This first weekly installment of the Truth On The Line comic strip introduces one of the main characters of the show.

While we move closer to the final edit of Truth On The Line's pilot episode(s), we're going to periodically point out here on the site a variety of other media that's out there that is relevant to the project and its goals. This might include, books, music, films, whatever resonates.

Today we have an excellent music video by Juan Luis Guerra, to a song of his called "El Costo De La Vida" - The Cost of Life. Watching the video it will be easy to see some of what it's about, even without knowing much Spanish: topics like the media, the truth, trust in official institutions for your knowledge, thinking for yourself, government oppression, and more - all concerns of Truth On The Line as well. At the start of the video we see Guerra (a Dominican super-popstar, by the way), in the role of a news anchor on TV, tossing his papers casually behind him as he finishes with each, while his backup vocalists sing in screens behind him. He chants "it's the truth" again and again and then in english "do you understand?" At the end he literally pulls the plug on a political leader's speech.

Despite the seriousness of some of the lyrics and imagery, which includes montages of riots and military and police actions, the song also has a bright and happy feel to it. TOTL has a similar format - we're intent on providing engrossing, dramatic entertainment that also asks some hard questions and conveys serious ideas about our society and world: what is truth? what is journalism? How are stories told and who can and does tell them? Truth On The Line is about news and people who deliver the news, but who resist, or try to resist, the status quo. Read more>>>

This is an exciting time in the creation of the Truth On the Line pilot episode.

We have a first assembly rough cut and the story is finally all there together. But of course there is still lots of work at the edit suite left to do. Alternate takes and shots must be assessed, sound must be cleaned, music selected, graphics needs to be generated and placed, and color correction will be necessary.

From the beginning of post, 5 large "frame grab boards" have hung on the wall of the edit room. These boards are a practice inspired by famed editor Walter Murch. Each camera set up in the show is represented by one or more printed still photos, arranged roughly in shot order. As we work, the boards on the wall provide a quick and easy visual representation of the project and what material is available to us.

This week has been a busy time of meetings with department heads and trusted advisors. Decisions and discussions that will determine the shape and future of the show are underway.

As we go forward from here, we'll also ramp up our efforts to get the word out about this project and start talking with interested allies. Expect to see more and more activity on this website as the final cut approaches! To be sure you stay up to date, be sure to get on the mailing list (on the front page of the web site) or join the facebook group if you're reading this there. Read more>>>

• 14:53 getting ready for a family xmas ichat call. #

• 11:25 discovering that the new puppy hates one of my favorite albums, Descargas by Los Samplers. damn. #
• 21:15 playing scrabble. #

• 11:44 Mailing xmas packgs #
• 12:44 phew. the paltry pile of xmas gifts i felt like i needed to give are now all purchased and sent. yay. #

• 09:24 shopping for new espresso maker. #
• 11:44 renewing some domains. the periodic ritual of the digital homesteader... #
• 12:21 looking again after a couple years at this amazing database/searchengine of films icio.us/micvzu #
• 12:46 reading awesome news, Walt was granted 4 month extension to complete 300 hours of community service for his humanitarian "littering". yay! #

• 08:31 thinking i kind of want to see Avatar, but i'm kind of scared of seeing it in 3D. can i not see it in 3D? can i just not put the glasses on? #
• 12:27 going to farmer's market to get the weekly goatmilk. #

• 05:41 getting ready for the MTV Made shoot. I have to get out there at 7 and do a timelapse of the sunrise... #
• 07:06 Taping a beautiful Sonoran desert sunrise. #
• 07:50 Sitting waiting at gate 2 pima motorsports park while reading Delillo story in The New Yorker. Strange days. #
• 13:46 Almost done w the shoot. More waiting. Of course. 2 bad most bystandrs dont know 2 wait #

• 11:32 reading interview with editor of Feministing www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/magazine/15fob-q4-t.html?_r=1 #
• 11:49 reading awesome article about masculinity and "lad culture" icio.us/hf4mcq #
• 14:21 reading facebook's best spin on their diversity data. still pretty damn white, FB. icio.us/tn5zto #
• 14:36 paying off the last of my student loans. yay. go to hell, Citibank. #
• 14:58 icio.us/u255af #
• 22:45 trying to figure out how to get to Pima County Motorsports Park, for this shoot I'm working on tomorrow for MTV. #