A Plea

A generation is defined by how they are remembered. Defined by their actions, by their ideas, and by the records that they leave behind. So I ask all free thinking people of our generation to consider the record we leave behind in our intellectual mediums. In our books, in our articles, in our art, and in our film. If we allow this current trend of lowbrow pandering to baser impulses and superficial visceral pleasures, how will we be remembered. The basis of all intellectual medium must be the projection and exploration of an idea. I look upon the expanse of art, book, and film of the modern age as a desert where a proud oasis once stood; the land now choked with corporate shill productions and shameless trend panderers, starving our intellect and killing our spirit. And when our descendants look back on the desert we left them, how will they judge us? They will view themselves as the offspring of childish imbeciles. They will mock us. And if we allow the politically correct liberals and the morally uptight conservatives to continue to siphon the messages and ideas from our books and films, and replace them with banal clichés and listless pandering banter, then our generation is fully deserving of their mockery. Do away with the Twilights and the Sex and the City's. Ignore the Michael Bay's and the Tim Burtons who try distract from an abhorrent lack of talent and vision with deplorable excesses of action and meaningless deviant character design. Let us wipe the "teen drama" and the "chick flick" and the "romantic comedy" from the face of our minds. Let us replace the 10 minute chase scene with a moving dialogue. Let us replace the falsified threesome with a long awaited embrace. Let us forsake the stream of profanity for the truly profound. Above all else, let us reclaim our entitlement to create a few memorable, enduring gems rather than a mountain of uninspired slag.

Film is dead, for now.

Well, due to conflicting schedules and a time crunch, the movie will not make it to the USSU film fest. But I'm gonna be buying a camera in a few weeks, (more like months >__>) to hopefully finish it on my terms and on my time.

Anyway, with that nonsense out of the way, I'm getting ready to start my vlog reviews. Question: should I do Casablanca, (aka a good movie review) or a BAD movie as a review?

Spehar, out.

Day One: Done. Now for the Hard Part

Well, we filmed roughly HALF the short film yesterday, with the bonus that we now have some tangible work on camera done. It gives me a feeling of being past the point of no return, and contrary to what someone might think, it's actually quite liberating and relieving. It's as if a some greater force has reached down and said "No backing out now, wuss. Come hell or high water, you are FINISHING this movie." 1001 thanks to Mike for filming this, and putting up with the oddity of the script and filming sequence. I'm not sure if it's him having faith in the script, or me as a director/writer, or if he's just helping out a friend. In any case, I'm glad he's on board. Hell, without him, we don't even have a ship to be ON board.

So now we need to film 6 more scenes in 3 different locations. I'm hoping to shoot it all, minus the party scene which is gonna take 8 people, in one day. Monday. Shit, I've gotta go make some phone calls. Update later!

Short Film has LIFE!!

Well, the humble idea for a short film I conceived roughly five months ago has not only suddenly found itself a use, but also a future.

Along with longtime friend John S., the paranoid, twisted story of Ned has a very good chance of not only making it to the camera, but also the screen.

John and I came up with this idea, (along with some inspiration-aiding idea bouncing from Cuylar C.), and all it took was one evening of a sit down writing session to conceive the five minute film debut of Michael Spehar, (not counting the gem of the film industry, Island Man).

The script is complete barring a final discussion with my writing partner, and the always talented Michael D. will be assisting us with the cinematography, editing, and production roles. And yes, he's getting paid for it.

All that remains is to hammer out a filming schedule and con a few would-be actors to sacrifice an afternoon of their time for a minute of screen time. Shouldn't be hard...I hope.

As a side note, I just finished composing a few background songs after plunking around on my piano for an hour. We'll have to see what happens with my little six-bar tunes once Jeff E. and a little computer composition get underway. In short, this short film, (born of a lack of conversation around a Grainfields breakfast table,) is set to take off. Hopefully we don't crash and burn immediately after take off. Update in two days.

Film due in nine days as of tomorrow. Seven scenes, four locations, seven actors/actresses, and one camera. Let the fun begin.