Will Hines Dot Net

My calves were killing me by the time Obama took the stage. After the hassles of the Pepsi Center I figured there was no way I’d get into to Mile High Stadium. But after a long shuttle bus ride (Ted Koppel was on my bus) and the usual security checks, my credentials got me right onto the field for one-hour visits (which I could renew without difficulty). I was excited! Even a political non-believer like me wanted to see the first time a black American accepted the presidential nomination. And more than that, I just wanted to see Obama do what he’s best at: deliver [...]

My favorite is his rating of Swimming With Sharks.

So when Bill Clinton spoke, I got it. A little. Despite his flaws, Bill Clinton gets me excited. I like his swagger and comfort while speaking, and his audacity to throw around a million statistics and still make it feel completely accessible. I believe, when listening to him, that he’s read every op-ed page in every newspaper and has Figured It Out. Intellectually, I have my doubts. But emotionally I just think “I would vote for this man today.”

Part of that was I watched his speech from the comparative comfort of the AOL workspace. Much of my grouchiness comes from having to be in the arena where each day the [...]

No way Mo or I could get into to see Hillary’s speech last night. The fire marshall closed the doors to the arena about 20 minutes before she entered — “it’s cheek to jowl in there” said a security guard.  People crowded around the monitors in the hallways — definitely the most exciting and energized moment of the convention so far.

Except for me — since I have trouble wrapping my head how ANY of this convention (outside of Barack’s speech) is important in any way at all. Is there ever another time when so many reporters gather to cover an event whose ending (the nomination of the candidate) has [...]

I walked into the Pepsi Center and heard Ted Kennedy’s speech by complete accident. I was going in, hoping to get members of the Delaware delegation say trivia facts to the camera, but then realized I couldn’t even get close to the floor. So I stood at the top of the arena and watched the place explode with affection for Ted. I’m not really into politics at all, but it’s hard to not get caught up in the emotion when you’re right in the middle of it.

I’m here with AOL News to film pieces with Mo. At least one a day — we’ll see what we get. In [...]

Rocco and I are in Toronto shooting another round of commercials for BrightHouse Networks. We had done the first round in March. Tonight, we walked along College St. and had pizza at Vivoli’s, which was good.

Speaking of pizza, 37 signals has a great post about Domenico DeMarco, who’s made pretty much every pizza in his restaurant by hand for the past 40 years. Ptolemy introduced this place to me. It’s way out in Brooklyn — you have to take the subway to a bus to get there — and once you’re there, you wait an hour at least for this amazingly slow-moving man to make your pizza. But the whole time you’re watching him do it, you wonder [...]

Snapple Cap Facts. Written by Sean Clements and first performed by Stone Cold Fox at Maude Night. Starring Joe Spellman, Sean, Ben Rodgers (taking over for Scott Courlander who was in a play), Fran Gillespie. Directed by me, shot by Todd Bieber and edited by Carmen Angelica. One of my favorite sketches ever!

For you Snapple sketch completists, watch the original live performance below. Although he’s also great in the video, this live performance lets you see Spellman take over even more. Maude Night = good.

I might have that quote a bit wrong, but it is my favorite line in a very cool and fun eleven-minute film called “Force 1 TD” which was on Wholpin. It’s about three kids from the Bronx trying to get tiny all white sneakers for the seeing-eye horse of their friend. Starts a bit slow, but it builds into a brilliant ending. Silvija, watch it!

Gethard tells me he couldn’t quite get into the “Assassination” film I linked to in my last post. Fine. Here’s one for Gethard. A six-minute lo-fi stunt masterpiece called “Lucky.” On the Wholphin DVDs, the menus are short films. You just have [...]

I got my latest issue of Wholphin this week (a DVD of short films chosen by the McSweeney’s nerds) and the last film on it is called “On The Assassination of The President” by Adam Keker, and it is awesome. Even thought it’s mostly just narration and stills and is just six minutes long — it’s a conspiracy theory taken to the millionth degree and it scared the hell out of Tabitha and I. It was made by a documentary filmmaker in San Francisco with an awesome sense of humor and of creepiness.

I think it’s the low hum in the background.

Get Wholphin and watch it! (Or watch it [...]

Terry and Ptolemy – photo by Keith Huang

During the Del Close Marathon, I ran over to Kenny’s Castaway to watch and perform in Terry Jinn’s Enormous Television 7. The comedians pick the songs, and Terry and his band perform them. It is a blast — supportive and enthusiastic audience, good performances, and smiles all around.

I performed “Hey Jealousy” by The Gin Blossoms.

If you don't expect too much from me – photo by Keith Huang

Known mostly as a throw-away, that song is one I love truly. Always have! [...]