tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37055072229659431272024-02-06T21:33:30.710-08:00Digitalis DreamingWhere we talk about writing, making movies, and how to make it all happen.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.comBlogger235125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-16215319838199015402014-01-15T20:01:00.001-08:002014-01-15T20:01:11.715-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dear diary,<br />
<br />
My cat has figured out how to give me a rip down. After initial horror and confusion on both sides, he seems to think this is a great new method of communication.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-78628667424798212862013-07-27T17:30:00.003-07:002013-07-27T17:30:40.403-07:00My thoughts on the Economy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 3px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
No matter how hard I work, I will never be a Rockefeller.</div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 3px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
It's a myth.</div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 3px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 3px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 3px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Now I do believe if I work SMARTER, I can live comfortably and have some level of retirement.</div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
But running harder in the same hamster wheels isn't going to help.</div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
I'm embracing my inner lazy fucker.</div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Making a store to sell my work that's totally hands off.</div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Doing more and more board operating jobs, where I can sit on my but and get paid key rates because I smart.</div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Learning to think of it like digging ditches.</div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
One man with a pickaxe, no matter how hard he works, can only do so much work and bring in so much money that way.</div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
One thing he can do is improve his tools, to dig faster.</div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Another thing is improve his education, which leads to better ditches, and higher profile jobs, so he can charge more per ditch.</div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
The hardest working guy with a pickaxe may work 100 times harder, but he's still only making five bucks an hour.</div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
The guy who's learned how to use a backhoe and charges per job makes a lot more.</div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
The guy who's learned irrigation and designs the ditches that he has the other two to build, is going to do much better.</div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
None of them will ever be the guy that inherited the land in the first place.</div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div class="_kso fsm direction_ltr _55r0" data-jsid="message" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 3px; word-wrap: break-word;">
But whining about that changes nothing, and I'd rather be the guy designing the irrigation than the one with the pickaxe.</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-75283377174125778902013-03-08T22:25:00.000-08:002013-03-08T22:25:08.945-08:00I'm not Justin Beiber<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
True story from my glamorous life.<br />
<br />
I worked on a movie that stars Justin Timberlake. (Yes, he's very nice.)<br />
<br />
While we were shooting in NJ, the location turned into a total mob scene - hundreds of kids, and a bunch of ladies hoping for a glimpse of the man. I kinda feel sorry for him.<br />
<br />
Anyway.<br />
<br />
I'm running around with equipment and whatnot, and it's COLD outside. So I'm wearing a baklava amongst other things (the woolly thing that goes over your face, not the dessert).<br />
<br />
Some kids decided since a Famous Person was in their town, and I was hiding my face, that I must be famous, too! (Because movie stars push around hampers full of heavy crap in sub freezing weather, outside.)<br />
<br />
A couple of my workmates were present for this exchange:<br />
<br />
"Are you Justin Beiber?"<br />
<br />
"Uh...no."<br />
<br />
"Well, are you famous?"<br />
<br />
I thought about using the 'infamous' joke, but didn't think they'd get it. These were fairly young kids (what they were doing outside at that hour of the evening, I'll never know).<br />
<br />
So...<br />
<br />
"I'm huge in Japan."<br />
<br />
--------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Now you can tell your friends that you follow the blog of the self proclaimed biggest female Elvis impersonating karaoke superstar of a country she's never visited. Because that's what I eventually became, as the night wore on.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-75120430157835364152013-02-03T12:53:00.002-08:002013-02-03T13:59:45.722-08:00Short Short Story Prompt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi!<br />
<br />
As you guys might have known, the day job is keeping me pretty swamped lately - there are 27 television series currently shooting in NY, and pilot season hasn't even started, so...woof. Its great and wonderful, and totally exhausting - and my writing has done bupkis for three months.<br />
<br />
Sad face.<br />
<br />
I was just invited to a group that does writing prompts - in this case, a key phrase that the writer takes to make a short story of 100-500 words. I've never been good at micro shorts, but spitting out a hundred words in a few minutes in order to keep writing? I'm there. It's about what I have the attention span for at this point.<br />
<br />
The first prompt was 'What say thee?"<br />
<br />
This is what I wrote:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“What say thee?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Donald,” I replied, “I say we're
in a goddamn Denny's, so put down your axe and quit mangling middle
English for five minutes. Okay?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
His face fell, but he dutifully tucked
his new, mass produced battle ax gently on the seat. Our waitress
came over, popping gum. She gave our costumes the once over, sucked
pink latex back between her teeth, and walked away. Donald looked
into my eyes, pleading.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“I'm really hungry.” He said.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I sighed.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Okay, fine. You can keep the axe on
the table.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Our service did improve tremendously.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-89718357228054914732013-01-16T11:16:00.001-08:002013-01-16T11:16:07.220-08:00What a year so far - man on fire :)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
2013 is certainly starting off with a bang!<br />
<br />
I've been bouncing around a couple of network television shows. Good times.<br />
<br />
One of the things that you learn really fast when working in film/tv is to dress for the weather - studio gigs are great, but you never know when the day will send you outside, or how crazy the elements will be when you get there.<br />
<br />
Recently, I was on a scaffold in driving rain, focusing and babysitting some 5k lights. Yup, that's five thousand watts. They come in a couple of different flavors, and look more or less like this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.daplv.com/Web/light2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.daplv.com/Web/light2.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
<br />
Rain and cold weather gear are probably the most important investments you'll make. I remember starting out, buying the cheap stuff, and being miserable and sick a lot. Cotton long underwear is not a good choice, and polyester is completely useless. If you sweat, or your rain stuff gets permeated, cotton will become waterlogged and lose any warmth baffling it had to begin with - which isn't a lot.<br />
<br />
I know I sound like a PSA here. Seriously though, if you can afford it, get the wool. The price stings, I completely agree. It also allowed me to work overnights in five degree weather without being too miserable. And take care of it, so it'll last you.<br />
<br />
Back to the rain. It slanted in every open space, hood - everybody was damp. It was past midnight. We were prepping for a special effects shot where a stuntman gets soaked with gasoline, set alight, and runs around for a while.<br />
<br />
One of the guys asked how I was holding up, up there.<br />
<br />
I said:<br />
<br />
"I really wish we could set this guy on fire now so we can all go home."<br />
<br />
Earlier in the day, we were doing a whole lot of blood effects and squibs for some people being gunned down in a store. Effects shots take a long time to set up and reset, so we'd been going for a while without a meal break. It happens, no biggie. It does induce me to say things that sound really horrible out of context, though.<br />
<br />
"Penny for your thoughts?"<br />
<br />
"I'm hungry. Can we finish killing these people and go eat?"<br />
<br />
My boss snarfed coffee on me.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-22528441673322358382012-12-12T10:58:00.001-08:002012-12-12T11:55:03.949-08:00Torture via Cambucha - more adventures of the texting kind<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div aria-live="assertive" chat-dir="t" class="km" role="chatMessage" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em;">
<div class="kk" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Kombucha is a fermented tea with floating bits in it. Boything think's its brilliant. I think its gross. And more than a little creepy. </span></div>
<div class="kk" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
<br /></div>
<div class="kk" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
<br /></div>
<div class="kk" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
<span class="kn" style="cursor: default; font-weight: bold; margin-left: -1em; zoom: 1;" title="thud72@gmail.com">Boything: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":2tk">true</span></div>
<div class="kl" dir="ltr" id=":2s7" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
on a completely different and unrelated note. I found out a way to grow a kombucha mother..the weird growth thingy needed to make kombucha</div>
</div>
<div aria-live="assertive" chat-dir="f" class="km" role="chatMessage" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em;">
<div class="kk" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
<span class="kn" style="cursor: default; font-weight: bold; margin-left: -1em; zoom: 1;" title="rasaltzman@gmail.com">me: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":30d">oh god</span></div>
<div class="kl" dir="ltr" id=":2yu" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
no</div>
<div class="kl" dir="ltr" id=":2tj" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
it'll eat me in my sleep</div>
<div class="kl" dir="ltr" id=":2zb" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
join forces with the cat</div>
<div class="kl" dir="ltr" id=":2yz" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
take over and grow on the walls</div>
<div class="kl" dir="ltr" id=":30h" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
nononononono</div>
<div class="kl" dir="ltr" id=":30j" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
THE BLOB</div>
<div class="kl" dir="ltr" id=":30u" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
that stephen king story about the bad beer with the mold</div>
<div class="kl" dir="ltr" id=":30i" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
that ate the guy</div>
<div class="kl" dir="ltr" id=":30n" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
nonnononononono</div>
<div class="kl" dir="ltr" id=":300" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
...today is not the best of brain days either, I'm noticing.</div>
<div class="kl" dir="ltr" id=":306" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
god damn it</div>
</div>
<div aria-live="assertive" chat-dir="t" class="km" role="chatMessage" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em;">
<div class="kk" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
<span class="kn" style="cursor: default; margin-left: -1em; zoom: 1;" title="thud72@gmail.com"><b>Boything</b></span><span class="kn" style="cursor: default; font-weight: bold; margin-left: -1em; zoom: 1;" title="thud72@gmail.com">: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":307">thanks for reminding me that I will have to store it out of your reach. I must allow it to grow big enough to stand up for its own</span></div>
</div>
<div aria-live="assertive" chat-dir="f" class="km" role="chatMessage" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em;">
<div class="kk" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
<span class="kn" style="cursor: default; font-weight: bold; margin-left: -1em; zoom: 1;" title="rasaltzman@gmail.com">me: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":2zf">NONONONONONONO</span></div>
<div class="kl" dir="ltr" id=":301" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
IT WILL EAT ME</div>
<div class="kl" dir="ltr" id=":302" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
WHILE THE STEAMER WATCHES</div>
</div>
<div aria-live="assertive" chat-dir="t" class="km" role="chatMessage" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em;">
<div class="kk" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
<span class="kn" style="cursor: default; font-weight: bold; margin-left: -1em; zoom: 1;" title="thud72@gmail.com">Boything: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":30s">kom bu cha kom bu cha kom bu cha</span></div>
</div>
<div aria-live="assertive" chat-dir="f" class="km" role="chatMessage" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em;">
<div class="kk" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
<span class="kn" style="cursor: default; font-weight: bold; margin-left: -1em; zoom: 1;" title="rasaltzman@gmail.com">me: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":2sm">WAAAAAAAAAAAAAA<wbr></wbr>AAAA</span></div>
</div>
<div aria-live="assertive" chat-dir="t" class="km" role="chatMessage" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em;">
<div class="kk" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
<b>Boything</b>: <span dir="ltr" id=":2vc">sounds like something you would hear in a horror movie</span></div>
</div>
<div aria-live="assertive" chat-dir="f" class="km" role="chatMessage" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em;">
<div class="kk" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
<span class="kn" style="cursor: default; font-weight: bold; margin-left: -1em; zoom: 1;" title="rasaltzman@gmail.com">me: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":2ym">it IS</span></div>
</div>
<div aria-live="assertive" chat-dir="t" class="km" role="chatMessage" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em;">
<div class="kk" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
<span class="kn" style="cursor: default; margin-left: -1em; zoom: 1;" title="thud72@gmail.com"><b>Boything</b></span><span class="kn" style="cursor: default; font-weight: bold; margin-left: -1em; zoom: 1;" title="thud72@gmail.com">: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":2yn">and they call it a mother..meaning that it can have babies!!!!</span></div>
</div>
<div aria-live="assertive" chat-dir="f" class="km" role="chatMessage" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em;">
<div class="kk" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
<span class="kn" style="cursor: default; font-weight: bold; margin-left: -1em; zoom: 1;" title="rasaltzman@gmail.com">me: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":2wd">KILL IT KILL IT KILL IT</span></div>
</div>
<div aria-live="assertive" chat-dir="t" class="km" role="chatMessage" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em;">
<div class="kk" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
<span class="kn" style="cursor: default; font-weight: bold; margin-left: -1em; zoom: 1;" title="thud72@gmail.com">Boything: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":2ss">but I have not started to grow one yet..and love it.. and nurture it.. and FEED IT!</span></div>
</div>
<div aria-live="assertive" chat-dir="f" class="km" role="chatMessage" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em;">
<div class="kk" style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">
<span class="kn" style="cursor: default; font-weight: bold; margin-left: -1em; zoom: 1;" title="rasaltzman@gmail.com">me: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":2s6">WAAAHAHAHAHAHAA<wbr></wbr>AHHHHH</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-46718203064250658472012-12-06T14:51:00.000-08:002012-12-06T14:52:13.073-08:00The Saga of Kitty<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Boyfriend and the cat are arguing about his radio antennae. Cat ate it. Boyrfriend took it away. Cat is bitching about that. Boyfriend refuses to return the remaining two inches of wire out of the original ten, and is demanding to know what happened to the other eight. This will be the highlight of my evening.</span><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">"What did you DO with it?'</span><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">"Mew."</span><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">"Is it INSIDE you???"</span><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">"Miaw."</span><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">"GODDAMN it, cat!"</span><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">"MOW"</span><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">"NO. I'm not giving it back!"</span><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Boyfriend throws away the wire. Two mintues later, it's back.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="color: white;">'You snuck it out of the trash!? You little scumbag ."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="color: white;">"MOW."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="color: white;">I live in a cartoon.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-50156075651667021112012-11-24T21:38:00.002-08:002012-11-24T22:34:15.538-08:00Ood to a Grecian Urn<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWrdrE_NjedggfsBXFmJEILmzPGTqryVBPbHvC7Gu0RrbyCktYkwJpEiYi0LcYjHeOfflF8yromlEh4aF9_oUk5xHAqXcmKGCO8AFyavOsQzjsP1t-6D-uZ6a8jprcZeRk-4tUxCdqeA/s1600/grecian+ood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWrdrE_NjedggfsBXFmJEILmzPGTqryVBPbHvC7Gu0RrbyCktYkwJpEiYi0LcYjHeOfflF8yromlEh4aF9_oUk5xHAqXcmKGCO8AFyavOsQzjsP1t-6D-uZ6a8jprcZeRk-4tUxCdqeA/s1600/grecian+ood.jpg" height="320" width="245" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I painted this for a friend of mine, who's an obsessive fan.<br />
<br />
Not necessarily of Dr. Who - he's kind of an amazing dude. Once he becomes interested in a thing, he learns - nay memorizes - whatever aspects of that thing interest him. He can name the Yankees players from the inception of the team. I'm always in awe of the sheer amount of information that's packed away in his brain.<br />
<br />
I'm the idiot who introduced him to Dr. Who. Within two days, he knew more, and could remember more details about the series than I ever could. I'm always impressed when talking to him about anything.<br />
<br />
He's also incredibly clever, with this vast well of knowledge. As we were rambling about tv shows (Dr. Who in particular) he said:<br />
<br />
'You know what would be hilarious? If someone painted 'Ood to a Grecian Urn'."<br />
<br />
So I obliged.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-72189884874831795602012-10-17T16:14:00.000-07:002012-10-17T16:14:05.838-07:00Goals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Goals are important if you want to get where you want to be. To that end, I'm going to start posting one a week. My long term goal is to be an amazing illustrator. This winter's goals involve finishing my book and doing a stop motion project.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">This week's goal is to finish a post production project, and my art class homework.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Tonight's goal: organize these files.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Tomorrow: get a magazine about dance and use it for my art class homework.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">What is your long term goal? What are you doing this week to get there? Today?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-3980206935533741132012-09-18T20:07:00.001-07:002012-09-18T20:07:19.769-07:00The Daddy Diaries<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
No, I'm not a dad myself.<br />
<br />
As a creative working in an industry that more and more isn't (video), it gives me the hankering to do projects that are fun and meaningful to me.<br />
<br />
Most of what I want to do is rather epic in scope, diametrically opposed to my out of pocket funding source. I'd love to do great, dystopian science fiction; or huge fantasy creations.<br />
<br />
What ends up happening though, is that I end up stymied by lack of funds and schedules of my other industry friends - who are great and more than willing to help, but likewise can't afford to work for a month on a free project, however they may like me personally. It's okay, I understand.<br />
<br />
While wracking my brain to come up with a project that I could do on my own and (unlike the stop motion) complete in a matter of days rather than months, I reconnected with an old college buddy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Like many of my peers, he has a kid now. (Where DOES the time go?) His daughter is hilarious, and does the most amazing things.<br />
<br />
I thought his stories were just too good not to share, so I am.<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/KMVVjeIUM8o?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-87856892878765945922012-09-12T09:22:00.000-07:002012-09-12T09:22:23.001-07:00The need for paper<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi guys.<br />
<br />
I know I haven't posted in a while, my bad. I can't think of anything really notable that's happened recently to talk about.<br />
<br />
I should bring a notebook with me again. For some reason, I thought the smartphone would replace ever needing paper notes. For most things, like phone numbers and scheduling, this is true.<br />
<br />
The weakness comes in that I'd stopped really writing down any ideas or amusing anecdotes that I came across. <br />
<br />
I'd think, 'I bet the guys would like to hear about this one', and then promptly forget what was so interesting.<br />
<br />
<br />
So, I'm going back to paper. Hopefully, new things will be more forthcoming.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-21785140506757555952012-08-24T15:57:00.001-07:002012-08-24T15:57:08.776-07:00Faerie path<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalisvitae/7853128986/" title="Faerie path"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8285/7853128986_422159abc2.jpg" alt="Faerie path by digitalis_vitae" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalisvitae/7853128986/">Faerie path</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalisvitae/">digitalis_vitae</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>After doing so many photos for other people, it becomes very liberating to just do a passion project.</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-61349635620683254922012-08-24T10:34:00.002-07:002012-08-24T10:34:58.236-07:00Sometimes, it's better NOT to do the job<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've had a couple of rather peculiar situations that didn't work out this week, and it's probably for the best. Figured that it might be useful to you guys to share them.<br />
<br />
The most recent, was also the most confused. I'm pretty sure I'd had nominal contact with this guy (we'll call him Fred, for the sake of the post, it is in no way his real name), exchange was pretty much, 'here's my stuff', responded to 'I like it, we'll be in touch'. Okay, cool.<br />
<br />
On Wednesday evening, I get an email with a strangely spelled title to the effect, 'can you shoot tomorrow?'. He could be on a mobile device, so I'm a bit more forgiving with word replacement/misspellings than I probably should be (with the good clients, this has honestly never been an issue - they take the time to communicate clearly).<br />
<br />
The email was entirely empty. I had no idea what time, place, equipment needed, anything - not even a rate. I send a couple emails asking all of these questions, finally getting a time, and approximate location.<br />
<br />
(Location was stated as being by such and such statue. A quick search on my part revealed it's location. However, if you are running a job, rather than a geotagging game, providing an address or cross streets will do wonders for your credibility.)<br />
<br />
I began to suspect this might not be the most lucrative, trouble free gig ever. Because there's always pressure to keep getting gigs, I said yes anyway. I'm not sure why - I have a week's worth of corporate photos to edit, and a solo show coming up very soon - but I said yes.<br />
<br />
In the morning, I get another empty email asking for my phone number - which is in all of my contact information...<br />
<br />
The phone call was a rushed, confused mishmash. Fred was worried that I might not be able to handle the difficulty of his production needs (a single wireless lav and camera operation for a guerrilla performance in the street) and might want to use his regular guy. He'll call me back in an hour.<br />
<br />
Sure, whatever. I edit more corporate photos from the lovely gig with great people - which was also last minute, but they managed to not only give me all the information needed, come up with a look, but also provide lunch.<br />
<br />
No phone call. Ah well, no big loss there. I have one more set that I'd like to shoot for my solo show, and I'm running out of time, plus a thousand of these other photos to go through. When SO (significant other) gets home from his normal job, I ask if he wants to go on this short hike and have dinner in the cute little town around it, making an evening out of it. We do.<br />
<br />
When I get home, there's an email from Fred. From a few hours earlier. Asking me if we can meet at 96th street instead, and go from there. Not only did he never call back, this email was sent two and a half hours after his show (it was supposed to be a four hour gig total) was to have started.<br />
<br />
Had I gone down at the appointed time in spite of the lack of communication, my whole shooting and editing day would have been killed. I would have waited around for at least two hours before he even arrived. And no doubt been poorly micro managed. The four hour gig would have been at least a full day at my end, including travel - bets that he'd pay for that?<br />
<br />
I replied to the email politely, suggesting that he may have contacted me in error, as this couldn't be for the gig that he dropped me on. I always try to be polite. So far, no response.<br />
<br />
------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
The other one is just classic. I do music videos. Truthfully, I really like doing them, because the opportunity for creative outlet is huge, and short stories are just fun. The rates for these are all over the map, mine included. It depends on the flavor, how much is involved, etc. I personally tend not to be cheap, because I refuse to do 'guy rapping in a series of unremarkable locations with poor lighting and framing with a fish eye effect slapped on'.<br />
<br />
Artists deserve better. <br />
<br />
Anyhow, the other phone call was from a woman who never gave me her name.<br />
<br />
'I like your music videos.'<br />
<br />
'Thank you!'<br />
<br />
'I want one for me.' (Full disclosure - at this point, I couldn't tell whether the voice on the other end was extremely tired, or very stoned.)<br />
<br />
'Fantastic! Once we do the basic consultation and figure out what your needs are based on your budget, we can work up a contract, figure out a deposit, and get moving on the storyboards. What genre of music are you, and what do you see your creative tastes and sensibilities as?' (I do favorite visual artists, movies, etc, to plan a unique look for each piece.)<br />
<br />
'Uh. How much is a video?'<br />
<br />
'That depends upon what the creative vision is, whether there's animation, or a lot of post effects. For my full creative help (producer, director, dp, and post) the rate is usually X. If you have other artists in mind, or friends who want to take on producing, dp, or post roles, then I can lower my rates.'<br />
<br />
Silence. A long silence.<br />
<br />
'Gee, that's a lot.'<br />
<br />
'It's a lot of work. To do a project right, it's usually a month or two from pre through post production.'<br />
<br />
'One day shoot?'<br />
<br />
'Yes, for a one or two day shoot. At least if you want a complicated, amazing looking result. Sometimes longer, if there are a lot of effects or animation, as I mentioned before.'<br />
<br />
More silence. Enough that I wasn't sure if she was still on the line.<br />
<br />
So I plunged in. 'If you pick a location, and just want me to show up and shoot it, and turn over the footage, we can do that too.'<br />
<br />
'I want someone to do one like (names a stop motion video that I worked on for two months, with fully articulated custom puppets) in like a day for a hundred bucks. Can you do that?'<br />
<br />
'I wish! That wouldn't cover the cost of materials for making one of the puppets, let alone labor time. And the shooting alone took almost two months. That project from pre viz through completion was closer to eight.'<br />
<br />
'Someone can do it.'<br />
<br />
'If you find them, do give me their number! I'd love to hire them myself. All the best of luck to you, and have a wonderful day.'<br />
<br />
I'm pretty sure she was very, very stoned.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-55912539863894316062012-08-06T22:26:00.000-07:002012-08-06T22:26:06.712-07:00A Day in the life of Ivan De Freelancer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I had originally written this as a frustrated facebook post, but enough people seemed amused that I decided to share it here.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">There's an action game called Freelancer. I should make one.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Wake up. Check email. Send invoices from completed jobs. Check status on pending gigs. Go to mailbox. Open. Recieve junkmail. No check. Swear. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Fuck off on the internet. Download new tutorials. Drool over new gear. Realize it isn't in the gear budget column. Handle three phone calls from the clueless, cheap, and really stone</span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
d.<br /><br />Get cranky. Realize that coffee is needed. Brew coffee. Fix cup. Phone call from client you've been courting for a week. Could be promising. Hang up. Coffee is cold.<br /><br />Design new business cards. Organize reciepts. Give up organizing receipts.<br /><br />Rework business cards. Order cards.<br /><br />Open fridge. Look at elderly styrofoam package. Go out for lunch.<br /><br />Load old footage, intending to make reel. Grimace. Juggle clips for three hours, give up.<br /><br />Get script for coverage in email. Start doing said coverage. Use bathroom. Get grossed out. Clean bathroom.<br /><br />And so on.</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-81219229559229780342012-07-12T09:01:00.002-07:002012-07-12T09:03:15.202-07:00I'm a horrible bloggerKowlon Walled City<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm the worst schedule - er ever, and not so great at time management when I'm not working.<br />
<br />
Job - show up 15 to 30 minutes early, coffee in hand, ready to face the day.<br />
<br />
Home - Had a nightmare about bugs crawling out of my recesses, didn't get to sleep until three a.m. (My previous nightmares were all about my teeth, but now that I've found a dentist, my lizard brain has found something else to torture me with. Yay?)<br />
<br />
Planned on doing laundry. It was a good plan. Until I found this DIY photo hack website, and a German documentary about Kowloon city.<br />
<br />
If you are not familiar with this place, do yourself a favor and Google it. Around 30-50 thousand people, living in a .01 mile area, run by the Triad, which was(is?) the Hong Kong mafia. I believe (haven't fact checked thoroughly) that this was the most dense population of any city block, possibly ever.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/05/article-0-12EF340A000005DC-165_964x736.jpg">http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/05/article-0-12EF340A000005DC-165_964x736.jpg</a> That's it, there. (It was destroyed in 1993, and a public park built in it's place.)<br />
<br />
The place was built up and modified by it's residents to such a point that it became a maze of dark, dripping corridors, tiny apartments and businesses; rife with prostitution, drug use, and normal people living fairly normal lives.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiqz87HmfvZFAsSPK4AscqFnwq_xhX0Ta9JDDaVLDb5xtdar9mtcj6Nx9oB9ns_KRDqPkliC_R4p9Z1iuYVIKO6Opa-sCSI0MnfvH6XbJAOpMup1u14FUNybSb454CqPd7hLrIoUdPqQ/s1600/kowloon-walled-city21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiqz87HmfvZFAsSPK4AscqFnwq_xhX0Ta9JDDaVLDb5xtdar9mtcj6Nx9oB9ns_KRDqPkliC_R4p9Z1iuYVIKO6Opa-sCSI0MnfvH6XbJAOpMup1u14FUNybSb454CqPd7hLrIoUdPqQ/s320/kowloon-walled-city21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
You can see some of the rest of Hong Kong surrounding the area, a city which is fairly dense by typical urban standards.<br />
<br />
Inside, this place looked kind of like a cyber punk acid trip.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ard2music.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/kowloon-walled-city_street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ard2music.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/kowloon-walled-city_street.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ItGfCmcEFgsbwxl3Gpc4skLWHeq1F0nRsyiQaFh1AoeJzdHqkPOwpLi3EC4mINjB8-q1JEtTYKnCA5hOoLOm3nNMAjkJSoSQ9LMwgzfSyRHxqsdkWi6tDT6LBknuXwYhPYNQ8lkaBXGO/s1600/article-2139914-12EF31F9000005DC-166_964x611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ItGfCmcEFgsbwxl3Gpc4skLWHeq1F0nRsyiQaFh1AoeJzdHqkPOwpLi3EC4mINjB8-q1JEtTYKnCA5hOoLOm3nNMAjkJSoSQ9LMwgzfSyRHxqsdkWi6tDT6LBknuXwYhPYNQ8lkaBXGO/s320/article-2139914-12EF31F9000005DC-166_964x611.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiffXcEUURFwBZa6Cuejobby1YXp_2jnpoIGPDRQR1C5ZCfhswqXDCyQCdECydUCoZqZuVhq8jrRyrxyCnzpa_qYK0kAV2cnYGKc_r_9vmKgHKf0yD9BfBooxfHx66AJHvqS88cZsJMBc/s1600/article-2139914-12EF320B000005DC-960_470x745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiffXcEUURFwBZa6Cuejobby1YXp_2jnpoIGPDRQR1C5ZCfhswqXDCyQCdECydUCoZqZuVhq8jrRyrxyCnzpa_qYK0kAV2cnYGKc_r_9vmKgHKf0yD9BfBooxfHx66AJHvqS88cZsJMBc/s320/article-2139914-12EF320B000005DC-960_470x745.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://youhadbetterknow.com/knowledgezone/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/k90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://youhadbetterknow.com/knowledgezone/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/k90.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1dHgFyu3p7NPdXq2ORcyFd6AeRFWFKOU9y-BFfg8g8F_Cw4Vst6XmBZgJ5TPF7LbJTrDddiuFG3HzRBsnZjSUC1YzTzcKvkrjCrtr6TwTFirIdgmJOEa5iYbVlL7xCD0HdA86z67z1kE/s1600/article-2139914-12EF3235000005DC-95_964x623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1dHgFyu3p7NPdXq2ORcyFd6AeRFWFKOU9y-BFfg8g8F_Cw4Vst6XmBZgJ5TPF7LbJTrDddiuFG3HzRBsnZjSUC1YzTzcKvkrjCrtr6TwTFirIdgmJOEa5iYbVlL7xCD0HdA86z67z1kE/s320/article-2139914-12EF3235000005DC-95_964x623.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here's a view from the top:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.indiatalkies.com/images/slum-dwellers165636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://www.indiatalkies.com/images/slum-dwellers165636.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As you might imagine, the only light hitting the lower levels and most of the streets were artificial. I get lost just thinking about trying to find my way around that insanity.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
People are amazing though - besides the 'soft' crimes, most citizens here worked, lived, ran tiny businesses (footage wise), just like any other place.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/05/article-2139914-12EF31CE000005DC-286_470x745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/05/article-2139914-12EF31CE000005DC-286_470x745.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvFE2Ty66kCq9mWM1SYWw26bJp8IiMr3Z5Dq6U7HDmlJt48mXZ5lLPansx-Ywy7nHg6_UQ0SGvyHhgrMqM2t-G5WrOx3_eWm4Nx7dF-Sdjrjivvz_79eosD_g-ye09ISfmSZqmkC6hqI/s1600/img001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvFE2Ty66kCq9mWM1SYWw26bJp8IiMr3Z5Dq6U7HDmlJt48mXZ5lLPansx-Ywy7nHg6_UQ0SGvyHhgrMqM2t-G5WrOx3_eWm4Nx7dF-Sdjrjivvz_79eosD_g-ye09ISfmSZqmkC6hqI/s320/img001.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://youhadbetterknow.com/knowledgezone/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/k91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://youhadbetterknow.com/knowledgezone/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/k91.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibv7CIo6yg0-ohFkEOCHBTdBtsa_5aIqCwYtxoVQvGcCuo4LlSyEkb6uAXrEzsCfgmKgsufR33ueWMx5F8fBhauQFdWbPH-XzCgLCcgSEoISFqXE_x78sEZj7WBzan90u4_H1zRSDeqJiE/s1600/article-2139914-12EF3ABA000005DC-428_964x580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibv7CIo6yg0-ohFkEOCHBTdBtsa_5aIqCwYtxoVQvGcCuo4LlSyEkb6uAXrEzsCfgmKgsufR33ueWMx5F8fBhauQFdWbPH-XzCgLCcgSEoISFqXE_x78sEZj7WBzan90u4_H1zRSDeqJiE/s320/article-2139914-12EF3ABA000005DC-428_964x580.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtKW9y85Oxhc_J6mcOqSmCPhgfLw52ZuARpMAZmEMgUZqP9CvwaQ6qxhrkfqTm90FieYA3zaxy7HlBsveBGIsy3pqfSDQ-AjwZzLTig5Obofd0bTRK0d-4YxNjeTKhX-uy5_Wy2Ek4SRb/s1600/article-2139914-12EF3239000005DC-294_964x624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtKW9y85Oxhc_J6mcOqSmCPhgfLw52ZuARpMAZmEMgUZqP9CvwaQ6qxhrkfqTm90FieYA3zaxy7HlBsveBGIsy3pqfSDQ-AjwZzLTig5Obofd0bTRK0d-4YxNjeTKhX-uy5_Wy2Ek4SRb/s320/article-2139914-12EF3239000005DC-294_964x624.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-WL4h1R7Ts-IiWtVqVrXlibEXqCbI454WWZ3ki8KHmWycUYF65hD9ugUUBv8j1F-RxyEndFW8XqHKKDMbS9BPSsbtOENM4cAv1ZrWmeoLJBuWApg26xgBCM3CjJEiWnpQbZF52FjdbY8/s1600/article-2139914-12EF3A4A000005DC-992_964x616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-WL4h1R7Ts-IiWtVqVrXlibEXqCbI454WWZ3ki8KHmWycUYF65hD9ugUUBv8j1F-RxyEndFW8XqHKKDMbS9BPSsbtOENM4cAv1ZrWmeoLJBuWApg26xgBCM3CjJEiWnpQbZF52FjdbY8/s320/article-2139914-12EF3A4A000005DC-992_964x616.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/05/article-2139914-12EF3293000005DC-755_964x618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/05/article-2139914-12EF3293000005DC-755_964x618.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Originally, the site was an army base. In the documentary, people ignore an old cannon left in the middle of one of the built up alleys as they walk by. There were bits and pieces of the old base left to be built upon. One of the wildest though (to me anyway) is the space and reverence given to this temple:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/05/article-2139914-12EF3370000005DC-213_964x630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/05/article-2139914-12EF3370000005DC-213_964x630.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
One of the few places that seemed to still get natural light while on the ground floor.<br />
<br />
So, that's what I did instead of laundry yesterday.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-77051682820388558372012-07-02T16:25:00.001-07:002012-07-02T16:25:42.856-07:00BABY BUNNIES!!!<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalisvitae/7490638968/" title="bunnies3"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8151/7490638968_9bafdb5bf2.jpg" alt="bunnies3 by digitalis_vitae" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalisvitae/7490638968/">bunnies3</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalisvitae/">digitalis_vitae</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Yep, I'm that person. I followed them around for two hours.</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-27559518661638126772012-06-27T12:21:00.000-07:002012-06-27T12:21:51.286-07:00Sorry, I've been busy.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A great deal of interesting stuff has been going on - when I get a moment to breathe, I'll share.<br />
<br />
Most amusing moment of the past few weeks -<br />
<br />
I did the lighting design for a one man show for NYC Pride week. Great show. Crashed with a couple of wonderful people rather than make an impossible commute. A lovely guy and I shared the bed - completely innocent, I assure you.<br />
<br />
The next morning, he makes me coffee and says:<br />
<br />
'Oh my God! I have to call my husband and tell him I slept with a WOMAN!! AAAAAAH!!!'<br />
<br />
Dammit, that was my last clean tee shirt. I spent the rest of the day with snarfed coffee stains on my chest.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-50550378906725589682012-05-02T14:57:00.001-07:002012-05-02T14:57:54.123-07:00Rachael Saltzman<a href="http://digitalis.artistswanted.org/atts2012#.T6GtiM5w_Sk.blogger">Rachael Saltzman</a>: Click "Collect Me" to help me win $10,000 and a show in the most immense exhibition of art in New York City : Art Takes Times Square.<br />
<br />
So, I entered this photo competition in the hopes of...fame? Fortune? Some new glass (lenses) would be great. If you're so inclined, 'collect' my work and vote me up.<br />
<br />
Thanks!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-13529432006154094702012-04-28T08:16:00.000-07:002012-04-28T08:16:50.299-07:00Best Spam Ever<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
DUDE.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfmanUA5CZ1KRdKWmjCNk_g70bImzizzMThbQK6C4quqdkk6bfOcpYjq7BdxRX2cotoXGN14QuJgzxyZ0-xuuaPJwlVhaYw_XuviWEXok3DiTxGWV5ejsjGIerd77zKfnoPBwGiEsMQg/s1600/Tupac+psychic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfmanUA5CZ1KRdKWmjCNk_g70bImzizzMThbQK6C4quqdkk6bfOcpYjq7BdxRX2cotoXGN14QuJgzxyZ0-xuuaPJwlVhaYw_XuviWEXok3DiTxGWV5ejsjGIerd77zKfnoPBwGiEsMQg/s320/Tupac+psychic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So Tupac is totally offering complimentary psychic readings. This is the only part of the picture that would copy from the email.<br />
<br />
Boyfriend gets the most awesome spam. He tells me that Tupac is offering free psychic readings - which is especially cool because he's like dead and stuff, so he'd TOTALLY have the DL on that whole afterlife connection thing. Right?<br />
<br />
And the first one is FREE - I'm not sure how that works. What sort of currency do the dead use, anyway? The email was pretty vague on the details. Like vampires would probably take blood, zombies brains, but the message was very unclear about what souls would use. <br />
<br />
Me: OMG - we can finally find out who really shot Biggie Smalls!<br />
<br />
Boyfriend: ...<br />
<br />
Me: You should do it! It's like one free question. And look at the little glowing souls in black misty tulips! That's how you know it's totally legit.<br />
<br />
Boyfriend: Except it's not really Tupac.<br />
<br />
Me: (looking over) Wait. That's a white dude. With a beard.<br />
<br />
Boyfriend: And he spells his name with a 'k'.<br />
<br />
Me: I bet he's not really dead.<br />
<br />
Boyfriend: Probably not.<br />
<br />
Me: He probably never rapped a day in his life.<br />
<br />
Boyfriend: (Who is now playing video games and pretty much ignoring me.) 'Hmmm?'<br />
<br />
Me: I bet this is a total rip off. Even for free. I was totally going to pay in blood or fingernails or whatever it is that souls use as currency, but I think this guy is alive. That's not interesting at all.<br />
<br />
Then I asked him to forward the spam so I could share it. I never get cool spam like this. Lots of stuff for longer erections and a bigger penis. Sometimes I reply. According to Boyfriend, I have really big balls anyway, and don't really need help getting them any bigger.<br />
<br />
What I don't have is the direct line to the soul of Tupac. Blast you, spam. Denied again.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-29803335966101997502012-04-07T21:39:00.000-07:002012-04-07T21:39:59.730-07:00Everyone say hi to Soccoro!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi, new buddy! I wanted to PM you a welcome, but failed miserably.<br />
<br />
Either I'm just missing some key element of this friend connect window, or computers are mass conspiring against me in order to make me feel like a complete dolt. <br />
<br />
I'm pretty sure mine gives me the raspberry every time my back is turned. So hey there, welcome to my irreverent, often silly, occasionally (hopefully) educational little corner of cyberspace. There's virtual cake, please help yourself.<br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy your visit!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-3321139828444207452012-04-02T12:40:00.000-07:002012-04-02T12:40:26.658-07:00Lighting basics #1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, I made the first in (hopefully) a series of tutorials about the basics of lighting and photography/video. Now, I'm stumped on what to do next. There are too many options. So I'm asking you guys - what should be next?<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mGnGzfBVrg0" width="853"></iframe></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-86115101335156024572012-04-02T11:39:00.001-07:002012-04-02T11:40:34.882-07:00What I learned from playing Skyrim<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="color: yellow;">It's easy to rule the world when everyone else is too lazy.</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
Your character is the obligatory 'chosen one', wandering around, saving the universe, blah blah blah. Upon reaching each new location, talking to the NPC (non player characters, for those who don't game) open up all kinds of new quests. Some are exploration, some to find a mythical item, the usual.<br />
<br />
So you tromp out to the far reaches of the known world in search of whatever it was for whoever needs it, and it occurred to me - any one of these characters could go out and do the same thing, find their own damn missing harp/shield/cereal bowl, and gain the powers and riches associated with whatever it is. <br />
<br />
So why don't they?<br />
<br />
Most of the characters have a pretty believable backstory, so they own a business/have a family/new obligations so they can't go gallivanting all over creation. But others? The only good reason I can see that they haven't gone off to find item x their damn selves, is that they're just too lazy.<br />
<br />
Kinda reminds me of real life. 'I would/could do x, but I have (insert excuse here).'<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: yellow;">Travelling merchants are often idiots. </span></b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
Wander around enough, and you'll find tons of destroyed carts and dead people near giants' lairs, in underground tunnels full of monsters - and an obligatory diary saying basically, 'we thought this would be a shortcut'.<br />
<br />
Life lesson: that 'shortcut' might not be such a good idea.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: yellow;">Vacation spots are not always as described in the brochure.</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
Likewise, you can find families and adventurers dead at the mouths of caves and stuff, with the convenient diary hinting at what you're in for.<br />
<br />
One such place was marked on my map as 'Bottomless Pit of Shadows'. There were (gasp!) monsters inside.<br />
<br />
What were they thinking!?<br />
<br />
All I can imagine is this couple in Essex:<br />
<br />
'Ooh, 'Enry!' (Yes, I'm picturing one of the Pythons in drag.) 'Look what just came in the post! 'Miserable Pit of Unrelenting Doom!'<br />
<br />
Noncommittal grunting, from the late middle aged man reading his paper in a horridly upholstered easy chair.<br />
<br />
'Doesn't that just sound lovely? 'Aving a special right now! Two for one 'oliday package, free hour in the torture room/spa!'<br />
<br />
'Mmm-hmmm.'<br />
<br />
'We haven't gone on 'oliday since 'Mount Decrepit of Insuffrable Damnation' with Alice and Roger. Remember those slide shows? A pity about the Ice Toothed Hellhound, though...'<br />
<br />
Anyway.<br />
<br />
The other one was a great piece of storytelling, and pretty heart wrenching. (Spoilers!)<br />
<br />
There's a lighthouse that looks like the wrong side of a Saw movie inside. When you follow the story, a family moved there, only to be kidnapped and butchered by the monsters in the basement.<br />
<br />
<br />
Life lessons: Names mean something, and always get a neutral party to appraise real estate.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: yellow;">There is one other smart adventurer in the whole game. He has no name, and you meet him once.</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
I can't remember the name of the place I found him. He greets you near the entrance to yet another cave and says something to the effect:<br />
<br />
'Watch out, dude. I'm a pretty hardcore adventurer, but it's harsh in there. I can take spiders like the best of em, but FIRE BREATHING spiders? Screw that, I'm out.'<br />
<br />
life lesson: Forewarned is forearmed. Don't ignore good advice. Or be ready to stick your head in a bucket when a spider sets it on fire.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-29302965936209097072012-03-15T14:52:00.000-07:002012-03-15T14:52:51.171-07:00Failure to Communicate #1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I just worked 40 hours in two days. While this isn't unusual, it leads to conversations like this.<br />
<br />
Boyfriend: 'I unplugged the toilet.'<br />
<br />
O.o ????<br />
<br />
The toilet has no electrics. We live in a rental, why did you remove the toilet from the wall?! I'm having visions of grey water all over our second floor apartment, and he's sitting watching anime perfectly calmly. I start having a babbling, confused fit.<br />
<br />
He watches, face ever so carefully neutral, eyes shining. 'The toilet was clogged. I unplugged it.'<br />
<br />
OH. RIGHT. When overtired, I forget that many words have more than one meaning.<br />
<br />
I go to make use of our pristine, functioning bathroom, gales of laughter following in my wake.<br />
<br />
'My girl is special.'<br />
<br />
Yup. That's me. 'Special' is a great word. So many inferences.<br />
<br />
I'm just glad the toilet works.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-5605823142977520562012-03-07T14:49:00.000-08:002012-03-07T14:49:36.331-08:00I have a anti super hero alter ego<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I bet you do, as well. My inner super hero is not so super. I call mine Captain Spaz.<br />
<br />
This morning, CS freaked about going to the accountant, parked the car three different times because ... actually, I still can't figure out why the first two weren't good enough. <br />
<br />
Usually, Captain Spaz is fairly under control. Taxes always get us going though - not that I've ever had a real reason for concern.<br />
<br />
Between that, my computer expressing its continued dominion over the sad, foolish meat thing that keeps trying to trick it into running software, and other fun stuff, my anti hero has been running strong.<br />
<br />
Captain Spaz is the part of my brain that insists on losing my keys, phone, wallet, shoes, and the bits of assurance that go along with knowing where the aforementioned items make their domain.<br />
<br />
Who is your inner anti super hero? </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705507222965943127.post-10798578217255131782012-02-24T10:38:00.000-08:002012-02-24T10:38:32.166-08:00Branding yourself as a freelancer - this wins for useless phrase of the day.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"Brand Yourself", "Building Brand Loyalty as a Freelancer", or '"How Someone who Knows Almost Nothing Can Get Money From Your Wallet"<br />
<br />
As you might have noticed, this particular trend is giving me virtual hives right now. With the current economy showing no signs of reverting back to the 'work for the same company for 30 years and retire with a pension' universe, freelancers are popping up like mushrooms.<br />
<br />
There are a bunch of reasons for this. Some people are just sick of their company policies, or want to take on more interesting work. Some people are frustrated with being unemployed/underemployed, and want to strike out on a venture of their own. Others just think it sounds cool. (Yep, as I fill out invoices and chase non paying clients, negotiate rates, worry about the reel that I swear I'll cut one of these days, there's a friend of mine, somewhere, thinking that my job must be easier than what they're doing.)<br />
<br />
None of these is a bad reason to think about freelancing. Jumping straight in from that random thought, however, is not the best idea on earth. Beyond figuring out what sort of business you are/want to be, the overhead, what tools you need, an honest assessment of your skillset in area x, there are the vultures.<br />
<br />
Vultures, you say? What defines a freelancer vulture, to me, is someone with no definable track record or skillset suddenly marketing themselves as a 'branding expert' or 'social media guru'. (Other terms to watch out for - guru, ninja, maven, rockstar.) As soon as this person hangs their sign, they'll start offering classes and workshops. If you're lucky, they're reading all of the same 'how to' blogs and sites that you are (which are available for free, by the way). If not, they have less of an idea how to do this than you do. But man, they'll have those buzzwords down pat. It's like paying to sit through that corporate meeting with the marketing dept. spitting out words that used to have defined meanings, but now, all they do is make you late for lunch.<br />
<br />
Not everyone offering a workshop is a vulture. Do your homework on them - what have they accomplished in the field that they're talking about? If there's no track record, no specifics, don't waste your time or money.<br />
Something like 'took company x from 10k a year to 100k a year through repackaging website and optimizing SEO' is real. 'SEO guru and expert to help with your needs' is not.<br />
<br />
Do you even need a 'brand'?<br />
<br />
Most of these freelance sites say yes, this is the most important thing.<br />
<br />
I say - it depends.<br />
<br />
Are you selling a physical object - jewelry, clothing, et al.? Then yes. People are suckers for packaging. And your clientele depends upon the look of your logo, shop (virtual or real), and name to get a quick idea of whether your product is for them. A Goth shop specializing in silver skull jewelry is not going to look the same as someone selling English tatting tea cozies. If your item is similar enough to other products, here's where it may be worth hiring a brand expert to help you find a unique twist to your work.<br />
<br />
Me? I don't have a brand. I'm a service. Many companies who do production have a specific look or feel to their site and their work - which is totally fine. I suspect mine is growing more organically. The question is - 'do I NEED to brand?'<br />
<br />
I never did. Would I have gotten further, faster? Hard to say. I get very little work through strangers. Building my network over the years is responsible for at least 95% of my work. I don't really have an online presence. Then again, I don't really do quick marketing videos for startup web companies either. I don't generally do weddings.<br />
<br />
The difference here, I think, is who my client is. Mine tends to be people that I've met on other jobs, have seen what I can do, and want me to work with them again, or on something they're creating. My clientele is not usually the general public. Of the gigs I've gotten from complete strangers, there are only two (maybe three) important things.<br />
<br />
1. Do we click during the interview.<br />
<br />
2. Samples of my work. (I will do a reel, eventually. I promise.) They need to see that I can actually do what I said I would.<br />
<br />
3. Will I work for the listed rate.<br />
<br />
Notice, I have a narrow niche (features, docs, music videos) for the most part. I have done commercials, industrials, etc - and am usually hired by the company producing that product. And of course, reality shows. I think most people have done work at least related to one in the last few years.<br />
<br />
Artists brand themselves naturally through the progression of their work and interests. Usually, a very simple website with their name, contact info, portfolio, and bio is all they need. This is branding, sure. It is also pretty simple stuff that you can do yourself.<br />
<br />
You have to decide for yourself whether networking parties, workshops, et al. are right for you. And be picky about the ones you take. Or you could find yourself spending thousands on information that's freely available, or worse, no information at all.<br />
<br />
This is one of the best blogs I've found that covers general freelancing, and has articles available for artists, writers, finances, you name it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://freelanceswitch.com/">http://freelanceswitch.com/</a><br />
<br />
All that takes, is your time.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985803441073632812noreply@blogger.com0