Fast Food Vent

I know a lot of people eat fast food.
And I also know I have mentioned this before.
Take into consideration that there is a human being making your order. Regardless of how hungry you are, when or how you order it, a person is back there making it. Now, take into consideration that this person may have woke up at 4:30 am, with only a few hours of sleep for whatever reason. Maybe this person hasn't eaten anything yet today. Every order someone makes stops them from eating the cold scraps they can find. Notice I said SCRAPS. This person does not get a break, nor do they get a meal without paying for it. It would be okay, but they just might have used their last bit of money to get diapers for the child they are supporting. This person could also have a history of digestive system issues, such as stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, hemorrhoids, etc... So not being able to eat allows the stomach acid level to increase and eat the lining of the stomach. (aka stomach ulcers) This could lead to days out of work eventually, and this person loses money.
Or, maybe it isn't so bad. Maybe they are just trying to get all the prep and clean-up done before the next crew comes in, because their spouse needs to be at work less than an hour after they were SUPPOSED to leave, and there is one car, and two kids to look after. By coming in and ordering massive amounts of artery-clogging garbage, they have to stay late to finish their job, and their spouse will be late, which can get them fired, which strains their finances...
See where I'm going with this?
You may be thinking "Gee, this guy just hates the customers!" And you are mostly wrong. I dislike many customers, because they come off as ignorant and lazy. Not only that but they always seem to come at the wrong times. That isn't their fault, and i get that. I also understand that without the customer, there is no business and i don't make money. There are customers that come often who have special requests, and when I have the time I really don't mind it at all. So, in sense, I love my customers. I greatly appreciate their business.
I would just love for some of them to try to remember how to use a toaster for their poptarts.

If you read this rant till now....
Bless you, and thank you for allowing the vent session.

Flying Solo

Lately, I have been aching to do some videos and such.
People all have lives, and i get that. All im asking is a little cooperation. When you say you will help, i expect it. It looks as though no one cares enough to say or do anything to help.
So, im flying solo. I cannot motivate them apparently, and it looks as though my film-career is a bust. I have like 17 ppl in the SETXPFM group and 2 or 3 respond to anything. Even when i tag them. Im looking for talent, and no one wants to help. I have to do all of this PRE pro, which i don't mind, but when i ask for help, and they say they will, i'm expecting help damnit.

I cant seem to get anything going here for me, and it blows. It has become an expensive hobby. I still do Sonic. I open now. 5 am to 11am. my 2 days off, the mrs works. Imagine the schedule conflicts i already have on that, much less adding another person's to the equation.

Next, it's like Im expected to do it for free. What the hell, am i a charity who donates my time for a production with little reward except a pat on the back and a "Thanks"?
I cant spend "Thanks". "Thanks" won't put gas in my car, pay my electricity, and help make up lost time on other projects and my family. If i have a job that pays, and a job that doesn't, which job do you think im gonna take bro? Food is at least a start. Work long and hard hours for no money, at least feed them. Its the LEAST you could do. So, what seems to be expected is everyone is to donate their own gas money, time and efforts to a project we see little benefit from. The only way i can get anyone a little motivated is offer some cash. Im taking gas into consideration as well as time off from work. At this point, it looks like the only one saving up for it is me. My money going to someone elses production. Sorry. Not unless you chip in to homie. And even then, ill be getting producer credits, and since i wrote the script (twice) and intend to cast, shoot, edit, and vfx it... I think its safe to say a lot of my efforts will be going into this and I expect some recognition for it, so if it has to be producer credit because my money was the only money that went into it, then so be it. I tell you what. You want this thing off the ground? Cast it, and collect a budget. How? I dont care. Fund raiser? Sell lemonade, cookies, odd-jobs for neighbors- think like you really want this to happen and you will do what it takes to ensure it does. Ill be putting my money where i see fit.

I want to do this doritos crash the bowl thing, and we have a few ideas, and some people want to do it, others don't. The ones who do get tied between two ideas. I can't do this on my own. The only help i can rely on is my 6-year old son as a DA/Actor, and Wife as a Wrangler/Crafts/DA/Actress/Secondary Camera Op.

I cant crap something awesome without given someone or something to work with. If you want to shoot something, meet me halfway, and be sure you want to do the project. if you have any doubts, lets hash them out and find what will work. Dont back out on me when it comes time. The "I forgot" excuse is old as time itself.
I'm not a miracle worker, you have to pull your share of the load, and if i give you a role to do, like casting, or writing something i can work with, I expect it to get done, and i expect updates. Its getting me all pissy that this keeps happening.

People thinking this is just something fun to do when ever they want. Well, yeah, i suppose it can be seen that way, but when you tell me your all in... It becomes a job. Thats what this needs to be for me. A Career. Not a hobby. A CAREER. I need to be able to pay bills and loans with this income i bring with this. When I don't have a reliable team, it makes it impossible.
So these people who expect me to do this shit for free, or an EXTREMELY discounted price to where its hardly worth the time, and those who wont meet me halfway on anything, or if you think any part of this post was directed to you in anyway, I say this to you:::

"Thanks for crushing my dreams of being a VFX artist and sentencing me to paying off thousands of dollars of school loan debt while working fast food the rest of my life.
P.s. You Suck.
-Micah"

"TEAMWORK"- a work related rant.

Ok. When you work ANYWHERE theres always a form of team work involved. When someone is not doing their share of the workload, the load falls on someone else, making their job a little harder. When ten people do half their jobs, someone else has to work 3.5 times harder picking up the slack, and the more one person has to do, the thinner they are trying to spread themselves, the job has to be done quickly, or even half-ass. Then someone has to go behind them, and THEY are seen as lazy and sloppy.
None of it is fair, damnit. Im gonna say this shit how i want to, and if theres a problem, oh well.

It isnt fair, that im told im slow, and that i need to speed up, by someone who isnt calling things out. Im only one person in the kitchen for 6 hours damnit, and i'm supposed to handle 300+ orders on my own without you calling out anything? With the stalls, I hear the loud beeps, so i know to keep an eye on the screen, but with drive thru being on a headset, i cant hear anything. Im doing tomatoes, or bacon, dishes, onions, whatever... and i look on the screen, theres an order that has a minute and a half on it already. Nothing cooking. Last week, i made a point to say something to her about calling shit out.... I got a headset of my own, so i know whats coming in drive thru, if anything. I made a point of showing her. Before that, i asked her to call it out. She round-about said "Sheah, right. Like that's gonna happen." So then... I got the headset, which was my way of giving her the finger nicely.
And lets not forget, that they also want me to bag the shit? Okay, so let me get this straight..... I have to prep for the day, make several orders ALONE for 6 hours, with a manager who comes in and saves the day by getting out a single tot, clean up, and bag your shit so you and the other two people up front can make a few drinks, and you can stick your self out the window and chat it up with a customer in the window? Why are you getting paid more than me? Why are you a manager? You make your wage AND TIPS. You get a free meal for fucks sake. I dont. I have to buy my food. its half price, but I DONT HAVE CASH for that. Guess who does? Those who get tips. So... Cooks are immune to hunger?
To break it down, I'm expected to be lightning fast, read minds, and be immune to hunger... Wonder why so many of us have health issues? Stroke? Heart problems? Stomach Ulcers?

Here. I'll explain that.
Stroke, and heart problems.... Managers with free meals.
Stomach Ulcers... Cooks withOUT free meals.

Poof.
Look. not all cooks get them... Just the honest ones do. The honest ones who choose NOT to steal from their employer. The rest eat whatever, whenever they feel like. And its hard to stay honest when your health takes a dive, and the ones who steal aren't being punished. No consequences, no problem. So I eat little things here and there to keep the stomach pains at bay. Sometimes a full sandwich.
Its total bullshit... One free meal for cooks with a 6+ hour shift. Thats all we want damnit. If we rang it up, it wouldnt be stealing, and the computer counts it, so food cost goes down.
Food cost is high because of one manager specifically who makes food for themselves, and family of like, 3 or 4 people on a regular basis. Lets also not forget when other Hops come in and make their own stuff and not ring it up. Why am i being punished for doing the right thing? It makes no sense, and I'm running out of reasons to stay honest, and be a good employee here. I shouldnt have to pull so much of other lazy ass'es slack to make their job easier, when it makes mine harder. I should WANT to help them out. "Oh, hey, let me bag that sense your busy..." Not ... "Tray 3...." *looks around; one is on their phone, one is leaning out the window BS'ng with customer, and number 3 is nowhere to be found... "Okaaaay... I guess I"LL get it, sense everyone else is SO DAMN BUSY." bag, put it on Drive-thru table. "Tray 3..." she Doesnt budge... *throws hands in the air and scoffs* Lazy ass fucks...

The best manager there has been marked as the devil incarnate or something, a total black sheep to "The Family" What ever he says, they do the opposite. She plays favorites, gives out free food to her family (as stated earlier) and the night kitchen has no idea how to train a new employee, stock, or clean without her there... its sad. He's marked as the asshole for telling them to do their jobs. He only works one day out of the week, and hes still the one manager who gives a damn enough to BE the asshole. He is running out of fucks to give at this place. Hes been considering throwing in the towel, and say "fuck it. I'm out." I dont blame him. The only thing keeping me here is the paycheck. I stopped caring like, 6 years ago. I got a family... wife kids. They need me to work the shit job to get the shit money to pay for the shit we need to shit. (you know what i mean) So, I'm stuck. I want out of fastfood. Have wanted out for 7 years now. It blows.... I have a degree in film and video production, then move to a town where it's LITERALLY useless. All i can do is TV/news stuff (which will be a big difference from film) and do the jobs that no one else wants- the "untouchables" Weddings, birthdays, graduations--- the jobs no one wants to do because of the "one chance to make it or break it" mindset.

Well i shot my first (professional) wedding last saturday. I think it went very well. It didnt stress me out as much as I was expecting- Well, one point before it, before we left for the job someone had some unpleasant things to say which pissed me off to a point of... (nvm) Well, it threw off the good vibes i was having, and the "Mojo" I had going on. Feelin' good, im ready, were set, turn the lights on and lets shoot this thing! "Kick the tires and light the fires big daddy!" and then- O_o wTf?!
Luckily while waiting for the ceremony to start, I was able to calm down and try to re-work the Mojo. Shooting some B-roll helped calm my nerves, and ease the tension. Some nice footage too, I saw mine and Stacie's but as far as camera 3's stuff... havent seen it yet, i dont even have it. Idk how long i should wait for it before i call him about it, and idk when the bride wants the video to be done by.... I sure as hell won't be calling or txting her on her honeymoon. I'd be pissed off if I got a business related message during that time.

So thats what my degree is going to... Side jobs and fun stuff on the side.
Expensive hobby, too. Yay me. I was so smart getting this degree. I cant even afford the minimum payments on the student loans when it comes due.
What the fuck am I going to do....
Tv and film are not the same.
Do you kick a soccer ball on a hockey rink? Or shoot hoops with a catchers' mitt?
"Tv, movies, same thing... " No. not really. Same game, different ball.

Parents, this is for the next generation...

To my fellow parents and child care givers:
I have some beef with some of you...
As being a parent or child care giver, you are in part, if not entirely responsible for who your child turns out to be when they grow up.
When a child has no discipline from their parents, the child sees no consequences for any misdeeds. If you don't pop their hand when they take something from another child, they are thinking "Stealing must be okay." And by being sweet, and saying "no, no... don't do that..." they will always do it again to test us. Many of us have that "testing" child. The child we feel a leash is necessary to keep track of them while getting groceries. A child with a parent who does not discipline will be a child with no respect for their parents, or other people. They will not respect the law, and will be arrested for whatever reason of law breaking. It starts as toys, or cookies at age two, but it grows to electronics and robing liquor stores at 25. Sometimes that kid will need a pop on the butt. Gets their attention (most of the time) and reminds them that you are the parent, and they must respect your authority. By doing so, they will respect their elders, other people, and the law. Less likely to land in jail for a serious offence.
Silly example, yet very accurate, Simpsons. In an episode where a hurricane blows down Flanders's house, and didn't touch the simpsons, we learned that Ned was quite a terrible child. Pulling kids hair, hitting screaming, slamming kids faces into tables and kicking them, just a nightmare. His parents were hippie-types that didn't believe in discipline. Ned saw no consequences for what he did, so he did whatever he wanted. After the psychiatrist spanked him for a long period of time, the good little Ned flanders ding dang doodly, was bor-diddly-orn. We know flanders and how good he and his kids are. Good 'ol religion and corporal punishment put him in his place.

You probably think something like, "That's just a stupid cartoon, it cannot be used as fact."

And I will say,

A- Cartoons are an art form in it's self, and should be at least respected as the art form they are. Not to mention all the talent that goes into it of so many varieties, of drawing, voice acting, story writing. So much goes into the 20 minutes of a single cartoon.
PERSPECTIVE SPOT: Average cartoon will be about 20, 25 minutes due to commercial break. that would be 600 to 1500 seconds. Here's where shit gets real... there are 24-30 frames per second. So, your looking at 14,400 frames in a 20 minute, 24fps cartoon. That's a MINIMUM. Can you draw the same thing 14,400 times and flip them together to make a 20 minute cartoon? No? Then keep your disrespect full comments to yourself. Want a BIGGER challenge? Think celebrity deathwatch. ALL CLAY. STOP MOTION. 25 minutes of 30fps. Move these clay dudes in a sequence of them killing each other 45,000 times WITHOUT mistakes.
RESPECT. You don't have to like it to respect it. All of us hated our parents growing up. But we still respected them. Respect the art of it before you knock it.

B- The stories HAVE to come from somewhere. The story about Ned could have very well been an exaggerated version of a true story that happened to one of the writers or someone who worked on the show. One thing i learned in my screenwriting class was that their will always be a part of you and your life in everything you write. Weather you try or not, it will happen. You will always end up writing yourself into your script. The long time of spanking Ned most likely was an exaggeration, but the initial spanking itself was enough to bring out the good little boy within. He was respectful to everyone, even homer, who stole his stuff and treated him like compost. PERSPECTIVE:
Ever watch something on TV, or on a movie and find yourself relating to a similar situation? Understanding what they were thinking without them saying a word? Find yourself wondering what will happen next to this character you just met, but feel like you've known them for their whole lives? The writers probably lived it in some way, and used their life experiences, and the "what if"s to relate to you. As a writer, I have to care about my character to write them and get you to love them, and care about what happens to them. You see a man playing with his kid in a park, and they are both having the time of their lives. Then he wakes up, and you find out his son was killed in a car accident. Why Do you care? Because you relate. You can only imagine the loss, unless we lived it ourselves, but either way, we all know what its like to loose someone we love so much. Now, you care about "A Man". You sympathize with him and his loss. If you tell me you never felt for a character in entertainment, you are lying. Respect the lives lived within the heart of the writers. Respect the ache of reliving it as you write it for a work of entertainment, to let you know you are not alone with that pain.

C- Personal example. I learned from cartoons from the 90's. I learned what some words meant, what some things were, a good idea of what to do in a situation, there were morals to the story, even if they were a monologue at the end of the show. Captain planet. Don't pollute the earth, take care of the planet. Ninja Turtles, fight for what it right, Ren & Stimpy, friends will always be there to have your back. Same thing with Rocko's Modern life. Friends stick together. Beavis and Butthead, Things can work out for the worst of us, including the most unfortunate, and how NOT to get girls to like you. That's just a few things I learned from 90's cartoons... But WTF is spongebob's message?

Cartoons affect kids too. They see what is acceptable in that cartoon world, but see something that isn't acceptable, and the character gets into trouble for it. Kids learn that stuff. They learn from watching us. If i playfully pop my wife on the butt, and my boys see it, they see its okay. Which happens... We do correct them, and say it isn't okay for them to do it unless your married. Holding doors open, and the hugs, the yes sir, no sir, yes maim, no maim... I teach my boys respect for everyone, especially women, like their momma. (she carried you for the first ten months of your life, was in labor, painful labor with you for several hours, and still sacrifices so much for you... You better respect the woman who you call Momma.)

Sum it up, Discipline your kids, if you don't correct them now, the state will correct them in the future.

By being overly paranoid about them, omg- why do you need to know what a kids poop looks like, and when it happens, and wont let your kids eat any snacks with the other kids in daycare... Now your kid feels like an oddball. And if it continues, he may hate you for the rest of his life for keeping away from all the yummy snacks the other kids eat at school. I know, you will pack his lunch with seaweed or rice cakes, or whatever health-nut stuff you got going on, and in middle school, especially, will be made fun of. Want him to be called a mermaid? Flounder? Any other ocean movie reference? No. Send the kid some teddy grams, cheese-its. oreos man. Let a kid, be a kid when it comes to food. Not only crap, but how bout a cookie or two when he eats all his dinner? That's more than fair. (this kid has no allergies or sicknesses, just a paranoid parent) No TV for the kid either? OMG. Now hes gonna be even more of an oddball for not knowing what happened on Saturday's cartoons. Ever miss a Show, and felt out of the loop when friends talk about it? That ll be this kid 24/7. The child may have a hard time using imagination, which will also prevent him from being creative enough to solve problems in many fields.

I suppose I could say these things from a personal experience. I watched TV, and I was spanked, I am creative and respectful, i have never been in trouble with the law, and I love my parents.

Every decision you make to raising their kids will affect them, even at before 3 or 5.
Most people will have a memory starting at age 5, but some will start at 3.
Not many people remember how they were potty trained, or what their first words were, or  how they started walking. But we keep doing it when we are older... So what we learn before then is a permanent memory in a sense, what ever was learned will be a part of them for the rest of their lives. After that, we reach a certain age, in adulthood, that will be the person we are for the rest of our lives.
Be care full who you let your kids grow up to be, and teach them the good person they should be.

A listening ear.

Written on 8/24/14

Today, when one of my co workers came in, I looked at him and what I saw startled me. He sat at the break table waiting for the time to clock in, and when i saw his eyes, I could sense something was wrong. I asked him about it, and he told me it was personal.
I said "Ok. I can respect that." I was going to leave it be, because when someone wants to talk about it, they will. I said that if he wants to talk about it, it's ok. He opened up about what was on his mind. I won't tell what his issues are, because that was said between us. But the way it was said, I could sense he was wanting to throw in the towel. The combination of the pain in his eyes and voice, the concern- so much going on for him, rough past, rough present- just so much for him.
I gave him my card and told him if he needed to talk... Well. You know.

I just couldnt keep seing him with that look in his eyes. He seemed to be very appreciative for my concern, and my offer to listen.

I was always told I have a heart of gold. It's a curse as it is a blessing.

Mo' Customer service Issues?!

Written on 8/22/2014

I do not understand what the fuck is so hard about getting internet. I called and ordered the service on the 20th, the told me a tech would be out on the 21^st between 8a and 12p. No one showed, no one called. I called them and asked what was up, and they gave me a round about answer of “I don’t know” I talked to 3 different people that day, and repeat the same thing every time, like they were to say “this guy is pissed off. You take him.” Playing musical phones or some shit. I finaly got to talk to someone whos first language sounded of Arabian dialect, and English may have been new to. He told me he would put a not on my account to hook me up ASAP. And ask me “does that help?” Uh, no. not really. The only way it helps is if I get a tech out here to install the service I ALREADY PAID FOR. I was sent to the tech guys’ line, and a woman picked up saying “Angie” as if she were paging an Angie to answer the phone she picked up. She hung up on me. I called back, and she did it again… I said hello, and she was acting like “I just answer the phone here dude” kind of attitude. I asked to get some service hooked up and she told me “the guy who makes the schedule isn’t here right now… Okay. So what? Take my info and give it to him when he comes in??? someone has never been a secretary before… I haven’t, and I know the job better than she does. I gave her my name, and number and told her to make sure he calls me back to set up my services. I waited the rest of the day for him to call. Nothing.

On the 22, today, I called tech again, asking about my service installation, they told me their wasn’t an installation scheduled., He couldn’t make any changes to the schedule because of some stupid changes the company made. (my words, not his) so he put me on hold, and was sent to a completely different company, who had nothing to do with the internet company I was trying to get service from. The lady from there forwarded me back to the tech support number, --- you know, it’s a big cluster fuck of numbers I was forwarded to, and called, so heres the run down of this last bit.: I was able to schedule ANOTHER appointment for, guess what? TOMORROW, between 8 and 12 again. They also told me the Tech will call me between now and the installation to confirm the appointment. 7pm, and no call today. That was over 7 hours ago… Wth… I have that gut feeling no one will call or show again.

I called the tech line again to see if the tech told them anything. “If you are not installed yet, press 2” (presses 2) “the office is closed. To check on the status of your (internet) intallation, log on to (internet service) dot com. Have a great day!”

How am I supposed to check on the status of my internet installation online? I need your service installed to check the status of my installation? You’re a fucking idiot. Somone didn’t think that through.

Oh, and even more recent event- how can walmart sell a stroller with its two fron wheels missing?! Seriously?! Is a little customer service and common decency so much to ask?

People today are so inconsiderate and indecent. What the hell happened to this world? Why do the stupid, indecent, and inconsiderate people  have to have all the money,  and control, but the good, hard working, decent people with common sense, are broke as shit and have no control over anything? Wouldn’t want smart people running things would we? That would be to damn easy. Equal oppertunities MY ASS. If you have money, you have opertunities. If your broke, your chances of getting them are much smaller. Some people were just born into money, and never have to know what work IS. You have to be aggressive to get anything done, which means I have to be an asshole to get what I already worked for. I never get any breaks. I worked hard from age 16, and still busting my ass at 28 at the same suck job I started at. I cannot go with out a job, I am not financially stable enough to just “take time off” like those dipshits in charge who take a vacation every month, and have 2 or more homes. I have gotten nowhere, and it looks as if my future holds the same place: Nowhere. Because of these morons in charge, making everything so difficult to do the simplist of things, My only meaning in life to them is fuel the economy, which wouldn’t exist without their filthy money. They want us to work till we die, and they make money weather they actually work or not. We work, they get paid. Where is the fairness in that? Raise minimum wage, then raise prices of everything else? Now were back to square one…. Nothing is fair. Nothing is equal oppertunities. You have to be corrupt, in one form or another to even get a glimpse of the life of the 1%. Think about this when they say they aren’t bad guys… What have they done to help those people who pay them? When was the last time they voulenteered at a shelter, or donated to a food drive or goodwill? Last time they dropped a $50 in a homeless man’s change cup? When did they actually DO something honest, and good? Maybe we cant say they are all bad people, but I can say they aren’t all good.

Want to help the economy? Give the poor, hardworking class a good portion of your salary. You didn’t earn it. We worked for it, and you take it from us.

In a sense, I look at it like this. If I can force someone to sign a document stating that I can withdraw 17% of their salary every month, it is legal. But taking it out right by force, is not legal. Why? The document. Paper makes it legal for someone else to take what isn’t theirs. They do it to a few hundred million people, of every check, of every dollar WORKED for in the country. And they call themselves equals?

I want to do that, with a document that states that I can withdraw a percentage of money from anyone’s paycheck I choose. I’d do 20% from the 1% population, and see how THEY like it. See how it feels for someone to take money out of your check before you even get it. I’ll be just like them, and never have to actually work again.

Update

Update on recent events of 8/19/2014.

I have a script for a movie trailer I want to shoot, called “One by One”, and for the sake of not spoinling the surprise, I will not give any further information on what it is about. I do have a script, and casting shouldn’t be a problem, effects may be a challenge, but it it isn’t discoraging. I just need an extra set of hands or two, to do camera work, and someone to help with some practical lighting for the scene, THAT will be a trick. I have an Idea of what to do with what I have, the problem is doing it, and getting a little score for it made. It will be a cool thing when finished up.

I also have been  helping a young man with a music video he wants to do for one of the songs he did. I haven’t heard the right song yet, but his idea seems solid, and we have a script to work with. With this project, the distance is a challenge faced before, but the scheduling- not so much. I have to find a way to meet with this guy without interfering with his, my wife’s or my work schedule, and find a transport, and babysitter for who knows how long. We need to discuss several things, first being the script, and finalizing it with him. Then we have to do our story boards, and shot lists. We need to cast, one male, two female, and locations, and approval if needed, props, effects, (practical, and non-practical) Budget has to go in there somewhere, and Scheduling that fits with everyone’s schedule, including, him, me, talent, and other crew, and film it. After his approval of the cut, and effects, we can re-record the song to be more impactful, if he chooses to. And then we can call it a finished product. A lot to do, and distance being a challenge for it. I don’t know if payment will be involved, but I can honestly say I hope so. I love doing this stuff, but it is supposed to be a career. Not an expensive, gas gulping, time squeezing hobby. That will probably be one of the first things Ill tell him after we discuss what needs to be done. If he likes the script as it is, and is unable to pay for the rest of the work, Ill leave the script to him, and let him figure it out. I hate to do that to anyone, but the issue remains- there is a lot of trouble I need to be compensated for. Taking off work, baby sitter, gas money, time from the family to do the production, AND editing and vfx. Its time and money that could be placed some where else, and instead, im using it on your production. Compensation isn’t much to ask.

And another job that is most likely what will be happening more and more now that im freelancing videographer/editor. A wedding. Film a wedding, edit it together nice-like, and burn a copy to a disk. Simple, right? Not really. This, production scares me to say the least. From how I understand, there will be 3 of us with cameras, so that eases my mind a tad. But im still on editing, which means my cuts have to be spot on, seamless. I have all the time I need for that, so not too worried. I just want to make sure I get the footage I need to make sure this will be a great video for the newlyweds. I remember hearing that a basic package for filming a wedding was 750. I told the girl that, and she was “Woah,  dude, I like you  and all but, no way.” She also said her photographer was over a thousand bucks. I can understand a budget wedding just as much as the next couple, but as I stated before, I need some compensation. I would most likely have to take off work to do this one- its on a Saturday afternoon, and I am usually getting off work when the thing will be starting. So I gotta ensure I will be off that time, and my wife witll be with me on a static shot somewhere, so I need a sitter. The gas to get there, it isn’t much, because it is close,  but still a factor. And the time it will take to import, edit, and export the footage… It’s a lot of time away from the family, and that’s what will be a costly part. From the sounds of it, the other guy is doing it for free, and she wanted me to bring the Mrs, and we stay and enjoy the reception. To me, that’s kind of asking us to do it for free, like a wedding present to them or something. I can see that happening for a family member, or even a close friend, but I can say we are more of aquantinces than anything. I’m not asking for a thousand dollars like the photographer, just something to consider the time I’ll be spending to edit away from my family. Think of it like this: bring me closer to my wife at the reception, and pull us apart again to put your wedding footage together. Doesn’t sound like a winning situation if we end up at square one. However, I can help you out by NOT asking a professional price of $750 for the services, and I will do it for no less than $150. I still think We would be getting ripped off, I’d like to start bidding at $300. That’s already $150 less than half of what you would be paying at the “professionals” shop. It just isn’t a charity type of thing.

I did a lot of free work in AZ, but it was usually with the same guys all the time, and at the risk of sounding a little fruity, I love those guys. They are like a bunch of cousins that hung out all the time who loved to get the cameras and make some magic. I went to school with these guys, they have an idea of whats going on on set, and know what what is. I only had to explain screenwriting format, and effects. That’s all. With any one I work with over here, I have to explain damn near everything.

With one of the recent shorts, the dinosaur apocalypse one, a couple of guys came up to us asking if we were making a movie. Like, no, we’re hunting for treasure. I mentioned the effects of a T rex going to happen, and then the two dudes kept asking questions about it, like I wasn’t in the middle of a production or something. We had talent that was awake sence 5am, standing in the sun at almost 2pm, sweating his balls of in layers and a 5 year old director’s assistant carrying the storyboard. And they want to pause production to talk to me about them doing a movie, one of which they did not have any ideas of  one but an action thing. Oh. Acting. Another actor. I need some backstage help too, ya know. Either way- they decided to watch. The Mrs sent out some water with my DA, and even the spectators got a drink, because they were observing so hard. Well, they kept watching when I said “Action” as if I had a dinosaur in a cage in the back of the trailer park or something.. They lost interest when that shot was over, and I was doing some insert shots. Sorry to dissapoint, but it does get repeatative, and sometimes even a little boring on set,  but when it all comes together, magic has happened.

With that shoot, I had to explain a lot to my talent, because he asked, and sometimes I just thought it was a cool little piece of info to know. Something for future productions, in case he wants to work with me again. And my boy knew a bunch already. He has been around this stuff for most of his life now. Im proud of my little DA. These other dudes that rolled up into it were just curious. And wanted to see how far they can put their noses in our bidness. The only term understood that day was “green screen”. I explained to the talent the term, “poor man’s green screen” and the magic of a “back plate”. Fun day that was.

I feel as though im losing my edge as a film maker already. I don’t want to do it all myself, but I may have to to keep my skills sharp.

Another thing I have bee working on is a sort of autobiography. I am writing all kinds of stories of things Ive been through, and basiclay the people and events that helped mold me to the person I am today. I’m calling it so far, “My Name Is Not Who I Am.” I am not using my name in the book until the end. Aside from that, it is all 100% truth to me. Total honesty in this thing. I am holding back nothing in this writing, and I can say it feels good, and it feels bad. Depending on the story being told. I try to explain the thoughts in my mind, the emotions in my heart, and the lessons learned. If you read it and do not like what has involved you in it, I will tell you “tough shit. That’s what happened, how I felt, and it had an impact on me in that way. Can’t change who I am.” No one has read it yet, and I have gotten up to 44 different things, some bulletpointed, that I intend to write about. As of now it is close to 20 pages. Some short, some long, so who knows how long it will be. I do not know who will be the first to read it other than me, but they will have to be honest with me, and be open minded about what is in it about them, if anything.