That said, I will be posting portraits in the coming weeks of friends, family, perhaps even strangers.  Again, my ultimate goal is to hone in on my photographic craft.

I’m excited to share with you!

The very next day I bought a manual Vivitar 35mm film camera with a 50mm lens for $150.

Though cinema is a form of photography, it differs greatly from its static predecessor. With the inclusion of sound, performance, narrative, and all its other elements, cinema is arguably more “dynamic” than still photography; nonetheless, the latter has a power of its own – it’s ability to bring focus to one millisecond in time, one emotion, one expression, one…

I will be launching a still photography business in the coming months. My emphasis will be portraiture; however, I will be open to where the venture leads me in terms of style and content. But first thing, first: I need to hone in on my still photography skills. Though I processed negatives and made prints in my own darkroom for years, digital photography is a much different beast which I need to tame before working for hire.

In the month of February, I am going to post one image per day. Each image will be of something we take for granted in life, like a fork or a hand. And each image will be stylistically and technically different. I will include brief notes with each image for those interested in my stylistic and technical approach.

Looking forward to sharing this project with you!!! In the meantime, here’s a still photo I recently took of my son, Simon…

While developing a title for my current feature-length script, I came up with a haiku that captures its story rather well:

Love comes quietly,

“I love you” in a whisper.

Listen.  Listen.  Shh….

In the coming months, I will be considering various online distribution options for Girlfriend 19.  Because of its brevity, 78 minutes, I believe it will appeal to online and cable viewers. 

I decided to take a bold approach and highlight the film’s intensity with this trailer!

As a result of this resistance toward artistic aspiration, most striving artists suffer socially, economically, emotionally, and spiritually, which typically leads to an abandonment of dreams.  I used to think this is tragic and unjust; it upset me and made me mad.  However, the more I give filmmaking a go, the more I realize this resistance is a good thing.

When I decided to go to law school in 2003, I was socially, economically, emotionally, and spiritually supported.  It was easy; everything fell into place.  All I had to do was sign-off on student loans and show up to class.  People were proud of me and encouraged me.  And I felt spiritually grounded because I was comfortable.  However, when I decided to drop-out and pursue a more personal passion, filmmaking, the support pretty much dissipated.  I went from a top-tier law school student to a 31-year-old substitute teacher who wants to make movies.  I was questioned, mocked, and humiliated.

Most people lack vision, so they will attack, criticize, and ridicule artistic aspiration.  Rather than focus on the honesty and courage it takes to create, most look at the imperfect final product and devalue its creator.  This is immature, selfish, and hateful.  It’s a form of emotional and spiritual murder.  But that’s how it goes and I doubt I’m going to change that.  Rather, I have learned to embrace this injustice and see its benefits.

Resistance towards artistic aspiration has many latent benefits.  First, it weeds out the hacks.  Many dream of being a famous artist, but few really have the talent and the discipline, so they give up.  Most are not called to be an artist to begin with and it’s a good thing that they give up; it’s good for us and for them.

Second, resistance builds character.  Hate, discouragement, and indifference are like weights; you are forced to muscle them, which can build you up or kill you.  If you keep on pumping those weights, you will become stronger and more resilient yourself.  In fact, the more “famous” you become as an artist, the more resistance you will face, so the weights just get heavier, hopefully leading to greater character and better work.

Third, resistance forces you to become a better artist.  Although it may be deeply painful, you are challenged to improve your work.  In most cases, an artist is ignored because his/her work is not good, full of cliche, cheap mimicry.  A mature artist will acknowledge this reality and strive to improve, to be more personal.  Sure, even great art is often ignored due to subjectivity, ignorance, and fear; however, there will always be appreciation somewhere for good art if the artist continues to persevere.

Most importantly, resistance toward artistic aspiration leads to more authentic relationships.  As the aspiring artist evolves, so to will his/her priorities, values, and perspectives.  Superficial, vain, and unhealthy elements in life will no longer matter to the artist, thus, they will be drawn to and attract similar folks.  The artist will be inspired by their new community of courageous, bold, and beautiful human beings.  And though it may be painful, some people in the artist’s life will reject them and ostracize them, but that’s okay because these people are toxic and need to be distanced if the artist is to thrive.

Resistance sucks.  It is often brutal, unjust, and, at times, evil.  But if it is embraced, resistance can lead to beautiful things.

As you can imagine, the sharks proceeded to give Mr. Smith a big fat piece of humble pie.

“You haven’t proven yourself,” Barbara Corcoran simply put it.  “It takes 10-15 years to be an ‘overnight’ success,” said Robert Herjavec.  And billionaire Mark Cuban added, “You set your sights high, but you set them too high.”

And as soon as Mr. Smith began to argue, the most ruthless of all sharks, Kevin O’Leary bluntly shouted, “The guy who has the money makes the rules.  That’s how it works!”

Independent filmmakers have a lot to learn from these sharks.

We need to prove ourselves before claiming to be worth millions and it takes many years to do that.  And it’s great to set your sights high, but be reasonable and honest, access your gifts, talents, resources and connections.  Don’t set them so high that you look like a fool while reaching, destined to fail.

And how true is Mr. O’Leary’s comment to us indie filmmakers?  If you want folks to give you big bucks to make your film, be prepared to play by their rules!

Life has been rather taxing lately, emotionally and, therefore, physically.  It’s mostly personal, a combination of artistic angst and relational growth; however, enough encouragement and wise counsel has come my way to keep me going!

Going against the norm, doing what one feels they need to do, despite a more “secure” way, is not only difficult, it is exhausting.  And I’ve come to a place of peace with this fact.

Believe me, this isn’t some kind of romanticizing the “artist’s life.”  Rather, it simply is an acceptance of my inherent challenges and disappointments.  

I’ve come to appreciate that gratitude begins with an embrace, even of those things that hurt us most…

Titles often come to me during the script writing process, as I write a word or phrase, but not this time!

What do you think?  What makes a movie title great?  Blah?  What are some of your favorites and why?  Do you like it when the title “makes sense” by the end of the film, or when it remains ambiguous?  Do you think a title should give an idea of what the film is about or should it be abstract?

I really want to know what you think and please share this post with others so they can chime in too…

Thanks!

One piece of music, in particular, continues to move me very deeply; in fact, I’m obsessed with it and listen to it repeatedly.  It’s the “Love Theme” by John Barry for Dances With Wolves.

Such has been my experience lately while writing my current feature film script.  Don’t get me wrong, I end up in the way quite often, but more and more, I am able to observe and notate my characters rather than dictate, manipulate and contrive.  

In many ways, this process is much like a spiritual discipline, where the faithful submits themselves to a higher power, following its lead.

My higher power?  In the case of screenwriting: the characters!

A big thank you to Susan Kelly for honoring me with the

“Very Inspiring Blogger Award”! 

I’ve been blogging for nearly three years now and it really is becoming more and more enjoyable.  I’m slowly but surely finding my “voice.”

Thank you all who continue to read, comment on, and share my posts.  Here’s to another three years of blogging!

First, an opinion is subjective and not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.  Your opinion is just that: yours.  Despite our “Me” culture, I believe a personal opinion can, in fact, be wrong, calling for a healthy dose of modesty and open-mindedness.  Too often it’s the opposite: people hold opinions as absolute fact, which thwarts constructive and positive development – including the opinion holder’s!

Second, and more important, when your opinion is sought after, you are placed in a position of power.  The seeker has ultimately entrusted you with their vulnerability.  So how you go about expressing your opinion is an ethical choice.  You can be gracious or mean.  You can be constructive or destructive.  You can be silent or aloof.

Perhaps all this doesn’t matter when expressing our opinion about a Big Mac or the Los Angeles Dodgers; but, it certainly matters when eating a homemade pie or gazing at a painting.  The distinction here is between consumption and relationship.  A consumer is not called to make an ethical choice, rather they merely seek to fill an egocentric desire; on the flip side, I like to think relationships transcend the ego, which calls for great responsibility.

I don’t want to spend years dealing with investors, so I have turned to a donation-based approach.  And a big part of my fundraising strategy is the house party, where a close supporter hosts a party where I can pitch my film to their guests.

While pre-producing our feature film in Indiana, Joletta and I are pitching our needs at house parties.  In past parties, we screened one of my short films; however, on this trip, we decided to create an original teaser video instead.

We filmed on Joletta’s cousin’s farm and a big thanks to my friend Tom for narrating it (last minute!).  Check it out!

That’s because I’m in Indiana working on my current feature film project.  In case you don’t remember, it’s a love story set on an Indiana farm, which we will film during Summer, 2013.  My wife, Joletta, is producing the film and I am writing and directing. 

We are currently location scouting in Indiana and meeting potential collaborators and financial donors.  It has been a promising trip so far.

One of our biggest needs for the film is the main location, a farm that needs to be rather large and very well-maintained.  Joletta and I have driven hundreds of miles with a map while taking note of potential farms.  We have found about six we are excited about so far.  Below are pictures of three of them!

I will be posting more about our Indiana film as more unravels.  Thank you!!!!

Vocational ambition is like the concentric circles of a target where everyone strives to hit the bullseye.

Most of us start in the outer most circle, while a lucky few with natural talent and/or professional connections start off further within.  But one thing is for certain: the vocational target analogy is based on limited space; the closer a circle is to the center, the smaller it is.  There is progressively less room to go around; thus, someone needs to be removed for someone else to enter.

It is tempting to think this zero-sum model is a good thing since it creates competition, which, arguably encourages excellence and innovation.  However the zero-sum model also taps into our most broken selves, spawning hostility, contempt, and subversion.

Fortunately there is enough room for all to hit the bullseye if, and only if, it is approached abstractly, not materialistically.  If the bullseye is truth, excellence, service, or another such virtue, then it becomes infinitely available; there will always be enough to go around.  On the other hand, if the bullseye is materialistically based, such as wealth, fame, or a leading role in a blockbuster movie, then it is limited.

There are two great tragedies in approaching a vocational target materialistically, i.e., in a zero-sum manner.

First, rather than tapping into and manifesting virtue, one’s industry results in mere material gain.  Rather than food that nourishes in a sustainable way, it simply fills the belly.  Rather than a song that leads to transcendence, it simply entertains.  Though there is nothing inherently wrong with merely filling and entertaining, imagine more instances of nourishment and transcendence.

That said, there is a greater tragedy in the materialistic approach, one that stings much deeper than a pass on virtue.  As suggested above, the zero-sum model invariably leads to destructive behavior.  If only one jug of water remains in the midst of a crowd dying of thirst, things are going to get ugly really fast.  We all have experienced the desperation, insecurity, and envy competition often generates.

Vocational circles are replete with disgruntled and embittered people, from the outer most circles all the way in.  Many lack talent, discipline and/or tact.  Others are simply seeking the wrong bullseye, yet they deludedly stick around.  Perhaps fear is the greatest obstacle, since progress toward the center often calls for personal growth and alienation.

Whatever the reason, one thing is certain: most folks who abide by the zero-sum model cut others down rather than encourage and support.  And here’s the rub: the concentric circles get smaller and smaller toward the center; therefore, even though the number of competitors decrease, the amount of space decreases.  Thus, no matter how much closer to the bullseye you advance, there will always be destruction.  One may even argue that the destructive forces progressively increase!

As we’ve seen, many have succeeded in the zero-sum model; to their credit, they often are talented, disciplined and industrious.  But they also run folks over along the way and, ultimately, compromise their own humanity.  Conversely, those who view vocational progress abstractly, as a means to virtue, tend to be at peace.  They make their way toward the bullseye not in a competitive way, but with gratitude, awe and joy.  Though their work can have materialistic value, they more importantly contribute virtue to the world while caring for and loving others along the way.