I haven’t posted here this whole year so today, at the end of 2024, I am posting a story by a guest blogger. This story is written by my son Barnaby. The 72 hours that the story is about was the scariest of my life because I didn’t know if I would see him again. You’ll probably feel inspired to go out and eat Korean BBQ after reading this. I suggest the restaurants on Sawtelle in Los Angeles.

Locked Up Abroad written by Barnaby Duke

So, I was offered to shoot a dance commercial in South Korea. My immediate thought was that I’m not really a dancer in the way they probably expect, but it is a chance to experience a different country and that seems worth it. They offered me a few hundred bucks and a flight there and back — which isn’t that great in the entertainment world, especially since I was spoiled and lucky-as-fuck to have already booked national TV commercials at that point. I could make anywhere from $5,000 to $40,000 in residuals from one day’s shooting in a TV spot.

But I accepted, simply because I was getting a free trip to South Korea. I was pumped and ready, but also concerned about the choreography we’d have to learn when we arrived. See, I can dance and I’ve got rhythm from playing the drums — or as my mom joked, “Having James Brown knock me up to make you.” — but the one thing I couldn’t do to save my life was learn steps. It just wasn’t in my DNA, and I looked like an awkward uncle at a bar mitzvah trying to learn the cupid shuffle. I thought whatever, I’ll improvise and fake my way through it like I’ve basically done with everything my entire life. I’m not that great at anything, but I’m a good bluffer and can usually look comfortable enough to sell it. (more…)