If your a reader of my usual blog, ya know, the one that happens almost never now..
You'll know Im not really big on celebrating my Birthday, and know why. So ill skip that this time.
Now, last year I took a step into the right direction, thanks to some kind, and insightful words from a wise friend of mine. Im sure he knows who he is, but he told me, that my friend wouldn't be holding a grudge on me in heaven.
That triggered something inside me, it was like it was the first time i've heard it. It may have been, or maybe it was the 1200th time where it finally clicked.
Last year, I went to his grave site, and talked to him. Introduced my family, and all.
I was told it was a little morbid to do that, but I felt it to be necessary to get that closure after so long. I saw his picture, and the wind kept blowing the cover closed.
I read what was on his stone, and everything i remembered about him rushed back. I remembered that day he left, and it didn't hurt as much anymore.
When the picture kept closing on me i couldn't help to think it was his way of telling me that i have put so much on pause after he passed. I was introduced to death in a closer way than I should have been, and it was not my fault.
His way of telling me "dude, it was over 20 years ago. Stop doing this to yourself. It's done. Live your life man."
So, I would like to celebrate my birthday this year, but I want to treat it as if I were 10 years old or so.
Cake, party with the hats, a pinata, slip n' slide, grill up some burgers and hot dogs- and guests leave with little goody bags! I wanna do it small, but fun. I want it to be such a wonderful birthday, and remind myself of the fun i missed out on the past years.
Kinda feels like I'd owe it to myself, and him. I mean, i miss him, and still wish he were here to chill out, and let our kids throw water balloons at each other.
I am so thankful for the family, and friends I do have, and I wish I could have them all over, or have a huge blowout with TX friends, and AZ friends under one roof (or yard) so we can all kick back and have a good time.
I swear, if it happened, I'd break down in tears. Happy ones of course, but still. So many people will have tears on their shirts after all the hugs.
I love all of yall. Fam, friends, TX and AZ, and friends i call fam...
Love to all of yall.
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Thursday, April 19, 2018
The 48 Music Cat Bus Blog
The 48 Hr Contest
Recently my team and I had participated in a 48Hr Film challenge.
We got the Horror genre, and as it so happens, me and a teammate just shot a horror short with my oldest son and it turned out really good.
So, after the event, we went to a coffee shop and worked out an idea and script. The only thing we didn't have was a location. By this time it was already past 10pm, so most people i could call were sleeping. But we did find a place, and we wrapped up around 2 or 3 am. I remember being home at 4, and dumping footage.
That Saturday, while the other teams were starting to shoot, I was starting to edit. 5 Doughnuts, 3 Kolaches, half box of teddy grams and nilla wafers, 12 chicken nuggets and pizza rolls AND 16 hours later...
I had it cut, VFX'd audio- Totally done and rendering. Before Bed (at 4am again) I set it to send tto the submission email.
The next morning, i was informed we were the first team to get their submission in at 730 am sunday.
So Sunday was a day to relax while everyone else was racing to get their videos in.
I hope we can do it like that again next year, because i was really able to dial in everything and show off some VFX in a 48 Hr timeline. They were impressed that we were able to do it all in such a short time.
At the moment we don't know who won, but im feeling very confident about our submission.
The Music Video Challenge
This one was VERY different. The 48 hr was all hands on deck full team effort, but this one fell apart after the event.
Two of my teammates went to the event and got the song, and one got one for themselves. (this person was part of 3 teams in this event, and they are super talented.)
Well, this time we had 7 days to interpret the music, and have it all done. The event was on Wednesday, and i listened to the song a dozen times to get a good feel for it and picture something. (dont judge my process until you try it) i got an idea, and we all agreed, but no one had a location, and we needed to find one. So, I waited for this member to work their magic with a location. Monday rolls up and we have no location.
I re-brainstorm at work, and since my kids were out of school that day, I could see if they wanna be the subjects, and of course they agree without hesitation.
I take them to the park, with my new T7i, and i set up for the first shot, and the battery was almost dead. AAAnd the last two were dead too. So... Im not about to risk the park being full of people if i go and get my T3i, so i use my phone as a camera.
We shoot all we need there without issues, and its almost time to get the Mrs. from work, so we head home and find that she was already home.
She tried calling, text, voicemails- and i didnt get a single one. Needless to say, she was PISSED and worried to the bone.
The next day the teammate who i thought was looking for a location wanted to get some BTS footage, (Which i feel was unnecessary) and it took 15min to set up, 15 min to shoot, and 10 to breakdown.
Now, i got my sub in on time, but there was an issue i had to correct, and re-submit (which they were cool about it, thankfully) That was another late night.
The videos were put up and votes were pouring in. On other videos anyway.
I posted the link, shared it, tagged people all throughout the vote week, and I made 5th place out of 6 videos. I'm usually not a sore loser, but this time it really irks my mind. One team cut a movie to their music, soo, im thinking they should be disqualified for plagiarism. Most of the others were just weird, or didn't make any sense. I'm thinking why would anyone vote for a video like these??
Do they consider this entertaining? Or Art? Because i didn't see it as either.
One did an animation short, which happened to be the multitasking teammate.
They got 3rd place i think. I didnt mind losing to them.
But what bothers me MOST of all about it is that even with my excessive sharing and tagging on my list of over 500 people, I only had 64 votes.
Thats 64 people who likes my work and/or supports me in film.
Only 64 people.
1st had 480, 2nd 466, 3rd 92.
64 people believe in me and my work.
It's depressing AF.
What i get from this contest is this:
These people do NOT play fair.
Next year, it's BEAST MODE. No Mercy.
The Cat Scratch
My youngest was playing outside, and a neighbors cat was in our yard.
He tried to pet the kitty sweetly, but it scratched my boy on his face, by his eye.
I hosed that little asshole cat. Then got a mop bucket of water, and threw it at it. Missed totally, but that cat knows it made a mistake now.
I told the kids who own the cat, that if i see it on my property again, i will shoot it with my BB gun. Cause I don't play that. They told their dad, and he says if i kill it ill be getting them a new cat.
I laughed. I have my response for if he tells me to my face.
1. This park doesn't allow pets outside without a leash.
2. Your cat has no collar, therefore deemed a stray.
3. I was instructed, BY THE LANDLORD, if i see a stray cat, shoot it. We don't need them ripping out insulation from under the trailers and dragging trash everywhere.
4. A BB gun wont kill it unless its a point blank shot under the chin, eye socket, or heart.
5. To ease the mind of the young ones, I have an airsoft pistol ill use first. If it comes back, ill bring out the BB gun. If it comes here AGAIN, well. It will be the last time.
6. I'm not buying anyone a cat. Catch that possum that hangs out in your yard if you want a pet that hisses and scratches kids. Ill get rid of it too.
I have no beef with you, your mother, nor your kids. But that cat is not on my good side.
Bus and School trouble
So my oldest was on the bus, and was trying to get up to get off the bus after school, and some kid grabs his ankle, scratches, and breaks skin. He hit the kid off him.
The next day, my youngest claims, on the morning bus, a kid was hitting my boys head on the window. He told the kid to stop, and called for the driver to help, and they did nothing. So my boy hit this kid in the head, and the driver wrote him up for it.
We got the note that afternoon, and i was super pissed off.
The Mrs. wrote a note to whoever picks up the signed slip, explaining our sons side to the story, and he will not be punished for defending himself. Especially when he did as the school wanted him to do, (tell an adult) and they did nothing until he defended himself against the bully.
I have a few things to say to the principal if i get a call about the note or his "behavior".
1. He wouldn't have had to defend himself, if the driver had listened to him calling for help.
2. I will not allow my kids to be bullied by anyone. I refuse to allow it. If they defend themselves, its because no adult would help. Know that to be the ONLY reason they will engage in violence.
3. Your no violence policy is a rule for a fantasy world. These rules will be broken over and over. Bullies will ALWAYS target those who are less likely to defend themselves. By telling ALL kids not to fight back, is putting a target on every student.
4. I mean which person would be an easier target? A little skinny kid, with glasses, or the tall strong kid with a baseball bat?
Recently my team and I had participated in a 48Hr Film challenge.
We got the Horror genre, and as it so happens, me and a teammate just shot a horror short with my oldest son and it turned out really good.
So, after the event, we went to a coffee shop and worked out an idea and script. The only thing we didn't have was a location. By this time it was already past 10pm, so most people i could call were sleeping. But we did find a place, and we wrapped up around 2 or 3 am. I remember being home at 4, and dumping footage.
That Saturday, while the other teams were starting to shoot, I was starting to edit. 5 Doughnuts, 3 Kolaches, half box of teddy grams and nilla wafers, 12 chicken nuggets and pizza rolls AND 16 hours later...
I had it cut, VFX'd audio- Totally done and rendering. Before Bed (at 4am again) I set it to send tto the submission email.
The next morning, i was informed we were the first team to get their submission in at 730 am sunday.
So Sunday was a day to relax while everyone else was racing to get their videos in.
I hope we can do it like that again next year, because i was really able to dial in everything and show off some VFX in a 48 Hr timeline. They were impressed that we were able to do it all in such a short time.
At the moment we don't know who won, but im feeling very confident about our submission.
The Music Video Challenge
This one was VERY different. The 48 hr was all hands on deck full team effort, but this one fell apart after the event.
Two of my teammates went to the event and got the song, and one got one for themselves. (this person was part of 3 teams in this event, and they are super talented.)
Well, this time we had 7 days to interpret the music, and have it all done. The event was on Wednesday, and i listened to the song a dozen times to get a good feel for it and picture something. (dont judge my process until you try it) i got an idea, and we all agreed, but no one had a location, and we needed to find one. So, I waited for this member to work their magic with a location. Monday rolls up and we have no location.
I re-brainstorm at work, and since my kids were out of school that day, I could see if they wanna be the subjects, and of course they agree without hesitation.
I take them to the park, with my new T7i, and i set up for the first shot, and the battery was almost dead. AAAnd the last two were dead too. So... Im not about to risk the park being full of people if i go and get my T3i, so i use my phone as a camera.
We shoot all we need there without issues, and its almost time to get the Mrs. from work, so we head home and find that she was already home.
She tried calling, text, voicemails- and i didnt get a single one. Needless to say, she was PISSED and worried to the bone.
The next day the teammate who i thought was looking for a location wanted to get some BTS footage, (Which i feel was unnecessary) and it took 15min to set up, 15 min to shoot, and 10 to breakdown.
Now, i got my sub in on time, but there was an issue i had to correct, and re-submit (which they were cool about it, thankfully) That was another late night.
The videos were put up and votes were pouring in. On other videos anyway.
I posted the link, shared it, tagged people all throughout the vote week, and I made 5th place out of 6 videos. I'm usually not a sore loser, but this time it really irks my mind. One team cut a movie to their music, soo, im thinking they should be disqualified for plagiarism. Most of the others were just weird, or didn't make any sense. I'm thinking why would anyone vote for a video like these??
Do they consider this entertaining? Or Art? Because i didn't see it as either.
One did an animation short, which happened to be the multitasking teammate.
They got 3rd place i think. I didnt mind losing to them.
But what bothers me MOST of all about it is that even with my excessive sharing and tagging on my list of over 500 people, I only had 64 votes.
Thats 64 people who likes my work and/or supports me in film.
Only 64 people.
1st had 480, 2nd 466, 3rd 92.
64 people believe in me and my work.
It's depressing AF.
What i get from this contest is this:
These people do NOT play fair.
Next year, it's BEAST MODE. No Mercy.
The Cat Scratch
My youngest was playing outside, and a neighbors cat was in our yard.
He tried to pet the kitty sweetly, but it scratched my boy on his face, by his eye.
I hosed that little asshole cat. Then got a mop bucket of water, and threw it at it. Missed totally, but that cat knows it made a mistake now.
I told the kids who own the cat, that if i see it on my property again, i will shoot it with my BB gun. Cause I don't play that. They told their dad, and he says if i kill it ill be getting them a new cat.
I laughed. I have my response for if he tells me to my face.
1. This park doesn't allow pets outside without a leash.
2. Your cat has no collar, therefore deemed a stray.
3. I was instructed, BY THE LANDLORD, if i see a stray cat, shoot it. We don't need them ripping out insulation from under the trailers and dragging trash everywhere.
4. A BB gun wont kill it unless its a point blank shot under the chin, eye socket, or heart.
5. To ease the mind of the young ones, I have an airsoft pistol ill use first. If it comes back, ill bring out the BB gun. If it comes here AGAIN, well. It will be the last time.
6. I'm not buying anyone a cat. Catch that possum that hangs out in your yard if you want a pet that hisses and scratches kids. Ill get rid of it too.
I have no beef with you, your mother, nor your kids. But that cat is not on my good side.
Bus and School trouble
So my oldest was on the bus, and was trying to get up to get off the bus after school, and some kid grabs his ankle, scratches, and breaks skin. He hit the kid off him.
The next day, my youngest claims, on the morning bus, a kid was hitting my boys head on the window. He told the kid to stop, and called for the driver to help, and they did nothing. So my boy hit this kid in the head, and the driver wrote him up for it.
We got the note that afternoon, and i was super pissed off.
The Mrs. wrote a note to whoever picks up the signed slip, explaining our sons side to the story, and he will not be punished for defending himself. Especially when he did as the school wanted him to do, (tell an adult) and they did nothing until he defended himself against the bully.
I have a few things to say to the principal if i get a call about the note or his "behavior".
1. He wouldn't have had to defend himself, if the driver had listened to him calling for help.
2. I will not allow my kids to be bullied by anyone. I refuse to allow it. If they defend themselves, its because no adult would help. Know that to be the ONLY reason they will engage in violence.
3. Your no violence policy is a rule for a fantasy world. These rules will be broken over and over. Bullies will ALWAYS target those who are less likely to defend themselves. By telling ALL kids not to fight back, is putting a target on every student.
4. I mean which person would be an easier target? A little skinny kid, with glasses, or the tall strong kid with a baseball bat?
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