Sniff

I'm continually impressed by the advancements in security. Ah yes, gone are the days when you could lift an orange from your local fruit stand and vanish into the crowd. Nowadays satellite images can zoom in to the face of a coin. Why? Because they can. There's no escape. Unless of course you're 6 foot 6 and America's most wanted. Then, you can...well, lift an orange and vanish into the crowd. But mischievous quarters and devious dimes beware! We're onto you.

The latest addition to goverments' arsenals? Counterfeit DVD sniffer dogs. Yes, you may need to re-read that phrase to make sense of it, but it doesn't make these talented hounds less effective. Two highly skilled labradors, Lucky and Flo, travelled to the US recently to display their sniffing abilities. Like you, I was dumbfounded at how a dog might smell a sliver of plastic through one's airport luggage. Let alone how the heck it can differentiate between a DVD I buy in a store and one I've burned on my computer. Now THAT'S talent. These dogs should have their own show.

It seems that Lucky and Flo can indeed sniff out a pirated DVD and identify it to their handler. Though probably not down to the bonus features. (I'm told they can only identify titles and lead actors) Incredibly, they can also sniff out legally purchased DVDs. They just can't tell the difference. Which kinda makes the whole exercise fairly pointless. They'll be pulling everyone over! I always carry (legal) DVDs on trips, to play during my journey. That means I'll be pulled to one side and searched. Again. That's just great. And what of the other multitude of DVD carriers? I mean, you have DVD stores prominently placed in airports. People buy them. And what about people who have CDs? Can they possibly smell any different? Now all these folks will inadvertantly add an anal probe to their pre-flight checklist. Sweet. That's like having a drive-thru bar 50 feet before a DUI roadblock!

There are two clear options open to Joe and Janet Shmo. Either you leave the DVDs on the shelf, or you pack as many discs on your person as humanly possible. That's my choice. If I'm gonna get sniffed-up, I'm gonna get my tax-paying monies worth. Personally, I can't wait for my next plane trip. Hey- it's been a while. I'm gonna shove the Frasier box set down my pants. Just to be sure.

Oh, yeah. One more thing. I want Flo, please. Not lucky. FLO. Got it? We all remember what happened last time...

The Sex Drive is Up

A fabulous little short I acted in (and by little I mean REALLY small) is now online for viewing. Damon Berry's "Sex Drive" is a great piece with clever dialogue about a woman asking for directions to love. You can check it out at New York Minute Film Festival. Just click on the title, Sex Drive, and away you go.

Also look out for Digby Young's inspired "Land of Opportunity" - a witty take on life in SA. Bear in mind when you're watching, that both films were shot in one continuous, uninterrupted take AND went from filming to completion within 24 hours! Quite an achievement I think.

Do have a visit when you get a chance. They're short files and take hardly any time to load. Also, this is a competition and voting opens soon, so, if you're delighted by them, please vote for our efforts and tell a friend!

Akaroa and Bolo

It may only have been one cinema, but Akaroa finally hit the big screen. Kelsey Johnson's short film screened at the LA Shorts Fest in Hollywood this past week. Great to see it at the Arclight and, being shot on 16mm, it translated well to the size. This snap is of Jerry Angelo as Eric and Morann Peri as Efrat. No I'm not in the picture. Yes it is a kitchen.

I play dodgy a-hole, Vince, who is a bit of a d*ck, but still gets the girl - much to Eric's chagrin. That is also the first time I have ever used the word "chagrin". Make that the second. Akaroa can also be seen later this month at the Route 66 Film Festival in Springfield, Illinois, famous for the Simpsons. Or at least famous for sharing the name with Bart's home town.

And yes- I am struggling for topics these days. At least I haven't bored you with last night's dream of Bolo "Enter the Dragon" Yeung.

That is, until now...

In the dream, he walked down the aisle of some rudimentary theatre and I stood up and shouted "Bolo! Bolo!" But no-one joined in. Clearly these people were not martial arts buffs. Nor were they akin to magic shows, as no-one saw the nifty switcheroo, as Bolo (in a grey wig), changed places with a guy who had real grey hair. (Everyone still thought it was Bolo, you see!)

I don't know why they did the switch (after Bolo had hoisted several children on each arm). Nor do I know why Bolo was in my dream. Hoisting children and wearing a toupe. I really haven't thought of Bolo in years.

But when I do, it's always with fondness...