Cinevegas Day 1...

I rolled into Las Vegas around 2:00 yesterday for the Cinevegas film festival. What had started as a huge team of Film Threat people got whittled down to me and my good buddy Mark Bell. Fine by me! I got to our digs at Planet Hollywood and checed in. As Borat would say, "verrrrry niiiiice!" I chilled for a few, took a shower and went to blow a few bucks gambling. Nice, huh? I broke even and then Mark and I headed to the "Red Carpet" for "Oceans 13."

I've never really been on a red carpet and this was a pretty monstrous first red carpet. Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Ellen Barkin, Don Cheadle...Matt Damon. They were all there and mark and I were squashed along the ropes trying to take pictures. I took some and so did Mark and I've posted them below. Marks are at: http://www.filmthreat.com/blog/?p=744 but I think I took those too. I dunno. It was nuts! I don't get star struck unless it's by someone I really, really, really like...and that's not celebrities. But motherfucking George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon? Come on. It got me pretty much like a kid in a candy store to be 5 feet away from those guys.

After the red carpet clusterfuck, we went into the screening and saw the movie. It's pretty awesome! I mean, it's silly and pretty impossible to do what they do (and have done in all the "Oceans" movies) but all the characters are great as always, there's some plot twists..yadda yadda. If you like the other ones, you'll love this one. So Mark and I sat front row for that and then ehaded to the Playboy Club for an invite only after-party.

Trent (from five a.m.) and I always talk about how weird it is doing something that isn't really "work" because it's not 9-5 and doesn't pay the bills...but it's what you truly want to do. Then, you do it and it's frigging awesome, then you're back to work at your real job. Rather than take the defeatist approach I always take (as in, "yeah, this is great...but it's back to real life Monday") I decided to think backwards from that. For instance, last night, we saw a huge movie premiere with the biggest stars alive. Then, we went to a party on top of a hotel in Vegas with about 15 half naked chicks dancing around. Drinks were free too. Then, thinking back to the day before, I was playing Uno with four 8 year olds at work. When you look at it backwards, it becomes really pretty funny rather than frustrating.

One thing that sucked was, we were having fun at the Playboy Club (duh) but when the party ended, the drinks cost money. "Hey," I thought, "this is Vegas...they practially give booze away!" So I got me and mark 2 more rounds. Then it got crowded so I settled my bill. $45.00. Damn. It. They got me good.

Anyway, I'm having fun and might lay low and have some drinks today. There's a movie I want to see, but it also plays tomorrow at 3:00 so we'll see. Stay tuned for more tales of screwage, celebrity and debauchery...

Cinevegas pics...

These photos were taken with my camera phone....I can't find the cord to my digital camera was is extremely frustrating. Grrr...

Wayne Newton




Don Cheadle


Matt Damon and George Clooney


Crappy Group Shot

Uhhhh......

I noticed these cans recently when I was in the supermarket in Calistoga. They were next to cans of Haggis but I couldn't fit those in the photo. Must be the "nasty fucked up food" isle.

I'm off to VEGAS tomorrow until Monday. I'll be at Cinevegas which should be a hoot. Stay tuned here, at Film Threat and my blog at Petaluma 360 for updates. The Film Threat stuff will be reviews and possibly blogs over there as they pertain to the site, Petaluma 360 will be more geared towards Petaluma/small town type stuff and this one will be a free for all. Nothing like surfing the net for me me me me me!

Funny things I've heard lately...

I tend to really listen to, notice...take in pretty much everything around me. While it helps keep me entertained and, I feel, helps me with my screenwriting, it also frequently gets me pissed off (because people are so. frigging. stupid.) However sometimes it's just funny. For instance...

A few weeks ago, my elderly neighbor and his wife were moving to a "Retiree Community." Their son bought their house and they were going to move down the road a spell to this nice golf course community for old folks. As Tom (the neighbor) was getting in his truck to leave, we chatted for a few minutes and I asked him where they were headed. He told me about the old folks community and I said, "Oh, it's nice over there. I've played golf on their course a few times."

Tom kind of smiled and says, "Yeah...it's nice alright. You walk in on your own two feet and by the time you leave, they carry you out feet first."
---------------------------------------

Last weekend (Memorial Day) I woke up Sunday morning with a big hangover. Igby was on the bed being squirmy so I rolled over and pet him as I opened my eyes. I noticed his left eye was swollen shut. Since he's got kind of gooey eyes, I thought it was just build up, so I pried it open. When I got a better look, it seemed like someone had taken a fork and scrambled his pupil like an egg. I freaked out!! It was super red and the black pupil was like...all distorted.

Erica was out of town so I pulled myself together and went to the emergency vet. It took over 3 hours. Ugh. Plus, I'm kind of new to the pet owner world so I was ill-prepared for those weird people who's whole life is their pet. This one woman was there with her lameass little Spaniel and I had to listen to a run down of her dogs recent injuries as I waited for the vet to finish fixing Igby's jacked up eye.

Finally (thankfully) the vet brought Igby out and he (Igby, not the vet) proceeded to sniff the other dogs and be his usual gregarious self. After all the other owners "oooohed" and "awwwed" Igby, I put him on his leash and went to the counter to do paperwork. The annoying ladies Spaniel kind of followed us and they were sniffing each other and whatnot. As I signed my credit card bill, I heard her yank her Spaniel away from Igby and bring the dog back across the room. She goes, "Ohh...you stay away from that little doggie...he just wants to have sex with you."

Igby's fixed so it made me kind of laugh to myself. Now I feel like I should have told her not to get her shitty little dogs hopes up. Frigging skanky little Spaniel.

Snoop doggy doggy dog og og

Many people know that Charles Schultz lived in Santa Rosa, CA...where I live. I hate this town, but that's not the point of this entry. Each year or so the town gets all decorated with these big ole Peanuts statues. A few years back it was Charlie Brown and then there was Woodstock. Different businesses buy the statue and then decorated them however they see fit. It's pretty cool. This years statue is Snoopy and Woodstock so there's all these Snoopy and Woodstock statues all over town. Here's some photos I took during a recent trip downtown...


Boozehound Snoopy. He's holding a glass of wine and has apparently been stomping grapes...or Grimaces brains out.


Skater Snoopy.


Gay Pride Snoopy....or, rainbow Snoopy is you're not a smartass like me.




Egyptian Snoopy!!

I hope next year they'll have some lesser known Peanuts character like Franklin or Marcy. That would kick ass.

Oh, come on you guys.

Out here in Northern California we have a steadily growing gang problem. I honestly don't know why. I mean, I do know why but I don't see why the cycle of violence needs to continue. See, out here we have a ton of migrant workers due to our agriculutral areas and they come up from Mexico and L.A. to work. In my personal opinion and from having been around tons of Hispanic families, the majority of them are hard working, genuine and friendly people. But there's always some bad apples in every demographic.

Now, the gang problem in L.A. has spawned 2 distinctive groups to do battle over drugs and guns and whatever else gangs dally in. I guess in bigger cities and areas, it's all about making money and providing protection for their neighborhoods. However, if you're going to get out of that area and make a better life for yourself, why bring the gang problem with you? This is especially true in the teeny tiny town where I work, but also true for Petaluma. Both of which are becoming infiltrated with gangs. I think some of the "gangs" are poser kids who are trying to look cool and act the part, but I also think there are lots of relatives within these relocated people that are/were gang members and they bring it with them.

**DISCLAIMER** Yes, I know now all gang members are Hispanic or black. But I also know a good majority of the gang members we're seeing up here are Hispanic. So, there. **End Disclaimer**

Anyway, we've been seeing a steady rise in "gang" activity around here for months (if not years) and the other night on the news, I saw a quick shot of a shopping center in Petaluma and the newscaster mentioned that three people were beaten there. Freaky! This was Bay Area news too, not podunk local news. I somehow missed the story and have been waiting on the local paper to run something on it and today, they did:
Read it here.

If you don't feel like reading it, the basic scoop is, some gang members beat up three Staples employees who were on a break because the Staples employees were wearing red. No, I'm not kidding. Three Staples employees were wearing their red Staples work shirts and got beat up for it.

Like I said, I understand why gangs are around in big cities and I get that alot of times, they become family. But I guarantee "real gangs" in big cities do not beat up Staples or Target employees because they're wearing their work shirts. They might beat up Stples employees who are also gang members, but that's not the point. It just seems really...silly. And wrong too, but mostly silly. If you really want to be in a gang and beat up your sworn enemy gang, that's fine. I hope you all kill each other off and we don't have to worry about you. But c'mon, beating up people who are unlucky enough to have to work at Staples? That's just doing it wrong. Do McDonalds employees get beaten up by the gang that claims red because their uniforms are blue? I guess I just wish gang members could be more considerate in terms of who they beat up. Sometimes, a shirt is just a shirt.

that's funny

At another time, I'll post about how and when I think I lost any and all connection with British humor...or, humour as it were. I loved "Shaun of the Dead" and as a kid, spent countless hours watching Monty Python's Flying Circus on channel 9, but other that that...I just don't get it. I love the American version of "The Office" and have somewhat enjoyed the original British version...but again, my lack of getting Brit humour holds me back. Thus, I don't dig Ricky Gervais all that much (and I feel really bad and really left out for that, but it is what it is) and consequently didn't like the first season of his HBO show "Extras." However the following clip may snap me out of it because, damn that's funny!

G-whiz Mail

I converted over to gmail like, a year or maybe two years ago. I had just had enough of AOL and their inability to play well with Macs. And their ability to suck more than any other email service alive. I dig gmail...it's fine. Seems like their spam blocker is much better than most. But one thing thats always made me laugh-slash-made me realize how close we are to Orwellian times is the way the service grabs keywords from an email you're reading and throws up a news story or a website link that somehow relates to whatever it is you're reading. Like...if you emailed your aunt for a smoothie recipe, you might find a link for fresh pineapples delivered to your house. Stuff like that.

One time I was emailing about a friends batchelor party and gmail was kind enough to provide me a link to a site that sells inflatable sheep. It's usually pretty benign stuff and usually lame but I just had another comical little helper from gmail that I thought I would share.

I emailed my friend because motherfucking CHEAP TRICK is coming to the Petaluma Fair this year and he loves Cheap Trick. I really love Cheap Trick...so much so I'm giving up Giants/Yankees tickets that night so I can see CHEAP TRICK in my hometown. This isn't some jokey, lets get drunk and laugh at them thing either like it was when I saw Loverboy at the Fair a few years back. I am genuinely stoked to see Cheap Trick...at the fair. But I digress, as usual.

So my buddy and I email back and forth and I send one off and at the top of my email box it says "Women Stand and Pee - pmateusa.com - Neatly pee while standing, without dropping your drawers!" Now that on it's own is hillarious, but what about an email regarding "cheap trick," "petaluma," and "fair" made this link appear for me?

Of course I clicked on the site and now I'm even more concerned, perplexed and laughing my ass off. It's basically a site where you can buy an extremely uncomfortable looking funnel to...hook into yourself (if you're a woman) and thus pee standing up. Apparently there's some medical uses and all but damn, whoever created this and moreover, whoever made that website must have rock hard abs from laughing their ass off!







If you're a woman who wants to write her name in the snow this coming winter, click HERE

LOST!

There's no spoilers for tonights finale within the post. I just wanted to make fun of people who gave up on the show. Granted, the show hit some snags early on this season, but there's also been episodes this season that were some of the best TV I've ever seen. And tonights episode was not only exciting, sad and funny...it totally blew my mind. Blew it right out of the water.

My point is, if you gave up on LOST because it stumbled a bit, you're a doofus and a quitter. Count me among the many who had little to no faith in the network or it's writers. Couple that with the announcement the show will be on until at least 2010 (whoa...writing that and knowing how close it really is just freaked me out!) and I could feel the series dragging on like a wounded animal.

Tonights 2-hour season finale renewed my faith. Thats how you end a series for the season....solve tons of mysteries, open up tons more

My name's Otto and I like to get blott-o

I'm not sure how well you can see this but it's thew backside of a street sign that has an 8"x12" picture of Otto from the Simpsons. You know, the stoney bus driver with metalhead tendencies? I started noticing that someone had put these pictures all over town recently and I gotta say, I don't get it. Granted, it's pretty funny and it's much cooler than straight up graffitti, but it's still vandalism. Yes, vandalism that makes me laugh and go "WTF?" but vandalism nonetheless.

I saw the Otto pictured above at a stop light in the boonies (more or less) of Santa Rosa but like I said, they're everywhere. Back of street signs, on street signs in middle-of-the-street islands, electrical boxes. Basically any flat metal surface in town and they're especially prevalent by my house which is near a park and a middle school...where it makes sense. However Otto-tagger is all over town and he/she is very thorough.

I just think it's weird and call me old, but really kind of pricey. I mean, the person (or people) doing it is printing hundreds of them up and that's costly. Plus they're either printing on sticker paper or they're buying glue to stick 'em. Plus, placing them everywhere takes alot of time. I'll be on the lookout for more. I'm sure you can hardly wait.

Well hello there!

So this past Saturday after my Grandma's 80th bday party I went to a friends "party." Apparently his landlord was out of town so he was throwing down. This appealed to me for a few reasons. First, I was bored and had nothing to do at home so that was a distraction. Second, the guy having the party is a good friend and a cool guy. Third, at my age any time a friend who isn't a friend of your friends kids or nephews is having a kegger type thing because they live with their parents/landlord/wife and that parent/landlord/wife is gone so there's a party, I feel obligated to go. Mostly out of a sense of feeling incredibly old and dating faster than sour cream on a hot spring day. So, my wife and I went.

Once there we quickly realized we weren't nearly stoned or drunk enough to coexist with the other people there. I'm not into smoking and I had to drive home so drinking (much) was out. Instead we tried to sit through one of the longest beers of my life. One cool thing was, the guys had like, 5-6 of those big ole Heinekin kegs cans. You know the ones that look like regular cans but really hold like, 3 quarts? Those have always proved difficult to me because the idea of a giant beer can full of beer sitting in my fridge and then my stomach is awesome. But asisde from MGD, Michelob Ultra and generic "BEER," Heiniken is a beer I just don't like. I'll drink it if it's there and free, but I can't abide by having a giant can of it in my fridge. Unless I've stolen it.

I relayed that piece of info to the gathered Lebowski's, Cheech's and Spicoli's and this one old dude (who in hindsight was probably someones dad....awkward) and I remembered the Coors Light Party Ball. This was a 5-gallon "beer in a box" that came out in the early 90's and it was awesome. We had countless tailgate parties and house parties supplied by the Coors Light Party Ball. I used to work in a quick stop (more or less) and one of the regulars always had one flowing from the back of his work truck. It was pretty much totally awesome. But then they just went away.

Me and the dad-at-the-party reminisced about the death of the Coors Light Party Ball and filled in all the youngin's on what they had missed. Then I thankfully drained my Lagunitas IPA and we left. Cut to; tonight. I went to 7-11 for suppiles and saw the above pictured giant can of Coors light!!! As much as I have become a beer snob, I still like Coors Light. I can drink a bunch of it and never really feel hammered and it cannot be beat on a hot day. And now, it comes in a GIANT CAN that will soon find it's way into my fridge...and then my heart.

New Wilco

The new Wilco came out this past Tuesday and it's really great. Yeah, of course I think it's great, they're my favorite band. But...this one is just a nice, mellow...almost introspective album. There's hardly any "noise" and no experimentation as there has been on most of their last 5-6 albums. I've been telling people "it's the perfect springtime album" and I totally believe that. My favorite song on the album is "I Hate it Here" (no, I'm not being drab...the song's not what you might think) but I also love "What Light." Here's the lyrics...they're incredible:

If you feel like singing a song
And you want other people to sing along
Just sing what you feel
Don't let anyone say it's wrong

And if you're trying to paint a picture
But you're not sure which colors belong
Just paint what you see
Don't let anyone say it's wrong

And if you're strung out like a kite
Or stung awake in the night
It's alright to be frightened

When there's a light (what light)
There's a light (one light)
There's a light (white light)
Inside of you

If you think you might need somebody
To pick you up when you drag
Don't loose sight of yourself
Don't let anyone change your bag

And if the whole world's singing your songs
And all of your paintings have been hung
Just remember what was yours
is everyone's from now on

And that's not wrong or right
But you can struggle with it all you like
You'll only get uptight

Because there's a light (what light)
There's a light (one light)
There's a light (white light)..................

and so forth.

Go buy SKY BLUE SKY today! It'll make you feel good inside!

We're All in This Together

I'm reading Owen King's book of short-stories (and a novella) called "We're All in This Together" and it's simply amazing. I was totally, totally, totally blown away by the novella within the book (which is titled "We're All in This Together") and I didn't want it to end. Sometimes I get bored and kind of zip through pages, but with this story, I really took my time. It was like eating a really good piece of cake where you just savor it. I savored the words and every once in a while, King would throw in some vital piece of info so casually and so pwerfully, I had to set the book down and gather myself to put together what had just happened. King writes in such a cool way. He's extremely creative yet throws in pop culture references that fit and don't attract undue attention to themselves. He throws them out there then works them into the story in a way that works. Dare I say...genius?

I won't give details about the story as I won't do it justice. The nuts and bolts are: a kid in the year 2000 is at that crossroads in life where you have to grow up. He hangs out with his retired union organizer grandpa (who is a raging pothead) and tries to ruin his mother upcoming marriage to a real L7 square. The story is told in flashback (or as if the author were in the present, as it were) and it's just great. I haven't laughed out loud at a book in a while nor have I felt such deep feelings of sadness as well as kindred spiritness in both the author and the characters in the book.

I finished the first short story last night and it was good. I really dig King's writing style. But it's to the point where the novella blew my doors off so hard, everything that comes after it will be held unfairly to comparison. I may switch over to something else to let my feelings chill out.

Go get this book! It's the perfect springtime/summer read. You'll love it, I promise.

http://www.owen-king.com/

Ramblings from a rut

I'm in a rut. I feel bored and restless...stressed out and lazy. I have equal amounts of things I want to do, need to do and should do, yet don't do anything. Aside from Spiderman-3, there's nothing I'm really excited about. I hate feeling this way.

I spent this morning trying to avoid getting out of bed and basically scrolling through all the crappy thoughts in my head. Then, when I finally got up and got in the shower, I tried to think of what I could do that would make me "happy." Until recently, I took a perverse pleasure in beating myself up and feeling crappy. So, rather than jump into that mental cesspool again, I asked myself point blank what would make me happy. Nothing came to mind. But, I figured I'd write some stuff here because I've learned that just doing little things can get you going again. Soo.....


Last night I had a dream that I was watching a super sneak preview of "Indiana Jones 4." It was o.k. There was alot of running going on. That dream segued into a dream where I had been forced to be a kindergarten teacher for a day. I wasn't too worried until I got to the class and just drew a total blank on what I should do. I also remember the teachers assistants asking me to sing a song with the kids and I couldn't think of any. Then I remembered "Old Dan Tucker" and we sang that. Either before that or after, I had a dream that I was handing out snacks to the kids at my work and it was basically a big bin of gross looking saltines. The kids weren't happy.

Last week on my way home from work, I stopped at the liquor store to get a diet coke. I saw a mom from my work buying 2 pints of "Damn Hot" cinnamon schnaps. This woman just had a baby 3 months ago and it was in a stroller in the store. Hher other kid is a lil on the slow side too. I kind of hid in the back of the store until she left but as I went to my car, I felt relieved. I had always thought the woman was just stupid, now I realize she's just a drunk. At least she walks around town all day with her kids instead of driving.

I went to the Butter and Eggs day parade Saturday in Petaluma. It was so-so. I didn't see as many people as I thought I would. I had a bunch of beer and only ate a corndog. My sister offered to take Igby to my moms and then come pick me up and take me home later. That was awesome of her. I needed to get home because I wanted to see a concert that night. My sis got me home and I ate a cold pork chop from the fridge and called my friend Kevin to see if he'd come get me. I then promptly passed out and missed my ride. I called Kev and he said he rang the doorbell and called me 3 times and nada. I was out.

Rather than call it a night, I took a cab down to the show. I asked the cab driver if he knew Norman Greenbaum. He said, "No, but that song kicks ass!!" He and I then sang "Spirit in the Sky" for the duration of the 10 minute cab ride. Norman Greenbaum lives in Santa Rosa which seems really cool to me, I thought the cabbie might have known him.

The show I went to was good, but I was just beat down tired and drunk. I took another cab home and had the cabbie take me through the Jack-in-the-Box drive thru.

So...there's my random musings. I feel much, much better.

My newest lil opus...

So, a few weeks ago my doc filmmaking partner John and I participated in the "Fairfax Documentary Challenge." Basically, you had 10 hours to make a 4 minute doc that has to do with the city of Fairfax, CA. Neither of us had been to Fairfax so we started emailing around, asking for ideas of what we could do.

Of the 6-7 responses we got, all of them mentioned this "colorful" local character that wears super short shorts, drives an old convertable and is rarely seen with less than 3 young girls on his arm. We had to find this guy!

So the Friday night before the challenge, John and I holed up in a bar in Fairfax and started trying to track this guy down. We got some good leads and the next day, we made this doc. It's pretty cool (if I do say so myself) and John and I won second place in the challenge!

Enjoy and pass it on!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkziEfeb374

If this little snippet...

...ever gets old or doesn't make me totally, totally crack up...start diggin' my grave...

I think I mentioned it...but

Our little film that could (sometimes) is playing at this years Sonoma Valley Film Festival! That's right, STRINGERS has managed to get into it's 3rd film festival (out of like, 7 submissions...not bad!) and I couldn't be more proud to show it in my home county. Even more exciting is the fact that we're playing before the film VOYEUR which looks very cool and intriguing. AND we're in "Mia's Lounge" which is the hip and edgy theater. They're going to have wine and cheese and I spoke with the festival somallier, my old buddy Chris Sawyer, and he's doing a pairing just for our film(s)!! I reccemmended Mad Dog 20/20 or Boones Strawberry Hill...but I don't think they're sponsors. We shall see.

Anyway, if you're within distance, we're playing on Saturday night at 10:00 and then again Sunday at noonish. I'll be at both screenings for the intro and Q&A but Sunday I'm also on a panel about documentaries so I'll intro STRINGERS, go do my panel and come back for the Q&A...all with what will assuredly be a massive hangover! Yay me! Barf. Then again, I can't really put away the wine so if there's no beer, I should be O.K. Then again, Sonoma is about 15 minutes from my house and there's a nice selection of local bars.

I hope to see some of you there. More info at:http://www.sonomafilmfest.org/

We got second place!

So our film "Riding with Snoopy" took second place in the Fairfax Documentary Film Challenge! Very cool! We won a really nice Premiere editing package...a value of over $800! The theatre was sold out and all the doc films were really cool. I'd do this again next year for sure!

Doc Challenge

So last weekend my filmmaking partner John and I participated in the "Fairfax Documentary Challenge." A bunch of people were in it and we all met at 9:00 a.m. in Fairfax, CA to go over the rules. Well, they did. I was late. I get lost going to Fairfax every single time. It's actually quite funny. John and I went to a bar there last Friday to see if we could sniff out some good stories and then a scant 12 hours later I was driving to the exact same spot and got lost. Anyway...

At the meeting, competitors found out these three elements that every doc had to have in them: grass, trees and the word "Fairfax." Since Fairfax is a tiny town nestled into a hillside, those elements were pretty easy to include. So we met at the bar again and got started on a few different ideas.

Both John and I asked around a bunch and we kept hearing about this whacky local guy named "Snoopy." He apparently wears really short shorts and knee high socks and always has 2-3 18 year old girls with him. He also rides around in a big ole convertable car. We decided he was our guy and embarked on a quest for Snoopy. We found him and had him give us a tour of Fairfax in his big ole car. Some random girl came along and we all piled in and cruised around town. I was half hiding in case anyone saw me in the passenger side of his car-it had no seat- and I half wanted someone to take a picture of me, John, Snoopy and some random girl driving around Fairfax on a Saturday morning.

After a good 40 minute tour we hunkered down (in the bar...I still wasn't drinking at that point) and edited a four minute film we titled "Riding with Snoopy." Somehow John found a kid that ahd actually written a song about Snoopy and we included it in the doc. Pretty serendipitous! I think it came out really, really good! I also learned that "swiss chard stems are the toothbrushes of the colon" so that was helpful.

I'm heading out to the awards now so hopefully we'll win something!

Moving on...

So I realized I never fully wrapped up my SXSW trip so here goes.

That bad photo you see was taken at HOOTERS after I barely beat Film Threat's own Mark Bell at a mini-hoops free throw shooting contest. Yeah baby! I won 10 free wings, a shirt (which I gave to Pete to give to his wife) as well as that polaroid and supposedly my name on the HOOTERS marquee for a week. I walked by it later that week and it wasn't up there. BOOoooo. Anyway...

After the FT guys left, I got my own room at the Doubletree. It was sort of off the beaten path and was WAY too expensive, but it was a ncie hotel. The very first night I was flying solo I went and saw Peter Case (of the Plimsouls), 2 Cow Garage, The Drams, Tommy Womack and Mic Harrison (of the V-Roys) ALL together in one showcase. It was awesome!!! I had a bunch of beer and proceeded to stumble on up the street. Well, I wasn't 2 blocks into my 10 block walk when I got pulled over by some bully asshole cop who said he "got a call I was urinating in the street."

I wasn't peeing in the street. It's something I would do and have done, but on this night, I didn't do it. I was really tired and drunk and just wanted to go to my room and go to bed but this ass was like...pushing me. At first he got in my face trying to get a reaction and I just stood there and said, "I didn't pee in the street." Then he got all investigative and asked how many drinks I'd had, where I was coming from, going to...etc. I calmly explained my evening and of course lied by about 10 beers when I said I'd had 5-6. He kept like...prodding me verbally...trying to get me to spazz out but I didn't. it took about 15 minutes for him to run my ID and make me stand there lile a common criminal. I didn't make a peep and when asked (repeatedly) about peeing I said, "I swear, I didn't pee in the street."

He eventually let me go to my hotel with a stern finger point in the direction i was to walk. F-ing dick. The irony is that about 3 blocks over from me was 4 blocks of wall to wall partying and he chooses to harrass me. Ugh. It really pissed me off once I got over been scared to death. I was already kind of in a funk from missing my flight and this experience really upset me. So much so I "took the next day off" from treating myself poorly. Then Friday, my last night there, I decided that when I got home I would go on the ole wagon for a month. It's been a week today and I feel exactly the same as usual...except with no beer. In the end it'll save me money and save me inches around the waist, but I'm spoiled and I want what I want. Blah. Oh, friday, my last big night I had an awesome time. I had a chicken fried steak at Threadgills, hitched an illicit ride from a hotel van and saw Steve Poltz then Is aw Carrie Rodriguez and grabbed a cab outside the show to save me a walk. Truth be told, I was scared of getting pulled over so it was a lifesaver.

To cap off my trip I went to the Texas Chili parlor and had a last beer which I savored, then I walked to 7-11 and got nachos and went to bed. Neat!

So, I'm home now and getting I'm adjusted. OH! STRINGERS got into the Sonoma Valley Film Festival so John and I are stoked!! Should be an great time and it's just in time for my month of wagon riding to be over. Look out Sonoma!

Tomorrow John and I are doing this documentary challenge where you get one day to shoot and edit a 4 minute documentary. That should be fun...especially since I won't have a hangover.

Home again, home again jiggedy jig.

Sorry for not posting, but I have some good excuses. While in the end I had another amazing time at SXSW, the trip was kind of plagued with boneheaded moves courtesy of yours truly.

When I last posted, I said I was leaving in the morning for SXSW. Friday morning I got up like it was Christmas morn I was so excited. It was like Christmas morn when I was a kid though, not Christmas morn now. Now when I wake up I groan at how much money I spent or feel bad for not spending enough because I'm broke. Anyway, I was really excited. My wife drove me to the airport and I went to check in. Only, there was no reservation for me. Huh? I was plenty early so I know I didn't miss it and I then became baffled. I had my mom book my flight because she's too sweet to me and has a bunch of sky miles (and, I'm broke) so I called her and got the confirmation number. I told the airline lady and still, nothing. I kept thinking of that Wilco song "Reservations" and the line "Iiii've got res-er-vations..." But I didn't. It was then airline lady, myself and my mom realized...my flight was THURSDAY. DAMN IT!!! I missed my flight by a DAY! What a total moron I am!

I don't take kindly to being told "no" when I really want something so I scrambled to find another flight. All of them were booked solid. There was a flight leaving in an hour for Houston and I thought maybe I could get that one and have my buddy Pete pick me up. But, that flight couldn't be transferred via the Skymiles and it cost $625.00. Crap! Crap crap crap. I called my wife and had her come pick me up. I pouted all the way home and when we got back, I crawled into bed and pulled the covers over my head. Even Igby couldn't cheer me up.

After some late night harrassing text messages from Pete and Mark, I woke up and did it all over again. My sister Kiff drove me to the airport (Thanks, Kiff!) and away I went. Finally. But this flight was a long one and I didn't get into Austin until like, 8:30. Basically, I missed two days of the fest and the opening night parties. Grrrrrrr. My buddy Zack picked me up at the airport and WTF-fest continued as the airline had lost my bags. Grrrrr. I like to clean up after a long flight, especially if I'm going out so that was frustrating. Real frustrating. But, we all met up at the hotel and went and saw the crappy zombie sheep movie BLACK SHEEP.

The next day I had some screenings plus I was tired from the long flight and late night. When I woke up, Pete and Mark were gone so I hopped in the shower (my luggage was at the hotel when we got back). I have stayed at the Courtyard Marriott before and I really like it. The rooms are big, free breakfast, free internet. it's great. I was just about to get out of the shower when I started to slip. I caught myself and thought, "damn, this shower is slippery!" Then I turned back around to turn off the water and totally ate shit. In the shower. Like some old man in a rest home. Needless to say, 6"4/275 pounds of wet, naked DLew ain't too pretty. I have a big pruple bruise on my ass cheek to prove it. And it hurt. And thus, WTF-fest ambled on.

Things picked up from there and I saw some great films and saw some old friends. I brought my camera but as always, forgot to use it. Then Wednesday rolled around and Mark and Pete took off. I was all alone to brave the music part of the festival. More on that later...

SXSW..again

Tomorrow morn I leave for South by Southwest in Austin, TX and I simply cannot wait. I need to just get away, have fun, see great films, hear great music, see old friends, drink free beer, eat good food. It's my vacation and I cannot wait. Seriously. like, remember when you were a kid and you'd chew on paper on your back teeth and it would feel weird and good? That's how I feel right now. Ugh...wish I was there now.

Rather than go item by item of my insane schedule, I will instead post a list of the bands I saw that are playing and have the best band names. Keep checking here, www.filmthreat.com and http://cine.petaluma360.com/ for updates...there will be lots.

Here's my list of favorite band names. These are real bands playing SXSW...no clue if the band is worth a shit:

my! gay! husband!
What Made Milwaukee Famous
Holy Fuck
Fucked Up
Nervous Hospital
Les Breastfeeders
Smoking Popes (five a.m. considered this name....briefly)
I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness
Holy Shit!
Bubonic Plague
I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House
Windom Earle (it's a major geek factor)
Medicine Fuck Dream
Green Milk From the Planet Orange (they're from Tokyo no less)
Yuppie Pricks
Two Hoots and a Holler
Lesbians on Ecstacy
Cat Scientist
River City Rapists
Big Balls
Patty Hurst Shifter
The Faceless Werewolves

My SWAG

I just did a post over on my Petaluma 360 Blog so I won't do it twice. Plus, I could use some hits o'er there. Read all about my SWAG bag HERE. There's photos too!

Also, the radio interview was alot of fun. I mostly just tried to keep up as the host had seen the movie the guy I was with did, but hadn't seen STRINGERS. It was a good time and a good experience to have so early on in my career as a filmmaker.

It was funny though because the guy I was with, John McDonald really did it "right" with his doc "The Ghost Mountain Experiment." He had interns and nice equipment and he even had a helicopter to get some shots! He told a story about landing at some remote cafe to have breakfast to which I replied, "Jeez, all we did was sit in the back of a 1986 police car and grab In and Out Burgers at 3:00 a.m."

Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh...on the radio...

So my short film STRINGERS is playing the Cinequest Film festival this week. I'll be there Wednesday March 7 for the 4:00 screening BUT...if any of you loyal blog readers can go to another screening (there's one Saturday AND Sunday) and VOTE for us to win the audience award, that would be swell. Real swell.

Also, tonight (Monday March 5) I'll be live on San Jose's own KFJC discussing STRINGERS (I think) at 5:30 p.m. You can figure out how to listen live on the internets by going to:

http://www.kfjc.org/netcast/index.php

You can even call in and ask me questions...I think. Hope you'll check it out. Once again, ehre are the showtimes for STRINGERS at Cinequest:
Stringers is in Shorts Competition Program 5: Docu-Nation
March 7, 4:00 p.m.
at the Camera 12 Cinema
288 S 2nd St
San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 998-3300

3/10/2007
9:30 PM
Camera 12 Cinema

and
3/11/2007
4:15 PM
Camera 12 Cinema yet again.

Cinequest info can be found at: http://www.cinequest.org/

Thanks for your support!

Hooray for the Hollywood Reporter!

And their excellent taste in quoting people! Notice the blurb on Jackie Earle Haley...right hand side...

Update on my short film

So I went and saw Todd Snider last Wednesday night in Petaluma. In case you missed it somehow, I made a short film based on his song "Just Like Old Times." I got permission from Todd as well as his management and record company and off I went.

So, after completion I showed the movie to Todd's management company and asked them to forward the link
to Todd so he could watch it. About an hour later I got an email from
his manager saying Todd couldn't get it to work on his computer so he
wanted to know if I would bring a DVD down to the show and give it to
Todd's tour manager so he could check it out. Sure, no problem.

So I brought it down and gave it to the tour manager and thanked him
for putting me on the guest list. We went our seperate ways and I hung
out and watched the opener then I ran up to the lobby for a beer.
While I was up there, I see the tour manager looking around. He spots
me and comes over and says "Todd watched the movie and really, really
liked it. He'd like you to come backstage so he can meet you."

WOW!

I've met the guy a few times but I probably came off as some dorky
fan. Now I would re-meet him as "an artists." Heh heh heh.

So I go backstage and Todd's sitting there and he says "Thanks for
making that movie, I'm very touched. My wife loved it too." I said
"thanks for writing such a great song!" Then Todd asked
"So where did you find those actors?? They were really GREAT!" I told
him that they were all local and that Stephen (the lead) was in a big
production right now in SF and that Betsy does some local stuff in
Santa Rosa and at SRJC. I had forgotten, but Todd then reminded me, he
WENT to SRJC (for 3 days...as he likes to say in one of his stories).
I told him Milo (the cop) was a good friend of mine as well.

I didn't want to bug him or turn into insta-fanboy so I shook his hand and split. He put on a GREAT show and it felt really good to once again start something, finish it and show it off. Yay me!!

Also-my short doc STRINGERS is playing CINEQUEST film festival in San Jose next Wednesday. I'll only be there that day (SXSW starts the following Friday...WOO HOOOoooo!) so if you're around SJ at 4:00 Wednesday, March 7, come see my film!

My new short!!

Check it out...I'll write more about it later!

Someone will die, someone will fly

Just saw the character who flies fly on HEROES...and I started clapping. That's awesome!!!!! I'm torn on who will die. All week I thought it would be Ando...then I figured it would be Claire's mom. Now....I'm thinking it's Ando and that's cold man. Frigging cold.

Update....10:03 p.m......wow.

A very Matscentric VD to you...

Well you wish upon a star that turns into a plane
And I guess that's right on par
Who's left to blame?

If you were a pill
I'd take a handful at my will
And I'd knock you back with something sweet and strong
Plenty of times you wake up in February make-up
Like the moon and the morning star you're gone

Tonight makes love to all your kind
Tomorrow's makin' Valentines

Hey you pop up in this old place
So sick and so refined
Are you strung out on some face?
Well I know it ain't mine

If you were a pill, I'd take a handful at my will,
And I'd knock you back with something sweet and strong
Trouble keeping your head up when you're hungry and you're fed up
Like a moon and a lone star you're gone

Tonight makes love to all your kind
Tomorrow's makin' Valentines

If you were a pill, I'd take a handful at my will,
And I'd knock you back with something sweet as wine
Yesterday was theirs to say, this is their world and their time
Well if tonight belongs to you, tomorrow's mine

Tonight makes love to all your kind
Tomorrow's makin' Valentines

Another incredible DVD cover..

WOW!! Loving this one!! Again, not sure why....the design? I do like red...and I do love me some Rosario Dawson. Hmm...that's not it though. Hmmm...why is this so brilliant...?

Pupdate

Sorry for not blogging here...I've been super super super busy. Santa Barbara Film Fest was FUN!! Luckily my buddies Mitch and Phil (aka The Butcher Bros) were there so we tore it up. Those guys own that festival. They won the award for "Director to Watch" last year and everyone loves them there. They made the trip much more fun. I wrote all about it at my other blog "Petaluma Movie Reel" which can be found here: http://cine.petaluma360.com/

So since I've been movie blogging too much lately, I thought I'd give you an Igby update. He's great!! He's so cute and loves sticks, as you can see in the photo above. Erica also discovered he can fetch! He totally chases balls and sticks and brings em back. He's so smart. He loves to snuggle Erica...way too much. He likes to sleep either on her shoulder or on her head...pretty funny. I sometimes think he doesn't even like me, but he's kinda mean to Erica and he and I get along good. If he was a human, I'd buy him a beer and we'd make fun of Erica behind her back.

There's also a dark side to puppies...
They're really "bitey." We're both nursing little wounds all over our hands. They also like to chew on everything and that's only going to get worse. Plus, he's still a pup so he pees and shits all over. Sometimes he's good about waiting to go outside or hitting his mat, but usually when we come home from work he's done some redecorating. He also doesn't sleep all the way through the night. I'm lucky to have Erica because she gets up with him and takes him to pee. If I have to get up, I can't go back to sleep so her doing that is really great.

One thing I noticed is, I'm not grossed out by Igby's gross stuff. I noticed it last week when we were playing in the yard. He had some serious eye goop and if that was someone elses dog or kid, I'd be grossed out. But without even thinking I wiped it with my finger and then wiped that on my pants. Plus, I just pick up his poop whenever I see it. I mean, I use a tissue, but still. Not something I'd have pictured myself doing without thought or hesitation. I did get a little queasy when he had worms, but other than that I'm a pooper scooper.

Anyway, that's the Igby update. Here's a picture of him at the vet! He was getting his shots but this photo was right before they took his temperature...and not through his mouth. Look at this photo and tell me if he knew what was coming...

San-tee Barb-ra HERE I COME!

So last year around this time I got an email from a very nice PR lady asking if I'd like to go to the Bermuda Film Festival. Whaaaaat!?!? I said. Yeah, she said they wanted to bring some press people to cover the event and my name came up. I didn't get into how/why/what and so on. Unfortunately, that festival was like, 4 days after I was to get back from South by Southwest and, as much as I would have loved to, missing that much work and my wife would simply not do. I referred my Film Threat buddy "Little" Mike Ferarro and he went...and had a blast. Bastard. However the nice lady said she'd keep me in mind for other fests and about a month ago, I got an email inviting me to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Sweet! I jumped at the chance and once again was happy I didn't go to Sundance. I was soon hooked up and dialed in for the fest and have spent the last week trying to figure out what films I want to see. SBIFF is kind of an odd fest. There's alot of amazing docs and they do a superb job showcasing local talent. But what makes the fest odd (in my eyes) is that they always PACK the thing with celebrities. I think last year they honored Peter Jackson and there's always star studded galas going on.

I think it's great that they program *real* films and still attract so many heavy hitters. However I also discovered that they showcase the years best films and I realized this when I got an email saying there were 32!! Oscar nominees and/or films at the fest! Holy crap!! Read this list and as you do, note that whatever filmmaker is there with his or her film, their movie is also playing and a Q&A with them follows.



· Sacha Baron Cohen, and co-writers Ant Hines and Peter Baynham, who will participate in a “Conversation With…”
· Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children, who will participate in a “Conversation With…”
· Djimon Honsou, Blood Diamond, who will participate in a “Conversation With…”
· Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls (presenting to Bill Condon, who was sorely overlooked!)
· Peter Morgan, Screenwriter, The Queen
· Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Director, Babel
· Todd Field, Director, Little Children
· Michael Arndt, Writer, Little Miss Sunshine
· Guillermo Arriaga, Writer, Babel
· Ron Yerxa, Producer, Little Children/Little Miss Sunshine
· Albert Berger, Producer, Little Children/Little Miss Sunshine
· Steve Golin, Producer, Babel
· Graham King, Producer, The Departed
· Adriana Barazza, actress, Babel
· Gustavo Santaolalla, Composer, Babel
· The Danish Poet (Short Film, animated)
· Recycled Life (short doc)
· Rehearsing A Dream (short doc)
· Blood of Yingzhou (short doc)
· An Inconvenient Truth (doc)
· The Lives of Others (foreign film)
· Days of Glory (foreign film)
· Little Miss Sunshine (followed by a Conversation with the directors)
· The Queen
· Cars
· Happy Feet
· Monster House

Plus their honoring Will Smith and Helen Miren!

So, needless to say, I'm incredibly flattered and honored and stoked to be asked to attend! Watch the blog for updates and OH!! PLEASE read my new blog at Petaluma 360. Yeah, I'm a total blog whore. But I want to use that blog to launch some cool local stuff so hit it up and add some comments!

30 mins!

I totally, totally love the NBC show "Heroes." It's been off the air for like, a month and tonight starts a big run of new episodes. I'll admit that I love to be a geek and jump on-board with really nerdy shows. I had a "Twin Peaks" phase, a "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" phase, "X-Files," "Lost" and now "Heroes" big time! The show just has so much potential. I mean, the viewer and the characters are still finding out the limitations of the super powers...and we haven't even got to their superhero outfits yet! All the characters are well defined and Sylar, the villain, is great too. Even Sylar is still in his embryonic character stage as is everyone on the show. It's a cool feeling of discovery (like when Nathan just up and flew in that one episode!) and it really feels like you're along for the ride. "Heroes" and "The Office" are my two favorite shows with "Lost" a semi-close third.

Happy Birthday, Dave!!

Today David Lynch is 60 years old! I celebreated early by attending a screening of his new film INLAND EMPIRE last night at the Rafael Theater in San Rafael. Dave was THERE!! The MC of the night introduced him and there he was...the genius...the kook...the artist. 20 yards ahead of me and accepting a five minute ovation with class and grace. He said some words and then introduced Special Agent Chet Desmond himself, Chris Isaak! Chris and his drummer Kenny did 2 songs, including Wicked Game and then off we went into dream land. Or, nightmare land.

I'm still letting the film sink in as I need to review it for Film Threat. Yet I will say...it's weird. Duh. I loved it, but it's really long (3 hours) and incredibly fragmented. However Laura Dern turns in what I think might be one of the best pure acting jobs of all time. She has such range and such...bravery. It's pretty incredible. Another thing I'll say is that if anyone else had tried to pull off what INLAND EMPIRE does in terms of visual imagery, tone, "story" and all that...it wouldn't fly. When you see a David Lynch film, you give yourself over to David Lynch and trust him to take you on a journey. It's pretty neat. After the film there was a terrific Q & A and Chris Isaak did two more songs. The highlight was David Lynch playing a tiny maraca.

If you want to have a truly great cinematic experience, go see INLAND EMPIRE when it hits a theater near you!

Simply gorgeous DVD art!

I don't know what it is about this DVD cover that grabbed my attention. It's so simple, yet brilliant. That's what it is! An underlying sense of brilliance to the whole thing. But still...what is it that makes it stick out to me. Hmm.....I can't put my finger on it. Well, I'll post it and maybe you can tell me...



You can also order this hillarious DVD HERE.

Poetry 'n art...

About a week or 2 ago, we took a field trip at work to see "Eragon." I get to drive the van. It only holds 10 kids and we were only going like, 15 miles but man were they chock-full of noise. Ever since that trip, I've had the song they were singing stuck in my head. So, I slapped a jazz beat and riff to it and I give you...

Joy 2 tha World
by ten screaming kids

Joy
to the world
Barney's dead.
We barbequed
his head.
What happened to his body?
We flushed it
Down the potty
and round and round it goes
and round and round it goes
and round and round it goes
and raound and round it goes
and round and round it goes
and roun.
..well, you get it

Ah, youth.

What a long, strange trip...

I'm applying to San Francisco State to get a Masters in Cinema Studies. But, I misread the site. I thought I had until January 26 to send my application in and in fact, I had until today (The MFA is the 26th). Or, yesterday...January 12. I discovered my blunder on Tuesday and set about totally, totally freaking out all week. See, SF State only lets you apply NOW for the fall semester. I blow it now, it's one more year of fart jokes and pee-pee pants at my job. I need to motivate and fast. While the application process isn't all that tough, I still had a hillarious time gathering my shit.

Long story short...I got all my stuff together. Scholarly paper (NIGHT OF THE HUNTER beeotches!), personal statement (to learn more, teach others) thesis (Mexican new wave...it's sooo on right now!), letters of recommendation ( thank you Frank and Sandy, resume (yeah, I been around) and...unofficial transcripts. That's where the plot thickens.

I need to send "Official Transcripts" from the 3 colleges I attended to the main office and UNofficial ones to the cinema department: Santa Rosa JC, College of Marin, and Cal State Northridge. SRJC is the original bitch school. I honestly believe they think they should be a university. They simply "cannot" give me official transcripts. Too busy. College of Marin, sure. Northridge..well. We'll get to that. But fuck SRJC. I'm sick of them. 10-15 days until they can "send" my transcripts. Ohh...SRJC...you're so, so busy. Anywho, I get all my stuff together...except for my Northridge stuff. I figured I could log into the system like the old days (like, when I was a student) and get my unofficial stuff which is all I needed to complete my packet. No go.

It seems after 2 years, they bump you out. I called and found this out and I also discovered the only way I could get my UNofficial transcripts was to
1. Show up there (it's 6+ hours away)
or
2. Give a friend a handwritten note that says they can get them.

I called my friend (I have "1" friend) there and he's out of town so...yeah. I have to drive to Northridge, get my unoffical transcripts, put together my packet (and like, make it look presentable) and mail that shit with a postmark that says I got it in the mail today. Here's how today went:

3:30 a.m. Earthquake. You guys feel that shit? It was funny, really. I heard it before I felt it (like...someone really big groaning) and then when it started. I rolled over to Erica and gave a phony "Ahhhh...earthquake." We were both awake and she said, "yeah, that was an earthquake." We went to sleep.

5:30 a.m. Alarm (I have the theme to THE EXORCIST as my alarm tone...it works) I get up. Erica and I had an arrangement that I would take Igby (the dog for you late comers) outside. But, he didn't wake up. So, I got in the shower.

5:40 a.m. The reason things are so expensive here is because the weather is nice. It's been 20 degrees in the morning all week and this morning was no different. By the time water fell out of my fro, it was icy. Ugh.

6 a.m. I head out to L.A....Northridge. I stop for coffee and gas...away I go.

12:45 I get to Northridge. I walk around. Man, I sorely, sorely miss living in L.A. It was the one time I felt free and like I was truly pursuing what *I* wanted. Yet, I digress. That school...meh. Great cinema department in terms of trying to be a contender. Overall....blah. I did buy a new CSUN hat, I get my transcripts and go settle in the lounge area to quadruple check the stuff I quadruple checked twice before. I have it all. Yet, I still check it over OCD style 4-5 times.

1:00 I go to this real sketchy printing place that I always went to as a student. It's like... the same. How dare life go on as usualy without me there! I get my packets together and again, check them page by page three times.

1:15 Post office. After some confusion, I look over them and count them page by page, checklist number by checklist number...three times...then I send them "certified mail." I put my hands on the applications, wish them the best and off they go.

1:30-2:30 I want to go eat at my favorite places in my old 'hood, but I know L.A. traffic. I need to be outta there by 3:00. I get hammered by traffic and finally drive by my old apartment (I miss it so much, it hurts. Like, my gums hurt like I was chewing on paper) when I went by but, things are good here too. I miss Igby. Oh, and Erica. I go home.

9:15 Six diet cokes and a diet rockstar later, I'm amped as I roll into Petaluma. I still have 20 mins to go to Santa Rosa, so I stop by Dempseys. I see some friends, have 2 beers...head home.

Ugh...long day and I'm still all wired out. I had so many great ideas for films and docs today and I really realized just how many times I've gone from Petaluma to L.A. So many weird, funny stories...really. Anyways...good NIGHT!

a truly valuable lesson...

How to beat claw machine games! Sweeet...I'm totally going to do this...

My favorite movies of 2006!

O.K…here’s the much awaited list of my favorite films of 2006. I think I saw some films that were “better” (BABEL comes to mind) but these are the ones I enjoyed the most. I’m going to count backwards so it looks right this time…

10. HALF NELSON
I saw this at Sundance last year and just loved it so much. Considering I only saw 3 movies I genuinely loved (out of 30 plus…ugh) my cynicism level was super high. But Ryan Gosline is a badass in “Half Nelson” as a crackheaded teacher in the inner-city won me over. This movie never goes where you think it will and it’s still edgy, funny, grimy and great. I’m betting Gosling gets a much deserved Oscar nod.

9. INSIDE MAN
Spike Lee is one of my favorite directors, period. But even as a Spike fan, I’ve been rather confused with the purpose of his most recent, half-baked films “Bamboozled” and “She Hate Me.” While “Bamboozled” showed Spike at his angry best, it was still lacking a certain cohesiveness. But “Inside Man” is a frigging awesome movie! It’s not just a heist/caper film. There’s also some incredible visual imagery that gives the whole flick a certain political tinge. I’m not going to get into it now because I need to see the film again, but it’s on DVD so go rent it and enjoy a fun flick with a lot of intricacy. And, a lot of straight forward movie fun.

8. LADY IN THE WATER
I’m not a “huge” M. Night fan, but I’m also mature enough to stay off the M. Night bashing bandwagon. I still dig the guys flicks. I mean, people get on Spielberg because every movie he does ends up in some familial group hug but…helllooo…that’s what he does. M. Night does twists. Deal with it. I also felt like “Lady in the Water” is a throwback to a time when we were all young and enjoyed going to the movies to enjoy going to the movies. There was no internet gossip and message boards to ruin the fun. We went, we saw, we liked. Or hated. I genuinely enjoyed “Lady in the Water” and I think there’s some great allegory going on in regards to creative people and being creative in general. I need to buy this one too so I can be more nerdy in blogs.

7. SCIENCE OF SLEEP
Ah, Michel Gondry…you joyous madman! I missed “Science of Sleep” at Sundance and had to wait and wait to see it. When I finally did, I’m glad I did because it was in theaters for about a week. What I saw was a funny, sad and incredibly creative film about a guy who’s cripplingly creative and also fairly socially retarded. I mean, it’s not that simple, but it kind of is. There’s also some amazing special effects here….but they are special because they aren’t done with a green screen. Nothing goes “boom.” Instead Gondry indulges the eye with paper cut outs and string sculpture and…like…gels. This movie was so good and so soon forgotten you won’t believe it when you see it on DVD.

6. CHILDREN OF MEN
I just saw this today…like, 2 hours ago. It totally blew me away. But, there’s so many killer camera moves and shots and such incredible long takes in the film, I kind of found myself gawking at the landscape and losing track of the story. In short, I need to see it again and really take it all in. But what I managed to take in was simply, amazing. Director Alfonso Cuaron creates a future that looks a whole heck of a lot like the present, only much more grim. The story is confusing, but in a good way. This is also my second Clive Owen film on the list (“Inside Man” has Clive as well) which is weird because I think he’s so-so. But here, he’s a perfect anti-hero and “Children of Men” needs to be seen by as many people as possible so more movies like this can get made.

5. WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE: A REQUIEM IN FOUR ACTS
And…we have another Spike Lee movie in my top ten. And that’s a good thing! I shall step further up on my soapbox to say...what has happened in New Orleans is the most disgusting thing to ever happen to Americans…ever. Worse than 9-11. There, I said it. While 9-11 was God awful, our Government not only set New Orleans up to fail, they let them fail, did nothing to help and have STILL not done anything to help. It’s totally and utterly disgusting and unforgivable.

Spike Lee gets that and of all people, he lays it out in the most fair way possible. He blames everyone a little bit for what happened but also discredits some theories about why this happened. In fact, he never really says what he thinks was the main cause and I think that’s the point. It was a number of things. I loved this movie because it’s motivational and educational. It’s incredibly sad yet still hopeful. It’s the best documentary I’ve ever seen. Go rent it now. I mean it…like go out your door and rent it now. Go.

4. THE DEPARTED
This one was probably the most fun I had at the movies all year. It was just a balls out funny, violent, interesting fun movie. I’ve grown to really dislike Jack Nicholson and his phoning in of every role. But here, he actually acts and he’s great! Everyone is great in this film (Matt Damon, Leo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg..everyone!) and that’s what makes it so enjoyable. Plus…blood. And guts. I’m not a big gore guy, but Scorsese does it right. I hope Scorsese doesn’t win best director for this one because he’s directed better films. But “The Departed” is a blast. I was smiling from start to finish.

3. CLERKS 2
This was my favorite film of the year until I saw my top two…but “Clerks 2” is still pretty damned awesome! Those of you who know me know I love Kevin Smith. However, I felt like he was pussing out by going back to the “Clerks” well. I love “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” because I get all the inside jokes and they supplement the real jokes perfectly. But that was all I wanted to see of “that world.” Still, like a good Kevin Smith fan, I went to “Clerks 2” expecting the same ole same ole (which isn’t necessarily bad) but what I got was much funnier and much more poignant that I ever expected. I don’t want to give too much away because I can honestly recommend this to anyone who wants to laugh and isn’t too easily offended. But I will say, the humor is wicked and the story is very heartfelt and true.

2. PAN’S LABYRINTH
This movie kicks so much ass, I can’t even really write about it. In short, it’s a horror-fantasy film that takes place in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. Yet the horror takes place in the “real” world while the fantasy tries to provide an escape for the young girl who plays Ofelia, a dreamer who might be the true Queen of the underworld. I hope anyone reading this who hasn’t seen this film goes because it deserves to be seen. It’s brilliant and creative…and in Spanish with subtitles. There’s no celebrities in it. It needs people to see it and trust me, you won’t be disappointed. I’m picking it to win best foreign film at the Oscars and wish every day that the brilliant Guillermo del Toro would get a much deserved best director nomination. Please please please please…

1. LITTLE CHILDREN
This movie blew me away. Totally and completely. It’s quietly in your face. It’s the darkest of dark comedies. It’s just about the most perfect movie I’ve seen. Yes, there is a fairly involved storyline involving a pedophile. But I assure you, that’s not just what “Little Children” is about. It’s about people who see a last chance to hold onto some childish dream. It’s about the cost of selfishness. It’s about the doldrums of parenthood…and the joys. I laughed, I cried…I cringed. I can’ t wait to see it again either. Read my review here, it might make more sense. Oh, and I’m also totally in love with Kate Winslet. I mean, I was before and I still am not seeing that Rom-Com she did with Cameron Diaz and Jack Black…but gosh I heart her.

Top Ten Music Pt. Two

Continuing on...

5. HEAD AUTOMATICA Propaganda
Someone had this modern pop band up on their myspace and I just fell in love with their songs. They sound like old Elvis Costello mixed with Nick Lowe…with synth. They’re also a lil “Phantom Planet-y.” I like this band so much, I keep waiting to go see them play live when they aren’t on a bill with shitterriffic bands like “30 Seconds to Mars” or (worst.band.ever.) “My Chemical Romance.” I don’t think it’s gonna happen though. “Head Automatica” just isn’t “that” big and they have a horrible band name. Still, if you like peppy pop ala Costello…get this album.



4. JENNY LEWIS AND THE WATSON TWINS Rabbit Fur Coat
I really, really like “Rilo Kiley” and I especially really like Jenny Lewis…the singer for “Rilo Kiley.” This album is her at her vocal best doing slightly country/folky sounding songs with a pair of beauties who call themselves “The Watson Twins.” I wouldn’t call this a country album…it sounds like “The Travelling Wilburies” or something. There’s a cover of “Handle Me With Care” on the album. It’s hard to explain but it’s really great. Lots of great harmonies and good lyrics…great stuff!




3. Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions

Wow. My hero Bruce Springsteen puts together a 12 person plus band to reinterpret folk songs by Pete Seeger. Of course I don’t think The Boss can do any wrong, but this album is just so honest and heartfelt and fun it’s just…contagious. I had the good fortune of seeing this band live and it was incredible! Over 3 hours of music and I just didn’t want it to end. There’s something that just fills your heart and soul with joy in this music and also in Bruce Springsteen’s music. Put the two together and it’s magic. Plus I get a heavy feeling that Bruce did this album as a sort of salve for the people of New Orleans.



2. Will Kimbrough Americanitis

Will Kimbrough is an Alien. Or just a plain ole badass. But he’s also incredibly insightful, kindhearted, sensible, intelligent and damn irritated about the war in Iraq and the bullying going on in America. Hell, and in the way we bully other countries. He has a right to be. Yet he never gets preachy on “Americanitis.” He just puts thoughts and honest feelings out there and lets them lie where they may. They usually end up plopping down in the common sense area of your brain. Plus, he totally, totally rocks! “Americanitis” blends protest songs with songs about peace love and understanding. What’s so funny about that anyway? Get this album. It’s little but mighty!



1. Todd Snider The Devil You Know
I’m an unabashed Todd Snider fan but that doesn’t mean I like everything he does. I’ve been a vocal critic of a few albums from a few years ago. They just didn’t do much for me. But with this latest album and the last (“East Nashville Skyline”) Todd is sooo back. There’s only one song on this album that I’m not that crazy about. One song. I don’t even know where to begin telling you what a terrific album this is. The song “A Tale of Two Frat Brothers” has the greatest songwriting twist since “The Kinks” song “Lola.” I’ve seen Todd perform it live 2-3 times and the collective looks on uninitiated peoples faces when they get what the song is about gives me goose bumps. That’s what brilliant songwriting is all about.

“Thin Wild Mercury” is probably my favorite on the album. It tells the apparently true story about Bob Dylan throwing Phil Ochs out of his limo. I also like the easy going “Carla” and the looking-for-a-hit type song “Lookin’ for a Job.” I can honestly say I love this album more than any album this year and not a week has gone by where it hasn’t found it’s way into my CD player. It’s country, it’s rock, it’s folk…it’s amazing.




Coming tomorrow…Top Ten Films of 2006…

Top Ten Music of 2006

I gotta say, I didn’t buy a lot of new music for the second year in a row. I have close to 1200 CD’s and this year, I really tried to enjoy what I have before going apeshit and buying new stuff. I also discovered the wonderful world of Bit-Torrent files and have been downloading oodles of concerts, bootlegs and new releases. I’m a bad person…but I attend a lot of concerts and buy CD’s from smaller artists so…neener. I support artists in other ways. That being said…away we go!

10. CALEXICO Garden Ruin
I really like Calexico, but they can be a wee bit droney…such is the case with "Garden Ruin." Yet every once in a while lead singer Joey Burns will come off with a nice vocalization or the band will put together a song that is so rich and diverse and cool it just sucks you right in. I think "Garden Ruin"is a nice way to get into the band but I still prefer the collaboration they did with “Iron and Wine” as well as last years (or 2004’s?) “Convict Pool.”

9. RACONTEURS Broken Boy Soldiers
Yeah, yeah…hipter alt douche bag music by White Striper Jack White. Only, the thing is, it’s not. This is a good ole rock album that has hints of the 70’s mixed perfectly with modern noise. I’m a marginal fan of “The White Stripes,” but am becoming a big fan of Jack White. If you like rock music, you’ll like this album.

8. JACKIE GREENE American Myth
I dig Jackie Greene. My wife and I saw him summer before last and he was like he sounded on his albums: a young Bob Dylan knockoff…with more pizzazz and less introspection. Yet this new album is Greene really spreading his wings and I think a lot of it has to do with producer Steve Berlin adding horns, organ, percussion and groove to Greene’s folky/roots based songwriting. “So Hard to Find My Way” is one of my favorite songs of the year and it’s going to be fun seeing Jackie Greene continue to grow as an artist.

7. Old Crow Medicine Show Big Iron World
Take some bluegrass, mix it with folk, rock, jazz. Add doses of realism, humor and heartbreak and you’d be getting close to what “Old Crow Medicine Show” sounds like. This might just be one of the best driving records ever made (as in, you put it in while you’re driving) and there’s a lot of fun sing-along moments to be had. I really want to see these guys badly and had I got the album earlier in the year, it would probably rank higher.

6. Drive by Truckers A Blessing and a Curse
Man, I feel bad putting these guys at 6…I thought they’d be higher. I guess I feel stronger than I thought about my top 5 because the DBT’s are badass. This album gets away from their whole Southern roots thang, sorta. Their other albums are like college courses in Southern culture and history…which is cool. To an extent. The thing is, I’m not much of a history buff and could really care very little about a place I’ve never been (sorry, but it’s true. Would the DBT’s want to hear my tales of Petaluma? Doubtful.) but this album is more open. And more cock-rock guitar heavy. It’s the kind of album that makes you play your steering wheel like a guitar. Yet, come to think of it, it really slows down after the ass-kicking song “Aftermath U.S.A.” Still worth a listen and a good intro to a great band.



Top 5 coming later today...

Happy New Year, indeed!

2006 was a trip. Personally and creatively, I saw some HUGE growth and that felt really good. But we also had some deaths here towards the end that were just...sad. My wifes grandmother died last week after a long illness and then I found out my old roomate Marc died. That really made me sad. He was a terrific guy. Damn. But...

New Years Eve was really great! Having had a shitty last 2 years I felt like I could finally really "toast" to a year being over and "toast" the new one coming in. And toast I did. Alot. The band I manage FIVE A.M. hosted a PIRATE BALL at the best brewery in the world Russian River Brewing Company. It was well attended and very swarthy. I drank alot of beer and still felt O.K. yesterday. Oh! I also got to see the NY Jets beat the hapless Raiders to get into the plaoffs!! GO JETS!

However I got some REALLY great news today when I received an email informing John and I that STRINGERS had been accepted to the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose!! It's a big festival and it's growing every year. It's going to be a total blast and I can't wait to go and have fun close to home. Yet what really makes me happy about being accepted there is, I don't know a soul at the fest. Although I'm extremely proud of STRINGERS and I think it's really, really good and stands on it's own...I did know a person or two at the Austin fest. I will say, there are alot of people who know people and still didn't get in. But in the back of my self-depricating mind, I always wondered...

But we did win the audience award and we did field a ton of questions at the Q&A...it's just me beating myself up again. It's my favorite hobby! But anyway, we got into a festival that we didn't know anybody at and that's a great way to start the year!

Check out Cinequest HERE!

Happy New Year everyone!! Top 10 lists coming this week!