Sunday, 9/12/10 – Alashan, Inner Mongolia, China

From Don’s Blackberry…

Woke for a run. Garbage truck playing happy birthday. Meeting with an actor at his house! It’s a freaking audition – no it’s lunch. Ok. Actually a block from hotel the crabby alley led to a blue painted door that led to a courtyard with pear trees to the old brick home. Inside a mirrored ceiling and mongol decorations in gold trim and of course a wedding pic.

The perfing arts leader’s parents-in-law were previously leaders. Their 50 year anniversary. The father was the leader when in 1958 the town was moved to make way for the space station. In return, the party gave them rice, lambs, milk and a hospital.

The grandaughter enters – the local tv producer. And – we’re speaking mongolian. The friend, a man of intense angles and dark skin, is multitalented – sings, acts, wrestles, builds yurts, has animals (camel and horse and sheep), tells history and delivers 400 babies. [LAURIE NOTE: not sure if Don is fully understanding mongolian here!]

We have tea anytime. We write and build lists all day. The power stayed on.

Morning blocking notes and waking Jiazi and Yurong [his translaters] at 2pm during their nap.

The 8 music files were only 6 and actually just variations of 2 songs. Oh boy!

In the afternoon. we go to see costumes not like those in a movie – a scheme. The oldest ladies in the county. Like the morning leader mom! 13 gals 50 to 90. And then they stay singing. Now this is an audition.

Batas is directing. One is his mother
. Others are gao wa’ aunts. They know the old songs. 3 tunes. Showing off they costumes like princess. “The girls”. Yes! They are in. No they will not be recorded – live. 2 sang for Mao.

Batar dancing and playing. The old want to celebrate – the young don’t want to show themselves on stage. Mmmm.

I skipped dinner to figure out the rest of the staging and fill in pieces. Done at 845pm and then meeting till 11 with Waxue Yi.

A long long crazy list for 10 days.

I asked for camels asap, along with a music edit tech, cold beer, a yurt to assemble and a tree cast.

Tomorrow I have 9am camels. I met a music tech. The yurt has to come from hohhut and at 1am I am found at a sidewalk bbq with cold beer.

Ahh.