Sunday, May 31, 2009

Shot of the day #151: Babysitter Burger


Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

Another somewhat relaxing day, a calm before the storm. But I feel ready, ready to rock. Im sure Ill have some interesting pics for next week, if I have a moment to do so...or more specifically, 24 seconds, which is how long my frikkin' iphone takes to initiate the camera; that gets a big fat "FAIL", Apple...I've missed many a moment because of you, even if I do like how the lens shoots. "Fit IT!"

Went to see TREK again with Bri (who loved it) and Luke was generous enough to watch Mr. P while we went out for a movie date (...to the Landmark, which is a GREAT theater and unbeknownst to us both, only a stone's throw away. Bollocks!) and in return, I paid him in Apple Pan Burger and fries. Pretty fair, I'd say.

Since that's pretty much the most exciting and "picturesque" moment in our otherwise welcomingly blase day, I present this stolen shot of the inside of L.A.'s oldest (and arguably best) burger joint. The guys working there are about as old, and just as creaky, and dagger-eyed me a moment after this was taken, as if he still believed photos stole your soul.

When we brought home our burger booty, much to Luke's surprise and delight, and the kid was dazed and amused by the MTV MOVIE AWARDS playing on TV, which I used to love purely based on their amazing edit jobs on "Best Action Scene" montages (seriously, they were so well done they single-handedly made me fall in love with music driving moments in cinema, and this was before the Tarantino crush I developed). This year I realized, it's not my movie awards show anymore. I suddenly felt VERY old.

Anyway, burger dudes. Enjoy.

Joe

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Shot of the day #150: Golden Hour Walking.

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

Pretty calm waters for a weekend...usually we have a long "To Do" list of places to go, people to see, things to get, blah to blah blah. But on a walk today with the fam, it was actually a pretty, panoramic view thanks to "The Golden Hour"; that moment in the day when the natural light is something DP's cream over; a golden, saturated hue from the sunset that just kisses everything in it's light with a glow that just astounds anything. Compliment it with newly blossomed purple flowers on the trees around the neibohrhood, and you have the picturesque landscape you only wish up in movies, like that perfect Matte Painting stored away at the WB lot.

Nothing special, just a captured moment.

Joe

Friday, May 29, 2009

Shot of the day #149: The Snowden by way of Robert Richardson

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

At the LA Convention Center, racing to get the webcams connected on-site before the madness of E3 takes over next week. My partner in crime here is one Derek Snowden, who has been at G4 even longer than I have, and if one of the founding father's of the website (and a proud father of two to boot!). One of the many faces at work I enjoy seeing, Derek is the glue that keeps everything together, and right now his adhesive powers are being tested. As we worked against the clock (had to be back at the office for a 5pm meeting, joy), Derek stood under the lights for a moment and I instantly thought "Bob Richardson". For those who don't recognize the name, he's one of the more famed Cinematographers working today, making a name for himself with his work on Oliver Stone movies and Errol Morris documentaries. In particular, his unique style includes a surrealist take on lighting; heavily over-exposed top lighting that gives an angelic, almost "halo" like effect, even to the point where I would see movies with "fuzzy hands" (from the overexposure) and instantly know it was one of Bob's flicks. His recent non-Stone work on CASINO & the KILL BILL movies should give you an idea of what I mean, as his style almost falls into parody. REALLY hope he rocks INGLORIOUS BASTERDS.

Anyway, this is how my brain works. Some cineasts might argue that this is more "Gordon Willis" than Richardson, but I turn up my nose to those snobs.

Joe



Thursday, May 28, 2009

Shot of the Day #148: The Kong Before the Storm

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

Here is a blast from the past...this Kong machine will be living on our G4 set next week being rocked by the one and only Steve Wiebe, who will attempt to break the latest Kong Record live at the E3 convention next week, which we're setting up for today and tomorrow. If you haven't seen the spectacularly entertaining KING OF KONG, stop reading my bullshit and do it, its more dramatic and exciting than most of the summer movies you see this season (except DRAG ME TO HELL, which might be my fav of the summer as of now).

But seeing this machine just Delorean'd me back to the TIME OUT arcade at the Smithhaven Mall when I was a week tyke, spending endless quarters on this and many other stand-up arcade games like it. Such a simple time it seemed...



Joe

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Shot of the Day #147: E3 madness on paper

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

The view from my desk, littered with paperwork for next week's bit production. I've been prepping the website's E3 conference coverage for months now, and we're a week out. Strangely enough, Im not scared, nervous, tentative. Overwhelmed? Sure. Im producing and overseeing about 5 different projects there, two being live on the site, so anything can happen. This is the 5th time I'm attending the convention in a work capacity (first as a DP on the floor, then as a producer, now as the Creative Director for the website supervising all video production), so I guess it feels old-hat by now, which is a nice change. Just hoping that everything on page here falls into place "on the day" as they say. Wish me luck! Im sure ill have some cool SOTD's from the convention next week....or not, if the convention bested me, which will NOT happen. Not on my watch, suckas.

Oh, the bullet? That's the contingency plan. You never know.

Do check our coverage out at G4tv.com, won't you?

Joe

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Shot of the day #146: Fried Fuel to our creative fires...

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

@ The Rainbow with my 3 "secret project" partners as we discuss imminent plans of attack, which is usually just an excuse to eat the terribly fatty and wonderfully delicious fried food there. As we talked "shop" and devoured the pizza, burgers and fried Mozerella cubes, we candidly threw around ideas (sometimes just to see if we can make each other sick or upset) and later one of us wondered allowed "Could you imagine listening in on our conversation??? We'd be locked up for sure!" Seriously, some of the most putrid, vile and disgusting concepts were spouted out with no attention paid to our surroundings...

...but then again, it's The Rainbow. Im sure it's heard a LOT worse.

Joe

Monday, May 25, 2009

Shot of the Day #145: The Lost Kill Screen

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

10 Hours.

That's how much time we took catching up with our ole' pals The Oceanic Six N' Island Friends. The plus and minus about Tivo is that you can save multiple episodes of a show so by banking them you dont have to sigh when the episode is over, pissed they hung you out to dry with another cliffhanger...you just get to go to the next episode and see what Jack, Ben, Kate, Sayid, Sun, Hurley, Ben, Juliet, Sawyer, The scary dude from GREEN MILE, The Smoke Monster, Polar Bear, Walt Jr., Napoleon Dynamite's steak-eating Uncle or Lawnmover man does next. I love that...yet then the till begins to overfill and next thing you know, you're weeks behind & can't check front pages of media webpages, blogs or Office water-coolers in fear or a spoiler. But because of the baby, the video, the other projects, Bri planning on going home and all the other things called life get in the way, its ultimately a time suck godsend.

So we planned to make today LOST MONDAY when other plans fell through, and began in the am catching up with the Dharma Gang and just plowed through, finally ending at night with this final, cryptic white screen, like when you get to the end of KONG and get the "Kill Screen", a foreboding change from the normal LOST climax moment when, just as it's getting good, the Giacchino music swells to a peak and POW. SMASH CUT TO BLACK-TITLE CARD "LOST", which always gets me. Many times we're saying 'Son...of...a...Bitch!!" out of sheer frustration. This season was a strong one, but man do the showrunners love to keep asking questions and provide little answers...but there was a sense of accomplishment for conquering the Queue and catching up with one of today's best shows.

It's gonna be a crazy series finale...in 2010. Le Sigh.

Joe

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Shot of the day #144: The Hangover Effect

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

Tried on the Baby Bjorn today, which was actually a barrel of monkeys; good design, light and easy to use....unlike a condom, which usually gets people in this mess in the first place. But Remster fit into it with ease and we were loving doing scenes from TOTAL RECALL ("What do you want Mr. Qqqquuuaaaiiidddd").

Since Sunday was errand day, we Prius'd over to the Chatsworth BABY's R US to pick up some essentials and I decided to rock the Bjorn in public. While there, a 20-something employee comes over to us and exclaims "You know, your baby has...the look. Would you want to take advantage of our special today on baby pictures?" Now, since Mr. Plissken is sporting the same purple shirt and pants that Bri in fact wore 30 YEARS AGO (Hello, Retro!!!), she wanted to capture the moment to send to her family, and even though WE know our kid has "the look" (jeez, what a lame line. Guess it worked!) so he didn't have to tell us, but we decided to take him up on the offer.

While Bri was off for a moment, one of the employees at the photo section of the store saw me and chuckled. "You look like that funny bearded fat dude from the posters all over the bus stops!" (Actual quote). Now, Im a fan of The Zach Galifinakis, and I can clearly see what he means-you know, with the whole baby and beard thing (funny is debatable). But was he calling me fat?

You be the judge.



Joe

PS: Here is some sweet Zach love for y'all.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Shot of the day #143: "Modern" Movie Marketing...

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

So last week, after I got all romantic about the virtues of the invention known as the Breakfast Burrito, I twittered "Who in LA has the best Breakfast Burritos?" and got a flurry of responses, but the most popular choice was Big Tomy's on Pico and Sawtelle. Naturally, I had to seek it out, and lo & behold...it's right down the street from us. Serendipity! So this morning as I trekked out to Big N Final to get foil pans for Bri's cooked dishes for Brian & Theresa's birthday soiree (which, due to constant Remy Wrangling, I took no pictures. Damn! Thank god other people did) I decided to check out the place for myself, and when I walked in, not only did it have a distinct smell (is that vinegar and....balls?) but the place was decorated in old-tyme movie posters, including the one you see above for Chaplin's THE KID. What struck me is...have you ever seen movie marketing that actually described things like how long the filmmakers worked or how many reels the film is? So strange but I guess they didn't have the "thumbs" system or douches like Ben Lyons or Gene Shalit to blurb the shit out of a film to plaster across posters, TV ads and internet banners. Just like the movies themselves...they don't make 'em like they used to, huh?

Could you imagine if that type of marketing applied today?

For James Cameron's AVATAR:
"This is an ambitious and expensive picture upon which the famously ego-centric and detail-oriented director has worked 5+ years on....300 gigabytes of joy!"

...just rolls off the tounge, doesn't it?

Joe

Friday, May 22, 2009

Shot of the day #142: The Lonely Squid

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

As I was walking to my office today, I noticed a familiar face staring back at me with big Googily Moogily eyes. Seems that the OtakuKraken Squid that accompanied us to Tokyo back in 2005 found it's way to an empty workstation near me, looking sad and under-used. The Purple Squid was produced for the Tokyo Game Show Special we did a few years back at G4, when I was just a DP there, and it was a grand but exhausting time. I believe this day we clocked in 22 hours straight, then went for Sushi at 6am, complimented by Squid Ice Cream. I didn't stutter.

Now the sorely neglected creature sits unnoticed in the office, praying for another chance in the limelight. Poor guy. Remy's coming into the office to say hi today, i wonder what his reaction will be like...

Joe


Thursday, May 21, 2009

Shot of the day #141: Memories of Spinjas

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

On the way to work this morning, I was driving down Venice Blvd when a familiar sight smacked my eyes; I saw 4-5 sign-spinners on the corner of La Cienega, twirling their adverts at a furious pace. Instantly I was thrust back to the 311 shoot, watching these talented guys work their magic as the world passes them by. Funny, I was more annoyed and pissed about the slings and arrows shot at the Spinners in the 311 video more than my work being slammed; Im sure all the armchair critics making snide and sometimes downright MEAN remarks on the message boards can barely balance a basketball on their fat fucking fingers let alone be out in the sweltering sun for hours on end making an art out of spinning a piece of plastic on their bodies effortlessly. Here are guys who actually made an art out of human advertising, and I gotta admire that like I did when we first discussed the idea. Watching hours of spinner videos, I really grew to admire their home-made skills, and in a way, if anyone sees any of these guys and thinks of the video, than in a way...I did my job. Yet, people still gave the main kid Matt a lot of flack for what he did well in the video. As Nick Hexum once said..."Fuck the Naysayers cause they dont mean a thing.."

This pic was actually taken as i was coming HOME, almost 10 hours later...and the SAME dudes were on the same corner, spinning away with the same fervor and passion, and I then noticed: two of the "Spinjas" from the 311 shoot were out there! Guess their 15 minutes of fame dried up quick, huh? I kid, but it was cool to see them out there, pushing DANCE FLICK (not a bad marketing tie-in) as they spun their signs, some even listening to music as they did...I wonder if they're rocking out to 311 in their earbuds...probably not.

Joe

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Shot of the day #140: The Lil' pleasures in life #42

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

I dont know if this is strictly a "West Coast" thang, but ever since we moved to LA in '02, I discovered one of the greatest inventions known to the first meal of the day: The Breakfast Burrito. See, on the East Side (i.e. New York, yo) we had the "Breakfast Special", which was basically a fresh roll with egg, cheese and your choice of meat (ham, sausage, bacon, yak, etc). Boy were they deliciosio, as my man Big C would attest to. Any time I'm in New York, I NEED one asap.

Same kind of contents for the Burrito, but the major difference is the carbs surrounding the egg/cheese/meat combo; here its a flour or corn tortilla. I remember having my first one at a shoot my friend Trent hired me on as a PA, and the catering truck was preparing them for the crew and boy was it a dee-lite! I felt like a whole new world was opening up before my eyes, and this configuration was pure high-cholesterol tastebud orgasm. So wherever I go, whatever production I'm on, the first thing I ask: "Do they have Breakfast burritos??" If they do...Im a happy man.

Here in the Comcast building there is a deli on the main floor and they also serve BB's, so once a week, I give in and get one, pictured here. Are they the best of the bunch? Absolutely not, but they do serve their purpose nicely and are great on-the-go. Plus I just love how aesthetically pleasing they look when I open up the container holding them....so...inviting looking, as if they are saying "Eat me, Joe....EAT ME POUR FAVOR!!!"

If anyone knows where one can get THE BEST breakfast burrito in LA, PLEASE let me know! I need to know.

Joe

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Shot of the day #139: The Queen & Prince have Returned.

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

...god, this has been a reunion that's been WAY too long in the making. Bri and Remy passed through the "arrivals" door at LAX last night, weary and drained, but with huge smiles that I missed sooo much. This was a very difficult trip to endure, and I realized that 5 days, let alone 5 WEEKS, is way too long for us to be apart. Don't think I can let that happen again anytime soon.

Here he is, dazed and confused, as we're walking to the Luggage Pickup. Supposedly it was a pretty horrible flight, but the kid is 4 for 4; every time he's on a flight, Remy avoids being "That baby"...you know, the one who is such a pain in the ass or a constant crier that warrants a mid-flight walk-out? Not this kid. Thatta Boy!!!

Life is back to normal, thank fucking god.

Joe

Monday, May 18, 2009

Shot of the day #138: "One, two Banzai's Comin' For You"

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

One more day...one more day of being alone in the house before my family finally comes back. I can't believe its been almost 6 weeks now. Much needed of course, but man has it felt like an eternity, like Sam Rockwell in MOON, which im watching right now (Holy shit, Sam...see you at the Oscars!).

Just ask Banzai...Poor dog has nails that need constant trimming since they grow so long so fast, however Im a total retard when it comes to such "caninetenance" so Bri said to either bring Banz to a groomer or wait till she gets back. Well, its been a while, and I left the nails filed (get it?) under "Wait till Mommy comes home". Now they look Fred Kruger-worthy. Gross! When I got home from the GRACE screening (even more amazing the second time around), she was in the kitchen and I heard "skitter skitter skitter" across the tiles; stealth-mode is not her strong suit when she hasn't been trimmed.

Can't wait to see Squizz's eyes pop out of her head tonight when Bri and Remy walk through the door. I think my eyes might launch as well when i see how big that kid has gotten!

Joe

Behind The Screams: 311's "Hey You" Music video

Hey all,

Not that I want to relive the day, but here is me putting on my best game face for the BTS crew documenting the 311 video shoot. Ah, memories....



Joe

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Shot of the day #137: Curbside Seat (or "Farewell My Friend")

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

Luke came over before and helped me lug this recliner chair out of the house and onto the curb before we set out to see THE BROTHERS BLOOM (which, hate me if you will, but I didn't really like. Mamet by way of Wes Anderson and way too whimsical and 'clever' for its own good).

This chair has been in our lives for almost 9 years now, having first procured it (and a twin model) from an elderly friend of my family that was clearing out their rest-home furniture in Long Island. So we had two of these lazy-Boy-esque things in our Queens apartment, then packed them up and brought them cross-country to LA in 2002, and then got rid of one of them last March when we moved over the hill, leaving this sole recliner in our possession till yesterday afternoon, where it was finally laid to rest outside our place. i thought for sure we could have gotten rid of it through ebay or craigslist, but no takers, so we hadt to basically abandon it, hoping some other person or family will find value in it. When I took Banzai outside before to evacuate around 11:30pm...the old chair was gone. Quite a legacy that chair had in mine and Bri's life, having survived many events, big and small, and a tiny bit of me was sad to see it go.

I just hope noone runs a black-light across it's surface or we're gonna be in T-ROUBLE.

Farewell Chair, hope you make another owner comfortable.

Joe

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Shot of the day #136: Freaked Heat

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

Kinda looks like my "lightsaber" iphone app, but it's actually the heat lamp I was standing under while waiting in line at the New Bev tonight for the FREAKED midnight screening. Since it was announced in the early 90's and a fan/supporter of the crazed vision of Alex (a.k.a. Bill S. Preston, esq.) Winter & Tom Stern (seen below) ever since I saw IDIOT BOX on MTV, FREAKED is the true definition of "Cult film". Its one of those "How the FUCK did a studio make THIS?" types of films that you either totally back in a dark alley or one you twist up your nose and walk past. Personally, I loved it as a kid and laugh even harder now. I had never seen the film in the theater (since from what I understand, it NEVER got a theatrical release and Fox dumped it onto video, to which Entertainment Weekly announced it being one of the best videos of the year in 1995!) so when I read on Twitter that the New Bev was playing it AND the wackos behind it were introducing it, I had to go.

So thankfully this heat lamp was warming my scalp as we waited to get in, and it ended up being a great night since many of the attendees (including Collins!) had not seen it yet, and that is a flick that DEMANDS a public response!!! Alex seemed a little pissy, but hell it was midnight; maybe he just wanted to go beddy-bye.

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.



Run, don't walk to netflix FREAKED!!!



Also, check out Winter/Stern's IDIOT BOX!!!

Also...its 3am, why am I watching THE SHINING commentary on Blu Ray right now?

Joe

Friday, May 15, 2009

Shot of the Day #135: Choices, Choices...


Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

God bless Netflix.

There's no greater feeling, especially with a weekend looming, than opening the mailbox and finding THREE new red envelopes, ready for viewing pleasures...so, what will it be tonight??

ENVELOPE #1: FROST/NIXON (Blu Ray)-I'll admit it freely; I think Ron Howard is a great director. How many other directors working within the studio system get to do so many wildly different types of films, including this Oscar-bait political "thriller"? I doubt they'd use 'From the Director of PARENTHOOD & HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS' on the poster for this, but after hearing so much about it, I've been really intrigued to watch it, even if it promises to be all political-like and heavy. A friday night flick with no blood or boobies? Hmmmm...

ENVELOPE #2: WATCHMEN-THE BLACK FREIGHTER/UNDER THE HOOD (Blu-Ray)- Never got to see this before I saw WATCHMEN, but really curious how they adapted the two supplemental features from the comics as stand-alone films? Right now, I'll watch ANYTHING WATCHMEN as I really admired the movie and can't wait to see it again, especially since Bri is now reading the Graphic Novel. This could be a fun diversion.

ENVELOPE #3: MARLEY & ME (Blu-Ray)- No, this is not a mistake. I'm a sucker for dog movies, and upon reading the novel a few years back (LIE:"Listened" to the audiobook) Im curious to see how they attacked the movie version. Aniston is easy on the eyes too...but am I in the mood to cry uncontrollably tonight? Might be better suited for Sunday....WHAT??? Do I have to be watching horror movies every moment??? Go check out Collins' site if you want that, jeez.

Welcome to my weekend! I think Im gonna go with FROST/NIXON. Sam Rockwell & Oliver Platt chewing scenery seem like worthy distractions tonight.

Joe

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Shot of the Day #134: Pre-Post-Apocalypse

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

Coming back from the TERMINATOR: SALVATION screening on the WB lot (love being there, always half-expecting Pee Wee to fly by on his bike), I decided to take Burbank Blvd back to avoid traffic. As the sun was finally setting over the valley (our old stomping grounds), the scene before me almost felt very much like the desolate, nuke-ravaged landscapes portrayed in the film I just saw, with crumbling buildings and power lines barely hanging onto stability, mere remnants of a forgotten age and culture. I was stopped at the light when I captured this shot, this one moment reminded me of the scene in T2 when Linda Hamilton is watching L.A. get blasted from a playground, how the bright light came first, then a moment of calm...before the nuclear wind relegated everyone to dust and bone. This moment here looks like that calm before the storm, that last serene moments before it's...all gone.

Good thoughts after a Summer movie blockbuster, huh?

Joe

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Shot of the Day #133: She loves Balls

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

I have no recollection where this green ball came from, but it ended up back at our house one day and The Squizzle LOVES it. Most nights when Im trying to drown my sorrows in Animal Crackers and TOP MODEL, Banzai is begging me to throw the ball around our hut of an apartment, where one hurl will send the rubber ball ricocheting & crashing into just about EVERYTHING, usually with the pooch in hot pursuit. But last night I gave in after a truly piss-poor day and just got down on the carpet and began a deluge of ball-serving that made Squanz VERY happy and after 30 minutes, even more tired. Been way too long since I've really dedicated so much time to her like that, but I made a little pooch's night.

Here she is VERY focused on said ball...about to poun-WELL, she got it.

Joe

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Shot of the Day #132: A Warning...

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

I got to my office this morning, greeted by a cryptic message: A small broom on my seat. I don't quite know how to crack the code on this one; Is someone in cleaning saying I need to tend to my Anal Dander? Is this the housekeeping equivalent to a severed Horses' head in my bed, a warning that I gotta stop throwing my lunch containers to the side of my desk, not in the waste basket? Aren't brooms made (or used to be made) with Horse hair?!?! Not sure, but it did give me pause...and I made sure all my trash was IN the bin today.

FINALLY watched TAKEN tonight. I actually cold-bought it, hoping that all the good word I heard on the film, multiplied with the faith I have in Luc Besson and Liam Neeson to make some Grade-A B Dramaction, and it was a very worthy investment. Great acting, great action...its the movie LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD wanted to be and the kind of character Indiana Jones needed to evolve into in the 4th film. Jesus...did INDY 4 really come out a YEAR AGO? Time flies....when you have a kid! That's the main reason we didn't see TAKEN in theaters, that it came out right when Remy was born. Guess I better get used to seeing films at home in the future. However, isn't that where we normally watch most media anyway these days? Theatrical is such a finite time in the lifespan of a movie, and it will ultimately find or lose its audience on the smaller screen. I just hope seeing movies on the silver one doesn't go the way of the Dodo...at least for my Son's sake.

Wow...wasn't I talking about a broom?

Joe

Monday, May 11, 2009

Shot of the Day #131: Random Comedy in Snail mail

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

I have absolutely no clue why, but when I opened the mail (or 'Letterbox' if you want to be all British about it) today, awaiting the latest slew of bills and junk mailings (NO, WE DONT WANT FREE BABY FORMULA OR J.CREW CLOTHING!!!) I got this postcard ad and....just couldn't stop LAUGHING. For some reason, I pictured this as the teaser poster for the remake of STRAW DOGS where the studio producing it is going for a much-ignored demo; the over-50 audience, the same that came in droves to make GRAN TORINO a huge hit and who keep making CBS the highest-rated channel on the air (really?). Could you imagine the tender old lady in the picture above with a shotgun defending her home from faceless assailants? Instead of the famed "This is my house, I HAVE to defend it!" she politely quips, as she pumps the 12-gauge, "I choose to stay in MY OWN HOME"

BLAM!!!!

STRAW DOGS....2010.
THE NIGHT GRANNY STAYED HOME...WITH GUNS BLAZING!

I'd buy that for a dollar.



Joe

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Shot of the Day #130: Lazy Sunday

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

The above pic of Banzai should give you an idea of the day, or at least my intentions for it. Shot till 2am last night for work, not thrilled about that (even though there were copious boobies on-display) but excited to be done with it and with no business-ends to my head tomorrow on a deadline or anything really (a first in a month) I planned on keeping it simple today. We'll see how that works out. But clearly my bitch has the right idea...

Joe

Saturday, May 09, 2009

Shot of the Day #129: The Borden

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

Here's a profile pic of one Craig Borden, who I had the pleasure of working with on the 311 video a few weeks back and who met up with us last night/this morning. We had crossed paths many times before since he was Green's go-to 1st AD from HATCHET on and Adam always spoke very highly of Craig and it's always nice to work with people highly recommended but who also make good on the vouch. I got lucky enough to work with Craig on the maelstrom that was the "Hey You" video, which someday will make for an interesting tell-all on the foibles of the music video business (or lack therof) or at least a juicy chapter in PATRICK DUFFY STOLE MY BURRITO!, my autobiography that's currently writing itself as we speak/blog. Craig was one of the sole faces on-set that actually made me feel comfortable being there and never second guessed any of my decisions, just helped me get from A to B the way a great 1st AD should, and I walked away going 'Well, at least i got to work with Craig!". If all goes well....Ill be in the trenches with Borden, who already has one hell of a filmography to his name (Did you click his name above? Seriously, the guy WORKS!!), in the VERY near future, and again, his will be a face that makes the day go faster.

I have no comment on the moon in the shot. I hear it's a real moody asshole.

Joe

Friday, May 08, 2009

Shot of the Day #128: Engage!

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

...at the Arclight Hollywood, getting ready to have our minds blown with STAR TREK. On the roof, there was a gaggle of 'Gulls lined up across the wall looking out towards the city and I'll be damned if Im not gonna take the opportunity to 'Get the shot!' so to speak. So I walked down the line of winged rats, iphone ready to strike, as one by one each gull as I neared took a lazy step into the sky. Glad I got at least one of them as they took off to their next destination, probably to shit on some dude's BMW.

STAR TREK was absolutely what I needed too, pure escapist fun but in a way that I didn't feel like my brain had to be shut down to enjoy for 2 hours. Everything just CLICKED and I cannot WAIT to see it again; I bet Remy is gonna LOVE it as J.J. Abrams, like I said when I walked out of the theater beaming like a kid, is my Son's "Spielberg".

Hello Summer movie season! You have been missed.

Joe

Thursday, May 07, 2009

Shot of the Day #127: Thursday's The Shits

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

...yeah. Pretty much summed up my day; visual courtesy of Banzai.

Joe

311's "Hey You" Music video

Hey all,

So here it is....the new video I directed and edited for 311. Enjoy.

Joe


Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Shot of the Day #126: Death 'N Technology

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

What a lovely, slightly morbid surprise! I get a call at work and Bri is on the phone (via New York) saying "Google 'Fergerson Funeral home' & 'Webcam' now!" So I do and the funeral home near Bri's parent's house has a live webcam installed. I wonder who pitched that addition at the stockholder's meeting. Regardless, I found the link and after a few refreshes...hey look, its my family! Even if it was like 5 frames of streaming video a second and i could barely make Remy out, it was a delight to see them at all...just so macabre using a funeral home's webcam to do so.

Just goes to show the few forward-moving constants in life: Death and Technology.

Joe

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Shot of the Day #125: BarkerWear

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

I really do love and admire Clive Barker. Here's an artist who has endured many years of many up's and down's and still seems as relevant & prevalent today as he was when Stephen King announced he was "the future of horror".

If his new film DREAD, directed by long-time Barker confidant Anthony DiBlassi (AMAZING job my friend), is any indication from the wicked screening i saw tonight, then Barker is still the future of horror and the future is NOW. I really dug MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN, but DREAD is 100% unfiltered Barker, and I pretty much loved the hell out of it...

...but not as much as I love Clive's jeans that he wore to the screening. Afterwards, when the shell-shocked crowd was shuffling out of the Landmark, well-wishers crowded around Clive and as I watched from afar, the circle of people moved away a bit to reveal to my eyeline....white jeans with huge cherry's on them. WOW. Seriously, ONLY Clive could pull off an outfit like that, and I love him for it.

Joe

Monday, May 04, 2009

Shot of the Day #124: Fade to Black

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

DONE.

Yes, Im fucking done with this mother-fucking project. It honestly feels like Ive been working on it for a year, a battle every day, but we finally printed to tape and it's off to the label and I can go turn the faucet on to wash my hands of the whole situation. I hear its going to be on Yahoo as a World Premiere on Thursday. Guess that's the new version of TRL in terms of hitting the biggest market. How times have changed.

But I realized that Ive actually been working on this video since Feburary, right before my Dad died. The band's managers gave me the heads up to start brainstorming ideas and once you put me to task like that, I put the horse blinders on for pretty much everything else. So having this as a distraction when Dad died i guess was the best band-aid for me to not really confront the situation, but now that it's done....

So I was FINALLY playing Guitar Hero: Metallica (which is pretty fuckin' METAL BTW) and when I selected "Fade to Black" and the first notes began to sound off...I found myself WEEPING as I pressed the various button configurations. Is this a first? Crying during Guitar Hero? At first I didn't know where it was coming from...a blocked tear duct? A latent Cliff Burton mourning? Then all these emotions began to flood in...all the things I guess I pressed deep into the recesses of my head and heart, now bubbling to the surface. I thought of my Dad during this song, his last moments, how he was so afraid...and then that fear lifted as he took his last breaths. "Fade to Black" never had any real resonance to me until now, as I was always a "One" guy after that AMAZING music video, but now...the song is like an anvil chained to my heart. As memories of my father floated through my head, I played the song with passion (as much as one can infuse passion while playing a fake instrument with a video game), almost as a tribute to the Old Man...I will not miss a note.

Im sure now that this video, the last thing I was part of before he passes away, is done, Ill be able to find some sense of closure with the whole situation. I still feel like I haven't really been able to give my due respects fully as of yet, but in playing out this Metalliballad, it was the cork I needed popping i guess.

Love you Dad.

Joe

Metallica - Fade to Black

Life it seems, will fade away
Drifting further every day
Getting lost within myself
Nothing matters no one else
I have lost the will to live
Simply nothing more to give
There is nothing more for me
Need the end to set me free

Things are not what they used to be
Missing one inside of me
Deathly lost, this cant be real
Cannot stand this hell I feel
Emptiness is filling me
To the point of agony
Growing darkness taking dawn
I was me, but now hes gone

No one but me can save myself, but its too late
Now I cant think, think why I should even try

Yesterday seems as though it never existed
Death greets me warm, now I will just say good-bye

Sunday, May 03, 2009

Shot of the Day #123: I stole'd yo' B'fast "Kebin".

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

If you know me well enough, you'll be aware that Breakfast is my favorite meal. Not the time of day mind you, but what's usually on menu. Omelettes, breakfast burritos, Eggs benedict, Crepes, breakfast specials, the left side of the brunch menu...pretty much anything with eggs in it, on it or around it, then I'm there on opening day. If your establishment has "Breakfast All Day" then I will be a regular customer.

Breakfast, simply put, rocks. I Heart it.

Which leads me to my crime of passion. Starving for some kind of meal, I stopped by Champagne Bakery on National this morning, hoping to get something eggy and cheesy before I dash into a very long and laborious Online session (will this project ever end???). When i get there, the Breakfast Crepes jumped out at me instantly; eggs, swiss cheese (I subbed Cheddar), ham (Fuck you Swine Flu!) all wrapped in a fluffy flat french pancake. SOLD. So I ordered it with a side of potatoes, waiting patiently as customers come and go. Then an employee who can barely speak english taps me on the shoulder saying:
"Kebin?"
TRANSLATION: "Kevin?"
"Um, no-"
He holds up a bag to my face, clearly showing me that it contains TWO containers of orders. Unless they put the potatoes in a separate box, this couldn't have been my order...was it?
"You get Breakfast Creeeepes?"
"Um, yeah."
"Kebin!" and puts the bag in my hand and quickly tends to the next customer, an elderly woman who's got a beef with her Almond Horn. So here it is, Im clearly holding "Kebin/Kevin"'s order in my hand, or so i think. Do I just walk out with it and play dumb or do the right thing and announce to the gent behind the counter that I am in fact NOT "Kebin" and it's likely this is NOT my breakfast?

From the picture above, you can see what my choice was. I'm a bad bad man.

Now I had no clue what was in the mysterious 2nd box; I was just hoping that the first order of Crepes was OK and that "Kebin" doesn't like tomatoes or liver on his eggs. When I got home, lo and behold, I was greeted with a perfectly fine and photogenic order o' crepes (Swiss, but I didn't mind) and also...a delicious looking Breakfast croissant with Ham, Eggs and Cheese (Cheddar!!). With just the TEENSIEST hint of guilt, I ate the free meal AND the crepe. It was divine.

So, to Kebin/Kevin, my sincerest apologies for swiping your order; I blame the dude at Champagne for being so insistent on me being you. But my stomach thanks you.

Off to hell,
Joe

Saturday, May 02, 2009

Shot of the Day #122: Perfect Saturday Moment

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

There's nothing better right now than a hot cup of coffee, a queue of horror flicks to watch, a new draft of "Something Wonderful" that Im tearing through at a rapid clip and Banzai on the hang. This moment is good.

Joe

Friday, May 01, 2009

Shot of the Day #121: On the Henson Lot...

Shot with iphone. Click to enlarge.

BIG meeting today. This is for a major component of the movie, another brave member to join our cinematic fellowship, and Im praying it goes well. Actually, I'm confident it's going to go great, but there's always that X factor you never prepare for; that wild card moment in the room that you never expect, like when some blurts out their insane demands or a whacko idea that just sends the whole ship south. But if it does go well, it will not only be a HUGE step towards greatness, but Ill be working with a close friend again, both of us to be challenged in the best way possible. Onward!

The meeting took place on the Jim Henson Studio lot off of LaBrea, and its always a thrill to walk through the locale, thinking of famous faces (both human and Muppet) that graced this place. Growing up with The Muppets, there's a sense of creative hope whenever I'm here; a warm, inviting feeling, almost saying 'Its OK to be 'Green'" (so to speak). Makes going into every meeting for the project a fun adventure, never work. Listening to the audio book of "STREET GANG" by Michael Davis only reinforces how much Henson and his many felt-based creations were a part of my childhood and beyond, and knowing Remy is not far off from snuggling a Big Bird or a Gonzo doll makes me feel great...and also old. But its amazing to know how the Muppets have lived through so many generations, and hopefully more to come, keeping The House Kermit Build fully operational for years to come...

So Im crossing my fingers today for a lot of things it seems...

Joe