I have said on many occasions that I don't believe in evolution. Mainly because the premise of evolution is that life is meaningless. Consequently every scientist that makes a declaritive statement that evolution is true , is presuming that truth not only is real  but also has value, which in a meaningless world is a self defeating idea. But there is an evolution that I do believe in which is the self imposed evolution of the mind. In other words I am always trying to become more advanced than I was the day before.

That being said I just returned from Hollywood working on a small budgeted , wonderful movie called "Welcome to Paradise". I went to Hollywood presuming that I would be working with Hollywood liberal types who I would find little in common with outside of breathing the same air. I not only pre-judged this concept that everyone in Hollywood is a liberal fanatic , but also that none of them would like me and what I stood for despite my ruggedly handsome good looks and John Wayne-esque swagger. ( I don't actually have that but I bet a friend I could find a place for the word swagger within the next 24 hours or I would forfeit my 1st edition of Nightmare Alley ).

The actual experience I returned with couldn't have been furthur from the truth. Not only were many of the actors very much of my political and or religious persuasion , but they were all powerfully gifted actors who have been in hundreds of movies and TV shows. This was no " Look , the elks club is putting on a show!" kinda vibe that one often feels with family friendly projects or Christian movies but just the opposite. Many of the seasoned vets did the movie for less than their normal fee simply because they believed in the script and wanted the story told. Why the producer wanted me in this is anyones guess especially because I refuse to go topless ( unless it's in good taste of course).

 Anyway amongst the new friends and artists I met , one of the real epiphinies was the fun I had making friends with the woman who played my wife. Her name is Elizabeth Dennehy and yes Brian is her dad.I found out over the course of 3 weeks that she was married had 2 kids and was a Hollywood liberal. She also volunteered at her kids public school , was very strict on what she let her kids watch , kept them away from video games and went to church on Sundays.Of course there were areas that we would disagree on philosophically but there was never any friction between us , instead we really enjoyed each others company and had a blast doing our scenes. When the movie was about wrapped I went to her and said that I had pre-judged her and what I thought she was going to be like based on her "title" ...liberal. I realized that we had much in common and I learned a lesson about presumption. She retorted with the line " What do you think I thought I was getting when my husband was being played by a rookie actor who was Americas conservative comedian". Instead of who I am ( articulate and compelling to be around ) she obviously thought she was getting Larry the Cable Guy with a better haircut. My point is that we both finished the shoot realizing how much we can have in common when our POV's aren't filtered through the media which creates antagonism to bolster ratings or endorse a candidate.

I have come home a better man I hope , more well rounded and more able to remind myself that judging someone should come after you experience them not before. In other words in 3 short weeks I think I have evolved a little. That parts great , now what do I do about these feathers on my butt?