New York, New York

Ahoy hoy.

Finally back home from Cali, got back in a few days ago. Haven't had much time to post on here, so here's a catchup:

My lovely girlfriend Beth came out to visit me on the last week of living in LA, she's never been out here before so she was excited to come out to the west coast and see it for herself. Class ended a few days after, unfortunately my short was not completed in due time, it turns out that my computer in addition to the older version of Final Cut I am running is unable to use HD footage (I shot mine in HDV, 1080i format). If I downgrade the footage and recapture, then I should probably get it to work, but there's really no point in doing so. I'll probably just get to cutting it on my own time at Hiccup Media.

Other than that, we spent the last week doing some fun shit. The very first night she got here, I, being the wonderful boyfriend I am, took her out to Sardo's in Burbank for Porn Star Karaoke! Not only that, it was also the 5 year anniversary. 5 years of watching people who have sex for money use their mouths for singing Billy Joel songs instead...certainly something to celebrate. I got pictures of course, most notably with Nikki Hunter. Stephanie Swift, Monica Mayhem, Marc Davis were there too (No Ron or Jenna! I was pissed...) Also got pictures with a male and female star who I recognize only when naked, but couldn't tell you their names. A bunch of friends from class we made came out with us too, overall it was a lot of fun and just really silly.

Aside from PSK, we also went out to Hollywood and walked around the blvd, admiring the walk of shamefame. I think I saw former teen idol/crack-smoker Leif Garret there as well, but he wasn't worth the time to go up to. That friday, we went out to Venice Beach during the day and hung out, then met up with my brother and his girlfriend to go see "Point Break Live!", which if you've ever seen the movie Point Break, you can guess what it's about. If anyone is in LA reading this, I highly suggest going to it, it was a lot of fun. The play is totally making fun of Point Break, they shoot squirtguns out at the audience, along with other liquids...but luckily for you, they provide ponchos when you enter. But the best part about Point Break Live! is that they pick out an audience member for each performance to go up and play the Keanu Reeves role of Johnny Utah. An actor, playing the part of a PA, stands by them and hands them cue-cards to read off of...completely hillarious, even the actors look like they all have a great time performing each time. Lots of homo-erotic jokes, actual pot-smoking on stage, and audience goating makes it a good time.

Flight back was easy but plans were changed last minute, United Airlines is a wonderful (yea right) service and cancelled my flight at 5 in the morning. Thankfully though, they rebooked me and the new flight was better than my original. Got back to NY safe and sound and I was really glad to be back. Everyone asked me if I would miss California, to which my response was yes, but I missed NY more. Allinall, it was a good trip out, I learned a lot, shot a short, got my script into some hands, learned about the LA scene and got to meet some pornstars. Goodtimes, goodtimes.

Civilization at last

Attention Civilians:

The terrible trio (known individually as Luke, Eric and Zach) have finally discovered actual nightlife nearby.

In the quiet mountain town known as Pasadena, the three stumbled upon a section called "Colorado Blvd" that actually had people walking (walking!) on the streets at night past 10 pm. This, so far to them, has been unheard of in California since they've been out here.

In relation to this sudden news, the trio decided they should take advantage of this opportunity. Afterall, the first day of shooting Zach's sci-fi epic was complete, and they had the day free tomorrow to do what they pleased. The night began at a sushi bar, where much Eel and Avocado rolls and Sapporo was consumed. Onwards, the three amigos discovered more places that served alcohol at night, and discovered that people in California are afraid to jaywalk...which later the reason why became apparant after they all jaywalked and then promptly got pulled over by an officer on a motorcycle. The cop gave them the stern lecture they've been getting from all of the cops out here, and sent them on their merry way.

After more alcohol was consumed at another establishment (this one had a magic bus inside) they decided to call it a night. At first, they couldn't find their parking lot...everything out here looks the same damnit. Drunkenly asking another police officer, a BRITISH police officer at that, they received more information as to this "Raymond St" they were looking for. When the group found their car, it was an event onto itself...

Whoever was driving (lets say, oh, Eric) had left the lights on the car when they parked, which in turn led to the car not turning on. After spreading out on foot, they found a drunk mexican who for some reason had jumper cables but no car (let's not ask questions) who agreed to help them out. This being a parking lot, other people are driving as well and they got someone to help them out in the jam. The misadventure of the night had come to an end, and it was off to dreamland for the trio.

WRAP!!!

Today, around 4:30 PM (little before it, maybe a little after, who knows...) I wrapped production of "Dusty Roads", my short film.

It's fucking awesome to be done shooting it, we had a good time doing it and things more or less went pretty smoothly. No late nights shooting, everything was pretty much on schedule as I had planned it out, the actors were amazing, so was the crew, and we had a good time making it.

Today we shot out in the Azusa Canyons nearby, which is astounding beauty in California and the landscape which completely inspired me to write the script for Dusty Roads. I just took one look at these mountains and immediately thought, "I have to shoot this". Since I'm in California to shoot, why not shoot something that could only be done here? There's no landscape like this in NY anywhere.

Thank you all to everyone involved, now it's on to post...the cut should be finished, oh I don't know...2010? Haha.

Check out the pictures above, these are a few shots from the shoot today, the actress is Lauren Baldwin and the actor is Andrew Pangle...future Hollywood stars who will one day get so huge and I can ride their coattails, heh heh.

Day One, Complete!

Awright,

So today was the first day of shooting my short...not only was it the first day for my short, it was the first day of shooting all of our shorts, period.

It went really well, was definitely an experience. After shooting the video for "My Favorite Color's Fabulous" earlier, which had no sound being recorded, it was a breeze compared to shooting an actual scripted piece. I know it should be obvious, but recording something with sound makes it 1000x more difficult. The mic's pick up EVERYTHING (the wind, a car door opening down the block, footsteps, the grass rustling, etc.) and in a way, you become slave to the sound, rather than the image. I was very nervous earlier today, because it was so new and being the director again is in itself an anxious experience (at least for me, I'm not used to being in charge of a set) but we all had fun and enjoyed ourselves. The actors were amazing, nailing every take we did, if I could have I would have used every 1st take they did because they got it right away, the reason for re-takes? Sound issues, of course. As well, everyone who crewed up and came was awesome too, thank you for all the great work and being in there going for it, all in all a good first day. 2nd day (and hopefully final) is sunday, and then its on to post!

Nowwwwww...it's also the 4th of July, in California, where EVERYONE'S got fireworks! I swear, we drove into the "hood" of Azusa (which looks so nice here compared to say, Bushwick, Brooklyn) and there were blocks of people all out going nuts with fireworks. Crazy ones that shot right up into the air and exploded into other pieces, lots of colors and all the nutsiness that goes along with fireworks...but in every single direction you looked. Turn right, BOOM! Turn left, BANG! 180 degrees...WHOOSH! Fucking awesome....I just love shiny shit!

Anyway, I'm off to bed right now, totally exhaused from today and we've got more work tommorow. It's the first day of shooting Eric's short, and it's off the mountains in the afternoon.

Happy Independence Day everybody!

My Make-A-Wish Wish

Heads up

Soooooooooo...

I just finally finished casting for my short, "Dusty Roads" is the tentative title. I like it, but I'm not in love with it. It works though.

Anyway, I found my female lead, Lauren Baldwin (who is also British!) who came in and did a great audition, as well as being available this weekend. It took me a while to find a male lead, but I did yesterday, his name is Andrew Pangle, from Florida, and also did a fantastic audition and was very friendly and hungry for work...two things I look most for when casting/crewing. To me, I'd rather have a friendly and willing crew that has desire for the project, rather than the technically best and most talented people on there that are not as friendly and do not have the drive. I've worked on quite a few shite crews like that, and it's just miserable. Always always always better to work with people who are excited and eager, even if they have less experience. As we know in politics, experience doesn't always mean you're better...sometimes it can just mean you've been sitting in shit for longer than most.

So hopefully will be shooting this weekend and it'll work out! But as everyone in the film industry knows, there's no such thing as a sure shot. And Jim Lindsay, in one of his Jim-Ism's said to me yesterday, "If your not worried, then something is wrong". So on the record, I'm still worried.