"Finishing The Game"

For several years, Justin Lin has been working with his long-time UCLA Film School friend, Josh Diamond, on a script called, "Finishing The Game" -- a mockumentary set in 1973 about the call to arms for Asian Stuntmen to finish the film "The Game of Death" after Bruce Lee died -- having just completed 12 minutes of the film.  (Ironically, this is what exactly happened 20 years later when his son, Brandon Lee, died while filming "The Crow" in 1993).

And for years, Justin said he would bring back all the "BLT" boys for "FTG" and having me in mind for this great part -- to play an American Vietnam Vet who is mistakenly left for dead by his American comrades when injured on the battlefield, thinking he's a Viet Cong.  And he wears a glass eye. 

Last month, I finally got the call that the project was actually going to happen and that I'd be shooting during the first week in August!  

"That's Awesome!"  I said.  Followed by, "Wait... when does it shoot?"

They always say in this business, if you want to book a gig -- just book a un-refundable vacation and it'll be guaranteed you'll book something to shoot during that time.

And it happened just that way. 

The one week I was to shoot my scenes (mind you, my schedule's been free since January) was in direct conflict with my one week family reunion in Toronto where relatives from Hong Kong would be flying in.  Family outings were already planned for the week.  My Grandmother would meet her Great Grand Daughter for the first time, etc.

A few years prior, I'd probably just cancel the trip but now as a Dad -- priorities change.  My Grandfather passed in Nov without ever meeting Avery and there was no way I was going to let something like that happen again by changing plans last minute. 

So a few days ago, I shot a tiny cameo appearance for "FTG" where I play an Asian-American Activist -- Robert Chang, President of the N.I.A.A.C.T.J.C.K.V.A.A. making an announcement at a press conference.  Here's me in full costume and hair.

It was a great time and so much fun to see everyone again.  Even though it's a small part, I still wouldn't change anything and there's always the next one (which I'm not saying anything for the record -- but could possibly be one already in the works ).

The only thing I'm jealous of is not being in on all the inevitable stifling laughter that will occur behind the monitor when these guys do their scenes. 

Everyone's back for this one: Roger Fan, Sung Kang, Jason Tobin, John Cho with Leonardo Nam and Brian Tee - and a bunch of A-Listers, who I'm not allowed to mention as of this entry, that wanted to be a part of a Justin Lin project.  It's going to be a hilarious film with an underlying social commentary as well.  The plans are for a Sundance submission in time for the '07 Festival in January.

However, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that none of this would have been possible had pioneers such as Mako (who passed away this past Friday) not paved the way for us.  Check out his performance in 1966's "The Sand Pebbles" if you haven't (for which he was nominated for an Oscar) -- really progressive stuff in terms of Asian performances captured on screen.  Thank you and rest in peace, Mr. Iwamatsu.

Piloting the Starship Enterprise?

A few folks last week forwarded me this article.  It's regarding JJ Abrams' rumored helming of an updated "Star Trek" feature film and theorizing who might be good choices to play each role. 

I doubt that all the original characters would return but stuff like this is still pretty cool to be included in on.  The article appears below:   

The seed that was planted and blossomed into this column was the rumor of a casting idea for the potential Star Trek film that JJ Abrams has signed on to helm. Before going any further, not all of the ideas are mine originally, some are ideas that I stumbled across in forums and blogs around the net. Some of them sound very good and I agree with the idea, so they would appear here as well, for better or worse.

So how would you recast the original crew of the Enterprise? How about these choices:
Captain James T. Kirk. This is the casting I read and really liked. Replacing the legendary William Shatner, Matt Damon. The guy can act, he can do action, he can shift between comedy and drama with ease, and I think he could do the character proud. The big question will be if he would go the Shatner route, or if he would employ more human-like inflections. Either way, I think Damon would be a good choice.

Fun, fun fun. 

However, if Sulu is indeed in the updated feature film, they've gotta somehow work in his signature "swashbuckler" image  -- with him working out/fencing in the holodeck or something.

One Down... Two To Go

Our first show last night was a success!  For us and the full house that attended.  Good laughs during the comedic pieces, good dramatic scenes and artistically stylish.  The entire cast was on point and supported each other beautifully, like sliding on an old glove. 

I guess it just goes to show that 44 hours of workshopping in one week is enough to create a cohesive show!

It felt great to be on a stage again.  There's just a different mental preparedness that cannot be mimicked by Film/TV.  There's no third or fourth takes.  It's: Get it right the one shot you've got and if it doesn't happen -- find a way to make it happen.

Here's an excerpt from my bio in the program that I wanted to sum the experience up for the attending audience:

The work you’re about to see is influenced by that “sweet spot” in life – It started when you first discovered your imagination as a kid… and ended the day you were told to get a ‘real’ job.  No one here is looking to get paid, pad their resume or get discovered by an agent.  This project is pure heart, about a group of friends working their creative muscles as they once did together many years ago.

There are still some spaces open for today's final 2 shows before we part ways: 2:30pm and 8:30pm.  A project like this doesn't happen very often, so please try to make it if you can! 

Reserve Your Tickets at: (818) 749-1374

- Saturday, July 1, 2:30pm
- Saturday, July 1, 8:30pm

Location:
-GTC Burbank; 1111-B West Olive Avenue, Burbank 91506 (In the George Izay Park between Victory Blvd. and N. Griffith Park Blvd.)

Price:
- $11, for everyone.  CASH only, in person, at theatre on day of performance.

Reservations:
- 818.749-1374, You'll only receive a call IF there's a problem with your reservation.

Box Office/Parking:
- Box office will open 45 minutes prior to show time. Theatre Doors to open for general seating 15 minutes prior to show time.  Parking is available on both sides of Olive Avenue and Clark Avenue.

My Return to 'The Stage'

Eleven old friends.
One week to create a show.
Let's go...
       
June 30 and July 1 

Date and Times: 
- Friday, June 30, 8:30pm
- Saturday, July 1, 2:30pm
- Saturday, July 1, 8:30pm

Location:
-GTC Burbank; 1111-B West Olive Avenue, Burbank 91506 (In the George Izay Park between Victory Blvd. and N. Griffith Park Blvd.)

Price:
- $11, for everyone.  CASH only, in person, at theatre on day of performance.

Reservations:
- 818.749-1374, You'll only receive a call IF there's a problem with your reservation.

Box Office/Parking:
- Box office will open 45 minutes prior to show time. Theatre Doors to open for general seating 15 minutes prior to show time.  Parking is available on both sides of Olive Avenue and Clark Avenue.

Cast: Armando Gutierrez, Bryan Yamami, Debbie Cheng, Edren T. Sumagaysay, George Huang, Jason Oymun Fong, Keiko Agena, Parry Shen, Ryan Suda, Tammy Yamada, Traci Kato-Kiriyama.

During 1995-2000, I used to be a member of a theatre company with the folks above.   And for years, we traveled and performed material that was partly improvised and partly scripted at colleges across the country.

Flash forward to present-day:  We've all since left the theatre company and have moved into our own endeavors (visit everyone's respective links above).  But we've still remained close; having shared some of the best times of our lives while touring. 

For the last 3 years, we've gotten together every once in a while to just "play"-- improvise scenes and simply crack each other up for 'old times'.  And the great work that resulted from each gathering always prompted excited talks of us doing a show for the public. 

But then reality hit: Schedules conflicted, we all began to realize the undertaking involved in securing a theatre & handling sales, people got on TV shows, some had kids, others moved out of state -- or both. 

Look at our first poster on the right and you can see just how long this idea's been gestating -- it was originally scheduled for 'Sometime in 2004'!

But a grant from API/2 (Asian Pacific Islander Artist Presenting Initiative), has allowed us to fly in those that need to be flown in, secure a theatre, pay for the electricity -- and make all the 'what if' and 'wouldn't it be cool' talk for the past 3 years a reality... for one weekend.

Seven days before the show, we'll all be getting together to workshop scripted material from some of the improvised workshops we've done over the past 3 years and infuse it with some purely improvised work.  You can check here for photo/blog updates of rehearsal each day that week (June 24-29).  

I've gotta admit - it's exciting but scary at the same time. 

There's nothing like the rush of live/improvised theatre where there's that chance of falling on your face and adjusting on the fly for the unplanned but when everything comes together in spite of that -- it's magic.  Several times during our "play dates" over the years, I've so wanted an audience to be witness to the incredible/touching/hilarious stories that were being conjured out of nowhere from these people. 

I think that's one of the reasons why I gravitate towards Film/TV, because when that magic's captured -- at least it's on celluloid forever for others to see.  

So if you're in the Los Angeles area, I truly hope you're free one of those days to catch some of what we're trying to bottle. 

I'm sure we'll be rusty when we first get together but that one week intensive will definitely whip us all back into shape because when we're on -- you're really going to be in on something special and close to the heart: The pure joy of creativity and what a bunch of good friends doing a project for themselves can achieve.  Our "official" description of the project is below:
       
THE PROJECT:   The content of the show is improvisationally-created, and is based off work facilitated and directed by Jason Oymun Fong.  Jason oversaw the workshops the group of 11 met up for over the past three years.

THE ORIGINS:   The project started as a conversation between two friends in a parking lot, reminiscing about a period of time when a particular set of people got together to create and perform on a regular basis.  The conversation expanded and before we knew it, we were getting folks together to convene for a number of hours on various dates to simply "play" - to workshop and workout the creative muscle together; to have fun and improvise exercises into full stories.
  
Eventually, with no means for an 'end goal' of sorts, attendance became sloppy and the meetings were sporadic.  We had to acknowledge that we were 11 very busy people with very separate schedules. 

So, things with the 11 took a backseat. 

That's where the API/2 initiative came in and played a huge role in our next step.
  
THE 'END GOAL':   A grant from API/2 is allowing Oymun's 11 to move forward and bring some of the group's work/process to fruition.  Without it, we probably would have just stopped meeting altogether.   The Grant will provide us with two major aspects to our work:
  
1) The ability to produce a show and take our casual meetings with Jason Oymun Fong to the next level, rather than let the process simply fall by the wayside.  The show will be an extention of some of the work previously created, as well as new material created the week before the show. 

The 11 will begin work together on Saturday, June 24th and go through an intensive weekend of workshopping, continue to rehearse through the week and culminate in a performance at the end of the week on Friday, June 30th and Saturday, July 1st.
  
2) The ability to experiment with a model for production, process, presentation.  The idea is to get 11 very busy folks with very separate schedules together for 8 days to create and refresh/re-learn material, rehearse, and present 3 shows at a small theatre, with the support of the grant, minimal donations from family and friends, and production support from our peers.  For more info visit: www.myspace.com/oymunseleven 

Reserve Your Tickets at: (818) 749-1374

Sung "Days"

This Friday on June 16th, Justin Lin's "The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift" premieres. 

I've been noticing the film hasn't been getting a lot of equal coverage on the entertainment shows which I can only attribute to the movie's lack of "names".

But I have to say, those that do catch the flick will be pleasantly surprised.  I sure was. 

It's definitely it's own film within the franchise.  A fun popcorn movie with Justin's stylistic choices all over it (watch especially for Lucas Black's slow-mo rollover during the first race and a 350z bumper's near miss with a wall). 

To the naysayers and folks with pre-formulated opinions, yeah it's about a white guy being a fish out of water yada, yada -- the movie isn't claiming to break any narrative ground but it's a pretty balanced perspective for a studio film largely in part due to Justin (axeing things like gongs, temples and visual gags of the white guy being a foot taller than the Asians in the original script) -- and as a result, Sung Kang's role is awesome.  I wasn't surprised to read the following quote from a behind the scenes interview with Justin:

"When we were screening this movie, Sung tested through the roof. It was unanimous: Every focus group we threw out there, he was their favorite character. Now they're [Universal] looking for vehicles for him to be in. That's what it's all about, man: opportunity. It's not a revolution or anything -- it's winning one gunfight, not the war. But it's important. Little by little it adds up."

The character's very well developed and should really give Sung's career some much deserved heat in conjunction with his other movies, "The Motel" on June 28th and then "Undoing" on June 30th at the LA Film Festival.  To see a trailer combining two of Sung's upcoming films, check out this hilarious trailer: "The Motel and The Furious". 

Jason Tobin ("Virgil" in "BLT") also makes a few appearances in the "TFTF:TD where his dialogue is spoken in his true British Accent.  I felt like I was at my "BLT" alums' "graduation" on the film's huge red carpet event last week. 

Please come out and support 'em to help foster yet another small step towards progression. 

(Fun tidbit: Sung's character in "TFTF:TD" is named "Han" - like his character in "BLT" and Roger Fan's character in Justin's last movie "Annapolis" was named "Loo" - like his character in "BLT" - "Daric Loo" -- perhaps alluding to the fact that after high school their characters respectively went off to Tokyo and joined the Naval Academy?  Something's fishy I think. 

And just maybe, just maybe that Tech Support guy I played in all those Dell Commercials was also named "Ben" -- like my character in -- ehh, that wouldn't be as impressive. )  

A Snail's Pace

Man, things are slooow this year for me.

Granted this time of year everything slows down in the business.  But coupled with the fact that I haven't booked anything since "THIEF" or when it was busy at the beginning of the year - makes me just itchin' to work. 

I've come close on a lot of stuff and have turned down a few offers in between that weren't very challenging -- but basically I've been batting about 0 for 45 auditions.  Wheras my booking ratio in '05 was a new acting gig every 20 days, '06 will certainly even out my "batting average" a bit.  

Without the speaking gigs (Ohio State University, May 31), promotional stuff for projects I shot last year ("Hatchet" Fango-Con Panel, June 3) and occasional premiere ("Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift", June 4), I would be going insane.  So what's a person supposed to do with all that time? 

Well, I used to either read the trades, tool on a screenplay, go to a theater and study a performance, workout, etc.  But now as a parent, I find myself doing such things as: making meals for Avery, tending to the yard and... modifying cardboard boxes.

This box held our new patio set.  And it's huge - like coffin sized.  It can easily fit 2 adults inside comfortably.  As you can see, I originally just cut out swinging doors at each end.   Then cut out a triangle, circle and rectangle-shaped windows on one side.

And unfortunately, the more time I had -- the time I had to work on the box.

Now this picture is the other side of the box, where I added a tin-can telephone/intercom system, "Silence of the Lambs" - like mailbox drawer (made from a box of Cheerios), "Lost"-esque hatch (that can be popped open with the tug of a rope inside) and operational drawbridge (that pulls up with a tug from another rope inside). 

And if my unemployment continues -- I can guarantee the addition of a working paper towel roll periscope and garage to house her Big Wheel. 

I've always passed onto younger actors the advice that was once given to me: "It's what you do when you're not working/employed, that makes you the actor that you eventually become." 

With that said, I'd better start taking some acting or writing classes during this drought stat, before I wind up becoming Fred Rogers (aka "Mr. Rogers").

Travelin' Man - Part II

April 28 - University of Minnesota.  Things didn't start off well.  My layover in Denver was delayed because of mechanical problems.  Then the backup plane had computer problems.  And by the time I hopped on the third plane, I was already scheduled to speak.  But even though I arrived an hour late, a good crowd had still stayed behind for the program. 

Interesting tidbit: Minnesota has the largest concentrated Hmong population in the country -- almost everyone I met there was Hmong! 

April 29-30 - Tribeca Film Festival.   The next day, I flew into NYC to catch the second and third screenings of "HATCHET". 

The Q&A's were very interesting because I was definitely reminded that this was a genre film. 

During the "BLT" Q&A's, I usually got asked questions about character development, etc.  But at the "Hatchet" screenings, the fans were solely looking to get into the twisted mind behind the movie -- director Adam Green.  But in the middle of the frenzied dialogue about "the kills" in the movie, Adam did a very cool thing and addressed the whole "accent" issue of my character in the film to the audience - publicly giving me props for the adjustment.      

As of writing this entry, it's gotten great reviews (Review 1, Review 2, Review 3) and all the major studios have got their hat in the ring.  Now it's a matter of finding the perfect "fit" for the film.  Here's an excerpt of the review I wrote on the "Hatchet" site:    

The tag line on our Tribeca poster: "Old School American Horror" perfectly encapsulates the film.

There's really no words or review I could write that would do the movie justice. All I can say is that at the start of the film, I happened to be sitting next to this 40 year-old grumpy and leery horror purist. And as the film progressed, I watched him practically achieve orgasm upon orgasm after each and every kill -- just staring at the screen like a wide-eyed kid.

May 2 - Siena College (I count this as being in April because I never got to go home since Minnesota)  Being that this was a conservative, Catholic University of 3,000 students, the turnout was proportionally smaller -- like 8 people. 

Fun tidbit:  In the middle of Siena's campus, they've got a pink/skin toned, heart-shaped marble boulder that is dubbed "the warm heart".  However without knowing that, it basically looks like... a huge rear-end.  

One summer, a few students crammed dirt and toilet paper in the "crack" of the heart -- hence enhancing the image of the derriere.    Now, I'm not condoning their actions but hey, you're just asking for trouble when you've got a big, honkin' rock ass in the middle of campus! 

So that was my April. 

I've always held the Dennis Rodman belief that: I never set out or wanted to be a "role model".

But having been asked to speak at so many schools over the past 3 years and meeting thousands of folks across the country face-to-face that were moved and inspired by the "BLT" movement...  I've just come to embrace it. 

I totally understand when people comment on this site, "Dude, the movie came out 3 years ago -- let it go!"  Hey, I hear you and I've tried.  I've gone onto other things and projects but I think there's something to be said for folks still wanting to hear about its struggle/journey and how it might apply to their future.  I actually think it's an unfortunate commentary that after 3 years, nothing thus far has come along to elicit the same level of excitement and hope amongst the Asian American community. 

So I've changed my outlook on the whole situation as:  If my "BLT" past allows me an outlet or forum to make some positive connection/empowerment for the future generation until the next thing comes along... then hey -- that's not necessarily a bad thing and who am I to mess with that?

Travelin' Man - Part I 

Here's the highlight reel that was my April:

April 8th - UMASS.  I spoke in front of a crowd of about 600 students.  And all I have to say is that no one would've listened to a word I had to say if I followed after the musical stylings of Natalise while I was there.  A very sweet gal whose album drops this summer.

In Oct '04, I spoke at Amherst University, (nearby UMASS), and wrote that someone drew this really awesome poster (3 feet x 6 feet) of me to promote my appearance.  But when I tried to take a photo of it after the gig, it was gone.  And due to the fanfare caused by the ladies of Smith College (a nearby all women's college) in attendance, I was led to believe someone from there might have swiped it. 

Well my apologies to the ladies of Smith, for during my stay at UMASS it was revealed that the real culprit was from UMASS.  By A Guy.   And he snatched it to make up for my misspelling his name on the autograph I gave him.  

So after almost 2 years, I made an exchange: A new, correctly made out autograph, allowed for the release of this:

Aw, yeah. 

Although I have no idea what to do with this thing without looking like a raging egomaniac. 

April 12-University of Pittsburgh - it was a quick trip to speak here but I wound up eating one of the best CheeseSteak Sandwiches ever from Uncle Sam's.  Thanks Eric and Kim!  But due to an overbooking situation, it took me 13 hours to get back home.  But dang it, if that sandwich didn't tide me over for the entire trip.  

April 21 - Columbia, Missouri - It was a whirlwind day in this quaint little town that began on 1 hour's worth of sleep.  (I think, thinking about getting a good night's sleep the night before, wound up keeping me awake all night.).   I started off the day at 10am speaking to the Honor Drama students of Oakland Jr. High.  And this is how my appearance was prepped to them a week before by my contact, Tom, in Missouri:

Hi, Parry!
Well, this morning you made what I would call a "phantom appearance" in one of the classes you'll be visiting soon in Missouri-- I introduced you to a group of Jr. High students who, at first glance, seemed to be interested in being anywhere but that classroom on a sunny Friday morning.

Sensing their "I dare you to interest me in anything" 'tude, I launched wholeheartedly into my spiel about your approaches to acting and some of the experiences you've mentioned in your journal-- they shifted a bit forward in their seats. 

Then I showed three scenes from THE NEW GUY (which they had all seen), and they actually laughed and then started bouncing about during "Play That Funky Music."  I had them hooked. We sauntered through FIRST DAUGHTER, TRU CALLING, and THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE, and by this time they were asking me to rewind, and some were shouting out comments ("He's so different this time"), and others questions ("Where'd he learn to run radar?").  And then, WITHOUT A TRACE-- there was a little tittering when I mentioned you were playing a gay character, then flashes of understanding when I explained how the characters were trying to fulfill the expectations of parents-- that hit them hard. 

During the scene at the station, when you were responding to the detective's suspicions, they were riveted to the screen, and, for some, tears-- you had that group of belligerent adolescents under a spell.  And then I let the other shoe drop-- On April 21st,  he's going to be standing right here in front of you.  Well, Parry, you would have thought I'd just announced the second coming-- looks of shocked disbelief and demands of "how is that possible?"  So, while you are most likely on your way to your next campus this morning, you are also affecting youngsters in Missouri!  Hope your travels are safe and rewarding -- Tom

Now, how's that for an introduction? 

After Oakland Jr. High, I went across town to The University of Missouri (Mizzou) to speak to the Asian American Student Union on campus.  On the way there, I learned a bunch of interesting Mizzou trivia from Tom (pictured below).  For example:  During the Civil War, Abe Lincoln had Missouri (a Confederate State) and the University under Martial Law.  When the Yankee Soldiers occupying the University discovered the room where the blank diplomas were being stored, they filled them out and "graduated" themselves from the University!  They wound up using the self-filled sheepskins to get jobs years after the war was over.  Man, I'm so ready for "Jeopardy!"

Then it was off to RockBridge H.S.'s cultural day - which was open to the general public.  And for some reason, the attendance wound up being comprised of 3rd and 4th graders with their parents!  So needless to say, there was a lot of fast forwarding through the "BLT" segments of my demo tape and quickly gearing the talk towards young careers in show business. 

The marathon day ended keynoting for AASU's Banquet.  But let it be known that this little town has some grubbin' pizza - I'm talkin' NYC caliber stuff.  Thanks Mike! 

Next week, PART II of my April journeys.

  Gone A' Fishin'

Those who saw "Thief" last Tuesday, now know the fate of my character, poor 'ole Shrimp Boy.  Sniff, sniff.

Anyway... onto the next thing. 

This week I'll be travelin' to the last two schools on my "tour" -- I'll give a huge recap of the entire tour circuit later.

But in between my talks at The University of Minnesota (Apr 28) and Siena College (May 2) - I'll stop on over to NYC for the April 29 & 30 screenings/Q&A panels of "HATCHET" at the Tribeca Film Festival.  Stop by and say "hi" if you're there.

Daily Variety listed the movie among the 10 films in the entire festival (out of 200), that currently have the biggest buzz.  And the director, Adam Green, had this to say:

Tribeca’s been really pushing the film.  I didn’t believe it, but the first word I heard when we got in is that the people who run the festival said Hatchet is in their top three, if not their favorite movie in the festival. I said, 'That’s bull****, it’s what they say to everybody to get them excited.'  But every time you read something in the New York Times about Tribeca, they mention "Mission: Impossible: 3", "Poseidon", a couple of other movies, and "Hatchet".

This is exactly what happened with "BLT" at Sundance 4 years ago.  The buzz factor for the film amongst the industry folk and festival workers was very high even before our first screening.  So cross your fingers I return with good news regarding a distribution deal for the movie!

And to bring closure to the Adam Carolla/Asian Excellence Award parody situation, here's what transpired on his show last Wednesday after inviting Guy Aoki (reknown Asian Media watchdog) and Teddy Zee (producer of the AXA awards, along with films like, "Saving Face" and "Hitch").  Some interesting discussion on both ends.  Take a listen and formulate your own opinion. 

Home Improvement

There are certain "truths" that exist in the world, like:

I've tried using electronic stud finders.  Magnetic ones.  I verify the location using both to zero in on the wall stud once, twice, three times and then mark the spot where the wall stud "supposedly" is.  When I finally tap in the nail... it goes through the drywall, hitting absolutely nothing (basically going between the wooden pillars in the photo above). 

I've tried the rudimentary using your fist to "tap" the wall method in attempts to hear the changes in sound, hence locating the wall stud.  But when I think I "hear" a sound change, I wonder if it's indeed the wall stud or just me tapping harder on that spot in anticipation.

In the past, I'd just fill the empty hole in the wall with an anchor expander, then screw in the screw.  Not too sturdy if you pulled on it really hard but it usually sufficed.

But I recently got this huge bookcase.  And it's got "Wouldn't this be cool to climb?" written all over it.  So it really had to be anchored to the wall for Avery.

So I went through the usual routine of trying to find a wall stud to secure the bookcase to -- and of course, nothing.  When I tried using my anchor backup plan, I noticed the hole in the wall just kept getting wider and wider as I fussed more and more with it -- until it was about 3/4 inch wide.  Basically too wide for any screw or anchor to fill it in.

And then I found the best invention ever: The Toggle Bolt.

When things get bad: Ya fold up the "wings" and insert it into the gaping hole.  Once the "wings" are on the other side of the wall.... Voila!  They spring open like a batarang and clamp onto the edges of the wall's hole.  Then use a washer/bracket (bigger than the hole) on the other side of the wall so the head of the screw doesn't get pulled through said gaping hole.  So aside from getting a pair of x-ray glasses to locate the wall studs through the drywall -- these things are a great alternative.

I bought a box of 20 Batarangs... um, I mean Toggle Bolts -- as emergency backups for future mounting projects that go awry.

God bless you Mr. Toggle. 

And remember, to watch this Tuesday's (4/25/06) "THIEF":

As the situation between the Atwater Gang and the Chinese Mafia reaches an explosive climax when Vincent (Will Yun Lee) & Shrimp Boy (me) decide to take the fight into Nick's (Andre Braugher) inner sanctum -- his house.

THIEF - Tuesdays 10pm on FX