Pirates vs Hobos, Season Two Viewing Party!

Where:  Wings Theatre, 154 Christopher Street New York, NY 10014
When:  Sunday, February 20th, 2011
Time: 7:00pm
What:  Watch the Second Season, with snacks, wine and friends
Why:  Because we're proud of our accomplishment and we love to party!

And now, because this is blog, I'm going to take a moment to wax poetic.

I remember when Sal and I first began planning Season One in earnest.  It was in 2008, during his first bout with cancer, and we were almost halfway through his 24 weeks of treatment.  He started feeling down, losing a little more hair, and feeling a little more helpless.  Not being one with an excessive amount of patience, and knowing that Sal without a project is an unhappy Sal, with or without disease, I began forcing the issue. 

"Let's do the Pirates vs. Hobos project.  You're almost done writing it."

"I have to finish writing it before we actually start filming."

"Well.  Get on it, then."

My friends will all tell you that I am very nice, but Sal will occasionally beg to differ.  Not that he isn't very appreciative of my occasional callous ways of encouragement.  He got on it, and we got to filming by the beginning of the summer.

As much as this project never actually felt like a "cancer story" worthy of four minute segments on the Today show, it did become a battle between living our lives the way we wanted to, and fighting his side effects.  I have to say, it did help with focus.  In Pilates (I can't help it), we talk a lot (or I do) about finding the opposition within the exercise.  When you do, it becomes much more powerful and effective.  Cancer was Sal's opposition, and with that he managed to film and edit Season One through two bouts of sickness, using a crappy camera, misunderstood sound equipment and on imovie 5 no less!

He did it because he is uncomfortable if he isn't creating something.  He is happiest when he is working on his dreams for the future.  PvH would have happened no matter what, but in retrospect, it is hard to argue that there wasn't something magical that summer.

But it was nice to film Season Two in complete health.  And also very exciting that we had come so far.  Two days after his stem cell transplant in May 2009, having being amazed at how much money we save when Sal isn't around to take me to dinner, he bought himself the gift of a new computer and Adobe Premier Pro.  Summer of 2010, we decided it was time to use it.  Having had such opposition for Season One, we almost forgot what was entailed in creating a production schedule and gathering the necessary equipment (props, costumes, etc.).  This year we were a legitimate company and we had SAG to deal with.  We also just did it  the last time around. Because we had to. 

Amid three weddings, two out of town, and a glorious trip to Hawaii, we pulled it together.  And now, he's almost done editing (sound!), and our viewing party is coming up in two weeks.  It's a very exciting time in both of our lives, and if you're in the city, or were considering a trip, we would love to have you (and your loved ones, famous friends would be a plus =)) come join us Feb. 20th.

Also, just to brag, Sal just got the results of his latest Pet/CT and he remains free and clear.  So much to celebrate, so little time.