2/7/10
While we’re editing the episodes and working towards the big premiere, we’ve cobbled together a few blooper clips! These can be found by going to the video extras page on the Places Please website, on the Facebook fanpage and yes on the YouTube and Vimeo Channels!! There are some very funny moments that won’t make the final cuts of the episodes, and once you watch you’ll see why! Click the picture for a direct link to the video extras page!
2/6/10
Places Please now has a promo video posted. The video can be seen on the Places Please webpage or on the Facebook fanpage as well as the YouTube and Vimeo channels. Check it out!!!!
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2/5/10
Production shots of the first three episodes have been posted to Jake Leg Films’ website as well as to the Facebook page and to the official website. There are four different pages, one for each episode, and then behind the scense shots from a production meeting! Each episode will be broken down into three chapters, or acts, and each act will be about 5 minutes.
Episode One "Sex and the Beach"
Episode Two "Showcase Yourself"
Episode Three "Whose Whine is it Anyway?"
2/4/10
The official Places Please website is up and running! Check it out! There is also an official fan page on Facebook, a page on Youtube, a Vimeo page and pages on Twitter! Follow all the latest news, clips, productions photos, blooper reels and episode information! Just click on each icon below to follow the link!
2/3/10
In an early post I mentioned the project “Places Please” that I’ve been working on with Rodney Reyes and Rachel Skrod since last summer. Here’s our official ‘pitch’ document to explain exactly what the series is and what our intentions are:
2/2/10
For Christmas, I traveled with my parents to visit my brother and his family, who are now living in the Emerald City of Seattle, Washington. I was able to spend a few days wandering the city and taking some photographs. I’ve posted the pictures to my website and can be seen in the gallery section or clicking on the above picture.
2/1/10
2009 was incredibly busy year for me and for Jake Leg Films as evidence to the lack of posts the last few months!
2009 started with JLF’s short films “Dark Side of the Sole” and “You Or Me” being posted to the online movie reference website, www.imdb.com.
Then in March, Jake Leg Films was contracted by the socially responsible company Dream Village to complete three promotional videos. The videos were used to promote Dream Village’s first book, “Saved by the Well,” a story for children about the nonprofit organization PlayPumps International, which specializes in bringing a clean water source to remote villages. I was able to shoot some original footage, work with animators from across the world as well as use footage donated by National Geographic.
“You Or Me” screened at the Garden State Film Festival in Asbury Park on April 5th. The weekend was fantastic and I highly recommend a trip to Abury Park to see how they’ve revitalized the boardwalk and downtown. I was very proud to have my short presented along side many great shorts and feature lengths as well as adding to the lore of one of the storied Jersey Shore towns.
April also brought another photo session with the musician Num Amen’Tehu. Num is currently working on two albums, and asked me to help take some shots for the new albums. He dramatically changed his appearance, shedding the dreadlocks that he had for years, and I think we did a great job capturing his new look.
In June, I was in the show “The Language of Love” written by Eric Alter and directed by Rodney Reyes. The show was performed at the Deron School in Montclair, NJ. I met some fantastically talented actors that made the whole process along with the commute to Montclair a blast.
For the last weekend of June, Jake Leg Films partnered up with Rodney Reyes, and Erwin Falcon to enter the Asian American Film Lab’s 6th Annual 72 Hour Film Shootout. In one very intense weekend, we, along with the help of Rachel Skrod, came up with the 5 minute short “Time Out,” based on the contest’s premise of Time’s Up. We didn’t win any awards, but we had a great time working as a team and I’m very proud of our submission.
In July, I participated in Cuchipinoy Productions’ first cabaret show, directed by Anna Payumo, in Jersey City. Rachel Skrod and I were in the dramatic scenes between the musical acts. The singers and performers were of various styles and I was grateful to participate in a fun evening.
The end of summer also brought more shooting days for JLF’s ongoing documentaries. Once again I filmed the memorial bike run in Western, PA, held in honor of my cousin Mike, who passed away in the fall of 2007. I also interviewed the musician Randall Moore, one more time to get a different perspective on our earlier collaborations.
The fall brought a few readings. In September, I worked on a full length original play by Maria Micheles at the Mahattan Theater Source in the Village. For October, I also participated in the Lips Reading Series associated with the artists collective Gaia based in Jersey City. First, I did an original one act that was performed in Hoboken, NJ and then the following week read several one acts at the Gaia studio for the Jersey City Arts Festival.
For first weekend of December, I was in Apricot Sky Productions’ night of one acts to benefit cancer research. Rachel Skrod and I were in Eric Alter’s one act play “Reverse Order” that was performed at the Deron School in Montclair, NJ. Despite an unusually early snow storm, we had a great turnout, and I enjoyed working once again with many of the people I had worked with in June for “Language of Love.”
The biggest project of the year by far is the creation of the webseries “Places Please.” I plan to spend more time in the updates explaining the process and sending out information about the webseries, but I’ll supply a quick recap here. Over the summer, Rodney Reyes and I were working on the show for Apricot Sky Productions. After reliving various stories about our theater experiences we came up with a concept for a webseries. We enlisted the help of Rachel Skrod, and after a brief trial run for the AAFL Shootout, decided that we wanted to move ahead together on the show. We completed the first three scripts by the end of summer and began shooting the first episode in October. Pre-production and production schedules, meetings, shooting days, more meetings and lots of laughs have dominated the last few months. We’ve begun the post-production process and are aiming for a late winter release. We’re going to have a party for the premiere of the first three episodes in the city and then we’ll begin releasing them to the web. There is a fan page on facebook, twitter accounts and we’re currently working on the website. While fine-tuning the edits, we’re also working on the marketing materials and the music. Check back frequently for more updates!
7/27/09
I'm going to be performing in this show on Thursday night! My friends at Cuchipinoy Productions are presenting a night of cabaret (Don't worry I won't be singing - just acting!). The performers and singers are really fantastic and it's going to be a really great night. I saw the theater yesterday, and it's a very unique venue in downtown Jersey City. Come see and have a great night out!
Cuchipinoy Productions brings to the stage their first cabaret, On That Note. Weaving together refreshing renditions of contemporary favorites, original music, and modern dance, Cuchipinoy takes its audience on a musical journey of love and heartbreak.
With Musical and Dance Performances by:
Edward Amezquita
Adrienne Evering
Laura Giannone
Erin Kristoff
Rich McNanna
Janetza Miranda
Vanessa Ramalho
Evan Toth
Featuring Actors:
Tami Gebhardt
Rodney Reyes
Rachel Skrod
Jonathan Weirich
Production Design by:
Mario Corrales
Directed by:
Anna Payumo
Tickets $20 general admission.
To purchase tickets in advance: http://www.brownpap ertickets. com/event/ 72595
7/23/09
On the weekend of June 26th, Jake Leg Films teamed up with Cuchipinoy Productions to participate in the Asian American Film LabÕs 6th Annual 72 Hour Film Shootout. The core production team was Erwin Falcon, who was producer and our lead actor, Rodney E. Reyes did the directing and writing, and I was the cinematographer and editor, although the three of us all worked closely together in all the aspects to make sure the project was completed on time.
The idea of the shootout is that a premise is given on Friday evening and by Monday evening the completed short needs to be mailed. At a reception downtown, the premise, TimeÕs Up was posted at 8pm. With the help of Rachel Skrod, we brainstormed for hours on Friday night until we came up with enough ideas for a script. Rodney and I stayed up past 5am to make sure a shooting script was completed. After a quick nap, we began shooting ErwinÕs scenes at 8:30 am. We completed shooting by 8pm Saturday. The footage was logged and cut by 3am. On Sunday we started editing at around 11:30 am and finally finished after 7am Monday morning!
The weekend was incredibly productive and IÕm totally proud of what we were able to accomplish in such a short amount of time. The whole process was fun and an amazing learning experience. Everyone involved was enthusiastic about the project and dealt amazingly well with imperfect conditions. I canÕt wait to work with everyone again, but hopefully under less time constrained parameters.
The awards ceremony is this Friday night at the Museum of Chinese in America, 211-215 Centre Street (b/t Howard & Grand) in downtown Manhattan. Most of team Cuchipinoy will be there, and IÕll try to post the results later.
IÕve posted a new page for Time Out on the JLF website, as well as pages for the Cast & Crew, and production photos from the weekend which includes the wrap party!
IÕve posted the short to my Yahoo Video page. All of the entries for the contest were posted to YouTube. Time Out is included in that grouping or click here for a direct link: Time Out On YouTube. HereÕs the website for AAFL for more information.
7/22/09
Backstage cast shot from the opening night of "Language of Love." From Left to right, Jonathan Weirich, Kurt Davis, Maura Grego and Rachel Skrod. Thanks again to everyone who made it out! I had a great time doing this show!
6/24/09
My friend Num has had a regular summer gig in the Village at Negril on 70 West 3rd Street. Num plays an exciting mixture of a raggae and jazz. I've seen him perform several times and it's a great chance to go out and see live music. I'll be going tonight and he has 2 more nights at Negril this summer, July 8th and 22nd. For more on Num, his music, his band, and the photographs I've taken of him check early posts or go to the gallery section of the website. I hope to see everyone there!
6/23/09
I'm a bit late in advertising my friend Rodney Reyes' show "Anonymous." Anonymous was an original one act play that Rodney wrote.
A few weeks before the show went on, Rodney filmed a promotional video in which I make an appearance. The promo video can be seen on the anonymous home page or just click here. Look for me, I play the role of the thug! Eric Velarde of Liquid Metal Media shot the video.
Anonymous was teamed up with another one act "Meredith's Ring," written by Andrew Rothkin for the Planet Connections festival. The synopsis for the show is:
Thanks to everyone who made it out to Montclair for the "Language of Love." I had a great time doing the show. The other actors in my piece were fantastic to work with, and having Rodney Reyes as a director was yet again, a blast. The other one acts were funny and different, and I had a wonderful time meeting the other actors involved and seeing the other performances. Thanks to Eric Alter and Apricot Sky productions for putting together six great nights of shows!
5/27/09
Over the last couple of weeks I've been in rehearsals for the original one act "The Language of Love," written by Eric Alter and directed by Rodney Reyes. A comedic piece, the story centers around how a man and a woman differently recount a bad date.
The show is one of four one acts being performed that evening under the same title of "The Language of Love." The other shows are directed by Tami Gebhardt, Sharon Ferrell and Okieriete Onaodowan. Here's more info:
Featuring:
Rachel Skrod, Natasha Kovic, Maura Grego, Vito Visocci,
Anna Payumo, Marc Gettis, Joan Ludwig, Nancy Lee Ryan,
Jonathan Weirich, Caitlin Brundy, Lauren Cooper, Cliff Elor,
Gus Ibranyi, Bridget Kurass, Kurt Davis and Don Pflaster.
Light Designer: Jamie Boyle
Stage Manager: Heather Muller
Performing at: The Deron School of NJ
130 Grove Street
Montclair, NJ 07042
June 5-7 and June 12-14
Friday and Saturday night shows begin at 8:00 pm
Sunday matinee shows begin at 1:00 pm
Tickets $15.00 Standard
$12.00 Seniors and Students
I know Montclair, NJ is way off Broadway, but the shows and cast are very entertaining and well worth the trip. Plus, Montclair is a famous commuter town to New York City, with lots of charm and history. For being a small town, Montclair also has an active arts and theater community. I'm excited to be apart of this ensemble piece and I hope everyone can make the journey!
4/15/09
I've posted new pictures in the gallery section of the website. The pictures were taken while walking around Asbury Park during the Garden State Film Festival last weekend. Some of the photos were taken on or around the boardwalk attractions, while others were taken on the beach while the sun was setting. The day was cold and blustery, but the sun was shining. A really great early Spring day the Jersey Shore. You can go directly to the set by clicking on the picture.
4/15/09
ÒYou Or MeÓ screened on Sunday, April 5th at the Seventh Annual Garden State Film Festival in Asbury Park, NJ. The screening was in the afternoon in the Continental room of the Asbury Park landmark The Berkeley Hotel, directly across the street from the beach, the boardwalk and the famous Asbury Park Convention Center. ÒYou Or MeÓ screened with two other shorts, ÒKnock Knock WhoÕs There,Ó and ÒHourglass,Ó in front of the feature length movie ÒFavorite Son.Ó The event was almost sold out, unusual for a Sunday afternoon screening. The crowd was energetic and responsive. My mother joined me for the festival and my friend, actor, producer, childrenÕs book author, and entrepreneur, Suneet Bhatt came for the screening.
The town of Asbury Park was a fantastic place to have a festival. The beach was clean and the water beautiful. The boardwalk has been undergoing a series of renovations over the last ten or so years. Many of the dilapidated structures have been razed and replaced. However, the landmarks have been kept and renovated, including the Asbury Park Convention Center, and the Berkeley Hotel. Infamous shore rock club, the Stone Pony, is still standing. Downtown is also being renovated. The blocks boast many great galleries, restaurants, and boutique stores. The neighboring towns of Deal, Ocean Grove, Allen Hurst and Long Branch are equally as charming and unique.
IÕve posted a few pictures from the screening and the festival. They can be seen by either clicking the picture, which takes you to webpage on the Jake Leg Films website or by clicking here: http://www.jakelegfilms.com/JakeLegFilms/GSFF09.html
4/13/09
Jake Leg Films' short movie "You Or Me" screened at the Garden State Film Festival in Asbury Park last Sunday, April 5th. I am still sorting through some pictures and events from the festival that I want to add to my sites. However, I wanted to post some shots that I took of Asbury Park. You can find these pictures by clicking on the photo above.
4/12/09
Last week my friend and musician Num Amen'Tehu asked me to take some new headshots. I have featured Num and his music a few times on this site. About a year and a half ago we worked together on headshots and photographs for his upcoming albums. Those pictures can be seen under the Projects section of this website.
After returning from this year's South by Southwest Festival in Austin, TX, Num wanted a change and decided to shave off his dreadlocks, which he had been growing out for over twenty five years! Obviously, Num needed new photographs to go with his new look.
Early Spring, the day was cloudy, overcast and drizzling rain. Not only was Num's new look the opposite of the first time we shot, but the lighting and atmosphere of the shoot was completely different. Accordingly, the tone of the photos tend to leave a more somber and serious impression. However, I still believe some of Num's expressiveness, warmth and fun was captured. I've chosen 13 of my favorite pics out of the hundreds that we shot. These pics can be seen by either clicking on the photo above or by finding a link to the page under the Projects section of the website. More on Num can be found at http://www.nuafrika.net/
4/3/09
In March, I was able to spend a week in San Francisco. I was visiting family who live in the North Beach section of SF. I considered the trip a working vacation, since my main objective was to write. I've always loved the city and have gone there repeatedly to refill the well. Plus, the Northern California air immediately provides a change of perspective from New York City. Although distinctly different, San Francisco is the only the other city in the states that I have found the rhythm to be as intoxicating as New York's. In between writing sessions, I spent a large amount of time walking the streets and exploring different neighborhoods. I 've posted some snapshots from the trip. You can find the pictures either by clicking the above picture or by going to the Projects gallery.
4/2/09
The Garden State Film Festival begins today, Thursday, April 2, 2009 in Asbury Park, NJ. Jake Leg Films short ÒYou Or MeÓ is screening on Sunday April 5th, 2009 at 12.30 pm at the Continental Room in The Berkeley Hotel as part of the Favorite Son block. ÒYou Or MeÓ will be paired with a few other short films in front the feature length ÒFavorite Son.Ó HereÕs a link to read up on the other films: https://gsff09.withoutabox.com/festivals/event.php?event_id=13464&schedule_id=5121
The rest of the festival schedule can be found here: https://gsff09.withoutabox.com/festivals/festival.php?schedule_id=5121&fetch=calendar-view
I plan on arriving in town early afternoon on Saturday and staying until after the screening for ÒYou Or Me.Ó There are several events and activities and I have yet to figure out where exactly IÕm going to be. However, IÕm very excited to have my short be apart of this festival, and to go explore the famous beach town, Asbury Park. Give me a ring if you happen to be in town or plan on going to the screening!
3/29/09
Dream VillageÕs first childrenÕs book ÒSaved by the Well,Ó premiered on Friday March 20, 2009. As part of the roll out, Jake Leg Films was contracted to complete three promotional videos. The videos can now be seen on yahoo video, google video, on dream villageÕs homepage, dreamvillagetv and poptent.
The first video is ÔWelcome to Dream Village,Õ an introduction to the website.
The next video is ÔWhy Does Jonzi go to School?Õ an animated supplement to the book.
The last video is ÔPlay Pumps International,Õ a combination of animation and footage provided by National Geographic to explain to younger viewers why Play Pumps are an important innovation in helping remote villages acquire clean water.
For more information on Dream Village or Social Symetry link to their websites: www.dream-village.org & www.socialsymmetry.com
3/16/09
Last week, Jake Leg Films was contracted to complete three promotional videos for the the socially responsible company ÔDream Village.Õ Their company description is:
Dream Village educates children about important social, economic, and environmental issues by combining illustrated childrenÕs picture books with a fun and interactive web portal. Best of all, the children choose how and where Dream Village makes its charitable donations. With Dream Village, children learn, interact, and then affect real-life positive change.
The videos were to be completed as part of this FridayÕs launch of Dream VillageÕs first book, ÔSaved by the Well.Õ Dream Village describes their book:
The first book features the nonprofit organization "PlayPumps International", which installs "merry-go-rounds" in villages thatÊlack a dependable source of clean, fresh water. TheseÊ"merry-go-rounds" double as water pumps, so whenÊchildren play, water is pumped into a storage tank for future use. Our storyÊtells how the children in Spontania, a small village in Mozambique, were able to transform the village after the installation of the PlayPump.
These stories raise awareness/empathy for less-privileged people around the world, and encourage proactive efforts to make the world a better place. Dream Village raises money for innovative charitable organizations by donating a substantial portion of its profits to innovative nonprofit organizations. By placing the decision for which organizations get this money in the hands of our readers, we enable these children to experience the fulfillment that comes from making a difference. Note: At the ouset, Dream Village is focused on children Ages 6-10.
The premiering of the book coincides with World Water Day 2009, on March 22nd. The book launch has coordinated with close to 30 schools in 9 states, to educate students about the importance of clean water to developing nations.
Jake Leg Films completed three videos for Dream Village. An animated short, a video introduction for the webpage, and a five minute promotional short that combines animation and footage donated by National Geographic. I plan on having these videos posted to my sites soon, but for now you can watch the videos at Dream Village TV on youtube. Also, check out my the Dream Village website, as well as the company Social Symmetry.
2/23/09
The schedule for the Garden State Film Festival has been announced! ÒYou Or MeÓ will be screening on Sunday April 5th, 2009 at 12:30 PM as apart of the shorts program. The screening will be in the Continental Room of the famous Berkeley Hotel in Asbury Park, NJ. The Berkeley is from the bygone age when Asbury Park was the summer destination. The hotel is located right on the beach and just down the boardwalk from the Paramount Theater.
To see the other movies that are screening and events, link here: https://gsff09.withoutabox.com/?festID=&schedule_id=5121&fetch=calendar-view
I have not yet figured out which events or movies IÕll be attending, but IÕll be sure to post more information soon.
2/22/09
Jake Leg FilmsÕ short ÒYou Or MeÓ has been accepted to the 7th annual Garden State Film Festival. The festival will be from April 2nd to April 5th in the famous New Jersey Shore resort town Asbury Park.
Asbury Park is a seaside community in central Jersey, that embodied the rise, fall and rebirth of Shore towns during the 20th century. The town came to prominence during the Victorian Era and continued to flourish to the 1920s. A boardwalk was built, as well as a the famous Paramount Theater and Convention Hall complex. With the Great Depression, World War Two, and the flourishing of suburbia, the fortunes of Asbury Park began to change. Unable to manage with economic hardships, the community went into steep decline. Recently, however, Asbury Park has made a comeback, attracting new development, business, and famous sponsors like Bruce Springsteen. The town thrived in its reputation for a rich musical scene. Included in this revival is the Garden State Film Festival.
You can link to the Film Festival here: www.gsff.org
The Festival bills itself as:
The Garden State Film Festival was founded to promote the art of filmmaking on all levels by showcasing a wide variety of film, video and animated works as well as provide educational programs in the creative arts to the public by industry leaders.
The artistic philosophy of the Garden State Film Festival is rooted in the celebration of the independent film genre and the creation of a forum where local and other independent filmmakers can exhibit their work. In addition, our event provides novice and aspiring filmmakers, actors, and others interested in a career in the film business, the opportunity to meet and network with industry professionals in an atmosphere that is conducive to learning and mentoring. See you at the movies!
2/5/09
I've posted pictures of my visit to Memphis in December. You can click on the picture to take you to the index or find the link under the projects section of the webiste.
2/4/09
For Christmas of 2008, my parents and I traveled to Memphis, TN, to spend the holidays with my brother and his family. I had been to Memphis briefly once before on a cross-country road trip I made in college with a friend. We made a quick stop to take a tour of Elvis Presley's Graceland, and I hadn't been back to the city since. With a few more days to spare, there were more sites that I wanted to explore.
Learning more about the city after my brief visit in college, I realized that Memphis contained many landmarks that not only influenced me as a child but also still resonates with me today. Memphis is the home of Sun Records, which was the epicenter of the marriage between blues, country, and rockabilly to form Rock-n-Roll. Sun records produced such titans as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, BB King, Roy Orbison, Ike Turner, Jackie Brenston, and Jerry Lee Lewis, just to name a few. Also, Memphis was the home base of Stax records. The old 45s and LPs my parents had when I was a kid were dominated by the pioneering deep grooves of Southern soul that Stax Records produced. Countless days and nights were spent listening to Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Aretha Franklin, and Booker T & The MGs, arguably the greatest backing band of all time. My family isn't very religious, but we listened to the Reverend Al Green's records zealously. Al Green's congregation is in the city of Memphis.
Tragically, Memphis is also the city where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. I grew up admiring MLK, not just for his efforts to end racial segregation and discrimination in this country but also for his efforts to end poverty and to end the Vietnam War. His embracing of civil disobedience and other non-violent means made him a hero and an icon of human rights. The Lorraine Motel, where King was shot, has been preserved to represent April of 1968 and turned into the Civil Rights Museum.
I was able to go through Memphis and take some pictures, some with me in them! IÕve posted some images of me at the Lorraine, Beale Street, Sun Records, and Stax Records, under the gallery menu. Hopefully, IÕll post some pictures of the city itself soon.
2/3/09
Jake Leg FilmsÕ two short films ÒDark Side of the Sole,Ó and ÒYou Or Me,Ó have been posted to the website "The Internet Movie Database" or www.imdb.com. IMDB is a great online reference site for all things movie and television related. I check the website almost daily. The information is broad and in-depth. I am happy and grateful to have my shorts, as well as the people the who helped me to make them, listed on the siteÕs database. So, please take the time to click through JLF pages, and if you can, rate (highly!) our short films! Dark Side of the Sole - You Or Me
1/7/09
In the Summer of '07, my friend and musician, Num Amun'Tehu, asked me to photograph him and to get headshots for upcoming projects of his, including shots for his new album covers. Some of those shots from that afternoon can be seen here. Num selected one of my photos for his new project "Peace Signs" and I thought I'd share:
1/6/09
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope the New Year brings everyone joy, happiness and some much needed peace.
2008 was a busy year for Jake Leg Films and me. "Dark Side of the Sole," Jake Leg Films first short film screened at the 3rd Annual Kent Film Festival in Kent, Connecticut at the end of March.
Filming for "You Or Me" finished in early January of '08. The winter was spent editing the short. The film was released in the beginning of May. YoM was first screened for the Wildwood By The Sea Film Festival in September in Wildwood, NJ, then again in October as apart of the Fall Schedule for the New Filmmakers Series in Manhattan, NY.
In June, JLF entered a contest for an internet travel show for the online advertising company xlntads.com. Alex Moody came along for the trip to Wildwood, NJ to help film the pilot for a show to catalog the boardwalks of the Jersey shore, beginning at the Do-Wop capital of the world. Unfortunately, we didn't win the development deal. However, a fun 5-minute pilot was produced and now sits on the internet!
Twice during the year, I filmed my friend and musician Randall Moore for publicity material for his webpage. I'm still working on the last edits before posting the short music video. I'm hoping to work on the extra footage to turn into a mini-documentary to be out by the Spring.
Also, in July, I filmed a memorial bike run held in honor of my cousin Michael Burk, who died in October of 2007. Originally, I filmed just so my aunt and uncle would have a document of the day. Then after looking at the footage, I thought I would turn what I had into another mini-documentary. I still intend to have a short film of the footage done by Spring, however I believe there is still more material to be mined. I'm in the process of applying for grants and looking for producers to be able to make the story into a feature length documentary.
And, I did have a few opportunities to be on stage in 2008. In August I did a staged reading of Maria MichelesÕ "Sentence To Write" performed at Shetler Studios in midtown Manhattan. Unfortunately, due to my editing schedule in the Spring and then my chaotic living arrangements over the Summer, I was unable to participate in as many productions as I had wanted (or offered!). Hopefully the New Year will bring more chances, and hopefully a fortunate break into the big leagues (perish the thought!).
2009 promises to be an exciting year with lots of changes (whether you believe in it or not!!)! I hope everyone continues to check in for updates. Be well and take care of each other!
10/09/08
ÒYou Or MeÓ screened for the series on Tuesday October 7th, 2008 at the Anthology Film Archives in New York City for the Fall 2008 New Filmmakers Series. ÒYou Or MeÓ was featured in a block of short films titled ÒNew Filmmakers Celebrates Coming of Age and Thank God That ItÕs Over.Ó The Anthology Film Archives is located in the former Manhattan Second Avenue Courthouse in the East Village of Manhattan. I am very proud to have my short not only screened in New York City at one of the iconic buildings for independent film but also for a wonderfully supportive festival, New Fillmmakers. Truly, I feel that the independent spirit of the Archives as well as New Filmmakers keeps alive an earlier time in New YorkÕs storied history.
There was a great turnout (almost 50 people) and the shorts were very interesting, but definitely very distinct from each other. Thanks to everyone who made it out and also for the well wishes I received through email, facebook, and texts. IÕve posted a few pictures from the screening and they can be seen by either clicking the photo gallery button or by clicking the picture.
Thanks to the festival directors Barney Oldfield and Bill Woods and to the staff at the Anthology Film Archives for making the evening possible. IÕve known Barney for many years now, ( I auditioned to host a show for the Angelica) and Barney has always been very supportive, helpful, and encouraging.
10/02/08
"You Or Me" is screening on Tuesday October 7, 2008 6 PM at the Anthology Film Archives as apart of The New Filmmakers Festival. Êhttp://www.newfilmmakers.com/
The Anthology Film Archives is located at 32 Second Avenue (cross street is 2nd Street) in the East Village of Manhattan. Ê
I'm very excited and proud to have "You Or Me" screened for the New Filmmakers, and I hope to see you at the Anthology Film Archives!
HereÕs the New FilmmakersÕ press release:
10/02/08
The Wildwood By The Sea Film Festival was held in Wildwood, New Jersey, a beach town in Southern New Jersey from September 27th to 30th. You Or Me was screened on Friday morning inside the Wildwood convention center as part of the Short Film program. 2008 was the second year in a row Jake Leg Films screened a short film at the Wildwood Festival. The weather was a bit dreary and overcast. However, the facilities were top notch, the staff was friendly and helpful and the atmosphere was warm and supportive. Joining me at the festival this year was Chau Nguyen, the Associate Producer and one of the actresses from You Or Me. I really enjoyed being able to see You Or Me on a large screen with a high quality projection. IÕve posted the pictures and they can be found either under the Gallery link or just by clicking here.
Thanks to the festival directors, Paul Russo, Ed Mebs, Shawn Swords, Linda Alboher, Conrad Zimmer, Blake Wilcox, and Paul Russo Jr., for all their hard work and dedication. The Festival was truly a wonderful time.
9/24/08
The Second Annual Wildwood By The Sea Film Festival begins tomorrow, September 25, in the afternoon and continuing until Sunday afternoon. ÒYou Or MeÓ is part of a short film program that begins screening 11 AM on Friday morning in the second venue at the Wildwood Convention Center.
WWBTSFF has several exciting activities planned for the weekend including a tribute to the opera singer Mario Lanza, a screening of Beach Blanket Bingo, and performances by Jimmy Buffet and Beatles tribute bands!
IÕm very excited and proud to have ÒYou Or MeÓ in this festival. Wildwood, NJ is very much apart of South Jersey lore. The town was where I escaped to with friends in high school, and IÕve watched the town change and reinvent itself over the years. In fact, Jake Leg Films shot a pilot episode for a competition at Wildwood, the Doo-Wop capital of the world!
Last year, DSS screened at the WWBTSFF. The facilities were top notch and the organizers were fantastic. If you go to the DSS publicity page you can find pictures of last yearÕs festival.
IÕll definitely be at the screening of ÒYou Or MeÓ on Friday Morning, and I hope to see everyone there!
8/26/08
I'm going to participate in a staged reading of Maria Micheles play "Sentence to Write" this weekend. The performances are going to be Saturday, August 30th and Sunday August 31st at 6:00pm. The theater is a black box space called The Bridge Theatre which is part of Shetler Studios at 244 West 54th Street on the 12th Floor. It's a 40 seat space. I've been a part of several of Maria's shows over the years and I'm very excited to do this reading. She's a very original and creative writer and I know that if you come watch you won't be disappointed!
8/1/08
ÒYou Or MeÓ was recently accepted into the Wildwood By The Sea Film Festival In Wildwood, NJ. This is the second year in a row that IÕve had a film accepted into this festival! Wildwood is a great Southern New Jersey beach town steeped in history and tradition. When I was in high school, Wildwood and its boardwalk was the beach destination for all teenagers to celebrate the summer. IÕm extremely excited about being accepted again and I hope everyone can come to the screening at the Jersey Shore.
Last year the facilities were top notch and the parties were a blast. Check earlier postings to see pictures from 2007! Also, click to my personal yahoo video page and youÕll see a short pilot I filmed that was a road trip to Wildwood, NJ!
The Festival is still working on the programming schedule, so IÕll post more information as it comes. You can click here for more information: http://www.wildwoodbytheseafilmfest.com/.
The festival is going to be the last weekend of September, the 25th-28th.
HereÕs how the festival bills itself:
8/1/08
The screening date for You Or Me for the New Filmmakers series has been changed to Tuesday October 7, 2008 at 6:00 PM. The screening will still be at the Anthology Film Archives on the corner of 2nd Avenue and 2nd Street in Manhattan. You Or Me is apart of the ÒNewFilmmakers Celebrates Coming Of Age And Thanks God That ItÕs OverÓ program. I hope to see everyone there. Should be a lot of fun!
http://newfilmmakers.com/NewFilmmakers%20Schedule%200810.htm
7/18/08
The New Filmmakers Series of New York City and Los Angeles has recently accepted ÒYou Or Me.Ó The screening will be at the Anthology Film Archives in the East Village of Manhattan on Wednesday October the 8th at 6:00 PM. ÒYou or MeÓ will be apart of the ÒNew Filmmakers Celebrates Coming of AgeÓ program. New Filmmakers specializes giving independent and low budget movies a chance to screen in NYC. I had originally selected the Anthology Film Archives to have the premiere for ÒDark Side of the SoleÓ because of the popularity of the New Filmmakers Series. DSS screened for the New Filmmakers last year and IÕm very excited to be welcomed back for ÒYou Or Me.Ó I hope everyone can come and check out not only YoM, but also a New York City instituion.
IÕll send out more information as it comes to me. For now you can click here for the website:
http://www.newfilmmakers.com/
http://www.newfilmmakers.com/NewFilmmakers%20Schedule%200810.htm
This is how the New Filmmakers bills itself:
7/17/08
So, XLNTads picked their winners for the Road Trip contest, and unfortunately, I didnÕt win. However, IÕm still very happy with the pilot I entered and I posted the short on the other video pages. IÕll put links to them on the Links page. Hopefully, someday IÕll be able to explore the other boardwalks on someone elseÕs dime, itÕs just not going to happen this summer! Thanks for everyoneÕs support and clicking on the short!
7/7/08
Last week I submitted a film for a contest on www.xlntads.com. The contest is to pitch a pilot episode based on summer road trips with the winner getting the chance to make four more episodes!
My friend Alex Moody (the resident staff writer of JLF!) and I went to Wildwood, NJ, the Doo-Wop capital of the world to film.
HereÕs part of the pitch:
The goal of the road trip is to explore the famous boardwalks of the New Jersey shore, starting with the Southern most towns, then driving North up the Coastline. Beginning in Wildwood, episodes will focus on Ocean City, Atlantic City, Point Pleasant, and finally, Asbury Park. The journey is meant to highlight each cityÕs distinct personality and ambiance.
Click here to see the pilot episode shot in Wildwood, NJ! http://www.xlntads.com/gallery/index.php?xlntTitleId=4946-TheBoardwalksoftheJerseyShoreepisode1632008&id=1492&width=490&height=415&autostart=1&autoopen=1
Watch several times! Log on and VOTE!!!
5/03/08
ÒYou Or Me,Ó Jake Leg Films latest short has been completed and posted to various internet sites for wide release! I am very proud of this little film and excited to share it with everyone. The film has already been submitted to various film festivals. But, in the interim, you can watch the short on the small screen, before you see it up on the silver screen.
To truly appreciate the short I suggest several viewings, and forward it on to all your friends and loved ones. That way after multiple viewings you can discuss how you're going to watch it more!
Thanks to everyone who helped during the entire process, and for the support. It's been a great experience, and I hope to have even more shorts out soon. Keep checking in the websites for news on screenings, festivals, and new projects.Watch it on YahooVideo: 
YoM on Yahoo Video
Watch it on iFilm: 
YoM on iFilm
Watch it on Google: 
YoM on Google
4/15/08
The trailer to Jake Leg Films latest short, ÔYou Or Me,Õ has been posted to the JLF website as well as to yahoo video, ifilm and google video. IÕm still waiting for a shipment of promotional materials and a few final edits before I release the feature length. The expected release date is next Saturday April 26th. In the interim, IÕve also posted the artwork for ÔYou Or Me,Õ and that can also be found on the JLF website.
4/8/08
The Kent Film Festival was held in Kent, Connecticut, an idyllic town sent in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains from March 27 th to the 30 th . DSS was screened on Sunday afternoon inside the Kent Community House on their second screen as part of the ÒShort Program.Ó The other shorts were very interesting and I was extremely proud to have my work shown to such a supportive audience.
Kent, CT is a mixture of both rural life and the arts. In Kent Center, there are many art galleries, restaurants and designers. Part of the charm of the town is its refusal to allow any franchises to set up within the town limits. Therefore the town feels very rustic and unspoiled. Also, Kent is famous for its Kent Falls, a beautiful park centered around a waterfall, and the Kent covered bridge.
I was able to attend a few of the other screenings and workshops that the festival offered. On Saturday afternoon I went to the Albert Maysles workshop. Albert Maysles is one of the giants of documentary filmmaking, and some of his great films include, Gimmie Shelter , Grey Gardens , and Meet Marlon Brando . The workshop was incredible as Maysles used examples from his long career to emphasize that real filmmaking comes from highlighting the humanity that we all share, rather than flashy images and excessive budgets.
Some of the other screenings I attended including the Irish documentary, Saviours , on Saturday afternoon, and Oranges on Saturday evening. Saviours is an Òobservational documentary about the rough and tumble, riveting and often humorous real-life story of three young boxers from the same inner-city Dublin boxing club.Ó I highly recommend Saviours if you happen to come across it. Oranges had an all-star cast and was screened at the Kent Community House Theater 1.
Also, I attended the Filmmaker's Gala held at Area 51 on Saturday afternoon. I got the opportunity to speak to many of the other attending filmmakers as well as the cinematographer Julio Macat. In attendance was also Louis Lombardi, from 24 fame, who was promoting his movie, Doughboys . One of the highlights was meeting the local reporter Doug Branson. Doug and I met at the Maysles workshop and he eventually interviewed me both on and off camera for the festival. Once I have more of Doug's work I'll post links.
Thanks to the festival directors, Frank and Patrice Galterio, for all their hard work and dedication. The Festival was truly a wonderful time.
I've posted pictures of the festival. The pictures can be found under Photo Gallery or just by clicking here. The pictures are of opening night, the short program screening and of the town of Kent. Also, look for my friends Omar Kasrawi and Midori ÔMimiÓ Kano in some of the pictures. They attended the festival with me. Thanks Guys!
3/3/08
The Kent Film Festival has posted the schedule for their 3rd annual festival being held in Kent, Connecticut from March 27th through March 30th. Dark Side of the Sole will be apart of the shorts block that are screening at noon on Sunday March 30th at the Community House Theater 2. The other shorts look interesting and I hope everyone can come out to see it! There are lots of movies to see, a few workshops and a filmmakers gala. Keep checking in to see more news!
2/25/08
Jake Leg Films next short, ÒYou Or MeÓ is nearing completion. The target date is Thursday March 13 th , 2008. The third cut was recently finished, and I'm very happy with what has been accomplished, so far. However a ton of work remains. The great Tanya Malik has again agreed to be the graphics director. Look for a reorganization of the JLF website, production photos, stills, posters, (maybe a trailer!) and more! Check back in for updates!
2/24/08
ÒDark Side of the SoleÓ was recently selected to be apart of The Third Annual Kent Film Festival, in Kent, Connecticut! The festival is being held from Thursday, March 27 to Sunday, March 30, 2008. The link to site is:
http://www.kentfilmfestival.org/
Quoting directly from the festivals front page:
The Festival promises to be full of thought provoking films by independent and established film makers, interesting workshops and lively discussions with a chance to meet artists at several open and informal social events.
Located at the foothills of the Berkshires, in Kent, CT, the Housatonic Valley provides the perfect setting for the festival. Mixing films, workshops, and the lovely setting, this festival is set apart from the hustle and bustle typically associated with festivals. Screening and workshop venues include the Community House, Kent Memorial Library, various buildings in the Kent Green. Award-winning investigative film director Dr. Gary Null will be screening "Vaccine Nation" which challenges the basic health claims by government health agencies and pharmaceutical firms.
I'm very proud and excited to be apart of this unique festival. The screening for DSS has yet to be scheduled. Check back to the site for updates and I'll post all the information as I receive it. I hope to see you there!
01/09/08
Happy New Year to everyone! Last year was a big year for me and for Jake Leg Films. So far, the New Year holds even more promise. There are several projects in post-production and a few new shorts in pre-production. I'm hoping that the New Year will bring an increase in output.
Yesterday, Tuesday January 8, 2008 was the final day of shooting for the next short, You Or Me . Taking advantage of an unseasonably warm day, we shot in Philadelphia at Fitler's Square, a small park near center city. The actress Shannon Bolcer came down from Connecticut to play the role of a young mother and my nephew, Maddox Weirich, played the role of her toddler son. Chau Nguyen helped out behind the camera and my mother was around to make sure my nephew didn't act too much like a prima dona!
Usually, the park is barren during weekday mornings but the warm weather seemed to encourage all the locals to head to one of the smaller parks in the area, making the filming conditions less than ideal. However, everyone was willing to adjust to the situation and I think I got the coverage I needed. We'll see what happens in the editing room!
I was able to take some production photos, and hopefully I'll have the chance to post them soon.
11/20/07
The latest short from Jake Leg Films, You Or Me, is now in production. Filming started on Wednesday, November 7th , with additional days on Sunday, November 11th , and Saturday, November 17th .
The shooting schedule is now 60% complete, with another shooting day scheduled for Wednesday, November 21st . The last day of shooting has yet to be scheduled but the attempt is to have everything shot before December.
Set in Philadelphia, PA, You Or Me is a small, quiet short film about a young man struggling through adult decisions in a relationship. The story pivots on how little observations and realizations can have a considerable impact on crucial decisions.
The short is another exercise in no-budget independent guerrilla film making with the emphasis on storytelling and the desire to make films.
I hope to be able to share the story before the New Year.
11/19/07
Last Tuesday November 13th, 2007, Jake Leg Films shot the new promotional music video for the musician Randall Moore in New York City. Randall had contributed tracks the short film Dark Side of the Sole . The background music in the scenes beginning with the food critic was his.
Randall describes his music as improvisational music influenced highly by jazz great Cecil Taylor. Similar to Taylor's, Moore's music can be characterized by an extremely energetic, physical approach, producing exceedingly complex improvised sounds, frequently involving tone clusters and intricate polyrhthms. Treating the piano as if they were drums, Moore's music is dense and percussive, resembling modern classical music as much as jazz.
The shooting was cramped and minimalist, allowing the artist to just play without any interference or distraction. I'm very happy with the raw footage. We captured 2 extended songs, or Ômoods,' and also added some brief off the cuff interviews. The final edit of the promotional video should be done before the New Year. I'm also hoping to work with the footage to turn it into a mini-documentary. I'll just have to wait and see what happens in the editing process.
10/09/07
The Wildwood By The Sea Film Festival was held in Wildwood, New Jersey, a beach town in Southern New Jersey from September 27th to the 30th. DSS was screened on Friday afternoon inside the Wildwood Convention Center as part of the ÒShort Program.Ó Positioned over the beach, the Wildwood Convention Center was located right off of the famous Wildwood Boardwalk. The facilities were top notch, and I really enjoyed being able to see DSS on a large screen with a high quality projection. The master shots of New York City really popped.
I was able to attend two days of the festival. On the first night I went to the opening night screening of Robert Davi's ÒThe Dukes,Ó starring Robert Davi, Chazz Palminteri, and Peter Bogdanovich. Before the movie, the Doo-Wop group The Emeralds performed. (Wildwood, NJ bills itself as the Doo-Wop capital of the world and The Dukes is a movie that centers on a former Doo-Wop group.) The Emeralds were fantastic and even sang one of my favorite songs ÒDon't ask me to be Lonely,Ó originally by The Dubs. Here's a link to The Emeralds webpage: www.theemeraldsmusic.com
To see more about ÒThe DukesÓ here's the IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470737/ 
Along with a packed house, Robert Davi was in attendance and after the screening had a question and answer session with the audience. Here's Davi's IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001108/
The after party for the opening night of the festival was held at Garfield's Giardino Ristorante in downtown Wildwood. The place had a local band for entertainment. The evening was very nice and I was able to meet many of the filmmakers and festival directors as well as The Emeralds. I was also able to have a nice conversation with Robert Davi. I highly recommend watching his movie if you get the chance. At the end of the evening the festival presented him with an award for his contributions to the festival.
The highlight of the evening came when the house band took a break. Frank Stallone, who was brought in by the festival to run a workshop on how to score a movie, ran up to the stage and borrowed the guitar. A former member of the Doo-Wop band The Orlons picked up the bass, and Frank's friend from high school jumped behind the drums. The newly formed trio blasted out some of the best blues that I've ever heard live. Literally, Frank brought the house down, and it's one of the best bar band moments I've ever had. Frank's had a lengthy and successful movie career in his own right. Here's Frank's IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0821734/
Frank was really energetic, supportive and I'm really grateful that he made it to the festival.
Thanks to the festival directors, Shawn Swords, Paul Russo, Conrad Zimmer, Blake Wilcox, and Paul Russo Jr., for all their hard work and dedication. The Festival was truly a wonderful time.
I've posted pictures of the festival. The pictures can be found under the publicity stills or just by clicking here. The pictures are of opening night, the short program screening and of Wildwood. Also, look for my mother in some of the pictures. She attended the festival with me.
9/24/07
I've been away from the computer for a couple weeks so there are plenty of updates!
First, thanks to everyone who made it out for the ÒHowl FestivalÓ on September 9th , 2007. The Howl festival features such performers as Moby, Chi Chi Valenti and Johnny Dynell, and brings out such people as Bjork and Caleb Carr. Jim Jarmusch states, "The HOWL! Festival is a welcome celebration of the diverse ongoing history irrepressibly floating up from the Lower East Side like...smoke."
I was in an original one act by Maria Micheles titled, ÒAn actressÓ that featured Kaitlyn Riordan . I played the male counter to Kaitlyn's character. Jill Harrison directed the play. We performed at the famous Gene Frankel Theater in downtown Manhattan on Bond St. After the one acts, a few local and international poets took the stage to pay homage to the famous New York City poets, such as Allen Ginsberg, as well as to stake a claim to the city for themselves. I have worked with both Maria and Jill a few times and each time has been more fun than the last. I hope to work again with them soon!
Here's a link to the Howl Festival page:
In Jake Leg Films news, the Wildwood by the Sea Film Festival is this week. I hope to see some familiar faces. The opening festivities are on Thursday night September 27 th at 10pm. The Party will be at Garfield's Giardino Ristorante that is located at 3800 Pacific & Garfield Ave, Wildwood, NJ Ð 609-729-0120. They're planning on having two Philly Doo-wop bands perform. The night should be a lot of fun.
The screening of ÒDark Side of the SoleÓ will be on Friday September 29 th , 2007 beginning at 1 pm at the Wildwood Convention Center. DSS will be apart of their ÒShort Program.Ó The Wildwood Convention is right on the beach and right off of the famous Wildwood Boardwalk. The Short Program will take place in venue one inside the convention center. Tickets to all events can be purchased at the door to each event or prior at ÒCool ScoopsÓ which is located at 12 th and NJ Ave in North Wildwood.
I plan on attending the premiere of ÒThe DukesÓ starring Robert Davi, Chazz Palminteri, and Peter Boganovich, on Thursday night at 8.30 pm at Frank's Theater. The Movie is described as ÒUnderneath the laughter, "The Dukes" is a film that explores the intricacies of re-defining yourself, dealing with lost fame, and holding onto your true self in changing times.Ó I will also be at the opening festivities following ÒThe Dukes,Ó and then attending the screening of DSS on Friday. I hope to see everyone there!
In other Jake Leg news, the pre-production on the next short is almost finished. The short titled, ÒYou Or Me,Ó is aiming for a start date sometime in October, once the shooting schedule is finalized. Stay posted either here or at www.jakelegfilms.com for the latest news, casting and pictures!
8/5/07
The New Filmmakers Series of New York City and Los Angeles has recently accepted ÒDark Side of the Sole.Ó The screening will be at the Anthology Film Archives in the East Village of Manhattan. Although the schedule is still not finished, DSS will be apart of the Fall lineup. New Filmmakers specializes giving independent and low budget movies a chance to screen in NYC. I had originally selected the Anthology Film Archives to have the premiere because of the popularity of the New Filmmakers Series. I'll send out more information as it comes to me. For now you can click here for the website:
This is how the New Filmmakers bills itself:
The NewFilmmakers Series began in 1998 and over the past seven years has screened over 400 feature and 1,500 short films. In 200 we brought the Havana Film festival to new York and in 2002 we started NewFilmmakers Los Angeles. Many well-known shorts and feaures have had their initial screenings at NewFilmmaker - including TOO MUCH SLEEP, ZERO DAY, and THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. NewFilmmakers selects films and videos often overlooked by traditional film festivals. NewFilmmakers New York screens every Wednesday at Anthology Film Archives and usually has its Docks, Mocks and More Program at 6:00, Short Films at 7:00, and a Feature Presentation at 8:00
8/4/07
ÒDark Side of the SoleÓ was recently accepted into the Wildwood By The Sea Film Festival In Wildwood, NJ. Wildwood is a great Southern New Jersey beach town steeped in history and tradition. When I was in high school, Wildwood and its boardwalk was the beach destination for all teenagers to celebrate the summer. I'm extremely excited about being accepted and I hope everyone can come to the screening at the Jersey Shore. The Festival is still working on the programming schedule, so I'll post more information as it comes. You can click here for more information: http://www.wildwoodbytheseafilmfest.com/ .
The festival is going to be the last weekend of September, the 27th -30th.
Here's how the festival bills itself:
Welcome to the inaugural ÒWildwood By The Sea Film Film FestivalÓ located in "The Doo Wop Capital of the World" Wildwood, New Jersey. Our goal this year is to provide a thoroughly entertaining and substantive film festival, which will evolve in a few short years into a world class festival, attracting the most talented filmmakers from the global film community. We want filmmakers to exhibit their new films in a filmmaker friendly environment and continue to return to The Wildwoods to exhibit their new projects on a regular basis. There are an abundance of restaurants, clubs and motels within walking distance of the festival as well as doo wop trolleys to help festival attendees travel to screenings and other festival related activities. Wildwood's large, beautiful beaches and world famous boardwalk are all within walking distance as well. There are also tram cars to help traverse the boardwalk. The festival will have a doo wop theme with lots of entertainment provided nightly, with musical acts from the 50's and 60's in addition to popular contemporary bands. We hope that you'll attend and become part of a new annual tradition at the Jersey Shore.
7/21/07
This past Monday July 16th, I went to Harlem to take the headshots for Num Amun 'Tehu. Num is a musician and actor. He currently fronts the band the NuAfrikans and has played with and along side such titans of the music industry as Burning Spear and Kanye West, among many others. I have known Num for years and I wanted to try to capture some of the warmth, excitement and liveliness that he exhibits on stage. We ended up taking over 500 shots! We were after many different things, possible headshots or even an album cover for his latest work. I've edited the selection down to 12 of my favorite shots. You can find the set under the PROJECTS page or just by clicking this picture:
Num is currently working on his webpage www.nuafrika.net and can be found on myspace.
7/20/07
This past week I was contacted to help produce a 60 second Public Service Announcement for the www.helpsameer.org foundation. The 60-second spot was to air on WYBE TV in New Jersey, this weekend and next weekend. The website states:
Sameer's wife, Reena, is a very good friend of mine from college. The Ôhelpsameer.org' has joined forces with www.helpvinay.org, a foundation started to help another person who has been afflicted with Leukemia. Kal Penn, along with a few other actors, was kind enough to donate their time to shoot a few PSAs for Vinay. I was allowed to use part of this PSA and stretch it into a longer piece ready for television.
The piece has been posted on google video, youtube, ifilm, and video yahoo all under the title www.helpsameer.org . You can also click here to see it on yahoo video:
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=816693
Please help in any way you can.
7/19/07
Thanks to everyone who showed up for the screening of DSS last night, July 18th, at the Tank in Tribeca. DSS was the first short screened in a line-up of three shorts, before the feature length, "The A-List" by Shira-Lee Shalit. You might not have seen me in the audience, since I was up in the booth. The Tank enlisted me to work the projector for the evening.
Damon Shalit, the star and writer of "The A-List," was also in attendance. I have links to their official websites on the links page but you can also link here:
The Harvard Film Club: http://www.harvardfilmgroup.com/
The A-List official website: http://www.a-list-themovie.com/
The A-List on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377320/
Thanks again to the Tank and Barney Oldfield, who coordinates the Harvard Film Club, as well as the New Filmmakers series. I hope to see everyone at the next screening, and don't forget to see DSS online!
7/10/07
DSS has been selected to be apart of a screening for the movie the ÒA LISTÓ by Shira-Lee Shalit and starring Sally Kirkman, Daphne Zuniga and Damon Shalit. The screening is on Wednesday July 18th at the Tank, in Tribeca, Manhattan. The link to the Tank is http://thetanknyc.org/. The screening is being presented by the Harvard Film Group and their link is: http://www.harvardfilmgroup.com/. The address for the Tank is: The Tank @ Collective: Unconscious is located at 279 Church Street between Franklin and White.
To get to The Tank by subway take:
A, C, E, J, M, Z, N, Q, R, W, Z, or 6 to Canal Street
1 to Franklin Street
CONTACTING THE TANK
By Mail: The Tank, P.O. Box 2026, New York, NY 10013
By Phone: 212.563.6269
By Email: info@thetanknyc.org
The screening starts at 7 pm and tickets are $7. I hope to see everyone there!
6/9/07
Ok, now it's official! After many years of hard work, and now many months of waiting, anyone can see Dark Side of the Sole at anytime!!! Jake Leg Films first fictional short has been posted on YahooVideo (which works in tandem with IFilm) and GoogleVideo (which works with Youtube). I recommend watching it on iFilm, the initial viewing screen on GoogleVideo seems disproportionate. So, watch the short and I hope you enjoy it! Then watch it again, and again, and again, and then forward to your friends, and people who arenÕt really your friends, but that you somewhat know and have them watch it, again and again and again!
Watch it on YahooVideo: DSS on Yahoo Video
Watch it on iFilm: DSS on iFilm
Watch it on Google: DSS on Google
Stay Tuned for Festival Updates!!
6/8/07
The reading on Thursday was really great. I played the role of Ethan, in a play titled 'Slow Burn' by Kristen Lazarian. Thanks to everyone who made it out, and although I won't be in next Thursday's reading, I definitely recommend people to go. Lillian is doing many interesting thing through the Living Room Reading Series, and it's a great way to check out new plays in their infancy. Hopefully, I'll be able to help out and participate again soon!
6/5/07
My friend Lillian Ribeiro asked me to do a reading for an original play this Thursday June 7, 2007 in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Here's some of the information that was sent my way:
Hope to see you there!!!
6/4/07
On Sunday, May 27th, 2007, I was in the short play "New Miss...Ms. Un-America Pageant," by Maria Micheles. I played the role of 'Dick' the host of the pageant. The show was apart The 12th Annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts presented by Theater for the New City.
I had a great time working with the cast, the organist, Peter Dizozza, and the director Leah Vonvissuto. It was also great to be up on my feet in front of an audience again after concentrating on "Dark Side of the Sole" for the last couple of months. I can't wait to work with Maria and Leah again soon!
As a bonus, someone's mother actually video taped the production and quickly posted it to the net. I deliberated on whether or not to share it. After working on DSS I've become a bit of a nut about what I share to the larger world, but after reviewing a few parts, it does capture the fun and spontinaity of the event. So, here it is!
http://rearwindows.net/RWMoviesonDemand/2007/FirstMsUnAmPageant.wmv
5/22/07
A few weeks ago I submitted to the ÔBig Bang Film FestivalÕ held in October in Philadelphia, PA. ThereÕs no word on whether DSS has been accepted, yet theyÕve included some information of DSS on their website! You can click here, http://www.bigbangfilmfestival.com/display.php?film=2156 to see the page! From their webpage the festival is described as:
We are pleased to announce the Big Bang Film Festival which is a celebration of some of the most exciting and inventive films in Action, Adventure, Suspense and Asian Action Cinema. BBFF will showcase amazing films, some classics, some classics in the making.
BBFF is dedicated to providing a variety of quality films: independents, features, documentaries, foreign films, shorts, and animation. We hope audiences of all ages and cinematic tastes will join us for the adventure.
Philadelphia is an amazing place for film; every neighborhood is a treasure trove of sights, sounds and history. In the last 10 years, more than 80 films have been made in
Philadelphia including Lady in the Water, CharlotteÕs Web and The Woodsman. The list is growing quickly. The BBFF is a perfect fit for this action-packed, filmmaking city.
The BBFF only happens with the support of our filmmakers, audience members and generous sponsors. We are searching for fresh, bold voices in new American and International cinema and adventurous movie goers to share enjoy them.
CHECK IT OUT!!!
5/21/07
Recently, I haven't had the chance to update the sites as frequently as I want. The premiere and rehearsals have kept me busy. I've been cast in a show for 12th Annual The Lower East Side Festival of the Arts presented by Theater for the New City. The play I'm performing is the "New Miss...Ms. Un-America Pageant," by Maria Micheles. I'm playing the role of 'Dick' the host of the pageant.
The show goes up this Sunday, May 27th, 9:00pm at the Theater For the New City, 155 First Avenue at 10th Street, in the basement theater. For tickets or information you can call 212-254-1109 or log onto www.theaterforthenewcity.net
So, far the rehearsals have been alot of fun and I'm looking forward to a busy week of preparation and then the performance. I had work with Maria Micheles before in February of this past year on a show 'Flowers for me' which was part of the Very Cool Winter Showcase of One Act readings. Maria's really talented and it's great that we got to work together again, so soon. I hope everyone can come out and see it!
5/20/07
On Tuesday May 8th, Dark Side of the Sole was premiered at the Anthology Film Archives on 2nd Avenue and 2nd Street in the East Village of Manhattan, New York City! The turnout was great, and many thanks to everyone who came out on a school night to send off this short film in the right direction. The feedback was extremely enthusiastic, energetic and positive. I wish everybody who has been supportive could have attended, but I was extremely appreciative of the people who did make it. The night went by in a blur and I was unable to spend as much time with everyone as I had hoped. The after party ended up at DempseyÕs pub, an East Village staple. There are a few pictures posted of the evening, from the theater and the after party. Thanks again to everyone, and it was a great way to not only commemorate the completion but also to have everyone come together. The film has been entered into a few festivals and weÕre still waiting to hear back from a few short film websites for the posting of DSS. I canÕt wait for everyone to see it!
Please go to the official site at www.jakelegfilms.com to see all the pictures and updates!
4/20/07
Finally, there's a trailer for Dark Side of the Sole posted at www.jakelegfilms.com. Click to the page, and then click the hyperlink for the trailer page. Allow some time for the trailer to load, but it's definitely worth it. Also, while on the site, check out the other postings. Most of Tanya Malik's graphic design is on the site. I can't praise her enough for her dedication, hard work and professionalism. Plus, the designs look fantastic!
The trailer has also been posted to the DSS myspace page.
Keep coming back for all DSS updates!
4/15/07
The designs are going great, Tanya is doing a fantastic job. I'm very excited about how well everything is progressing. I'm still making a few final tweaks on the short, and the DVD package. Hopefully, this week I'll be able to take a few hours and make a one minute trailer. Postcards, posters and business cards are coming. I have a few scouts out looking for a good places on the web to post the film after the premiere. Keep checking in!
New MySpace page for the Dark Side : http://www.myspace.com/darksideofthesole
Don't forget about my old MySpace page for me: http://www.myspace.com/jonathanweirich
Check out all the new updates on the short and the newest designs at www.jakelegfilms.com
4/13/07
YES! www.jakelegfilms.com !! CHECK IT OUT!!!! The short is coming out soon...stay tuned!!!
4/11/07
I'm working full time on the marketing plan for DARK SIDE OF THE SOLE. These past weeks have been extremely exciting and productive. The NYC premiere screening will be on Tuesday May 8th at 8pm at the Anthology Film Archives on 2nd Avenue and 2nd Street in the Maya Deren Theater. For now, since seating is limited, the screening is a private party for cast and crew. I wanted to say thanks to everyone who helped out and worked on the film before I entered it into festivals and posted it on the web. However, as the show date nears I'm sure I'll be able to find tickets for anyone who wants to come. Let me know as early as possible.
For those interested, here's a link to the Archives: http://www.anthologyfilmarchives.org/facilities/theaters/
Also, as part of the marketing blitz, I've finally started making a page for Jake Leg Films. www.jakelegfilms.com
Check it out! It's very similar to this site, but just different enough. This site will remain a promotion for my acting career plus the various other projects. Jake Leg Films will be more concerned with the promotion of the short and the film projects. Bookmark both! It's still in the rough stages, but eventually there will be fun things to click through.
Along with the screening and the new website, the final DVDs are being completed. Plus, Tanya is diligently working on creating the posters so everyone can send out email flyers. There will be new business cards, festivals to badger, and eventually a posting of the short on the web so everyone around the world can click on and participate in NYC punk rock film making! Even my long lost college roommate can see it, and he's in some country named India! Go Figure!
4/4/07
Before I left for Cairo, I had a small premiere for DARK SIDE OF THE SOLE on Friday March 23. The premiere was at my parents house in Southern New Jersey, for my parents and a few friends. I finished the movie the day before and was working on producing a DVD when my computer began to behave strangely. I thought I would have a nice easy time before I premiered the short, however my computer had other plans. I had to back everything up and then dramatically repair my harddrive by using an outside software (thank you disk warrior!). The intention was to show the DVD on my parents system, but due to the technical difficulties I had to show the short in my room off of the editing dock.
Technical difficulties aside, I think the viewing went really well. Everyone was excited, and a bit relieved, that the short was finally completed.
At the moment, I'm in the process of figuring out how I'm going about to distribute and market the short. I'm planning on having a screening in NYC for everyone who participated in the short from the area. Then from there, I'll post it to the web and enter it into a few festivals. Also, I have to work through the technical problems I was having before I left for Cairo. However, the important thing is that DARK SIDE is finally finished, and I can't wait to share it with everyone! Thanks for all the support and check back frequently!
4/3/07
I got back from Cairo, Egypt late Sunday night. The trip was truly a unique moment in life. I loved every moment. The city was incredible, awesome, overwhelming, confrontational, abrasive, and at times frustrating. I'm grateful for the opportunity to go, and the trip abroad came at a really good time for me, but I'm in no great hurry to return. I guess I'm ready to get back to work. I'll try to edit the 2000 photos we took down to something postable and I'll put it up in the projects section, but that might take some time. For now I'll just put this pic up of me by the pyramids!
3/11/07
Over the past month, fantastic progress has been made on completing DARK SIDE OF THE SOLE ! I'm in the final stages of fine tuning the edits and audio. Terris Ko, friend and producer extraordinare, has helped immensely in refining the short. I'm confident that I'll easily make the due date of March 23rd. However, I'm leaving on March 24th for Cairo, Egypt for 7 days for a friend's wedding. I'm not sure if I'll have the short posted to the web by then, but as anyone knows who's been following my journey with this little movie, knows, finishing is the most important. Once I've figured out a premiere, everyone will get an email!
2/12/07
This past week, I helped a friend shoot and edit a short entitled "Musings." "Musings" is writer, producer, director, Karen Kwan's short film about two starcrossed artists who try to find love in New York City. The scheduling was very intense. The goal was to enter a short film into the 2007 Asian International Film Festival. The original due date Friday February 9th. After a series of rewrites, we did the bulk of the shooting in one day and left only a few days for editing. On Friday, Karen received an email saying that the festival was extending their due date. She is now cleaning up the audio and hopes to have the project submitted by the new date.
Overall, the project presented a great opportunity to work on the technical side of someone else's project. The project allowed me to try to cram everything I've learned about filming and production into one week. Plus, I gained a new perspective on my own work, while still gaining invaluable lessons and experiences. Once Karen finishes the fine tuning I'll try to post a link so everyone can see it.
In more Jake Leg Film news the official due date for "Dark Side of the Sole" will be Friday March 23rd, 2007. I have my own fine tuning to do, but no matter what, you'll see a version of it by that date!
2/11/07
On Tuesday, February 6th I was in the reading of "Flowers for Me" by Maria Micheles. The original play was apart of the Very Cool Winter Showcase of One-Act Readings for the Brooklyn Playwrights Collectiveat the Theater for the New City in the East Village of New York City. Jill Harrison did a fantastic job directing and I had a great time working with the other actors, Jenny Kirlin, Barry Roswell, and Catherine Porter. Thanks to everyone who made it out on a very chilly winter night. I hope you had as much fun as I did, and I hope I get the chance to work with everyone again soon!
2/10/07
Okay, I've finally done it. After many suggestions and urgings from friends and how useful it might be, I've registered a myspace page. I'm not completely sure what to do with it, yet, nor how I'm going to use it. But for all those interested you can link to it here:
http://www.myspace.com/jonathanweirich
Once, things settle down and I get my short done, I'll figure out some fun things for the page. I hear it's a great way to self-promote!
1/23/07
The name of the first fictional short for Jake Leg Films has been changed. The short, for now, has been retitled "Dark Side of the Sole." (Yes, bad pun intended!). Thanks to friend and Tribe Alum Alex Moody for the suggestion. After spending so much time on the short, the old title was grating me, and I believed a change was necessary to get through the last stages of post-production and to be able to release the short soon.
In other DSS news, I'd like to welcome a couple of additions to the post-production team. Tanya Malik has been helping with the art and movie images. Her initial ideas were fantastic and I hope to have a movie poster to share soon. Check out some of her previous work here: http://tanyamalik.com/index.html
Randall Moore, a New York City musician whose sound is reminiscent of Brian Eno, has agreed to help with the audio and soundtrack. You can hear some of his previous work at his site: http://www.randymoore.org/index.html
I'm extremely excited by the work that has been completed and very anxious to share the end result. Hopefully, all the loose threads will be tied up before long. I'll keep posting progress reports.
1/22/07
I was recently cast to do a reading for an original play: "Flowers for Me" by Maria Micheles. The reading is going to be Tuesday, February 6th, 7-9pm at the Theatre for the New City. The theater is located at 155 1st Avenue, between East 9th and East 10th Streets. The play is a one act and combined with a few other plays. Jill Harrison is directing. She was the Assisstant Director for the "An Evening with Family" show. I have a lead role, and I think the play is great fun! Come check it out!!
1/5/07
I've posted some of the headshots that I recently did for two of the actors from "An Evening with Family." The link to the picture page can be found under projects, then clicking either the picture or the word 'headshots,' or you can just click here:
On the page there are only 20 pictures out of over 1500 that I originally took. I selected what I thought would pass closest to being conventional professional headshots. I had a great time working with the actors. We were able to collaborate and find common ground between the ideas they had of what a headshot should be and the images that I wanted to try. I had many experimental shots of working with figures in a cityscape that would never succeed in getting actors more work. I just thought they were really interesting. I might edit those down and post them later. Again, if anyone needs new headshots, contact me, and something can be negotiated.
The first actor is Anthony 'Tony' Stevenson. Here's a link to his myspace page: www.myspace.com/AnthonyStevenson
The other actor is David Skigen.
1/4/07
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I realize that it's been a long while since my last post, but it hasn't been for a lack of activity. I just haven't been able to get to my computer to update the site.
To begin with, the last three performances of "An Evening with Family" were fantastic. More people came to each show than the previous, and our final performance was standing room only. The whole festival was a great success. Vaclav Havel made the rounds to the shows, partied on his birthday, and the festival had several write ups, including one in the New York Times. Thanks to everyone who made it to the Brick Theater in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I had a great time with the cast and finally being able to work with the director Glory Sims Bowen.
The week before Thanksgiving I was invited to participate in a reading for Glory Sims Bowen's latest project. I don't want to give too much away, cause I'm just not sure how much is known, but it was a "Wilde" affair. Look for her next show to be going up sometime in the New Year at the Looking Glass Theater. Thanks to Glory and the cast for making it an interesting evening.
Also, I've branched out into taking professional headshots for actors. After seeing some of my work, two of my cast-mates from "An Evening with Family" asked me to take new headshots for them. Both sessions were great successes. I found the project to be interesting. There are certain things that I've been searching for through acting, filmmaking and still photography. Until this point, most of the work that I've put on the website or that I've shown to people have been landscapes, cityscapes, or buildings. The pictures I have of people are for the most part, private. The challenge for me was to make sure the actors got a shot that they needed and could professionally use, yet still try to see how much of a style I could bring to the session. The actors were really great to work with, willing to try atypical shooting locations and uncommon perspectives as we tried to collaborate to find the right headshot. I hope to have some of the pictures posted to this site soon. If anyone needs new headshots, I'm more than willing to talk and work out a deal.
Progress has been very slow on the short. The last couple of months with the show and then the holiday season have kept me away from the editing machine. In the first weekend of December there was an almost disaster. My computer misplaced all of the original raw footage. For a few hours I thought I had lost a year's worth of work. However, I was able to find most of the footage except 15 minutes (out of 12 hours). I only really lost about a days worth of work. Much better than the one year I thought I was confronting. I'm tweaking the final cut, and working on the audio tracks, sound effects and music. I've sought out help for the promotional work and some of the music tracks. Hopefully, it will all pull together by the end of the month. Also, the title is being changed. I've gotten some really great suggestions from Alex Moody and others. The working title (since summer project '04 no longer works) is notCHoD. There will be more about the title later.
So, for the New Year, the goals are to finally finish notCHoD, and somehow to put myself in the game (think paid acting workÉof a tvshow/movie/paid theater/ kind!). If anyone wants to offer prayers, or even tangible help (!) it's greatly appreciated! Thanks for all the help and support and I wish everyone the best in the New Year!
11/7/06
"An Evening with Family" has been a very interesting experience. We've completed six performances and have three more to go. The next one is a matinee on Saturday, November 11th. This is the world English premiere of "An Evening with Family," Havel's first one act play. There have been great audiences, and I think the next couple of shows the audience size will increase, as we come nearer to closing. "An Evening with Family" is partnered up with "Guardian Angel," a one act radio script by Havel. Both plays are very noteworthy not only because of Havel, but also the era from which they came. Many thanks to all those that have braved the trip to Williamsburg, Brooklyn; and thanks to those who are about to enjoy the journey. From "Guardian Angel" comes a great quote:
"Cozy mess is better than ordered discomfort."
To check out pictures from the production, link to http://www.fhbtheaterproductions.biz/ ; there are new pictures of the show on the site taken by the director Glory Sims Bowen.
In other news, the short is closer to being done. I was hoping to have a trailer out by this time, however I've been in NYC for two weeks straight working on the play and haven't had the chance to get to my editing equipment. Again the time frame has been derailed a bit, but it's getting ever closer to be finished. In fact, I've reopened some scripts that I've had laying around, and started reviewing, prepping and sharing, with the notion that there will be another short to shoot for the winter. Also, by pulling the old scripts out and sharing with some old friends, I'm hoping to kick start a writing collaboration process that will lead to even more things on the horizon. But I feel I'm getting ahead of myself. More to come later.
As for the Union League documentaries, I filmed the history series on October 17th, a presentation titled "Faces and Places" by Jim Mundy. The movie has been cut and edited and at the moment I'm just waiting for some pictures so I can drop them within the DVD. There have been some changes recently at the Union League, but I hope to continue this relationship into the next year.
10/11/06
Just a reminder for the show that I'll be in for the Vaclav Havel birthday festival. Rehearsals are in full swing. It's a great cast and i'm having alot of fun. Again here's the link to "An Evening with Family" webpage: http://www.fhbtheaterproductions.biz/
As even more incentive to link to the page, I was asked to take the press photos. I posted a few on that page, and more photos on the link off of that page. I think some of the photos came out nice!
10/10/06
On Thursday, October 5th, I handed in my latest movie for the Union League of Philadelphia. I filmed the "President's Reception" on September 28th in the League's Lincoln room. League President Frank Giordano acted as the host of the evening, as the Legue commemorated the accomplishments of various members, including the twentieth anniversary of the first women members. The filming posed an interesting challanged, since the room was cavernous with many dark areas. However, I am very happy with the end result. This was the first movie I made for the Union League that was outside of the "Your History Series."
My next scheduled filming for the Union League will be on October 17th, for the October presentation of "Your Union League History Series."
9/21/06
Recently, I was cast to be in the Vaclav Havel birthday festival in New York City. I'm going to be in the one-act "An Evening With Family," directed by Glory Sims Bowen. There will be two one acts performed together as a complete show. I have a very small role without any lines. However, I'm very excited to be apart of a great cast, and a fantastic festival celebrating one of the most important men of the Twentieth Century. Here's a link to Vaclav Havel's wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaclav_Havel And here's the information for the show - hope to see you there!
8/29/06
Completed production on the August DVD for the Union League of Philadelphia's "Your History Series." The event was on 8/15/06 and featured a presentation by the historian James A. Mundy. The topic was "Saints and Sinners," a discussion of some of the strongest personalities involved with the League and Philadelphia in the 19th century. This is the third DVD for the Union League, and has contributed to a very productive and exciting Summer for Jake Leg Films.
8/24/06
Years after beginning, all principle shooting of CHoD has finally been completed! The last day of filming was on Monday, August 21st. Coincidentally, the last day of filming was the shooting of the final scene. We filmed at an elementary school (that shall remain unnamed!) in Southern New Jersey. Many thanks to long time family friend Renee, for her kindnes, generosity and especially patience, for providing access to the location. William Growney courageously left the civilized world of New York City, riding on the traveling test tube of TB, also known as Greyhound, to experience true guerilla filmmaking. Plus, Bill had to catch a seven in the morning bus, and experience the swamps of South Jersey; not exactly off-Broadway. Thanks for the enthusiasm and dedication Bill. Here's a plug for Bill, a link to his podcast: www.whosamawhatsits.blogspot.com
Terris Ko provided the necessary guidance of the Executive Producer. With Terris' help, the script actually became something that was possible to shoot. My brother, Christian, filled in as the camera operator. Another coincidence, since he was there as a cameraman/actor on the first day of filming (which was the first scene!). After many years, scripts, casting changes, sea changes, etc., I couldn't have asked for a nicer way to wrap.
I hope to have a trailer out in a few weeks, and then the final cut shortly thereafter. I'll keep posting a progress report, links, and any changes. I've recently felt the urge to change the title. Feel free to send me any suggestions. And, with the end of this short in sight, preproduction on the other shorts have been restarted!
7/30/06
The filming for the July presentation of the Union League of Philadelphia's "Your History Series" was on Wednesday July 19th. I completed the production of their DVD on Friday, July 28. This is the second DVD I have produced for the Union League. Presented by former League President Nelson Harris, the topic was "Your Father's Union League," and the discussion covered how the Union League has changed since the early Twentieth century. Again, the experience was nothing but positive and I look forward to doing more work for the League.
7/25/06
CHoD is back up and running!!! Yes, after months of editing, and editing, and re-editing, plus pairing it down to a rough cut, then the second and eventual third rough cut, we were finally able to get back out in the field. We started rehearsals with actors on July 12th. All the roles are now cast. I had three scenes left, and after Thursday July 20, I now have only one scene left to shoot. Well, to be fair, I have one shooting day left, which would be the ending, but I'm not going to start cutting hairs. Thursday was alot of fun and a great experience. I am actually starting to think there's an ending in sight. I watched the footage this afternoon, and I'm very satisfied with what I have and I'm excited with what it might become. Special thanks to the actors who made it out and were willing to work in extreme guerilla punk rock style filming conditions. The actors were enthusiastic and unflappable. Suneet Bhatt played the restaurant manager 'Dwayne,' and Tom McCarten played 'The Critic.' Suneet, good luck in Chicago, and Tom, have fun in Ireland. Terris Ko was there as well to make sure I was actually recording. Special plug for 'Ember Films' http://www.harryotter.net/
6/22/06
I posted new pics of the City of Brotherly Love. You can find them under the projects menu and then click on Philly June 06 or click this picture: 
. I was trying out a new digital camera, working with angles and lighting. Maybe, trying to do this around noon during the middle of a heat wave in June is a bad idea, but I do like some of the results.
6/21/06
Updated the Links page. Check out some new things! LINKS
6/20/06
Jake Leg Films was recently contracted to document the June 2006 presentation of The Union League of Philadelphia's History Series. The program included a play 'In Sun and Snow' by Mary L. Hagy, performed by the Walnut Street Theater, and a discussion entitled 'Union Victory and a Second War.' On the discussion panel were Robert Engs, Ph. D., from the University of Pennsylvania, and James A. Mundy, the historian of The Union League. The filming took place on June 15th, 2006. The DVD has already been produced. This was a great learning experience and a nice opportunity. I look forward to working with the Union League again. To learn more about the League and it's significance to Philadelphia visit: www.unionleague.org
4/4/06
Not that I'm particularly religious....but now I don't even know what to say! Ok, Ok....soon... I promise this one will be done soon, and then onto the next shorter, easier one!
4/1/06
It's been a long winter. I've had a couple of great auditions recently for some really great work, but nothing has broken my way, yet. In other news, I just completed a second rough cut of CHoD. I'm much happier with the speed of the second cut. I was able to shave off about 5 minutes. However, there is still a ton more to be done!
11/7/05
Thanks to everyone who made it out to the 4th annual Spotlight on Halloween Festival at the Monster in the Village. I was apart of two staged readings. The first was on Saturday October 15th. My friend Andrew Rothkin wrote a piece named Alice on the Edge. The play was a very adult take on the Alice in Wonderland story. I was lucky enough to play the White Rabbit, and the character was very different from the Disney version. Unless I missed the sexual undertones in the movie, that is. The large diverse cast was great to work with and added to an already entertaining script.
The other show I did for the festival was Duncan Pflaster's Prince Trevor Amongst the Elephants. The tag line for this show was, "A big epic Shakespearean fairy-tale play for adults." So, yes, most of the script was written in iambic pentameter, a challanging task for any writer. We performed this on Wednesday October 26th. I got to play Grumbelino, the sidekick for the main character, Trevor. This was also a great time with lots of laughs and an fantastic cast. I do hope that both of these shows get turned into full blown productions so more people can see them, and I can also have more fun playing these characters while working with great casts.
In other news, I'm almost done filming the short. My fall has been surprisingly busy, so I've only been able to shoot in fits and spurts. I have about one full day left of serious shooting. I'm trying to plan the location and date now. I'll keep the updates coming as I make progress. Again thanks for all the support and inquiries!
7/29/05
12 Angriest Women was a great success and a ton of fun. The shows ran for 3 nights last weekend, and seemed to gain steam after each performance. Thanks to everyone who made it out and for the support. Plus, a special thanks to Elias, Rodney and the rest of the cast for a unique, fun and great learning experience. For those who were unable to attend, I did an opening monologue in a dress (I like to think I'm using a Bugs Bunny approach), some voice over work where I was able to practice my Christopher Walken impersonation, and an unusual, interesting, challanging and original serious monologue. There are already plans for another show in October, so maybe there will be a third chance to see me in a dress! Here are some plugs:
7/11/05
The production schedule for C.H.oD. has been updated, and tentatively the shooting will resume a week after 12 Angriest Women on July 29. For now, the shooting should wrap by mid-August and post production will begin immediately. Hopefully the finish product will be done by late August early September. I am still looking for actors and locations (mostly restaurants), so if anyone has any referals, please pass them along. Updates will follow.
Also, I have been writing more this past Spring and early Summer. Two shorts (shorter than C.H.oD. at least) have been added to the production schedule. Both Gathering Moss and The Lift, are in preproduction and the scripts are currently being revised. Brief summaries for each short can be found by clicking the FILMS link above.
7/5/05
12 Angrier Women, the show that I was in this past May, has been brought back for a few new nights in July. The name and the production has morphed into 12 Angriest Women, but the ideas are the same. The show is a collection of monologues and sketches performed by a mostly (and the emphasis is on mostly in my case) female cast. This production has new material, so if you saw the show in May, this experience will be different. Plus, I will be performing some new scenes as well. The shows are on the weekend of July 22, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, all starting at 7 pm. Let me know if you want on the guest list. I might be able to swing a discount. Here's the information:
12 Angriest Women, presented by Black Attire Productions & Loan Star Productions
July 22-24, at Black Box at 440 Studios
440 Lafayette, 3rd Floor, south of Astor Place & 8th St.
Call 212-595-0941 for reservations
or email loanstarprods@aol.com
General admission $15, students and seniors $12 LIMITED SEATING
6/2/05
The photographs that were apart of the original "Philly Sketches" have been revised. After much consideration and deliberation I was able to edit the photos down to a more manageable amount. I think these are the best out of a great session. I changed both links under the Gallery and Project sections. Click on the photograph to bring up the thumbnail page. Then click on the thumbnail to bring up the photos of higher resolution. More can be read about the sessions by clicking on the "Philly Sketches Essay" next to the original linking thumbnail. To see more of Eric's work (that doesn't feature me!) there is a link to his webpage under the Links menu.
5/4/05
I finally posted the new pictures by Eric Mencher. They're the first group under the gallery section of the website, marked Philly2. Or you can go to it by clicking on the previous link. These photos are much lighter and more playful in tone than the ones taken in the fall. Although I ended up using mostly black and white photographs due to some miscoloration in my eyes caused by a cornea inflammation I was battling, some shots are in color. I think the end product of both sessions with Eric compliment each other nicely. As always, I'm just blown away by Eric's eye, his skill and his touch in capturing great images. However, I'm slowly improving my editing skills and there are only 12 pictures posted from the recent session. Also, I'm currently trying to arrange all the photographs into a portfolio, that hopefully I'll be able to show soon.
5/3/05
The shows on Sunday (5/1) and Monday (5/2) were great! Both nights were fairly close to standing room only. Thanks to everyone who was able to make it out and catch some really unique performances. I had a blast working with the other actresses and the directors. I think I might have been the biggest diva in the show (If you missed the show, then you're missing the joke!). Plus, from the feedback from the audience members, the shows appear to have been enthusiastically received. There's a rumor that a new staging of the sketches will be performed in July, so if you missed this performance hopefully you'll get a chance to see it in the summer.
4/21/05
New pictures should be up soon. Recently, Eric Mencher was able take more photos as we walked around downtown Philadelphia. The idea is that these shots will compliment the pictures taken in the Fall. I'm going through the photos now, trying to edit them down to a manageable amount. I'll post them when finished.
4/19/05
I've recently been cast in a friend's production: 12 Angrier Women. I'm going to be in two shows on May 1st and 2nd at the Chashama studios located at 217 East 42nd St. The show is mostly a collection of monologues, and sketches. The production should be interesting with lots of laughs, so hopefully some of you can come see me stretch my acting abilities (and yes, I'll be in drag if that's any inspiration to come!). Here's the link with all the information:
4/13/05
"Ten men in our country could buy the whole world and ten million men can't buy enough to eat." - WIll Rogers (1931)
2/3/05
I've added a new essay to accompany the new photos and headshot. The essay can be found by clicking 'Philly Sketches Essay' under the projects or gallery chapters of the site. The essay basically explains what I am trying to accomplish with these photos.
2/2/05
I think the groundhog has the right idea about hiding from the winter and going back into its cave. However, the rest of us mammals aren't as lucky. After the state of the union tonight we're going to be hearing alot of hot air, none of which has any relevance to our lives, to our survival as a society or as a race of beings. As Lennon once said, " Always something cooking nothing in the pot." Well, here's a good place to start to bring the mainstream back from the fringe: http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=41&ItemID=7158
This is a good article from Bill Moyers, and I'll throw out a quote:
"The news is not good these days. I can tell you, though, that as a journalist I know the news is never the end of the story. The news can be the truth that sets us free - not only to feel but to fight for the future we want. And the will to fight is the antidote to despair, the cure for cynicism, and the answer to those faces looking back at me from those photographs on my desk. What we need is what the ancient Israelites called hochma - the science of the heart ... the capacity to see, to feel and then to act as if the future depended on you." - Bill Moyers
Do me, and yourself a favor and take the five minutes necessary to read this.
1/23/05
The new headshot is here! The headshot can be found underneath the Profile heading and below the resume. Clicking on the headshot will bring up a new window with a larger JPEG file.
1/14/05
I finally have posted the bulk of the pictures that Eric Mencher, of the Philadelphia Inquirer, took of me at the end of October. The pictures are listed as 'Philly Sketches' in the gallery and project sections of this site. Clicking on the photo will bring up a page of more thumbnails. Clicking on one of these thumbnails will bring up a new grouping of photos. I tried to breakdown the whole day into smaller sections. Each of the groupings has similar themes, a sequence or a sense of movement. The idea is to break the project into smaller more digestible pieces, to not be so overwhelming. I started with an idea of what I would like in a headshot or in a photo shoot, and this experience went wildly beyond my expectations. Obviously, the shoot also affected my editing skills, however I just really wanted to share these shots with anyone who would be interested.
I believe the thumbnails to be darker than the actual photos. Plus, the photos lost a touch of sharpness being converted to the webpage. However, I believe that the composition and the quality of the photos still come through. I'm still working on an essay and the new headshot hasn't come in, yet. The essay will try to explain why I went a sort of non-conventional route with these headshots and what I was trying to accomplish. Both the essay and the new headshot will be posted as soon as they are completed.
1/11/05
"I'm deeply aware of what developmental psychologists call 'optimal frustration.' The way children learn is that the task they have in front of them is always a little too difficult and forces a degree of concentrated angry attention. It should be a struggle. It's fun to struggle. We're born into it." - Tony Kushner
1/10/05
"You are responsible for the predictable consequences of your actions. You are not responsible for the predictable consequences for somebody else's actions.....The ethical value of one's actions depend on their anticipated and predictable consequences. It is very easy to denounce the atrocities of someone else. That has about as much ethical value as denouncing atrocities that took place in the 18th century. The point is that the useful and significant political actions are those that have consequences for human beings. And those are overwhelmingly the actions which you have some way of influencing and controlling, which means for me, American actions....Those who believe in deomcracy and freedom have a serious task ahead of them. What they should be doing, in my view, is dedicating their efforts to helping the 'despised' common people to struggle for their rights and to realized the democratic goals that constantly surface throughout history. They should be serving not power and privilege, but rather their victims. Freedom and democracy are by now not merely values to be treasured. They are quite possibly the prerequisite to survival." - Noam Chomsky
1/09/05
"All men make mistakes
But mistakes don't have to be forever
They can be admitted and atoned for.
It's the overbearing man who is to blame." - Sophocles
11/19/04
There are a new set of pictures in the gallery section of the page. If you scroll to the bottom there are some shots of me from the summer. Nothing like shameless self promotion. At the end of October, I was able to get a couple of rolls taken of me by a photographer from the Philadelphia Inquirer. I have the contact sheets now and I'm extremely happy with the results. Hopefully, I'll have one or two developed for use as a new headshot. I plan to put up several of the shots and sheets up on the website, and to use several other photos. Keep checking in and I promise they'll be up soon.
11/15/04
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding." - Upton Sinclair
11/14/04
"The first and greatest change that is required is to establish a morality of initiative, not a morality of submission, or morality of hope rather than fear, of things to be done rather than things to be left undone. It is not the whole duty of man to slip through the world so as to escape the wrath of god. The world is our world and it rests with us to make it a heaven or a hell. The power is ours, and the kingdom and the glory would be ours also if we had courage and insight to create them." - Bertrand Russell
11/4/04
"...people would like to think that there's somebody up there who knows what he's doing. Since we don't participate, we don't control and we don't even think about questions of vital importance. We hope somebody is paying attention who has some competence. Let's hope the ship has a captain, in other words, since we're not taking part in what's going on...
It is an important feature of the ideological system to impose on people the feeling that they really are incompetent to deal with these complex and important issues: they'd better leave it to the captain. One device is to develop a star system, an array of figures who are often media creations or creations of the academic propaganda establishment, whose deep insights we are supposed to admire and to whom we must happily and confidently assign the right to control our lives and to control international affairs..." - Noam Chomsky the chomsky reader
11/4/04
http://www.guerrillanews.com/headlines/headline.php?id=125
The article is by Sydney Blumenthal, a former advisor to Clinton. It's a fairly good summary of what has happened and what is happening in this country. Most of the established media are ill equipped or lack the fortitude to report any opposition or dissenting opinion for fear of being dubbed elitist or liberal. Our journalists, who are supposed to have an obligation to reporting what they see, have been bullied into submission. Otherwise, for reporting what might be seen as biased by someone who disagrees, journalists have sacrificed the trust of the people. If anything, our media has become a way for our government to manufacture consent. Although this article is obviously slanted, his views and opinions shouldn't be merely thrown aside and ignored. The burden of gathering and disseminating information and using that knowledge for progress falls to the populace. Also, see:
http://www.projectcensored.org/
11/4/04
"...to invoke the horrors of the past to justify those of the present is a gross hypocrisy." - Bertrand Russell
11/3/04
11/3/04
In times of great frustration, despair, uneasiness and uncertainness, I find comfort knowing that there have always been great struggles and a reason to rationalize and understand the human condition. One of the great speeches from a politician came from Robert Kennedy during the '68 campaign. Before a rally in Indianapolis, he was informed of the assassination of another great force in American history, Martin Luther King. The following speech came without any preparation. I am completely amazed by how the standards we hold our politicians to have dramatically changed.
"I have bad news for you, for all of our fellow citizens, and people who love peace all over the world, and that is that Martin Luther King was shot and killed tonight.
Martin Luther King dedicated his life to love and to justice for his fellow human beings, and he died because of that effort.
In this difficult day, in this difficult time for the United States, it is perhaps well to ask what kind of a nation we are and what direction we want to move in. For those of you who are black--considering the evidence there evidently is that there were white people who were responsible--you can be filled with bitterness, with hatred, and a desire for revenge. We can move in that direction as a country, in great polarization--black people amongst black, white people amongst white, filled with hatred toward one another.
Or we can make an effort, as Martin Luther King did, to understand and to comprehend, and to replace that violence, that stain of bloodshed that has spread across our land, with an effort to understand with compassion and love.
For those of you who are black and are tempted to be filled with hatred and distrust at the injustice of such an act, against all white people, I can only say that I feel in my own heart the same kind of feeling. I had a member of my family killed, but he was killed by a white man. But we have to make an effort in the United States, we have to make an effort to understand, to go beyond these rather difficult times.
My favorite poet was Aeschylus. He wrote: "In our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God."
What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness; but love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or they be black.
So I shall ask you tonight to return home, to say a prayer for the family of Martin Luther King, that's true, but more importantly to say a prayer for our own country, which all of us love--a prayer for understanding and that compassion of which I spoke.
We can do well in this country. We will have difficult times; we've had difficult times in the past; we will have difficult times in the future. It is not the end of violence; it is not the end of lawlessness; it is not the end of disorder.
But the vast majority of white people and the vast majority of black people in this country want to live together, want to improve the quality of our life, and want justice for all human beings who abide in our land.
Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world.Let us dedicate ourselves to that, and say a prayer for our country and for our people. "
10/23/04
My contributions to the show "Radioactive Republicans and Dancing Democrats" wrapped up this week. I wanted to thank everyone who braved the rain, the city and the show to come see us. I hope that the audience had as much fun watching the shows as I had performing. The whole undertaking was a great learning experience and I had a blast doing it. Also, I had the chance to work with both casts, some truly fascinating and uniquely talented people. I hope I have the pleasure of working with them again in the near future. Some shots and notes are posted on the website. If it looks like the inmates are running the asylum, well that's not too far from the truth! Don't forget to click on the bios link on the main page.
10/10/04
I read an article on the Scottish enlightenment in a recent issue of The New Yorker. The article is a exceptionally concise and clear picture of what was happening in 18th century Edinburgh. As a junior in college I covered Modern philosophy to fulfill my requirments for my minor. In the fall semester, we went from Descartes and highlighted major thinkers until Hume, the Scottish philosopher. Hume, an intellectual giant, was the focal point of all modern philosophy. Quite literally, the classes were broken up to everything before Hume, to everything after Hume. The following year I spent a whole semester covering Kant's Critique of Pure Reason, which was an argument against Hume's skepticism. My paper in the Modern class was a 30 page thesis examining Sir Thomas Reid, his place in the Scottish Enlightenment, and where he failed to ultimately break out from the shadows of his much more revolutionary contemporaries, Hume, and Adam Smith. This article, remarkably, summarizes a whole semester in Modern philosophy.
The article also reminded me the impact many of these thinkers had on our founding fathers and the formation of our government. When I was in business school, the classes were taught to me as fact, and there was no room for debate or questioning. Everyone assumed that what came before must be true. In contrast, my philosophy classes encouraged doubt and in the course of debate, the arguments were generally lead right to the source. Actually reading Hume, or Smith, you can appreciate their more human frailities, their concerns, their compassion and passion for life and freedom. Plus, we could eventually see how their words were twisted, pulled away from the original meanings, and left devoid from their positive humanism. In my market theory classes, and economic classes, the notion that Smith was writing the Wealth of Nations as more of a warning than a bible, was glossed over with terminology and the beliefs of the business professors. Our understanding of the Moderns' influence on the American Revolutionaries and the formations of our government are a necessity. This country is over 200 years old, and yet the people who provided the thoughts and idealds that forms our very foundations would be today considered just as dissident and revolutionary as they were in their own times. We, as a society, are old enough to know better and we should be demanding more from ourselves, our teachers, our leaders and and our government.
http://www.newyorker.com/critics/atlarge/?041011crat_atlarge
10/5/04
There is an update for the upcoming show. I'll be performing on the days of Wednesday, October 13 at 5:30; Saturday, October 16 at 5; and Sunday October 17 at 2:45. All shows are a the Greenwich Street Theater. Should be lots of fun, and I hope to see you there! Tickets/info: 212-352-3101 or online at www.theatremania.com
9/29/04
This is a thought-provoking interview with one of my favorites, Bruce Springsteen. The interview explores Bruce's ideas of the place in society for artists, and their political beliefs. I found it to be intriguing. There is also a great quote he uses, "The first casualty of war is truth."
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/6477832
9/29/04
Recently, the news has focused on the upcoming Presidential debates. I have watched and heard several news programs that are gearing up for this moment as if it were the NFL playoffs. There is alot of empty talk and analysis that has nothing to actually do with the issues that are effecting us as a society. To continue with the football analogy, watching ESPN's pregame show might be fun or interesting, or even annoying, but the show itself has no impact on the way the game is played. Ultimately, the pregame show is empty analysis, rehashing of past games and vapid speculation of what may happen. Likewise, the news surrounding the debates are removed from what is actually happening or even important. If anything, the debates are another example of how the public is marginalized from the process of democracy, of participating in the national debate and national policy. With the rules and framework set for the debate, the debate is not even a debate. There will be no accountability, no direct questions, and no examinations. Our notions of what debate is and should be are being hijacked. If anything our President's and our country's "war on terror" should be debated and even compared with how other countries under similar pressures are managing the situation. I was shown an article recently with how Spain has dealt with the reprecussions of being victims of a recent terrorist attack. Their successes and courage should be taken into consideration with how, as a country, we have handled our own tragedy.
http://www.warincontext.org/2004_09_26_archive.html#109633827642024314
http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2004/09/26/europes_terror_fight_quiet_unrelenting?mode=PF
9/28/04
I was able to get the part in this latest show through a friend of mine. Rodney E. Reyes, whom I worked with on the Fringe Festival, recommended me, and I promised him a plug. So, go check out his site for Cuchipinoy Productions, and spread the word that I need more work!
9/27/04
I'm in an original play that is in the 3rd Annual Spotlight on Halloween Festival. I just got the part in the production this past weekend. It's all very chaotic but also alot of fun. I'll write the blurb here and you'll see what I mean! It's the most politically named and probably least political comedy you'll come into contact with.
"Radioactive Republicans and Dancing Democrats"
written by Elias Stimac at the Greenwhich Street Theater
547 Greenwhich Street (between Van Dam and Charlton Streets)
Loan Star Productions offers a glow-in-the-dark political comedy that answers the question: what do you get when you put a billionaire, a ballerina, a mysterious intruder, a few aliens, a few Republicans, and a celebrity swimsuit model in a mansion that's just exploded? Answer: Total Chaos!
Wednesday 10/13 at 5:30pm
Saturday 10/16 at 5pm
10/17 at 2:45pm
Tuesday 10/19 at 6:30pm
Friday 10/29 at 5pm
Saturday 10/30 at 3:30 pm
9/26/04
I'm not being lazy. However, I am tired of living in a state of constant fear and paranoia. I thought we had hired people in government who are supposed to be paranoid for us. Yet, the burden of security seems to constantly fall on the everyday people in society who do not have the skills, experience, resources or knowledge to effectively protect our country. I'm not sure exactly what people like Tom Ridge or Condy Rice do with their days or their lives.
Heard of a van that is loaded with weapons,
Packed up and ready to go
Heard of some gravesites, out by the highway,
A place where nobody knows
The sound of gunfire, off in the distance,
IÕm getting used to it now
Lived in a brownstore, lived in the ghetto,
IÕve lived all over this town
This ainÕt no party, this ainÕt no disco,
This ainÕt no fooling around
No time for dancing, or lovey dovey,
I ainÕt got time for that now
Transmit the message, to the receiver,
Hope for an answer some day
I got three passports, a couple of visas,
You donÕt even know my real name
High on a hillside, the trucks are loading,
EverythingÕs ready to roll
I sleep in the daytime, I work in the nightime,
I might not ever get home
This ainÕt no party, this ainÕt no disco,
This ainÕt no fooling around
This ainÕt no mudd club, or c. b. g. b.,
I ainÕt got time for that now
Heard about houston? heard about detroit?
Heard about pittsburgh, p. a.?
You oughta know not to stand by the window
Somebody might see you up there
I got some groceries, some peant butter,
To last a couple of days
But I ainÕt got no speakers, ainÕt got no
Heaphones, ainÕt got no records to play
Why stay in college? why go to night school?
Gonna be different this time
CanÕt write a letter, canÕt send a postcard,
I canÕt write nothing at all
This ainÕt no party, this ainÕt no disco,
This ainÕt no fooling around
IÕd like to kiss you, IÕd love you hold you
I ainÕt got no time for that now
Trouble in transit, got through the roadblock,
We blended with the crowd
We got computer, weÕre tapping phone lines,
I know that ainÕt allowed
We dress like students, we dress like housewives,
Or in a suit and a tie
I changed my hairstyle, so many times now,
I donÕt know what I look like!
You make me shiver, I feel so tender,
We make a pretty good team
DonÕt get exhausted, IÕll do some driving,
You ought to get some sleep
Get you instructions, follow directions,
Then you should change your address
Maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day,
Whatever you think is best
Burned all my notebooks, what good are
Notebooks? they wonÕt help me survive
My chest is aching, burns like a furnace,
The burning keeps me alive
Try to stay healthy, physical fitness,
DonÕt want to catch no disease
Try to be careful, donÕt take no chances,
You better watch what you say - David Byrne "Life During Wartime"
9/25/04
Reading the news, taking in the way the world is going, I find myself at a loss for words. I just don't think I can effectively articulate how angry and upset. If this was any other country I could watch from afar, I would be amazed by the corruption and circus atmosphere the government, the country has been become. Ultimately, the saddest thing is that this is our country. I'll just borrow other people's words to express myself. It's hard to believe that this song was written over 40 years ago. It's more relevant now that it's ever been.
Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks
You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly
Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain
You fasten the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud
You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins
How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do
Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul
And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand o'er your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead - Bob Dylan "Masters of War" 1963
9/24/04
Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to spend the day trailing a photographer for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Please check out the website: http://www.ericmencher.com/ He's a great guy who does some incredible work and it's definitely worth checking out his site.
The whole day was an eye opening experience. I went on a few assigments and also spent time in the news room gaining a first perspective on how modern news papers operate. One of the assignments was to go to a day shelter for homeless in Camden. The point of the article was to explore the Jersey law that prohibits the handing out of free needles. We were supposed to take pictures of the shelter with the idea that these were the people who would benefit from free needles.
The shelter was inside an old church in the heart of Camden. The church's better days had long since gone. The street was like any abandoned center city; empty lots, dilapitated row homes, people sleeping on the street, more reminiscent of a forgotten war zone than anything else. On the borders of the blocks of this neighborhood, however, was the presence of what is considered urban renewal. Cooper hospital had bought up many blocks, a large church, cheap housing, empty plots of land and was expanding like an amoeba with growth hormone injections. On the other side, of this neighborhood were the new Camden high rises, the outdoor concert arena, the new ballpark, a new suburban looking bank, the new river line light rail, and the new stations for the high speed line. This development is the spearhead to gentrify the city of Camden.
Eric and I were greeted at the door of the shelter by the woman, Miss Carrol, who runs the place. She's reminiscent in appearance of Wheezy Jefferson, a former school teacher, who eventually became devoted to keeping this shelter going about ten years ago. She had an incredible energy and unbelievably optimistic in the face of all this desperation. She must have not completely understood the nature of our visit. When we arrived we were taken on a a tour of the facilities. Miss Carrol's approach was to show us all that they were accomplishing and providing among this destitution. They had diapers, and baby food, sold at a discount, showers and bathrooms, computers to teach people skills (these computers were 15 years old), and other necessities that have been donated such as thrown out clothes and decrepit furniture. Miss Carrol showed us all of this as if it were a tour of Barneys. I think Miss Carrol thought that the article was all about the struggle, the good work and positivity in the face of extreme misery. In reality the assignment had a darker tone. Once we explained our intentions, Miss Carrol started introducing us to the 'guests' of the shelter.
Everyone had a story. And once one started talking, it seemed as if everyone there wanted to talk. They all had something to share, a tragedy, a triumph, or even just a connection to another person, to think that someone cares enough to listen. There definitely was a saddness and desperation to the stories. However, there was also an inherent dignity to these peoples' plights. Many of them had no problem talking about their desperation or addictions to various drugs; where they started, how far they have fallen. People had come from all over the country and ended up in Camden, where the drugs were. All of them had stated how impossible it was to leave Camden; how they feel trapped by the city and circumstance. Yet, none were asking for pity or handouts. These people, at the bottom, with nothing, even the clothes on their backs and food in their stomachs were donated, still had that optimism in their eyes. That quality, that makes us human, the idea that tomorrow not only will be better but has to be better, was still present in even the most destitute, the most desperate of these people. I was completely overwhelmed. There was so much desperation, so much courage, even among these forgotten people. These people had no where else to go. There were at least a hundred at the facility while we were there. People were entering and leaving. Miss Carrol's approach was that even these people at the bottom need to remember that they are human beings. That they need love, and care and boundaries and rules. Even though all of them slept on the streets at night and the streets are a violent jungle, there is a place of safety for them to go during the day.
I had asked Miss Carrol if they had seen any new money generated by the new commercial development along the Camden waterfront. Actually there was less money than before. As the city was trying to compensate the new buildings they were cutting funding from their social services. The one overnight shelter in Camden now only has thirty beds. There are far more homeless people in Camden than thirty. I had asked her if she had any problems with the zoning board. It appeared that the new development was heading her way. She had told me that slowly the city had been rezoning the blocks around her and that she just doesn't really have the power to stop them when they do. My next question was what happens to the facility and the people once they are pushed out. She stated that there's no place else, nothing else. All of them will be pushed aside and forgotten.
Eric, who is a news photographer, and I were there without a reporter. The reporter had done all the reporting for the story sitting from their desk in the office, using the internet and the phone, which as was explained to me, is how most reporting is now done. The reporter already had their story, their angle, and the photographs were to just compliment the story. We were to supposed to find people that would benefit from free needles. However, the article was completely incongrous with what we had just witnessed. Plus, it would be insulting to these people and the integrity that they showed to put them in the newspaper merely labled as addicts. That would not be a complete or true representation of them or what addiction to heroin entails. The report would be deficient. Back in the newsroom I watched Eric try to find a couple of photos to match the article without violating the trust that these people showed us and to convey what we had experienced. However, the couple of photos and the article left a void to what we had seen.
9/23/04
There is proof that you can choose a life that you want, be successful, meaningful, poignant, relevant, idealistic and accomplished without selling out, or compromising your vision. In the last five years I have been lucky enough to see Bruce perform live several times. He was a huge influence and source of strength for me as a kid. I believed that most MTV pop music in the 80's was at best disconnected and flashy and at worst lifeles, and the music from the 70's seemed to be from another era. Bruce's songs and albums spoke directly to the toughness, harshness and inherent integrety of living. Plus, it was just really good music. As I grew up, I came to appreciate not only the music but the choices he had made with his career. I respected the constant search personally and professionally for empathy, understand and tenderness.
The first Bruce concert I went to was in the summer of 1999 at the Continental Arena in the Meadowlands. It appeared to be Springsteen's last stand before turning 50. I went to one of about 15 concerts. I caught one of the middle shows, and it was everything that I had ever thought a Bruce concert would be. He played like a wild man for almost 3 hours. I couldn't believe that that was middle show or that he could tour or even stand up after a performance like that. I then went to the shows at Madison Square Garden the following year as he finished up the tour. I went thinking that if he put on half the show that he did the previous summer it would be worth it. The Garden shows were so incredible that he released it as a CD. He put so much energy out that by the end even the audience was exhausted. The next show I went to was the first show of the Rising tour, again at the Garden The show was incredible, but very different. It was interesting to watch Bruce working hard to sell the new material, but also the show was a little bit more somber. It seemed that he was in the process of working out the emotions of the album and playing in NYC a year after the attacks. I then caught one of the last shows of the Rising tour last summer in Philadelphia at the Lincoln field. It was the largest venue in which I had seen Bruce. The show was the most incredible, yet. He played for 3 and a half hours. I was amazed by his ability to connect with eveyone in such a large venue. The concert was just as intimate as watching him in the garden. He went through a diverse collection of songs of wildy varying styles, playing each as if it was his signature "Born to Run." I will always be inspired and encouraged by Bruce playing better the older he becomes. Like the Stones, or the Who, Bruce proves that even if you are getting older you don't have to stop being relevant or meaningful. Happy 55th birthday Bruce Springsteen.
http://brucespringsteen.net/index.html
9/22/04
This is an interesting interview of one of the rock-n-rollers I admire most. As a kid, I always dug Elvis Costello's goofy style, and odd, funky songs. I thought he was an outsider who got the essence and spirit of music, who made music for other outsiders. Now, I also appreciate his output, his quality, his longevity and his fierce determination to be independent.
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/6487138
9/21/04
"Man is the measure of all things." - Protagoras
9/20/04
"So, I now believe that the only way for which Americans can rise above their ordinariness, can mature sufficiently to rescue themselves and to help rescue their planet, is through enthusiastic intimacy with works of their own imaginations." - Kurt Vonnegut
9/19/04
"All of us are in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." - Oscar Wilde
9/18/04
"It violates natural law that a handful of men be glutted with superfluities while the starving multitude lacks necessities." - Rousseau
9/17/04
Another review has been brought to my attention for the Precipice show. This one is from www.nytheatre.com. The article is in the right column about half way down the page.
http://www.nytheatre.com/fringeweb/f04review_16.htm
9/15/04
I've been working on the site. I have posted pictures for shameless self-promotion under the link for photo gallery. Clicking on a picture will bring up a gallery. Also, I've added galleries to the projects link.
9/9/04
"Fear no more the heat o' the sun
Nor the furious winter's rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta'en they wages:
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney sweepers, come to dust." - William Shakespeare
9/4/04
Here's a review that was forwarded to me. It's from Backstage, an actor's trade paper. The review reminds me of the old Bloom County comic strip. Opus reads a review for Billy and the Boingers, and after reading a long diatribe mutters, "yeah, but do we kick ass?"
http://www.backstage.com/backstage/showguide/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_ id=1000624003
8/30/04
The fringe festival is over and a thanks goes to everyone who came out to see Precipice, hear my voice and for all the words of support and encouragement. I had a really great time. Even though the show tackled some heavy material, the cast, crew and people helping out with the festival made the experience worthwhile. If I find any reviews I'll post it.
8/28/04
Here's the article I was talking about in Voice. It's a point of view that's not getting too much airtime this week on the national news. It's obviously vitriolic, but you get the point. And, my stats are way off, but again the intent is still there: http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0434/barrett.php
Here's what I saw last night:
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0435/ferguson.php
And to lighten things up, a great interview with a really classy guy and great actor:
http://www.theonionavclub.com/feature/index.php?issue=4034
8/28/04
I'm watching the city begin to boil. I was walking back from the performance last night, around 9.30 or 10. Going up the Bowery, I noticed that after Houston it became increasingly packed with cars and people. The cars were gridlocked heading uptown. I climbed through crowds of people to get to St. Mark's. The entire street was flooded with bicycles heading East from Astor place and riding into the East Village. The bikes had traffic and the side walks blocked. Despite the disruption in motion, the protest was relatively peaceful. There were a few cars honking horns, but for the most part the noise was from the riders and pedestrians cheering and chanting anti-Bush slogans. I was struck but the lack of police riding with the crowd. After the bikes past I began walking back up Third Avenue. Getting close to 14th St. it seemed as if the city exploded with cops. Caravan after caravan of riot cops, police buses, paddy wagons, and NYPD trucks were flooding the major streets and avenues. The city seemed to shut down around me. I worked my way over to 2nd Avenue, but by the time I got there, that avenue was shutting down also. Helicopters were flying over head, squadrens of Biker Cops were flying down 2nd Ave. Trying to find a safe place, I ended up with a central spot as an eye witness to everything, on a street corner across the avenue from St. Mark's Church. The cops had decided that there was enough bicylce protesting. They were arresting riders in mass, tracking down stragglers, impounding bikes. The riot police were guarding the avenue and streets in full gear. A very surreal moment. There was not a violent tone to the atmosphere, just very angry and a tad bizarre. Since it is the East Village, where the freak flag has always proudly flown, there was an odd mixture of people and feelings. The cops were clearly jazzed to finally have some action and seemed to be enjoying their deployment. Yet, I wouldn't say that there was anything overtly aggressive or sinister in their actions. The locals included Hell's Angels, who seemed quite taken with the whole scene, old hippies, goth kids, self-proclaimed intellectuals, and barflies, all reacting in their own ways. Some shouted fascists, others just shook their heads. For the amount of production, everything stayed relatively calm. After a while, they had everyone arrested, the crowds started to disperse, and the streets started to open. The whole situation began to feel as if this was a practice run, for both the protesters and the police. I ended up talking to an officer on my way back uptown. I asked him if he was going to get paid overtime for his efforts. He smiled and laughed and said that he was still on the clock, and that overtime wouldn't come until later. Then he stopped and thought for a second. He looked at me and gave off a smile and stated that he wasn't sure due to the new legislation if he would get paid overtime, even if he worked it. "How do you like that?" He smiled, "They want me to work extra to work overtime, protecting this city, protecting their necks (pointing North West towards the garden), and then they don't want to pay me for it. Can you believe this?" I smiled and said no and wished him luck. "Thanks," he said, "I think we're all going to need it."
I was here in the city for the attacks. I was also here for the blackout. I was at the Brooklyn Museum when the mayor was trying to shut it down. And despite my best intentions it looks like I'm here for the RNC. I have another show today, and then I have to work a wedding tomorrow. As the convention looms closer, more and more is being changed and revealed to accomodate security. I am in midtown and I have to get from 35th and 2nd to 42nd and 8th, usually a nice long walk. I'm hoping to leave on Sunday evening, and avoid all the chaos from the afternoon and from the weekend. It's not that I don't have an opinion about the events, or the policies, or that I am not angry and I don't want to speak. I do, desperately. I also have an inherent distrust of large groups, of mobs, and of chaos. I have a knack for trouble finding me and I don't feel the need to put myself in any crazy situations. A sense of survival has to come in someplace.
Also, to see what the RNC is costing NYC check out the latest issue of the village voice. There are a couple of articles that through the anger state some facts about the overall cost to the city. Plus, there is an article talking about how since the attacks, the city is less secure, has less money, and less protection. The federal budget and loans have decreased, so, less firefighters, less firehouses, less cops, and for the federal terrorism budget, Wyoming gets $10 per capita, while NYC gets 10 cents. Makes sense. Wyoming is the financial and cultural capital of North America.
8/27/04
The performances for the Fringe Festival have been great. I'm having a real blast. We have completed four shows, and have two left. There was only one incident where a light burst during the first act and I had visions of making the news for all the wrong reasons. However, the crisis was averted. Even though I'm not onstage I am having a great time being on the microphone. It's my one time to really rock out and act like Bono for a a couple of minutes. Now all I need to figure out is how to not only get on stage (!) but to find a way to get this type of work regularly and get paid at it!!!!!! [Have I mentioned how good of a fit the Superman movie would be?]
8/26/04
More Superman news: in the recent issue of Wizard magazine they tried to answer some questions surrounding the movie. I can't find an online link so I'll just have to reprint a section of it here.
6. Who will play superman?
Too soon to tell but it looks likely that Singer will seek out his own Superman and scrap some of the previous reported candidataes including Brendan Fraser, Josh Hartnett, Tom Welling and Jake Gyllenhall. Keep in mind that Singer doesn't get hung up going after traditional movie "stars" adn he cast a virtual unknown Jackman as Wolverine for the X-franchise....Over the years a number of actors - ranging from Nicolas Cage to Paul Walker - have been attached to the project but to date none of them have ever donned the classic costume onscreen.
----like I've said before... I'm available for the next couple of years, so if anyone knows anything!
8/25/04
This past week, I've had some considerable downtime from the show, and I have had to walk away from the computer more than a few times, due to frustrations. So, I caught up on some of my summer reading. Some books to check out are: Checkpoint by Nicholson Baker. The book is his most approachable and mainstream. A funny dialogue between two old friends over lunch where one of the friends admits his intentions to assassinate the President. Yes, it is a bit wild. I read Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha, classic poetic novel. Hey Nostradamus! by Douglas Coupland. It's not his best work, or even as good as All families are Psychotic but it is fast, roomy and thought provoking. He has a great ability to touch into the generations' disaffectedness. He is after all the man who coined Generation X.
Which leads me into another thought about media and their lack of knowledge of the subjects they're reporting. Generation X referes to the people who were born between the baby boom and the children of the baby boomers. They're the years that fall between the cracks, like the Lost Generation of the early 20th century. Anyway, Generation X is for the people born between 1962/63 to roughly 1972/73 with maybe some leeway for extra years either way. I find myself more connected to Generation X than the next generation simply because my family was older and I was more taken with their interests. I feel closer to Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder than I do the boybands and the poptart phenomenon. Although there is equal distance in age between the grunge heroes and me and the poptarts and me, I feel that I'm more connected to the interests of Generation X. I remember punk, new wave, Lennon shot, pre-cable, Pong, Sting when he was cool, HBO only on from 8pm-1am, and the start of MTV. Plus, my inability to express myself without using obscure pop culture references from the 60's and 70's solidifies my generational identity. I find it increasingly frustrating when popular figures with mass media access, misuse abuse and overuse buzzwords withouth understanding their meanings implications or derivations.
8/24/04
"You are not here merely to make a living. You are here to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision and with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world. You impoverish yourself if you forget this errand." - Woodrow Wilson
8/23/04
"But when the state loses the Bludgeon, when you can't control people by force and when the voice of the people can be heard, you have this problem. It may make people so curious and so arrogant that they don't have the humility to submit to a civil rule and therefore you have to control what people think. And the standard way to do this is to resort to what in more honest days used to be called propoganda. Manufacture of consent. Creation of necessary illusions. Various ways of either marginalizing the general public or reducing them to apathy in some fashion." - Noam Chomsky
8/22/04
"Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind." - Bertrand Russell
8/21/04
"They who have put out
the peoples eyes
reproach them
of their Blindness" - John Milton 1642
8/20/04
Recently, I heard that they are unable to cast the new Superman movie, which Bryan Singer (Unusual Suspects/X-Men) is now supposedly the director. The powers that be seem unable to find a known actor to fill in the role and are searching for unknowns. Well, I don't think I can be anymore unknown, and I've tried. So, if anyone knows anyone and anything please forward my name along. I just happen to not really have anything scheduled for the next couple of years that can't be reworked. Plus, being in my late 20's and caucasian and a good three weeks from fighting shape, I could easily fit the profile. Besides, the challange of taking on an icon sounds phenomenally more interesting that serving finger foods at parties on the Upper East Side.
8/19/04
The atmosphere in NYC feels as if there's a dark cloud coming in off the horizon. I initially thought it was the heat,the August duldroms. However, there's just something off this summer. I feel like the people in charge are trying to paint a fantasy image of a city that is in constant movement. Watching the news or walking around midtown, the city is adjusting, preparing for the impending RNC. There is a tense calm. A quietness, as if bracing for impact. In the past couple of years midtown has adjusted to being close to a lockdown at any given minute. However, the buildup the past couple of months is more noticeable. The other night I was walking through the East Village and then Union Square, and went past two seperate yet equally energetic and angry protests to Bush and the RNC. Also, I heard on the local news about how the police, riot troops, swat teams and state guard are at their most heightened readiness. The news proclaimed that they are completely ready for anything to happen at the convention. Hearing the report, I felt more quesy than safe. Similar to what I witnessed after the terrorist attacks, the events portrayed in the news versus what I was actually seeing was not the same.
Recently I was reading a book about the work and legacy of Marshall Mcluhan. After trying to suffer through the coverage of the DNC and the media build up of the RNC, there is a quote by one of the authors that I found to be relevant. 'I almost think that the thing McLuhan would want to have as a lasting legacy is his insistence that people try to understand their environment more clearly, and that they not substitute moral judgement for insight into what is actually happening. I've noticed since writing the Medium and the Messenger that when people talk about media or society there's always a moral tone to it. As if by making a moral statement they establish the fact that they are moral people, and that they are serious people. McLuhan always thought such behavior was an evasion of the worst sort. As McLuhan used to say, "Moral Indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."'- Philip Marchand
8/18/04
I'm still working on the site. If I had not come to the realization many years ago that my talents do not lie in computer sciences this project alone would prove that I'm binary inept. I might have a natural ability to recall senseless trivia, but it's completely useless when programming. Even with all the software programs and 'do-it-yourself' technology I'm still having hard time translating what's in my head to the webpage. I appreciate all the patience! I would also like to thank Chau Nguyen for all her hard work, and Omar Kasrawri for his input. The site is further along because of them. If anyone has suggestions about using Dreamweaver let me know. I'm still stuck on slide shows, thumbnails, and text wrap. Eventually, the site should be interesting.
8/17/04
I'm back in NYC, finishing off the rehearsals before the show. If you haven't noticed on thier site, I'm not actually on stage. I'm the voice in one of the main characters head. However, the show is still worth checking out! The space is very neat, exactly how you would expect an Off-Broadway show in SOHO to look.
8/12/04
Here's more information about the play if you are unable to use the link. And, if you are on the site don't forget to link to cast and crew biographies.
8/12/04
A play that I am in has been accepted to the NYC fringe festival. I'm pretty excited about it. A friend of mine wrote these two one acts that are being presented as one show. I think it is well-written and interesting material. So, if you are in the area or want to check out one fringe festival show please come to this one. There will be six shows at the end of August. The attached link should have all the information.
8/11/04
The new site is up, if not exactly complete. This was the general structure I was hoping for. I plan to use this site as not only shameless self-promotion but also to keep everyone abreast on what projects I'm working on and if there is anything new coming up. In the next month I'm going to keep fiddling and fine-tuning and hopefully get it closer to what I had in my head. So, check in frequently, spread the word and let me know what you think. Thanks and best wishes!
-Jonathan
