There were about 2 dozen people filming an ad, for Danone yoghurt I think, in my building this week. They spent all Thursday setting up and all day (until well after dark) Friday filming. There were half a dozen equipment trucks, portable toilets, and a catering tent. The tenants must have moved out for a couple of days, because the crew repainted the apartment and it looked like they replaced all the furniture and redecorated.

All this for a 30 second TV spot. The advertising and TV/film industry's opulence is just incredible.

Overheard on some CBC program today:

I think pinatas were invented by really really pissed off diabetics.

There's been a satisfying amount of Lebowski goings-on lately. I enjoyed the UBC FilmSoc Big Lebowski Beer (and White Russian) Garden a couple of weeks ago. The new collector's edition DVD came out the same week, along with a fairly silly extra special edition with coasters and towel. Then the Homestar Runner Halloween 05 cartoon features Pom Pom as Walter (Homestar: "Strong Bad, you're entering a world of pain"). And even though I missed every event again this year, it looks like the "official" Lebowski Fest program is doing well.