My Trip To The Big Apple

Still haven't figured out why it's called the big apple. I don't think they even grow apples in New York City, but hey I'll go along with it.

All joking aside, Blendtec sent me and my assistant Kyle and commercial marketing director, Russ to New York for two reasons: to attend a housewares awards show, and to film an interview with the busiest Smoothie shop in the world, Planet Smoothie in Penn Station. Supposedly, they make 3000 smoothies a day on our equipment and we are here to record it.

I haven't always been a big fan of New York City. I just feel it's too busy, and always wonder why half the people in this city can't just thin out over middle America and solve the busyness of the many problems it faces. It could be that that statement I just made would have been offensive those living in New York City who are here to get away from middle America. They like the busyness, they love being around so many people, they love living in a box and calling it "living quarters". I'm selfish, I love my space.

While my traveling companions and I were filming at the local Godiva outlet using our equipment to make their elixir, we decided we needed to find a way to go see the David Letterman show. I haven't watched David Letterman for a long time (we have pretty much cut the cable in our house, we never watch TV anymore), but it was fun to see.

While looking at my phone for where to get tickets, a guy came up to me and said they were looking for audience members for The Late Show. We had to take a quick quiz to see if we "pass" for an audience member. I didn't know the first question, which was "what is the name of the one female member of the late show band". I didn't know, so they asked another question "what does Dave often throw at the camera". I knew it was his pencil and "won" the tickets.

Standing in line for the tickets, I witnessed Bill Murray making his way into the theater, since he was the guest for the night. We were given all these rules of how to be an audience member, showing that these orchestrated late night TV shows are just that... Orchestrated. People laughing on cue, even if it is not funny. You can tell how well Hollywood can force their jokes, and even their opinions, by thinking everyone else agrees with them, and laughing with them. We even watched a video before the show started on how we need to make Dave look good by laughing along and clapping on cue...even if the joke is not funny.

It was a well run machine, the Late Night show. They hit 30 years tomorrow night, which is a great accomplishment. But it shows you how you can form opinions through comedy. It has been a fun trip overall.

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Location:New York

The Last Eagle Scout: The First Showing

The LDS Film Festival is quickly approaching and I am "almost" ready to show THE LAST EAGLE SCOUT. It's kind of funny. Today I was told by my sound mixer that I will get the last reel of audio mix on Thursday night... the showing is Friday night. So needless to say, I am a little scared.

I had a flashback of the first showing of HANDCART, one of my earlier films I did about 10 years ago. I showed an incomplete film on Pioneer Day, which is when I originally wanted to release the film. So I think the audience was disappointed. I still remember an "unrendered" shot appearing on the big screen and thinking "man I should have just waited."

Now, for TLES, I have waited, instead of rushing a film to the big screen just because of a date of significance. But I think I have waited too long on this one. And now that I am ready for this first showing, at least I have pushed my post crew to "get'r done".

This showing is not actually a "premiere" of the film. That will happen the Wednesday or Thursday before releasing to some theaters. I just wanted to have the festival be a beginning date to start with.

I am excited because I will use that festival date to kick off the merchandise I will be selling on the film. I want to practice making money in other ways with the film. I find marketing fun. I've got shirts, hats, a backpack, all with our logo. I am also excited about the comic book version of the film. That was very cool to see.

So we have a showing this Friday and Saturday. Then off to CPAC in Washington DC, very interested in seeing that.


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I FEEL LIKE IM GOING TO "BLOW UP"

 We were fooling around at Blendtec (don't do that too much, I promise) and Spencer Taggart showed us this cool app on the iPhone using "Hollywood explosions". You basically roll a few seconds of video and choose your demise.  It is the funniest thing I have ever seen.  My son, Parke got the same app and between him and my step daughter, Kristina (on her iPod touch, spoiled kids) they were blowing up the dog, the other kids, me.  It was hilarious.

It is how I have felt the past few weeks.  My schedule is now getting very booked between TLES opening up and Blendtec, I asked Steph tonight when our next break was.  I am praying for spring break to get here.

On a technical geek side, I have been feeling that the editing software I have been religiously using for the past 12 years, Final Cut Pro, will be coming to an end. One thing I hate is change.  Not that it is stopping, but the recent version released this past summer shows that they are going to a more consumer side (for all those "filmmakers" on YouTube).  Problem is today's filmmaker is more a tech wizard brat kid who can point, shoot and edit... but really can't tell stories.  Just make pretty pictures.

Sorry for getting off the topic.  Point is... I will be switching to a new software.  So my assistant, Kyle and I will be going to NAB this year (in April) with a mission to find what will be our new edit platform.

Again, stop changing things!

Why am I so busy!!!

It's all good stuff. In fact, it's pretty exciting. Right now, I am finally getting special effect shots from my friend Bruce Holt for THE LAST EAGLE SCOUT, barely making in time for the LDS Film Festival... barely. And same with the music and final sound mix... A little on pins and needles to finishing this film. But I finally have some faith (that is if Christian doesn't take me out of the program before hand.)

Then there is the LDS Film Festival itself... I am on the committee and I continue to gather sponsors and organize. It's kind of fun actually.

On top of that, I am producing 3 music videos with Jeremy Hoop, who has provided music for the film. Those will be pretty cool and I hope to have them playing by the time the festival starts.

Also, we are starting an on-line store called "The Trading Post" on the website where we will sell TLES goods (hats, shirts, a backpack) all saying "I've seen The Last Eagle Scout". Plus, I finally saw renditions of the comic book and I was really excited. It's neat to see my work in another rendition.

Now on to Blendtec. Even though I would love walk away from Blendtec and just make movies, I have realized that I have built something long lasting there where I can't see myself leaving anytime soon. I have earned some ownership in the company now. Plus, so many new things coming up, I am very lucky to have gotten that job over 6 years ago. Amazing to think I have been there this long.

I will be going to New York to film a smoothie shop right there in Penn Station, where the busiest blenders are hard at work. Supposedly, they make 3000 smoothies a day down there and have had good experiences. So we will be filming a personal interest video there, watching our blender in action. Plus, around the same time, we were nominated for some award for best new product (Twister Jar). So I might be going to that event in New York at the same time.

Then, I have heard that the TV show "The Office" will be featuring a new character who is real anal, and this character will always be making whole foods in a blender there at the office... and guess which blender they are featuring? Need I say more. I heard we are on another show, but can't remember which.

Who would think I would have this much fun and receive this much recognition from a blender company. Good times.


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Tomorrow, Blendtec will hold its Open House of the third wing of the building.  It is loaded with extra features, such as a Doctors and Dentist office, a cafeteria and a meat locker (not sure what to do with the meat locker, but I can tell you that when it's the end of the world, Blendtec is the place to hang.)

Here is a video we produced for the new Total Blender Designer Series Blender.  Check it out.

Healthy Junk

That is what I used to call it. Since those bike rides to the local Maverick Market on the hot summer days of South Texas in the late 70's and the early 80's do I remember buying a huuuge 32 ounce Pepsi and a 3 Musketeer's bar that would become an addiction I still hold to this day.

I remember going to the local Rialto Theater in Downtown Harlingen, Texas to see the double feature of Superman the Movie and Love At First Bite, I was introduced to the extra large 32 ounce soda, and the 7-11 later dubbed it "The Big Gulp". Eating junk is what made me happy.

Today, I start a 7 day smoothie fast, something I am solely testing for myself. Parke, my son, has offered to go along with it, but my motivation is really watching my mother improve from her cancer fighting diet.

As you might recall, I helped her around the first week in November, along with Robyn, the Green Smoothie Girl, to check in and adapt to the new lifestyle at the Oasis of Healing in Mesa. I watched what they were doing and tried to soak in what my ADD would allow me to.

What my mother has been part of is a juice fast, even though it's not totally a "fast" per se. She still does eat some things. But some people will fast with juice only to cleanse out the toxins in their body. The juice usually consists of lots of greens, apples, etc. My fast will be a little bit different as it will be more fruit based. For a while, I made smoothies every day as part of my breakfast, loaded with grapes, pineapple, oranges, cantaloupe, and lots of spinach. But I quit for a while, mostly because of time to buy the stuff and make it. That is going to have to change.

Why am I doing this? I don't have a diagnosis of cancer, but I would like to not have the diagnosis in the first place. I saw my mother for Christmas and she looked incredible. She has lost 35 pounds, she no longer has to take Prilosec, (which I have to take as well), she no longer takes her blood pressure medicine and she just plain feels good. I personally need that.

So as for myself, I just want to test this out. I could lose a few extra pounds, I could use some energy... well Ok, I could use a LOT of energy right now. Too much going on.

The other "health" thing I just did was get bifocals. If you see the picture in the previous day's entry, you will see that I now have a new black rim and thicker glass. Bifocals take a little getting used to. I guess my age is showing.

I'll give you a hint... I was born the same year one of the James Bond movies came out. (I know, that really narrows it down.)


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New Years Day... and the death of the Incandescent Light Bulb

This picture was taken last night just hours after getting my new bifocals. Can't believe I now have my "old man" glasses. I can't reveal my age, but as a hint, I was born the same year Israel changed it's borders (little political junkie moment there).

This year will be interesting. Still have not released THE LAST EAGLE SCOUT yet, but that time is soon coming. It's a little difficult because it has been soooo long. Especially for a film that is not that large in scope. It's only large in message. Having a day job has made it difficult, but I gotta keep both trains running.

Stephanie finally got the understanding to my pains when I told her its like "being 9 months pregnant for a whole year". I finished editing the film back in June, but everyone else (music, effects, etc) have been slow. Some of it is my fault. I would keep telling my post-guys "it's coming, it's coming" for like a whole year.

Anyway, the LDS Film Festival is approaching in 4 weeks and I am, thinking it is showing there, but never really heard from Christian yet as to whether he will show this political/social monstrosity or not. CPAC is currently looking at showing the film at their convention in February.

TLES is honestly the first of its kind. A social commentary that leans to the other side. When you see social commentary films of today it is usually having to do with race (whites are usually the bad guy) or big business (rich are the bad guys) or gender (the poor picked on gay guy) or the environment (evil humans picking on the poor little animals) or the Iraq War. And in many cases, these social commentary films are in the form of light-hearted entertaining pieces, many geared toward the kids.

My focus is on how political correctness runs our lives. I am tired of walking on egg shells and plan on saying it "like it is" more often. Today marks the first day that the incandescent light bulb will be banned. I personally don't care about which bulb I use, I just want the dang light. But what I care about is the concept that it took false environmental science to get us to this point. So what other false data will run our lives in the name of "saving us from ourselves"?

As far as TLES, in about 4 weeks we will have a completed film and some spiffs to boot. The whole objective is to make TLES somewhat of a movement. TLES represents a people or an idea, to live of the ideas of the past that were simple... respect, honesty, love of God and country. So the phrase "I've seen The Last Eagle Scout" will be not only seeing the film, but catching on the vision of living a more honest life like that of a Boy Scout.

I am planning a host of film gear such as shirts, hats, a backpack, bumper sticker and a comic book of the film. On the website will be a "trading post" where you can purchase these items, or we will sell them at places where we will show the film.

This will be an interesting year. I wish the best for all of you.

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