A few days ago I mentioned my love for the BBC show "Changing Rooms" which created "Trading Spaces" and how I really like the designer whose name I couldn't remember.

It's Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

Well, a friend from the old days e-mailed me to let me know she now works for the BBC and gave me some info about my fav decorator.

Laurence has established himself as one of the most well known designers on the BBC.

After graduating with a Fine Art degree from the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts in 1986, Laurence joined a company specialising in industrial rubber flooring. Soon, Laurence was commissioned to undertake work at Buckingham Palace!

His design skills were honed further when in 1989 he worked on the prestigious Paris Virgin Megastore project. Not content with this seemingly rapid rise to prominence, Laurence set up his own design consultancy in 1989, the year he married Jackie.

Not my X Jackie, but another one.

Commissions have included The Opera Terrace, Covent Garden and the Sous Sol at the Oriel, Sloane Square.

Laurence's BBC debut was on the very first episode of Changing Rooms, broadcast during September 1996 on BBC TWO. His vibrant personality immediately struck a chord with viewers, which contributed to the series attracting a loyal audience.

This success persuaded the BBC to reschedule Changing Rooms to BBC ONE where it's currently in its eleventh series, with Laurence continuing to impress us with his charm, wit and memorable designs.

In 2000, Laurence joined forces with garden designer, Diarmuid Gavin, to launch Homefront Inside Out. This innovative BBC TWO show enables Laurence to share a design brief with Diarmuid to create a complementary makeover for each home and garden. The hour-long format of the show has allowed Laurence to provide the audience with a deeper insight into the design process.

In January 2002, Laurence presented Taste, a three-part special for BBC TWO, about the history of interior design.

It's no surprise that Laurence's flamboyant personality has resulted in numerous invites to appear on popular game shows and chat shows. Lloyd Grossman explored Laurence's old house, he's been Gotcha!'d by Noel Edmonds and he's appeared on Blue Peter, Children In Need and The Kumars at No 42.

If all that wasn't enough, Laurence has written three books, is a regular contributor to leading interior design magazines and has his own column in the Express newspaper.
For more information on Laurence, take a look at his personal website:

Check it out!

This morning I saw a girl selling "Peace" T-Shirts and jewelery. She looked like she was doing good business. Then around the corner I saw a dude selling "Support the Troops" and "Pro-War" wears and he looked like he was doing good.

Later I drove back by and noticed they were getting supplies from the same van. They worked together to make this money. I guess it shouldn't surprise me.

See, they were able to put their differences aside all in the cause of making money.

I wonder if I printed up shirts that said something along the lines of, "I don't care what you do!" if they would sell?

 
Maybe this move away from Hollywood that I find myself doing will be good. I think there are too many distractions going on around me. I need to just settle down into a small place and find a way to focus on what will be important to me.

I always like that question motivational speakers ask, "If you knew you could never fail, what would you do?" they never mention the fact that there are always roadblocks in every motion.

A better question would be, "What would you do if everything you wanted to accomplish met no resistance?" I like that better. Still impossible, but better.

What if you could live a life where you answered to no one but yourself?

What if your job had only one boss and one employee... You(?)

What if you could live below your means?

What if you could shit diamonds?

I should start an Earthquake prediction service. After posting yesterday's mention of California sliding off into the creek we experienced a 2.5 quake here in the Valley.

I should post something about winning million$ in the Lotto and see if it happens.

I got a call from my Niece in Missouri who wants to go to school at Pepperdine saying she doesn't want me to move to Missouri. She wants to move out here. I told her the house I've been thinking of renting and she said, "Oh NO Not That Place!"

Must be a real winner.

While feeding Aaron's dog and cat today, I caught up on the greatest TV show ever... And that is BBC's "Changing Rooms", or is it, "Trading Spaces"? I can't remember which is which. I know I like the one with the Goth Decorator. This guy is so cool. And Andy the handy man is pretty funny.

My reality show idea is similar, but called "Trading Panties" not really a decorating show, unless spackling is decorating.

Well, looks as though I've made up my mind to leave Hollywood and travel back to the place of my youth.

Hell!

No, actually Missouri.

We'll see if anything amazing happens that'll keep me here. Like a Lotto winning. California finally sliding off in to the Pacific. Drive-by.

I'm gonna try and just get rid of everything I have and travel light.

It'll be good to see America again.

It'll be nice to drive while gas prices are at their highest in History.

It'll be nice to get away from things that remind me of my failed marrage and failed life.

But then I'll always be there to remind me of myself.

Or will I?

The wind is really blowing right now. So I guess I could say Hollywood BLOWS!

I talked with a casting dude named, Bella earlier about possibly interviewing someone about extra acting in Hollywood and if it's a way to actually make a living.

I do have a fairly devoted listenership and when I had interviews with some recent acting teachers, several audience members flew out to take classes.

Mainly my show is about the technical side of Film and Television, but lately after some interviews with film
historians about film acting in the old days, the question came up about whether a person could make a
fair living just being a background (?) extra?

I saw a news bit today where they had a Ham Radio Operator using his rig to let families talk with their boys and girls who happen to be Troops overseas. The Ham-guy said something about his thing (outfit?) being called "MARS", I don't know what that means, but they also said he talks with the Astronauts in space.

I thought that could be a great show idea to talk with Troops and with the Space Station to see what their feelings about the War may be. Could be really compelling .

Today kinda sucks!

I've been packing up stuff. Going to try and sell some other stuff this weekend at a yard sale here. Just trying to think clearly about heading to Missouri. It really hurts.

But, maybe it'll be quiet and boring and I'll be able to get into the flow of just writing.

Still, can't help thinkin' I'm crawling back.

The cost of living I can't beat. Maybe ebay will be a lifesaver there. Gas is $1.30-something there in my brother's town.

He suggested I U-Haul it with my car on a trailer behind a truck. I had thought of selling everything here, but I'd just have to buy new stuff when I got there and that would be a waste of money.

I got an estement from UHaul and it was $2000. to move my crap. I think I'll sell it all.

When is Aaron coming back?

I'm out of his Atkin's bars and I need more money... can't find any in his house.

While I have been watching all the War News and getting depressed... I've tried not to let it consume my life.

A friend who knows of my love of the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs called me to tell me that while he was watching some War Press Conference on TV, he heard a General discussing how the press is embedded with the Troops and that it's history making for the legacy of the War Correspondent. Then he mentioned past war correspondents like ERB in Hawaii!!!

Did anybody catch that?

How cool!

My friend said the General said it like a true ERB-Fan.

If anyone has it on tape, please let me know.

As you know, I didn't attend the Oscars or the Vanity Fair Party afterwards and I'm glad I didn't go. I got to spend some quality time with my friend Aaron's dog and cat. It was a fun time had by all till right in the middle of Michael Moore's acceptance speech, the dog and cat started freaking out and fighting. I nearly shat myself. Not having much recent experience with animals, I casually reached down to gently pull the cat away from the dog's maul, when suddenly the cat turned into a furry of fur around my hand. I thought it was biting me, but forensic evidence proves she was just using my hand as a scratching post.

Once the bleeding stopped I was able to return to the Oscars.

Aaron sent me a nice e-mail from the front lines:

Tried to get a couple things for you, but so far no luck. The $2 copy of
CQ (the movie I love) was really bad and the 6 foot stone penis was too expensive. I'm
sure I'll find something inbetween for you.

Still got a roof over your head? Is it mine? Well at least you've got
clean underwear now.

We went back to the monkey forest and I got a few cool 3D pics of some
monkeys fuckin'! Also got a cool pic of a ton of buddah heads laid out.
We're gonna be here for Nipi (sp?) Day. Remember the picture I had of
the giant puppet from my last trip? Well that's for the day before when
they have these pig parade/festivals. On Nipi you're not allowed to leave
the hotel or even have your lights on. Otherwise the locals will come and
throw rocks until they go out. They believe all the ghosts fly over the
island that night and if they see light in a village they'll come and
check it out. They got a lot of ceremonies like tht here. Their funerals
are all about confusing the ghosts so they can't find their way back to
the village when they burn 'em.

Bagus,

-A

-----------

Then, I found this ad:
Do you remember Tickle Me Elmo?
It flew off the shelves.
Cabbage Patch Dolls, Pokemon Cards....
a two month waiting list.
X-Box?
People were lining up around the block.
I think you get the picture: there is big money in the toy business.
Thousands of new toys hit the shelves each year and the creators of those toys have made more real-life money than you could fit into a hundred Monopoly boxes.
So what are you waiting for? You've got a great idea for a toy or a gift, why not bring it to life and make the money you've been dreaming about?
If you're waiting until you can find out the best way to make you idea come to life, you are in luck: toy legend Mike Becker is coming to the Learning Annex on April 2nd to teach his incredible seminar "Get Your Toy or Game Idea to Market" so you can start realizing your dream! AND BY THE WAY, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A GREAT TOY IDEA... NO PROBLEM. MIKE WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO GENERATE GREAT IDEAS!
Mike Becker worked in the licensed apparel industry for 10 years before starting his own toy company, FunKo, Inc. in 1998 that, so far, has sold more than two million of its mainstay product, bobble-head dolls called Wacky Wobblers.
TURN PRACTICAL TIPS INTO COLD HARD CASH
The toy business isn't all fun and games. You have to know the practical, financial end of things or, as with any business, you won't succeed. Mike can tell you what you need to know if you have a single toy or game idea you want to bring to market or if you want to get into the business full-time.
His invaluable seminar will teach you places to get toys and games manufactured and who to sell to. You'll get great marketing tips and advice on how to handle the competition. This class will show you how to get smart about the toy business in a hurry.
MAKE INDUSTRY SECRETS WORK FOR YOU
I promise you, this seminar is the only place you'll get all the information and how-to's you need to make it big in the toy industry. Mike shares his priceless tips along with other sources of information that have helped him make millions of dollars!
We are so sure that this one seminar will secure your success in the toy industry that we are offering an incredible discount so you can't say no.
-------------

That sounds like fun! Let's all go!

Then I got this e-mail from either a fan of mine or a fan of Fred Olen Ray;

Hello Jerry,

I am a fan of Fred Olen Ray, I visited one of his movie set's like you about six year's ago, I was helping a friend who was a stuntman for Fred on a movie called:  Maximum Security.  Well I spotted your email in Fred's yahoo group and went to your web site,  I thought it was great !  after reading some of the things you said like, like about Vince Vaughn on Letterman, I too watched that show and I thought the same thing, he did a great job.  and anyone that know's about Judo Gene Lebell can't be all bad,lol.   So this is the long way of saying that I enjoyed your web. site and I book marked it and will be going their often.  I can't wait too see the behind the scene stuff of Fred's movie.  Keep up the good work.

Scott
---------------

Thanks Scott. I should be posting my behind the scenes stuff soon. As well as some of the behind the scenes of a fetish video shoot.

But first, I must try and find some money. I needs me some money... NOW!

I hope you are catching some TV News. It's all very interesting. I guess I won't be going to the Oscars. I sent out a press release announcing that I was backing out. Not because of any political reasons, or even War reasons, just got more laundry to do, that's all.

Yesterday was a great day!

I headed over to the set of Fred Olen Ray's new film, "The Unliving". It was an old abbey that seemed to be deteriorating right before you eyes. There were spiders everywhere. Lizards everywhere. Werewolf's... Well, they were being assembled.

Fred was great! Funny! Entertaining in that old hip Hollywood way! His crew was in such awe of this auteur that they were immediately suspect of my intentions. The UPM (Unit Production Manager) seemed instantly to dislike me. She made it clean three separate times that SHE didn't hire me and that I must be in the way. Someone else who looked like an evil Conan O'Brien, but seemed to wield some control over the operation went amazing far out of his way to completely ignore me. Only the PA's, Make-up Artists, Actors, Fred, visiting Directors Donald F. Glut and Dan Golden were cool enough to partake in general niceties to your humble narrator.

After shooting what tape supply I had, I left.

At home, safe from the horrifying Santa Anna winds, I found a message about interviewing Classic Director Val Guest. I've just finished reading his biography and have many questions about him and his work.

My friend Aaron has finally left Sony Imageworks and taken a long on-going negotiation with Dreamworks to a signing bonus and contract. But before he starts his next movie he must rest his fat rich head!

He left this morning on yet another world tour. On the eve of world war, he has left for Bali, Bangcock, Viet Nam, Japan, Australia, Antarctica, and I believe he may stop over in Guam. So I'm having a Giant Yard Sale of his stuff at his house while he's gone. He won't even miss any of it. The burden of the rich is the accumulation of lots o' crap.

Speaking of the War; I've decided I will not be attending The Academy Awards this time. Not for any political reasons, just that getting all gussied up and then all that security... Too much for me this time. I might do the Vanity Fair Party again, but without a date (remember I'm freshly divorced!) I'll look desperate. Phat Farm has kindly offered to supply an Oscar Party wardrobe, but I'll just have to see.

This morning I'm heading out to shoot some DV "making of" for Fred Olen Ray's film THE UNLIVING, which starts shooting on, as it happens St. Patrick’s Day. The film features the return of Mexican Superstar Paul Nachy and his wolfman character, Waldemar Daninsky, and Michele Bauer comes back Big-time to the movies to play Countess Elizabeth Bathory-Nadasdy. The film will remain true to Naschy’s Spanish werewolf films in terms of make-up and suitable story situations.

The picture will be lensed in Hi-Definition 24 fps with the super Sony Cine Alta camera used on such films as SPY KIDS and STAR WARS : ATTACK OF THE CLONES. This piece of equipment was used successfully on Fred's masterpiece BIKINI AIRWAYS and he is very excited about using it here again. I however, will be using my Sony DCR-VX2000 NTSC to capture the awe and excitement that Fred is able to instill in his cast and crew. Hopefully I'll get some footage of boobies for good measure.

Also in the cast are Jay Richardson and Don Scribner.

I'll keep you updated!

I saw the trailer for "Willard" and it really looks great! Now if I could only get myself to go see the movie. I loved the original when I was a kid. And I loved, "Ben" just as Michael Jackson did. I just didn't love him so much that I'd want to shove him up my ass or anything.

I was talking with a Wicca/Pagan friend last night about Evelyn Paglini a local witch in Sherman Oaks and how she was talking with George Noory about burning green candles in your likeness to attract money.

My friend said that it in fact works, so I did it. The wax represents Earth, the flame Fire, the smoke is the Air, and green is the vibration of Money.

The candle was an old incense candle in a nice jar that my x-wife left behind. It smells like watermelon which is pleasant. I thought I could try and warm up the wax and when it was doughy, I would shape it by hand to look like me. Since it smells like melon and my head is shaped like a melon this money thing seemed like a sure thing.

I let the candle burn awhile and turned the candle over and a river of hot wax spilled onto my wrists and the top of my bare feet burning me so badly that I dropped the candle breaking the decretive jar into small jagged pieces that I proceeded to step on while hopping up and down from the pain.

I hope the money comes to me quick before I kill myself.

Well, it's Friday and that means...

More parties...

More movies...

More Clubs, drinks, laughs, street racing, bummrolling, strip clubs, and jetting off to the Big Island for the weekend.

But for me... Just another day trying to figure out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. How I am going to make some money, find a job that has insurance, meet a new lady, girlfriend, partner, wife, find a new place to live, a new home to live in, new skills to acquire...

I'm already sleepy just thinking about it.

Do you ever feel like there are SO MANY possibilities in life that you become immobilized, paralyzed, and traumatized? I feel so overwhelmed most of the time. There are so many things I'd like to do, but can't get myself to do one of them, so nuthin' gets accomplished.

Sometimes it's easier to just keep buying new clothes instead of doing laundry. Eating out instead of making your own. Reading instead of writing.

I was just talking with a friend about what he would like most to do with the rest of his life, and it sounded nice. He wants to take one class of any subject that interests him in any college, then when he finishes that class he'll travel to the next college and take another class of his choice. Eventually working his way around the world.

After he told me this, he told me how hard it's been for him to get into watching, "Enterprise". He's a big fan of, "Quantum Leap", but just can't talk the time to invest in this new Scott Bakula show. I skipped the first episodes and now find myself very much enjoying them.

Same with "Voyager", I now watch the reruns and never supported the show when it was new.

I've created a reality based TV series that will combine real actors into the format of stress related competition. I feel this is an exciting idea and will be a huge money maker for whatever network decides to rip it off.

I just walked in from a late snack at Coral Cafe in Burbank. While listening to George Noory in my car and letting the engine warm up outside the restaurant, he was talking with Dr. Matthew A. Johnson about the first
time he smelled the Bigfoot monster. I was staring at the moon when I saw a long streak of what must have been a falling star or a piece of space debris. The tail was really long and it left a cloud behind it. It was heading east to west (I think). I actually got scared, cause while eating tonight, my friends kept talking about how the terrorists could easily shoot a missile at Los Angeles.

Looks like I'll be shooting some "making of" or EPK footage for Fred Olen Ray's new movie next week. That might really be fun... I hope. Paul "Jacinto Alvarez Molina" Naschy the great Mexican Thesbian Star of Frankenstein's Bloody Terror is the star of this one too.

I was watching Vince Vaughn hosting Late Night with David Letterman... He'll be getting his own show soon I bet.

I watched Michael Caine on Leno... I love Caine! He's awesome.

I watch Jimmy Kimmel and Jeffery Ross... Very good!

My life is really in the stinker!

Wow! It looks like I haven't posted in a while. Or did Blogger lose my posts?

Well, a recap may be in order.

Shot some video of a Fetish model posing with an actual coffin, in an actual haunted house, and shot with an actual DV camera.

Talked with a long lost pal from Alabama. He was a roommate, a DJ, an Elvis Impersonator, and a great friend. Yes, I lived with an Elvis Impersonator. And NO! I wasn't impersonating Priscilla.

I also talked with another old pal. A screenwriter of amazing accomplishments. Oh, and he wrote the script for the movie, "Critters" too.

Discovered that the 99Cent Stores sell beer! Now if I only drank.

More stuff (News) later if any happens.

Well, I'm still here in the apartment. People have asked me if I've gone all homeless. Only slept in the car one night and that was fun. Like camping.

I sold some stuff on eBay and and did a few one day jobs. I delivered some unknown packages from across the border. Kinda scary.

My friend Aaron has helped out alot. He's a great guy!

I had an music video directing job that fell through after one day. The record company went bankrupt and had no money to pay the staff. That too was fun and met some cool people.

I finished writing a book about radio that my friend Duncan Long has been mentoring me on. There's some
more work I need to do on it before I send it out, but looks like it might be a good and funny book.

I saw this and thought I'd might like to go:

The legendary science-fiction author, who is regarded by many as the world's greatest living
writer of science fiction and fantasy stories, is coming to the Learning Annex on March 12 to teach "The
Art of Writing." Whether you're a writer or a fan, you won't want to miss this incredible evening with Ray
Bradbury--the award-winning author of Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles.

LEARN FROM THE MASTER

He's amazingly prolific. He's incredibly talented. He's a seasoned writer with a wealth of advice who can
teach you so much about what it takes to be a writer on every level. He's also a screenwriter (John
Huston's Moby Dick), artist and creative visionary (he consulted for both the 1964 New York World's Fair and Spaceship Earth at Disney's Epcot Center) and the bestselling author of over 30 books! Among his many awards: he was nominated for an Oscar for his animated film about the history of flight, and
won an Emmy for his teleplay of The Halloween Tree. He recently received The National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.

And you can meet him face to face.

WRITING = ART, SKILL, AND PRACTICE

Bradbury will talk about his fascinating life and work. He'll reveal how he gets his unique ideas and
answer all your questions. He'll also tell you why he believes that the key to success in any endeavor is to
love what you're doing with your whole heart. This inspiring seminar is for all Ray Bradbury fans and for
anyone who loves great writing and wants to see and hear this living legend
in person.

As I write this, I'm watching the Presidential News Conference starring George Bush. It's good, but I wish, since it's on almost every station that's not playing "Elimidate", "Extreme Dating", or "Skankeedate", that each channel could have a diferent camera angle on the set. How cool would it be to flip through the channels and get that cool Matrix-like Bullet Effect?

I get so many comments about my radio interview with Filmmaker Fred Olen Ray. Fred, is a great hero of so many young film fans. In my ratings, Fred's interview is one of the highest rated!

Fred would think what I'm going to say is stupid, or embarrassing, but...

While I have been influenced by many people, Fred is great because he inspired me when I was in radio and then I read his book "The New Poverty Row".

Like Fred: I too lived in Florida, I too worked in Television (a rundown NBC affiliate, But still NBC!) and he showed me (though he didn't know it) that when people might try and put you down, because I'm from Florida, or Texas, or Missouri... That those people don't know shit... I'll make my way! Fred did it! And he had fun doing it! At least in the stills it looked like he was having fun.

It has always been a dream to work on a project with Fred Olen Ray. Someday he might want to read a script I wrote for him, or let me do the trailer voice for some of his films, or let me act in a flick like I've done in many award winning films, or he might see a show I did for IFC/Bravo! and think, "Wow! I'd love to produce a movie for Jerry Lentz!" or he might just not want to do any of those things...

But sometimes, Dreams do come true!

Looks like I'm getting a chance to get "Judo" Gene LeBell and Mark Jacobs on my show about their book about "Pro-Wrestling". This might be either fun or the end of me.

Also, as I get all British an shit, stay tuned for these exciting upcoming interviews and subjects:

One is the veteran film director, Val Guest, the other Richard "Jaws" Kiel, the giant Bond
Villain. Marx Brothers Encyclopedia, by Glenn Mitchell (this boasts a foreword by US film historian/critic Leonard Maltin.)

More?

Christopher Lee:The Authorised Screen History author: Jonathan Rigby.
The Peter Cushing Companion author: David Miller
The Director's Cut author: Roy Ward Baker
The Pinewood Story authors: Gareth Owen with Brian Burford
Keeping the British End Up author: Simon Sheridan
English Gothic:A Century of Horror Cinema:New Edition author: Jonathan Rigby

So it might be fun to keep in touch with my show!

I've been totally swamped with small chores that need to be done before my life of wealth begins.

I've been posting items on eBay, selling furniture, clearing out space to make a studio, meeting potential investors for various projects, and doing laundry.

I saw the BEST Huell Howser episode on PBS last night, about old-time travel homes and RV's from the 30's, 40's, and beyond. It was awesome! There were Model T RV's and travel trailers that looked like Flash Gordon Rocketships. It really was fun to watch.

My meetings with different groups has really brought me a bunch of new friends. I set up these little get togethers at my favorite restaurants and depending on the subject of the group we talk about things we'd like to accomplish.

One group is for Asian Female Singles looking to become Fashion Models... But so far only old Military White Dudes have shown up for that one.

Another group meeting is for young teenage boys who want to become members of Boy Bands... But so far only old Military White Dudes have shown up for that one too.

But it's fun meeting new people!

Well, the last couple of days have been interesting.

My Adult (porn) Filmmaking meetings have gone great! I've met some wonderful, smart, cool, and talented people. The information I'm getting just from meeting all these people could fill a book.

I'm really looking for 50 cool people who would be interested in taking $100 a month and one weekend night a month and invest their time in helping create some interesting videos/DVD's and website content. No major investment of time or money.

Making money fun!!!