A 31 Day July Challenge Winding Down #NaBloPoMo #HeckYeah #blogging

Just as we seem to be in the thick of the summer season, back-to-school sales are starting to pop up. So, you know this is quite the tell tale sign of the end of July and the hint of August creeping up on us but the month is not over just yet. Here are most of the remaining questions from Heck Yeah’s 31 Day July Challenge. I’m answering the last two next week in a final lap of this summer blogging race to write everyday.

23. What time do you usually wake up?
Sometime between 9:30am and never (because I didn’t go to sleep) when I have trouble sleeping, which is often. Other times, I wake up around 6:30ish since the bright summer sun is usually shining all bright through the windows..

24. How often do you meet new people?
I meet new people almost everyday. Just last week, I met the programming director (or manager) of a local public access cable TV station, along with some media producers and local community activists.

25. Do you have a job? If so, how is working during summer going for you?
Yes, working during the summer is going a little slow on my freelance gigs this year but has also become quite hectic as I try to mix work with recreation with little time to relax.

26. What’s your favorite lazy day activity?
My favorite lazy day activity is watching a DVD movie marathon in pajamas between long naps.

27. Are you taking summer classes? How are they?
No, I am not taking any summer classes. The editing workshop that I wanted to attend has passed and there won’t be another one available until late Fall.

28. Are you a fan of summer storms?
No, I am not a fan of summer storms (Who do y’all think I am, Jo from “Twister” ?) .....unless they break the heat significantly and this seems to only happen at night.

29. Have you had any summer romances yet?
Well, no, not particularly, but I probably wouldn’t answer this question if I did have any summer romances this year. As Janet Jackson’s character Justice once said in a John Singleton movie, “You’re getting too damn personal.” I’m only kidding with the movie quote but still wouldn’t be likely to mention a romance though!

Technorati Tags: nablopomo, heck+yeah+challenge, heck+yeah+31+day+challenge, heck+yeah+july+challenge, 31+day+july+challenge, nablopomo+july, nablopomo+2011, nablopomo+july+2011, nablopomo+swim, nablopomo+summer

3 Reasons to Attend Film Festivals #NaBloPoMo #IndieFilm

Reason #1: Early Birds Get the Worms....or First Viewings
Much like midnight movie showings for new releases, film festivals can give you an advantage of being able to watch new movies first before the rest of the country gets to see it.....or at least everyone else that you know does. Independent films that are backed by a studio or distributor often screen at film festivals before they get released in theaters. Think this is rare? Guess again.

In January, one of my relatives asked me to go see Tanya Hamilton’s “Night Catches Us” starring Kerry Washington (Ray; Last King of Scotland) and Anthony Mackie (The Adjustment Bureau; She Hate Me) to which I declined. Why? Well, because I already saw “Night Catched Us” like way back in October 2010 when it was playing at the 19th annual Philadelphia Film Festival.

Reason #2: Broaden your Movie Viewing Experiences
If asked, the average movie goer will probably not be able to name five foreign films ….real foreign films......at the very least, movies that do not star well known talents such as Bruce Lee and Jet Li nor were directed by Ang Lee. This is because the average movie goer may not be interested in reading subtitles to comprehend what is taking place in a scene or may not consider foreign films to be entertaining. Or, maybe average movie goers just does not have access to foreign films nor is aware of what is available in this category and they don’t know what they are missing.

No matter what factor applies, film festivals provide an opportunity for movie fans to learn about other cultures through film expression and also come to appreciate the differences in what filmmakers from around the world have to offer.

Reason #3: Be in a Movie
Have you ever wanted to be in a movie but didn’t pursue it because you don’t have any acting experience or life got in the way or your family and friends told you it was impossible, etc. ? Do you have acting experience and want to be in another movie to keep this acting thing going or to maybe play a different kind of character than you’re used to portraying? No matter which side of the acting spectrum you come from, film festivals make it easier than ever for you to get a chance (or several, depending on the festival you go to) to be in a movie......probably without even auditioning and sending in head shots.

It works like this: You go to a film festival and attend screenings or events where the filmmakers are also making an appearance. At this point, introduce yourself or casually strike up a conversation with everybody because you never know who is and who isn’t in a position to recommend you for a role in a film. Therefore, it may work to your benefit to talk up the whole crowd, especially at festivals in small towns and such because other actors, crew members and producers are good to meet even if you are never able to meet the filmmakers.

If no one offers an acting job to you during the festival and you don’t pursue one, all is not lost. Contact the filmmaker, producer, casting director, etc. that you wanted to work with and say something like “Hi, it’s me. We met at such and such festival back in whatever. What are you working on now and can you consider me for a role in your new movie?” It helps to have a reel of previous work or website or something that can show the casting person what you can do for him/her.

Oh, and don’t say “me,” say whatever your name is and call the festival by name when contacting someone whose film you want to be in.

Technorati Tags: nablopomo, film+festivals, reasons+to+attend+film+festivals, reasons+to+go+to+film+festivals, film+festival+events, nablopomo+2011, nablopomo+july, nablopomo+july+2011, nablopomo+swim, film+festival+wednesdays, film+festival+series, film+festival+blogging, film+festival+blogs, film+festival+blogging+series, film+festival+wednesday

Why F. Gary Gray is My Favorite Director

When thinking “favorites” as far as movie directors go, I find it quite interesting that mine is a rather unexpected one that surprises even myself. Steven Spielberg inspired me enough to leave fine arts behind in pursuit of big Hollywood bucks and red carpets.

After quickly learning that not only all that glitters ain’t gold but also I traded one outrageous dream for another, Robert Rodriguez and Spike Lee later helped me realize that movies can be made independently of a studio system but it would require hard work, dedication, talent and lots of social equity that could be turned into favors when production budgets are tight. So, you'd think that I my favorite director's name would end in "Spielberg," "Rodriguez" or "Lee," right? Me too. The thing is, it doesn't.

While all of these men are among favorite directors....and I’m talking top ten and possibly top five, none of them are THE favorite, numero uno at times when I have to choose just one. The very productive and versatile F. Gary Gray is by far, my favorite director of motion picture films.

Since the mid 90s, Gray has directed several movies including “The Negotiator” starring Kevin Spacey and Samuel Jackson, “The Italian Job” starring Charlize Theron, Edward Norton and Mark Wahlberg, “A Man Apart” starring Vin Diesel and the most recent, “Law Abiding Citizen” starring Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx. The hit comedy “Friday” with Ice Cube and Chris Tucker was Gray’s first feature film, which helped him make a transition from music videos to the big screen.

I like F. Gary Gray’s work because he turns scripts into something that captures audiences by getting the best and sometimes surprising performances out of his actors.....whether they are well known veterans such as Spacey and Donald Sutherland or new talent such as actress Kimberly Elise, who starred in the heist film “Set It Off” opposite Jada Pinkett and Queen Latifah.

To this day, Gray is the only director who got me to become such a fanatic about a movie that I own the home video version, the soundtrack and the original score with plans to purchase movie stills and also upgrade to Blu-ray despite the fact that I currently do not even own a Blu-ray player. If the screenplay was available in stores, I would probably buy that too. I’ve also watched the same movie at least one dozen times, if not more and can probably recite the entire film’s dialogue and act out the scenes, on cue. Don’t ask me to do it though, because I won’t. That is just for fun!

I used to toy with the idea of trying to get a job working as Gray’s personal assistant but didn’t follow that one through. I figure that it would be a double opportunity for me. I’d get to spend time with and learn from a director who I admire while also gaining valuable hands-on experience in my area of study.

There is no other director whose film’s I follow to the point that I’m buying the ancillary merchandise, reading interviews and studying both the important and the silly details about a movie......with the exception of the“Lord of the Rings” and “Harry Potter” series but those films don’t count because who doesn’t follow LOTR or the Hogwarts gang?

What do YOU think of these films?

Who is YOUR favorite director?

*This post is dedicated to Herman Turnip at Terrible Analogies.

Technorati Tags: f+gary+gray, f+gary+gray+movies, f+gary+gray+director, nablopomo, nablopomo+2011, movie+directors, favorite+movie+director, nablopomo+july, nablopomo+july+2011, favorite+movie+directors, my+favorite+director, gbe+2, group+blogging+experience, gbe2