Los Angeles. Those two little words beckon Hollywood starlets, International tourists, wannabe superstars, porn stars, country stars and other starry eyed, foolish dreamers wanting something bigger than what their hometowns offer.
And I am now officially one of them.
My flight to L.A. is an eclectic mix of old timers, moms with kids, families probably headed to Disney Land and other oh-so-cool hipsters like myself. The direct flight is about five hours. Five hours of sleeping, listening to music and dreaming of what the Golden Coast has in store for this simple suburban kid from Maryland.
I’m taking this trip in the middle of what I consider my summer of film. I already produced and co-directed a short film for the Baltimore 48 Hour Film Festival. I already checked out and read countless books from the library and attended film screenings, workshops and networking events. The result? A brain full of camera shots, directorial camera shots and flawless rolls of credits.
Ever since I was a kid, movies spoke to me. While writers may recall being able to think of story ideas, characters and settings, I was able to do all of that plus think of appropriate soundtracks and music scores for each scene, camera shots that zoom in on the main antagonist at the right moment and montages that would look great as a trailer.
I ran from pursing film the same way a shy lover runs from his interest, knowing that more than anything that person is exactly what he wants, yet he wants it so bad it scares him so. I was always afraid that if I did try to break into the film industry and failed, it would crush me. I held on so dearly to that dream for so long, it has to be nothing short of perfect.
But perfection doesn’t come easy.
That’s why I went against the grain a bit in the way I started my path down the world of movies. I read books and magazines and spoke with industry experts. I attended boring lectures and joined screenwriting groups and practiced, practiced, practiced. Not everything I write is gold, but I’d like to think it is.
So why L.A.? I am blessed to live outside of Baltimore, a city that is no stranger to the film industry. Barry Levinson and John Waters are two hometown boys from Charm City who made it big as directors and even Jodie Foster chose Northeast Baltimore to film her holiday classic, “Home for the Holidays”. “The Wire”, “Homicide: Life On The Streets” “Roc” and “The Corner “ were all very successful television shows that were based out of and filmed in Baltimore. And who can forget film gems like Hairspray, Pecker, Step It Up 1 and 2, The Diner, Avalon, Sleepless in Seattle and Liberty Heights. Even Runaway Bride was shot partially outside of the City.
I was blessed to find a good way in to Baltimore’s film industry. I met a fantastic group of film crew and actors who are excited about making it in the film industry and have become a student member of the Creative Alliance, an arts center in Baltimore that rents out film equipment and hold special screenings and events for those interested in all aspects of the arts.
But I travel today 3,000 miles from home so that I can find out what the West Coast has to offer in the way of film. Despite Baltimore’s dalliance in the industry, it is true what they say. It’s easier to penetrate the Hollywood machine if you’re working in some aspect of the industry in Southern California. I don’t know, maybe I will apply to film school in Los Angeles. I am excited about the short film workshop I will be taking in San Francisco and will walk away with a finished product and knowledge and experience eof working on Final Cut editing systems and working the camera without a film crew. But I want to keep learning and keep making movies and writing scripts. I was bitten by that bug as a kid and now it has fully infected me as an adult. Today is that day that I continue along that path and there’s no turning back now.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Prepping for L.A.
T-minus 5 days before I leave for Cali and the documentary film project. I am excited, nervous and a little worried that I will get lost among the jaded sea of hopeful Hollywood stars. I have no clue how to use the subway system in L.A. and I am literally on my own at the hostel. I feel almost like I'll be backpacking in Europe except everyone will have prettier smiles and there are In-n-Out Burgers on every corner. Hmmm...In-n-Out Burger....First stop I'll make once I land.
Even more cooler is the fact that my documentary is actually coming together. I spoke with Keith "K-Dub" Williams, a pro skater who lives out of Oakland and L.A. I will be covering his team of urban skaters as they journey from the Bay area to the X Games. I also will be attending an exhibit on Black and Hispanic skateboarders. Sweet! I hope to get good footage and really learn how to shoot better angles and edit on Final Cut.
Cool stuff
Check out K-Dub's work here:
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0XbywwoJJY.
Even more cooler is the fact that my documentary is actually coming together. I spoke with Keith "K-Dub" Williams, a pro skater who lives out of Oakland and L.A. I will be covering his team of urban skaters as they journey from the Bay area to the X Games. I also will be attending an exhibit on Black and Hispanic skateboarders. Sweet! I hope to get good footage and really learn how to shoot better angles and edit on Final Cut.
Cool stuff
Check out K-Dub's work here:
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0XbywwoJJY.
Friday, June 18, 2010
48 Hour Madness
Well, I survived the 48 Hour Film Festival....it was a great weekend that was exciting and frustrating all at once. Pre-production went a litle more smoother than production. One of the hardest things of making film is dealing with people and so many personalities--especially when they're all screaming at you at once. No fights broke out, so I guess it was a good day. I fired three people. I like this whole being the boss thing. Post-poduction was way too rushed and took too long for me, but we got the finished product turned in with six minutes to spare. That's all that matters. I also found five bucks on the ground. I treated a homeless woman in Baltimore to McDonald's with it.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Poem for Haiti
I was inspired to write this for a fundraising open-mic night being held tonight at Busboys and Poets down in Washington, D.C. If you're in the U Street area between 6 and 11 p.m. please consider coming out!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Sending Love to Haiti
I went to Haiti by accident. It was November 2003 and the Christian publication I was working for wanted to send someone to volunteer with a Lake Worth, FL-based missions agency for a week to get some photos back for the newspaper. I was young and never been to a third world country, so I volunteered myself. Three days later, I had my $200 expedited passport, a suitcase packed with light summer clothes and sunscreen and was on an American Airlines flight headed 700 miles from Miami.
Once I got to the tiny island and arrived at the bustling Port au Prince airport, I was instantly struck by the many juxtapositions. Mountains overlooked white sandy beaches. Total chaos existed comfortably next to goodwill toward outsiders. The natural pristine beauty of the island was somewhat overshadowed by the startling poverty all around the streets and neighborhoods.
But I loved it.
For a week I attempted to learn Creole with the help of my 12-year-old translator and five dollar English/Creole dictionary. I ate the most wonderful cuisine, including fresh fish and delicious beans and rice, soup and curry meals. Most importantly, I got to work and play with the children at a local orphange, playing basketball and soccer with them, teaching them about Game Boy and rap music and sorting through medicine, a hot commodity in many rural villages. It was definitely a great experience, one I still take with me today.
Many people may not be so familiar with the culture and history of Haiti outside of what is presented on the nightly news. Yes, there have been years of intense fighting and warfare and voo doo is a part of the country's culture and yes, it is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. But there is so much more. Haiti was founded over 200 years ago as a free nation of former slaves who overthrew their masters. The people share a very proud and rich history that extends far beyond the island and into the streets of Miami, Pompano Beach, FL, New Jersey and Toronto. The people are hard-working individuals who value getting a good education, family and being proud of their community.
That is why the news of the 7.0 earthquake in Haiti struck me hard. Many crumbled structures, houses and lives were lost. Thousands upon thousands of lives once again altered by a natural disaster. I do not have blood-related relatives there, yet I feel as if any one of my family members were affected. I pray today for that nation and the people and that it may be restored quickly and I invite you to do the same. I am thinking of starting a care drive to send to Haiti, if anyone in suburban D.C. is interested. I know of a family friend who would more than appreciate sending items to her town there. Please let me know.
Here are just a few organizations actively aiding Haiti and seeking support:
Mercy Corps
http://www.MercyCorps.org
Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org
Food For The Poor
http://www.FoodForThePoor.org
World Vision
http://www.worldvision.org
Sunday, January 10, 2010
What's wrong with adult kids today?
An economy on life support. Dismal job prospects that betray what the Department of Labor's statistics report. Credit and real estate markets that are more fickle than a pregnant woman in a restaurant. It's not exactly a great time to establish yourself in the adult world if you are under 35 and have yet to reach the mid-point in your career. Many single adults, and even some with children, are moving back into their parents' house to save money or repay mountainous piles of debt.
But there is hope.
For those who were wise enough to practice thriftiness before the word became in style, the current housing market is a playground where you can get a great deal on a whole lot of house and land. Even if you want a smaller home, townhouse, or condo, prices in once exclusive areas are continuing to fall. If you were smart enough to major in an in-demand field, there are open positions in a lot of industries, like healthcare, education, social services and finance. And the stock market? Listen to the old adage: buy low, sell high. Now is a great time to consider long-term investing because the stock market is at a five-year low.
Now for the rest of us, there are still options. I chose the root of going back to school (for the third time) for additional training. The more education you have, the better your chances of standing out on your resume--depending upon what you choose to study. I chose software internet applications. Cha-ching! There are also tech/vocational skills where you can get certified in a trade or skill within a few months or a year.
Network. In the end it's not what you know, but who you know. Expand your social circle to include the type of people you want to work for. Go to chamber of commerce events, industry conferences and meetings and professional meet and greet breakfasts or luncheons. Avoid happy hours, unless you want to discuss the coctail sever's boob size.
Save money. Cut out the grande lattes, weekly trips to the spa and shopping sprees at Target. Get a roommate. Put that extra dough in a high-yield savings account and watch it grow.
Now let's go out there and make mom and dad proud.
But there is hope.
For those who were wise enough to practice thriftiness before the word became in style, the current housing market is a playground where you can get a great deal on a whole lot of house and land. Even if you want a smaller home, townhouse, or condo, prices in once exclusive areas are continuing to fall. If you were smart enough to major in an in-demand field, there are open positions in a lot of industries, like healthcare, education, social services and finance. And the stock market? Listen to the old adage: buy low, sell high. Now is a great time to consider long-term investing because the stock market is at a five-year low.
Now for the rest of us, there are still options. I chose the root of going back to school (for the third time) for additional training. The more education you have, the better your chances of standing out on your resume--depending upon what you choose to study. I chose software internet applications. Cha-ching! There are also tech/vocational skills where you can get certified in a trade or skill within a few months or a year.
Network. In the end it's not what you know, but who you know. Expand your social circle to include the type of people you want to work for. Go to chamber of commerce events, industry conferences and meetings and professional meet and greet breakfasts or luncheons. Avoid happy hours, unless you want to discuss the coctail sever's boob size.
Save money. Cut out the grande lattes, weekly trips to the spa and shopping sprees at Target. Get a roommate. Put that extra dough in a high-yield savings account and watch it grow.
Now let's go out there and make mom and dad proud.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Life and Death at 30-something
One of my classmates passed away the other morning. Kid was 34. Andrew Taylor. He was a few grades ahead of me, but I feel this one pretty hard. Died of colon cancer. Thirty-four. I am not invincible. I face my mortality every day and can be shipped to my eternal dwelling place at any given moment. It only takes a second to take us out.
I feel bad for his family, his two sisters and mom and dad. I can't imagine what they feel right now. At least they are comforted in the fact that he knew the Lord and is chillin' in Heaven with Jesus right now.
Moral of the story: Enjoy life while I can and worry about the ish that matters. And most importantly, get right with God before it's too late.
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