Broken Angel Update

Christopher Wood posted this on my old post on the subject. I respost is comment here so that it is on the front page.

Update 11/28/06
The Wood family is very thankful for the support we have received in our attempt to rescue Broken Angel. However the building is far from saved and time is running out. Broken Angel is a legally built architectural sculpture, which my father would love to transform into a home for the arts. Broken Angel is viewed by thousands of people who come to see it every year. If this quirky and original structure disappears, Quincy and Downing streets will again become a forgotten corner of Brooklyn. My name is Christopher Wood; I am the son of the creators of Broken Angel. I have lived my entire life in Brooklyn. I have grown up and continue to be enmeshed in a world of art. I am a stone carver and photographer. I have restored many of New York’s cherished landmarks including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cloisters, Grace Church, the Tweed Court house, and currently the main branch of the New York City Public Library. I call on Brooklyn to support and help us restore Broken Angel. Please email or write your local politicians to show your support and help us block the demolition of Broken Angel. If you are a legal professional, we desperately need help fighting the Department of Buildings in court. Additionally those who are willing and able can purchase paintings by my father or my photographs of Broken Angel at Artez’n at 444 Atlantic Ave. Works of art for sale can also be obtained online at http://www.artezn.com/. I guarantee that a work of art bought this holiday season will retain its value better than a Play Station 3. Please help us and show the developers who want to turn Brooklyn into another skyline of giant buildings that we will not go gently into the shadows of greed and over development. I can be contacted at chriswood718@yahoo.com
Photos of Broken Angel
My restoration work
Broken Angel in the press:
Daily News
Seth Kushner
Brooklyn Papers
Gowanus Lounge
New York Times

If you can help, please.

Wii Have A Problem

First, why am I so fascinated by the Wii? I really don't know. I don't own one. I probably won't get one for awhile. But I guess it comes down to the fact that it is different and that it is the "next big hope" to get gaming out of the gutter. See, because I love video games. I really do. And I would love if it fully crossed into mainstream so that games were developed for a wider market. But it is a chicken and egg type deal: the masses won't play because games are made for twitch happy boys and developers won't make games for the masses because only twitch happy boys buy games.

The Wii takes a big step in bridging that gap.

Anywhozits, here's a blog devoted to stories of injuries and property damage cause by the Wiimote.

(via Destructoid)

Low Gravid Water Shut-Off Valve

So the electrician discovered it was the low water shut-off valve that triggered the boiler no-more-worky thing. Easy fix. He was done in 35 minute and now there is heat. (There remains the question of why it was triggered. The plumber is supposed to call tomorrow so we can discuss it. The electrician didn't have any clue. It might be nothing. Maybe it is something more. Who knows.) Still cost as much as it always costs to have an electrician show up at 8pm, but a lot less than having to rip out all the wiring. I also got to discover which outlets I have plus a space heater into and not have it trip the circuit breakers. (One answer is the one in the kitchen... until you attempt to microwave some Hot Pockets... but that is kind of a no brainer).

But because he was so quick and because sister and her horde decided to pass on the ice house and stay in Jersey until tomorrow morning, I was able to book out of the house and run to UCB to see Gravid Water.

Oh my.

Gravid water is, has the program says:

"a theatrical experiment the uses both actors and improvisers. The actors in tonight's show have memorized and rehearsed their scenes much as they would for a regular play--they will not depart from the script. The improvisers, who have never before scene their script, will be improvising."

Oh my god.

I've seen it once before and I worried if that one night had been a fluke. I had loved, adored, melted at it. Tonight was... crying until I couldn't see, almost pee, can't breath type fantastic.

Dan Bakkendahl (The Daily Show) was very good as the improviser in two scenes, but Christina Gausas in her two scene was just amazing! First she was Emily in the "when Emily and George realize they will get married" scene from Our Town. But her scene from Middle of the Night by Paddy Chayefsky... the emotion she allowed her self to show was up their with some of the best performance I have ever seen on stage, scripted or not.

And then Michael Delaney as the improviser with Joel Karrie as the actor in August Wilson's Fences. A particular hard scene since the "actor" had a lot of "response line," lines that are clearly in response to another line. Like "Stop bring your mother into this!" There really was no choice for Delaney but to call it out and make Joel a bit crazy. Which Joel played up so amazingly well. And it was all about heightening. Joel just gets angrier and angrier and Delaney had to just keep playing it real. (In fact there was a bit of subtext in Delaney's words that could be taken as a lesson on why the scene was bad improv... but it was not. It was so the exception that proves the rule.) And watching white Delaney being chased with a baseball bat (real, not "improvised") while being called the N-word by a angry angry black man... okay, that is funny.

I feel bad because I haven't talked about all of the actors, who were all great. But I need to get some sleep now that I can go tourist-ing with family tomorrow.

Oh, I am so happy that I have registered to take level 401 with Delaney. (Must not swoon.)

The next Gravid Water is December 14th.

Yay! Electrician!

The electrician just showed up and it turns out there IS power to the boiler. That means it is not some horrible meltdown in the walls. Not that it will be fixed quickly or cheaply... but it has to be cheaper than ripping out and replacing wiring in the walls. He is still looking at it. But it may just be a single broken piece and it may be under warranty. Oh, the simple joys! It is like thinking they will have to amputate your leg and finding out it is just your foot.

Damn house.

So the heater stopped working yesterday (I think it was yesterday... that's when I noticed). The pilot light had gone out and I can relight that. I am just that good. And just that. But the burners weren't lighting. No heat. So I called in the excellent folks who put it in. They have come over. It now appears that it night be the thermostat... or all of the electrical power to the damn thing... or a problem with the chimey... or something else. It does appear to be electrical and not mechanical or with the gas. But they are having a hard time tracking it down.

And I have my sister, her husband and their four lovely children coming to stay with me in just a few hours... and I have no heat. I may be runningto the store for space heaters and blankets. Lots of blankets.

Grrrr. I hate this stuff.

Broken Angel Needs Help

One of the most lovely people I have ever known introduced my to the Broken Angel building. it is tucked away in corner of Clinton Hill in Brooklyn. Now I have read that it will demolished in 3 weeks if it is not brought up to code.

This building is so unique, but that is not why I want it saved. It is important to me because it is about memory and dreams and magical "Ah Ha!" momenets. It is discovery and hope.

So I pass on the info in hope that someone out there can help.
(via Laughing Squid and photo by JimmyLegs)

48 Hour Film Challenge - Why does it have to be so complicated?

We did the pre-drinking scene (why am a so fixated on that?). Went well, but was difficult because it was in the vestibule entrance, me inside and Peter (the Preacher) outside. So we had to get dual coverage: one shot from behind me, focused on him, and another from behind him, focused on me. Bunch of takes on both. I also kept forgetting which way to turn the latch on my own front door - clockwise to open, counter-clockwise to lock.

Somewhere along the way I managed to actually splash a little wine on the cuff of my robe. I don't think you'll be able to notice it. I dabbed it with some bleach. (Isn't film thrilling?)

Now they are getting another complicated shot on the stairs. My noisy, noisy stairs. I'm not watching but it sounds like they've fixed their light issues and getting the scene down.

Next will probably be the roof shots, which will be messy and special effects filled.

48 Hour Film Challenge - The Script Arrives

I wake at 3:30am. Nerves, I guess. Always affects my sleep. So check the ol' email to see if there is any news. Ah, the script! Also news that the crew is arriving at 6am. I expected that.

So I print out the script. Now, I don't know if Bill just has confidence in me, or if he really liked my "monologue," or feels that since it's my house I should get a decent part. But I got some meat on my part. A little sci-fi/horror. Also, when you all see it, remember that I didn't write it. Not because it isn't good. I love it. But it could be considered analogous to my relationship to this house in ways that some might think odd. I got all of that out in last years novel.

It also has a fair amount of special effects. Not sure how Bill's going to do it, but I trust him. Don't really have much choice. Now I'm all atwitter.

Note: I'm a bit confused about the difference between the National Film Challenge and the 48 Hour Film Challenge. They are related to each other, maybe the same, I don't know. This is more of a 72 hour challenge. Whatever. Same dif.

Another note: You'll notice I've added labels to my posts. I'm not sure why. I just decided to do it. If anyone knows what that gets me, please leave me a note. I think I may be going a little crazy with them.

Cool Sink

Really that is all this post is about: a cool bathroom sink.

Propped Up

I read that people used to have shorter beds because they would sleep propped up. This fasinated me. I thought that if I could get this trend to catch on, I could start a line of short beds for people in studio apartments. So I've been trying it out.

Not with much success.

Brooklyn, Burning Man, Las Vegas and Back Again

The novel plugs on. WriMos talk of the second week slump. The first week you are excited and happy and thrilled. Week two hits like a wall when you realize how far you have to go. The lack of sleep starts to creep up on you. All the things you put of the first week (cleaning, shopping, etc.) suddenly start to loom larger. Coffee starts to taste funny.

I can't say that has been the case with me. I am well ahead on word count (if slightly behind on schedule to get the novel to it's final chapter by the 30th). Yeah, the house is dusty and I need to do laundry, but I've been there for a lot worse reasons.

But I did hit a wall, but on I knew was coming since day one. The main character as had his life change dramatically in chapter 7 & 8. To help with the transition (both for him and me), I send the five main characters on a road trip. Seemed like a good idea when I was doing the outline.

But getting them from Brooklyn to Burning Man in any concise way while still being interesting was a chore of tight structure. Then Burning Man had to be just as concise but a totally different tone and feel. And I've never been there. I've heard about it, read about it, viewed countless photos. But it is not the sort of event I should be writing about without having experienced it. If I had only known, I would have gone this September. But no one was kind enough to tell me that I'd be writing a novel with one chapter set there. Damn you all!

Anyway, I got through that. Totally switched up my writing style (even my punctuation and how I handle dialogue). I'm quite happy with it. It's light and surreal, full of import and signs. It is what it needed.

Then they took off for Vegas, for a chapter of wacky adventure and for me to ease back into normality. And now Vegas is kicking my ass. I think I'm struggling with writing from four year old memory and wanting to be funnier than I am right now and needing to get my main character back being active instead of just reacting or just observing, as he has for these last two chapters.

Get on with your life, MC! Get on with the story, Chris!

Sidenote: I have just fallen guiltily love... with FreshDirect. Shut-in status here I come!