I have a friend from high-school days who lives and works in Hollywood. He's the only LA connection I have. His background is a puppeteer and puppet-builder who is producing a music-video in LA in june.

Not so long ago, when my health was unstable and in the midst of a drug-change he had asked me if I would be interested to "help out". He had asked me to be 1st assistant director and not in my comfort-zone as:

1.) Never done the job before and when I work with AD
I usually try to stay-aware but away from them.
They are really keeping the schedule and finer points
of production efficiency in mind.

2.) Its a job that needs local connections and at least a
few weeks if prep-work before the job.

I really admire Rob not only for the trust he placed in me by asking but also for "making an independent producer-move, Hollywood-style". That kid is a mover.

Earlier this week he calls me to say that he and the DP (director-of-photography) agree that I should be 1st camera assistant or, for you English folk, focus-puller.

This is way more my comfort-zone though they are shooting a format I have only glancing experience and have never had any camera job in LA before; it's a little intimidating.

I got the okay from the day-job for a two-week vacation in June; 5-6 actual shoot days and 1 prep day. I think I'm going to look into flights and firm up details with my friend the producer.

...just saying that kind of makes my skin crawl a little. I trust Rob so much and if this job were being produced locally I wouldn't do it because:

A.) No local connection so I probably wouldnt be
considered for the job.

B.) Even if I was on the job I probably wouldn't have
the ability to be frank about my health with a
producer before the job.

I think I'm going to start looking into flights and firming up details with Rob for my "working-vacation".