Saturday, February 13, 2010

Even Happier New Year!

Ok, my thanks to whoever is doing all that praying or whatever on my behalf because it's been working! After being ignored for the decorator job on a surf film about Bethany Hamilton and then turning down a 2 week job as their shopper buyer, I was asked to be the art director for a national Capital One ("What's in your wallet?") commercial with those wild and crazy visigoths. You'll probably be seeing the commercial in a few weeks. I worked 11 days, hired 9 guys, filmed 2 long days for 30 seconds of air time. We were based out of the same hotel as the surf movie and even another Capital One commercial for the Canadian market. It was a completely separate commercial and crew but for the same client. It's funny that several of them said how spoiled TV people were because commercials are so fast paced now. Then TV people think film people are spoiled because TV is so fast paced. Film people think TV people are spoiled because they don't have to worry about all the details of "The Big Screen." My take is to just shut up and do my job.

Right now besides "LOST" there is a George Clooney film, an Adam Sandler film, the surf film, and early rumblings from "Pirates of the Caribbean" filming here this summer and my phone wasn't ringing at all. Then 10 days ago I got a call to interview as Set Decorator for a new pilot for CBS's "Hawaii Five-0" Wow, that will teach me not to believe rumors. Lest you think I was a shoe-in because of my experience here, wrong. It wasn't until I was able to show my work online at www.flickr.com/photos/rick_romer/ that I was seriously considered. Then it took some discussion and another meeting before I was offered the job.

This is just the pilot. It has not been pre-sold or picked up yet--or so we are told. However, the script is absolutely amazing and riveting. Remember, I did another 5-0 pilot in '96 or '97 that never even aired (although it probably did help Gary Busey's career on Celebrity Rehab) so I am cautiously optimistic on this one. Daniel Dae Kim is going right from "LOST" into 5-0 as the character Chin Ho Kelley. Well, if they can revive "Hawaii Five-0" can a revival of "Magnum, P.I." be too far behind? There was only a year between the series after all.

I wasn't going to, but I got talked into seeing "avatar" in 3-D imax. I don't often say OMG, but OMG! I was ducking under those palm fronds in front of me during every chase scene. Nothing stayed inside the screen, it was right in front of me. I decided that it wasn't a film at all. It was an event. I came out of the theatre covered in popcorn and wanting to keep my yellow 3-d glasses on for the rest of my life. Go Blue People!


Well, Aloha from the only state that didn't have snowfall this weekend. I do assume there is snow on top of Mauna Kea, though. You have to drive up 14,000 feet to see it instead of outside in your driveway.

Aloha, Rick








5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love those Visigoth Capital One commercials. Keep us posted on the Hawaii Five-O set decorating news. Can't wait to see it!

Magnum Decorator said...

Yes, I think they could easily turn this pilot into a feature. The original show had nothing like this. You won't be seeing any data cards being sorted by a machine on this pilot. I had to laugh--on an episode I saw last week, McGarrett asked the data card computer to print out anyone who worked at a gas station with the first name of "Chris" that a witness had seen on the bad guy's work shirt. Even Big Brother today would have a difficult time with that one!

Thanks, Pam, hope you decide to work on this one as well! Margaret is in heaven!

Milo Minderbinder said...

I just started reading your blog yesterday and decided to watch LOST on NetFlix. I noticed that the Walkabout Tour operator in episode 4 of season 1 used your name for his character...

Anyway, thanks for the blog - it's great to have an insider's view on this stuff.

Anonymous said...

Great job news! I kept reading about the 5-0 remake news and all I could think was 'Rick better get this one'. Good for you! The commercial sounds like good work. Of course, I will only get to see the Canadian one. Maybe you will have to rename the site Magnum P.I./5-0 Set Decorator. Best of luck. Keep us posted on the details.

Susie

Tom Curtis said...

Looking forward to the McGarrett retro high-tech. "Book'em" Magnum Decorator and good luck during the shooting process. When in doubt just use more black gaffers!