Friday, October 30, 2009

The Madness of Costumed Drunkards, and Extroverts - a.k.a. NYC Halloween Parade


It's fallen on us like a plump old lady, overly made up, and more than a bit disoriented. It's the NYC Halloween Parade, and for years upon years, it's given the usually surly, and hurried average New Yorker, an excuse to run willy nilly through the streets of the village, oddly attired, and giddy from the experience.

With the sad exclusion of bags full to bursting with assorted sweets, it's a great time. And the inventiveness of the participants varies from bizarre, to nightmarish, from coy and mundane, to things you wander home hoping you can find a way to unsee a man dressed as human excrement, with his head as a remnant of an under digested meal.

But thats the point of it, the ability to transcend the morbid depression of an economy on life support. A healthcare system desperately trying to heal itself, and the closest thing to a modern plague - Swine Flu. While it's not healthy or recommended, to constantly find ways to escape this reality, it is however find and oh so dandy, to escape it for just an evening. For a short period of time, be as giddy as the 56 yr old man, prancing down Seventh Ave, dressed as Hermione Granger. Or the 24 yr old girl, dressed as a scantily clad Martha Stewart.

Join in this crazed march of wildly imaginative, and stressless group of adventurers. Eat loads of cheap candy, drink shots of Tequila from bright red wax lips, and sing humorous, but mildly profane Halloween songs. This is one of the few times adults can dress like lunatics, and behave like children, without an intervention being the end result.

Happy Halloween.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

In perfect gratitude...

I have moments, full and ponderous moments, where I realize the importance of things. The crisp meaty taste of a ripe tomatoe on a well constructed sandwich. The glacier like coolness of a jug of tap water from the refrigerator. The warmth of a smile from a friend, or a child, or a stranger who you share an awkward, but connecting moment with.

These are things, that when I've slowed down my brain, turned off all of the extraneous worries of adulthood, I let wash over me, like warm rain on an even warmer evening, and am surprised by my acuity.

I had such a moment, minutes ago, as I sat at my desk, looking at movie trailers, recharging my stores of courage. During this time, I saw a couple clips, and both trailers, from Jason Reitman's soon to be released, "Up in the Air".

Cutting to the chase, I was awestruck. Seeing someone craft images that will stay in the minds of those who gleefully give over the better part of a twenty dollar bill, for a movie ticket. And even more for popcorn and soda. But those pilgrims of the cineplex will be met with an astounding piece of cinema/film/movie, call it what you will, but see it.

It's movies like these, that give me that jittery, "can't wait to finish me script" kind of feeling, so I can do what Jason Reitman is doing. Making films. And I would like to thank him for it. I would like to thank Jason Reitman for choosing to be a filmmaker, and making guys like me, realize there is art in entertainment.

Peace.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Cookie Induced Coma


At times when you come up against the harshest of days, and the meanest of people. When your resolve is tasked to the point of no return, yet you clasp a clawing hand on it's shirt-tails, and drag it back to you, with strength you're surprized you had.

Days when words his like Mike Tyson in his prime, and your resilience is like Jerry Cooney, hitting the canvas, for a very long, and painful fall. Looking upward for assistance, and helping hand, that doesn't have a joy buzzer attached to it.

It's the the package deal, with being able to buy alcohol, porn, and cigarettes. Of being able to see any movie you want to, even NC-17, without being accompanied by parent or guardian. The Platinum Deal, that gives you hair in odd places, and aches when you've never even moved from the unrepentant comfort of a really nice couch. Not having to wash dishes, or clothes, or windows, or even yourself, if you damn well don't feel like it. You're an adult now, time to put away childish things.

But, in a fit of clarity, mixed with nostalgia, and especially after a hard day, don't you just wish you could be a kid again. A bright eyed, boldly imaginative child, who could eat thirty thousand chocolate chip cookies, and fall into a peaceful sleep, while cartoons watched you?

After the day I've had.. I show nuff do.

Never malign, that which you envy.

I'm astounded. I'm sitting here, mouth agape, eyes like saucers and scratching my head, in befuddled disbelief.

I'll get to why, in a moment, but first, a bit of background.

It was 1997 and the Oscar for best original screenplay was award to Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon, for a film I begrudgingly loved, "Good Will Hunting". These two guys, albeit ion the industry, wrote a stellar screenplay, corral stellar talent to work in front of and behind the camera, and created a a beautiful character study, without getting schmaltzy and "woe is me". After fighting through the thick cloud of pea colored envy, I relented.. I really loved the film.

And it was around that time, that i had begun to foster my desire to be a filmmaker. As i watched the Oscars for both inspiration and motivation, I gained both, when I saw Matt, and Ben, triumphantly stride the stage, genuinely proud and excited that their labors bore such great fruit. I was hooked and to this day still am.. obviously.

Flash forward to 2005, not the Oscar's, furthest thing from t actually, and I see a trailer for a movie, based on a very popular video game. The name of the flick, is "Bloodrayne", produced and directed by Uwe Boll, written by Guinevere Turner. Neither person i'd every heard of, or seen anything by, at that time. So a year later, "Bloodrayne" was on cable, 3-am in the morning on a Friday. I was recently single, broke, and unshowered, so i watched it.

Now, let us once again enter the Way Back Machine, and head to 2005 for "Alone in the Dark", then to 2007 for "Postal", then to 2008 for "Far Cry", all directed by Uwe Ball, and written by various different screenwriters. I've seen all but "Far Cry" which doesn't seem to be on Netflix, or Blockbuster (which is shocking in and of, itself). The director Uwe Boll is a learned man, and a prolific filmmaker. That having been said...

We now return to 09.08.09 Tuesday morning, day after a long holiday, and after an exceedingly fun day at work, I stumble upon this interesting bit of internet profundity...

As copied from the website - "Stop Dr. Uwe Boll Petition"

To: Dr. Uwe Boll

We, the undersigned, respectfully ask that Uwe Boll give proper weight to the wishes of the video game community, the horror community, and the film going community in general and stop directing, producing, or taking any part in the creation of feature films. His distasteful handling of the subject matter and lack of acknowledgment of his failures simply cannot be abided any longer.

Mr. Boll has repeatedly shown a complete lack of comprehension regarding the videogames he has dragged, kicking and screaming, to the silver screen and his ham-fisted approach to horror has soiled future possibilities for anyone else who may attempt to bring videogames to film.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned

...seriously?

Now, I know I've seen my fair share of truly terrible movies, some where I walked out of the theater, feeling as though I'd been poked by an annoying 12 yr old with too much sugar in his blood, and a degree in filmmaking from "Roscoe's School of the Movement Pickture", for 90-120 minutes. Dreadful, films, posing as delightful entertainment, only to ambush you with lack of story, or lack of anything that makes shelling out 12.50 (NYC prices), worthwhile.

However, I've never been so annoyed, peeved, ticked, pee-o'd enough to even think, to formulate a movement, to forcibly retire a filmmaker, from his chosen profession. i can't even malign the aforementioned auteur, I'm in no position to. He's doing exactly what I want to be doing. He's making films. He's doing what so very few of us get a chance to do, and he's doing it with shocking regularity. His investors barely lose money, he gets to indulge himself in a job, that I would quite frankly kiss rabid wolverines, to get the opportunity to do.

Now I will not say, that I did not chuckle aloud when I read it. In fact I bellowed so loud, I think my coworkers feared a psychotic break was soon to follow. I did have quite a good laugh. But then I thought to myself...

"Self..?"

"Yes.", I replied

"Why are you laughing?" self wondered with cold curiosity.

"Can you believe that they wanna petition to stop this guy from making movies?" I chortled.

"Can I ask you a question?" said Self.

""Sure." I replied

"Have you made a movie yet?" Self said calmly.

The laughter quickly ebbed. Because I've never made a movie. Yes, I'm working on my first in a series of short films. Yet, I've not shot one nanosecond of film. Whereas this gentleman has made 24 in a little over 20 years. I could rail on against his talent, his choice of subject matter, even his infamy, but the fact of the matter,m this man has the kind of career I want. To make films, be a director, and enjoy every day doing it.

I only hope no one petitions against me.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Filming is underway - Why am i not excited?

Ok, that's kind of misleading. I'm not excited. I'm not giddy with girlish anticipation, nor am I running around like a kid on Christmas day, squealing and screeching, like a howler monkey with its tail on fire.

I'm focused, I'm intent, i have the single minded focus of a great white shark, minus the rows of serrated teeth, and, well the whole not being a shark thing. I'm focused on creating great works of cinematic art. using a dvcam, and camcorder, and as much borrowed software I can get my hands on.

I'm not excited because I don't want to lose my concentration, i don't want to slip out of the artisan cloak, and into the audience chair. I love movies, and I love getting lost in the story of someones life, or the adventure of an other's. I think in order for me to complete this task, with the highest level of success and quality, me the audience, has to wait to "buy the ticket, and take the ride".

Now...

That being said, it's going to be incredibly difficult. i love seeing my words come out of the mouths of some truly talented, yet wholly undiscovered and under appreciated craftsman and women. I will be sitting behind the camera, stifling the giddy urge to indulge in joyous outbursts. Or suppress the desire to run up and squeeze the crumbs out of my actors when they nail a particularly difficult piece of direction. Or sit in slack-jawed awe, as they turn a wordy piece of dialog, in to high art.

These are the things that I will try my determined best, not to do. Because I'm the artisan, the technician, the draftsman, the director.

But deep inside, and in someways, very close to the surface, I'm the chubby little kid, watching "Ordinary People" "Ocean's Eleven", and "Casablanca", on a Sunday afternoon.

Ok, maybe I'm a little excited.

Update: 09-07-09 - Filming Starts

The holidays are officially over and the availability of the actors is open, so filming has begun. The choice to film at my place of employment was an easy one... They said yes and the won't charge me a cent. How can you get better than that.

The unfortunate thing is that not all of the actors are available, I've had to create new pieces. The cast is primarily male, so I've had a chance to work on styles of films I really dig. Crime comedy, "Ocean's Eleven" (circa 1960). I've always dug the dialog and the interchange between the main characters, even Peter Lawford was easy to watch.

I'll be updating the list of scripts with the new pieces, with full descriptions, as soon as possible. And look for updates, such as productions photos, and production journal entries on the film site - Loud Voice Films

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Therapy Through Prose - Session #1

Did you ever think that wishes of youth would ever come true, wishes made on birthday candles, and falling stars, and wishbones. Sweet innocent hopes and pure regard of the world.

Did you ever wonder where the easter bunny got his chocolate, or the tooth fairy got all that money, in coins no less, how one magical woman would fly to houses of slumbering children, in a gossamer dress.

In years that follow, life and trials try to strip you of those thoughts, that intuition that the bogey man is under your bed, that you smell the snow in the air, that saying "bless you " at a sneeze, saves an angel.

Stay in that clubhouse, keep having that tea party, don't put the barbies in the attic, or the lincoln logs in storage. Marvel and wonder at the night sky, ask why the sky is still blue and hum when you eat something really good.

Stick your tongue out at mean people, play tag and still break your neck trying to get away. Hold your mother tight when she kisses you goodbye and still offer her you're awe and adoration.

Go to the corner store and buy candy with thousands of found pennies, use monopoly money to go to the movies. Look both ways, before crossing.. anything, or anyone. Be brutally honest, yet quick to hug and smile at each other

Drink Kool-aid like it was the most glorious and wonderful drink the entire solar system and wipe the softdrink mustache off on your sleeve, even if it is your best white sunday school/.church shirt.

Look at your father, like the hero he is or hopes and tries to be,

Never let loose of those things that give you joy, and take your breath away. For there are guards on the temple of true contentment. Mean, unsmiling hulks, whose sole aim, is to make you one of them. So, once more, draw your wooden sword, and position your garbage can shield into place, Feel your pillowcase cape flow in the wind, and do righteous battle.

The aged are not old, neither the youthful, young. Those who dream, and smile, and skip, hold the secret key, to the temple of true contentment.

Once more into the breach...

After three hot dogs and a handful of DORITOS, AND I'm in it.

I actually dig this part of the film making process, the planning, the scouting, hunting down actors and equipment. I'm going to start filming in September, and as much as I want this, I'm not excited. This is not to say that I'm not completely elated to finally be filming, far from it.

I'm out of my crazy over the moon, to finally be in production. The reason I'm not excited, is that I want to keep a level head, to keep my jubilant nature in check, so I can do this the right way. To complete this herculean task with a 100% chance of success. I have the tendency to let my fervor for a thing drive me, and in this case.. I gotta stay on point.

i love film making, I love the technical aspect of it, as much as I love the artistic side of it. I'm looking forward to seeing the actors, breathe new and fresh life in to the characters I created. To see them inhabit the world I've created, and make it live, the same way it lives in my imagination.

I can't wait to take the raw materials of light and art, and sculpt into a compelling visual story. I don't dread any part of this process. Well, that's not true, I will dread the moment this experience is over. When all the acting, editing and creation is over and the film is online.

Which is why I'm going to keep making small films, and then later, larger films. And with every moment I'm not filming, I'll be creating new pieces, and getting them online as soon as possible. I don't one wasted minute spent thinking "Now what am I going to do?". I will continue to write, film, and edit for as long as I have the will, desire, and energy to keep on filming.

I'm obsessed, and which this particular obsession, I've no problem letting it consume me. I'm a filmmaker, this is what I do

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Lost focus...

It was a bolt out of the blue when I decided to be a filmmaker. And since that moment, I've learned and grown in ways that I didn't expect. I took lessons from every situation I've ever been in and stored them away, in the possibility that I'll need them later on.

I've heard stories about Hollywood, and read even more about how, in many ways, the hardest part of the industry, is the interpersonal relationships and encounters, with vets and new-comers alike. And not ever being one to be unaware and unprepared, I'm going to do whatever I can, and whatever it takes to succeed at this career I've chosen.

That said, it brings me to the current state of things. When I started this I did it because I didn't want to wait for my "big break", I decided to make it myself. Well a few auditions later, and the selection of some really talented NYC actors later, I had my cast, I had my srcipts, and I was ready to roll. Then it happened.

Stagnation. Scheduling issues, my day job needing more of my attention than before, and there I was, no forward movement, no progress, and not one second of film shot. And then, the holidays rolled around. Needless to say things were moving at a pace that could only be described as glacial.

So it's 01/05/09, and I sit at my computer, becoming drunk on writing again and shifting all my attention to being THE director. I love this choice I've made, I love the possibility of seeing my words and imagery on screen, delighting my audience, and most importantly, making my mother smile, and my father proud. Helping my family and giving my life the purpose, it for so long, did not have.

So, stagnation is a blessing, it gives you the time to reflect on choices made, and gives you insight into choices yet to be made. So, my apologies to Tom Petty, but waiting isn't the hardest part, not if you use it to the best of your advantage. Which I am.

Time to get to work!