The Variable

In honor of LOST's 100th episode airing in about an hour, I've decided to explore some of my favorite LOST moments, chatracters, etc.

WARNING SPOILER ALERT!!!

Over the past four years LOST has been doing crazy things to my mind. Often I find myslf too smart for television (example: I knew who the killer was on Monday night's CASTLE over 20 minutes before the characters did). However, LOST never fails to keep me guessing. Like when Paolo and Nikki were buried alive - I was hoping for a good death for the lackluster Boone and Shannon replacements that made me actually feel nostalgic for Evil Francie, but that was just brilliant. The double-death of Ana-Lucia and Libby was also a mind blower. PS whatever happened to Libby? She was in the cookoo house with Hurley and then suddenly well enough to sell Desmond her ill-fated sail boat. Hmmmmm I guess only time will tell, as it seems that Libby will soon be returning to my favorite island.

And who can forget the wonder that is the Jack/Kate/Sawyer/Juliet love quadrangle...which grows ever increasingly intricate as the seasons progress. I'm not gonna lie and say that I'm not still hoping for the Kate/Sawyer corner to win out over any other budding island relationship. One relationship I can't wait for?? Why, I'm glad you asked....even though we won't be seeing this for more than six months from now, I'm already psyched up for the Jack/Claire half-sibling reunion. After blondie freaked out and went to live in Jacob's cabin with her dead(?) daddy Christian, it was only a matter of time before Jackie boy found out about his 'lil sis - and ever since he did in season 4's finale, I've been awaiting Emilie de Ravin's return.

Now on to some of the best/craziest/mind blowing LOSTisms.


1. Benry - oh how I long for the time when my only question about Ben Linus was what his real name was. Cause it certainly wasn't Henry Gale (who's driver's liscense said that he lived down the street from where I grew up - creepy no??)


2. Boone's death - it was so heartbreaking and will remain one of my favorite LOST moments of all time


3. The CONSTANT - last season's partner to the 100th episode blew everyone LOSTie away....what exactly did Farady mean by Desmond Hume is my constant???? i guess we'll find out tonight! fingers crossed.


4. Walt in the pizza roll commercial - doesn't really have anything to do with LOST...but it was a shock to see little Walt all grown up and eating pizza rolls with his buddies, and a new-found lower register


5. Sayid - this guy is AWESOME...he's a torturer, actually made me like and subsequently miss Shannon, loves killing people and isn't afraid to tell you his feelings or stick a reed under your fingernails


6. Kate/Sawyer - speaking of sticking reeds under fingernails...the begining of this ill-fated relationship (i mean seriously! how many times can the island tear these two apart??) was defintely forshawdowing thier future pain...i guess love does hurt


7. Rousseau - this crazy french lady whose origins were fully revealed this season posthumously gave little more information about her antics.....even in death she continues to surprise


8. the other island - yes it's exactly what you think- ANOTHER CRAZY ISLAND where just as crazy stuff happens - example: the four-toed statue? carl's brainwashing? the polar bear zoo? the new "other others"? no one really knows what's going to happen there next


9. the pilot - there has never been a pilot like LOST. the CGI looks better in the pilot than in some of the episodes this season. The character introductions were exquisite (even though we didn't really learn anything) and i will never forget the sight of Shannon standing there and screaming her blonde little head off while everyone else at least tried to be helpful


10. Charlie - love me some Charlie. his death was the saddest and most heart-wrenching of all LOST deaths. his complete love for Claire was heartwarming (remember his list and the peanut butter?). And what's his deal now? is he hanging out with Ana-Lucia and Eko? or just in Hurley's mind? or in my mind??? whichever it is, I'm thankful for all of the time we had with the "you all everybody" guitarist and member of DriveShaft.

oh dear...how quickly time passes....it's almost time for my weekly LOST party to start. soon the lights will be going out and my apartment will be slient. From what I've heard, tonight's episode may be one of the best of the whole run and there will definitely be some knowledge bombs dropped on us for sure.

An Artist's Statement

The very first film to win the Academy Award for Best Film was a comedy. During the 1927-1928 Academy Awards Wings brought home the first ever Best Production title. Nowadays, comedies are rarely considered for such an honor. Films that are heart-wrenching, dark, dismal and occasionally a film full of hope like this year's winner Slumdog Millionaire are the contenders for Best Film. While dramas are generally thought of as high brow compared to comedies, I , along with many others, believe that true comedy is one of the hardest things that an actor/director, etc. to achieve. I have always been fascinated by comedy. Making people laugh is one of the best feelings in the world for me.

Of all the comedies out there, one genre pops into my mind as true genius. Recently praised/ condemned for his Bromantic flicks, Producer/Director/really awesome dude Judd Apatow is one of the more brilliant minds in film and television today. With his posse of impecable comics like Paul Rudd, James Franco, Jason Segel and even his wife Leslie Mann, Apatow brings out the comedy of everyday life. Whether it is the lives of sevearal unsure high school students, a lazy stoner knocking up his one night stand, a endearingly pathetic 40-year old trying to find love or college freshman navigating life on their own, Apatow and his band of unruly comedians give the characters depth by relishng in the comedic detais. This is a trait that I admire and that I strive for in my own work. Frequently I find that life is more interesting and comedic than fiction. For example all three of my grandfathers (yes, 3) are named Jim. In all of my work, whether it be acting, writing or singing, I always strive to bring out the comedy of the little details of life - the flick of a wrist here, an awkward move there. Having just recently begun to explore what it is that I actually do as an artist, I've come to the conclusion that it is not a lot. For me comedy lies in the details. Too much overt comedy can be a buzz kill, so my goal as an artist is to explore the comedy in life's details. I want to know that I can make someone laugh, not with a huge pratfall or a great slap across the face, but by using the intricasies and details of a character's everyday life

Team Ownage

Team Ownage began with a simple idea. Alice in Wonderland. Thanks to Doheny's Lewis Carroll exhibit, we had our inspiration. After a script was concieved and written, a miniature set was built and then it was my turn. We set up a green screen in my living room and spent the next six or so hours filming various sequences of Alice (played by me) running through the scary set with towering giant mushrooms and falling through the rabbit hole. The story we eventually went with began with Alice wandering in an enchanted-esque wood when she suddenly hears something scary behind her. She takes off running when she suddenly falls into a hole in the ground. At first she falls quickly, but then begins to realize that she is constantly falling and the bottom of the hole isn't getting any closer. Warped images and sounds surround her throughout her fall until suddenly she finds herself in a classroom in the middle of a lecture.


While I am not particularly fond of acting for camera (and by that I mean I hate it), getting the chance to work with a green screen was an exciing one. it also added another exciting element. Usually when you film you have an idea of what the finished product will look like. But with a green screen, as the actor, you have NO idea what the outcome could be. This fact made me nervous, but it also made me a little more excited to be working in front of a camera.


As the actor, I had little to with the setup....and the breakdown of the lighting, etc as well. I did however, provide the craft services while we were filming - it was the least I could do since I was quite comfortable during the shoot - fans on me at all times (to make it look like i really was falling) while Ryan and Angie had to keep touching the burning hot lights.

All in all, it was one of the most fun experiences that I have ever had filming. There was adventure (an exciting trip to campus trying to find an open classroom at 12am on Friday night), intrigue (who could we track down to be an extra in our film???) and good times all around (if there were bloopers, they would be really great).