constitution clothesbrush antic prorogue

It's FRIDAY!
Well, not really. But I'm taking tomorrow off to gallivant around the city with Faye so it's LIKE Friday for me. Especially since this week has seemed like a goddamned eternity.

I'm not sure what Faye and I are going to do tomorrow. We were originally going to crappy matinee and then maybe hit Shorty's or something. But the matinees that we haven't already seen are just TOO crappy. So we need a plan B. Either way, I'm just relieved as hell that I don't have to be here tomorrow.

Tonight is the NW Film Forum Grand Opening Bash. I can't wait to see the new space. It will be even more exciting when I see my music video on the big screen there, next week. (I'm assuming the screen will be big instead of bigger than small, as it was at the old NW Film Forum space).

Even though it's my Friday, I might call it an early night because, man, I have felt like crap this week. So maybe a little tour of the new space, a free drink or two, and then home to watch “Lost” and straight to bed. We'll see what happens.

Even though I'm pretty tired, I'm also a little overexcited right now because last night we had our first official production meeting for Snow Day, Bloody Snow Day. We decided to plan a big-assed zombie holiday carnival as a fundraiser. That's going to happen sometime in December. I've been brimming with ideas and emailing everyone and everyone has been telling me to chill the fuck out. :) Stay tuned for details.

October 7, 2004
Categories: Dear Diary, I Made Movies . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

Re: This could create bad feeling for you

This morning, as I was walking toward my office, I very nearly got hit it the face by a crazy woman who was gesticulating wildly and shouting obscenities at a passing bus. Ah, city life.

I just found out that, contrary to what I originally thought, my office is open on Columbus Day. Apparently, the discovery and subsequent assimilation of a nation is cause to celebrate for banks and lending institutions, but not so for financial advisors. Oh well. At least I get to skip on Friday.

Other good-ish news:
Both “Terry” and “Love and 145 Watts” were excepted into the Bellingham Projections Film Festival. This will take place the weekend of November 7th. I'm not sure when my films will be playing, but if it happens to be on Saturday or Sunday, Dom and I will be taking a little roadtrip to Bellingham. Anybody wanna join us? Rooms at the Day's Inn are only $45/night.

October 5, 2004
Categories: Dear Diary, I Made Movies, I'm Working . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

Re: knife and blind eye,

The weekends just go by too fast.

Friday night, Meep and I had a very successful writers meeting wherein we attempted to develop backstory for our characters so that they won't be so 2-dimensional. We also tried to think of movies that we wanted to emulate to “look” of but we decided, in the end, that we wanted to create our own look instead. Take that, other movies!

Then we invited people over for the first Halloween Classic Friday wherein we watch a classic horror film (old and new) each Friday for the month of October. We chose Carnival of Souls for the first Friday. However, we had been drinking wine for some time before everyone arrived. And Elyse and Gene arrived already reasonably intoxicated, so it was very difficult for us to pay attention. I was the only one who had seen it so luckily, I was able to explain what was going on whenever people drifted their attention back toward the TV. This didn't happen often, however. We then put in Night of the Living Dead because the night was still young. After that, it was pretty late and we were all pretty drunk. Plus Dom had come home and needed to go straight to bed, as he had to wake up at 5am the next morning for this 48-hour film project that sounds like fun only to the unemployed.

The next day I did a noon yoga class with Elyse and Gene. I had hoped that it would energize me for the day of Halloween shopping that was to come. Sadly, it kicked my ass more than energized it. Meep, Elyse, Gene, Sherwood and I assembled. We lunched at the Red Line where I had THE MOST AMAZING greek sandwich which I will dream about for weeks to come. After that we went to the Halloween store that Sherwood mentioned in his blog. Then we went to Value Village. Meep and I didn't find anything we needed. Elyse, however, found everything and is now done. At 6:00, or so, we finished. Gene and Elyse went home, and Meep and I got take away from Ballet which boast Mock Meats. And boast they should, because it was DELICIOUS! Meep and I had big plans Saturday to see The Muffs at the Croc. But it turns out, we are old. The show wouldn't start until 10:00 and who KNOWS when the Muffs were playing. So instead we watched The Ruttles (good) and 50 First Dates (baaaaaad) and were in bed by 11. Good LORD we're old. Also, I think I am incapable of doing a yoga class during the day and expecting myself to function after.

The reason we watched 50 First Dates is because it was written by a local man who, now that he has everyone's attention, is doing very well for himself. So we thought we'd see what he had going for him. Well, from the finished film, it would appear that he has inanity going for him. Dom said the final shooting script was very different from the original. But I'm assuming the basic PREMISE was the same. And the basic premise is flawed at best and retarded at worst. And it was worst. Blech.

Yesterday I cleaned the apartment a bit, watched bad movies on TV, went to yoga again (two days in a row is ROUGH) and then watched Midnight Express which I had never seen. For those of you who don't know, it's the feel good romp of 1978 with a guy who looks suspiciously like Brad Pitt.

At some point during the night, Dom came home and appeared beside me. Our interactions this weekend have consisted of either him waking me up or me waking him up. I'm so glad it was only a 48 hour film project.

It's Monday Monday. Time for another exciting week. Though this week, it's cut short because Meep and I are playing hooky on Friday. Hooray!

October 4, 2004
Categories: Dear Diary, I Made Movies . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

bigger stronger

IT'S FRIDAY! I'm very excited for 3 reasons. 1) I don't have to come to this stinking place tomorrow, 2) Tonight we are having a readthrough for mine and Faye's zombie script complete with actors and beer and 3) Shaun of the Dead opens this weekend!!!
We are going to see Shaun tomorrow night so if anyone's interested in joining in, let me know. Faye and I already saw a sneak preview of it so we can guarantee that it is classic cinema in the making!
Segue—
Last night I went to yoga and it wasn't a good class for me. My knees weren't cooperating with me at all. In some of those balancing positions, I looked like Bambi just learning to walk. It was also kinda painful. It didn't help matters that I had a teacher I'd never had before and I don't think she was familiar with my knee problems because she kept telling me to go lower. I couldn't say “I can't go lower because this is incredibly painful as it is”. So that broke my concentration even further. Luckily, things improved when we got to the sitting portion of the class. But I was already pissed at my body for being so crappy. Oh well. A crappy yoga class is probably still better than no yoga class. Hopefully things will be better on Sunday. I blame the cold weather. Last winter, my knees ached pretty bad and I think they feel the cold weather coming and are starting to give up again. Well, I won't let them. Bastard knees.
ANYWHO, things have been pretty busy here this morning but they've started to slow down and will hopefully continue to do so for the rest of the day so that I can fuck about and leave early. Ha!

September 24, 2004
Categories: Dear Diary, I Made Movies . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

Get ahead in life, with a college diploma Jessica devoteeanniversary

Things are good. It's Thursday which means there is only one more work day this week. Meep and I made good connections this week. We are making progress on our zombie things. We are editing Meep’s short tonight (and hopefully getting done with it soon. I think it's gonna be really good!) and tomorrow night we are having a company meeting (Tangent Productions!) over beer (which is the best way to HAVE a company meeting). So basically, a good week for film is a good week for me. And it's been a good week for film. It's still hard to get over my increasing dislike of my day job. Especially when it's busy here. But if, in a few years, trailers for Plight are bombarding your televisions, Meep and I are on an international promotional tour, and we are featured in Fangoria and on Best Week Ever, it will all be worth it.
Speaking of Tangent Productions, Meep worked like crazy last night and we now have some semblance of a website up! And after this weekend, it will be content rich, as well. Check it out, yo!

August 26, 2004
Categories: I Made Movies . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

synchronism tickle

This weekend I saw THREE really bad movies. There are SO MANY bad movies out there and more getting made all the time. While it's a lot of fun to watch movies like Cherry Falls and make fun of them, it also makes me wonder why it's so hard for us to get our movie made. Or maybe it wouldn't be if we just sent our script off to Hollywood and relinquished all creative control. I don't know. Regardless, there are a lot of good laughs in Cherry Falls. Not so many in Below which was incredibly painful and discombobulated. As for Ju-On, while small children with big eyes will always be frightening on some level, a movie with that many disconnected characters and plot holes cannot be scary because you're too busy trying to figure out what the hell is going on.

In non-movie news, I had a GREAT yoga class yesterday. My balance was much improved and I felt much stronger. Of course, I'm a lot more sore than usual today, but, as always, it's a good kind of sore, because it means I really accomplished something. Pat pat pat on the back.

It's Monday. That's not so nice.

August 23, 2004
Categories: Dear Diary, Filmpinions, I Made Movies . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

I had looked into at Woking. The earth all round it had splashed under that

This is one of those weeks when my job is unbearable. It's not even that anything terrible is happening, per se. It's just the mundaneness (mundanaity?) that is getting to me. And I can feel my spirit draining from my pores, down my leg and into the carpet, leaving a vague feeling of emptiness. It makes me want to do whatever is necessary to get Plight made and get out of here. But it's hard to do that. It's hard to get beyond the feeling of soul drainage. I started letters to several of mine and Meep’s influences today and forwarded some of the more complete ones on to Meep to be sweetened. We will do what we did with Simon and Edgar and send them treatments along with these letters. It's all a huge long shot and obviously, there's a good chance we will be absolutely on our own with making this film. But we HAVE to make it anyway, because my life depends on it. I think Meep feels that way too (if not more so, because in the battle of “who's job is more soul-sucking, Meep always wins). So today my emotions embody a strange combination of complacency and motivation. Desperation and stoicism. Fear and acceptance. Whatever it is, I am THIS close to taking a week off to just work on getting people interested in Plight. Unless I can figure out a way to do it all from here…Or maybe I just REALLY need a fucking week off.

August 17, 2004
Categories: Dear Diary, I Made Movies . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

I had looked into at Woking. The earth all round it had splashed under that

Another eventful weekend which is nice. Meep and I worked on her short Friday night and much of Saturday. Hopefully we will get it done in time for a festival deadline. I think it's looking really good. I just feel bad because I am not a good sound editor and Meep needs that. I'm trying really hard though.

Saturday Meep and I finally saw the much touted Napoleon Dynamite and were less than impressed. At first we weren't sure why but then we got drunk and discussed it (with Sherwood and Gene who were also not impressed) and realized several things. Even though it was a movie about nerds, we couldn't feel sorry for any of them because they didn't seem to be at all bothered by being nerds. Also, things happened to them that would never REALLY happen in this situation (like the internet girlfriend actually being hot and still wanting to date that guy). People might say it was meant to be absurdest but I really don't think the filmmaker is capable of being that high concept. Also, what was the point of making it “retro” looking, other than for added laughs because “dude, look how funny a side pony tail and a fanny pack is”. This lead us to a discussion about how there are no movies about being alienated in high school that are realistic. They're either really hot actors playing nerds who get their comeuppance, (a la “She's all that”) or it's a cartoon. A caricature. Like Revenge of the Nerds or this movie. Or there's a third genre like Heathers where the protagonist is in the middle between cool and popular and they have to make a choice. No one ever makes a movie about the fat girl in Heathers. Unless it's Tod Solondz and Welcome to the Dollhouse. But that doesn't count because Tod Solondz is a sick fuck.
The only thing that comes close is Freaks and Geeks. That was an amazing TV show that definitely captured certain painful high school moments on the nose. But it was a TV show. And it got canceled. So again we are left with nothing. What up with that? But then again, I might just actually be a huge, joyless, film snob. I hope not.
ANYWHO…after the movie, we played 50 songs on the juke box at Wok and Grill and once again made the nice lady stay late. But we tipped her well. So hopefully she doesn't hate us. Because I HEART Wok and Grill.
Then Meep, Sherwood, Gene and I went back to my place and played music (probably too loudly. Sorry neighbors) and talked passionately about things I don't remember. Next thing we know, it's 5 in the morning. I haven't done anything like that in a long time and I really enjoyed it. Even though I spend most of Sunday recovering. I'm really grateful for long-lasting friendships and developing new ones. I love my friends. I really do. Thanks, guys.

August 16, 2004
Categories: Dear Diary, Filmpinions, I Made Movies . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

i feel great!-improves sleep

Recap of last night!!!

Meep and I were both pretty nervous and trying to abide by the “whatever happens, happens” philosophy. But we had done so much work so we knew we HAD to get our letter/treatment into the hands of Wright and Pegg. They came out at the beginning of the movie and introduced it and I thought “Oh no! Are they leaving right after this?” but they said they would be back at the end for the Q & A so I relaxed and sat back to enjoy the movie. And enjoy I did! It is so rare that a film I've been hyping up so long in my head meets all of my expectations, let alone EXCEEDS them. This one did. It was hilarious and sad and poignient and gory. All the things a zombie movie SHOULD be (or any movie for that matter). Afterwards, they had a short Q & A wherein people asked the usual questions (including one stupid question from Fan Boy, my new nemesis. More on that later) and then they were finished and I knew is was showtime. They were heading for the exit! I leaped over Dom and accosted Simon with our envelope. He turned it over in his hands and said “Oh, wow. What's this?” “It's for you and Edgar!” I said. “It's from me and that girl over there”. I pointed to Meep making her way over towards us. “Edgar, we got a present”, said Simon. That was when Meep (thankfully) stepped in and explained that we have been writing a zombie comedy for that last two years and that we're big fans of Spaced and wanted them to read our treatment. “So that's sort of a fan letter, slash, treatment”. I redundantly explained. Simon began to open it. “You don't have to read it now” I said. “Oh, would that embarass you?” he asked. “Yeah. Plus it's kind of long” I said. (I think. I can't really remember exactly what was said. I was pretty damned nervous). Meanwhile, other people are handing him DVD's to sign which he's doing but talking to us! Anyway, eventually, I asked for a picture and Dom whipped out the camera and we got in line. Poor Edgar, who we hadn't really been talking to, simply because Simon was the one who reached me first, stepped out of the way of the camera! “We want you in it as well!” I said. And he got back in. Poor Edgar! I bet everywhere they go people ask to speak to Simon and ignore him. The tragedy of life behind the camera! But anyway, we got the picture which can be seen “HERE!”

Then we said thank you and left. It was very exciting! I don't think we made TOTAL asses of ourselves and we did what we had set out to do! They didn't ask us out for drinks, sadly. (But Meep thinks that if WE'D asked, or if we'd accosted them at the end instead of the beginning, it might have happened). But still, even if they never email us or hate our treatment or whatever, we had a mission and the mission is accomplished. I'm quite proud of us!

And now for the tail of Fan Boy: Fan Boy is a sad wanker who works at the Metro theatre. I would bet money that he still lives with his parents. I got to the theatre at 4:30 and was most certainly the first person in line for the movie. While I waited there, I had to listen to Fan Boy talk loudly about all the cool insider information he has about movies. And then more people started to show up for the movie and his true evil nature showed through. Some poor guy who has better things to do that read Aint It Cool News every day came up and said “I'm here for the screening. Is this the line?” “What screening?” Said Fan Boy snidely. “Something of the Dead? I can't remember the name. It's some guy's name and then Of The Dead”. “Well, if you could remember the whole title, perhaps then I could tell you if we are showing it tonight,” said Fan Boy in a tone not unlike that of Comic Book Guy on The Simpsons. That was enough for me. I looked up from my book and said “Yes, this is the line for Shaun of the Dead”. After that, whenever someone came up and asked if that was the line he would try and make them answer a “Trivia” question before they could stand in line. I could tell that somehow this kid had managed to go his whole life without a severe beating and it was about time for him to receive one.
I knew he was truly my nemesis when his dumb friends showed up and started hanging around where he was at his podium at the front of the line. Nearer to show time, I heard what I suspected was coming. His friends asked “so do we have to go get in that line?” “As far as I'm concerned, you guys are in the front of the line” said Fan Boy. “I mean, if you think about it, I've been waiting here all day”. No, you asshole! You've been at WORK all day. As have I. “Actually, if you think about it, I've been waiting for this movie since last Tuesday,” he declared finally. He then repeated these declarations in the SAME wording to drive his “point” home. Fan Boy, you are on my list. One day you will be standing next to Baz Lurhman and you won't know why until it's too late.

Regardless, not even Fan Boy could spoil a lovely evening. Meep and I rewarded our achievement with beer and toasted “to dreams”. I'm beginning to think that Ron Jeremy is our fairy godfather!

August 13, 2004
Categories: Dear Diary, Filmpinions, I Made Movies . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

Happiness Shock

Today is the day!! Tonight Meep and I are going to an advanced screening of Shaun of the Dead. Meep and I are going to do whatever it takes to get our treatment into the hot little hands of Wright and Pegg and hopefully not make fools of ourselves in the process. We have our treatment and letter all printed out on nice paper. I have filled a flask with vodka for the liquid courage. I just bought a new pair of stockings. I am leaving work at 4:00 in order to get the best possible seat at the screening. Short of rehearsing what we are going to say, we are as ready as we will ever be. And nervous as hell! I'm hoping for a Link sighting today as a sign of good luck.

August 12, 2004
Categories: Dear Diary, I Made Movies, Seattle . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

« Previous Page Next page