Friday, December 31, 2010

In good company.

As the year ends, I just wanted to share some good news regarding my job.  Sort of good news, which is better than sort of bad news.  At this time last year, I didn't know whether our company would still exist the next day.  At times, my pay would come in late, which would throw off my budget.  I haven't had to worry about this for a while.

Business has been picking up ever so slowly, which is better than business going down.  In addition there will be some changes with our business model, which should get us even more customers.  We might get some new equipment, too, but we still have to see about that.

There's a slight chance I may get a raise, but at this point, I'll settle for the slight improvement in job security.  It's a lot better than being less secure or taking a paycut.  There are still some concerns in the back of my mind, and I would probably take the next available job in a heartbeat if offered.  But right now, I'm just damn happy to be employed.  Thank God.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Final Cut Bro: Customary.

Have you ever seen those old gasoline station commercials, where a car pulls up and a team of attendants rush out and service the car? They fill it up with fuel, wipe the windshield, check the tires, etc. Or maybe you've seen it in an old movie or something. This is what customers expect, for some reason.

Post production houses don't work like that, dear clients. We don't sit around twiddling our thumbs until you, specifically just you, come in through that door. We will not stop everything so you can have everything you want in two minutes and drive off into the sunset.

Things go on before and after you arrive. You say your video is only five minutes, so it shouldn't take so long for us to do? That would be true if there were no other jobs running ahead of yours. We will not stop those other processes to accommodate you.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Chum Bucket: As a whole.

I mentioned yesterday that I played the drums.  I have always appreciated that instrument even before knowing Kevin.  When I was in college, I finally saved up some money and bought my own set.

After a couple of years, I had been a part of a bunch of different groups and playing different genres.  This entry is about a specific band of which I had so much hope.  I don't mind sharing the name, which is Distane.  Yes, that's what we ended up calling ourselves.  Sometimes people would ask what it meant, and we would tell them it didn't mean anything.  Then they would say, doesn't it mean being far away?  I would say, no, you're thinking of "distance".  This name was picked out of the blue because it was supposedly unique and sounded like "disdain" and people would be curious about it and remember it.

As for the actual members, I will give them fake names.  I don't even actually remember their last names.  I don't think any of us knew each other's last names actually.

On lead vocals, here is Mick Jagoff.  On guitar is Keith Bitchhard.  On bass is Ron Wouldifhecouldbuthecant.  And me, I'm on drums.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Chum Bucket: A funny guy.

Well, this is the guy I really had in mind when I thought of writing these entries.  Unlike the rest of these other chums I will be writing about in the future, I will actually share his real name.  This is because, first, I have nothing but good things to say about him.  Secondly, I wouldn't mind if he stumbles upon this blog and we get in touch again.

I was a pretty meek and shy kid until the 10th grade.  I was working at a summer camp and hated the noise in our cabin so a few of us moved out nextdoor into an empty one.  A few days later, one of the head counselors comes in and looks around to see if there's room there.  With him is a kid with dreadlocks and very confident attitude.  Swagger, as they say.  Great.  We pretty much escaped from the trouble in the other place and this new kid is coming in here.  So my first impression of Kevin Hunter wasn't a good one.  To add to that, we later found out he came there late because he pretty much had to be convinced by that counselor, who was his uncle, to spend the summer there so he doesn't get into trouble where he lived.

He didn't move in with us though.  He took a spot in the other cabin.  One night, I couldn't sleep because this hardcore music was blasting from next door.  I get up to investigate and find him riding his bike indoors and trying wheelies.  Meanwhile, he apparently brought with him a huge amplifier to play his songs.  When he saw me, he smiled and asked, "Do you listen to hardcore?"  I said no.

And then I don't remember the specifics of the conversation but he turned out to be so amicable that I couldn't help but get along with him.  I came there to complain and yell but I ended up making a friend instead.  I remember talking about Rage Against the Machine, Korn, Tool, Helmet and more.  I told him I liked bands like Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots and Smashing Pumpkins.  He said he didn't like Billy Corgan's voice.

I really liked his positive attitude about everything.  When somebody would joke with him, or even insult him, he would just say, "You're a funny guy" and brush it off.  For a while there, I tried that approach, but eventually grew out of it.  It just wasn't me.

I also took a lot of other things from him.  I started listening to heavier music and even bought and wore band t-shirts for the first time.  He played drums and eventually, years later, so did I.  But more importantly, I started to be more outgoing and generally stopped being so negative, pessimistic and cynical.

The previous year, I made money by writing essays for classmates.  It wasn't hard actually.  I just took my own assignment and dumbed it down.  I liked making money quickly, and I was really focused on it.  I also lied habitually for no real reason.  For example, I used to stay home on Mondays because I simply didn't want to go to school.  I got my classmates to believe that I was getting psychotherapy and that's why I was always out on that day.  I never got into trouble for my days off.

Things were different in junior year.  I tried to get to know everyone, which was fairly easy because we weren't a huge high school.  The freshmen, I think, especially liked me.  But then again, they were freshmen.  Also, I took a course in video production and made sure I could come on every field trip to shoot it.  I even tried to run for school president but lost.  That was something I would have been too afraid to try the previous years.  My grades weren't as good as they had been, but I was happier.

I credit Kevin for that change in me.  I did come to work at the summer camp to get a different insight on life, but I think my friend was the catalyst for that.  I always thought I would be back there the next year, but it didn't happen.  I never met him again, along with many other people I became chums with there.

I'll probably write about them as well.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Final Cut Bro: Ready for my close up.

This is a story that was shared to me a few years ago when I first started.  This video editor, whom we will call Ed (get it?) was working with a client, whom we'll call Cleo.  Cleo the client, get it?

Cleo brought in footage of a concert.  The videographer shot it from the back of the room.

They loaded the video into the computer and started editing.  They made a couple of edits.  Then Cleo asked Ed to cut to a close up.  And he replied, "Did you bring another tape?  Because I don't recall seeing any close ups when we were loading the footage."

The client was confused.  "You mean you can't just cut to a close up?"  She was dumbfounded.



Ed answered, "Let me bend over and pull it out of my ass."

Okay, he didn't really say that.  He wished he did though.
_.. ._ ..._ .. _.. ..._ .. ._.. ._..

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Chum Bucket: Final cut bro.

The second installment of "Chum Bucket" is really the first installment of a new section I call "Final Cut Bro".  Here I will post about being a Video Editor and give advice about workflow efficiency, maintaining client relationships, and the media arts field in general.  I will also share some stories from the editing room hoping that you'll enjoy them and so that I don't forget about them.

So how do these two sections of my blog meet?  Because this business is dog-eat-dog, and you don't really have chums.  You might get along with people in your field, and you might enjoy their company, but when  you really get down to it, everyone is looking out for themselves.

And you better learn this quick.  This area is very competitive, and it makes a lot of people shady.  There are a lot of people I could write about but for now, I will only focus on one individual.  There will be time enough for the others.

This person I will call Joe Nosay.  Why?  Because that's the best I could come up with at the moment.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

IndieVisible: Green.

I hope you are enjoying the holidays.

This is a film I shot for multimedia class.  As part of a pattern of my ambitiousness, it is only one scene out of a planned feature.  This was one of the easiest film shoots I've directed, mainly because of the crew.  I didn't try to do everything myself for a change.



And then he sings, "Last Christmas, I gave you my cock.  But the very next day, you gave it away."  I have to finish the script someday just to finish it.  I don't think it's a great screenplay or anything, but it was fun to write.

The production was by no means smooth.  For some reason, the Arriflex camera started giving us some trouble.  You check and check the equipment and never encounter problems, but then production starts and things happen.  We were able to calmly fix it without stressing out or losing it.

I was very happy with how it went.  Unfortunately, this was my last production project in college.  I never shot film again after that.  In addition, I've also lost touch with the cast and crew.

We shot other angles, as well as coverage.  However, once I watched it in the editing room, I decided I liked this take as is it.  I also thought the tracking in and out felt a little more subtle without the cuts.

This was shot in a studio which didn't start out as a studio.  It was a gym that somebody decided would be good enough to convert into a media arts facility.  The ventilation system was loud, and the room had echoes.  Someone praised me for being able to make use of that place and actually making it look like a bedroom.  It's not the best set, but it was no easy task.

_.. ._ ..._ .. _.. ..._ .. ._.. ._..

Friday, December 24, 2010

Chum Bucket: Leonard Nimrod.

So this is where I write about people who have come and gone in my life.  And some who have stayed.  For these entries, I will focus on a certain associate.  A friend.  A chum, as they say.  Sometimes I will remember him or her fondly.  Sometimes I will vent some frustrations.

I will use a fake name for each pal.  I'm not sure why.  No one reads this blog, let alone anyone who might know me.  But o-welles.

The first person I chose, which totally surprises me, is, as the title states, Leonard Nimrod.  It surprises me, because I had somebody else in mind to start with when I first thought of this section of my blog.  But also, he is my brother.  And no, I'm not about to say that he ain't heavy because he wasn't easy to get along with.  We haven't spoken in years.

My wife was cooking dinner the other night, and she said something that made me want to joke around that she was hoarding food, or somebody was hoarding food or something.  But I stopped.  Suddenly an old memory came to mind.  And then a few more on top of it.


Thursday, December 23, 2010

IndieVisible: Just edit, and forget it.

This is a found footage project for Film Post Production.  We were told to pick a song and shoot some film.  Then we had to incorporate images that were given to us by the professor that we hadn't seen. The images, that is.



I kind of went around the rules a little bit though.  After getting all the materials and assembling a rough cut, it didn't really work for me.  There was no express rule that we couldn't change the track, so I picked a different piece of music.

The song is "Skeletons of Society" by Slayer.  I used to listen to them all the time.  The professor asked why I chose it.  I said it was because you don't hear enough Slayer in movies.  He said, "There's a reason for that."

_.. ._ ..._ .. _.. ..._ .. ._.. ._..

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Queue Tips: Curious hour.

Apparently, "Drunken Angel" is not the sequel to "Drunken Master".  No, it's totally different.  Especially since it came so many years before.  This is the seventh film by Akira Kurosawa, and I've only seen it a few days ago.

It doesn't disappoint.  It's one of the few stories by him not set during samurai times.  One of the lines, if I remember correctly, goes like this, "Forget about that feudalistic loyalty crap."  I highly recommend it, especially if you're into Kurosawa's films.

I won't tell you much more so that I don't spoil it for you.  As I may have mentioned before, I prefer knowing absolutely nothing about a film before I watch it.  Just put it on your queue.

Meanwhile, this will probably be the last DVD I'll ever get on Netflix.  I'm tired of all the changes they're making.  Discs have been coming in scratched and unplayable, and it's just not worth it having to keep asking for replacements.  They don't seem interested in getting new ones either.  Sometimes titles would just disappear and go down to the "Saved" section.

In addition, they raised the price of my plan.  So that was kind of the last straw.  From now on, I'll be giving hulu a chance.  As well as the library and my good friends who still have Netflix.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

IndieVisible: What it's all about.

Everytime I hear the song "Walkabout" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, I always think about the 1971 Nicolas Roeg film.  And vice versa.  And since there is no music video for that track (as far as I know), I decided to cut one together.

Check it out:



You may notice that the tempo is a little different.  I've had to try a couple of things so that youtube wouldn't hide or mute it.  I really wanted to use the song.  I don't know what steps to take to get permission from the label to use it.  I'm obviously not making any profit from it.  What else am I supposed to do, create or find another song like it?

Anyways, the song and the whole album is available on Amazon if you're interested.
_.. ._ ..._ .. _..   ..._ .. ._.. ._..

Monday, December 20, 2010

Commuter Illiterate: Another avid reader.

You may have seen this person.  She traverses along the streets of the city like the rest of us.  What makes her different, however, is that she can read while walking.  She relies on peripheral vision to get to her destination.

She is a busy New Yorker.  Too busy to look where she's going.  She hasn't got time to waste on minor details like watching for potholes, fellow commuters or traffic.  She is a multi-tasker.

Boy, that must be a real engrossing book she is poring over.  That is why she cannot tear herself away from it.  But just like the rest of us, she has to rush to work as well.  No time to sit on that empty bench over there to finish that one last chapter.

How educated you look as you fill your mind with knowledge.  You must be so much smarter than the rest of us regular folk.  That is clearly evident by how you are so into books.

If I had a cookie I would give it to you.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Commuter Illiterate: The avid reader.

Have you seen this person?  This is that man (or woman) who just simply has to read his fucking Metro.  What he hopes to gain from it, I don't know.  It seems important enough that he will risk his life and those of others in order to peruse the two paragraphs of knowledge devoted to each article.

Is he a stock broker reading the Wall Street Journal?  No, he is reading the fucking Metro.  Is he keeping up with current events on the New York Times?  No.  It's.  The.  Fucking.  Metro.

It is not worth stumbling about the train car as you struggle to flip the pages and fold it instead of using one of your hands to grab onto something and keep yourself steady.  It's the fucking Metro.  Or AM New York.  There is nothing pressing on there that warrants you to jostle the other passengers as you hop about the crowded train car.

Put it away.  Close your eyes.  Stare at the wall. You don't need to read it.  It's the fucking Metro.

_.. ._ ..._ .. _.. ..._ .. ._.. ._..

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Commuter Illiterate: Out standing.

So yesterday, I get off the train and walk along the platform with the masses at the 33rd Street station.  We turn around a corner towards the stairs, and there's these two ladies standing there talking away.  They were chatting about their holiday plans and what not.


See that crowd in the picture?  Imagine they are are all in a rush trying to get to work.  Now imagine two morons standing in the middle gabbing about their lives.

I don't know how long they had been there, but at that point, they didn't seem to realize that there were other people there, having to walk around them.  The swarm of commuters was diverging around them and they didn't notice it.  Where they simply oblivious, or did they simply not care?

I guess we'll just never know because we all had places to go.  Is it too much to expect people not to stand in the way in a busy area of midtown Manhattan?  Maybe it is, and we'll just have to deal with.

Some people ignored them.  Some people shook their heads.  As I walked by, I spoke out loud, "You're standing in the way!"  I don't know if they heard me.  I don't know if they moved.  But it felt good to say something and go on my merry way.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Commuter Illiterate: The leaning pole.

These posts are not actually about travelers who can't read.  They are devoted to those whom we have to put up with on the buses, trains and sidewalks because they don't realize there are other people who are commuting with them.  I have nothing against illiterate people, but I just couldn't think of anything else more cleverer.  These are the oblivious, the inconsiderate, the insane.

So let's start.  The PATH trains have these poles in middle of the car.  Those are for the use of everyone.  They are to hold on to as the train moves so the passengers are not hurled about from one side to another.

They are not, however, intended for the express purpose of leaning onto.  If the train was empty like the picture below, this may be perfectly acceptable.  But not at rush hour.  Absolutely not.  They were not placed there for the use of one person alone, but for a group of people.


So if you are one of these people who may have assumed that this is a "leaning pole", you are wrong.  And now you know.  And so you must realize that those people grabbing around you to stabilize themselves are not crazy for invading your space.  So don't roll your eyes or look annoyed, as the crowd struggles to reach home safely.  Take a step back and hold onto the pole with one hand like the rest of civilization.

_.. ._ ..._ .. _.. ..._ .. ._.. ._..

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Queue Tips: The Social Network

Apparently, "The Social Network" is not the sequel to "Network".  I think that would be "Network 2: The Revenge".  Or is it "The Network Never Sleeps"?  I don't know.

Anyway, it's completely different.  It's about this thing called Facebook.  Ever heard of it?  It's kind of like MySpace, which is kind of like Friendster, which is kind of like Xanga, which is kind of like OpenDiary, which is kind of like AOL.

But supposedly this guy who invented Facebook is some sort of a genius because his website is more popular than the others.  And supposedly this movie is really great because it's about Facebook.

Am I just me, or don't you need to be able to relate to the main character?  I found nothing redeeming about the guy.  Don't you have to show some kind of good in him to root for?  I didn't care at all what happened to him.

I also was not a big fan of the incessant music.  The soundtrack needed to be closer to Facebook and not some annoying MySpace profile where you have to go through the thousands of embedded pictures and icons just to find the audio player and hit the stop button.

Lastly, as you may have already heard, the producers actually took a real life Indian character and turned him into a Caucasian in the movie.  I don't understand that.  It's like when I watch all those hospital shows on TV and not see one Filipino nurse.  Go to any big city hospital, and you'll see what I mean.

But I digress.  This film is worth watching, but I don't understand all the hype around it.  Check it out when you get a chance.  Meanwhile, I'm working on my screenplay called "Anti-Social Network".  It's about a Blogspot blog that no one reads.

_.. ._ ..._ .. _.. ..._ .. ._.. ._..

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Queue Tips: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Apparently, "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" is not a documentary about Scottish Settlers in the New World.  It's a totally different film.  I don't know if it made a ton of money, but it kind of just came and went so I don't think so.

I was actually pleasantly surprised with this.  Michael Cera pretty much plays the same character as he has in other films, but it definitely worked for this movie.  I won't say much more because I don't like giving away details.  I myself prefer to watch with a clean slate.

Cera's persona kind of reminds me of Woody Allen.  It's basically the same guy in every film, but it works.  And now I wish I could see Michael Cera star in a Woody Allen film.

So I watch the Netflix DVD, and it's great and everything.  But get this.  I select "bonus features" on the main menu, pick the deleted scenes, click play all, and this comes up:

"This disc is intended for rental purposes and only includes the feature film.  Own it on Blu-ray or DVD to view these bonus features to complete your movie watching experience."

WTF is that?  Why even bother giving the option?  Why make us go through those selections?  Why bother writing all that and authoring it that way?  In other words, you knowingly gave me an inomplete movie watching experience.  Douchebags!  And they even took out the audio commentary, which doesn't take up much space.

This is one of the reasons why I have no respect for the movie business.  Apart from that, some of them make you sit through their previews before being able to even access the menu.  And when you finally do get access to it, some of them show you scenes from the movie or show you are about to see.

So for those who actually buy these products, they have to go through this every damn time they want to watch it.

_.. ._ ..._ .. _.. ..._ .. ._.. ._..

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

IndieVisible: O-welles.

Here's another video I cut together from "borrowed" footage.  It was supposed to be a wedding anniversary gift for my wife, but I didn't think it was good enough so I never showed it to her.



I spent some time working on this.  The scenes are from some of our favorite movies.  In the end though, I didn't think it was personal enough.  I tried to include pictures of us, but it messed up the pacing.  I thought my wife deserved better, so I just kept it to myself until now.

I don't have an official title for it.  I just call it 062610 for now.  If you can think of something better, let me know.

Monday, December 13, 2010

IndieVisible: Happy Xmax.

Here's a little video I cut together recently.  Obviously, I didn't use my own footage.  I simply had no time or energy (or budget) to shoot anything myself, so I ended up "borrowing" the visuals.  I hope it's okay under fair use.



I've always been terrified at the thought of ending up on the streets for some reason.  When I used to live with my mom, I always wanted to be good because I feared deep inside that she would just suddenly kick me out and I'd be on my own.  I'm not sure why this is.  It's not just the economy, because I've had this kind of phobia for years.   Maybe I need to investigate this.


Is it because I don't really have many relatives around here?  Is it because I saw my brother move out on bad terms?  Is it because I kept screwing around in college and underachieved?  I had plenty of relatives growing up, and I always felt at home in their places and I never had any fear of abandonment or alienation.  Maybe that's got something to do with it? 

I think it's selfish that I see homeless people and worry about myself.  It makes me feel guilty sometimes.  Am I just me, or are most people not even worried this?

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Queue Tips: Let's get dangerous.

"Bangkok Dangerous" is one of those movies that I keep trying to watch again and again.  This is mainly because it's so bad that I erase it from my mind immediately after viewing.  So I totally don't remember that I've already seen it.  You should forget about it, too.

The same with "The Day the Earth Stood Still".  It feels like time is standing still when you're watching.  I believe it came out on theatres exactly two years ago.  Keanu Reeves is a humanoid who shows no emotion and speaks in monotone.  He plays one in this film as well.

I also saw "Religulous" for some reason.  This is Bill Maher's documentary about religion.  He was okay in it, but he was very subjective.  I double-checked some of his facts, and they didn't all turn out to be a hundred percent true.

He did have some good points, but the film could have been much stronger  had he given more effort towards objectivity.  And less silly jokes.  Yes, I do know it's meant to be funny.  So they sacrificed accuracy for comedy.

Don't bother adding "Two Lovers" to your queue.  It's not a simultaneous thing.  It's one at a time.  Also, it sucks.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Is your baby stupid???

Then get "Your Baby Can Read!"  Otherwise, your child will be stupid.  Get "Your Baby Can Read!" now!!!  Do you want them to be as dumb as you?  No?  Then get "Your Baby Can Read!"

Kids who don't have "Your Baby Can Read!" will end up being stupid.  Every parent needs to order this right now this instant.  Do you love your child?  Do you want them to be left behind?  Then what are you waiting for?  Get "Your Baby Can Read!"  You'd be a moron not to do it.  Your parents probably didn't get you "Your Baby Can Read!"  Which is why you ended up the way you are.

Without "Your Baby Can Read!" your baby cannot read.  So get "Your Baby Can Read!" so your baby can read.  Hurry up and salvage whatever ounce of hope you can for your child.  Get the incredible "Your Baby Can Read!" baby reading system.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Queue Tips: Desperate for attention.

"The Tale of Despereaux" was okay.  I didn't care much for it, but I think kids will like it.  It was watchable, but at the same time, forgettable.

A more memorable kids' film is "CJ7".  It's not a cartoon.  It's directed by Stephen Chow.  I enjoyed it.  I laughed a lot.  It's too bad not many people know about it.  In this country anyway.  Check it out when you get a chance.  You might love it.

"Son of Rambow" is a good one, too.  It's about two kids becoming friends.  It made me think a lot about my own childhood and how much simpler things were.  We hung out with each other just because we liked each other and didn't have to worry about hidden agendas or ulterior motives or any kind of pretense.

"Bolt" was another good kid flick.  I pretty much enjoy most Disney cartoons though.  The last one I can remember not liking was "James and the Giant Peach",  and that was because I had read the Roald Dahl book upon which it was based.  I didn't like the decisions that the filmmakers made.  That was already so long ago forever though.  When I watched it again recently, it didn't seem so bad.  But I've already forgotten what I've read.

I also watched "The AristoCats", not to be confused with "The Aristocrats", which is nowhere close to a children's film.  I liked it.  It was directed by Wolfgang Reitherman.  I like the spirit of his Disney films.  He also did two of my favorites, "The Jungle Book" and "Robin Hood".  The voices all pretty much sound the same though.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Queue Tips: You dog dog.

I watched "Wendy and Lucy" because I heard it was good or something.  Plus, I thought the title was interesting.  You know, two girls, you know.  Well, it turns out Lucy is a dog.  No, like a real four-legged barking canine dog.

A few minutes into it, and I was thinking, I haven't seen a movie this boring since "Old Joy" (which is not the sequel to "Oldboy").  What do you know?  It turns out it was made by the same director.  I don't know what she was trying to achieve with these films, but I think it would have been nice if she somehow tried to keep her audience's attention.  If you don't accomplish that, then who cares what you're trying to say?  Nobody's watching.  As artistic as you are, you're only pleasuring yourself, as they say.

"In the Electric Mist " is a film starring Tommy Lee Jones and John Goodman.  Yes, I know you haven't heard of it.  I only learned of its existence through a Netflix ad.  I'm pretty sure it went straight to video.

It's a mystery based on a novel about a couple of murders.  It's not bad, but it's not great.  If you have nothing else to watch on a Sunday morning, I don't think you'd regret popping this into your DVD player.  Or Blu-ray if you're one of those spoiled fancy pants.

Apparently, it's not the sequel to "The Mist".  Interestingly, it's set in New Orleans, and now Goodman is back there again as he stars in the HBO series "Treme".  I also recommend that show once it becomes available on DVD.  Or yes, Blu-ray.

I don't know where I heard about "Donkey Punch", but I wasn't aware of what it was about before I watched it.  It starts out well enough, as I tried to figure out where it was going.  There were some interesting scenes, even.  But then it became apparent what kind of movie it was, just another cliche-ridden horror/thriller type with a bunch of one-dimensional young people dying one by one.

It's pretty lame and pathetic.  You might feel like you've been donkey-punched if you get this DVD.  Or Blu-ray, you spoiled little shit.

Unless you're into that kind of thing.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

IndieVisible: Mission accomplished.

This is a piece I edited four years ago.  Fours years ago?  Yes, four years ago.  It's been that long.

I usually don't share work that I edited for clients, but this video comes from their own site, so I guess it's all right to share with the public.

It took a while to cut this.  There were too many cooks in the kitchen, as they say.  Or is it, kooks in the editing room?  Haha, I made a funny.  We also did a few different versions of different lengths.

It's good to see it finished and still available on their site after all these years.  Yes, all these years.





Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Queue Tips: Inception for a touchdown!

Goal!  Slam dunk!  Home run!  A hockey score thingy!  (What is that, a goal also?  A net, is it?)  Either way, "Inception" is puckin' good.  Christopher Nolan was above par in directing this film.  Advantage: audience.

But I'm a Nolan fan anyway.  He is my second most trusted director, as far as knowing it won't disappoint.  Number one is the Coen brothers (Do they count as two?).  And after them are Danny Boyle, Wes Anderson, Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen and the rest of your favorites.

I believe this is already out on Blu-Ray and DVD, but Netflix won't have it available until January.  But it's okay.  I saw it on the theatre.  On IMAX!  Well, I didn't know what that was exactly.  I mean, I knew what it was.  But not exactly.

I'll explain after the jump.  (That means click to read more.)

Monday, December 6, 2010

Queue Tips: To the cleaners.

I just realized that the last episode I watched of "Boardwalk Empire" was the season finale.  Crap.  I actually like this show.  I try not to get into TV shows because then I'll have to watch every episode of every season, but I've been able to keep up with this one. 

The first episode was directed by Martin Scorsese, who is also an executive producer.  Interestingly, it stars Michael Pitt ("The Dreamers"), who in my opinion looks a lot like Leonardo DiCaprio ("The Aviator", "The Departed", "Shutter Island").  Featured in it as well are Kelly Macdonald (Carla Jean in "No Country for Old Men" and Diane in "Trainspotting") and Steve Buscemi (do you not know who this guy is?).

It's about bootlegging in Atlantic City during Prohibition.  Sometimes they mention Jersey City, so hurray, we exist!  Nothing really tops "The Wire" for me, but this HBO series is worth watching whenever it becomes available.  It has also been renewed for a second season, so look forward to that.

Apparently, the movie "Taken" has made a lot of money.  I believe it is the audiences who have been taken in.  Am I just me, or isn't this pretty much the same thing as "Commando"?

The poster reads: "I don't know who you are, but if you don't let my daughter go, I will find you and kill you."  So guess what happens?  They don't let his daughter go.  He finds out who they are.  He kills them.

They made another one like this recently, except his daughter is already dead and he goes out revenging.  I can't remember what it's called.  Maybe you can tell me.


For a good alternative to put on your queue, may I suggest "Funny Games U.S."?  Or you can watch the original "Funny Games" but it's in German so you'll have to read subtitles (oh no!).  It is a shot for shot remake by the same writer-director Michael Haneke.  The differences are, of course, the language spoken and minor details like cell phones instead of land lines.

I saw the remake first, and I found it riveting.  In a time where everybody uses handheld, I found the steady camera work refreshing.  The cinematography was beautiful, the composition purposeful.  The action occured within the frame, and the camera was not constantly looking for things.

As for the acting, it stars Michael Pitt, who I've mentioned above.  You also have Tim Roth (Mr. Pink, you know.  "She killed me, man.  I can't believe she killed me.").  And Naomi Watts should have won something for her performance.  She was bold and excellent.  I loved all the characters and the way the story was told.

So there you go for now.  Check them out and let me know what you think.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Queue Tips: Our town.

Apparently, "Ghost Town" is not the sequel to "Ghost World".  Or "Ghost Dad".  Or "Ghost".  Or "Chinatown".

It made me laugh though.  But I think I would have enjoyed it more if I didn't hear so many people say how good it was.  I was expecting to be ROTFL or LMAO.  I wasn't even LOL really.  I was just, I don't know, L, I guess.  Or actually :-D.

"Baby Mama" was okay, too.  It actually wasn't bad for a Lorne Michaels production.  It's not great, but it doesn't totally suck.  I would choose it over something like "Role Models ".  I don't recall actually laughing during that one.  But a lot of people seem to think it was funny.  O-welles.

"Happy-Go-Lucky" was fun to watch.  The lead character is very odd, I think.  I would be very frustrated if I ever met and tried to work with that kind of personality.  At some point I was thinking, "Why don't you freakin' listen and do what they tell you?"  But I guess the point was that she was happy being herself and didn't need to conform.  You will be happy if you add this to your queue, and lucky if it gets to you right away.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Queue Tips: As wonderful as the sun.

"Phoebe in Wonderland" was a wonderful film.  Elle Fanning's performance was touching.  It is a well done film by fairly new director Daniel Barnz.

I recently saw a DVD of "My Neighbor Totoro" with Elle and Dakota Fanning doing the voices of the girls.  I wasn't too crazy about it.  I had gotten so used to the previous version.  Also, a few words were changed here and there.  Maybe someday, I'll give it another shot, but for now I'll stick to the original English dub.  Or, I might just stick to the even more original Japanese soundtrack.

That's actually how I saw "Ponyo".  I've never watched it with the English audio version.  I can't do it.  I just love the cadence of the language.  It's not the same otherwise.

There's this other cartoon by Studio Ghibili that I like called "Pom Poko".  I think the title means "racoon" but I'm not sure.  It's a very interesting film.  For some reason -- and I'm sorry to ruin the surprise -- they drew them with really big balls that you see whenever they would jump or something.  It was just a little odd because you'd figure the animators' jobs would be so much easier if they had decided to leave out those details.  Instead, they seemed to go out of their way to draw those bouncing testicles.

Speaking of balls, I thought it was very bold of Dakota to star in "Hounddog".  This film received some attention because of the young girl appearing in some somewhat controversial scenes.  Apart from that, this film was really nothing special.  I guess it's worth watching if you're curious about all the hoopla surrounding it.  Yes, hoopla.

A better option might be "The Secret Life of Bees".  Tristan Wilds is in it also, if you became a fan of him on "The Wire".  Last I checked, he was on some teen series on the CW Network, but I guess I'm not that big a fan.  I don't remember what that show was, but I don't think I'll be seeing it on my queue.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Queue Tips: A little bit of soul.

If you haven't seen "The Visitor" yet, put it on your queue right now.  This film played with my emotions like no other recently.  I was happy and sad and worried and more.  I identified very much with meeting a group of new people and just falling absolutely in love with them.  It's happened to me a few times: summer camp in '96, Philippines in '01, Hawaii in '09.  It's excellent, and I highly recommend it.

It was directed by Thomas McCarthy, who previously did "The Station Agent".  Check that one out, too.  Both films share the same themes of loneliness and friendship.  Thomas, by the way, is the actor playing that lying reporter on the last season of "The Wire".  Add that HBO series to your queue as well.

"The Visitor" didn't get nominated for Best Director, and I think it should have been.  One film that did that year was "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button".  I read that short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and I found it more fulfilling than the film.  The movie was kind of soulless, in my opinion.

Sometimes film shouldn't be made from short works.  Another example is "The Sorcerer's Apprentice".  I believe the filmmakers thought the audience would recognize those words on the title and associate the movie with other successful franchises.  Apparently, it is not the sequel to "The Sorcerer's Stone".  Or "The Vampire's Assistant".  It's a whole other thing.

Other examples are "The Polar Express" and "Where the Wild Things Are".  I'm sure there are more, but they don't come to mind right now.  How do you make a two hour film out of a storybook with a handful of pages?  It's not easy, it seems.  There are probably some successful ones though (and you might disagree and argue that the previous ones work well enough), but they don't come to mind right now.

Speaking of soulless, by the way, "The Spirit" totally lacked, well, spirit.  If you're a big fan of the comic book, read the comic book.  Or you can watch "Hellboy" or "Hellboy 2" instead.  Or "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World".

Anyways, I'll leave you to it.  I have to finish my screenplay.  It's about a guy who changes moods real fast.  It's called "Bipolar Express".

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Queue Tips: Of the other kind.

"Rachel Getting Married" is a good film, but they seemed to be going for that wedding video look and I found it really annoying.  I haven't really like the handheld style since "Homicide: Life on the Street".  I find the moving camera style to be totally overrated.  It just gives me a headache.

But maybe that's what director Jonathan Demme hoped to achieve, as the characters themselves were going through troubled states of minds.  This film was well cast.  I wouldn't have had a problem with any of them getting an Oscar nomination or any kind of recognition.  I don't actually pay attention much to that stuff, so I don't know if they actually did, but I don't think so.

Meanwhile, Marisa Tomei was nominated for "The Wrestler".  It was a fine performance, but had it been a different actress, I wonder if anyone would have noticed.  I think this was simply a surprise factor.  People were shocked when they realized that she can pretty much kind of sort of act.

Penelope Cruz was also nominated for her role in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" (the same year as above, I believe).  I like her, and she has a great body of work (if you know what I mean), but I didn't see anything Oscar-worthy in this film.  She should have gotten a nomination for "Volver" though.  I don't know if she did or not.  And "Spanglish".  Wait, was that her in "Spanglish"?

Angelina Jolie was nominated for "Changeling".  Again, I think this was because she was doing something different than an action film.  Surprise.  Revelation.  Mind blowing.  This film was worth watching but I don't think it was all that great.

Kate Winslet won that year I think.  2008, was it?  I still don't understand it.  She was definitely excellent in "Little Children" though.  What was all the hype with "The Reader"?  Am I just me, or wasn't that film a tad overrated.  Why don't you just read the book?

And "Revolutionary Road"?  There was nothing revolutionary about it.  The fifties sucked, I get it.  Didn't Todd Haynes already cover this in "Far From Heaven"?  Julianne Moore did a much better job relating what her character was going through in that film.  But did she get nominated?  No.  She wasn't in "Titanic".

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Queue Tips: The best medicine.

Just reviewing some recently watched DVDs on my Netflix queue.  You know how they say that laughter is the best medicine?  Well, "Medicine Man" might just cure some of your ills as you laugh at how bad of a movie it is.

Actually, no.  You'll be sad.  Don't waste your time with this one.  I don't know why anyone would ever think Sean Connery and Lorraine Bracco would be a good pair.  Bracco is a braying one-trick pony with her annoying nagging that worked so well in "Goodfellas ".  But that was for a few minutes at a time and her husband kept trying to silence her or avoid her.

In thish film, Connery believesh he hash found a cure for cancer.  And he struggles to create more before the rain forest where he is working on is cut down or burned down or something.  What he really should have been working on is a dose of shut-the-hell-up for Lorraine's character.

Next up is "Misery", and you pretty much know what it's about.  This film has been reference or parodied so often that it was no longer suspenseful when I finally watched it.  If you're curious, you might as well check it out.  It's a good film that has unfortunately been ruined by others.  There are characters here that reminded me of Marge Gunderson in "Fargo", especially with all the snow.

I'm working on a sequel for this film.  It's called "Misery Loves Company".  It's about a landlord who tortures his tenants after finding out the male one is not actually gay and, along with the two female ones, have been making a fool of him resulting in ensuing craziness.  Also, the landlord keeps hearing canned laughter in his head.  Also, the detectives who are trying to save them are a bickering old couple.

Last one for now is "Midnight Run".  This is pretty much just "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" with Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin instead of Steve Martin and John Candy.  The plot itself is nothing special, and some of the situations don't necessarily make the most sense.

For example, I don't know how it worked in the '80s, but canceling another person's credit card couldn't have been as easy as making a simple phone call.  In any case, wouldn't a person call their credit card company upon finding out that they have been cancelled?  But this is just a fun movie, and those things can and should be forgiven.  What really makes it worth watching are the performances of and chemistry between De Niro and Grodin.

There was a rumor a few months ago that they would make sequel to this, but fortunately I haven't heard anything about it since.  I guess the best name for it would have been "Another Midnight Run".  The plot?  A bounty hunter has to take a fugitive cross country -- no, around the world -- by midnight.  Only this time, they have to take a giant slobbery dog with them.  It'll be a hit.