Well we had the very first table read through with the cast of ‘HICCUPS’. And I have to say, it was great. It was so cool to finally hear the words that have just been on the page being read by actual actors in actual voices. Up until recently the only people that I knew for sure were going to be in this thing were myself and Nancy. We had our picks for the rest of the cast, but had to wait awhile until we could get them approved and deals finalized and all that other fun legal/business shmutz that always accompanies the creative stuff. But it’s all done now. We were allowed to cast the actors we wanted, and after having heard them read the parts, I could not be happier or more excited. They’re an incredibly talented bunch. We just may have a hit on our hands. Uh oh… hope I didn’t hex anything.

So the main cast of Hiccups is as follows:
Millie Upton (children’s author/borderline lunatic) – Nancy Robertson
Stan Dirko (life coach/borderline putz)– Brent Butt
Joyce Haddison (Publisher, Haddison House) – Laura Soltis
Taylor Rymes (Millie’s literary agent) – David Ingram
Crystal Braywood (Haddison House receptionist) – Emily Perkins
Anna Dirko (Gardener/Stan’s wife) – Paula Rivera

Today was our last day of prep before we go to camera on Monday. I’m really looking forward to it. So here we go – WISH US LUCK!

When we finish shooting HICCUPS I’m going to go right into preproduction on a TV Special.  It’s going to be with CTV and The Comedy Network as well, and it’s going to be a real fun (and hopefully funny) old school variety type comedy special, with sketches and music and special guests and all that jazzy showbiz stuff that makes the world go ‘round.

Then, in the spring of next year I start production on the feature film I wrote.  It’s called NO CLUE and I’m going to be in it as well.  See, I’m not really a good enough actor to be hired on other people’s films, so I have to produce my own.  It’s a lot more work, pressure, stress and headaches, but at the end of the day I’ll be able to strut around calling myself a movie star.  I could strut around saying that now, but I’d be lying – and I haven’t told a lie in over twenty minutes, so let’s keep that streak alive.  It’s like I said to my sister, Bette Midler, … no wait.  That wasn’t a lie, it was just a fib.  A harmless fib.

Fine.
The streak is over.
May as well finish the thought then.

It’s like I said to my sister, Bette Midler.  “Bette,” I says, “I’m going to write you a movie, and I’m going to call it THE ROSE and we’re going to film it in colour and you’re going to be famous!”  And that’s pretty much exactly what happened, isn’t it?

So there you go.

So don’t ever doubt my blogs.

Type at you soon,

Sincerely,

Brent “Brent” Butt

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are in full swing.  Well, ALMOST full swing.  We’re swinging everything but the camera so far.  I’m not being very clear.  What I mean to say is, we haven’t started shooting yet, but every other element of the new runaway comedy smash sensation “HICCUPS” is in full swing.  The sets are being built, the scripts are being written, the waistbands in the wardrobe pants are being let out (…mine are, anyway) and crew are working like beavers.  Seriously.  Some are literally chewing on trees by the studio parking lot.  Not sure what that is going to accomplish, but I’m keeping my nose out of it.

We start shooting Sept.28 and are going to shoot through into December.  That’s right – a winter shoot in Vancouver.  I’m trying to write as many ‘rain’ jokes as possible, in the off chance there might be the odd shower.  I believe the meteorologists are calling for 175% chance of rain.  The mathematicians are calling that impossible, and I’m calling for them to lighten up.

As for when the show is going to air, your guess is as good as mine.  No… on second thought, mine is probably better than yours.  Or maybe CTV has told you something I don’t know.  Initial talk is that HICCUPS won’t actually hit the airwaves until fall of 2010.  Having said that, things can always change.  I’m going to try to negotiate an earlier airdate with the network.  When I say “negotiate” I mean “lay down on the floor and kick my feet and scream like a witch who just had water thrown on her”.  It can be effective at times.  Other times it can get you a boot in the ribs, so be careful about when you employ that tactic.   If we find out the show is going to air sooner, I will definitely let you know.  Until then, stay tuned.

Brent Butt