Lights, Camera, Action!

Harris Cooley and Braden Biddings at the Q Street Diner

And away we go! Here it is folks, the day so many of you have been waiting for. The day when local production company Gitgo Productions (Kate Kiminski and Betsy Carson) launches its highly anticipated and totally hilarious web series 'Willard Beach, The Real Story.'

Ok, so it launches tomorrow, April 1st (no, this is not a joke), but I wanted to give you just a tiny bit of warning.

Denise Poirier at the Empire Dine and Dance

There is something for everyone in this fun new web series, from gossip to local celebrities to lover's quarrels to what happens in everyday, small town America where everyone knows your business. It also features really good looking, local talent hanging out in fun Portland landmarks (think: Q Street Diner, Enterprise Records, Empire Dine & Dance...).

Jennywren Sanders and Braden Biddings at Enterprise Records

Kathryn Morrison and Keith Anctil making their way through morning coffee

It's comedy meets quirkiness meets soap opera meets satire. And just so you don't forget, it's called WILLARD BEACH, THE REAL STORY. You can learn more here and here. You should probably bookmark those two things so you can be sure to tune in every week. That way you'll always have something to discuss at the water cooler.

David Wallace reads the local news and eavesdrops at the Q Street Diner

And why am I telling you all this? Because I'm the project's still photographer. Oh, and because I know a good thing when I see it and I wouldn't want you to miss out.

The Inspiration I Was Looking For...

... happened when I walked into the Q Street Diner yesterday. A sunny spot in a cold winter day - seriously, the building is painted bright yellow - with walls covered in movie and music and political memorabilia, the Q Street Diner is just what I needed to help shake this case of the blahs.

How can you go wrong with Bogart and Nixon sharing the same wall space?

An empty window after the lunch rush. I could stare at it for hours and still not get every detail...

Here's a story in the Maine Switch, in case you want to go see for yourself. Don't forget to check out the life size cardboad cut-out of of Humphrey Bogart...