I'm in Prague

Hugh R · 05-01-2011, 07:42 AM

I'll be here for 10 days on a Tech Scout for "Missing" a new show starring Ashley Judd as an ex-CIA operative whose 18 y/o son gets kidnapped. In trying to rescue her son, she destroys/kills everything in her path.

I've never worked on a TV show aimed at US domestic audiences that was filmed anywhere other than the USA or Canada. I'll be going to a bunch of cool castles/buildngs over the next few days and I'll post pics of my travels. I just got here and here is a pic from my hotel room. In the foreground, you can see a modern office building with the logo of KPMG, which is the accounting firm my 25 y/o daughter works for. She was in that building a month ago.

motion · 05-01-2011, 07:50 AM

Lucky bastard! Have fun and be safe.

aways · 05-01-2011, 08:05 AM

Cool. I'd like to go to Prague someday.

BTW, given your description of "Missing", I was wondering if you had an opinion on when Hollywood is going to get past its obsession with the "woman empowerment/macho female" theme (I'm beautiful, I'm smart, I'm a woman and I'm going to kick your effin ass)? Apparently not anytime soon, despite the fact it's getting pretty stale and tiresome.

Hugh R · 05-01-2011, 08:18 AM

They will get past it when they find something else that sells advertising. It's as simple as that; ratings. Nothing else matters to Hollywood. Liberal/Conservative, agendas believe it or not, are not what they are about. They are about advertising revenue, nothing else. Sure we have our "Standards and Practices" review departments, but they exist mostly to vett stuff that could negatively impact ....wait for it....... ratings.

aways · 05-01-2011, 08:24 AM

Yep, I can understand that. I'm just wondering why that particular theme sells, and continues to sell, given that it doesn't mirror reality at all. Maybe I just answered my question!

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Hugh, how much down time are you getting there and have you been there before? Lots to see and do in the area. Greatest beer anywhere too. I went there in 1990, so it was still very east-bloc'ish. When we got to Plzen, they were celebrating the 45th anniv. of the liberation of that town by US forces. Oh, and the beer there doesn't suck either.

kevin993 · 05-01-2011, 09:23 AM

Enjoy your time there. It is an interesting city - we found a mix of people who were welcoming and enthusiastic that we were americans and had visited and others that seemed like they were content with finding ways to rip you off.

If you walk into a restaurant and see a menu with no prices, either leave or demand a menu with prices before you order. Many places give menus without prices to tourists and then give you an outrageous bill after you've eaten. Some places also charge for water and bread that they give you when you sit down. You didn't ask for it and it isn't on the menu anywhere, but it shows up on the bill when you're done. You need to affirmatively refuse it when you sit down.

The Strahovsky monestary at the top of the hill is worth a visit. The photo below is taken from the monestary at dusk. There is a great little brewery on the grounds and a restaurant hidden in the old wine cave named Peklo. It is an experience, but the waitstaff can be a little odd and they were one of the places on the charge for water/bread program.

Hugh R · 05-01-2011, 10:04 AM

Been here a couple of times.

First cars, Skoda Fiat, Peugeot, stuff you don't see in the USA.

Astrological Clock tower. Its like 1,000 years old. Supposedly the King who commissioned it had the clock makers eyes gouged out after it was finished so he couldn't make another one.

The figures including the skeleton on the right, move and the 12 apostles rotate through the two windows.

Gun powder storage house. Again about 1,000 years old. Amazing.

pwd72s · 05-01-2011, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh R

They will get past it when they find something else that sells advertising. It's as simple as that; ratings. Nothing else matters to Hollywood. Liberal/Conservative, agendas believe it or not, are not what they are about. They are about advertising revenue, nothing else. Sure we have our "Standards and Practices" review departments, but they exist mostly to vett stuff that could negatively impact ....wait for it....... ratings.

Well said! High ratings mean high ad revenue...pretty simple. Same with magazines...circulation numbers.

Hugh R · 05-04-2011, 09:58 AM

We've been mostly indoors, but here are a few more.

boba · 05-04-2011, 10:06 AM

Yeah-Yeah, but can you get a decent Margarita?

Hugh R · 12:03 PM

Old Jewish Cemetery. 500 years ago if you were a Jew, and lived in Prague, you had to live work and die and be buried in the Jewish Quarter. This about 2 acre plot has something like 500,000 jews buried 10 to 20 deep.

Prague Castle. It has Roman, Bizintine, Gothic and other architecture added on over about 1,000 years.

flatbutt · 05-04-2011, 10:14 AM

dude don't you ever stay home? enjoy bro.

89911 · 05-04-2011, 10:22 AM

how bout some pics of the Czech women. I've heard they've got some beautiful women their and being czech like to see some of my ancestors.

Hugh R · 05-04-2011, 10:28 AM

I'll fill that order tomorrow. Yes, lots of very attractive women.

A930Rocket · 05-04-2011, 11:45 AM

You lucky dog!

vash · vash's Garage

tell ashley, cliff says, "heey!"

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Nice photos, I've been there before, back in 1993.

Can you get a good cup of coffee there now?

Hugh R · 05-05-2011, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boba

Yeah-Yeah, but can you get a decent Margarita?

I just realized today is Cinco de Mayo. Haven't seen any celebrations.

Today I was unable to take photos of any CZ babes, we weren't in the right places.

About a 200 year old farm house, still in use.

Prague Castle

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

Terrific pictures, thanks Hugh.