Let's Talk About Movies

First topic: "Little Manhattan". I've been wanting to see this flick for a LONG TIME - ever since I saw the trailer a few months ago, but it didn't ever come to Indy. It came out on DVD about a month ago, but I never got around to buying it - and no one I knew had seen it to tell me if it was any good, or not. So today, I just finally picked it up. I was wandering around Best Buy and it just kind of jumped at me - so I picked it up.

And, while I was checking out, my tattoo got another compliment. It seems that I unintentially have created something that everyone feels the need to tell me they think is "cool". Which, is fine by me, but sometimes I don't need/want the extra attention it brings in a large area. Luckily, the girl at the checkout counter was cooler than most, and said "I really dig your tattoo...", I said "Thanks", and it was left at that. UNLIKE most people, who ask the MORONIC question, "Is that real? No it's not... Let me see that... blah..." When they first see it. OF COURSE ITS REAL!!! No, actually, I just like drawing fake stuff on my arm with a Sharpie - and then having to tell people how much of a fool I am... Honestly, WHY must people ask "Is that real?" when they are staring at it!!! Oh, I just thought of my reply to the next time I hear, "Is that real?" My reply: "No, it's not. I'm actually controlling your brain right now, and making you see all kinds of things that aren't really there..." I wonder if I can freak anyone out with that response? Oh, and for those of you who haven't seen it in person, here's a good picture for you:

Read more about it HERE.

Anyways, back to "Little Manhattan" - I don't regret buying the flick, I actually laughed A LOT throughout the thing. If you've seen "Love Actually" and you know Sam's story, then imagine that, but expanded into a much longer story. It's the story of a 10-year-old boy, and the first time he feel in love. There's a whole lot of humor, and it makes some good observations about love, in the progress of the film. The main character's parents are in the middle of a divorce, so he's stuck in the middle of watching his parents falling out of love, while he's falling head of heels for a girl in his class - and attempting to break down the social walls that are put up at that age. It's just a really cute and fun flick. You can check out the TRAILER for yourself.

I just mentioned "Love Actually" and it is AMAZING how many people actually haven't seen the flick. I've been lending this one out left and right to people. Anything I can do to spread one of my favorite films of all time.

Next up, this morning I had a breakfast meeting with Zach and Jason Romberg, to discuss his bachelor party trip. After the meeting, while standing in Perkins' parking lot, Zach and I got to discuss some things with the rough edit of "Crazy About You" - he gave me a couple of ideas to try, some things he thought might help, and hopefully later tonight or tomorrow I'll have the time to try them. One of them is a complete reworking of the opening credits, but I like the idea - so I'll probably be spending another a 6 hours working on that, and hope that Spurgin can get me the new music SOON! While we were talking, Zach made another one of his comments about me still editing on Adobe Premiere 6.0, basically telling me that I am the editing equivalent of a Caveman. After we left Perkins, I headed to Barnes & Noble, to pick up MovieMaker Magazine, and I wish I would have bought it before today, because I would have had a rebuttle for Zach. Here's a quote from Robert Rodriguez:

"Creative people are notoriously the slowest to adopt new technology. That's just how it's always been. Creative people on one side, technical people on the other. Creative people aren't technical, and technical people aren't creative, and they always need each other. New technology comes up, creative people run from it and it takes them so long to adopt it. But, when they do, they never go back."

So, there's hope. One day, I might learn how to edit on single track editing, on some higher-advanced software. But, here's the thing: I don't WANT to edit. I don't mind it. I know how to do it, I'll claim to be great at it, but I can do it. But, I don't WANT to. I want to write stories and transform them visually, and I want someone who WANTS to edit, to help me out - by editing for me and working with me. I need to find one really super talented editor, who wants to work closely with me, and help me create my stories - and not try to take them over for themself. I can admit when I need help, and on the next project - I'm going to need to find an editing-genius to help me. And, while I'm on the topic, let me tell you about a discussion/debate that my friends and I got into the other night, after "Clerks II". We were all talking about the current influx of Digital Cinema, and how production companies, distribution companies, and filmmakers are quickly jumping into Digital Cinema, and discussing who much money everyone thinks its going to save, blah... blah... blah... Anyways, I bought up my arguement against Digital Cinema and filming HD, and let me try to explain it to you:

Part of the symbolism behind my tattoo is the fact that I want to make FILMS. I've shot numerous things in the digital format, and that's great and fine, but my goal has always been to work with real film, and create a "film". HD and Digital Cinema are as close to perfect as we can get. I've seen a good number of films in Digital Theatres, and I've noticed the HUGE improvement in quality. But, here's where I'm a little different from most (but not really, most people just aren't aware that they do this): I'm an escapist. I got to the movies to ESCAPE my life, and to be entertained for a period of time with images that I know are not real. When you get into digital cinema, it's almost TOO PERFECT, and that breaks down the walls of escapism. It makes you feel as if you're really there, and really a part of the film, which doesn't allow you to disconnect yourself from the film, and "escape" into it. Film is entertainment, it doesn't have to be in High-Def. they've been entertaining people for a century now, and people have never complained before. Yes, it is an evolutionary step, which one day I'll have to take - if I wish to be a part of this industry, but for now - I can continue to stay on my path of working with film, and creating my own piece of art to perhaps help someone escape their own problems, when they watch. The other problem arises, when someone can't understand that the characters they see on screen are FICTIONAL, and they expect people in real life to act in ways that are ONLY PRESENT in film - not in reality. Again, escapism - but a person needs to understand that is ends, when the movie ends.

Speaking of a talented editor, if I could pick someone right now, I'd probably beg Brett's girl friend Hannah to edit my next flick for me. This chick is UBER-talented, and you can check out a music video that she directed AND edited: RIGHT HERE. Also, Brett was the DP for this music video - and YEP! I'm going to be asking him to DP for me on the flick. I just hope it all works out, since we've tried working on a couple of projects together, and the timing just never worked out for both of us. Hopefully, we can make it happen next year. If you want to check out his DP Reel, GO HERE.

Now, let's move a little closer to home, and hit some Mid-West film news. Yesterday, when I cruised over to Heidiology - to get my daily (or semi-daily) dose of Heidi news/thoughts, I caught a HUGE write up about another local Mid-West actress, Angie Craft.
It appears that a local magazine did a HUGE write up on Angie. Angie and I have talked a few times via emails and MySpace, and it was nice to read the whole thing, and get a better perspective of who she is, and what she does for her passion. It's always nice to read articles about local people, and how they are achieving their dreams. I really hope that some day in the future I'll be able to put her in a flick of my own - she really seems A-List worthy! The best place to read the article is Angie's Blog on MySpace.

Finally, I'll leave you with a collection of trailer for flicks that I can't wait to see. Some of these I've mentioned before, and I mention them again because: THEY ARE COOL. WATCH THEM!

"The Fountain"

"The Prestige"

"Employee of the Month"

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"

"Transformers"

"Spider-Man 3"

"The Last Kiss"

"Children of Men"

Finally, one last thing that REALLY MAKES ME MAD!!!
The Pacers really just seem like they want to destroy themselves this season. The newest news, we're getting rid of Anthony Johnson (9.2 PPG, 4.3 APG) and getting Darrell Armstrong (2.1 PPG, 1.4 APG) - now, I'm NOT a math major, but I'm pretty darn good at it, and these numbers look like a HORRIBLE TRADE!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?!!?!?! The guy is like 25% of Anthony Johnson. GIVE THEM JAMAAL!!! I want to get rid of that guy, who only plays 1/3 of the season, and it was Anthony Johnson who stepped up and took over - HE DESERVES TO STAY! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE PACERS?!?!?!? I sure hope they figure out a way to get Al Harrington back, or... Or else... I'm going to be one disappointed fan this year.

Finally, I was reffered to as an "Esquire" yesterday. Here's the quote:

"And for the record, I have no idea if that show "Lost" is REALLY gay. I just said that to annoy my brother and Shane M. White, Esquire."

Now, if you're not aware - I have been given the HONOR of being compared to one of this cutlture's GREATEST "heros" - Bill S. Preston, Esq. of "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure". Thank you, Michael, for putting me in that category! Check out the COOL BLOG that has lots of cool pictures from his bike rides, HERE.

Well, I hope you've enjoyed!