Mid-June Update

So, I am working on being more active at blogging and keeping me friends, fans and followers updated as to what is going on. Well, here goes…

It has only been about two week that I’ve been back in St. Louis. I was a little upset that the class I was supposed to teach was cancelled. Thank you to all of you who contacted me about it as well. I greatly appreciate your caring. But, that door not opening has allowed for two other doors to open.

First, I will be heading to Terre Haute, Indiana to be First Assistant Director on a feature film. I will be leaving shortly after the 4th of July for Tech Scouts and Pre-Production. We are schedule to start shooting one month from today, so I’m getting that excited/scared feeling. It’s normal for me.

Next, something that has been planned for a while is I’ll be helping my friend Russ Bellew with his short film, ‘Purity’, the 1-3 of July. Russ, sorry I’ve been so hard to get a hold of, but rest assured, I’ll be there as much as I can to help. It sucks to say, but sometimes, the paycheck ends up taking priority. Damn need to pay bills! We’ll talk soon and I know make a great, and rather creepily odd, short film.

As great as that is, I just got confirmation that I’m book and working on a TV show next week! I can’t say too much right now about it, but it is a new show for ABC. I’ll be Second AD on the shoot in Springfield, Illinois. I leave earlier this week than expected because I was requested to attend all the tech scouts and be more involved in Prep than originally expected. It’s going to be challenge. There is a lot to shoot, not a lot of time, but I know we can pull it off. When I can give you all more details about the show, I surely will.

But I just feel so blessed to have as much work as I do. I have friends who can’t find jobs, or hate the ones they have. I keep getting calls and referrals. The gig on the TV show was a referral from two people I would have never expected, and to both of you, I am greatly and humbly appreciative. It might only be June, but so much has happened this year so far, and the great news is that there is still so much to come. So be sure to keep your eyes open for news in the future about another film I’m working to get locked onto. Also, I will be posting my crowdsfunding entry on Indiegogo.com in the coming days to help raise production money for the two short films I plan to direct at the end of August. Yep, that’s right! I’ll be jumping in that directors chair myself, but I have to raise the money to shoot first.

Thanks everyone and stay tuned…

One Door Not Fully Opened…

Today was supposed to be the start of a new adventure. Today was supposed to be the beginning of a filmmaking class I was supposed to teach. The class would have been at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley and been twice a week for six weeks. I was eager and ready for the chance to instill the passion for filmmaking that I have and help new filmmakers begin their own journeys. However, the class did not get enough enrollments on the schools end, and was cancelled. I would have promoted the class and helped encourage people to sign up, but I was waiting on confirmation that everything was signed, sealed and delivered before I opened my mouth about it. I’ve had too many opportunities fall through and by opening my mouth too soon I look foolish. So I sat back and let this one roll on. Well, sadly, it didn’t happen. The possibility is there for another class in the future, probably next summer. I can’t commit to the fall or spring semesters because I move around frequently from project to project. This class was nice, short and sweet: six short weeks. Look like this is one adventure I’ll have to wait on.

There is other news on the way… so check back…

June 1… Really? Where did 2011 go?

Seriously, I have been busy. So busy that I’ve been neglecting my blogging and getting you all caught up on what I’ve been doing. I thought I would take a moment before today ended to give you a little info.

I’m currently finishing up work on the feature film ‘The Philly Kid’ in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I’m the 2nd AD on this show. Previous to this film, I was the 1st AD on the feaure film ‘Vampyras’ in Columbia, Missouri. It was the fourth feature film produced by Mizzou. There is a lot of amazing student talent that came out of that crew! I look forward to working with a lot of them again. I’ve also served as a Production Assistant on ‘Redneck Wedding’, ‘Best Thing I Ever Ate’, and a Bus 9 Produced Commercial shoot; 1st ADed a different commercial ; and assisted a colleague in producing a couple music videos either by loaning equipment or being right there on hand for him. Plus, I was able to attend the Tom Malloy Film Financing Seminar in March. You know me… Never stop learning! Of course, I started the year with Sundance, but you already knew that.

It has been an amazing year so far for work! And, I have had the great pleasure of not only working and making a living doing what love, but also being able to help teach and mentor quite a few people along the way. There is big news in very near future, but until everything is signed on the dotted line, I don’t want to jynx anything. But when I can, I’ll let you know.

Well, I hope that helps get you all caught up. I look forward to being back in St. Louis this coming weekend. I’ll be back to my side job at Bobby’s Place Sports Bar in Valley Park, MO while I’m in town. So be sure to drop by and see me starting next week. With some time planned to be home for a while, I’m finally going to get the ball rolling on a few things I’ve been pushing off until I got the time. Well, it looks like that time is now… Details to come.