Like a mighty storm

Tonight, he spoke of storms. He spoke of the Thunder God himself.  And the words reminded me of my own mission. Just then I heard the wind pick up outside, as if Nature itself came in to punctuate the sentence. As if the Universe itself sent me a reminder.

"I will win the crowd. I will show them something they've never seen before."

Camera Moves: Back to Basics | Videomaker.com

Camera Moves: Back to Basics | Videomaker.com

Red Riding Hood has a BIG gun.

New Teaser Trailer for REDD

Can't wait to finish it.

REDD GREEN

Striving to get as much of this movie done as humanly possible. Ya know, before the year wraps up. I'm fully aware we'll still need to get some shooting done in January, but I'm using New Years as a deadline to get this as close to done as humanly possible.

Alot of editing, learning the ins and outs of Vegas Pro 12 as well as the amazingness of Hitfilm 2 Ultimate. Also been doing alot of shooting in front of our portable green screen.

More talk about that as well as where we are at production wise in the following video.

We're in the last 24 days of our INDIEGOGO CAMPAIGN.  We're approaching $500 and we've got a ways to go. I'm confident we can at least get close to our goal.  I really need to keep up with the updates and video updates which is what I plan on doing this week.

I've been working with the new FX software Hitfilm 2 Ultimate. It's a pretty amazing software that now allows the use of 3d Models.  I downloaded a 3D model of a car and attempted to do an effect of a car exploding and flipping over. The physics are all wrong and it was a very rushed job, mainly because I was excited to get it rendered to see what it would look like. All in all I think it looks alright for an hour job. I definitely see the strong potential of this software and can't wait to test it's limits.

So here's my plan for this week. I have a reel for a client that I need to upload which I'm actually doing now. Also this week I need to upload a Hitfilm 2 tutorial since a few people have asked. I'd like to edit at least 2 to 3 more video updates for our IndieGoGo as well as for our Kickstarter peoples and just for our REDD audience in general. 

Really need to push this IndieGoGo. Gotta get some of this money in. The more we get the faster we can get REDD finished. So please, if you can, spread the word and or pledge to us.  You'll get rewards for pledging like these amazing Limited Edition Postcards.

12/12/12

Some days you never know how they're going to end. Tonight was a rather bitter sweet ending, but a bit more on the sweet side. Watching Paul McCartney perform tonight at the 12/12/12 concert. Juli talking about how it's her Mom's birthday and how much she loved McCartney  Me thinking about my brother Robert and how often he played The Beatles and Wings. I'm glad we got to experience that tonight. Even if we were just sitting in a room watching it all on TV. It felt like a nice tribute to those we've lost.

I really felt it when Paul played Blackbird.

And on that note, I want to say God bless those affected by Sandy. To all the families, the victims, the survivors, and all the heroes.  God bless us all and God bless the America.

We will finish this

On behalf of the cast and crew of REDD we give our condolences to our lead actress April Crum and her family. Her mother Dian Crum has passed away after a long battle with cancer. Dian was sweet and wonderful and extremely supportive of April and this little movie we've been working on. She didn't hesitate to lend a hand behind and sometimes in front of the camera. She was an amazing and lovely person and she will be greatly missed.

Please send your condolences here: http://www.resthavenfuneral.com/Obituaries/obituaries-detail.cfm?method=2&id=1996

Honestly. This is rather heartbreaking. There have been many ups and downs in making this movie. At the start of this production I had lost a friend in a car wreck and then later my brother Robert passed away. It's hard not to think of the people you've lost in your own life when someone else passes away. My heart is with April, her sister Crystal, and their Dad, Bill Crum, as well as all of the immediate family. It's an awful time right now that only adds to my own pain from my own loss.

But somehow you have to find the strength to move forward. You have to. I promised my brother I would finish this movie and now I do so with Dian in mind as well.

So we will indeed finish this.

And now for something a little less depressing. I bring you the newest REDD Production Vlog.  I was hesitant to upload this so soon after Dian's death, but Bill told me that working on this movie meant alot to her. Hearing that meant alot to me. So I post this silly goofy behind the scenes of recent work on REDD as sort of tribute to Dian.

Lines are dropped, people are goofy, and Chris does a great Bobcat Goldthwait.

Who is REDD?

Who is REDD? Take a quick look at what a REDD Agent is and peek into the personality of REDD herself.

Please support our IndieGoGo. This movie is nearly finished and we need your help to get this movie out to the masses. http://www.indiegogo.com/reddmovie

Also, special thanks to Theo Hearst and Michael Baumeister for being our newest pledgers to receive their Associate Producer credit. And remember, this is a flexible funding campaign, meaning whatever you pay for you are guaranteed to get. If you pledge to get a T-shirt package, you will be getting that T-shirt package regardless of whether we reach our goal. So feel free to pledge to get some of our nifty perks.

$60,000

Vince Carter, Dallas Mavericks, The Michael Scott Paper Company, Clamored, Paul Reiser, Todd, Juli, Tiffany, The Moth Woman, Shaniel makes better fried rice than me, Terry has light to spread, REDD has a poster.

Pressure

In overtime. In Charlotte watching the Mavs play the Bobcats. Great game. Tonight I'm understanding a lot of what it means to play under pressure. Watching marketing, publicity, and promotion in action. Witnessing showmanship applied. And getting a feel for what needs to be done to play hard and win a game.

There's knowing and then really knowing.

Also, I'm having a blast.

Yes I Did.

REDD PROD. UPDATE / VFX Breakdowns November 2012

Holy crap I look like crap. LOL.

11:11 - 1:11

First I want to apologize for this blog. I wanted it to be about my adventures in movie making  But it's become a blog where I post cryptically about my emotional state as I experience my different supposed traumas.

And it seems there is so much that I go through that I cannot explain or talk about fully.  And here comes more.

Because of recent events I go through bouts of sadness, loneliness, and fear. Who doesn't?

But I do try to remember that I am blessed and lucky and I have alot going for me. That only comes through me fighting to get to that stability where I can focus on that.

But there are many times, very many times, where I do get a sign, a symbol, a voice from above that tells me it's all going to be beyond OK.  It says to me that things are going to be amazing. And from past experience I should have learned by now to trust in the process. I've seen what happens when I follow my passion, my positivity, and my vision. I've seen what happens when I pay attention to the signs.

Thing is, I'm stupid. I need to be hit over the head with these signs and I usually am. The universe practically screams at me these affirmations of life and the future and each time I find myself amazed and flabbergasted by what I had just witnessed only to slip back into whatever negativity I was experiencing.

I really need to cut that shit out.

Bottom line is I'm dumb. I have greatness before me and it takes a punch to my face to show me that I have it.  I need to really pay attention, and really believe. REALLY BELIEVE. This life has been generous with all the signs and symbols it throws at me, overtly generous, and I need to work hard to remember these signs and use them as inspiration to further drive me towards the person I was born to be and to experience those moments of amazement I need to and deserve to experience.

The truth is I am experiencing exactly what I asked for. Exactly what I created. I may not always remember that it's happening, but this is exactly what I ordered. With that in mind it's those signs, those symbols that I need to look to help push me towards that ultimate vision I have.

Ok, here are a few reminders.  Since I want to kinda remember the most recent punch to the face I received.

I need to learn to absorb what I've learned, because here's the thing, I have to deal with this myself.

It's the truth and it's a privilege.

All that other negativity that pushes you down? Ain't nobody got time for that.

This post is specifically designed to make everything ok

Watch the following videos and then click the link at the bottom and everything will be OK.

Now click this link: http://make-everything-ok.com/

Uncharted

This is all so new and exciting. Scary and thrilling all at once.

I'm entering a new chapter in my life.

Cryptic, I know. But I can't quite share this news with the world yet, and probably for a while.

Just know that things are evolving and I feel like great things are coming.

what a great fucking night

Husquequenatora

1) Life does not operate on reality but on the perception of reality. That includes all perceived realities from everyone, including yourself, and the people around you. Reality can be changed by changing people's perception. People's perception cannot be changed until you change your own perception first.

2) Always remember what it is you are working towards. The shadows will always try to pull your focus to the stagnant and the unproductive. Look to the light and always remember the power of that vision. It's as important as you think it is. Even on days where it doesn't seem like it, you have to be a rock about this.

3) You have to focus on your goals, but you have to be conscious of others, their needs, their pain. Always ask yourself what you can do to help them or more importantly what it is you can stop doing that would help them. Help people without losing your focus, help people.

Creating Alien Atmospheres in a Fish Tank | Shanks FX | PBS Digital Studios

You can be sure I'll be using this technique on a project soon.

 

Look eye. Always look eye.

Better

bet·ter 

adj. Comparative of good.

1. Greater in excellence or higher in quality.

2. More useful, suitable, or desirable: found a better way to go; a suit with a better fit than that one.

3. More highly skilled or adept: I am better at math than English.

4. Greater or larger: argued for the better part of an hour.

5. More advantageous or favorable; improved: a better chance of success.

6. Healthier or more fit than before: The patient is better today.

I've been fast tracked through a course in confidence, emotional maturity, time management, and creative thinking.  My eyes have been opened to new possibilities.

Because of the events of the past week I can say things are better in certain aspects of my life. But now I'm starting to see how other parts of my existence and especially my creative endeavors can greatly improve.

It has to happen every so often. You realize after seeing something fall a part how you can put it all back together and in even better shape. This becomes even more obvious when other people don't see what you see.

I made something and now that I look at it I'm seeing how awful it is. Well, not awful, but satisfactory. And for me satisfactory is awful. I don't want to create on a level that is just plain, acceptable, or average. I want to and can do better.

I'm sick of average. And so I go to work on greater things.

Confidence Part 2

You have to do everything humanly possible to stay extremely positive and confident.

EVERYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE.

I emphasize this because I was witness to the very results of being positive and confident. Some very good results. Confirmed by the universe I might add. But it is a tough thing to  accomplish.  Even after being convinced of the power of positive thinking and a confident spirit, I still struggle to stay in such a mood. It does indeed take work.

The key here is to get to a point where you truly believe in yourself and in your power. Even in cases where people may think you're a fool. You've got to say "Fuck Em!" It's not about anyone else's beliefs but your own. This is your life, your situation, your time, your existence, your dreams, your goals.  Believe in them.

Believe in yourself. Find a way to be confident. Even in failure. Recognize that your failure is not the end of you. And as long as you still exist, then you still have every opportunity, every possibility to come out on top.

Confidence is believing in yourself. Truly believing in yourself.

You'll have doubts of course. Without doubts you cannot possibly reach the true strength of your belief. You have to go through those troubles in order to fully understand and experience confidence.  How else can you truly know the feeling of comfort without experiencing the pain. How can you fully understand calm if you have no reference of what turmoil is.

You will need to do this several times before you reach full confidence. And even after then you'll still experience doubts. But just like a muscle, the more you work it out, the more you damage those fibers, the stronger it re-builds itself to be.

If you need a starting point then just follow this quote from The West Wing. In a scene from the episode titled "In The Shadow Of Two Gunmen" President Bartlet doesn't have alot of Faith in himself, but his friend Leo McGarry does. Leo tells him this:

"Act as if ye have faith and faith shall be given to you. Put it another way, fake it till you make it."