DEADWOOD BLOG

A couple of Deadwood guys, Todd Beeson and Randy Hughes, along with Sue Burgess from Adams Pack Station have kicked up a Deadwood party and more on the 8th and 9th of July at the Adams Pack Station. 

In addition to the party, anyone who has a product or service to promote (sell) can get a table, performers can do an act, etc… 

New Contact for Randy: rhughes@adamspackstation.com and here’s the phone for the PackStation: 626-447-7356

Here’s a link to a Pasadena Star News article about Adams PackStation.

When: CORRECTION - The correct dates are Saturday July 8th and Sunday July 9th (thank you David Markland)

Where: Adams PackStation - From the 210 Fwy, take Santa Anita Blvd. and go north (toward mountain) about 4 miles.

Word has it there will be a Chili and Cornbread Cookoff!

You may remember seeing Todd Beeson a few weeks ago in Episode 26 when Davey the Bartender stopped him from entering the Gem right before the “Throat Cutting” shindig.  A common call on set during season 3 was: “Where’s Todd Beeson?” Not because he was lost, but because Todd was one of the go-to guys on set when production needed something–let’s say–a little special.

Thanks to David Vallaire for the Adams Pack Station info.

and…

Need A Shiny-Clean Place?

Deadwood townswoman Theresa Dern has a cleaning company.

Here’s some info about the cleaning biz directly from Theresa:

It’s called Eat My Dust. And people can either email me at eat_my_dust_cleaningsvc@yahoo.com, or visit my
Myspace page at www.myspace.com/eat_my_dust_cleaningsvc 

All the products I use are environmentally safe and not tested on animals.

 

If you’re in need of Theresa’s biz, or perhaps you know someone who does, get in touch with “Eat My Dust” at: eat_my_dust_cleaningsvc@yahoo.com

David Markland is writing an article about the Old West in today’s Los Angeles. Below is his email;

Hey, Deadwood Blogger:

I’m writing to see if you or any other Deadwood extras would be open to either a phone or email interview for an article I’m writing for Metroblogging Los Angeles aka blogging.la http://blogging.la.

The piece will be a guide to experiencing the Old West in modern Los Angeles, from visiting the Museum of the American West, to local shooting ranges where you can fire a six-shooter, etc.

One part of the article will mention casting agents who specialize in Old West type guys, and I’d also like to give a big mention to your blog.

Basically, I’d like to ask you or any of your denizen for places in L.A. that remind them of the Old West - I’m hoping that somewhere in L.A. there’s a bar that might feel a little bit like the Gem.

All the best,

David Markland
blogging.la
direct link to my entries http://www.blogging.la/profile.phtml?author=863

Metroblogging is one of the great success stories of the Blogosphere; they’ve spread to cities around the globe and lead the way in uniting regions through perfect use of this free speech and free thought tool: Blogs

You can contact David though his site. or email to DeadwoodBlog@cs.com and it’ll be forwarded.

NEWS & INFO:

Dennis Hamill has an interesting interview with Ian McShane in the New York Daily News:

Straight shootin’ Ian McShane

Excerpt:

“This was all Milch’s vision,” says McShane. “The Milch workplace was not a democracy. He ran the show. He was the boss - innovative, clever, brilliant. You’d go to work every morning on Gene Autry’s ranch in Valencia, Calif., and there was always a little nervousness in your stomach, which is kind of nice. Knowing that this day is not going to be like the previous one.”

and…

Robert Meredith bounced around atop a stagecoach for a couple days during shooting, but it went by in a flash during last week’s episode 27: True Colors

Recently, Robert and several other BPs have been on an adventure in the desert at 29 Palms. The U.S. military has been simulating situations our military troops might encounter in Iraq.  You can find more info at: http://forceprep.com

Update: from King Straggler

Hey Kids…

   Thanks to all of you who came out to lend your support for our Summer tour. From Chicago to Nashville. Deadwood To Austin, you’ve been incredible! We’ve recieved some amazing welcomes and some unmentionable send-offs and thank you each and every one for your love and hospitality. God bless all you REAL Americans…

   We’re doing our last road show of the tour tonight, Wednesday June 29th at 9:00 PM Sharp in Dallas at The All Good Cafe at 2934 Main Street. Then, we’re on our way home! We’ll be playing at The Hotel Cafe this Saturday, July 1st at 11;00 PM. The lovely Lissy will be opening for us at 10:00, so get there early for a real treat. We can’t wait so see all our friends and family upon our return. Please come on down and join the party…

Here ya go…

Who? King Straggler and Lissy
What? King Stragglers Homecoming Show
Where? The Hotel Cafe, 623 N. Cahuenga, Hollywood CA
When? Saturday, July 1st @ 11:00 Sharp!
Why? We really miss y’all…

King Straggler

www.kingstraggler.com
http://myspace.com/kingstraggler

In last week’s Deadwood Episode 26, Captain Turner delivers a clue-filled drawing to Swearengen at the behest of Hearst.

See the “X” closest to the door (rectangle at the top)? It ends up being the very talented (graphics, musician, actor) Rayne Davis who portrays a Hearst Guard this season.

I remember being on set the day they shot the throat cutting scene–Rayne and the others were shooting in the Gem most of the AM. When they finally broke for lunch and returned to holding, the first thing Rayne said to me was: “When you’re in a scene with Ian McShane, you don’t have to act scared: you are scared!” No doubt, Ian McShane is an intense actor, and Rayne later emailed me this: 

I do recall my sharing with you that exact comment about not needing to act scared when Ian McShane elects to use you as his visual Bull’s Eye target for delivery of his lines.
Truth is though - I was doing everything I could in an effort to not appear scared in my acting “Call To Duty” debut in the Gem Saloon. I was giving it all I could muster up in conveying my ol’ Snidely Whiplash, shifty eyed, cigar lip clutching’, bad-boy persona.

Rayne remains this character throughout season 3–so keep an eye out for him. (Mick, I don’t mean that literally!)

Also, Rayne is an accomplished musician/singer who has a new CD soon to be released. Rayne, a Western history buff and memorabilia collector, has been recording his music and playing the Western Poetry and Music Festival circuit for years, and his personal and intuitive take on western periods and characters, incredible harmonies, and outstanding instrumentals should be widely appreciated. We’ll let ya know when it comes out, and if there are any Western Music Industry folk reading this and want to take an advanced listen, contact Rayne through his site.

Recently, Rayne, Jay Wisell and John LoBiondo (all DW BPs and fine men to boot) have been runnin’ a load of shine thru the backwoods of Hazzard County! Actually, they’ve been working (and having a blast) on Dukes of Hazzard II. Photos Courtesy: John Lobiondo Studios.

Jay, Willie and Rayne

Rayne and The General Lee

John LoBiondo and Willie Nelson

______________________________________________________________

Okay, here’s what I need help with at the blog: Every week, I want to do a post similar to the one above when the episode features a BP–When it happens, please send me any info you guys have on the day of the shoot if you were there, thoughts on what happened, etc… I’ll try to write up a little ditty. Most of us can remember those moments, and there are a lot of them: Carl at the Bank, Bob Wyld on the walkway, Dixon in the Bella, Mick on horseback, Jesse Mendoza at the (well, we can’t talk about Jesse’s part), etc, etc, etc. 

Ya know that guy who bites the gold nugget in the Deadwood Opening?

Sure you do!

Do you know his name? 

Most BPs do–He’s our own Derrick Gosserand.

Derrick has been working on the show since the pilot.

If anyone has a better photo of Derrick please send it over and we’ll add it: Thanks Damon, Nick and Mike for the new photos. 

For now, here are a few photos for a quick game of “Where’s Derrick?”

If you want another “bit-o-info, ‘prize inside’ tidbit” about the show’s opening: Click Comments!

WARNING: This an attempt at humor–none of the participants, nor this blog, wish to imply that the following has any connection to HBO and/or John from Cincinnati. WAIT! There’s a logo and the name of the New Series (John from Cincinnati) right there on the photo–perhaps we are implying a connection? HMMMM??? Okay, how about this: Even though we are implying a connection to said entities, THERE ISN’T ONE! Hopefully, we’ve disclaimed our way out of trouble.

The above will also apply to any future “Photoshop Humor” posts, and oh yeah, there will be some!

Feel free to leave your own caption in the comments area–but be nice! You might show up in the next one. Somehow, we’ll choose a winner (more than likely with great bias) of the caption contest and send you a big, first place prize of something or other (more than likely nothing). Also, send your photo to Damon’s (you know he’s behind all this) email and he’ll doctor it up–time permitting.  

So here it is–This photo was sent with several captions:

1) Publicity photo of Jesse Mendoza for the upcoming David Milch pilot “John
from Cincinnati”, a new surfing theme show for HBO.

2) Where’s my one?

3) John couldn’t make it, I’m Jess from Deadwood, I use to live in Cincinnati.

4) Let David know that Jess is here. 

5) Surfing is easier than walking on muddy streets.

and here are a few ad-libs of my own:

6) Some guys will do anything to get on Milch’s new show.

7) An entire month of HBO: 5 bucks–One episode of Deadwood: 5 million bucks–Jesse Mendoza on a surfboard: Priceless!

also, AARRGG!

Written by: John Stapp

Hey Guys,
Today’s date is June 15th, and I just got through calling the “Pirates” hotline (818-725-2905). Sande (Sande Alessi Casting) has some new info on “Pirates 3″: it’s starting up in August. Basically, you need to come in and have a Polaroid taken (for $2.00). The more character look you have, the better. Call the number above for more specific info.

and, thanks John Luder -

Make sure you’re registered at Bill Dance Casting for future Deadwood BG info.

Every town needs a good DA–Here’s ours: Mr. John Luder

Have you seen the “Dead Man’s Hand” game at HBO/Deadwood?

Here’s the intro:

You might be interested in “Dead Man’s Hand” given your collective involvement in the show.  We just launched Dead Man’s Hand - a poker game to promote the third season of Deadwood.  It’s a 3D Texas Hold’em game where you can sit down to the table with Al Swearengen, Trixie and EB Farnum, and in case things get rough, you’ve got a six-shooter at your side - just be careful who you point it at.
 
The URL is http://www.deadmanshandhbo.com if you’re interested in checking it out.   

Check out the game here: http://www.deadmanshandhbo.com

And leave your take (score, favorite part, etc.) on the game below (click comments area below) 

Also,

We were overloaded at the site recently, and many folks were unable to load the page correctly due to exceeding our bandwidth limits–I apologize. Unfortunately, the stat counters are only registering about half our hits (we have 3 different stat keepers), but with blog.com’s help this AM, an accurate count was achieved. We’ve been underestimating our stats and not providing for enough bandwidth–it’s being corrected: I’ve doubled our bandwidth limits (which, given it’s only the 13 of the month, may still not be enough) and two of the stat counters will be eliminated.  If you would like to use any of the photos from this site on your site, please copy and upload them into a seperate online storage area.  Thanks again.      

Thank you to Janice at  Deadwood South Dakota Blog for the graphic.

Today, David Milch received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It’s located near the front of the El Capitan Theatre. Thank you to Tim Hinson and Mike Dixon for sending over photos from the event.

David Milch and A.C. Lyles

The Following is from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce: 

TELEVISION PRODUCER DAVID MILCH TO BE HONORED WITH
STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

WHO:             David Milch
                      Honorary Mayor of Hollywood Johnny Grant
                      Guest speakers:   Ian McShane, Steven Bochco and A.C. Lyles
WHAT:            2,314th Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
WHERE:         6840 Hollywood Boulevard next to the El Capitan Theatre
WHEN:           Thursday, June 8, at 11:30 a.m.

Television producer/TV show creator, David Milch will be honored with his star on June 8, at 11:30 a.m. The star will be unveiled at 6840 Hollywood Boulevard, near the El Capitan Theatre.  Milch’s star is next to the star of his friend and co-producer A.C. who sponsored the award.

Milch spent five seasons as co-creator/executive producer on the popular police drama, Hill Street Blues and earned two Writers Guild Awards, a second Humanitas prize and an Emmy. In 1992, he created the history making NYPD Blue and then went on to create Brooklyn South, True Blue and Big Apple.  His current his show is the award winning Deadwood for HBO. The hit series, based on actual events in Deadwood, South Dakota, during the 1870’s, received 11 Emmy Nominations for its first season and a win for Director Walter Hill as well as Best Actor Golden Globe for actor Ian McShane, and Milch’s third Peabody Award.  The show’s third season premiere will air on June 11, on the HBO Channel.

Milch is well-known for his generosity.  He currently sponsors six young actors and actresses in drama school, five young writers in writing classes; hires 12 young production assistants on Deadwood (three of whom have elevated writing an episode script, assistant to a producer and assistant cameraman. He donates thousands of dollars annually to motion picture and television charities.

Doctor, Doctor, tell me the news, I got a… bad case of Deadwood Blues!

…and here’s the cure!

First: Deadwood Season Three Starts This Sunday, June 11th on HBO
“Get out those canned peaches!”

and

Ohhhhhhh Yeah! It appears as though we’ll be back in the background (and the Gem, Bella Union, Grand Central, and on the Street) again.

By now, you’ve probably heard that Deadwood has risen from the cancellation graveyard–You can read the entire Hollywood Reporter article by Cynthia Littleton HERE, and here’s a bit of it:

“Deadwood” will end run with two TV movies
HBO has reached an agreement with David Milch, the creator and executive producer of the Western drama series, to wrap up the show as a pair of two-hour movies rather than as full-blown fourth season.

“I am thrilled that we were able to figure out a way to continue,” Milch said Sunday. “No one was ready to let go of the show. And I am really glad we have found a way to proceed that works creatively.”

Personally, it will be great to see how Mr. Milch will conclude such an amazing, and relevant, part of our American existence.  

And I look forward, as I know many others do, to seeing everyone again on set!

Thank you to Jesse, Leah, Sam, Nick, Dixon, Buck, and all who emailed or called with the NEWS and the heads-up on the “Reporter” piece.

Wolcott: “Suppose the earth talks to us to get us to arrange its amusements.”

Also,

Damon Viola’s business, demo grafix, is now on the web. They offer Media Services (Custom Designed Print Media and Demo Reels, etc) for the Professional Actor.

Damon is a very talented graphics guy with an attention to detail. Check out his work here:  demo grafix

AND…

Reif Larsen, of Columbia University, emailed the blog with notice of a ”New West” writing workshop! Whether you’re interested in writing or not, it’s worth the time read the following:

Dear Deadwood Blog,

I just wanted to let you know about a unique writing workshop that I will be teaching in July which may be of some interest to you and your blog readers.  The workshop will take place at Granite Creek Ranch, a guest ranch in eastern Idaho that also has a working cattle component to it.  The workshop participants will spend their mornings writing and discussing literature of the “new west” and in the afternoons we will ride horses through the Idaho Tetons.  The schedule will be intensive, and I see this inter-change of communal outdoor activity and private, reflective writing time as central to the ethos of the workshop.

Could you perhaps print an announcement for this workshop on a community events listing or calendar?

Thanks so much, I think it’s going to be a very unique opportunity.  

-Reif Larsen
Columbia University

Writing the High Country:
A Fiction Workshop Intensive on a Western Cattle Ranch

Have you ever wanted to spend the morning on horseback and the afternoon writing about the quiet pull of a mountain range?

Here’s your chance: a week long fiction workshop intensive located on a working cattle ranch near the Snake River in the Idaho Tetons.  We will read a selection of classic and contemporary western writing, discussing both the legacies of the mythical “old west” and the realities of the “new west” as they play out in literature.  Ranching activities (trail rides, round-ups, camp fire yarns) and a rodeo will be interspersed throughout the workshop schedule.  Each participant will emerge from the week with a piece of short fiction.  Readings from Wallace Stegner, William Kittredge, Richard Hugo, Cormac  McCarthy, Thomas McGuane, Richard Ford, Barry Lopez, Annie Proulx among others.

The Location: A working cattle ranch, Granite Creek Ranch is located in the Snake River valley in Ririe, Idaho, halfway between Jackson Hole, WY and Idaho Falls.  The ranch is on a five-acre lake, surrounded by magnificent mountain vistas. Yellowstone & Teton National Parks are nearby.  Accommodations are in rustic cabins. 
 
The cost of the workshop includes all meals, lodging, and activities.  Participants are responsible for their own 
transportation to the ranch.  For more info go to: www.granitecreekranch.com.

Dates: July 9-15th, 2006.  Space is limited to twelve participants.

About the Instructor: Reif Larsen is a writer, filmmaker, and teacher.  He has taught writing workshops in South Africa, the UK, and New York City, where he currently teaches writing at Columbia University.  He is working on a novel based in Montana about cartographers, cowboys, and scientists.

For more information and an application, please email: ril2104@columbia.edu.

AND…

If you haven’t checked out “The House Next Door” site–what are you waiting for? These guys are top notch in dissecting and reviewing Film, Television and the people who make it.

Well here’s an extra incentive to stop by “The House Next Door“:

DEADWOOD WEEK

A project six months in the making: a solid week of columns on “Deadwood” at the House Next Door, a mix of Star-Ledger stuff by Matt Zoller Seitz and original pieces by the site’s regular contributors (and a few newcomers).   Spread the word to any “Deadwood” buff who ought to know, and if you’re a fan of the show, feel free to mix it up in the comments section.