Archive for October, 2007

Fresno creatives get together to talk film, misspell names

This past Sat. was not only the day to get drunk while dressed up like your favorite fictional character, but it was also a day of reckoning for the film community here in Fresno. The Fresno Filmmaker Forum took place in downtown Fresno early in the morning as although it started off a bit much like a city council meeting with people yelling out ideas as the speaker tried to keep up with all the spewage, it suddenly turned into a good meeting of people and ideas. Ray Arthur, the Fresno Film Commissioner was present and that lent a aire of authenticity and that was important. To see that the city is going to actually take an active role in not only courting Hollywood but maybe, just maybe, we can nurture and cultivate our own productions & filmmakers. Although my name was misspelled on my name tag that I paid $12 for (weird…that was the first time ever that has happened), overall it was a good experience. “So what else happened?” you might ask. Well, I had to take off to get my Thor costume ready for the night’s festivities. But something tells me that this won’t be the last forum held simply due to the sheer amount of people that showed up and really showed an interest in creating something from nothing. Keep an eye on the Fresno Filmmaker Forum website and this very blog for future events!

RZA Makes More Beautiful Music

Step 1: Even if you’ve already heard it, just press play.

Step 2: So you like? I’m sure some of you won’t, but listen to RZA spit about how the song came to.

Did that 2nd video change your perspective of the original song? Good back and really listen to it again, I’ll wait………….cool? Aight, now ask yourself this question (hope you like asking yourself questions): At what point does something become art? I mean Roger Ebert refuses to acknowledge video games as an art form all while the hundreds of graphic designers, animators, illustrators and art directors that the industry supports are making a good living doing what they do best: being artistic. I guess that poses another question: What defines a piece of art? Is it some guys Virgin Mary painting made out of shit? Is that any less art than the poster promoting an upcoming concert at the Fillmore? I don’t know, just seeing that just a little bit of thought was put behind making the music speaks volumes to me, especially when we live in these “pimpin” days where everything is pushed along by the bottom line. I guess the Clan was right on target with C.R.E.A.M.: Cash really does rule everything around us. Almost. Fortunately, RZA wasn’t listening to his own message.

An Inch Or A Mile

So here it is. Our first “complete” short and the end result of what felt like a 2 week long face grinding. Shot entirely here in Fresno, this is just a little preview of what’s to come (hopefully). If you like what you see or you don’t like, let us know. We will continue making films and try to improve our skills so for being our first, I’d have to say it didn’t come out too bad. Just training for “Blur” So if you wish to see this in it’s non-web compressed format and projected onto a screen, come by the Fresno Art Museum’s 1st Annual Latino Film Festival Nov. 2-4 where it will be screened. No for sure date yet, but I’m thinking it’s going to be on Sun. between 12pm & 5pm but check the website for further updates. Come on out and help support local filmmaking! Also, for you of those around here in Fresno that are into filmmaking, you should attend Fresno Filmmakers Forum taking place Saturday, Oct. 27 in downtown Fresno. The cost is $15 and it seems to be a day long conference filled with some good film related talks. If interested, definately check it out.

Geeezzz…..FIANLLY!

Yeah, it took me a couple days (what can I say, I’m lazy) but here’s the video for you guys. Nothing mind blowing but nonetheless interesting to see these legends walking around all the while those bastard PAs trying to get in the way of your shots so I cut out some of the fat and this is what you get: A couple of minutes of the Star Wars creator (see that fat head? That’s where it all came from….shit’s deep) & Indiana Jones himself walking around in Fresno. Hmmmm…. mano a mano, who would win in a fist fight, I wonder? Comment away!

Random Thoughts

• Nissan was forced to spill the beans on the new 2009 GT-R when Motor Trend accidentally let their Dec. cover image slip out a week or so before the car official unveiling over a the Tokyo Auto Show. Sucks for them, good for everyone else. The car looks AMAZING! Disagree? Suck it, that car kicks ass! Just ask this lady:

http://view.break.com/381553 - Watch more free videos

I love my Subie but this car is simply breath taking. Specs to come soon, hopefully!

• Apple announced Oct. 26th as the release date for the latest OSX update, playfully named Leopard. Can’t wait to give Steve jobs even more of my money…..asshole. Yes I caved in and bought the iPhone after the price drop last month and I love it, but Apple always finds to extract more & more money from me. Even though it pains me to spend, every product I’ve ever bought from them has been good to me (except that Apple II GS….I still want my money back for that bullshit-ass computer, Steve).

•Anyone else pick up Stephen Colbert’s “I Am America (And So Can You!)?” Haven’t had a chance to dive into it very much but the guy’s been all over the boob tube last week. GMA, Larry King Live….and, of course, The Colbert Report where he was interviewed by….Stephen Colbert?!

While we’re here, check out this story on Mexico’s 1st EVAR Taco Bell:

•For those of you who care, the Lucas/ Ford video should be up later this week, maybe even as early as tomorrow. So for now, I gotta get back to work on my Halloween costume. Anyone know how to sew?

"It Belongs In A Museum!"

“No, Dr. Jones….You do!” Sorry, that’s my favorite line from “The Last Crusade” Yeah, kinda odd, but for some reason, that’s the one that sticks out. So as some of you locals might have heard, the movies were in town last week to film a portion of the latest Spielberg film, “Indiana Jones and The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull.” Shooting in Fresno and at Eagle Field in Firebaugh (Damn you Spielberg! That was my location!) I went over there to see what I saw and I saw some cool stuff. Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf & Señor Estar Gwars himself, George Lucas were on the set and captured by my lens. No Spielberg for me but some uber-dork (who was running around with DVDs asking people how much they thought he could sell a beat to shit copy of Jurassic Park 2 signed by Spielberg) said he heard him over a loudspeaker giving direction. The airport was used as the airport for Mexico City circa 1950 or so as you can see the Mexican flag flying over it in the pic. Here’s the local news report on it. Check out the pics and enjoy. Also, check out Late Update here for more pics & videos. I’ll post the video of Ford & Lucas sitting down for tea time later.

How Myspace Will Destroy My Campaign For President

As the debates rage all over the air waves about Hillary’s laugh & Obama’s lapel pin, I’ve started thinking: Imagine if the internet was around when these candidates were in their youngin’ days. Imagine all the dirt the media would be uncovering about the contenders. Now, fast forward 35 or so years ahead and think all the dirt that will uncovered when someone over at the New York Post finds Susan Hopeful’s Myspace blog from her high school days calling Bush a imperialistic fuck face for the war in Iraq right next to the blog calling Jessica Sanchez a “beaner bitch” cause she stole her boyfriend. As you know, all the stuff you post on the internets is archived and can (and will) be accessed for decades to come. That pic of you wearing next to nothing? Archived. That blog where you described your acid trip while you drove to your buddy’s house? That’s there, too. So you say you never, ever plan to get into public office? That’s cool, but never say never. And remember, when that lawsuit comes up and your comment on someone’s thread from 15 years ago contradicts your testimony, there’s only one person to blame. Shit’s crazy and by even venturing out into the nether regions of the net, you risk opening yourself up. But then again, every time you drive anywhere, you opening yourself up to a gruesome death, as well. Just be careful about shit (haven’t you seen those wonderful PSA’s on the telly?). I already have the claim that Cesar Chavez is a communist on my blog and I’m sticking by it (for now). Maybe one of these days, that comment will lose my the hispanic vote and cause me to lose my 2040 Presidential bid……more like Firebaugh city mayoral bid, actually. Either way, it’s gonna be very interesting to see how all this is gonna come into play in the near future. You think it’s bad now? Just wait. I’m positive it’s only going to get nastier. But the question is should they be held accountable for the ideas and thoughts they had as teens or young adults? In my opinion, no. But the media doesn’t care and news is news. Headlines sell and always will and they will. It’s just crazy to step back and realize that the arena of the presidential campaign is ever so dynamic. A lot changes in 4 years. I mean the You Tube debates? Who would of ever though that kind of stuff would be happening 4 years ago? Now, the candidates are taking questions from a SNOWMAN! A FUCKEN SNOWMAN!! Next election, I’ll be asking Stephen Colbert what he thinks was the best video game system of all time and why, all while we blast each other away during an online game of Halo 5.

Festival Update & Misc. Info

After the marathon that was “An Inch Or A Mile” (AIOAM) I’ve been taking it a bit easy. Between Halo 3 (yeah, I’m still not online) and general “resting” I’ve recently started plotting my next screenplay. No, it’s not “Blur” but rather just a side project that I don’t plan to tackle for a while, just an idea that’s been brewing. But I got an email this morning announcing that the 1st Annual Latino Film Festival was pushed back to Nov. 2nd-4th so make sure to mark the dates, because with the email about the date change came word that our little project was accepted and will be shown at the festival (hence the exploding head up there)!!
So that’s great news! Don’t know the exact date and time but as soon as I hear anything, I will update here. So while you wait for that, please mosey on over to One Picture’s Worth, a new site set up by my close friend and co-writer of AIOAM Robert Anaforian. Quick overview: Submit a picture and he writes a short about it. “Impossible,” you say? Shit, try it out! I mean, to take something a picture that you’d soon pass right over in your pile of pics and have an story fleshed from it……yeah, that sounds cool to me. My man’s got the skills so start submitting and see what you can extrapolate from your mundane pics!