I come to you NOW not to banter into my new microphone, not to complain, nor to sell. I’ve come to construct a criticism, a criticism that I’ve been puzzling together for over a year, and I think the time to speak is now.

So wish what you like, if you are NOT interested in learning more than you have the undeniable freedom to move on, and that’ll be the end of it. However, now that you’re reading this very sentence, you’ve convinced me that you are, in fact, interested.

There will be no names or specific events pointed. Only the situation. 

What does it mean to “Be a Man”? In the past few years, I’ve been unfortunately labeled as “weak”, “stupid”, “an idiot”, “illiterate” (personal favorite),  and the glue of it all “Not a Man.” Now of course, whatever brought up these labels to be used has a reasonable, possibly plausible narrative, but what surprised me even to this day is that I don’t think the meer “critics” really knew what they meant. 

I’m going to put my neck out, and of course accept the wonderful constructive criticism which will follow, and say many people don’t really know what “Be a Man” actually means. Let me ask again - What does “Be a Man” really, and I mean, really mean? Does it mean to take action when required? Does it mean to boss around the girl of his dreams? Does it mean to protect the people and things he loves? Does it mean to take control, and if so, of what?

I think… and remember this opinion is coming from a human with a penis… what it really means to BE A MAN today is one who takes action when it’s necessary. I think it means to protect and provide. I think it means to stand for what they believe is good. I don’t think it means to boss around the girl he likes, because… face it this isn’t the 1950’s. I don’t think it means to always make the first move.

Our generation has been brought up to treat all human beings with equality, empathy, and respect. We’re spinning to a new age where women finally (or close to finally) are on the same playing level as men. Women are finally given the same opportunity as everyone else to succeed however they want! Equality in all parts of the constructive society… but I guess except in the dating field?

Now I’m a shy guy, and I admit I would rather sprint over a pile of snakes then ask a girl I really like out on a first date. I accept that, and I perfectly understand that the girl can’t always make the first move. A part of me thinks I don’t want to ruin whatever friendship I have with the girl. Another part of me is afraid of rejection. Fear is actually the perfect motivator. So does that make it cowardly? NO! Let me say that in Spanish: NO! And in German: NEIN! 

Look around the world we live in. We are faced with challenges and hardcore decisions everyday. The society we live in forces us to live this way. I would declare a man who’s willing to risk financial security to chase after his dream a brave person. I would call someone courageous who understands that courage doesn’t just exist in getting tail, and instead flourishes in blindfolded decisions. 

But believe this: I know for sure when a guy…or girl… sees a person they really, really, really like… fear flies out the little window, and no matter who you are, natural, hormonal instincts take over. 

Weakness isn’t inaction. It’s surrendering to the bad. Stupidity doesn’t exist in the absence of trivia. It’s repeating the same mistake. Illiteracy isn’t defined by a stutter or a first draft. Let me repeat… Illiteracy isn’t defined by a stutter or a first draft. I’ll leave it up to you to look up the definition of this overused insult. 

True character emerges in the darkest of times, and I’ve learned when someone stabs you in the ear with a personal insult, the strongest thing one can do is withstand it. It takes more strength to stand next to the person who’s causing you pain than to drop to their level and retaliate. Think of the last time when someone insulted you and you struck back. Did you feel uplifted or wicked? If you felt great then I guess the person who insulted you deserved it. 

I understand many arguments can be made against these bold claims, and I welcome them with open arms. But one thing I’ll always defend… stupid, idiot, and “Your’re not a Man” are three wildly overused terms. To insult someone is to reveal how low to the dirt you’re willing to go, and I understand sometimes one must retreat to that level to protect what they love. 

Maybe, just maybe, the next time someone calls you stupid, see if they know what it means, because I promise you, over half the time those words are used they’re just reflecting from once they came.

We’re all adults here… I think. If there’s no good to be spoken to, then just say “That’s interesting” and leave. Our time on this planet is too short. We should be devoting our energy to lift ourselves higher. Now one can’t cheat and just push everyone down. That’s, that’s not the same.

I applaud you for making it down here. Thank you… seriously. 

(Source: whatshouldbetchescallme)

(Source: whatshouldwecallme)

Laughter is the best medicine, comedies are the pills we so willingly consume, and I’m one of the prescribers. What happens when the comedies seem too dark for comedy, and yet we have the urge to laugh? 

Welcome to the realm of Dark Comedies. You won’t need a flashlight.

I’ve recently watched two movies in two days. First - Carnage, starring Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster, Christoph Waltz, and John C. Reilly. Second - Young Adults, with Charlize Theron and Patton Oswalt. Dark indeed. 

Read more …

I remember the golden days of the horror genre where I wasn’t screaming at the college kids to not run up the stairs or to have the pants-are-about-to-come-off sex in the middle of an isolated, dark forest where a big wielding hockey guy named “Jerry” is waiting. As a matter of honesty, I’m just going to tell the truth and say I barely remember those days. 

Horror films is the underrated genre! I would know, my thesis film is one, and because of that I express my empathy. Not because I’m trying to justify making my thesis film; far from it, but because fear is the most primal emotion we have.

Read more …

The filmmaking world has passed an historical event, which unfortunately will never return to - Death of film stock. Whether you’re a lover of film like me, or turned to the dark side and had an affair with digital filmmaking, the truth is the next generation of filmmakers will be entering a new “Hollywood.”

Some of us may say “Well, duh.” And others, including me, will be saying “ah shucks!”

No longer will we need projectors to play our dailies. No longer 2nd AC’s will take the time to gently load in a freshly new roll of 35mm film (or 16mm for the smaller budget). And no longer will directors be forced to know precisely what they want because of the little amount of stock they have (Independent and Student level wise).

So what kind of industry is our generation of filmmakers getting into? Will we be prepared? Will it be harder to make a movie now that Studios are making and distributing fewer movies a year? Will we remember the classics and the legends that inspired us to be filmmakers? How about the generation after us?

The world doesn’t stay still and everything changes, but It does put a tiny crack in my filmmaking spirit that I may not live up to my dream and shoot a feature on 35mm; but we must adapt! We must survive this change!….and we probably will. 

So my filmmaking friends!

If you already know this, then venture on and preserve! 

We must continue to change the world, even if it’s by the way we weren’t taught. We may have lost a great friend, but it will not be in vain.

Hello all!

After many minutes, hours, and days of thought, I’ve decided to dust off my new; however never used, tumblr and start a real blog. This decision didn’t come lightly. I was at the gym when I decided this.

Here, if you so choose to succumb to my little big planet, I will share my opinions and thoughts on old and current movies and trends in the film industry. Also, occasionally I will banter on coffee sipping philosophy and funny pictures. 

Thank you for joining me. Let us begin!