from hawaii: idealism isn't dead

this was a tuesday...would you like to see a wednesday as well.

ok ok

This is partly a response to TW's last post but instead of putting it under comments it's here.

1. I realized part of the reason why I haven't been posting regularly. I start a post and then get caught up in something else and hours later close the window...never having posted, thinking I did. I'll stop doing that.

2. The new web page is up. I think everyone knows this. If you have comments or suggestions about it, post them. That way everyone can see what's up and I won't forget people's comments.

3. Anne Grady: After seeing the video TW thought his dad wouldn't like the final cut that Evan put together for a combination of reasons.
a. We went on a really shitty day. It looked bad because the place kind of looked bad.
b. The "residents" weren't really into it. I'm not going to get silly about this.
c. Some problems with the lyrics of the music...being able to hear them/what they were.
d. This was more Evan's note but we need a tripod.

Instead of using what we shot he decided to go with something Anne Grady already had. We should still be getting paid the same. There were a number of mistakes with how this how thing was handled and the time we wasted on it.

Let's never forget a few things from this.
a. We have to have a better understanding of exactly what the client wants. If we go somewhere and the place isn't ready for us, it doesn't mean they are going to be cool with paying for a video with a bunch of empty rooms and unmade beds.
b. We can work together more during the actual process. Especially, if one person has insights to a project that another person would have.
c. We need to build a library of uncopyrighted music that we can use for any project.


4. "idealism" (I'm not going to get shitty, though at first I wanted to.)
Outside projects: Doing outside projects is great. I'm involved in one. I brought up the topic last night and I think my point was misconstrued.

Anyone in this group can do anything they want. The point was that we only have so much time to do anything. You can't be in the group and not spend time on it. And you have to do some of the dirty work.

This means:
Spangle's not done. There is enough work for all of us with this project alone. And that doesn't include just critiquing what Evan does. If you need a job I'll give it to you. There are jobs that were doled out long ago that still aren't done.

Everyone thinks they know what the rest of the group should be doing better than they do. I could qualify this by saying something ridiculous like "but I actually do..." That's not what I'm trying to do here. We can't change the course of the group with the ebb and flow of our personal feelings, doubts and bursts of creativity.

I want to say something calming that will make everyone see what has to happen, but I think that would really only be for myself, and as it turns out I'm still riled up. We've had a million discussions about priorities, and what we should be doing and so on.

Get the shit you're working on done. Once that happens, I'm sure someone in the group will be able to find a job that is in line with your ideals for you to start on.

gettin' the piggies wigglin'

so Derek has been working tirelessly on the reel. it's together for the most part but the opening piece with the logo and stuff should be together soon as we needed to foley some stuff up for that i believe. the hard copy was sent out via snail mail to tom k today but evan should have received a copy over the ebay (instant messanger). there should be more additions to it though if i'm understanding things correctly.

we had a group viewing of "dionysus help me" at a friend's house over the weekend. he's a professional photographer (www.victorgiordano.com) and was nice enough to use his social clout to pull some people together to watch dionysus. overall it was received quite well with many laughs. they loved dave williams. i believe it became a little more clear where edits might be made and where time could be cut down. the sound also needs to be worked on. it also inspired me to go on a calling binge. i spent all day monday making telephone calls to various departments at ohio state seeking funding or their non-profit status so that we could seek funding from other routes. i think i got brushed off by everybody...but i have one solid lead that i still need to get into contact with somehow. i am making it my personal mission to find funding for this or anything. so if you can think of any organization or person or department...anything...let me know...i'll make the call. i cannot get my head around why anything that has been produced thus far does not have financial backing of some kind. i guess i just need to make more phone calls. and believe me, i will.

the pamphlet...call or email me tom as i would be happy to put that together. that's all i got.

I'll blog what I want to blog!

Ok, for whatever reason I haven't blogged in far too long. As is the case with all of us except ana, but that might just be a coincidence.

1. The new web page will be up tonight. I think it will still need some work and messing with once it's up and people start using it, realizing what should be on there that isn't. But right now it's in a workable condition.

2. I know Derek has been working tirelessly on the reel. Which is starting to come together from what I have seen and understand.

3. Anne Grady will be completey done before March 24, 2006. --Tom will we put that video on the webpage too?

4. I guess the next big thing for me is getting the pamphlet together. ana if you are out there...we'll be in touch more often soon...

wiggle your big toe

yes, hawaii is very far away. i'm sure each of us has felt this pull at one point in time. i am going to spend all that it takes of monday making telephone calls to ohio in an attempt to get some funding for something...dionysus, future projects, etc. if there are any telephone calls that any of you can think of that you had down but never got to or think might be good prospects, let me know. i'd be happy to take them under my belt and put some work into them monday.

should i look too stupid or too smart

I went to meet with the guy who runs "sight and sound" today. They're a production company here. This is their website: http://www.sightandsoundhawaii.com/index.html

Also, I got the DVD's from Tom n Evan. This is very good. I think we'll have plenty of stuff but I need to discuss the reelage w/ people. I think I'm going to include the Big Brother, Violence, and the Stop Smoking PSA's. Should I include all of KOD? cuz I also have 2 10 minute video's that Anthony (this kid I know here) has done for a non-profit. I'm not going to use all of them by any means but it's still a lot of stuff. Plus I have to figure out which part of Dionysus to include. But I think that will be all, not spangle or the music videography or anything since this is just for doing psa's for a non-profit.

So Evan, I forget how long KOD is, but it's not long but if you know off hand which part you'd like to include if we should break it up let me know.

How is the Anne Grady thing going. If it is done, should I include this also?

how i got the government to work for me

i recommend that everyone involved in LESS productions take the time to rent and watch "el mariachi." it is the first feature length film by director robert rodriguez and was done entirely on a budget of seven grand. i believe it will give some perspective and even inspiration to the work that has already been produced [spangle especially] and any future work that is produced. what's great is that the dvd comes with a ten minute film workshop in the extras conducted by rodriguez himself. he takes scenes from the movie, tells you how he made them happen both composition wise and money wise as well as contributes several tokens of wisdom upon the viewer regarding making a movie. it also features his college days student film "bedhead" which, i cannot lie, i was entertained by as well as left questioning "how did he do that?" so, in short, see "el mariachi."

sicky

I'm sick.

I slept 12 hours last night and went to the hospital for a throat culture (is that the right spelling for context?) today. Thursday I have a meeting with reps from the Cleveland Botanical gardens about doing a mini-documentary for them.

I'm not sure about the compensation, but it's nice to know we're in demand.

Philip Seymore Hoffman won an Oscar, which is kinda cool.

Call me, I'm not computering too much today.

God damn it I deleted my post

It was entitled "We all know ignorance is bliss, but is it lucrative?"

so now it's going to be shorter

Let me know what ya'll think I should say to this PSA guy about the email. I think I will just call him and converse with him on the phone monday and give him some vagueries.

Oh but we should discuss this in a meeeeting. Ooo, oo when's the next one, I'm excited.

And I'll call this Anthony kid and have him give me some clips of the videos he's done for non profits and if they're good we'll include them and I think we can have him help us out for a very small fee (plus he has an xl2).

oh and I know a girl who's getting married on April 22. Is this a good date?

Still Strong

Ok, I'm not very good at flash.

The problem isn't making what I want, it's understanding how cheesy these things are going to look once I've made them and they're moving.

Other than that, still working. Might have another wedding lined up. Also might have connected with another non-profit opportunity last night. It was at the bar, so we'll see if I get all call today. Not holding my breath...some times people surprise you.

Some other cash possibilities at with school districts, that I've started investigating.

And I actually got Evan up and working at 9 a.m. today. Top that shit.

Priorities

1. Finish making Avid Liquid 7 work on my computer.

2. Finish Anne Grady Video.

3. Make MacBeth for Dawn (she's been asking a while, and if the program is working right, this should take close to no time.

4. Make Spangle.

There are other things I have to do that all depend on one or more factors that will just need to be done whenever possible. These include using the Ignite Office at Case to copy Wes's raw footage over to another miniDV so he can mail it to his friend (won't take long, need my friend to get into the office). Get JW's last couple scenes (just waiting on weather). Get everyone else their reels (as I'm making Spangle I just make people's reels as I handle their scenes). There's a handful of other things, but these are all the big ones.

That's what all I'll be doing.

it's been monsooning for two weeks

Derek and amira are working out the issue of the lost files by sending files between each other. he's sending out the documentary to more people. he still has to work on the outtakes in order to get it in shape to send to dave williams. tom, he sent you some video programs to hit the mail tomorrow. derek rode his bike around in utter monsoons today. he is also going to be in touch with this kid named anthony who has done some psa work for non-profits previously.

i will make a couple calls and see if anyone i knew from high school is getting married. i know they're all engaged, which means it has to happen eventually...i mean, that's how it works, right. tom, i like the poster a great deal. i just question the neon green LESS...it makes it seem like a horror film i think. but other than that...great work. if you'd like some beach pictures let me know as i have a growing library of various types of beachy environments.

derek and i are also attempting to put together LESS's first fund raiser as we have recently gotten our hands on a five thousand dollar cabinet that we are going to attempt to sell on ebay...all proceeds to benefit less productions.

that is all.

bye bye Hillsdale

Evan and I spent most of yesterday getting me out of Hillsdale forever. This is a breakdown of our conversationings.

10% Sex/previous sexual encounters
5% Hillsdale and the people in it
5% Trevor
30% Random and functional discussion, like "turn left," or "3-man drink!"
50% LESS Productions.

It's hard to sum that up.

But I did think of another motto for us.
LESS Productinos: We live our dreams.