Like Riding a Bike made for a one legged orangutan

I am tired. I mean exhausted. I've been working straight since my last blog with no days off. Lots and lots of editing. I even started bringing my work home with me and working off a portable 750 Gig Hard Drive. It makes me both happy and sad. I'm ecstatic because I'm hitting my goals for getting out of all debt and working towards a newer, nicer car, but I'm sad because I feel creatively drained and there's no time to dedicate to my artistic inclinations

Although… there was one exception. Even though I worked for 5 hours before, and a few after it…




I managed to work in a little shoot this past Sunday, which was part two of a shoot started the week or two before. I have always put to myself the challenge that if I don't learn something, or aspire to learn some new technique on each shoot, then I won't do it. On this little sidebar, I wanted to work with HD, lighting a set to look like a real location, and also therapeutically work with another editor, other than myself. All that, and of course because I was requested to make something by a real studio for their own needs. That's what really got me to get back into the making of….. a short.



I shan't divulge much, as I will uncharacteristically let the work unfold more or less on it's own and then talk about how and why it was made. All I really feel like saying, aside from the picture-poems from set, is that this was not an easy shoot, nor was it the most fun I ever had. I was tenser than normal and quite frankly, out of practice as a director.



The next stage, is the often over looked sound design, sound mix, recording stage of making a movie. I have very high standards when it comes to sound. That's why when it comes to HORRORS OF WAR there is a thorn in my side about the sound mix. I had a lengthy set of notes about what the movie needed and it was denied by the powers that be. I did manage to slip one past the goalie and make some sound additions on the final Stereo Dolby 2.0 mix, but the 5.1 surround mix is actually inferior because it's not full or rich enough to fill in the space as both myself and the sound studio themselves intended.

For this little project, I intend to put some real time into the sound mix, plus work on sound design as it's one of the most under-appreciated aspects of any movie. I'll wind up doing it myself because I don't want to shell out the $$$ to another sound designer, especially one I've never worked with and the ones I'd want are out of my price range.

I finally get to work with Arya, my friend from Cleveland doing a proper score for something I'm doing. He pre-wrote the music before we shot. It was important, so I needed it and it was there for me before we even shot.



I spent money on this short. Not a lot, but it's not as cheap as most of my movies, nor was it as flippant. I guess that's another reason I was under self imposed pressure. As well as missing the deadline that it was intended for. That sucked. My obsessive-compulsive nature has gone on vacation as I deal with the after-math of that.



Not much else to report. The local Columbus film scene is alive with rumors and goings on. Blissfully, I am not a part of any of it. I'm just a spectator, neither enjoying nor hating the activities, but rather just observing the behavior.

When your reputation starts to go down the toilet, you can only assume that maybe some aspect of what people are saying is true. I'd recommend a time of self reflection and ponder the mathematics. If 100 out of 100 people are saying that don't want to work with you, then you are probably faced with the reality that you're doing something wrong.



My Sexy Fiancé Veronica --'s car had its engine nearly fall out yesterday on I-270. I happened to be out getting color copies so I rushed in and had a real "Boyfriend" moment as I rescued her from oncoming traffic and got her to work. Now I'm loaning her my car for the next week as that whole ordeal is sorted out.

Why is it when MY car has issues, I'm on my own, but when she has issues and has to get to her minimum wage job, I have to give up my keys? I guess the obvious answer is that because I'm either a sucker or frankly because I'm not all that bothered by not having a car. Either that or there's some kind of relationship handbook I'm missing that dictates that fairness is not really applicable. Also, I didn't HAVE to give up my keys. I volunteered them, more so because I didn't want to wake up at 6:20AM 7 days a week to drive her to work. My Sexy Fiancé Veronica -- works a lot these days at 2 jobs.



More on the shoot and work methods after there's something more to show. I'm expecting to see a rough cut on Monday or so. Then some post-audio work shall begin and a re-edit for picture will ensue.

Till, then – stay at a regulated temperature and never talk to strangers that want money from you,
- Ross

Contentious Carriages of the Understated

One can never ignore this date in America ever again. Six years ago today I was in Manhattan on that fateful day. I remember my father telling me that it will be a day I will never forget and it has never diminished for me. Alas, but we can do no more but I fail to see the connection to the War in Iraq and the current state of chaos that has become our nation. I wish our president would stop trying to cash in on the same tragedy.



I left work early today. That's a first in a long while. I have tomorrow off of post production work too. I have not had a day off in 15 weeks. I almost don't know what to do with myself. I don't watch movies that much anymore and that's not by choice. I have not worked on too much that didn't take less than an hour in longer than the 15 weeks of employment. Maybe I'll go to a matinee and see Jet Li kick some ass. That's always something I would enjoy. Anything but editing because if I stare at any editing software right now, my eyes will bleed.

On to new business. HORRORS OF WAR finally and officially on DVD. How about that? November 6th, 2007 will be the day that I can finally enjoy a bit more of the fruitions of our labor. I am jazzed because we have confirmation that our COMMENTARY track is being used and at least some form of the documentary which will be nice to see on an official DVD somewhere.

HORRORS OF WAR is available for pre-sale at Amazon.com, the screenplay and the book at AMAZON.COM too. How's that for making our first dent into popular culture? I have never had anything for sale on Amazon.com before, so it feels googily.



HORRORS OF WAR has come on DVD from Netherlands. The collection is growing. I got my discs, but they switched from the red cover art to the Hitler Blue cover art. With the recent acquisition of the German DVD and the Japanese DVD I had from last year, I have an ever expanding collection of my own movie on DVD. I swear to you, my droogies, that the day that something like getting a foreign version of my own movie starts to be a bore that will be the day I stop making movies. Right now, I get giddy like a school girl every time something, anything happens with the movie.

One last HORRORS OF WAR announcement. If you are ever told by someone that they were somehow involved with the project or more specifically that the project originated with them, and yet their name ain't in the credits – guess what? THEY ARE LYING. I originated HORRORS OF WAR. No one else did. This was my baby and it evolved into something several people contributed to, but it started with me. There's a difference between being offered a chance to read the script and be involved and claiming (falsely) that the project "originated" with you. HORRORS OF WAR was made in spite of all the blowhards who talk about making movies and never do. Sorry folks, but the truth is that anyone that was remotely involved in the making of the movie is in the credits all of which are on IMDB by now.



I have added two new Sonnyboo hats to my cap collection. Since I am going bald, hats seem like a nice alternative. I like the simple promotion. At the "B" Movie Festival and the Indie Gathering, I got recognized more from my moniker than my actual name. I guess that means the promotions work and work well.



The latest award came in the mail today. BEST MAKE UP FX from the Fright Night Film Festival. That makes 5 awards total for HORRORS OF WAR and I don't really keep track of the overall Sonnyboo record. I am an award winning filmmaker. I guess that's why I keep winning awards. I fooled them! I fooled them all! Now, if only I can trick Sundance or Toronto into giving me one too. My evil plans are coming to fruition and all I did was making movies and submit them and magical faeries (U.S. Postal Carriers) brought me award certificates.



I did a short little shoot this past Saturday, but things did not go as planned. There were some upsides, but overall I cannot finish this project for a while. An actor was a no show and this has whacked everything out of line. Not being able to finish will drive my OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) batty, but what else can I do? I have become more of a perfectionist than I ever was before. When I did music, I was all about the emotion of the take and mistakes and all, it stayed. These days, I'm tinkering for years and nothing ever feels finished. The oft-attacked George Lucas says that films are never finished, they are abandoned and I am inclined to agree with him. I revisit and tinker a lot. The other day a short film website asked for my old film MINIVAN specifically and I could not resist removing what I now consider to be awkward pauses and 2-3 lines of dialogue.

That's all I can muster. I think I'll put in a little DVD and subject myself to voluntary suspension of disbelief at the hands of one of my idols. Who shall it be? Joss Whedon? Ridley Scott? Peter Wier? Neil Labute? Ah, now I have to make hard decisions.

Peace my acolytes of Boo. Even if your skin is brown and you worship Allah.
- Ross