For those of you that haven't figured it out yet, Sophie is our web designer.
Anyway, lots of cool stuff on the horizon and I just wrote a new post there so check it out!
I may keep writing here from time to time but I dunno... depends.
e
Friday, May 1, 2009
new blog...
as much as i like my blogger and everything else google, the absolutely awesome Sophie Shephard (www.sophieshephard.com) has created a wordpress that she's embedded into the NEWS section of www.westeggproductions.com
Monday, April 6, 2009
If walls could speak… by Eric Horn
i haven't posted in a while. been really busy developing the West Egg Productions website and all the content that it will host. You can feel free to check out the beta of the site at:
http://www.westeggproductions.com
I'm happy to get any feedback I can.
Anyway, since I don't have time for a full post, I figured I'd post an autobiographical piece I wrote for a class I'm taking called "The Personal Essay"... it's called "If walls could speak".
It's kinda silly but enjoy...
English 308, Essay 1
Prof. Graziano
If walls could speak, they'd have a lot to say. An anchor for the room, the mural casts a new energy over the mostly-bare walls. Five feet by nine feet, its enormity can’t go unnoticed. It’s quickly become the first thing that people notice upon entrance. It was the first thing I wanted when I knew I was moving out of my parents house. I spoke to my talented artist friend, Maurice and pitched him the idea. “Let’s collaborate”, I said. “I know how talented you are as a mural artist. I just got a new place in the city and I really want a nice painting that captures the raw urban energy that this city has to offer. If I buy you all your supplies and document the entire experience in an edited video, you think you could find the time to help me out? You’ll have a great video for your website…” That was it. At that moment, we decided. Little did I know, he would come to me four days later asking for a ride to Home Depot and Pearl Paint so we could get the needed materials.
We would be shooting that weekend. We bought two buckets of the “oops paint”, as Maurice called it. This was the paint that was specially mixed for a child’s bedroom (and as a result, usually pink or blue). Then, for whatever the reason, it was abandoned by its original buyer. He’d use these discount goods to prime the canvas. He’d use spray paint for the majority of the painting and a few acrylic tubes to add some finishing touches. Lastly, a large piece of canvas would combine with wooden two-by-fours and heavy-duty screws to create the monstrous frame of the beast. I remember unloading all the materials into my parent’s garage and staring at the pile, unknowing of what was to come.
The next 36 hours would be filled with set up, construction, and many, many hours of painting (and filming). I didn’t keep track of the hours we spent on this project. I know that I used close to twenty hours in tape stock. Now, the video has found a home on the Internet, collecting praise from various artists from all over the world. The mural, however, is my trophy of the experience. Furnished with a large “E” in the bottom right corner and a large outline of a rubber duck engulfing the entire left half of the canvas. A stream of water runs under the duck and through the other side of the canvas with a treble clef on the highest parts of the mural between the “E” and the duck. Orange, pink, turquoise, and brown beams of energy emanate from the canvas.
In my first apartment, it was the centerpiece of my living room. Now, in my new apartment, it lies above my bed as the centerpiece of my bedroom. I’ve spent countless hours considering the various other design elements in the piece, wondering about any hidden meanings. It is always the subject of conversation at some point during each person’s initial visit to my home. It really does anchor the entire room.
There are only a few paintings amongst the posters but they all happily find their place on my walls. I’ve always believed that a person’s walls are great insight into their character. As a result, I’ve always tried to keep my walls occupied with different pieces of representational artwork. Some parts of the wall are left blank intentionally – I’m still figuring those parts out. The mural sits parallel to one of my other cherished paintings. This painting was much smaller than it’s friend across the room. This painting had just as much history though.
I purchased it in Israel a few summers ago. Near the town where my cousins live, there is a flea market with goods exclusively made by local artists. Usually, the artist is the one at the table trying to make their keep. I had spent a couple hours taking in all the beautiful craftsmanship in the market. Nothing in particular made my wallet run ahead of me but, as I was leaving, I found a table that I really enjoyed. The artist was using various artworks, some of them found and some original. She’d have canvas stretched to a couple of different sizes. On each canvas, she transferred a work of art. She then painted a border around the piece with thick paint adding texture to the edges. I had been looking for gifts I could bring home to some of my closest friends. I began looking at her reasonably priced selection of art. Immediately, one poster caught my eye. It was an old Guinness beer advertisement featuring the Guinness pelican. My best friend, Ben, was spending his summer in Ireland. It was the third or fourth consecutive summer that he had spent there. As a result, he’d drink Guinness with pride and love for his summer spot. When I saw that this Israeli artist had taken the old advertisement and added her own touch, I knew it would be the perfect gift. When she offered me a two-for-one deal on top of already low prices, I put the Guinness piece on reserve and continued my search.
I stumbled upon what seemed like an original piece in which a gnome squatted down with his hands on his cheeks, and his elbows on his knees. He only had one eye open and a long beard that went from his chin to his feet. On his head was a cloth that had been stitched together in the front to form a cone shaped hat. Something about this character stood out to me. I told my mother that I would have to buy both – as if I had no choice. After a long tiring day in the market with her big-eyed teenage son, my mom was quite tired. She had been in the market for hours listening to me rant about my fascination with different items at different tables. We hadn’t bought anything yet but that wasn’t the point. She wanted to go home already. Plus, there was no guarantee that two fragile paintings would have room in our tightly packed suitcases. Stubborn as I am, I refused to give up on the perfect souvenirs for my best friend and myself. The argument escalated and I refused to hear any semblance of logic or reason. She began to walk away from the table and I began to take out my wallet. Needless to say, I bought both paintings.
When I arrived back in New York, I called Ben and told him I had bought him a gift. He replied by saying he had gotten me something too. I told him it would be a surprise. We met up later that night to catch up and share stories of our separate journeys. At once, I asked him what he had gotten me. After a little back and forth about who should reveal their gift first, we decided to swap at the same time. I brought the painting into the room and he began to laugh. He opened his jacket and unveiled a poster tube from the Guinness brewery. He had bought me a poster of the same advertisement. We were both shocked by the way our minds had connected while overseas.
Unfortunately, our friendship would come to a screeching halt. A few months later, while on his way to his college orientation, Ben’s heart stopped. There was no prior medical condition. There were no drugs in his system. There was no good reason for him to die at 17. None. Near the gnome painting, the Guinness poster he bought me in Ireland hangs with a picture of him wedged in the frame. He had written a “meaning of life” essay in the month before his passing. It was brilliant far beyond his years. In the weeks following his death, his mom published a book of some of his writing after his passing and I treat it as though it is sacred. He was extremely insightful and not a day goes by in which his words don’t continue to influence my life.
The painting of the gnome hangs across from the mural Maurice made. In all the moments every day in which the painting catches my eye, I have yet to figure out why I was so keen on buying it. Since having it, I’ve realized a few things. It’s come to represent the darkest parts of my mind. That gnome represents my off days - the days in which I’m not quite myself. The gnome hangs above my desk. It’s the perfect place for him because that way, I’m forced to see him every day. He is a representation of what I can become if I don’t apply myself. He is a representation of who I’ve been in the past when I’ve made some poor decisions.
As a proud member of the “A.D.D generation”, I often find trouble staying focused. In recent years, I’ve been honing ways to do so. My walls represent so much more than what they are. Walls are a luxury. Many people don’t have them. I know how lucky I am. I know how fortunate I’ve been. I grew up with quite a bit of wall space. I’d like to have this much wall space for the rest of my life. I try to remind myself of that on a daily basis. The gnome is one small way in which I do so. I’ve had many other reminders on past walls.
While some of my wall dwellers are reminders of the bad, others remind me of my accomplishments. I have a painting framed that I bought in China in the summer of 2003. I had applied for a scholarship program for potential Asian studies majors. I hadn’t even considered the chances of winning. They were to select 16 students from the entire tri-state area. After writing a paper, getting recommendations and undergoing a pretty stressful interview, I was informed that I had been one of the lucky 16. To this day, it remains one of my best accomplishments. This win was huge for me. I wasn’t the popular athlete in high school. I’d like to think I was well liked but I had my ups and downs. After taking part in the trip to China, I really felt like I could do great things. People always assume that things like that trip are such a long shot; they’re not even worth chasing. I’ll never feel that way again. Winning that trip was a huge inspiration to me and has reminded me on many occasions that I can truly do great things if I make a conscious decision to do so. The painting is a cute portrayal of pandas surrounded by bamboo. It’s a happy scene to look at and quite soothing. Still, like most things on my wall, the painting holds no comparisons to the memories attached.
These walls still need lots of work. I’ve only been here for a few months. Unfortunately, I’ll only be here for a few months more. It suddenly becomes clear why I am fixated on the greater meaning of walls that seems to exist in my mind. As a young boy, I lived in nearly a dozen different houses growing up. I wasn’t an “army brat”. I didn’t have (any serious) problems with my parents. The only real reason for the commotion was business. My parents have always been interested in real estate. It’s something they’ve always used as a tool in the background as they lived their lives. As a young boy, I couldn’t understand this. Growing up, it becomes clearer.
At my parents’ house, I used to have a tack board. I used it to post pictures, bumper stickers, fortunes (from the cookies), and ticket stubs for movies, concerts, and theme parks among many other random things. The pictures usually highlighted moments that made me smile. The types of moments that make it worth the effort to get past the bad ones. The bumper stickers were usually mantras or quotes that were either comedic or insightful. My favorite was “What Would Scooby Do?” That one always gave me a good laugh. The fortunes reminded me of how fortunate I was (and still am). I never took them too seriously but sometimes, they actually carry that crucial piece of wisdom that sparks the solution to a difficult problem. That tack board still hangs in my room at my parents’ house. At this point, it has the same effect of a time capsule. It highlights ups and downs (but mostly ups) from all my teen years. I have every intention to buy a new tack board for the next apartment I live in. It’s a great keeper of those keepsakes, creative muses and inspiration.
Three of the four walls in my room have something on them. One, covered by Maurice’s beautiful artwork, represents my creativity. One, garnished with my gnome and my Guinness poster, is a reminder of the darker side of life. The third wall has my panda’s and a few other minor reminders of what I can accomplish. The fourth wall in my room, however, is nearly bare. It has a large window that nearly stretches floor-to-ceiling. That wall represents what is to come. As I stare at the blank wall and the window it houses, I’m optimistic about the future. I am surrounded by all the inspiration I need to achieve my goals. If walls could speak… well, they do.
http://www.westeggproductions.com
I'm happy to get any feedback I can.
Anyway, since I don't have time for a full post, I figured I'd post an autobiographical piece I wrote for a class I'm taking called "The Personal Essay"... it's called "If walls could speak".
It's kinda silly but enjoy...
English 308, Essay 1
Prof. Graziano
If walls could speak, they'd have a lot to say. An anchor for the room, the mural casts a new energy over the mostly-bare walls. Five feet by nine feet, its enormity can’t go unnoticed. It’s quickly become the first thing that people notice upon entrance. It was the first thing I wanted when I knew I was moving out of my parents house. I spoke to my talented artist friend, Maurice and pitched him the idea. “Let’s collaborate”, I said. “I know how talented you are as a mural artist. I just got a new place in the city and I really want a nice painting that captures the raw urban energy that this city has to offer. If I buy you all your supplies and document the entire experience in an edited video, you think you could find the time to help me out? You’ll have a great video for your website…” That was it. At that moment, we decided. Little did I know, he would come to me four days later asking for a ride to Home Depot and Pearl Paint so we could get the needed materials.
We would be shooting that weekend. We bought two buckets of the “oops paint”, as Maurice called it. This was the paint that was specially mixed for a child’s bedroom (and as a result, usually pink or blue). Then, for whatever the reason, it was abandoned by its original buyer. He’d use these discount goods to prime the canvas. He’d use spray paint for the majority of the painting and a few acrylic tubes to add some finishing touches. Lastly, a large piece of canvas would combine with wooden two-by-fours and heavy-duty screws to create the monstrous frame of the beast. I remember unloading all the materials into my parent’s garage and staring at the pile, unknowing of what was to come.
The next 36 hours would be filled with set up, construction, and many, many hours of painting (and filming). I didn’t keep track of the hours we spent on this project. I know that I used close to twenty hours in tape stock. Now, the video has found a home on the Internet, collecting praise from various artists from all over the world. The mural, however, is my trophy of the experience. Furnished with a large “E” in the bottom right corner and a large outline of a rubber duck engulfing the entire left half of the canvas. A stream of water runs under the duck and through the other side of the canvas with a treble clef on the highest parts of the mural between the “E” and the duck. Orange, pink, turquoise, and brown beams of energy emanate from the canvas.
In my first apartment, it was the centerpiece of my living room. Now, in my new apartment, it lies above my bed as the centerpiece of my bedroom. I’ve spent countless hours considering the various other design elements in the piece, wondering about any hidden meanings. It is always the subject of conversation at some point during each person’s initial visit to my home. It really does anchor the entire room.
There are only a few paintings amongst the posters but they all happily find their place on my walls. I’ve always believed that a person’s walls are great insight into their character. As a result, I’ve always tried to keep my walls occupied with different pieces of representational artwork. Some parts of the wall are left blank intentionally – I’m still figuring those parts out. The mural sits parallel to one of my other cherished paintings. This painting was much smaller than it’s friend across the room. This painting had just as much history though.
I purchased it in Israel a few summers ago. Near the town where my cousins live, there is a flea market with goods exclusively made by local artists. Usually, the artist is the one at the table trying to make their keep. I had spent a couple hours taking in all the beautiful craftsmanship in the market. Nothing in particular made my wallet run ahead of me but, as I was leaving, I found a table that I really enjoyed. The artist was using various artworks, some of them found and some original. She’d have canvas stretched to a couple of different sizes. On each canvas, she transferred a work of art. She then painted a border around the piece with thick paint adding texture to the edges. I had been looking for gifts I could bring home to some of my closest friends. I began looking at her reasonably priced selection of art. Immediately, one poster caught my eye. It was an old Guinness beer advertisement featuring the Guinness pelican. My best friend, Ben, was spending his summer in Ireland. It was the third or fourth consecutive summer that he had spent there. As a result, he’d drink Guinness with pride and love for his summer spot. When I saw that this Israeli artist had taken the old advertisement and added her own touch, I knew it would be the perfect gift. When she offered me a two-for-one deal on top of already low prices, I put the Guinness piece on reserve and continued my search.
I stumbled upon what seemed like an original piece in which a gnome squatted down with his hands on his cheeks, and his elbows on his knees. He only had one eye open and a long beard that went from his chin to his feet. On his head was a cloth that had been stitched together in the front to form a cone shaped hat. Something about this character stood out to me. I told my mother that I would have to buy both – as if I had no choice. After a long tiring day in the market with her big-eyed teenage son, my mom was quite tired. She had been in the market for hours listening to me rant about my fascination with different items at different tables. We hadn’t bought anything yet but that wasn’t the point. She wanted to go home already. Plus, there was no guarantee that two fragile paintings would have room in our tightly packed suitcases. Stubborn as I am, I refused to give up on the perfect souvenirs for my best friend and myself. The argument escalated and I refused to hear any semblance of logic or reason. She began to walk away from the table and I began to take out my wallet. Needless to say, I bought both paintings.
When I arrived back in New York, I called Ben and told him I had bought him a gift. He replied by saying he had gotten me something too. I told him it would be a surprise. We met up later that night to catch up and share stories of our separate journeys. At once, I asked him what he had gotten me. After a little back and forth about who should reveal their gift first, we decided to swap at the same time. I brought the painting into the room and he began to laugh. He opened his jacket and unveiled a poster tube from the Guinness brewery. He had bought me a poster of the same advertisement. We were both shocked by the way our minds had connected while overseas.
Unfortunately, our friendship would come to a screeching halt. A few months later, while on his way to his college orientation, Ben’s heart stopped. There was no prior medical condition. There were no drugs in his system. There was no good reason for him to die at 17. None. Near the gnome painting, the Guinness poster he bought me in Ireland hangs with a picture of him wedged in the frame. He had written a “meaning of life” essay in the month before his passing. It was brilliant far beyond his years. In the weeks following his death, his mom published a book of some of his writing after his passing and I treat it as though it is sacred. He was extremely insightful and not a day goes by in which his words don’t continue to influence my life.
The painting of the gnome hangs across from the mural Maurice made. In all the moments every day in which the painting catches my eye, I have yet to figure out why I was so keen on buying it. Since having it, I’ve realized a few things. It’s come to represent the darkest parts of my mind. That gnome represents my off days - the days in which I’m not quite myself. The gnome hangs above my desk. It’s the perfect place for him because that way, I’m forced to see him every day. He is a representation of what I can become if I don’t apply myself. He is a representation of who I’ve been in the past when I’ve made some poor decisions.
As a proud member of the “A.D.D generation”, I often find trouble staying focused. In recent years, I’ve been honing ways to do so. My walls represent so much more than what they are. Walls are a luxury. Many people don’t have them. I know how lucky I am. I know how fortunate I’ve been. I grew up with quite a bit of wall space. I’d like to have this much wall space for the rest of my life. I try to remind myself of that on a daily basis. The gnome is one small way in which I do so. I’ve had many other reminders on past walls.
While some of my wall dwellers are reminders of the bad, others remind me of my accomplishments. I have a painting framed that I bought in China in the summer of 2003. I had applied for a scholarship program for potential Asian studies majors. I hadn’t even considered the chances of winning. They were to select 16 students from the entire tri-state area. After writing a paper, getting recommendations and undergoing a pretty stressful interview, I was informed that I had been one of the lucky 16. To this day, it remains one of my best accomplishments. This win was huge for me. I wasn’t the popular athlete in high school. I’d like to think I was well liked but I had my ups and downs. After taking part in the trip to China, I really felt like I could do great things. People always assume that things like that trip are such a long shot; they’re not even worth chasing. I’ll never feel that way again. Winning that trip was a huge inspiration to me and has reminded me on many occasions that I can truly do great things if I make a conscious decision to do so. The painting is a cute portrayal of pandas surrounded by bamboo. It’s a happy scene to look at and quite soothing. Still, like most things on my wall, the painting holds no comparisons to the memories attached.
These walls still need lots of work. I’ve only been here for a few months. Unfortunately, I’ll only be here for a few months more. It suddenly becomes clear why I am fixated on the greater meaning of walls that seems to exist in my mind. As a young boy, I lived in nearly a dozen different houses growing up. I wasn’t an “army brat”. I didn’t have (any serious) problems with my parents. The only real reason for the commotion was business. My parents have always been interested in real estate. It’s something they’ve always used as a tool in the background as they lived their lives. As a young boy, I couldn’t understand this. Growing up, it becomes clearer.
At my parents’ house, I used to have a tack board. I used it to post pictures, bumper stickers, fortunes (from the cookies), and ticket stubs for movies, concerts, and theme parks among many other random things. The pictures usually highlighted moments that made me smile. The types of moments that make it worth the effort to get past the bad ones. The bumper stickers were usually mantras or quotes that were either comedic or insightful. My favorite was “What Would Scooby Do?” That one always gave me a good laugh. The fortunes reminded me of how fortunate I was (and still am). I never took them too seriously but sometimes, they actually carry that crucial piece of wisdom that sparks the solution to a difficult problem. That tack board still hangs in my room at my parents’ house. At this point, it has the same effect of a time capsule. It highlights ups and downs (but mostly ups) from all my teen years. I have every intention to buy a new tack board for the next apartment I live in. It’s a great keeper of those keepsakes, creative muses and inspiration.
Three of the four walls in my room have something on them. One, covered by Maurice’s beautiful artwork, represents my creativity. One, garnished with my gnome and my Guinness poster, is a reminder of the darker side of life. The third wall has my panda’s and a few other minor reminders of what I can accomplish. The fourth wall in my room, however, is nearly bare. It has a large window that nearly stretches floor-to-ceiling. That wall represents what is to come. As I stare at the blank wall and the window it houses, I’m optimistic about the future. I am surrounded by all the inspiration I need to achieve my goals. If walls could speak… well, they do.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
mind explosion - 2009style
so this is 2009, huh?
well this is kinda anticlimactic...
or is it?
even in this time of economic hardship, i refuse to walk with my head down. an economic downturn should be the best time to be an entrepreneur! after all, if I can find a way to be successful while the economy is struggling, I am sure to grow within a thriving economy.
I refrained from making new years resolutions this year.
last year, for the first time in my life, I was able to follow through on my resolutions for 2008.
with that said, I don't want to have my goals artificially set by the calendar year. the fact is, innovation and inspiration don't always follow a calendar. (good point Apple. if y'all don't have to be ready with upgrades for MacWorld, why should I?) if I feel inspired to do something, I will do it - as fast and efficiently as I know how. instead of setting broad goals for the year, I set down ground rules by which I live. some of these rules are taken from my childhood and upbringing. other rules are created as I mature and learn new things. nothing is set in stone and if there's reason to change, I am open to that. for now though, these are some of my thoughts going into the new year, as well as some of my short-term goals, and things I look forward to...
- i'd like to use this winter break to create a stronger web presence for West Egg Productions. right now, WEP is taking time to further strengthen our team. in doing so, we're printing business cards (that are in the design phase now). we're also creating a comprehensive website showcasing the various members of our team, our respective skillsets/backgrounds, and examples of our work - both collaborative and independent projects, alike.
-school is extremely important to me. I expect to graduate in june. holding off on business school for now. i've recently had a voracious appetite for articles about business, entrepreneurship, finance, and management. I may enroll in a part-time MBA program in the future if I feel it's a step in the right direction. right now, i'm not ready to commit myself to more years of full-time education.
-some online services that will be very clutch in the new year for both me and my start-up:
+www.mozy.com - unlimited online file backup at a low cost. looking into this one...
+www.lynda.com - great site for detailed video tutorials on various pro apps.
+www.efactor.com - great networking tool for entrepreneurs.
-one of my guiding principles: if someone on the street looks interesting, do not hesitate. there are too many opportunities missed in that moment of hesitation. if someone on the train next to me is reading a screenplay, I will make my best effort to meet them. that also applies to any other industry-relevent prop.
+i make an active effort to get a business card from someone interesting each day.
+i try to e-mail or call anyone I meet and constantly think of ways we can help each other.
+i want to be surrounded by people that challenge me -
people that will inspire me to show the absolute best version of my self at all times
-i've had the habit of taking everything personally in the past. i'm done with that.
anyone who questions me is only extending an invite to be proven wrong.
simple as that - more fuel for the fire.
-my brother will probably be off to business school by September. i'm considering a place in brooklyn with some friends. after getting inspired by the artist collectives who's parties I frequently attend, I've started to consider the possibility of one amongst my own friends. house of yes and the danger house are my inspirations thus far.
potential housemates include, but are not limited to:
+painter/illustrator/musician Maurice Blanco (www.mauriceblanco.blogspot.com)
+DJ/MC/web designer Rome - a friend from Hunter College
+filmmaker/apple genius/West Egg partner Danny Reynolds
it'd be nice to have space that can double as both a performance space and living quarters.
i was thinking everything from live painting events to screenings to parties with musical guests.
anyway, i've got a lot to say - not even close to done yet BUT, as I begin to really focus on my professional life outside of school, i'll be sharing more thoughts on the interweb for all to see.
keep your eyes open.
-e
P.S: just got an internship at CBS for my last undergrad semester. pretty excited.
P.P.S: I think i'm going to try and post a "looking back at '08" blog at some point soon. we'll see. it's not very high up on my to-do list (which are the best organizational tool ever, btw).
well this is kinda anticlimactic...
or is it?
even in this time of economic hardship, i refuse to walk with my head down. an economic downturn should be the best time to be an entrepreneur! after all, if I can find a way to be successful while the economy is struggling, I am sure to grow within a thriving economy.
I refrained from making new years resolutions this year.
last year, for the first time in my life, I was able to follow through on my resolutions for 2008.
with that said, I don't want to have my goals artificially set by the calendar year. the fact is, innovation and inspiration don't always follow a calendar. (good point Apple. if y'all don't have to be ready with upgrades for MacWorld, why should I?) if I feel inspired to do something, I will do it - as fast and efficiently as I know how. instead of setting broad goals for the year, I set down ground rules by which I live. some of these rules are taken from my childhood and upbringing. other rules are created as I mature and learn new things. nothing is set in stone and if there's reason to change, I am open to that. for now though, these are some of my thoughts going into the new year, as well as some of my short-term goals, and things I look forward to...
- i'd like to use this winter break to create a stronger web presence for West Egg Productions. right now, WEP is taking time to further strengthen our team. in doing so, we're printing business cards (that are in the design phase now). we're also creating a comprehensive website showcasing the various members of our team, our respective skillsets/backgrounds, and examples of our work - both collaborative and independent projects, alike.
-school is extremely important to me. I expect to graduate in june. holding off on business school for now. i've recently had a voracious appetite for articles about business, entrepreneurship, finance, and management. I may enroll in a part-time MBA program in the future if I feel it's a step in the right direction. right now, i'm not ready to commit myself to more years of full-time education.
-some online services that will be very clutch in the new year for both me and my start-up:
+www.mozy.com - unlimited online file backup at a low cost. looking into this one...
+www.lynda.com - great site for detailed video tutorials on various pro apps.
+www.efactor.com - great networking tool for entrepreneurs.
-one of my guiding principles: if someone on the street looks interesting, do not hesitate. there are too many opportunities missed in that moment of hesitation. if someone on the train next to me is reading a screenplay, I will make my best effort to meet them. that also applies to any other industry-relevent prop.
+i make an active effort to get a business card from someone interesting each day.
+i try to e-mail or call anyone I meet and constantly think of ways we can help each other.
+i want to be surrounded by people that challenge me -
people that will inspire me to show the absolute best version of my self at all times
-i've had the habit of taking everything personally in the past. i'm done with that.
anyone who questions me is only extending an invite to be proven wrong.
simple as that - more fuel for the fire.
-my brother will probably be off to business school by September. i'm considering a place in brooklyn with some friends. after getting inspired by the artist collectives who's parties I frequently attend, I've started to consider the possibility of one amongst my own friends. house of yes and the danger house are my inspirations thus far.
potential housemates include, but are not limited to:
+painter/illustrator/musician Maurice Blanco (www.mauriceblanco.blogspot.com)
+DJ/MC/web designer Rome - a friend from Hunter College
+filmmaker/apple genius/West Egg partner Danny Reynolds
it'd be nice to have space that can double as both a performance space and living quarters.
i was thinking everything from live painting events to screenings to parties with musical guests.
anyway, i've got a lot to say - not even close to done yet BUT, as I begin to really focus on my professional life outside of school, i'll be sharing more thoughts on the interweb for all to see.
keep your eyes open.
-e
P.S: just got an internship at CBS for my last undergrad semester. pretty excited.
P.P.S: I think i'm going to try and post a "looking back at '08" blog at some point soon. we'll see. it's not very high up on my to-do list (which are the best organizational tool ever, btw).
Thursday, November 20, 2008
arite, arite, arite...
first things first, sinatra is blasting away as i wake up on this fine morning.
just wanted to put in a quick director's file entry that i actually wrote on a piece of paper on the 18th. check it out.
my brother was flipping through channels and he stopped to watch "The Sandlot".
I immediately started paying attention to the way this film is shot.
It's quite interesting how slapstick-y some of the framing, blocking, and sound is.
here's an example i picked up on. i assure you that there are many more.
we see a low-angle medium close-up shot from behind a young boy.
we see the outline of his shoulders and head. beyond his frame, is a seemingly gigantic fence.
we hear dog-barking and immediately we are lead to the exact place the director wants us.
it's an interesting way to "fake it". it's also a good way to say something with limited resources. the director was very effective in communicating his message.
another thing, i wrote about this a week ago but never put it online...
i've been paying more attention to the way people speak. no, that doesn't mean i'm walking around eavesdropping. well, it might BUT, i don't actually care about WHAT they are saying. just HOW they speak. When I took STAGES at North a few years back, we had to do an exercise like this. I learned a lot from it then. To this day, I still find myself thinking about that stuff. I mean, it's something I can still learn from. As someone who is not extremely confident in writing realistic dialogue, it allows me to pick up on patterns and other subtlties of common speech.
anyway, that's all for now.
write again soon.
e
first things first, sinatra is blasting away as i wake up on this fine morning.
just wanted to put in a quick director's file entry that i actually wrote on a piece of paper on the 18th. check it out.
my brother was flipping through channels and he stopped to watch "The Sandlot".
I immediately started paying attention to the way this film is shot.
It's quite interesting how slapstick-y some of the framing, blocking, and sound is.
here's an example i picked up on. i assure you that there are many more.
we see a low-angle medium close-up shot from behind a young boy.
we see the outline of his shoulders and head. beyond his frame, is a seemingly gigantic fence.
we hear dog-barking and immediately we are lead to the exact place the director wants us.
it's an interesting way to "fake it". it's also a good way to say something with limited resources. the director was very effective in communicating his message.
another thing, i wrote about this a week ago but never put it online...
i've been paying more attention to the way people speak. no, that doesn't mean i'm walking around eavesdropping. well, it might BUT, i don't actually care about WHAT they are saying. just HOW they speak. When I took STAGES at North a few years back, we had to do an exercise like this. I learned a lot from it then. To this day, I still find myself thinking about that stuff. I mean, it's something I can still learn from. As someone who is not extremely confident in writing realistic dialogue, it allows me to pick up on patterns and other subtlties of common speech.
anyway, that's all for now.
write again soon.
e
Monday, November 17, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
work and stuff
so i've been seriously neglecting this thing. sorry bout that. time to catch up a bit.
since september, i've been cutting promo's for artists like Shontelle, Hinder, Lloyd, Fatman Scoop, and some others. it's been keeping me pretty busy (and pretty antisocial) but i need the money. i'm also shooting a promo for Caitlin Krisko as she records some new material.
i'm saving up. i turn 21 at the end of this month and it'd be a dream come true to buy a SCARLET. you can find out more about this camera on their website... www.red.com
it's pretty phemonenal technology, and the owner is only continuing to hype it.
he has created an open forum online where fans can speculate about their upcoming announcement. the owner has a way with words... "Come Nov. 13th you will hear more than you ever expected... then you will have to wait again (for delivery). The message will be more than you could have ever dreamed. Then the wait will be..." he likes to leave us all on the edge of our seats.
anyway, this past weekend, i helped out on a music video. It was being directed by Randy Scott Slavin, who is family, and has been my mentor for many years. The video was for semi-newly-signed Atlantic Records recording artist Ryan Star. He has his Atlantic debut coming out in 2009 titled "11:59" and the video was for the song that'll prolly be the first single... "Right Now"
The shoot was a lot of fun. I'm not the only one who felt this way. Can't wait to see a cut.
last thing - i'm gonna start using this blog to post some things for my directing class. as an ongoing assignment, we're supposed to make a "director's file". in essence, a blog of noteworthy observations and such things made as a director. first thing of note is this website... http://www.gointothestory.com/ it's moderated by a fairly successful screenwriter and is a great place to read useful and relevent material.
gotta get back to work. talk soon.
e
oh yeah... i bought two domain names. sites will be coming soon.
just waiting on some web developers i've been in talks with.
www.westeggproductions.com
www.eSpotFilms.com
since september, i've been cutting promo's for artists like Shontelle, Hinder, Lloyd, Fatman Scoop, and some others. it's been keeping me pretty busy (and pretty antisocial) but i need the money. i'm also shooting a promo for Caitlin Krisko as she records some new material.
i'm saving up. i turn 21 at the end of this month and it'd be a dream come true to buy a SCARLET. you can find out more about this camera on their website... www.red.com
it's pretty phemonenal technology, and the owner is only continuing to hype it.
he has created an open forum online where fans can speculate about their upcoming announcement. the owner has a way with words... "Come Nov. 13th you will hear more than you ever expected... then you will have to wait again (for delivery). The message will be more than you could have ever dreamed. Then the wait will be..." he likes to leave us all on the edge of our seats.
anyway, this past weekend, i helped out on a music video. It was being directed by Randy Scott Slavin, who is family, and has been my mentor for many years. The video was for semi-newly-signed Atlantic Records recording artist Ryan Star. He has his Atlantic debut coming out in 2009 titled "11:59" and the video was for the song that'll prolly be the first single... "Right Now"
The shoot was a lot of fun. I'm not the only one who felt this way. Can't wait to see a cut.
last thing - i'm gonna start using this blog to post some things for my directing class. as an ongoing assignment, we're supposed to make a "director's file". in essence, a blog of noteworthy observations and such things made as a director. first thing of note is this website... http://www.gointothestory.com/ it's moderated by a fairly successful screenwriter and is a great place to read useful and relevent material.
gotta get back to work. talk soon.
e
oh yeah... i bought two domain names. sites will be coming soon.
just waiting on some web developers i've been in talks with.
www.westeggproductions.com
www.eSpotFilms.com
Friday, September 19, 2008
www.rstar.net
at the start of july 08, i had 3 videos on my youtube account.
i now have 21 posted.
check it out.
www.youtube.com/nopr03lem
oh yeah, i'm also being featured on www.rstar.net
ballin'
e
i now have 21 posted.
check it out.
www.youtube.com/nopr03lem
oh yeah, i'm also being featured on www.rstar.net
ballin'
e
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Sept 11, 2008
Sorry I haven't written in a long time. I'm going to try to start writing regularly again. In my screen directing class, I've been asked to keep a "director's file". Since it's meant to be kept like a journal, I'll prolly use this as a means to share what I find.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyway, I feel that it's appropriate to write today, September 11, 2008.
It's been seven years since one of the most shocking, and tragic days of my life - the day I realized the vulnerability of New York, and furthermore, the United States of America.
It was a really scary day. I was sitting in my high school's library. The TV Studio I had helped build was located in the back room, so it was my usual hangout during my free time. They had a TV with basic cable for the library staff and I remember hearing the gasps. I thought it was a joke at first. I guess that was just an optimistic hope. Ten minutes later, my eyes were glued to the TV and quickly starting to water. I wasn't the only one. Everyone was shocked by the horrible thought. They were innocent people just spending a normal day at work. They probably ate breakfast the same way they did the day before. It's unimaginable. Well, it was unimaginable seven years ago. In reacting to this day of horror, we, as a country, united in declaring a war on terror. It seems like the country has been on a steady decline since. The war, amongst other things, has drained our economy. A country, once united in an effort to survive and rebuild is now united in counting down the days til our president leaves office.
It's been seven years and I'm still hoping every day that we'll get through it.
e
p.s: those of you that know me know that i'm not interested in politics. i have, though, started to think about this election and i simply don't wanna write about it. the honest reason why is because I personally don't have faith in either pair. like i said above, i'm just hoping we get through this gigantic hole we're in.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
rochester
just spent the weekend in rochester taping the band, Walri.
they're awesome. i highly recommend 'em. i'll post videos as soon as they're cut.
unfortunately, i got back from rochester a lil off my game. been feeling kinda sick.
hopefully tomorrow will be a better day than today was. i'll write again soon.
(possibly even later tonight if i do my creative writing assignment and post it)
e
Thursday, July 24, 2008
I LOVE NEW YORK
if theres one thing i learned in cali, it's how much i love new york.
just kidding, kinda. i mean, i def did think that but i learned a ton more than just that.
anyway, it's been almost a week that i've been home now and it's been intense.
i'm taking 9 credits over (five-week-long) session two. BizLawII, Creative Writing, and Math.
Frankly, I feel pretty good about the semester I can say I'm now 20% done with.
Anyway, I've got a lot of things in motion right now.
hunter, my (untitled) short film from cali, freelance gigs, and some other surprises.
it's all pretty exciting and i can't wait to share more. for now tho, that's all i'm gonna give ya.
i go to rochester tomorrow to shoot the legend, Amos Rosenstein's new band, Walri.
i got a writing assignment to do this weekend. when it's done, i may post it. we'll see.
e
Friday, July 18, 2008
Goodbye Cali...
and so, four weeks later, the trip is winding down.
it's now friday morning, july 18.
zach is on his way to the airport as i write.
tomorrow, i'll be leaving as well.
sunday, luke and beth will take off.
as i think about the last month, it becomes hard to single out any defining moment.
as the spring semester at hunter was coming to a close, i found myself thinking about LA.
i needed to come out here. i needed to see what its like.
all in all, i'm glad i made the trip.
it's been a learning experience on all fronts.
i think i'm coming out of here with a lot that i can be proud of.
it's been fun, LA.
See ya in January!
e
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
zach goldstein knows...
so zach hasn't showered in about 6.5 days...
we're about to start day 2 of his shoot. we shot his first day on friday.
friday night, we had more close calls than we could count.
we had 3 seperate run-in's with cops - two of them for jay-walking.
who would've thought? (no worries tho, no tickets or fines were issued)
the car's headlights might have been left on by soMEone.
as a result, we had the pleasure of looking for a jump at 2AM in downtown Pasadena.
Luckily, we found a drunk mexican gent with the attitude "today you, tomorrow me".
Did I mention it took an hour to find the lot we were in?
They all look the same! I swear it!
TO REWIND FOR A SECOND, between friday morning (shoot) and friday night (pasadena), we had an EPIC roman candle fight. VIDEO COMING SOON! KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED!
Yesterday, we went to Laguna Beach.
It was a really good time/ much needed stretch of the legs.
Originally, we were gonna go to Venice Beach.
After a night of drinking, we decided to sleep late and Laguna is closer.
In the end, we concluded Laguna is Great Neck if it were a beach town.
Anyway, last thing. We've decided to push Zach to produce an online segment called "Zach Goldstein Knows..." You see, Zach Goldstein DOES know EVERYTHING. Don't you dare tell him any different! He knows dammit! (this segment will never happen but it's officially a running joke)
ANYWAY, off to the desert. catch y'all later.
HOME IN A WEEK!
e
Thursday, July 10, 2008
that's a wrap => hollywood
today was pretty fuckin awesome...
the class took a trip to hollywood.
we were on a mission.
first, Plaster City Digital Post. Chief Knowledge Officer Michael Cioni gave us a tour of his top notch facility. Aside from all the standard post-house items, he has the premiere RED camera post-production house. He showed us a montage of RED test footage that blew everyone away. It was incredible!
After, EFILM Digital Laboratories. This place has 14 Arri Laser Printers. Those things make 35mm screen prints from digital footage. In addition, we watched a demo reel with footage from camera's of every quality from DV to 2K.
Both studio tours were really informative and fun.
Before leaving Hollywood, we went to the famous PINK'S. It was okay.
In other news, I finished filming my short on Wednesday. The day went smoothly.
I'm hoping to have a rough cut of the short film before I leave California.
Zach starts shooting his film tomorrow. He had a plasma cannon built. It's pretty cool.
We're probably gonna go to Venice Beach on Saturday. Haven't been to the beach here yet.
tons of shit to be excited for. this weekend will be a lot of fun.
happy 24th birthday to my brother, Corey.
check out his music at www.myspace.com/CoreyJay
write again soon.
e
Friday, July 4, 2008
BIG DAY, BIG NIGHT, BIG DAY, SLEEP, BIG DAY, SLEEP, BIG DAY, SLEEP, BIG DAY, SLEEP
So... it's the fourth of July.
Pretty important date.
To start, theirs that independence thing.
It's also a week til my brother's 24th birthday.
Lastly, it's the start of an INSANELY BUSY EXTENDED WEEKEND...
===>Today was Master Lucas Reibstein's first shoot day.
We shot about 60% of his film today from 9am-6pm.
I shot behind the scenes stuff. Twas fun.
When we wrapped for the day at 6pm, I bought and popped off some cheap champagne. :-/
After catching our breaths from the long day of shooting, we went out to see some TNT.
It was like walking through a minefield. Fireworks were going off left and right.
==>Tomorrow, I have my first day of shooting. The plan is to get the hard stuff out of the way.
I'll be shooting a scene inside of a moving car...
Yes, We're using a car mount.
Yes, it's gonna be awesome.
We're also shooting some stuff at the hotel.
I've requested some pretty tricky lighting though.
===>Sunday, Luke will finish shooting his short.
==>Monday, I shoot the rest of my short.
===>Tuesday, I've been cast as the male lead in Paul's short.
Paul's a first grade teacher in Compton that is in our class for the summer.
He's a super cool dude. He grew up in Hawaii and has always loved film.
==> After Tuesday, we'll have a couple days of class before Zach starts shooting his short.
So far, it's been a lot of work and just the right amount of play.
For now, I've still got my sanity. Check me again after Monday.
e
Sunday, June 29, 2008
preliminary casting session complete. final casting far from. WALL-E!!!!
so this morning we did a little bit of casting. we saw some good actors and actresses but remain far from done. we still have lots of people to meet with in the coming week.
after casting, we took a ride to pasadena to meet up with lukes buddy, louie. very cool kid. used to work for NASA and stuff. the four of us (louie, zach, luke, and i) went to see Wall-E.
honest review of Wall-E: two thumbs up.
made me feel like a little kid. was really innocent and cute yet thought-provoking.
taught me that a cute lil robot can save the world from turning into new jersey.
after Wall-E, we grabbed a couple of brews at the "The Yard House". supposedly this place has the worlds greatest amount of beers on tap with 250. not sure if i believe that.
can anyone tell me differently? please do.
either way, i had a beer called 'Delirium Tremens' which was quite tasty and then had an even better drinxperience with 'Spanish Peaks Honey Raspberry Ale'.
It's been a good, relaxing day.
Tomorrow, I get thrown back into the madness of a work-filled week of pre-production.
time to get to bed.
e
Saturday, June 28, 2008
CASTING IN PROGRESS...
i've posted an ad on craigslist... i've gotten a bunch of replies already. really excited.
i'll write more later.
e
Thursday, June 26, 2008
BLOGSITE #22299754
i've done xanga, livejournal, myspace blogs, and all that good shit. time to make a blogspot.
in my endless search for the blogging site that sates my needs and keeps me hungry for blogging AND, dare i say it, maybe even Vlogging!?!
I've been in Los Angeles for about a week now. I'm out here til July 21st making films in HD. Luckily, I didn't come out here alone. I'm here with two of my buddies, Zach and Luke. both cool dudes...
Over the next 3.5 weeks, we'll each shoot and direct a short film in High Def. We started writing earlier this week and have been steadily taking the steps through pre-preproduction since.
I hope to post pictures, stories, and updates on this blog. Maybe even a webisode, if not, some movie clips of our adventures.
After I leave L.A, I will try to keep this thing alive but for now, Enjoy!
miss the east coast a shit ton.
-e
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