America Now

Did you hear?

Our hero Brad Neely is back and picked up for twelve installments of a new one-off series called America Now. It is airing right now exclusively on adultswim.com every weekday until the election. On Nov. 1st-4th adultswim the tv channel will also broadcast these shorts.

Laughter is the best medicine.

thanks [adultswim].

EXT. HOUSE - DAY

Gmar Chatimah Tova. It's Yom Kippur and I'm sorry, but I'm not fasting. No disrespect, but I must utilize this day off. There's work to be done! And food is too big a driving force for completing work as you may know. I "gotta have my pops," as they say.

Yesterday I went location scouting at my friend Sarah's house for my film. What a huge help she's been. Over a week ago I was fortunate enough to run into her shooting pictures for class when she agreed to let me use her home as the principle site for my project. Here are some pictures of the house that i will likely use for the shoot:

The story calls for two women in their thirties that can pass off as sisters. Know anyone in Upstate, NY that can act?

The New York Film Festival is wrapping up it's festivities this weekend. All week some of my classmates and I excitedly planed to carpool and leave tomorrow. Given that Nuit Blanche in Toronto fell through the previous weekend, I was hopeful this jaunt to the city would succeed. Unfortunately, plans changed and our driver recently decided he couldn't find the time to go after all. Saddies. Some interesting screenings from Paris and Japan going on that I was curious about. I also wanted the chance to see Darren Aronofsky speak about his filmmaking process live.

Having some technical hiccups exporting the Potts video. I feel bad delaying it for Jenni and the Clickpop team. I'm working on resolving the issue. Here's a screen grab teaser for you:


Halloween plans?

Can I Borrow A Feeling?

Tomorrow morning I'm heading back to Syracuse after an uplifting weekend in Boston with Jason and Bethy. Guys, thanks for hosting me and I'm glad our band, Mozart's Ghost, managed to kick start a massive scale world tour.

Favorite Rock Band 2 songs so far:

• Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer
• Metallica - Battery
• Judas Priest - Painkiller
• Boston - More Than A Feelin'
• Pearl Jam - Alive
• Foo Fighters - Everlong

It felt great to escape Syracuse even for a brief while. I needed a break from isolation and after developing a habit of talking and negotiating trivial things with myself. Place George Costanza in a grocery store and imagine overhearing his internal debate deciding whether to pay five dollars on a half-pound sliced package of Muenster cheese and you have an example of what I mean.

But my stay was fun and I managed to get to know Bethy more and meet her lovely family including her adorable one-year old niece, Kayla.

This week is pretty busy with the beginning of October wedged right in the middle of all the work. The 15th will mark the midterm point of the semester. Nuts.

family.

Oh, hey, Thursday is going to rule.

The Theme: Plans

Yes, the economy.

If you have a moment, here's an article from CNN that serves up a clear explanation regarding our federal government's overwhelming bailout proposal to members of Congress: Where things stand

"It is a big package because it's a big problem."
- President Bush

Outside my paranoia over our country's future, I managed to sneak in some minor travel plans in the upcoming time ahead. If all goes well I will be heading into Boston for an extended weekend next week to visit with my brother. Rock Band 2, good food, a lot of wise cracks in store...

Video art friend Katie invited me to join a group that's planning a trip up north to Toronto for an all-night cultural arts festival called Nuit Blanche. From sunset at 6:52 pm on Saturday, October 4, to sunrise on Sunday, October 5, Toronto will explode into 155 destinations of exhibits and projects all around the city. Sounds fantastic. Here's a link to the 2008 program here.

Work continues to progress on the school front. I proposed a more in-depth approach to my short film concept and managed to activate some good advice and suggestions between classmates. I think it will turn out beautiful once I can secure a proper location.

A couple more things to note.

This is my new favorite attack ad from Mccain's campaign:

how disrespectful.

Here's a funny article I found on The New Yorker's site in the Cartoon Lounge section. Apparently there was a cartoon-off between Michael Showlater and Farley Katz a short while ago. Check it out here.

Mr. Deeds And The Fall Arrival

Too long of a hiatus. My apologies to the few keeping up to date with me.

I've passed the one month mark by over a few days now. I'm still here exploring the quirks of the city and my program, but finding myself more immersed in my own world. I watch more films and stay focused on work because when you are alone you have more freedom to observe and analyze at a comfortable pace. That's one critical thing this experience has taught me so far. It's a productive habit I want to continue to form.

Class and work are in full swing. I have my first treatment prepared and have begun to expand on my project that I am supposed to start production on in about a month. Once I flush out more ideas I'd like to bring it up in a post and maybe workshop it with some of you guys to see what you think. Speaking of which, the Potts video is almost done. My goal is to post that at some point next week. I've delayed work on it for too long. Time to wrap things up. And hey, speaking of music videos, Keith Schofield, the director who I helped as a production assistant last summer, posted one of his new works recently. It's for the track "Move" by CSS. Another fun concept and exceptional editing from an innovated director.

Business aside, I was fortunate enough to have another visitor here. Mr. Deeds made it to town and it was nothing short of extraordinary.

Proof.

I introduced her to my new Hang Zone, 2nd Story Books, Greek Row, and a bunch of fine eats around town. On our last night together we joined my pals Jeff and Ann for dinner. Before we made it to the restaurant, we were stopped by an excitable young man on a bicycle asking for donations for his rap/reggae cd. He handed us all copies of his album, Expo Zee Doe, recently cut locally. After we informed him we didn't have money to give any donations and declined, he took his CDs back out of our hands. He did however change his mind last minute and gave Deeds a copy. "I want you to have this. You're very pretty. I wanna put you in my video. Give me a call. The number is on the front here. Expo Zee Doe."

The Syracuse underground scene. Stay tuned.

It sure was no fun to say goodbye again after such a wonderful time, but the stakes are different now. Everyone is active and assembling plans for the fall season and beyond. This will be a healthy change, my friends. We will congregate soon, discuss a spectrum of topics, and celebrate Obama's victory as President. A most triumphant reunion indeed.

Out-of-this-world even...

"This Summer...He's Back..." Don LaFontaine 1940-2008

Don LaFontaine, the man with the voice that commanded our attention throughout thousands of promotional spots, has passed on. Don holds a special place in my heart as a man who's authoritative, guttural voice previewed infinite television spots, commercials, and movie trailers throughout my life. Not to mention I personally credit him for the majority of my voice over humor that I have parodied and beat to death for just about all of my friends. You can read about Don and his untimely death on CNN's site: "In a world..."

I've included some clips here. The first few are more biographical and focus on Don's unrivaled career. It's amazing how much work he's accumulated over the years. The last is a stand-up bit from comedian Pablo Francisco impersonating Don's unmistakable voice...

Enjoy:

The Warehouse

Damn my inability to keep a camera on me at all times.

I'm going to illustrate this post by explicitly using clips or picture references from outside sources...

I've spent the past few consecutive nights hanging out with the same people - grads from the photography and video art programs, specifically. They have undoubtedly made this transition easier by actively pursuing me to hangout. I half-expected to fall into some sort of clique after getting here. It's natural. Though, I couldn't have anticipated how fast it would approach. You are more or less surrounded by your colleagues throughout the entire week during seminars or cinematheque so a shake up in any static activity is imperative. Summer breaks, new people, etc.

Last night we headed downtown to meet with Chris and the group's other friend, Guy, who rents a room in a large building dubbed "The Warehouse." The place is essentially a large warehouse with some remodeled rooms located on each level. Each one of the many levels has a ridiculous amount of open space for the tenants to do whatever it is they desire. It's their community area that they are allowed to customize.

I'm going to walk you through this place as best I can because I want you, my reader, to truly understand how much of a spectacle it was to visit. This clip from 1990's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will serve as my preface:

Note: Sam Rockwell as Head Thug

Ok, save for a bunch of arcade games, twelve-year-olds drinking Dad's Rootbeer, playing hold'em, and Master Tatsu looming around challenging fights, there was an amalgamation of absurd toys. It was as if a large Boys and Girls Club center finally buckled under the pressure of the most angsty of teens compelled to take over.

I jammed on what appeared to be a 25-piece drum kit, rode wheelchairs and scooters in huge square formations, skateboarded on a small ramp, played ping pong, swung on a swing set, played with a leaf blower, etc . Those were just a few of the options I took advantage of. The real beauty was in the decor. Multitudes of chairs, televisions, projector screens, lamps, mannequins, tables, all from various time periods, occupied, but not completely filled, just the one level I was on. All of it was neatly arranged for guests to be fully enraptured by.

You could turn the ordinary:














Into a true video armageddon:











Honestly, even Rufio would jump at the chance to pay rent here and he thinks all grown-ups are pirates...