The Day After!

Yesterday I did my experiment...the one were I willed myself to have a good day. I only allowed positive thinking, and I forced myself to be happy. It worked. Holy shit, I had a great day.

Today sucked though...Just don't have enough oommp to keep those happy vibes going for two days in a row. Tonight I will wallow in my own misery.

Tomorrow, maybe I will try the happy dance again? Are you seeing a pattern...Hummm, maybe I will write a book, "How to get off the middle aged angst roller coaster"? It would have to be a book of interviews with a variety of people who have accomplished this, cause God knows I sure haven't.

Ever have one of those days?

Every have one of those days where everything you touch goes wrong? By the time the evening rolls around you wonder why you bothered getting out of bed? Well, I had one of those days, yesterday. I won't get into the reasons because that will just get me into trouble. But I am sure you all know what I am talking about. I woke this morning just a bit afraid of what lay ahead. I then decided you know what if I will the bad vibes away perhaps, they will go away. So today is going to be an experiment for me...As negativity threatens to engulf me I will WILL it away. Be gone bad karma, be gone nasty thoughts, hello positivity.

God, I am making myself nauseous with positive thoughts. How do happy people get through life? If I was always happy I think I might consider suicide. Anger and angst two ingredients in creating masterful art!

So I am off, wish me luck. I will report my finding tomorrow.

Another day, another screening

Saturday night...big night for me. Saturday night I will be screening my new short film "Honest you won't get hooked" for a handful of the actors who were in the film. On a scale of 1-10 with one being "easy breezy" to 10 being "oh shit I am tense", this screening will be a 1.5. When you show actors a films they very rarely judge the film or anything outside of their performance. Whew, I can relax. But I do plan on doing something different. I am going to videotape this screening, do some interviews, and then release the piece onto YouTube, so that you all can see their reaction. Won't show you the film but will show you the actors reacting to themselves. Ummm could be interesting or it could be dullsville. I guess you will be the judge.

There will also be some other releases soon, all building to the screening on February 27. Hey on another note, good news...as part of the screening one of the film producers will perform. This producer is actually one of Edmonton's leading singer/songwriters Dale Ladouceur. So yeah, she is going to do a set so even if you hate the film you will probably like the music and it will be free.

In case you missed it, below is the link to the shows music video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7ckujCMX3s&feature=player_embedded

Responsibility

I now have a blog. So what does that mean? Do I have to update it daily, weekly, monthly...or once in a blue moon. Do I have a responsibility to the 9 followers. Do they really care what I have to say or are they just really kind friends.

Well, it's Wednesday, I did some grocery shopping, and I have nothing to say. Hmmm, having a blog is kind of like Twitter. Okay, who is with me...is Twitter not the dumbest thing you have ever heard of. I use it and feel terrible. I feel like a narcissist, who constantly must tell people what is going on in my dull, average life. How can I even remotely think someone might be interested by the fact that I just got back from grocery shopping. Okay, I don't do that, I don't use Twitter the way it was meant to be used...but I just don't have that kind of conceit. Or am I a hypocrite as I spout off about all my ideas and thoughts here on my new blog.

"Honest you won't get hooked"- The Music Video

So, today marks the release of the music video "Honest you won't get hooked" from the short film of the same name. It was written and performed by two local young ladies; Colleen Nuc and Brittany Black. It will be used as the opening title sequence of the film. Hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7ckujCMX3s&feature=player_embedded

Film Screening Hell!

It's over, my first screening with someone who hasn't seen anything of the film. One of the producers and the woman who is doing publicity...and I got the impression they both really liked it. So that is over, the rest will be easier.

Watch for the music video which will be coming to a You Tube near you. Don't panic, you won't have to go look, we will be sending you all links.

So I was sitting contemplating the problems with our industry and realized there are so many where do I start. Well the one bone of contention is funding. The art grants suck. They are not always based on content but many times are judged on how well the application was done and whether or not you made mistakes. Case in point, last year I applied for an AFA grant to for the film I just did. I applied as an individual, that was what the grant was for (I understood this). In the questionnaire, I was asked if I am connected to any production companies and if so what are they called. I wrote down my company name "Hired Gun Productions Inc". So I wait the 4 months to get a letter stating that I have been disqualified because you can't be connected to an Incorporated company...even though I was applying as an individual (I guess if you have a company you no longer matter as a person). What really frosted me,is that they waited 4 months to reject my application when all they needed to do was give me a call to straighten out the issue...but no its easier to knock another one of the list...I said fuck it, and made the film for nothing...thank god they have grants to help with all this. Maybe it's just me, but I think there is a better way and I have the answer...I am sure of it!

First screenings

The hardest part of doing a film is that eventually you have to show it to someone. To date, everyone who has seen it has been involved with it which isn't fair because there is a bias. Today, I am showing one of the producers and the publicist a first view. Sure they are not unbiased either...but I need to ease into the screenings. Next weekend I will show it to a couple of the actors and then I will branch out to the great unwashed.

Sometimes, at least for me you really need to play head games. A film is such a personal part of you there is a hesitation to put it out there. But you have to do it. That is why you did the film to begin with. You wanted to tell a story, deliver a message, communicate a thought. I hope people get the message in my film. I know I will offend some, but that is okay...the people I offend I really wasn't trying to reach.

So far I have had only one bad review, and that came from someone who only saw a rough cut. They may still hate it now that it's done...but at least now it is what was intended to be. I really protect rough cuts from people who don't need to see them. It is very difficult to judge a film from the rough cut, you get an idea if it has a flow, but it is not till it's finished that you really see if it has legs or not.

Oh well time to go, wish me luck...hope the 2 people that see it today enjoy it.