The Man Who Was Thursday Audio Play

So my focus has changed for the new year, 2010. The project on the front burner is an audio-only production, a radio play adaptation of The Man Who Was Thursday, which is a classic mystery-thriller by G.K. Chesterton, published about 1907. I wrote the script, taking a couple liberties, but ultimately staying pretty close to the script.

My roommate-collaborators are Ben & David Stanton, musicians, composers and audio experts. Also on board the producing team is Ananda Dillon and handling casting, my wife Lana Joy. We're in the casting process right now, which so far has consisted of recruiting some wonderfully talented actors that we've met over the years, some that Lana has worked with, and one especially powerful actor that we saw at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. I can't name any names, because nothing is done or set in stone. All I can say is I'm extremely excited about them.

The first casting session will be January 30th-- it'll be a protracted process, because of my fulltime job and the difficulty of scheduling busy people.

I'm also intimidated by the sound editing & sound effects process. There is a lot of stuff, the book is incredibly visual, and all that has to be translated into exciting sound and music.

The word is spreading, and the social networking has started. First of all, the traditional website is http://www.manwhowasthursday.com, then on facebook the updates have so far mostly been quotes from my script, at http://www.facebook.com/ManWhoWasThursday. 83 followers as of this writing. I also just linked a twitter account, http://www.twitter.com/TMWWThursday.

So follow, fan, and stay-tuned. There's an email list starting on the website, as well as a link where you can donate funds to the project. We're doing this on our own, with our own pocket-books. Anyone who donates will get access to the podcasts early, or special edition CDs of the finished product. We'll need to purchase some recording equipment, some sound effects, and food for the days we're in production.

The Association has been a little back-burner for a little while, looking for some traction there. I have a new producer to collaborate with, so we're in discussions on how to get the ball rolling on a micro-budget film.

Also, check out The Jingle Boys, a house music project and super-sized Christmas card that our friends have all worked hard on the past couple months. You can listen to the album on the website.

Peer goes to work

Well, we moved, finally-- after nine years in our faithful Downey one-bedroom apartment. It's confirmed, it was awesome for a one bedroom, or so agrees the complex's new managers when they looked at it. They suspect it was originally intended as the apartment manager's apartment (#101), but was abandoned because it wasn't centrally located to the rest of the units.

We're now renting a house not 1/2 mile away, a four bedroom that we're sharing with 2 other roommates. We have the upstairs. It'll be nice to have a backyard for Peer to play in. Our habit at the apartment was to wander around the complex grounds, which was essentially one big backyard to play in. He likes to collect pine cones, rocks, sticks, pine noodles (needles)... and he especially liked throwing things in the pool. Which, after letting him for awhile because it was cute, decided to stop that habit before the managers came after us.

So by way of saluting the Brookshire Apartments and our many great memories there, Peer and I went on another photo journey. For his 2nd birthday, he got an awesome little suitcase from Gma and Gpa, which he immediately started carrying everywhere he went. So on this day back in August, Peer ceremonially announced his intention to go outside. "Where are you going?" I asked. "Werk," he said. "Really? I didn't know you worked. What do you do?" "Rocks." Ah, yes. His favorite pastime.


Here we go, out the front door to work! Bye bye!


Let's go in the main part of the apartment complex, just through these double-doors. Come on, Daddy!


"Broken Fountain!" He loves fountains, and recently the new managers have been giving our trusty fountain a little cleaning and re-painting.


Out the other doors and back out on the street. There's Daddy's car on the right.


"Walk," is what he says to demand that we let him out of our arms.


Ooh, look at the fancy animation that Daddy made! Cool.


Ah hah! A rock. Now we're getting somewhere.


Here you go, Daddy! This one's for you.


Ooh! More rocks.


I'll put this one in my suitcase.


There goes Daddy showing off again!


Ah, here's the back door to the apartment complex. Let's go in.


We like to call this little planter full of rocks the "coffin" because of its suspicious shape.


We have a lot of big panels of glass around.


And there's the pool! If Daddy didn't stop me I'd throw rocks in there all day. Even when there are people in there.


Hmm... anything here?


Let's go back this way!


Ahah! A pine cone! Originally known as a "Dee-joo."


Rest stop.


"Daddy! Sit." (as he pats the seat with his right hand)


Picture time!


I'm ready for my close-up!


Let's head back toward the exit.


A quick stop to climb these stairs. It's lots of fun counting stairs!


And back down again!


Sit for a second...


And now run!!!


Here's the main entrance.


And the mail boxes (ours was the upper left).


Contemplate the broken fountain again. It's not as fun throwing pieces of bark in there when it's empty.


And back home!


But first, a quick rest stop on the porch. Daddy! Sit!


Picture time again!


Mama! I'm home from work! Look at all the cool rocks I found!

So there it is. Thanks for watching!

1 year's difference -- part 2

I thought I'd finally post something here, with a revisit to an earlier motif, of matching up pictures from one year ago to their current counterpart. It's amazing how things change (and a little how they don't).

First, our 2nd annual Christmas ginger bread house kit from TJ's.

2008:


2009:


And now, USC playing in the Rose Bowl-- the only time of the year we watch football.

2008:


2009:

With special appearance by Elmo... as you can see, Peer has developed a nice football slouch.

And as a special bonus, another paid I decided to add last minute, playing the piano:

2008:


2009:


He's just about ready to start writing his own compositions.

For the latest commercials that I've been putting out for the LA Times, check out my YouTube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/awahlquist/

Peer's Guided Tour of Tech Rehearsal

Hello, my name is Peer! I'm going to take you on a tour of the First Baptist Church of Downey during the tech rehearsal for "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" that my mommy is directing.


This is Mommy. I say hi to her first, every time. I love her!


There's lots of interesting things to see up on the stage.


It's very exciting.


Let's stop and steal a water from the tech team's secret stash.


This is a door stop. It goes up and down.


Hurry up! This way!


Everybody likes to watch me instead of pay attention to what's going on.


Here are some mic cables, ready to be set up.


Okay, here's one of the windows to the decorative garden on the side.


Oh, everybody's clapping!


I want to clap too!


Okay, let's go back this way...


This door goes to the bathroom area.


Oh wait, I think I see something in the trash can.


Nevermind. Come on, what are you waiting for!?


This is the drinking fountain. Here's how it works.


This door goes to the outside. It's closed right now.


Okay, let's go back this way.


This is the Narthex. Hurry up!


Everybody is on stage listening to notes. Come on down!


Cool stuff, huh?


This is Marsha-- she painted the set and made the stained glass.


This is the piano where Mr. David plays sometimes.


Hey Rob, what's up?


Hm, everyone here seems to be busy.


I'll play a little Hammond B3 organ. Yeah, groovy.


Mr. Ben and Mr. David are smiling because I made a loud noise at the perfect moment. Ha ha, Mommy, I distract everyone from what you're saying!


Okay, back to Mommy. Goodnight everyone! Thanks for playing with me!

Peer is 1 today!

Good morning!


After work Lana's parents and sister paid a visit (the arm in the background).


He loves to stand on his own, just to show off.


We went to Downey's Wednesday Night Summer Concert Series and heart the Side Street Strutters play some dixieland jazz, along side a picnic of sandwiches.