, he was assigned to The Gorilla.  Do not think we didn't laugh about it.)

On a crisp day in Madrid, in a noisy cafe where the waiter wanted to work on his English with us, I asked Goliath a few questions about his job:

HH:  What is your main job as a celebrity bodyguard?  How long have you been doing it?

I'm a protector of celebrities when they go out in public, and I look after their needs.  I'm been doing this for fifteen years.  I'm generally protecting them from fans and paparazzi.

HH: What is the ratio of you to who you're protecting?  Like are you assigned to look after the whole band or just one person?

It's normally 1:1.  I have done lots of band work, and one man for everyone is difficult.  With recessions they try and cut man power and the first thing they'll cut is security.  They'll look after their hair before they take care of security.

HH: Are you on all the time?  What if it's a very long day?  Are there shifts?

There aren't really shifts.  If you have a principle [assignment], they need to be seeing the same person.

HH: Would you rather guard a woman or a man?

I prefer to be with men because they're easier to protect.  They're normally grateful to have me.

HH: What is your relationship like with the person you're protecting?

Professionally, you can't become friends because familiarity breeds contempt.  It's better to keep a distance.

HH:  Since security is basically a twenty-four job when you're on assignment, don't you just get exhausted?

I've been quite lucky as I'm mainly with women and they come home quite early. 

HH: But what about eating/sleeping/taking care of yourself?

I don't eat much.  I only eat one meal a day.  Other [guards] are told to eat a big breakfast because they don't know when they'll eat next.

HH:  But what do you do when the person you're guarding is eating?

In a restaurant, I would wait close to them or just outside the door.  Or sit close.  I was once with a very famous musician for about ten months solid.  In all that time, I was offered a glass of water once.

HH: What are some of the more annoying aspects of the job?

When I've had to wake up fans parked outside someone's home.  Or the tour buses that drive by a home hourly.

HH: Has anything ever happened that has been really scary?

No, I've never been seriously nervous on the job.

When The Gorilla and I would take a stroll around the city, Goliath would trail behind us.  Sometimes we would forget he was even there.  Other times we were so grateful he was our constant companion.  Not because there was a security issue, but because it's nice to have a "local" by your side.

We loved having Goliath with us in Europe.  He was patient with my thousands of questions and my endless search for a Dr. Pepper.  He put up with The Gorilla who would forget to tell him when he was leaving the hotel.  And he was just a very kind man. 

I'm grateful that we don't have to have a daily security guard in our life.  Of all the trappings of celebrity, I think that basic privacy would be the hardest part to deal with. 

So then it's good to have someone around like Goliath. 

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For most posts explaining aspects of the entertainment industry, click here.

the christmas cards 2010

During the first week of January, who wants to talk about Christmas cards?  No one.  But I wanted to show you mine and I simply couldn't do it before they all went out because I like the element of surprise for the receivers. 

So here we have put Christmas 2010 behind us and I'm dredging it all up again.  No matter.  Close your eyes, imagine the jingle bells, and hum Mariah's "All I Want For Christmas" to get you in the mood.

I started with black paper and envelopes from Paper Source.  This is what 100 flat black cards looks like.  I chose black because it was the color of the movie logo, and I always try to make the card fit the theme of the year.  As our year was mostly centered around The Gorilla's movie, it fit.

The last few years I've let The Gorilla design (or direct, as the case has been) the actual picture for the card.  Of all of the elements of my Christmas card, the picture is what I care about the least.  Isn't that backward?  It's true, though.

the soho hotel in london

When we were on the international press tour for The Gorilla's movie, I was most excited about the various hotel accommodations.  (Okay, not most excited.  The movie's success was quite a trip.  But I do swoon over fancy hotels.)

In particular, I fell head-over-heels in love with London's Soho hotel.  We arrived in England late, and had a midnight dinner so it was the middle of the night when we checked in.  But I still got my camera out immediately because I was entranced. 

(I'm hoping this explanation will suffice for my blurry pictures.)

It was this lounge-y, living room off the lobby that had me at hello. 

I loved all the details and the overall vibe they created in the room, and for the three days we were there I said over and over to my husband, "This is how I want our bedroom to feel."

If our bedroom were to have a lighted ladder.  Which it doesn't.  Yet.

Some hallways were pink. 

Some had oversized paisleys.  I thought paisleys were kind of out.  They're not, apparently.

I have orchids all over my house, but not displayed like this.  I did have very similar orchid centerpieces at my wedding, and I kept calling them "drowned orchids" and my florist would cringe. 

Don't think these chairs didn't give me all sorts of inspiration for the wingbacks in my bedroom.

The room was comfortable.  Way more understated than the rest of the hotel.  Sometimes I like understated, sometimes I don't. 

The bathroom was nice.  I left very sad that I didn't make use of that bathtub.

These were the light switches.  Quirky!

Since I had been sort of flailing with the master bedroom decor, I finally have inspiration!  And that's the best place to start restart.