fresnocentric

From reality TV to locally produced webisodes… there’s filming going on all over the place. Out. In the open. Where everyone can see it!

Surely everyone has heard about the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition project in Fresno.

I know *I* noticed it because as I was driving down Palm avenue, there were idiots jaywalking, crossing in the middle of a busy road. I have no idea if they were traveling “to” or “from”. I just know there was a guy tempting fate, standing in the middle of the road waving his companions across. At a very busy hour. On a very busy road. With cars whizzing past. I’m pleased to say they all made it across in one piece.

Go enjoy the Fresburbian notoriety, folks, but PLEASE, please, please, do it carefully. Don’t herd your babies across busy roads with traffic coming RIGHT AT you!

I’m happy for the lucky family getting a hand in these hard times. I really am.

(Aside: Now. Where’s MY hand? I’ve been unemployed for far too long. But hey, as long as the corporations who can’t run profitable businesses are cared for, it’s all good, right? Getting an email from a friend today who has been working faithfully at the same job for over 16 years who was just told his “position has been eliminated” – he wasn’t working a fryer at fast food ya know, and after learning that a cousin of mine with excellent job qualifications and a great education is now out of a job because the people SHE worked for went out of business… well, all this gives me a sneaking suspicion we’re not in a “recession” anymore, Toto. It’s gettin’ scary, kids. But I digress. All that’s for another post.)

The Fresnan has some good video scoop of the Extreme Makeover project.

Then there were these folks filming outside Ashtree Studios and the Landmark in the Tower District on Sunday. Crazy people. I should know. I’m one of them. In the goggles. A wee local production. Marcel Nunis isn’t talking about it on his blog.

And, of course, there are the intrepid adventurers of the newly re-named Fresno Filmmakers Alliance and their Production Studio project.

So. Is film the NEW burgeoning, job-creating, economy-driving industry that Fresno needs? What are your thoughts?

After all, there’s NO question that Fresno has plenty of creatives, idea-people, talent, and old-fashioned gumption. But can Fresno get over it’s “but we’re a small town and not good enough to be like them thar big cities” complex? (I’m not saying get rid of the honesty and practicality of our agri-business heritage… just stop apologizing for it. After all, the entertainment industry could probably USE a heavy dose of it.)

Discuss amongst yourselves.