I have been working with Tony now for close to 3 years and this was the first time I worked domestically.  It was actually so refreshing to be able to shoot a day and then to lay down that same night in my own bed in New York.  Usually it’s day after day, hotel after hotel, bleary-eyed cup of coffee after intoxicating cup of local brew (or is it the other way around?).  I don’t know.  Usually I don’t know which way is up and we just go go go.  This specific shoot was shot a day at a time…ok, we did spend a night in LA filming with Queens of the Stone Age in their recording studio/practice space.  That was awesome!  Get up before the sun.  Jump on a plane.  Fly across the country.  Get car go directly to studio.  Set up.  Film rock and roll.  Film more rock and roll.  Drink excessively.  Crash in LA hotel for a nap.  Up at dawn.  Fly back across the country.  Fun as hell, but made my head spin.  I’m originally from LA, but didn’t see anyone.  Work work work.  And then there was the “house shoot” which was 2 days in a row.  Fun times in a hotel on the side of a freeway somewhere NOT in New York City.  Those were two grueling days, but, like, sooooooo fun (I told you I was from LA).  QOTSA were amazing!  Can I repeat myself?  Queens of the Stone Age were absolutely amazing!!  They were all so professional, extremely creative and immensely patient.  Josh, Troy, Joey, Michael, Dean:  thank you so much!  They CAME with those sweaters.  We didn’t make them wear shit.  Talk about team players!  And when they were jamming outside the house…my god.  First off, we threw Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls at them.  Sung, done, no problem, fun.  They even let us sprinkle fake snow in their hair!  Then came the improvisation.  Basically, each ACT of our show has a theme.  So I would just give them the theme, give them a couple of adjectives, adverbs, lines that I was looking for, etc.  Bam!  They’d make up an absolutely hilarious song on the spot.  It was amazing to witness.  I know y’all think I’m just kissing their ass and I would be lying if I didn’t say that I was definitely a fan before we shot with them.  We ALL are!  But they really were the most professional, fun and into-it rock stars I have ever worked with.  Seriously.  I truly hope that I get the opportunity to work with them again.  Hold on, I can feel it…we WILL!  Happy F*#king Holidays!