Never say never

Arriving at the New York City offices of Ogilvy on June 16

I've always said that I'd rather produce than direct. Then, just this week an opportunity came up to direct a shoot in NYC ... at the HQ of advertising giants Ogilvy and Mather! Yikes.

Of course I went for it.

Here I am inside the Ogilvy New York building for my directorial debut!

After getting a few pointers from the directors at Picture This Productions, I realized that directing has a lot of organizational and planning work involved. At least, the way I approached it, it does. This is exactly the work I thrive on, so directing for me was about getting the shoot logistics organized - on paper and in my head.

As the producer I do generally have a big part to play in planning, set-up, and running the show - so to speak, but it tends more toward managing and coordinating the big picture. Shooting, it turns out, is about putting the big picture just slightly out of focus so that I could see the details.

Are there ever a lot of details to think about.

A "double-room" at NYC's Chelsea Star shared by me and the camera-op featured one bed, one chair, and just enough space to take your shoes off.

Other than the shoot, there wasn't too much time to take in NYC sites. Luckily, we stayed right in the midst of Manhattan, across the street from Madison Square Garden. I should have realized that sleeping in Manhattan would be just wishful thinking!

I didn't foresee it, but going on a shoot in New York was a fantastic way to spend my birthday!

Angus brought home a library book on drawing baby animals

Angus has been working his way through a book on drawing animals for the last two days with some pretty amazing results. My favourite so far is the goat, but he's puping the drawings out at about one every hour, so I reserve the right to pick anew!

Yesterday, I suggested that artists often sign their works. He obliged me the one time, but he's too busy on the art to worry about signing it.

Last week he had a project where he was devising a new superhero. Here are the two contenders that didnt's make it, and the one who did: Popcorn! I really can't decide which is my favourite - they're all such great concepts for a superhero!

All of these drawings are completely untouched by me other than scanning them - Angus is now colouring many of his works.