Ahh...where to begin? How about at the beginning? Yes, well plans were made: Let's open an office in New York, Let's get Andrew to run it, Let's get Keith to cut, Let's build an office, Let's get Jon to cut too, and how about Ricardo - he's good and wants to move to NYC, and Joe and Anya, they fit, let's get them in here. So there we are - Let's throw a party and break the place in. Steve, Therese, Gordon, Tiffany, Kevin, Tracy wing in from L.A. Jon, Doug, Tracy, Brian, Christa, Tim Fender and yours truly fly in from San Francisco. Various better halves were on hand: Dawn, LaRue, Elizabeth, and Elizabeth(EP at Trollback - creators of the wildposted "Blade"). Concerns abounded: Should the party be at the office? Will it get trashed? Will enough people show up? Too many? No worries. The space looked great. Conference room walls were put up just in time. Rick B. pressed on wiring through the early parts of the party(he has been parked out there for months wiring his arse off.) Good DJ. The Assistants bullpen transformed into a bar pouring beer, wine, vodka. Passed hors d'oeuvres rocked. Killer footage played on the flat screens(all unedited one take pieces - a smart theme Keith.) People filled the place - a perfect amount - great vibe.
And then...items begin to disappear. Yes, there is crime in New York and it descended on our party. Throughout the evening Andrew pointed across the lobby to a framed painting of a monkey in a popes outfit, "And do you like our Monkey?" Then a blank space on the wall. Someone stole the damn Monkey!!! Andrew and Keith raced downstairs ready to throw down. Andrew frisked a few party goers outside. Keith checked in with security. MPEGS of the security cam have been retrieved. Soon more things disappeared: pillows from the edit suites, decorative birds from the window sills, and soap and lotion from the bathrooms. New York - a rough town. I'm convinced the perp is a 32 year old metrosexual male with soft hands. In a response to an email query Andrew reports, "My friend, I think that monkey has gone to heaven. We've reviewed the security
footage and have a prime suspect, but can't tell for sure if she has it or not. She appears to be with the caterers." Developing...
Despite the burglary (or because of it) the party was a true success. The space is beautiful and refined. Wheatgrass grows in planters, deep wood plays off the clean white walls and a glass conference room. Built in edit consoles and client couches are oriented towards a flat screen mounted on a wall(no more clients staring at the backs of the editors head!). Thousands of choices made and contractors battled by the FCNY soldiers. You all worked hard and we were happy to help you celebrate.
In the end I think New York is a city that just may take off and have a big future.
The same will be true for the FCf'ingNY!
Cheers to all and enjoy the pics.
PS. The last time I saw Tracy Coleman was when she ditched us on Friday in Soho. It's now Tuesday.
THE GHOST OF ANGELO
