Stimulus

New things that will be bought and experienced this month.  I recently received my stimulus payment from the government.  Going to be getting a new adapter for my camera and saving the rest.  It’s a xlr to 1/8 adapter with built in pre-amps made by Juicedlink.  Also going to be holding auditions for my short film.  This is going to be so awesome, actors and actresses giving it their all to be in a film that I’m directing.  I’ve gotta get the storyboards cranked out as soon as possible and fix up the props.  I’ve already been in talk with people for music and all but two locations have been secured but we should hear something soon.  I’ve got next weekend and the one after that off to work on nothing but my film. I’ll let ya know about the xlr adapter when I’m able to use it.

New job and a new project.

Well, just as you’ve seen in the past I have gaps in my postings and always try to fix that but it never works lol. Anyway, things have been going well for me. I am now working at Whole Foods in Durham as a cashier and I’m digging it. Actually getting respect and admiration for the work that I do, working with nice and funny people, in a laid back environment, and excellent benefits is what Whole Foods is about.

On the subject of my new project, I will be filming it next month if all goes according to plan. The film is titled, “Relapse”, and is a crime drama/thriller that I wrote and will be directing and editing. The film is about a ex-drug dealer named Seth that has landed his new, legal, job after retiring abruptly from the game. He goes home to celebrate with his girlfriend that evening and discovers some unexpected guests have arrived. Now Seth must abide by their rules so that his he and his girlfriend will live through the night.

I’ve received lots of positive feedback from the “test readers” which consisted of unbiased family and friends. Right now my crew and I are waiting to hear back from some talent along with property owners to secure our locations. We’ll be shooting the film completely in Roxboro and I hope to be able to premiere it in town as well.

Well its late and I’m pretty tired, so I’m out….until next time….which I will try to make sooner than last….adios.

Moving on….

Well it’s almost one week since I’ve made the move and things are still in limbo but hopefully that will all change tomorrow. I’m hoping for a call from a local videographer/DJ tomorrow and I’m really really hoping to start working with him to make enough money to just have that job and nothing else. That way I’d be gaining so much experience editing and shooting along with working on my own projects. If I’m not able to get enough hours with him at first I really hope that I’m able to start working at Blockbuster part time. I’ve applied for many jobs over the past week but have yet to hear from anyone just yet.

This is so odd, ya know…the whole unemployed thing. I’ve had a steady income over the past four years of my life and now I’m looking for a new job. It’s been so weird this past week, just sleeping late every day, waking up and doing things as I want to do. I spend most of my day looking for jobs and working on my film projects.

Hoping to get my dark comedy rolling soon along with finishing up writing my crime drama script. Along with these two, I’m working with a few friends on a short film contest for George Romero. I’ve got a plot in mind, now I’ve just gotta put it on paper and pitch it to my team. We’ll then see what goes from there. If our film is picked we’ll be put on the DVD for the Romero’s latest film…Diary of the Dead. This would be a dream come true not only for myself but for my team that I’m working with, all of us being huge fans of Romero and his awesome films. If ya don’t know who Romero is……well ya need to GTFO…..srsly.

lol…..take care folks…..until next time….adios.

Out with the repetitive, in with the fresh start

Well, today I resigned from the company I have been working with for over the past four years. I won’t get into details as I’d like not to burn any bridges or stir anything up. It’s a move for the best and a push for me to follow my dream of becoming a filmmaker. The world of technical support and repair was just not my cup of tea and if you know me you know how much I’ve exclaimed that. So, here I go….embarking on a new and much needed journey to make a career out of my creativity.

Tourettes and Drugs

Well last night I really started to get into the writing for my short crime drama script called “Relapse”. It’s about Seth, an ex-drug dealer that’s returning to the legitimate life and lands a job at a local meat packing plant. As he returns home to celebrate that evening he finds that his past is not easy to leave behind. I hope to get started on this immediately following the filming of my dark comedy “Tourettes: A Love Story”. Thanks to the wonderful site that is Craigslist and a posting on CastingInTheCarolinas.com I was able to find several potential actresses for my leading lady.

Already cast in the flick are several of my good friends and I’ll be playing a speech therapist that’s heading up the class. Also I’m currently scouting out several locations for the film and hopefully I’ll hear something back soon. I really can’t wait to start on this project especially considering that my two good friends, Daniel Lowery and David Scoles are main characters and if you know them (if not, you will) you know that they’re as crazy and weird (in a good way) as I am.

Be sure to check back often as I’ll be trying to post as much as I can with the developments of both projects.

Life is Good

Just as the title says….I’m still losing the weight, my film thing is still going on and, most importantly, I’m in love.

Her name is Casey Buchanan and I truly do love this intelligent, funny and beautiful lady. She makes me laugh, think, and I enjoy every moment I’m with her. If you’ve read my posts here in the past you’ll know that I’ve longed for this, and finally, I’ve met her.

Alright, I’ll turn off the sappy-ness, but I just want everyone to know how happy I am and that, if you are patient, someone will come into your life.

As far as the filmmaking goes…right now it’s a bit of a one man army over here and I’d like that to change. I’m looking for someone to really stick with me and help with projects. I have resources, contacts and equipment to do anything that needs to be done but I need someone to help out and balance the load. I need a partner is what it really sums up to be. I have been working with a writing partner but considering that he’s in New Zealand there’s not much that we can do on a face to face basis. So…if you’re up for helping me with my future projects and WILL STICK WITH ME, shoot me a message. If you’re reading and know of someone that will fit this position, let them know and tell them to hit me up.

Currently I have a dark comedy in pre-production and am working on a short crime drama script and a feature length sci-fi/thriller script.

Weight is down…Short Film Re-Cut is up, and I’m Writing

Well folks, things have been changing….for the good of course. I’ve been working out, watching what I eat, taking the good ole Trimspa and it’s showing. My pants are becoming bigger, my belt needs more holes, and I can wear shirts now I’ve not been able to wear in the past. Of course on top of all that I feel better about myself, I have more energy and I’m in a better mood. So far I’ve lost a little over 15 pounds and I’m still going. I’m not trying to get skinny, but I don’t want to be fat anymore. So yeah, hopefully by next summer I’ll be able to walk around freely and proudly without a shirt lol. I mean come on, i hardly get to show off the tattoos on my chest and arms.

As for the short film, the new re-cut of “I’m Sorry” is up on my website. New scenes were added, major audio adjustments were made and the overall look of the film has improved. Constructive criticism is welcome and encouraged. Also as a side note, the re-cut is about 200mb. So if you’re on dial up, well your basically fucked. However I plan on making some DVDs with both cuts so if you’d like one just let me know. Once you get it, copy it and give it out to whomever wants it. Right now film making for me is for experience and expression, however someday I hope for it to be for experience, expression and of course some money!

Wondering what I’m writing? Well its a short film about a drug dealer that has decided to turn his life around and take on the real, legit, legal side of the world. As he prepares himself one morning right before a great potential job interview he recieves a knock at the door from one last customer.

In suspense? I surely hope so. More updates to come about the script and other projects along with my life happenings of course!

Oh yeah! Be sure to visit www.706studios.com !!!!!

Lots of things going on.

This of course is a good thing.  I recently won an online short film challenge from the DVinfo Forums.  For this challenge we were asked to make the scariest film in 10 days.  I accomplished just that and it had propelled me so much more into film making.  I want to work on another suspense/thriller film badly and now I have a group of people to do it with.  The short is called “I’m Sorry” and its about a girl named Jenny who meets someone online and decides to meet them for a night on the town.  She leaves her husband sitting in front of the TV and embarks on a night that she will never forget although she will always want to.

My excellent cast and crew made this film so much fun to make and I will be reuniting with them in the future for projects.  I just love how all of us came together with really no prior film experience except for myself and Branden, and just made it happen and made it work oh so well.  Russell gave an outstanding performance for it being his first time acting on film.  Jenn, whom I’ve worked with before gave a excellent performance as well.  She was such a trooper for being cooperative with the position she was in majority of the film.  Chris did a great job as well and Lauren is a mad woman with the hair and make up.  I think I’ve infected both Lauren and Russell with the film bug.  Russell wants to act again ASAP and Lauren is looking into special effects make up which is just fucking awesome.

On top of all that I have been in talks with a rep. from Tragic Hero Records about filming a CD release show for the great local band Boxbomb at Cats Cradle in December.  With my credentials of filming several big acts I have earned a position as one of the main camera operators for the gig.  I will get a nice free dinner, and credit on the DVD which will be released nationwide and clips will be put on the great website PunkRockVids.com

Also my documentary for the Ride of Honor was finalized and 300 copies were made to hand out to the WWII vets and their families at the showing.  The showing will be this Saturday, November 10th at the Kirby Theater here in Roxboro.  Not sure if I’m going to go up there that day.  I’ve got this weird niche about me that I don’t like to be around people when they’re watching one of my films.  I’m sure its just some sort of “stage fright” that I’ll get over but it’s something that bothers me now.

Oh and be sure to keep checking back here for the latest updates on my projects and head on over to my new website 706studios.com

Good weekend ahead

I plan on leaving for Cary tomorrow after work to spend the weekend with some good friends.  On Saturday I’ll be able to meet up with Adam to go over everything with the short.  I wasn’t able to do so last weekend as something just came up.  He too was having a hectic weekend so it was a-ok on both ends.  On top of that I’m now waiting to hear back from Adam of Dreamworks MotorSports after dropping off the plan for the pod.  He’s a busy dude so I’m sure its going to be a couple more days.  I have the whole thing planned out and can really see it in my head so I can’t wait to start on it, along with The Degenerate of course.  I’ve also got some other ideas floating around in my head about other pods to do.  I love staying busy with the film thing, especially my own projects.

I recently came into some extra cash that is being saved currently but I’m thinking of getting a microphone pre-amp with firewire interface.   I was looking at either the Mackie Onyx Satellite, or the M-Audio Mobile Solo.  Not sure who all reads this but for those who do, an opinion would be great.  I plan on using it with this newly donated notebook PC from a great and generous friend of mine.  It’s an ACER 9500 series notebook, basically a multi-media desktop replacement system.  I’ve been having fun with that thing recently, rigging it up for field recording if needed and other programs for film making.  So yeah thats what has been going on recently, kinda busy…..the good kind.

Getting things rolling…

Well, yesterday, I was able to catch up with the always busy Adam Wolfe at Dreamworks Motorsports here in Roxboro.  He OK’ed a project of a “pod” for Current TV.  If you’re not familiar with Current, I’ll let ya know whats going on.  Current is owned by Google and has major funding from Al Gore.  Calm down all you Al Gore fanatics going all wild and crazy out there, Mr. Gore only shells out the green for the station but you don’t ever hear about him on air.  With Current TV all of the content, including some commercials for actual name brand products are produced by independent film makers, such as yours truly.

When you upload your pod to Current TV’s website the members of the site are able to vote on it and with enough votes your video is put on the air.  So now not only do you have millions of people watching something that you made but you get no less than $500 for each Pod.  My idea for a pod that I’ll be doing is about the local Auto/Audio customization company, DreamWorks MotorSports.  It will tell the story of how Adam Wolfe and Benji Gault took a hobby of customizing sound systems and turned it into a career.  The only two things that have changed about the business partners are a location change and a company name change.  They still remain in Roxboro, catering to the needs of local customers, however they have done work for many NBA, NFL, Nascar and Olympic athletes.

Sunday, hopefully I’ll be meeting up with Adam from ERMP to go over every little nook and cranny about my short film, The Degenerate.  We’ll be able to go over everything so that nothing can stand in our way once we have the scheduling ok’ed from the talent.  As far as the WWII documentary goes, I’m rendering one portion right now and hopefully after I render another and burn it to a DVD that it will be all I have to do with it.  I enjoyed working on this project, don’t get me wrong but, its just something else when you’re working on something that’s just something you can’t put that much creative input on.  So yeah it was fun while it lasted but I’m ready to move onto my other projects.

Oh yeah, hopefully Logan will be getting a new power cord for his laptop soon and we can get to crakin’ on this script.  I know he’s going to be able to crank out some really great stuff that I can’t wait to adapt to a script.

…….alright thats about all I got