Obama Momentum

I'm typically apolitical, but I'm getting inspired by Barack Obama. His campaign is building momentum. Check out his victory speech here after his win in SC this past weekend:



There's something that strikes me as genuine about this man. This speech actually moved me. There's something about Obama which I've not seen in a very long time--a passionate, honest man with a vision about a better America--and I'm hoping he can take it all the way to the White House.

Perhaps he might not make it all that far, but for the time being, we can hope.

'08

So far, '08 is treating me quite oright. I'm having a great January. Funny really, since winter is my least favorite season, yet I'm finding myself busy and very excited about this new year.

Currently, I'm immersing myself in the writing of a feature film and a companion short. I'm not ready to divulge details, but the work's coming along nicely. I've also been spending sometime in Wash,DC doing location scouting for the film, and just sitting in coffehouses down there working on the script.

I'm feeling very zen and my filmmaking batteries are charged. After coming out of a failed film production partnership in '06, it took me all of '07 to realize I can still do it on my own; that I've the passion, the commitment, and the vision to be an indie filmmaker. In '08, I'm rebooting my filmmaking efforts, writing projects which have been gestating within me for years, making connections with new collaborators, doing some real fundraising, and much more. I've come to see that I'm a craftsman and that I don't care to be in any race with anyone as far as making a great film.

Two things are of key with my approach to this new chapter in my life--First, I'm totally enjoying this process and have no expectations. Although I want to do the best movies possible, I don't want to do this to become rich and famous. It is key for me to make films because I truly want to, because I love the creativity, because I've some visions to share with the world (regardless of how seemingly dark those visions might look at first).

Second, I won't be talking much about what I'll be doing until I do it. Action always speaks louder than words. Time to 'zip it' and just 'do it'.

As a postscript, for those of you who I've worked with in my previous three short films and for some whom I might have let down with some of the rookie mistakes I made on those films--I'm sorry, and I appreciate you for the time, sweat, and commitment you gave. I will be doing something with those shorts, and I hope to repay you somehow in the future.

That's that for now. Sleep calls. More details to come about that feature film and short in the future.

Ledger and Cloverfield

What a senseless, saddening loss. Heath Ledger passed away today at the age of 28. It's yet to be determined if it was due to suicide or an accidental overdose. His acting career began to shine with films roles in 'Brokeback Mountain' and his upcoming turn as The Joker in 'The Dark Knight'. From the looks of the latter film's trailer, Ledger proves he has what it takes to bring the villanous role to life--well, at least he had it. The success of 'The Dark Knight' would have catapulted him to superstar status. What a shame. Now, we won't know what other great roles he would have had, what career he would have had.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you've not seen 'Cloverfield', please do. This ingenious movie redefines the 'feature creature' genre with its first-person, digital-video-camera take on a NYC attacked by an unimaginable monster. The filmmakers, director Matt Reeves, writer Drew Goddard and producer JJ Abrams really batted it out of the park. They deliver on their little-hyped premise of a monster film told from a fresh perspective. What a pleasant surprise--an under-hyped film with little-known actors that blows your socks off. Go see it!