Who's This "Phil Ming" I Keep Hearing About?

Wow... that is one huge mountain of shaving cream... Run, beards! RUNNN!

Wait... is that..? It is! Vanilla ice cream!

OK, fine, clouds, whatever... a guy tries to be silly around here and you get all wierd about it... and then when a guy spells "weird" incorrectly, you get all wierd about that, too... haven't you heard? Weird is good nowadays! All the rest of the bloggers in the local "Weird Male Bloggers in Their Mid-Forties" Meet-Up Group I go to on Friday nights are the same way! All of us! We're all odd... you should hear our Group Song...



OK, fine, those are semi-inebriated English football fans... but it's very similar... very... similar...

So, when last we spoke, I promised you I'd run a mile wearing your red stiletto heels... well, forget it... I can't even stand up in those things. So, instead, I will post a comic about space vampires...

There... happy now? Sheesh! You're impossible to please!

So we had a day of filming for the web series I've been bludgeoning you with for the past year... once again, I loved it... possibly too much. We drove out to the middle of wonderfully-picturesque "nowhere" and filmed a pair of scenes for the pilot episode. The following are photos that made it past the censor, being cleared for public consumption...

Cuff Him!: Chris and Lisa W. fixing Travis' shirt. Yes, that is the Famous Travis Osland: Future Oscar Winner...

Selfie Time #1: Travis and Me!

Our scene took place inside a big black SUV (a GMC Yukon), with cameras/lighting attached to the outside of the vehicle. Man, those lights are like the sun! Gave me a headache - the only partial-downer for the day. There was a generator attached to the back of the SUV, and inside the vehicle with us (as we drove along, doing our lines) were Jeff (director), Mario (our Direct of Photography) and Peter (the sound guy). It was so fun...

Selfie Time #2: Travis and Me Again!

Monitor Lizard: That's what Jeff and Mario were looking at, in the back seat. You can see Travis in the driver's seat at the top of the photo there...

Purple Heart: Here is Peter (and Leah) wiring me for sound. Peter is of a sound mind (BUAHAHAHA!!)

Can I Take Your Order, Please?: Me and Travis, with what looks like a miniature Peter the Sound Guy sitting on my lap, lol...

This was actually the second scene that was filmed. The first one was with Travis and Andrew Ian (also Future Oscar Winner), and was very well done (I thought). Sorry, no photos from that scene were cleared by the Powers That Be for publication yet, so you'll just have to take my word for it! We had planned on filming a third scene downtown that night, after ours, but the two scenes took longer than expected to shoot, and after having cooked under the sun out in the middle of nowhere all day, Jeff decided we were done, and called it a day. I don't blame him - it was a draining (but rewarding) day.

Plus, I got to punch Travis! OK, fine, I didn't get to punch him... or shoot him... I didn't even get to smile at him!

Needless to say, I can't wait for our next day of filming!

That, my friends, is an expertly-colorized photo of Joan Crawford from a movie set (Letty Lynton) in 1932. I'm not, exactly, a Joan Crawford fan, per se... but I am a big fan of great colorization... man, that's so well done it makes my eyes hurt! Click it and look at it big!

So Tuesday night I have my Scene Study class up in LA - I'm doing a scene from the play Lone Star (James McLure), which is amusing. Then on Wednesday, I get to be in another Police Training video - this time as a jogger, in a video series for policemen about dealing with homeless folks. I don't have any lines... I get to just jog around the park for a while... hey, I'm gettin' paid to jog! I'll take it!

A friend of mine called me out on Facebook last week, regarding the possible link between my increasing apathy towards most things religious, and my increasing interest in "all this acting BS". In case you saw that exchange and were curious, I certainly don't fault her observations or her intentions. It's not like I haven't pondered (and prayed about) the same issues, at length (in tedious detail, as is my custom). Whether she's right or not is rather moot, since I can't really seem to control it - at least the first part of the equation.

I can't even put it into words... I feel like I've clung to nebulous things and kept myself living under a rock for way too long... dreading the future and ignoring the past, as the present slides by... this "acting BS" makes me feel alive... I love doing it, and I think I'm good at it, and I'm more likely to end the day each day feeling like I've accomplished something -- like I'm living... that has to be a gift from God... "Every good and perfect gift is from above" (James 1:17)

I know that God exists - that's unshakable. But churchy stuff I have little patience for any more... so where does that leave me? Is this a phase, or a shift? I don't know. Is it a pendulum swinging? Or is it walking down a jungle path, slipping, sliding down a slope, plummeting off a cliff and into the river, finally reaching shore a few miles down river, trying to get my bearings and find the path again?

So her admonition didn't anger me, really. If she didn't care about me, she wouldn't have taken the time to blast me, knowing she would get some blowback. It's all good.

Hey, what better way to end the post than with a kid and his (her?) pet bear?

Adios for now,

Dave the Amblin' On...

Hey, Did Your Parents Buy You A New Fish?

It's that time of the month for me... yes... time to update my blog. I've been wanting to lately, but man, I've been a busy little goof... all wrapped up in acty-stuff....

1. BTI filming: We're scheduled to film this Sunday... if I remember, I will take a few "safe for release, spoiler-free" photos to post here... we're still on schedule to finish initial filming by the last weekend of October, and a couple weeks of editing will lead (hopefully) to the first episode released along with the launching of the project website (which is amazing, by the way) by mid-November.

2. New Acting Class: Man, I love this new class I'm taking in LA. I got to do my first "work" in front of the class last night -- a three-minute monologue I pulled from Of Mice and Men. I've been tinkering with it (read: over-thinking it) for almost two weeks, so it was nice to trot it out. Got a lot of positive feedback, and much good direction to add layers to it for future work. But I'll probably set it aside... I was given a scene partner and a scene to work on for next week - from a play called Lone Star by John McClure... I ordered the script on Amazon - I'll get it on Friday...

3. Audition: I auditioned for the lead role in a feature comedy called Under My Roof (based on the book of the same name by Nick Mamatas), which will be filming here in San Diego. Apparently, they're holding auditions in LA and NY also, so the odds that I'll get the part are slim... but I prepped thoroughly, had fun, did my thing, wished them luck with the project and moved on! What else could I do?

I don't know... auditions used to unnerve me (like they do everyone else, it seems)... but they don't anymore... I may have stumbled into a good place somehow... They're just people like me, eh! And they're trying to put together a great project... if I can help out, cool... if not, I hope they find the perfect cast... what else is there to worry about?

I suppose if acting were my only source of income, I would stress out about it... if rent/food/gas money depended on me getting acting gigs, different story... but I'm just stoked in the knowledge that I've learned a skill that makes me a viable option for certain types of roles, etc. It's a cool feeling to know I have value to offer, if the situation is right.

I'm babbling again...

All that to say, yeah... this is what has been absorbing me lately. Acty-stuff. If I do somehow get the part in that film, it is scheduled to film from mid-November to mid-December, with a break for Thanksgiving. I brought up the fact that I read the book to the writer and director at the audition, and it led to a cool chat about scenes from the book that they kept in the script, etc. and the scenes they had to cut/change, etc. They both lit up, seeming to enjoy the fact that someone read the book in prep for the audition... maybe it will be a plus, I don't know... still, I was confident, had a good energy level, and maybe it will lead somewhere.

I'm babbling again...



I'm currently reading a terrific book called The Thousand Names, by Django Wexler. Excellent book! If you like fantasy + military, you'll love this book. I'm about 70% through at the moment. Great characters, great dialog, great action... the battle scenes are numerous and well-done. What a difference a skilled author makes. I had a couple false starts on other titles I had to abandon... I've got SOOO many titles waiting to be read... I have to balance my desire to read great books with my desire to actually finish a book so I can add it to the 2014 Book List over there on the side of the blog... we're nine months into 2014, and the list is a bit meager, compared to other years... when I abandon a book, I don't add it to the list! But how will you know?! You'll think I'm slacking if I don't read my quota!

Anyways, Wexler is a gifted, skilled writer, and I'm glad I tried him. He's along the same lines as Brian McClellan (Promise of Blood, etc), but I find Wexler a touch more compelling. They're both very good, though... they both favor muskets and cannons over traditional swords and bows/arrows...

It's really cool what some authors are doing on Amazon... writing short stories and novellas that fill in some gaps left between/before the big novels... for fans of the series', it's cool to be able to drop a buck on a taste of the world/characters that you've grown attached to. Of course, would that go on my 2014 Read List? Something, say, 50 to 100 pages long? Does that qualify as List-Worthy?

What else? Fall will fall soon. Not long before Hoodie Season... I used to think nothing could compare to sleeping in the winter with a hoodie on... but, I have to admit... when it's hot, sleeping in the summertime with the window open and... shall we say... a distinct lack of sleepware... is almost as awesome....

That may be too much info... good thing I left it for the end! The odds that anyone read this deep into this boring post are infinitesimal! So I sleep commando sometimes! So what!?!? Sheesh!

Anyways, hopefully I'll have some great stories from filming this weekend. Until then...

Adios!

Dave the Commando

Plus, There's This Guy!

High there!

Hey, what's a little vertigo between friends, eh? Afraid of heights, by chance? You're ok with heights, but a little sketchy with widths? Or depths?

Here's a test.... start this next video, quickly switch it to 720p and make it full-screen. Let's see how you do...



OK, that's your heights test... now depths...



Fair enough, that's the Depths Test... how did you do? You still ok?

OK, well, I tried to find a Widths Test, but this is all I could come up with...

Well, this running gag has run it's course, I'd say...

Now, what shall we talk about, eh?

Well, some things happening on the Acting Front (if you'll pardon how warlike that sounds)...

First, we had our first day of filming for the web series! Yay! Due to Jeff's hesitance at letting too much info out before we launch the pilot, I'll take a rather minimalist stance on details of the shoot. I can say that you've never seen me dressed like this before (lol), and that the scene I was in was in all Russian dialog, and I smoked about a half-a-pack of Marlboro Reds during all the takes... man... no offense to those of you who smoke, but I will never understand the appeal. Afterwards, I felt like someone had rubbed my soul around in an ash tray. It's just filthy. Anyways, I hope I look convincing-enough as a smoker to warrant at least an A for effort... same goes for the Russian dialog, lol... I tried, hard...

Here's the thing. I rehearsed the heck out of my Russian lines, trying to get the pronunciation correct... but that still left my delivery flat, rather than conversational... when working with Ruslan and Tanya, who were helping me with delivery suggestions (as far as what to stress and how to inflect, etc), I could remember one line... maybe two... but beyond that, I would automatically revert to the way I'd practiced... I couldn't remember the proper way to say all of the lines properly during each run-through... I'd get one or two right, and the rest would flatline...

Bah, first-world acting problems, I get it...

All that to say, I enjoyed the experience IMMENSELY, and am only reassured that I need to be doing this for a living. I can't wait to show you guys the pilot. Hopefully by early November.

Speaking of "doing this for a living".... I'm going to stop taking the San Diego acting classes with my coach Steve.... and start taking classes up in Los Angeles, with this guy (Rob Adler). I went up to the class last Tuesday, and it was terrific. The drive is a killer (especially for a man with little patience, like yours truly), but the class is great. The instructor Rob really knows his stuff (not that Steve doesn't - it's just a different take) and is very engaging.

So, yeah, there's that. I need to get used to driving up to LA anyways, if I'm going to really make a go at this acting/screenwriting thing...

I like that quote... though I can't vouch for how sound it is, doctrinally, lol...

My faith has been going through some interesting morphings this past year. Not sure how open I want to be here -- that might get a bit awkward for you to read! But let's just say, I'm as sure as ever that there is a God, but beyond that, I really don't know what to believe anymore. I'm finding it rather depressing that I can ask five "Christians" the same question(s) and get five different (sets of) answers, often radically different. It's really souring me on the whole "religious" facet of faith... plus, I've sort of fallen off the radar, as far as every single person from the church I attend... I hate to sound "that way" about it, since I realize that everyone has his/her own raft of problems, quirks and other life-related BS to deal with, but man, it would be nice if someone just dropped me a hello every now and then. My friends in the acting class and BTI project have been infinitely more connected/friendly  than my church "family"...

Man, that sounds petty...

So, can I be "real" and petty here, in this blog, eh? Or should I put up a nice, polished mature front? Will you despise me for my pettiness?

I used to wake up every morning with the news on my alarm radio. It was not wise. Starting your day listening to all the awful things happening in the world was not conducive to a good day. Now I have the radio set to the local "Calvary Chapel" christian station, so I wake up to sermons... and that may be worse! Man, such insipidity! Sometimes I wonder, "Can these guys even hear what they're saying?" I'm not just talking about the lame humor (which is bad enough)... but the shallow, void, impotent content... toothless! Dangit, I could use some straight talk... tell me God is there! Shake me up a bit! Don't pat me on the head and tell me everything is going to be perfect and that God loves me just oh-so-much!

Well, the alternative is waking up to music, I guess...

This is, easily, the best album I've heard in a long time...



I have never encountered an album where every single track (barring the instrumental intro/outro tracks) could be considered the best track... every song is outstanding (to me, obviously -- personal tastes being what they are, your results may vary)...

I don't know if I've mentioned it here yet, but at my stepdad's request, I saw Chadwick Boseman portray James Brown in the biopic film Get On Up, and if he doesn't at least get nominated for that performance, I will soil myself in protest. It was an amazing performance. You don't see full commitment to a role like that very often, outside of Daniel Day Lewis... if you get a chance to see the film, please do.

What else? Haven't read anything very noteworthy lately. I read Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" to look for monologues. That was a fast, solid read. And I'm reading a fantasy novel called "Luck in the Shadows" by Lynn Flewelling, which is (sadly) mediocre in nearly every way. Surprising, since it receives a lot of very positive reviews from the masses. But I've been fooled like that before. Currently 44% through it... I'm trying to force myself on, but I really don't care a whit about any of the characters (save one - a wizard named Nysander), and the endless paragraphs of description and ham-fisted info-dumping makes my eyes glaze over. I may be bailing on it soon...

Sorry, ladies, but it just reinforces my feeling that Robin Hobb is the only female Fantasy writer that I've read that can hang with the big boys... I'll keep looking - there must be more Hobb-like authresses out there.

Actually, I remember liking NK Jemisin in the one book of hers I read a few years back... though I recall next to nothing about the book... and I didn't continue the series past book one... which may not be good signs... I'll have to re-read that one again...

OK, enough rambling nonsense. I'm sure everyone is trying to do the best they can in all they do... life is pretty rough. I should cut people more slack. I'm just kind of a grumpus lately...

All that to say, good night!

Dave the Grumpus

Plus, there's this guy...

Focus! Focus!

This was me about 6 seconds ago: "Hmm, lemme see... it's the dregs of Summer, it's hot and sweaty and sticky... what photo should I lead this post with, eh? EH!?"

Yeah, a shot of a frozen waterfall... not a sandy beach with palm trees... not a cool, artsy shot of a beautifully-curving wave... nothing tropical at all... but a climber risking life and limb... for WHAT! So he can tell people at his job the next day that he "climbed a waterfall"?

"Wow... that's great, Jim... you know what I did while you were out climbing a frozen waterfall? I was at home, warm, eating bowls of chili and passing wind on my kids... hey, you have your adventures, I have mine!"

So, yeah, enjoy that photo.

I almost led with this one...

But it scared me... but not too much, since, for some reason, that tiger looks almost cross-eyed to me...

Here, this will cheer you up...

I laughed hard when I first saw that... cuz, you know... fat people are funny... that's me, by the way... I've put on a few pounds... ok, fine, that's not me... but it could be, if I really worked at it...

So, if you haven't figured it out by now, I have nothing to talk about tonight. Winging it, I am! As I type this, it's about 1am, Sunday night. Tomorrow is Labor Day... the day, apparently, that we celebrate women giving birth... for some reason, I want to stay up really, really late tonight. I know I'll be able to sleep in tomorrow (no work!), and I have nothing on the agenda... and besides, I'm depressed again! Surprise!

Funny, maybe it's just the same phenomenon responsible for "noticing pregnant woman everywhere when you're pregnant" or "noticing the car you just bought being everywhere on the road now that you've bought one", but it seems like either everything goes really well in every area of my life, or else everything is swirling down the crapper. Now, the logical part of me knows that, at any given time, chances are some things in my life are great and others crappy, at the same time... but for some reason at times I focus on the good stuff only, and thus think everything is great, while other times I seem to focus on the lousy stuff and thus think everything is going poorly....

Which segues into another thought...

I'm pretty antisocial. My people skills aren't that great. It wears on people to be around me, because things have to make sense, or I go a little crazy. It gets me into trouble (as it did recently with a good friend), since at times, out of sheer objective curiosity, I may rather-tactlessly ask for clarification on something that inadvertently comes across as offensive, and it yields bad fruit, causing friction where none should exist. But dangit, when I can't square things in my head, I need answers or I literally will lose sleep chewing on it.

So, yeah, I have a very strong logical streak in my brainpan.

And yet! I am (what I feel to be) WAY out of the norm, as far as being creative... my brain won't stop. I think of crazy stories, jokes, random goofiness, all manner of creative nonsense (art, music, acting, endless entertainment), without ceasing... which also drives people nuts. Another facet of my socially-retarded nature.

So rather than "either/or", like most people (meaning be either logical or creative) I have both pegged. When I say "pegged", I don't mean "dialed in" or "down pat"... I mean "pegged" as in, the needle on the meter is in the red zone in both areas. How is it I can max out both sides at the same time? I don't get it... it's like I'm torn in half and each half pushed as far apart as they can get. I don't think it's a bipolar thing, because I'm pretty mellow at all times... I don't know...

Here's another cool GIF for you - hope it doesn't lag your computer too much.

I won't post anymore GIFs, I promise...

Succinct Reviews:

Blue Blazes, by Chuck Wendig:  It's a good, solid tale of supernatural creepiness, with a larger-than-life protagonist. Got a little tiresome in the final quarter. It was a good story, but I'm not sure how long I'll remember this one. (3 stars)

NPC's by Drew Hayes: Fun premise with interesting characters, but amateurish writing and presentation. Better as a whole than its individual parts. But a fast, fun read which would appeal to gamers and those of you who enjoy a good adventure. (3.75 stars)

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For: Amazingly beautiful, artistically. Each shot hand-crafted and exquisite. But everything else about the movie was garbage -- and I don't throw that term around lightly. The stories, the acting, the writing, the tenor, everything about it is a waste of time. Except the visuals, which are incredible, especially in 3D. Still, I'd strongly suggest you avoid this film. The first Sin City movie was infinitely better. (1 star)

How odd... my font changed somewhere around the Blue Blazes review...

So it's about 1:15am now... what should I do? Play Skyrim, or read? Ah, decisions! I'm gonna say.... BOTH!

Adios for now,

Dave the Gollywomper