Saving the Blessed for Last...

Greetings all! I know, I know... you're only one person. I called you "all"... as you can see, I set up a "house of mirrors" type thing inside the blog lobby here, so you're reflected about 2 dozen times. That way it seems like this place is a'hoppin'!

So, anyway, thanks and all that...

The days.... they... they blend into one.... repeating... merging... swirling together... until I can't tell what time it is... there's sleep and food involved... but the whirlwind... so much happening, but nothing happening... Work, church, food, reading, playing, sleeping, acting class...

BUT! I did actually get to do some filming a few days ago. A full day on set, doing a test run for our 48 Hour Film Festival Team. The actual event is this weekend, but the director got us together to see how well the cast and crew worked together. They pulled a random genre on Thursday night, secured two locations, wrote a script, then the next day, we filmed it. Saturday was editing day. Haven't seen the results yet...

It was cool to experience the full day on set. Two sets, actually. I was the lead role, and we started out filming at a pizza parlor downtown. I played an employee who finds a lost driver's license while cleaning up. I decide to deliver it to the owner myself. I drive over, and end up in the middle of a wild, dysfunctional family type situation. At one point, the dad punched me, knocking me out, and I wake up tied to a chair... lol... I eventually extricate myself from the situation. It's sort of a weird, absurdist comedy-slash-thriller.

Here's the only photo I took all day...

That's make-up, by the way. Obviously, for when I'd been knocked out. Man, I really have to get used to taking pictures during these things. They'd make blogging about it all so much more interesting...

Anyway, I'm nervous about seeing the results. It must be what all actors go through, eh? Will it suck? Will it be passable? Will it be great? Honestly, for a test film, it doesn't much matter... the real important one will be next weekend's film. Still, if there are good moments that I can capture for my "demo reel", then it will have been worth it. Well, there were plenty of other reasons it was worth it, regardless of the final results. The experience was great. Met some cool people. Worked well together with a team. Didn't tinker with the script - which is a big one for me... being a writer, the strong urge is there to want to improve every script I see, lol... I honestly wasn't sure if I could comfortably just be the actor... just take the script that's given, and do my best to bring it to life. Know my place, in other words. And I'd say, it was a success on that end.

This weekend, I'll take more pictures, I promise.

And when I see the test film, if I'm allowed to, and I think it's worth your time, I'll link it or embed it here...

So I volunteered to be the person to go to the gathering on this upcoming Friday, to be the team representative who pulls the genre out of the hat for our team (Team Viva). I'll then phone it in to the director and the writing team, and they'll start the script. And then when the announcement is made, telling everyone the list of things all the films have to have in them (line of dialog, a certain prop, a character type and character name), then I phone that in as well.

Knowing that info will be useful for me, too, in a way... I'm not on the writing team for Team Viva, but I hope to go home that night and write a script anyways. As a fun exercise, sure, but also *just in case*... you know, Plan B type thing.

Anyways, then Saturday early, we'll meet and film again. Then Sunday is spent editing, and the final film turned in by 7pm Sunday.

More BTI meetings in the next week or two as well, as we begin filming for the web series. I tell ya, I cannot WAIT to start filming that! This project is going to be amazing. Although we lost an actress for one of the main roles today. She was schedule to appear starting with Episode 2. We'll have to find a new female for that one... I'm bummed, since she was a great actress.

It'll work out, I'm sure.

That dog... would infuriate me... no way I'd keep that one...

So what else?

Oh! I dropped my second-highest-scoring play of all time in Scrabble... I mean, my own personal second-best. Here, check it out...

My apologies to Cathy, upon whom I dropped this 185-point bomb... That won't happen again any time soon...

So I saw the movie Godzilla recently. It was a disappointing turd. It managed to make Pacific Rim look great in comparison... and you all know how little I thought of Pacific Rim... I guess doing a giant monster movie must be harder than it looks. The script was a mess. Perhaps when you're talking about a movie with a budget this substantial ($160 million!!!), you probably have many different people trying to add and subtract and tweak the script, until it becomes a mish-mash. Except it had casting problems as well...

I'm just a movie snob. I try not to be, but I can't help it...

What else?

I may start video recording myself doing monologues. More for my own training purposes. But if they seem entertaining enough, I may post them here. Especially the ones with accents. I have a Russian one, two Irish monologues, and a couple British ones so far. I think my monologue folder has maybe 25 monologues in it at the moment. I know about half of them by heart. It's unnecessary, I'm sure... but I just enjoying learning them and performing them. I'll "perform" them one after the other in the car as I drive sometimes...

Yeah, I'm an odd bird like that.

All that to say, here's one last photo, and I'm calling this post done...

That's an awesome way to end.

Man, I have lots of great photos waiting to make their appearance. I may have to write a new post again soon!

Dave the Goof

Looks Like Good Things Are Afoot!

This is me, starting off this post without having a clear idea where it's headed. See? See how steeped in meaningful symbolism this blog is! And, by extension, its author?

Yes, I am an author. Among other things. Also on the list are: Lumbering Nerd; Actor; Poor-Man's Theologian; Boy Trapped In Man's Body; and Minecraft Fiend.

Not an impressive list, by any stretch.

Here, this is one of my favorite videos on the internet, of all time...



That tire got some air time, in a big way...

Summer approacheth. I know I keep threatening to get some filming done... but it looks like this month is fairly definite. The team that I joined that is doing the 48 Hour Film Festival this month is doing a practice film on the 20th, to prepare for the actual event on the 28th. That means I'll (knock on wood) have two short films to add to my demo reel -- and hopefully post here for your viewing pleasure. I *may* have a hand in helping to write the script(s) as well. We'll see.

And Jeff says that filming for BTI will begin on the 28th as well. They'll start with a scene that my character is not in - that way, it won't conflict with the 48 Hour FF. Then (knock on wood), we'll film on/around every weekend until the first episode is in the can. When it's finished, there will be an "event" in downtown San Diego to premiere it. Then the website will go live, and I'll be able to link you to it. Very exciting to see things rolling like they are.

All that to say, I'm *really* excited about this next month or two.

Had to stop seeing the Great and Illustrious Markshane Malone, my personal trainer for the past three years. Trying to get my finances in shape, and having to bite the bullet, cutting back on some expenses. It sucks. But, hey, it's hopefully for the best, short-term anyway. I certainly hope to reengage his services before too long. In the interim, I'm doing workout videos with my Wifey. Gotta be in shape! If I'm not in shape, how will you all love me still?

Speaking of Persons Great and Illustrious, my favorite author Joe Abercrombie is going to be in San Diego at the end of July for a book signing. This is epic for many reasons. Primarily because it is not Comicon-related! Yay! I wouldn't go near Comicon, even if Joe himself personally invited me! OK, well, maybe... but yeah, that place is a zoo. No thank you.

I know I've said for years that Steven Pressfield is my favorite author... but I was thinking about it yesterday... he did write my Favorite Book of All Time (Gates of Fire), but I'm not sure that should qualify him as my Favorite Author anymore... especially since I *love* just about anything Joe Abercrombie has written. The Heroes is my Second Favorite Book of All Time, and I also loved the First Law Trilogy, and I recently re-read Best Served Cold, which improved upon me tremendously as a result. I think, all things considered, Joe is tops.

All that to say, I'll be buying a hardback copy of The Heroes and having him sign it. It will go on my Shelf of Honour, right next to my signed copies of Gates of Fire and The Name of the Wind.

Musical Interlude...



Currently reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman. About 60% through, and it's definitely the most unique fantasy story I've read. The only thing I can think of that comes close is The Talisman, by Stephen King, and, all due respect to Mr. King, American Gods is far more enjoyable a read (IMNSHO). It is a solid, though bleak and gritty, tale. I'd threaten to write a review when finished, but you know how flakey I can be about such nonsense...

So many good movies out now! And I haven't seen any of them! I still want to see Captain America Winter Soldier, along with Godzilla, X-Men Days of Future Past and now the new Tom Cruise one... what's it called again? Drawing a blank... brb, Rotten Tomatoes run...

Edge of Tomorrow. Currently sitting at 90% on the Tomato Meter.

Anyways, I need to find a way. The family will be at camp this next week - maybe I'll grab a movie after work once or twice while they're gone. Hey, they're also planning a trip to the Grand Canyon and New Mexico in the end of July and early August. Don't think I'll be joining them - they're going to go for 10 to 14 days or so... can't take that kind of time off work. And any time I do take off work will be for BTI-related filming and such... so I'll have some nights to go theater hopping then, too...

Love that picture... I wonder how thoroughly Photoshopped it is? Guess it doesn't much matter. I still like it.

I've dusted off a couple big personal projects of late. Gathering all of my plays into collections, with an eye toward selling them on Amazon as Kindle Books. Also, decided to take my "Daydream" movie idea that I was cooking on last year and start writing it as a fiction piece. Get the story bugs worked out that way, then convert it to a screenplay afterwards. I definitely want to film it at some point in the future.

That reminds me, friend of the blog, and Future Hollywood Director Mattson Tomlin is graduating from Film School today or tomorrow. I wish him all the best. Lemme see if I can track down the trailer to his latest film Persuasion... hang on...

PERSUASION - Trailer 1 from Mattson Tomlin on Vimeo.

I asked him to say hello to Captain Wentworth for me, but he said NO. (That's a Jane Austen "Persuasion" reference, for those who missed the joke).

I think I'll leave this post here for the time being. Thank you all for your patience and friendship!

Adios for now,

Dave the Goof