The WHY's man, the WHY'S, man.

Ideas abound.  And so do scripts, treatments, synopsis's, scribbles, etc.  The challenge then and now has always been two fold (not true, but I like 2's).  Although, technology, access and credit cards make it a bit less strenuous at a certain threshold.   

A) The resources = Money, equipment, talent, time, etc.  

B) The "Why's".  Why do you want to invest the A's for the B's?  Be specific.  Search for the answer to the question, because this clears the clutter.  And, then you can judge whether the A is really worth the B for a particular project.

We can never predict the future.  You can write a 5 year, 10 year, 1 month, 7 month plan all you want.  And, I'll be the first to encourage it.  But, the world probably has other plans.  

You roll with it.  Don't put all your faith on a "singular" preconceived plan, one that is destined to change.  That's what life is.  One continuous ocean of swirls and currents and big FUCKING WHALES AND GIANT SQUIDS.    

Video Killed The Movie (at least for today)

Video is the new mainstream form.  I've been saying it for a few years now, but as it's producers have gotten more savvy with technology and techniques, they can mimic, but more importantly, innovative trends and styles in the visual medium at a hyper kinetic pace.  This is why individual music video directors are not as sought out as before.  Because, anybody with some visual map can do it.  And they are.  In droves.  You get the good and the bad, but, you get it all.  And fast.  And new, and fresh.  TV anyone?

That in lies the huge challenge for Hollywood and feature films in general (especially ones that really on novelty and gimmicks).  The human appetite for novelty knows no bounds.  And video quenches that thirst weekly, for 1/100th of the price.  Plus, for its consumers, hell, it's free.

That's why, in some weird essence, a movie like SPRING BREAKERS competes with RiFF RAFF and his once a week music videos (the man who I believe is the genesis of the film, even if it be subconscious).  RiFF RAFF has been around for a few years, doing videos which are in the same spirit of the feature film.  For people familiar with his work, the movie feels tedious and outdated.

Of course, I'm exaggerating to make some point.  But, we cannot turn a blind eye to this phenomenon.  It exists.  Just today, I watched a well made, action POV music video that is buzzing the net. Comments include, "best thing I've ever seen", or "hollywood can never touch this".  Of course, this happens almost weekly and is a by product of internet hyper hyperbole. And, once the surface of the video is scratched, the novelty wears off quick.  But, the savvy generation has seen it, internalized it and moved on.  

You can no doubt see that this is where the wellspring of ideas originate these days.  And, by the time Hollywood or some indie director rips it off and places the same scene in a larger context, it's already old news for the next generation.  They've seen it, experienced it, and moved on to about 20 other new things.  This generation doesn't place the same importance on scale as they did before.  In the game of originality, who done it first is as important as who done it better.

For feature films to keep a footing in its proper place, it must rely on it's core strengths, that of unique storytelling, expression and originality no matter how difficult. The rerun, sequel game is not a long term strategy.  If it is, ruin is almost guaranteed.  Once the nerds turn away because there favorite comic book video game is better than the movie, well, then what?  You don't think that's going to happen?  

Long form films must also adapt to a faster distribution strategy.  One that keeps it fresh in a market that changes faster than a blink of an eye. Certainly not an easy task.

mondays.

“You know those people who hate Mondays. Stop hanging out with those people.”

— rima

The Cosby's vs Tarkovsky

Does size and scale matter in how we perceive works of art?

How about in cinema?  

It seems that a certain threshold is subjective, but that in the majority, a standard must be reached before subjects are comfortable enough to identify said object.

In the case of cinema, this is the budget threshold, which most often refers to production value.

Although we have seen a large influx and adherence to lo-fi in almost all areas of media (music, video, design) it seems that its consumption is temporary and best served on short segments.

The feature film is altogether a different animal.  When we think of scale, does the medium of film in this day and age, have any rights to claim itself to art.

I'm sure this might get your blood boiling.  but give it a good swirl in the noggin.  

Movies are, and always will be a business masquerading as pop-art.  Once this distinction is made, our reaction to it is clearer. After all, is Tarkovsky any more arty than The Cosby show?

The answer of course is yes, but it becomes incredibly difficult to define properly.  And if so, to what degree and who gets the rights to final assessment?

deluxe memory man.

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Much Ado About Nothings

I spend the least amount of time I can these days going through feeds that refer to filmmaking.  

Ironically (wrong word here), filmmaking is the thing I spend most of my time doing. I just try not to pay attention to the daily "news", since I think it's a destructive habit in the long run.  Especially in a field that naturally cycles so slow. (this is obviously changing, like in every human endeavor)  

The latest fad.  The newest thing.  Something happened in crowdfunding.  Panasonic released a new 10k digital camera.  So and so just released her 10th film.

All this constant noise.  All this to do about nothings.  I think it's better to focus on the task's at hand.  In front of your face.  Or, your family.  Your world.  Your puppy. Take care of that first.  And when some time is left over, get better at other things.  

The rest of it, what Ted Hope happened to say today, or what's in the latest post at Filmmaker Mag, or what gang sign Justin Bieber threw up today  (see what I'm saying) probably doesn't matter in the big picture.

Now, I'm not saying that stuff isn't important.  It is, it's domain knowledge.  You might benefit from it.  But, not everything second.  Probably not everyday.  And, if you're trying to make a mark, like a real lasting one, why thread in the water with all the other fish?  

A little bit of Charlie Munger, Charlie Parker, and Charlie Brown will get your head clearer then your retort at someones latest blog post about NO-BUDGET FILMMAKING or HOW TO WRITE A SCREENPLAY IN 60 MINUTES.  

Stay original.  Don't worry about the noise.  Don't worry about the grain.  Grain is beautiful after all.

routine.

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​routine.

today.

​todays checklist.

dead ends.

Things can turn from good to bad in a blink.  And when the animal instinct takes over, it clouds all logical, thoughtful consideration necessary for good judgement.

This is the scary moment.  When we feel that regardless of how much willpower or drive or control we have, we sometimes don't.  Nor can't.

Better to recover faster by affording it the time it takes.  Sometimes fighting the feelings prolong the suffering. 

​dead ends.  from that one Burbank Nights series.

Orlando's Garage.

Im off to a shoot in Orlando, FL. Full disclosure, Florida is not my favorite state. But, always open to receiving new information.

Also, doing my first update from a phone. It's strange how just a little change in tools affects how the brain works with words.

This does not feel very comfortable. Hopefully, this changes.

Till next time, I leave you with this image, and a straight up ol school peace sign, and a Mercedes medallion hanging from my neck G.

Doggies on the Westside.

I'm a dog person.  This is an understatement.  I'm also a cat person, but not to equal affinity.

I like big breeds, but I have room for the little guys as well.  

At this very instant, two adorable pit bulls are taking a little nap on the couch adjacent to where I'm typing this.  

I could make a hyperbolic statement like so; "I just don't get people who don't like dogs".  Or, "I can never trust anyone who doesn't like dogs."  In both statements, you can superimpose dogs for any animal, or, actually, just about anything.

I hear statements of this type constantly.  And, I’m sure at some point or another I've made similar creeds.  I mean, HOW THE FUCK CAN YOU NOT LIKE DOGS?  Really, they directly sped up human evolution.  They're also cute as a mofo.  And loyal.  And they love you, for being you.  So, while the rest of the world is busy trying to shame you, the dog, she just wants her tummy rubbed and a little snack.

One of my uncles came to visit from another country recently.  He’s not American.  He's old school.  Where he's from, at least in his times, dogs were not thought of as pets, the same way we think of them.  Dogs were mainly used for working or even when identified as pets, they were kept outdoors exclusively.  And, all the while, carrying around with them an antagonistic stigma, that they were dirty (this is of course true in the literal sense at times).  Dirt equates to not cleanly, thus, not suited for man to sleep next too, on the couch.  

In fact, this is one of the reasons your favorite MC/Weird Loveable/Crip creature Snoop Doggy Dog changed his name to Snoop Lion. Turns out that them Rasta's think dog's are a lowly animal (pop culture ya’ll).  Still love Bob Marley, even though he thought your dog was filthy, like a pig? (pigs are cute as well, and the answer coming up)

So, keep this little thing in mind.  Not everybody thinks about things like you do.  And, that's probably a good thing.  Once you set outside of your worldview, you might open the door to a little more empathy because you’ll be working to look through someone else’s lenscrafters.  Of course, you can still love your doggies the same.  You might even love the human race a little more, you misanthropic scoundrel. 

Roscoe & Buckley do the dew.​

Aint Nobody Got Time 4 Dat.

Time management is a weird enterprise.  The more discipline, the more inflexibility.  Things get done at the expense of other things.  

Possibly, things of a more pressing matter.  Not crisis mode stuff, but, important, relationship building, people stuff. The quadrant 2 stuff.    

At the other spectrum is the no discipline approach.  The world of stoners (not talking about you PHD having mofo's who smoke pot all day, you know who you are) and TV, and wine, and stupid meetings on top of meetings.

I like discipline.  Sometimes it strangles your relationships though.  Be careful not to worship your schedule. 

finite musings.

​finite musings.

Title #23

Sitting, watching the humans pass by.
Many shapes, all sizes.
What is the reason they've all decided
to pass my window today?
Was it appropriate yesterday?
Tomorrow?
Humans, pass by.  
It's ok.  I enjoy your smiles.
I enjoy your frowns.
You have no choice but to pass by.
But you have a choice in how you pass by.
That is good enough for our species.  
A great responsibility.

How much do you Need your Blanket.

The moment you get lost in NEEDING something on an intellectual/ego level, you lose a great sense of power.  And in the course of this desperation, the thing which you seek is always 10 steps ahead of you.  

Now, I'm not talking about the basics.  The first levels of Maslow here.  The vital needs are the basics of life.  Fortunately, those are automatic or made easy to attain for many inhabitants on earth.  We have our Costco's and Wal-Mart ‘s and Starbucks, and Amazon's.  Many people however still don't have their basic vital needs met.  Don't ever forget that fact.

Marx (I am by no means a Commie) defined the human specimen as "creatures of need".  And in the process of meeting these needs, created suffering.  Here, he was talking about all needs, including moral, spiritual, food, shelter, etc.  The "created suffering" piece is of interest here.  

Many Eastern religions focus on shedding excessive neediness.  At the highest levels, all neediness.

We all want things.  We all strive for things.  But that weird form of obsession, that drives some to need something so bad, without any sense of the why's, that's usually the most unattractive.  

That's a reason the desperate remain desperate.  Removing that thick scented blanket of NEED opens you up.  Gives you back a sense of power.  How can you see clearly if you're engulfed in it?  You can't.  

De-Linus van Pelt yourself, and drop that sweet, comfortable blanket.  Test yourself.  Immediately, you might feel a sense of empowerment.  The idea is not in control.  You are.  

Let go.  See what happens.  

​What do you Need?