Puppet Master: Axis of Evil

Bitterness, Jealousy, and Arrogance.

I originally was going to write a post that related to my experiences as a relative newcomer in the entertainment industry but I realized some of these concepts apply to a wider audience, anyone trying to succeed in a difficult endeavor.

So let’s begin by first defining the polar opposites of bitterness, jealousy, and arrogance (three negative mental states I’ve encountered on my journey), the positives would be: kindness, charity, and humility.

Let’s also redefine the negative states in more moderate terms: rivalry, envy, and confidence. No one would argue that these more temperate forms can’t help you achieve a higher level of success, but when taken to the extreme self-indulgent end they will certainly hinder your efforts. I have found myself, many times, crossing the line, but that’s not the kind of person I strive to be and I know that’s true of most people.

Identifying the axis, within ourselves, is the first step to becoming a better achiever, one who inspires. Upon recognizing these pitfalls you can begin to overcome them by embracing their polar opposites, and while not immediately transforming bitterness into kindness you may just end up transforming it into healthy sportsmanship.

You can be confident yet humble, envious yet charitable, and kind despite being human. Avoid the axis of evil.

And, no, I have not seen Puppet Master: Axis of Evil.

The Invisible

Sorry I haven’t posted lately… I’m still here.

2001: A Space Odyssey

I can imagine how Kubrick must of felt when he gave voice to HAL 9000. Monday we brought Shirley Knight into the studio, to record the voice of Mor in The Melancholy Fantastic. Today I edited all her dialog into the final cut of the film. This has been a journey, nothing short of an odyssey…

“You see, something’s going to happen.”

“What? What’s going to happen?”

“Something wonderful.”

Pi

Isaac Newton taught us that you need two points to draw a line and you need a line to measure slope (if you’re heading up or down) – i.e., (f(x + h) – f(x)) / h. Nice thing is that the two points don’t have to be that far apart for this to work. That’s why a second film was critical to me, despite budget and hoopla, one thing will soon be undeniable, i.e., the direction, up or down, and just how steep. One film you’ve made a movie, two and you’re a filmmaker. Nothing derivative about The Melancholy Fantastic. Every determined artist deserves a slice of pie.

Magic

So I officially kicked off The Melancholy Fantastic. God willing, we begin filming on November 29th. Could use a little Christmas magic on this…perhaps a talking doll? Need I say mor.

Soft for Digging

Something weird happened. I got lost, as if wandering through the woods in search of a rare bird. But along the way I stumbled upon something greater.

If you read my June post, Snow White: A Tale of Terror, you already know how I wrestled with the despair of possibility and channeled that angst into a dark adaptation of a classic fairytale.

Determined, I set out to make that film, but then, just a few weeks ago, I sat down with a friend, a well known artist. He told me that, while it’s great that I’ve been able to channel my despair into my writing—“it’s all part of the soil,” as he put it—he also warned me, “don’t bleed into your art too much.” Well, my Snow White bleeds with despair.

So what was I thinking when I wrote, “the melancholy fantastic is where I have once again found hope?” Was I quoting Kierkegaard in search of something greater? Maybe it’s just coincidence, but it’s funny how things turn out in unexpected ways. I buried demons in the soil and a new script grew out of hope. This winter I will shoot my second feature. Still dark and twisted, yes, but hey, it’s a Christmas story. The Melancholy Fantastic.

Something weird happened. I got lost, as if wandering through the woods in search of a rare bird. But along the way I stumbled upon something greater.

If you read my June post, Snow White: A Tale of Terror, you already know how I wrestled with the despair of possibility and channeled that angst into a dark adaptation of a classic fairytale.

Determined, I set out to make that film, but then, just a few weeks ago, I sat down with a friend, a well known artist. He told me that, while it’s great that I’ve been able to channel my despair into my writing—“it’s all part of the soil,” as he put it—he also warned me, “don’t bleed into your art too much.” Well, my Snow White bleeds with despair.

So what was I thinking when I wrote, “the melancholy fantastic is where I have once again found hope?” Was I quoting Kierkegaard in search of something greater? Maybe it’s just coincidence, but it’s funny how things turn out in unexpected ways. I buried demons in the soil and a new script grew out of hope. This winter I will shoot my second feature. Still dark and twisted, yes, but hey, it’s a Christmas story. The Melancholy Fantastic.

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark

Overcoming great obstacle is the life of a filmmaker. I’ve heard it takes three miracles to make a successful film: 1. to get the money, 2. to complete the picture, and 3. to get the money back. Despite the difficult odds, we push forward, into the dark recess that sits between us and our dreams.

Katie Holmes is set to star in the remake of Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark – a classic 70s horror film about a young woman who moves into an old house inhabited by small demon-like creatures who look to claim her as one of their own.

Now, if my memory serves me right, the creatures resembled miniature cone heads – reddish in tint. I found it frustrating, as a kid, why the woman didn’t just kick and throw the damn things across the room. You see, the thing is, when you’re the one in the dark, creatures can appear a hell of a lot scarier than they really are. So go turn the light on and kick some ass. Why don’t you?